JG Melon

It's been a while since the blog has been updated, but in appreciation of National Burger Month, the Meathook and the Ribeye are going to work overtime to bring the flavor and savory tastes of the burgers we have sampled directly to our loyal readers (all 2 of you). As requested by Larry Lohan, here is the first of two reviews comparing the famous initialed dueling burger joints. While this isn't Michigan-Ohio State, or even Yankees-Red Sox, the JG Mellon and PJ Clarke's rivalry can divide this city in two.

J.G. Mellon
1291 Third Avenue (at East 74th Street)
212-744-0585

JG Mellon is a timeless classic, a favorite of many New Yorkers, and a staple in Matt the Meathook's glutton filled diet. Currently this fine establishment sits atop my rankings for several reasons which I will highlight below.

1. The burger- The perfect size, and cooked to perfection. One can go what I view to be a bit light (one burger) or heavy (two burgers) and feel satisfied either way. The meat is a great loosely, ground chuck blend and is garnished with onions and pickles, I always add bacon to the order. You have to ask for lettuce and tomato) I'm normally a light eater, but I can easily devour two of these bad boys. The bun is on the smaller end, but is delicious.


2. The fries- crispy cottage fries just like the meathook likes. The fries always arrive hot and crunchy, one can taste the freshness

3. The atmosphere- JG Mellon is a true burger joint. Tight, loud, crammed, even the tablecloths are classic. Everything about JG's is old school.

One pointer: They do not accept credit cards, so just remember to bring some cash so the owner doesn't think you're white trash.

The Original Viand

Nestled in the heart of "stuck-up" Manhattan (60's and Madison), The Original Viand coffeeshop is a true classic. Everything from the amusingly loud waiters to the outstanding food just oozes New York City. I'm usually not a fan of burgers at diners, but at the behest of a very special friend, I was encouraged to go ahead and order a Bacon Burger with cheese fries and I was not disappointed. The burger was juicy and flavorful and the bacon was thin and crispy, just like I prefer. The waiters literally take your order and yell it to one of a few grillmen who fire up your food within minutes. The burger was cooked to perfection, and my only complaint would be the juice seeps through the bottom of the bun, so be leary of your first bite, epsecially if you're wearing a shirt that will easily stain. Overall, the burger was outstanding and I can't wait to make a return trip to this gem. For now, I'll just enjoy the stench of the grill that has followed me back to work. One tip: tables only accomodate 2 people, so don't go with a group larger than that.

The Capital Grille

I'll preface my review tonight by saying, the burger I sampled was a take-out order which definitely takes some luster away from the meat. Having said that, I was pretty underwhelmed by the whole package. Despite the allure of bacon bits placed inside the ground chuck, the Burger was lacking real flavor and the bun was a debacle. As I watched my two coworkers "scoop" out the bun, I had flashbacks to a plethora of whiny, obnoxious girls (like this one----------------->)
ordering bagels scooped out. This is not what I want to be thinking about as I'm about to sink my teeth into a burger, "Matty The Meat Hook" style. Another problem with the burger was the unannounced presence of some weird looking cheese. I don't know if it's a good sign or a bad sign that I was able to scrape it off all at once, but I'm rolling with a bad sign. In conclusion, even giving Capital Grille some slack because it was a takeout order, I expect more from a Nationally respected establishment. Two out of 5 burgers from me, and thankfully this meal was expensed. Next time I'm there I'll roll with the steak.

Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien

What better way to start a Saturday at 11:30 in the morning, then with some burgers at the one and only, not Las Pamillas, but the Burger Joint. Luckily, it was not crowded and we beat the traffic. I was more nervous to order this burger than Newman

was entering The Soup Nazi. Simple instructions at the Burger Joint: Order quickly, grub quickly and bounce. The first burger I ordered was plain and medium rare with some fries and water. I devoured that quickly, even though they cooked the meat a little too long. In the time span of eating my next burger, about 40 people came in. While waiting a little, and trying to memorize how to order, I ordered another medium rare burger but with pickles and tomatoes. These burgers appear to be as juicy and succulent as Pamela Anderson. The bun was weak but the meat was good. It is cheap, simple, and fatty fresh chuck. Burger Joint must have sold 150 burgers in the 30 minutes experience being there. I give it 3 out of 5 burgers and looking forward to coming back.

