The Cheeseburger Review

Bone Daddy's (Plano)

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:12:00 GMT

My friend, David Goff, and I went to Bone Daddy’s to get some BBQ because everybody knows they have the best looking BBQ in Dallas. But the waitress talked me into a burger, so here I am writing a review.

The first thing you will notice about Bone Daddy’s is the quality of construction. When you walk in the door, the hostess stand hits you right in the face. It truly is a thing of beauty, something you’d expect to see in a gym or Maxim magazine. You tell them how many people are in your party (I think that is pretty normal, but for some reason I was so stunned when she asked it just felt like the greatest question I’d ever heard), and they take you to your booth. When the waitress arrived to get our drink order, I noticed the menu; it is so perfectly balanced with a pretty cover, the big appetizer section on top, the skinny salads in the middle and a perfect amount of heavier food in the back. We ordered a couple of beers and commenced on a 15-minute excursion to download some stupid coupon app that scans a QR code and gives you a discount. It takes forever to download and then you have to sign up for an account (which is a beating), and when you finally get it scanned it gave me a half off bread pudding which I was never going to order anyway! Goff got a “sorry, better luck next time” message. My recommendation for you is to NEVER download that beating of an app; I’d rather have the 15 minutes of my life back.

One weird thing I noticed about BD’s was anytime a beer was brought back to our table it was never delivered by our waitress. Yet it was always a gorgeous, tall, glistening bottle of Miller Lite. When the food arrived, you really saw the quality. This thing is a mess, just the way a burger should be. It is big and juicy and has bacon! It comes with great fries and a cup of their famous beans (that, btw, are off the hook!). The burger tastes about what a good restaurant burger should taste like. Being an average burger is not a bad thing, especially when you excel at every other category. The bacon really takes it up a level. The bun and toppings were all fresh. My recommendation: check this place out and if you can get past the BBQ, get a burger. Oh, and the waitresses are pretty good too.

The Meat - (1/2 star) Good taste for a BBQ joint

The Juice - (1 star) Great ooze in this baby

Handling - (1 Star) Big, big, big

Cardiac Factor- (1 star) Most definitely bad for you

Bryan Factor- (1/2 star) For a BBQ joint, this is a good one

Final Score: 4 Stars

Bone Daddy's is located at DNT & Parker

3916 North Dallas Parkway

Plano, TX 75093

www.bonedaddys.com

Burger Island (Carrollton)

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:31:00 GMT

Some people had asked if I had been to Burger Island in Carrollton before. Usually when multiple people mention a burger joint that is a good sign that it is time to go eat there. My friend Julie Hall was on my lunch schedule and was game for Burger Island so we headed out to Carrollton to try this burger joint. I am a veteran of Old Downtown Carrollton as I got my hair cut at Ed’s Clip Joint for a couple of decades. Now I don’t have any hair to speak of so it’s been a while since I have been down there. Looks like they are really fixing it up. The Dart rail runs right through downtown now. The rail is such a great tool for relieving Dallas area traffic and our dependence on foreign oil. But being the driver of a very Green Chevrolet Avalanche that gets a whopping 13mpg, Julie and I decided to drive separately and just meet there.

Burger Island is in an old strip center just east of Downtown. It’s a cool place with all kinds of words on the windows. They even have free delivery; I wish I’d have known that before spending $50 in gas driving from Frisco. The inside is really where it’s at. The ultra modern decor will really impress even the most high-end decorators. The folding tables are covered and there is a huge 27” standard definition TV playing a workout video. They seem to have forgotten to put in flooring but I bet it’s because they were so wrapped up in the burger. All kidding aside, when I walked in my expectation for the burger shot up. A place like this is where the good burgers are hiding. So you order at a counter that I didn’t get a picture of. The food is insanely cheap and they have Texas Toothpicks! For those of you who don’t know that is strips of onion and jalapenos battered and deep-fried. I went with a standard ½ pound cheeseburger for my review. They give you a cup, a number and point you to the ice tea. I filled up and headed for a booth. The booth we picked look as it had the most “history”, and as you know, I am a huge history buff.

