One of New York’s best-known secrets is still a find for those who have yet to experience its simple pleasures. Behind a thick velvet partition in the lobby of the bustling midtown Parker Meridien, a shack-like kitchen produces a consistently top-rated hamburger to midtown workers, hotel residents and other hamburger lovers.

From its 11.30am opening to mid-afternoon, a line snakes out of the small, dive-like space into the hot...

One of New York’s best-known secrets is still a find for those who have yet to experience its simple pleasures. Behind a thick velvet partition in the lobby of the bustling midtown Parker Meridien, a shack-like kitchen produces a consistently top-rated hamburger to midtown workers, hotel residents and other hamburger lovers.

From its 11.30am opening to mid-afternoon, a line snakes out of the small, dive-like space into the hotel lobby, so anyone who can wait should hold out until after 3pm. Be ready with your order when it is your turn to order or someone will get annoyed. So memorize the menu (in true burger joint style on a white board over the grill): hamburger, cheeseburger, grilled cheese, fries, shakes (after 1.30pm), brownies, lemonade, soda or beer. Prices include tax (a hamburger is $6.50 by the way), so do your fellow burger lovers a favor and have your money ready in advance too. Its late hours (11.30pm, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays) make this a practical spot for post-Carnegie Hall performances. Of course, the wait undermines any practicality aspect; there’s only one reason to come here and that’s the juicy burger.