Mel's in Morningside

I don't get up to the Morningside Heights/Upper Upper West area too often (UES to UWS is not an easy journey), but I still had not seen Podz' new apartment.  We decided to meet at Mel's Burger Bar on Sunday for some lunch before she showed me her new digs.  Between all the good things Sarah had heard about this place and the fact that we were starving, we ordered most of the menu.

• We started with fried pickles.  I liked the horseradish dipping sauce and that the pickles were still crispy, but the batter was not the best I've had.
• We both got burgers (obvi).  Sarah got a bacon cheeseburger and I got a cheeseburger topped with avocado, mushrooms, and house sauce.  The burger was messy, but that's code for good. 
• The burgers don't come with fries, so we got one order to split.  Why stop at normal fries when you can get disco fries?  Disco means they're topped with gravy and cheese.  Just like Studio 54, this disco was messy and delicious.
• Shakes are a normal burger accompaniment but what's this?  Spiked milkshakes?!  We had to try these and one would not suffice.  We were instantly drawn to the Shot of Joe (mocha chip ice cream, Kahlua, and Bailey's) and asked our waiter for help choosing the second one.  He said the Ja Love (vanilla ice cream, pineapple juice, and Malibu rum) was his favorite on the menu.  That one hadn't even made our short list, but we figured he'd probably tried them all and went with his reco.  He was right.  It was delicious, and the Shot of Joe was nothing to turn your nose up at, either.

After a great lunch, it was clear to me that the Morningside Heights area is turning into a pretty happening 'hood.  There are great burgers all over the city so I wouldn't trek to 111th street unless you already happen to be there.  However, if you live anywhere in the Upper West vicinity, I would give it a check-out.  We decided to work off our feast by playing some Wii back at Podz' apartment where Podz killed me in sword play and jetskiing, but I dominated archery and wakeboarding, leaving us tied (and still super full).