When the burger arrived it just looks like a ½ pound burger. You can tell by looking at it that the meat is not preformed at Sysco. Mine even came with a bonus thumbhole in the top of the bun. When I bit in the first thing I notice was the massive amount of lettuce. When I got to the meat it had a really good taste but was not as juicy as I’d expect. The thing is huge, being a ½ pound, and is work to finish and hold. The Texas Toothpicks were a little heavy on the batter but good, and came with good ranch too. Overall it is a great burger at a great price. So next time you are in Downtown Carrollton getting your hair cut, wait ‘til the barber is done and then head on over to Burger Island and get ‘chu one.

The Meat (1 star) Really good taste

The Juice (0 star) Unfortunately not real juicy

Handling (1 star) It’s a ½ pound

Cardiac Factor (1 star) again, it’s a ½ pound

Bryan Factor (0 star) Great burger if you’re in the area, probably a one-time trip.

Final Score: 3 Stars

Burger Island

1208 East Belt Line Rd #108

Carrollton, TX 75006

Tailgaters (Frisco)

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:32:00 GMT

So, there is a new bar in town called Tailgaters and Matt Wiese told me they have great food. “Do they?” I said, “then let’s go to lunch” and we headed off to eat. It’s at the corner of Warren and Parkwood under the Post apartments. Going in, it looks like a really nice place. Big bar area, lot’s of tables and a ton of TV’s. When we sat down I was looking around and realized there was a redskins logo on the ceiling! Now I know what you are saying “But Bryan, why didn’t you stand up and march right out of there”. Well, I wanted to. They do have what appeared to be every NFL logo and a ton of collage teams (including USC who got schooled in 2006 by Vince Young and the Longhorns) on their ceiling, but this is still Dallas, TX. If you want to display a redskins logo, that is your right; but don’t expect me to appreciate it. I am sure there was a giants and eagles logo somewhere in there, but the thought of it made me sick and I wanted to give a fair shake to the burger. Honestly, it still makes me ill to even type those team names.

Moving on, I ordered a “mash burger” which is a ½ pound burger with your choice of two ingredients mashed into the burger patty. It sounds like a great bit and the waitress said it was “really good” so I gave it a try. I ordered mine with jalapenos and bacon, what else would anyone even consider? When the burger came, I immediately noticed the size; look at the pic, does that look close to a ½ pound burger? Looks more like a ¼ pounder to me. Halfway through the first bite I realized there was a chard crust on the burger and I was fully expecting to bight through a burnt ¼ pound patty. When I completed the bite, I realized it was cooked perfectly with a very nice char on the outside. Bravo, good sir, bravo. The patty had great taste. I didn’t really taste much bacon but the jalapenos were a very nice addition to the taste. The bun was a normal bun and the toppings looked and tasted fresh. All in all it was a pretty nice, average, burger. The restaurant could use some help. For example, they got Matt’s order wrong and the waitress informed us they get almost every order wrong. I’m pretty sure they gave me a kid’s burger patty but at least it tasted good. If you don’t mind being in the same room as a redskin logo, go get you one of these. If you’re really hungry, you may need to order another one for dessert.

The Meat - (1- star) Good taste, great char

The Juice - (1/2- star) cooked perfectly, but a little on the dry side

Handling - (0- Star) Seriously, if I could take away a point I would

Cardiac Factor- (1- star) it’s bad for you, no doubt.

Bryan Factor- (1/2- star) I’m still a little bitter at the size and the lack of bacon, but not bad for bar food.

Final Score: 3 Stars!

Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill

7777 Warren Pkwy # 350, Frisco, TX

https://www.facebook.com/people/Tailgaters-Frisco/100002437651840

The Holy Grail (Plano, TX)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:28:00 GMT

For the holidays, my lunch networking group wanted to meet somewhere to get lunch and a beer. It just so happens I have wanted to review the burger at Holy Grail for a while so it was a match made in heaven. One of the reasons I like this particular pub is that they carry Boddington’s on a nitrous tap; making it even more delicious and refreshing. When the waitress asked what I was drinking I immediately called out the name of my beloved beer, only to hear her say, “we don’t have Boddington’s anymore”. Ok, I understand it’s not the most popular beer, which is why so few carry it. I held back my tears and decided that an English pub would be the perfect place to get a Black and Tan (Guinness with Smithwicks). Yeah, they were out of Smithwicks too. Seriously? Now I know what you are thinking, “But Bryan, why didn’t you just leave?” Well, everyone else had their order so I just got Guinness. When reading the menu you will see that the burger is a blend of ground beef and pork. I’ve had a burger with Foie Gras….. I am not afraid of a little pork. It comes open face on a ciabatta bun so you get a good look at the patty and beautifully melted cheese. That being said, I was out at the first bite. The burger was really dried out. I imagine you have to cook it longer with pork in it to be sure it’s done, but I am not a fan of over cooked burgers. It was also very salty, again probably the pork. I toughed it out and when you reach the center you will actually find a juicy burger with good taste. But it really just isn’t my style and I wouldn’t ever order it again. The fries are really good and the food at the table got rave reviews from the group (too bad they don’t have a blog). There was fish & chips, a brisket melt and everything looked great. What I really wished I had ordered was The Monte Cristo; it looked sooooo good. To sum it up; go to The Holy Grail, just don’t get the burger.