New York Burger Co.

I was on my way to shake shack and the line was too long and I was in a rush. I gave this burger spot a chance. I ordered the “New York Burger,” that comes with tomatoes and lettuce, on a bun, medium rare. $5.95 for a 6 oz burger, but the bun was bigger than the burger. This all natural Coleman beef spot is as appealing as watching the Tampa Bay Devil Rays against the Texas Rangers on a Saturday in late April. The burger was okay. The fries were reasonable as they were $2.00. The last part to the meal was a strawberry banana smoothie. Hit the spot for $5.00. Anyway, the meal was about $14.00 with tax, and I would say I would be better off going to a club and spending that money on a vodka sprite for a girl I will never end up speaking too. The best part of the experience was the public bathroom which had one stall that was as clean as Brittney spears spreading her legs. I give it 2 out of 5 burgers. Next time I am early for class, hungry and having a conversation with my stomach, I will be back, but try and go directly to the bathroom.

Paul's Place

A couple of Sunday's ago after buying some nike dunks at Transit, I decided to top of the afternoon at nearby Paul's Place. I agree with its plain and basic atmosphere. The open grill was important. No sauce should be needed to truly appreciate a piece of meat, so I ordered a plain burger, medium rare. Although the chuck was definetely fresh, it was bland. The bun was moist and similiar to a Mcdonald's bun. It was a decent burger and had decent value. The bowl of pickles on your table that awaits you is a cool concept. The fries were too much like deli fries. The fries had good taste but were too big. The milkshake was fair. Overall, on a scale of 1- 5 burgers, I rate it a 2. I would go back but only if I go by Transit to buy more dunks, and probably not even that.

The Shake Shack

Spring has come, which means the doors of the Shake Shack are open. This Danny Meyer joint in the middle of Madison Square Park, is well worth the wait. But definitely check out the live shake cam by clicking here The lines can be in excess of 100 people and 45 minutes during a nice day in the summer, but you will not be disappointed. The burger has to rank a top anyone's NYC burger list. I recommend the Double Shack Burger, Fries and a Milkshake to both fill your appetite and clog your arteries. For the ambitious people and ravenous eaters, I would drop the milkshake and add a 2nd Burger. The Burger is tiny, probably 3.5 oz, but is a perfect consistency. With lettuce, tomato, cheese and the shack sauce, I truly savor each taste. The bun has a potato roll like taste, and does a superb job of keeping the greasy style burger inside the bun, not making a mess all over your hands. The bun is outstanding and brings the burger to another level. The fries are just how I like them, nice and crunchy. It's a good thing my office isn't closer to 21st and Madison, or I would be at the Shake Shack 2-3x a week. I give the Shake Shack 4.5 out of 5 Burgers.

Paul's Place

3/21/07- Review #1
I had Heard much hype about this place from many guys and as a burger afficionado I finally went to check it out. I enjoyed the "old school" atmosphere, and I loved the huge bowl of sliced pickles waiting at each table. I thought the burger itself was good quality ground chuck, however it was pretty bland and I had to add grilled onions, pickles, tomato and ketchup to add some flavor. I also don't love steak fries, would rather thin jawns that I don't need ketchup for. Overall, the burger was average and in my mind below other places like The Shake Shack and The Burger Joint. My experience at Paul's which will be the first burger spot rated on the Berkowitz family scale of 1-5 burgers and I give it 3 1/4 burgers. I liked it and I'd go back, but I'm not rushing.

Paul's Place
131 2nd Ave (Cross Street: St Marks Place)New York, NY 10003-8331View Map(212) 529-3033 Directions: 6 at Astor Pl