JG Melon, 1291 3rd Ave (@ 74th)

People who have lived on the Upper East Side for years rave about this place, but a lot of transient "New Yorkers" brush off the wait and decide to go elswhere to satiate their burger cravings. Well, JG Melon's has a long wait, but trust me, it's worth it. The burgers and fries are the best you'll find in the area, and some say in the city (I'm not going to weigh in on the Best Burger debate, having just started eating red meat a few years ago). But not only that, it's such a neighborhood gem, there's a friendliness between the servers, the patrons, even the owers, that is rare to find in dining these days.

Yes the wait is long, but that's because when you get a table, all you want to do is sit and enjoy your food. Slowly. How food is supposed to be enjoyed. During the warmer months there are tables on the sidewalk, not too many, but it helps alleviate the crowd. Inside you have a typical pub, nothing fancy, but with large tables that can be pulled together for groups celebrating a post-softball team victory.

Oh, one downside is that they are cash only, but with prices so low, you won't need much more than a $20.

WHAT TO BITE? Cheeseburger, $8.75 and Pecan Pie, $5.95

Jackson Hole, 1611 2d Ave., (btwn 83 & 84th)

Jackson Hole apparently has some of the largest burgers in Manhattan. I believe this, not because I've eaten one, but because I've been at the restaurant and seen it happen. This was part of the 15+ years of my life when I wasn't eating red meat, so I came here with a friend and had a chicken sandwich. It wasn't anything fantastic to write home about, but it was massive. The side of fries was massive too. I'm not sure who they think they are feeding, but it is great for sharing with a friend or loved one, because you probably shouldn't eat the entire thing. Unless you're training for an eating competition, or if you lost a bet at Mad River the night before.

It's a no frills place, with some tacky decorations on the wall but simple (huge) burgers. Give them a shot, see what they are like, and feel free to report back. I should return now that I eat red meat, but with all the burger joints out there, I have a lot to get to!

WHAT TO BITE? Beefburger platter, $9.90.