The Meat (0 star) didn’t care for the beef/pork blend

The Juice (0 star) dry and over-cooked

Handling (1 star) great size

Cardiac Factor (1 star) definitely bad for you

Bryan Factor (0 star) Just not my bag

FINAL SCORE: 2 STARS

City Limits (Sherman, TX)

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:48:00 GMT

We were planning a trip to Durant, OK and I knew we’d be passing through Sherman around lunchtime. I asked Marc Zalmanoff (The Fitness Ninja who is from Sherman) where is the best place for lunch. He promptly tells me to eat at City Limits on Texhoma Parkway “Just good ol greasy fried goodness” was his exact quote. Now I know what you’re thinking; “But Bryan, what does a fitness guy know about good food?” Think about it, a fitness guy would have to be up to speed on where people get fat! So when we arrived the place looks like it was formerly a vacuum cleaner store, it is defiantly a dive (which is good). Inside it is actually pretty nice. It’s a sports bar, so lots of TVs and sports bar stuff. We opted for the non-smoking section in back by a window. Our view included the back parking lot and a tree with tennis shoes all over it. I always wondered where old stinky tennis shoes came from.

It must have been “VFW day” as the crowd was especially “seasoned”. Later I realized we had just gotten there at 11AM with the “early birds”, when we left there was a very diverse age group present. When I picked up the menu I immediately saw jalapeño strips and ordered them. I am a sucker for fried jalapenos and just couldn’t pass them up. They were really good, great batter and ranch dressing. The waitress said the jalapeño strips are her favorite and they actually make their own ranch dressing along with a couple other dressings and thousand island. When it came to the burger I went with a hickory burger with cheddar cheese. When I saw the Hickory Burger I was reminded of how much I loved the Muy Mucho at Chili’s (When Chili’s was still good food). Nikki went with a regular burger with cheddar. The burger came out extremely fast and they were piping hot! The cheese on the burgers was shredded, and that always make me happy. Biting into the burger you get all the flavors from the bun, to the perfect amount of mustard, to the chopped onions and lettuce. When you taste the burger is has great flavor and a think, almost crispy patty. It was perfectly cooked and juicy. Making a juicy burger that is cooked through with a little crisp to the outside is an art. Not many places can do it like this, for that my hat’s off to City Limits. My Hickory burger was a mess, as it should be, and the hickory part was just ok. Nikki’s “not tricked up” burger was better than mine. This place was really cool, with terrific service, and a GREAT place to have lunch. It was Monday and it was packed when we left. If you ever find yourself in Sherman, go try this baby!

The Meat (1 star) Wonderful flavor with the “crispiness”

The Juice (1 star) Juicy and yummy

Handling (1 star) Big size, barely fit in the basket

Cardiac Factor (1 star) Oh, I needed a cleanse afterwards

Bryan Factor (1 star) I loved it and can’t wait to go back

Final Score: 5 Stars

Liberty Burger (Dallas, TX) 4 Stars!

