A Pure‑and‑Simple Love Letter to Burgers at Lovely’s Old Fashioned
Lovely’s Old Fashioned is all about doing the classic cheeseburger right—fresh, unfussy, and seriously craveable.
At Lovely’s Old Fashioned in Hell’s Kitchen, owner Justin and chef Adam are doing one thing really, really well: serving up no-frills, high-quality burgers that keep locals and theatergoers coming back day after day.
From Childhood Cravings to a Burger Dream Realized
For Justin, owning a burger spot wasn’t just a business move. It was a long-held vision. Lovely’s Old Fashioned is a tribute to the kind of cheeseburger that defined American diners and backyard grills for generations. “It’s really just kind of a love letter,” chef Adam says. “No excuses, no fancy ingredients. Just fresh ground beef, toasted bun, and that’s it.”
The concept might sound simple, but it’s the kind of simplicity that takes years to perfect. The team spent decades in the restaurant industry before deciding to open a tightly focused burger joint—one that stayed true to its roots.
What Makes the Burger at Lovely’s So Special
The signature double cheeseburger is what put Lovely’s on the map, and it’s easy to see why. Each patty is made from freshly ground, whole-muscle beef—not the commodity mix you’ll find at most burger spots. “Every day our beef is ground fresh,” Adam explains. “It’s not just gigantic amounts of beef thrown into a hopper... what we get is something totally different.”
Add a slice of perfectly melty American cheese and a Martin’s potato bun, and you’ve got what Adam calls the “platonic version of the perfect cheeseburger.”
The Charlotte’s Special: A Nostalgic Bite
The Charlotte’s Special is a fan favorite—and for good reason. It’s inspired by an old-school method of stretching ingredients: cooking the burger right on top of a pile of thinly sliced onions. As the beef sizzles, the onions caramelize underneath, infusing the patty with sweet, savory steam and crispy edges. Add melty cheese and a swipe of their house-made Charlotte sauce—a tangy, mayo-based nod to classic Russian dressing—and you’ve got something special.
“It’s the perfect bite,” Adam says.
The rest of the menu is just as focused. Lovely’s keeps it simple with:
Single and double cheeseburgers
Charlotte’s Special
Patty melt
Snappy dog (all-beef hot dog)
Vegetarian Mushrooben (pastrami-cured mushrooms)
They’ll occasionally run specials like the Big O, a burger stacked with bacon, BBQ sauce, and an onion ring, but the heart of Lovely’s is still the core lineup. “The secret sauce, no pun intended, is keeping the menu limited so we can deliver really fast."
A Hell’s Kitchen Favorite
Right near the Theater District, Lovely’s draws a steady crowd of locals, performers, tourists, and late-night bar-goers. “We have residents that eat here five, six days a week,” Adam says. “And theater-goers will grab a second burger after the show—they’re craving it the whole time.”
That mix of foot traffic and loyal regulars has helped Lovely’s build real staying power. The shop’s been open for almost three years, and they’ve only raised prices once. “We want people to afford a burger, fries, and a Coke and still have money left to do other things.”
Lovely’s doesn’t chase trends. They just stick to what they do best: high-quality, classic burgers served fast, with care. It’s the kind of place where one bite feels like home and where people keep coming back, again and again.