This is the $4 cheeseburger from Carnegie John’s street cart on 56th near 7th Avenue and it’s delicious. First it’s griddled, then charcoal-grilled, then put back on the griddle before being covered in American cheese, shredded lettuce, and tomato. It’s a two-hand burger and it’s only $4. Go pick one up and eat it outside. Read on for Carnegie John’s other go-to option for a cheap and tasty lunch…

Carnegie John is a one-man wrecking crew, simultaneously flipping burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, Italian susages, and even steaks from the griddle to the grill and back. This process leaves all the meat juicy and moist while adding a backyard grill flavor that will transport you to a Sunday afternoon in July. As “Carnegie” John Antoniou says on NYMag.com, “It seals in the juice and gives everything a nice flavor.” Simple yet effective.

Tony “The Dragon” Dragonas, who operates his own cart on 62nd Street and Madison, taught Carnegie John the tricks of the trade, specifically how to prepare a mean char-grilled chicken platter ($5.50). After putting the chicken through the double-grill process, its placed on a bed of yellow rice and topped with some tzatiki sauce. A salad of lettuce and tomato doused in a generic lemon vinaigrette and a few slices of pita fill out the tin tray. It’s a seriously hearty offering for a great price.

With so many great outdoor eating spots in Midtown, this is the perfect time of year to grab some grub from Carnegie John, find a nice spot, and make the most of your lunch hour.

Carnegie John’s

Here’s the lowdown: John goes from griddle, to charcoal, then back to the griddle. Per New York Mag.com, John says “it seals in the juice and gives everything a nice flavor.”

He was right about that, flavor was about all this burger had. John committs the patron sin of burger making: smushing the patty under the spatula, letting all the delicious juices escape. The result is a burger not far off from one your father cooked for you on July 4th.

The flavor is indeniably charcoal, which is a nice change of pace, even from the flame broiled deliciousness of The Burger Joint. The toppings, iceberg lettuce, a slice of tomato, and melted American, complement the burger well. It’s a burger you’d have been happy to eat every night in college (a Midtown steal at $4) and it will satisfy that nostalgic, simple desire for an unfettered taste of years past. If you’re looking for a transcendent burger experience in Midtown however, stick to Burger Joint, Brooklyn Diner, or Five Guys.

Here’s another great review of Carnegie John’s from Zach at Midtown Lunch

Carnegie John’s

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