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:35:00 GMT

When multiple people call or text you about a new burger joint in Dallas you have to take note. After spending the morning watching a plumber "pressure test" a gas line for one of my clients in Dallas, I decided to head over to Inwood and Forest to get a Liberty Burger. Now I know what you are thinking, "But Bryan, if you're at Inwood and Forest why in the world would you not go to Crystal Pizza?" well, crystal has been closed for at least 10 years. Seriously, get with the program. So you go toLiberty Burger and get in line. I got here at 11:15 and it is starting to fill up with people. It is counter service and you get a number so they can bring you the food. The menu is a little tricked up with a few funnies like “The Traitor” (grilled chicken) and the salads “Crunchy, Bold or Sturdy”. The tea is self-serve and tastes really good. It says its Texas Select Tea, which makes me wonder; do they grow tea in Texas? I've never really considered where tea comes from;only that it’s good. Some lady, I hope she worked there, brought my food to the table. They use fancy white square plates and they stab the burger with a knife…. I guess to make sure it's dead. The fries are smaller "not quite shoe string" style. They are pretty salty, which means two things: I won’t have to apply extra salt and that my wife wouldn’t like them. My first impression was of the bun and how "soft" it is, like a slice of wonder white bread. I also immediately caught the char taste for the burger. I never say this but the pickles and onions were really good too. The burger has solid flavor, consistent and juicy. It was cooked perfectly and the onlything I could find to complain about was the size. I left thinking "what else could I eat" which is my least favorite thought after I just ate. Overall this thing is good, and it is not a secret as the place was packed when I left. Oh, and on a side note; they have chipotle ketchup that is really solid. If you like chipotle go there just to try this stuff. I wish they sold it as the squirt bottle leaked all over my pocket as I was smuggling a bottle out. I'm kidding, I wouldn't steal ketchup. Or, would I??????

The Meat (1 star) Very good, solid taste.

The Juice (1 star) Cooked perfectly, not dried out at all.

Handling (1/2star) Not too small, but not that big either.

Cardiac Factor (1 star) It is a winner.

Bryan Factor (1/2 star) Great burger, just a little small.

Final Score: 4 Stars

givemelibertyburger.com

5211 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas 75244

Dairy-ette (Dallas)

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:29:00 GMT

Park here and they'll bring it out to you. (Watch out for the creepy guy in khakis)

Burger, Corn Dog or Fish Basket... So many choices

So I got this Groupon for a place called Bacon & Friends in Mesquite. Seriously, how could a place with that name be bad? So I picked up a friend and we headed to Mesquite. It’s ALL the way down at 30 and Galloway, which from Frisco is a hell of a long way. So we made the trek and joked about how a kick ass named place would totally be worth it and when we arrived, well, they were closed. It looked to be a permanent situation, but there was no sign on the door. So now I am 30 miles from home and out $5 for an unusable Groupon. Now, I know what you are thinking; “But Bryan, what are you going to do?” Well, I told Siri to open my Local Eats app and went to search for a top burger with 10 miles. Apparently GPS doesn’t work in Mesquite so I had to do a manual search, how inconvenient. A place called Dariy-ette caught my eye. It wasn’t too far, just over at Oates and Ferguson in Dallas. So we headed over with no expectations. When we arrived, we found a drive-in style restaurant with the window trays and everything. Because I’m so familiar with these places, I parked in a drive-in spot and we went in to eat. On the door is a host of stickers like “D Magazine Recommended” and “Local Eats Top 100” to name two (I should get some of those for my top burger places). Inside is about the size of a singlewide trailer. A handful of booths and a counter with barstools is about it, oh and wood paneling. The bathroom is around the side of the building and you have to “shake” dry your hands as they still have the old recycled towel dryer. When I returned form the out side I saw my frosted mug of ice tea (how cool is that?). The menu is one of the “menu kits” from the 70’s and has everything on it from burgers to hot dogs to milk shakes. It also said that Dairy-ette was founded in 1956. I asked the waitress about how big the burgers were and she informed me they are 1/3 lbs. To that I said “I am watching my waist line so I will have a double with cheese”. It came in a basket on top of the fries and let me tell you the minute I saw this thing I knew I would love it. It just looks like a burger should look. All that glorious meat and cheese in a bun sitting in front of me. The first bite is true to the story, just an old style greasy burger. You can taste the meat in every bite. It deserves to have all the stickers on the door. The toppings are “Texas style” or chopped lettuce and onion with mustard for you out-of-staters. The burger is big and filling and the fries are the normal size, greasy kind. After eating I was surprised to learn that Chad Rudy with www.wealthtrac.com/frisco was paying for the tab. The only thing better than a burger is a burger someone else pays for.

It’s no secret that I rarely meet a burger I don’t like, but seriously; drive down to Dallas and get you one of these.

I though they were bringing me a beer. But alas, just ice tea.

The Meat (1 star) Very good, taste throughout.

The Juice (1 star) Ooze galore!

Handling (1star) Big, big, big (Helps I ordered a double, but the single was big too).

Cardiac Factor (1 star) You know this one is bad for you.

Bryan Factor (1 star) I love it! I wish I’d have found it sooner.

Final Score= 5 Stars Baby!!!

www.dairyette.com

9785 Ferguson Road

Dallas, TX 75228

214-327-9983

Ye' Old Butcher Shop (Plano) 4 Stars

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:06:00 GMT

The Ye' Old Butcher Shop opened in Plano, TX 1974, coincidently I was born this same year and I happened to live in Plano. So really, the yoBS is my kin; my long lost butcher shop brother or distant cousin maybe. The place rocks and you can tell when you walk in the door. The meat counter has beef, pork and chicken too. They will even butcher the deer you hit with your car and everything. You can get a steak for dinner or a bulk pack of meat for the freezer. Now, I know what you are thinking; “But Bryan, why would I want to buy all the parts and go through all the trouble to make my own burger?” Well, they also have a café… with burgers… which is where I come in.

So I walked up to the counter and told the guy about being related to this place. He wasn’t really interested in what I found to be hilarious so I ordered a regular cheeseburger and an order of 1/2 fries, 1/2 rings and went and sat down. I unfortunately picked a seat next to an IT department and heard about load balancing server stuff, web server diverticulation, and a bunch of other stuff that makes me want to go to sleep. The dominant nerd at the table talked very loud so the other 5 knew he was in charge. I swear to you he said, "load balance" at least 175 times. Seriously, he said it 7 times since I've been writing.

My number was finally called. The burger was on a normal white bun. It was big and juicy. I took a bite and instantly thought “now this is a good burger” and not just because of my relation to the restaurant. The fries and rings were great too. I love "no frills" burger joints. Just grill the patty, add toppings, put it on a bun and give me my lunch. I don’t need avocado or caviar on it. The yoBS does just that. It’s big and filling and in the words of the immortal J.J. Evens; It’s a “Dyn-o-mite” place to eat lunch.

The Meat - (1/2- star) Yummy meat, perfectly good

The Juice - (1/2- star) Could have had more grease, but you might like that.

Handling - (1- Star) Big, baby.

Cardiac Factor- (1- star) It’s from a butcher shop. Real Meat = Real Cholesterol

Bryan Factor- (1- star) Oh yeah, I dig it. And were related, so go eat there.

Final Score: 4 Stars!

Pride Burger (McKinney) 4 of 5 Stars

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:55:00 GMT

Pride Burger (McKinney) 4 of 5 Stars

Have you ever been to McKinney to get your drivers license renewed? You may have gone because someone told you the line was much shorter there and after a 3 hour wait you realized they didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. That has never happened to me. My DPS experience landed me in Sherman for 2 hours after a 45-minute drive each way, thanks Tracy. Anyway if you do find yourself up off 380 and your are not eating breakfast at Bill Smith’s Café, (plug for the greatest of all breakfasts) head to the intersection of 380 and Kentucky for a Pride Burger.

It’s located in an old white building with red trim and there is some covered parking that you will enjoy in August. It appears to be a dive but is very clean and orderly inside. There are only about 10 booths to eat in, so go a little early or you will be eating in your uncovered car. The staff is really friendly and welcoming. There were many city employees and even some Sherriff Deputies there. The patrons seem to all know each other which would mean they go there often; that is always a good sign. I ordered the 1/2 lb double cheeseburger. He offered me the choice of having a single 1/2lb patty, but I opted for the 2 patties as he claimed they were both very good. The burger is pretty normal; it’s on a white bun and has chopped lettuce, onion, and mustard. We’re in Texas so that is how it should be. I love the chopped toppings by the way. Reminds me of Whataburger or Snuffers, and they both make me very happy. It is delivered to the table in a basket with fries. Now the fries are very much normal. No tricked up shapes or seasonings. Just cut up potatoes that are fried. I found they needed salt, but the wife loved them as-is. It’s nice to go somewhere and just get some normal fries. TIP: if you’re fries ever need salt; don’t apply to the fry, it will just fall off. Salt the ketchup so you make sure your getting your daily-recommended amount of sodium. Trust me, I am a pro and you will thank me for this. Let’s get back to the burger. The beef is the size of the bun and that is a plus. So I take a bite through the bun and lovely toppings to get to my cheese covered double patties. They were very thin patties, which contributed to a lack of ooze, but they had great flavor. And just like the fries, not tricked up flavor. Just good beef taste. This is definitely a no frills place and I commend them for giving us what we want.

My next trip there will be to get a 1/2lb single patty cheeseburger. Yes, I will absolutely be making another trip. You should go try it too.

The Meat - (1 star) Great flavor

The Juice - (0 star) Unfortunately, no ooze

Handling - (1 Star) Patties as big as the bun, needs two hands at the start

Cardiac Factor- (1 star) Scores here too

Bryan Factor- (1 star) I like it. Just a solid burger.

Final Score: 4 of 5 Stars

Bachman Tacos & Grill

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:55:00 GMT

You know the situation; you and the kids are out canoeing on Bachman Lake and they get hungry and all whiny and stuff. All the gentleman clubs are gone, where are you going to take them to eat? I know what you’re thinking, “But Bryan, can you even canoe on Bachman anymore?” I used to canoe there, but that was at day camp when I was 10 years old. I didn’t see anyone canoeing last Friday, but I didn’t see any lake police either, so I say go for it. If you’ve been to the area lately you know the area has changed over the years. It went from family friendly with Christmas By The Park and Bryan’s Day Camp (I think that was the official name) to an area with a whole lot of rift-raft. Now it’s all cleaned up and vacant, but the Chevron is still there. And if you get a hankering for gas station food, inside the Chevron you will find Bachman Tacos & Grill. They have a surprisingly vast menu for a gas station. On that menu you will find a couple varieties of burger. I ordered the double cheeseburger. Now, I must admit right now that this burger is not far from what you’d expect to eat at a gas station. It’s very average, but comes with crinkle fries. The thing about this place is the Trompo. The Trompo is a big funnel of pork rotating like gyro meat. They shave deep red slices off for your order and it is pig meat heaven. You can get it in a taco or on a burger, and let me tell you how much I regret not getting the “tex-mex burger”. The tacos are Mexican style with chopped onions and cilantro. The sauces are amazing and will take the skin off your lips. Writing this burger review has me seeking out burgers all over town, but today it took me to tacos that I had to share with you. So go forget the lake and eat some tacos. I’ll go find a burger for the next review.

Wingfield’s Breakfast and Burgers (Dallas) 5 Stars

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:48:00 GMT

Nikki and I headed to Austin for a one-night trip. I wanted to have a burger review from Austin to post so we ate at Parkside on 6^th Street; and the experience was not really even worth writing about. On the way back from Austin Nikki suggested we could stop at Wingfield’s. Wingfield’s was D Magazine’s top burger a few yeas ago, so I have wanted to go there for a while. Wingfield’s is located on Beckley Avenue, just south of Illinois Ave. I lived in a pretty rough area when I was a kid and luckily still have my Ghetto Pass, so I fit right in. You white folks may want to pack some heat when you go. Now this is not really a restaurant, you actually can’t eat inside. They only take cash and there is standing room for about 5 people, that is it. We got there around 3:30PM and it was very busy. There is a small window unit in the waiting area so it is a cool 99 degrees inside, still much better than the 108 outside. As a matter of fact, many patrons just wait for their food in their car. You might even call ahead about 15 minutes, I noticed quite a few people were doing that. The food is insanely cheap, so cheap I don’t even remember how much it was. We got our food after a 15 or 20 minute wait and took it to the car to eat it. I have also heard people take it down the street to the park but the cool A/C of the Honda Pilot sounded like a better option. We opened the bag and dragged out what seemed to be the biggest damn burger I have ever seen (well, you know what I am saying). This is so big, it s hard to finish. The first bite you take makes you realize why it was named the best burger in Dallas. It tastes great and it is greasy awesomeness. I don’t know if there were toppings because it was hard not to just taste meat and cheese. It truly is a burger lover’s burger; it is what my rating scale was looking for all of its life. I could not finish it, but took a few more bites on the Main Street exit after heading home. I was full, but couldn’t bear to not eat it. I was afraid going into this it would not live up to the hype, but it defiantly delivered. It is not my place to anoint it the best burger in Dallas, but it has to be one of the best. And they have crinkle fries, which is a bonus too!

The Meat - (1 star) Mmmmmm, Mmmmmmm Good

The Juice - (1 star) Super ooze, grab extra napkins

Handling - (1 Star) Humongous, to say the least

Cardiac Factor- (1 star) Oh, this one will kill you

Bryan Factor- (1 star) Boom! Oh yeah!

Final Score- 5 STARS!

Fat Daddy's Burger House

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:42:00 GMT

So one day I'm dropping off an option check at Buckner and Garland road in Dallas. It's lunch time and next door is a burger joint called Fat Daddy's Burger House. I go in and see it is a counter service type burger joint, so I head to the cashier. On the way I see the menu and there is a ton of stuff from quesadillas to chicken tenders. There is so much on the menu, I wonder if I am in for a negative review. I order the classic 1/2lb burger with American. They give me a number (#409 if you care) and a glass for tea. They have mango, sweet, regular and signature tea. Signature intrigued me into tasting, but it turns out to be some sort of Arnold Palmer type drink. I dumped it and settled for the watered down regular tea. They call my number and to my dismay it is a top your own burger place, you all know how I feel about that. So I get some pickles, white onion, lettuce and mustard. Oh, and I lost 2 pounds last week so ranch for my fries made perfect sense at the time. I take my first bite and honestly wanted to dislike it as I was looking forward to writing a bad review. To my dismay, this thing is not bad at all. Good size, nice char taste, fresh bun, perfect amount of cheese... It has D magazine recommend on the door and I'd have to agree; pretty darn good. And the ranch is really good too. So if you're swimming in white rock lake, take break and go get 'cha one of these. Meat: (1 star) good taste texture Ooze: (1/2 star )pretty moist, but not greasy Size: (1 star) perfect size, just what I'd expect Heart Attack Factor: (1/2 star) somewhat lacking here Bryan Factor: (1/2 star) if you make me dress it, you can't have more than half. That being said, I really enjoyed it. Final Score: 3 1/2 stars.

Smashburger (Frisco) 4 of 5 Stars

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:16:00 GMT

Any time a member of The Dallas Cowboys opens a restaurant, I am there. Marc Colombo was there when the Smashburger opened in Frisco this month and let me tell you, he is a big dude. There’s rumors abound that he won’t be a Dallas Cowboy this year so I think I can give you a fair review without having to see him around. Now I must admit I have had Smashburger before, and if you are savvy enough you can find the review. They call it a Smashburger as they smash the ground beef onto the griddle, makes since right? They could also call it “juicyburger” as it definitely has the ooze that a good burger must have. I ordered the Texas Smashburger that has mustard, American, lettuce, pickles and onions on an egg bun. Of course I had them hold the toms and I added jalapenos. Beware! These are hot fresh japs, not pickled ones. Baby, they were HOT! By the way you people not from Texas; mustard is the only thing that belongs on a burger. Anyway the burger is great, I promise you will not be disappointed. The stores are cool and clean. The staff has been friendly at both locations I’ve been to and they have great iced tea, which is a MUST in any restaurant. The WTF (why the face?) moment you will run into at Smashburger is the sides. The fries, onion rings and fried jalapeno strips are all great, but when you see the quantity you get for $2 your jaw will hit the ground… and that’s if you order with a burger; without they are $3! You know I never complain about price, but these sides are ridiculous. Mooyah has a large fry for $4.09 and it is an entire to-go bag of fries. Smashburger barely gives you a handful for $2-3. Chris Rock would be highly disappointed and so am I. But if you can get past the crazy sides, the burger is GREAT so go get you one.

The Meat - (1 star) Big taste, big flavor

The Juice - (1 star) Oozy baby, nice and juicy

Handling - (1/2 Star) 1/2lb cooks down to a little smaller than I’d like

Cardiac Factor- (1 star) Yep, it’s bad for you

Bryan Factor- (1/2 star) Well above average, but could be bigger

Final Score: 4 Stars

Fuddruckers (McKinney) 3 of 5 Stars

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:36:00 GMT

When I was a kid one of my favorite places to go was Fuddruckers. I loved the dress your own burger places like Purdy’s and someplace owned by an ex-Cowboy that I can’t remember. After growing up I realized you should not have to dress your own burger. I pay for your burger so it is consistent and it has the proper amount of toppings appropriate to what I ordered. What if I ordered the jalapeno burger and put 20 pickles on it? My review would say it is very pickley tasting. If the average Joe knew how much “stuff” to put on their burger, they would just make them at home. This is why we eat out; so you can make us your creation with the “proper” amounts of ingredients. Anyway; since my childhood Fuddruckers has not changed much at all. Most importantly they still have the jalapeno cheese sauce. Fuddruckers is the epitome of a GOOD burger (besides the assembly required part). It’s not going to win any awards (although they clam to be the worlds greatest hamburger), but you’ll go back. Trust me, you’ll go back for the jalapeno cheese sauce alone. So what do you say about a good burger? It’s a good size, it was cooked perfectly and I grew up eating them. Now you’re asking, then why only 3 stars? Well, because it is just good. It’s not great and it’s not horrible. It’s just good. And what is wrong with that? They have a bunch of tricked up stuff on their menu, but here’s what you do; Just order the 1/2lb burger (no cheese) and put the junk on it that you want but go over and get multiple cups of jalapeno cheese sauce to dip your fries, rings and burger in. You may consider pouring the cheese sauce in your Coke, but don’t. I’ve tried it and it is not very good. Just get it on the burger and you will be happy with a solid, GOOD burger.

See the jalapeno cheese sauce in the background?

The Meat - (1/2 star) GOOD. Nuf’ said

The Juice - (1 star) Perfect ooze on this baby

Handling - (1 Star) 1/2 lb is a great size, no lack of meat or bun

Cardiac Factor- (0 star) Meh, it didn’t hit in this catagory

Bryan Factor- (1/2 star) Childhood fav scores it a ½ star.

Final score: 3 Stars

High Life Lounge (Des Moines, IA)

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:25:00 GMT

When faced with the decision to either visit Vegas (again) or Des Moines, we made the obvious choice and headed straight north on I35. Actually; Des Moines was voted the #5 Best Midwest Food Town. (March, Midwest Living). And there are at least 6 cities in the Midwest. No matter how we got there, we were there. And what do you do in Des Moines? You eat. And drink. And sleep. And that is about it. “But Bryan where should I eat?” Well, if you want to be thrown back to a simpler time; a time of shag carpeting and wood paneling, The High Life Lounge has all three! Located somewhere around downtown, the corner bar is a slice of 70’s heaven; old clocks, Miller high life and Schlitz advertisements and B&W TV’s (that’s black and white kids…as in no high definition OR color!!!) There is even a Harvest Gold fridge so you can remember why they have not come back in style yet. The place looks so authentic that I was sure it was shut down around ’78 and locked in a warehouse with the Arc of the Covenant, only to be rediscovered, dusted off and reopened a few years ago. Apparently I was on the wrong track though, as they said it had only been open a few years and was the owner’s idea in collage. Well, what an idea.

So we went in and sat at the table with the little gold stars embedded in it. Ordered four High Life’s (what else would you order at the High Life Lounge?) and fried cheese curds. Now cheese curds are not real common in Texas, so if you see them anywhere, especially fried, I would recommend getting them. I am not sure what they are, but little chunks of really good cheese hardly need an explanation. For the main course I ordered “The High Life Man”; a quarter pound burger, Italian sausage patty, three strips of bacon, Swiss American and American cheese (I don’t even know what Swiss American cheese is), grilled onions, jalapenos, mayonnaise and BBQ sauce on a sesame seed bun. I know you are drooling now, don’t even try to lie to me. What they don’t tell you on the menu is there is a big piece of toast between the burger and sausage and a powdered sugar donut on top. It’s like a big birthday surprise; “here’s your burger AND a donut!!!” The first bite I took was just of the burger and it was terrific. The remaining bites all included the sausage patty, and the sausage patty dominates the sandwich. The sausage is really good, but if I had one complaint it would be that I felt like I was eating a sausage sandwich as I barely even noticed the onions or jalapenos. I completely forgot there was BBQ sauce until I began reminiscing for this review. It sounds and appears bigger than it is. It is actually a very nice sized sandwich with tons of flavors in ever bite. This was definitely worthy of ordering, but next time I am there I may get a straight burger as the one bite I took was very intriguing. The crinkle fries we very good too. Oh, and on a recommendation we ordered a “Tang Bomb”; that’s a shot of Jaeger in Tang. I thought it was going to be horrible, but it was not that bad and there is nothing like a shot at 2:30 in the afternoon. “It’s Des Moines” I said, “what happens here, stays here!” After finishing the High Life Man, Fries, Tang Bomb and about 4 High Life’s we were on our way. Next time your knitting circle heads to Des Moines, look up the High Life Lounge and experience the High Life Man for yourself.

Insert drool here.