I have read about Clown Burger Too on a couple of different blogs, but have never had the opportunity to stop by until today. I took the motorcycle for a battery-charging ride and decided to stop by for lunch.
Clown Burger Too is located on the corner of Stanley-Keller and Haltom Road, just south of the Haltom City Library. It is in the corner of a shopping center that, without it, would probably be desolate and abandoned.
When you step inside, it is reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. There are clowns parachuting in from the ceiling in every room and a corner dedicated to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis. You truly feel like you traveled back in time.
You step to the counter to place your order. The combo meals each include an order of fries and a bottle (or can) drink. You can see the grill just over the shoulder of the person taking your order, along with the prep table when it is all assembled. A single patty is 1/6 lb, so a double won't likely expand your waistline as much as a double from any other place. They do boast a 'King Burger', which is a six-patty creation. I wasn't in the mood to tackle that artery clogger today.
I ordered the single patty #1 with cheese and bacon. The counter person asked for my name and said it would be a few minutes. I looked around at the decor while I waited on my name to be called. About 10 minutes later my order arrived on a red plastic tray, the fries in a small fry 'boat' wrapped in thin white paper. The burger, too, was wrapped in a white paper. I grabbed the tray and found a spot in the adjoining room.
Two older locals were sitting there chatting, having finished their meal already. The were reminiscing about people they both knew. A couple arrived with a small baby and they noted the 2-month old's red hair. They then discussed how their hair had changed colors over their lifetime. 'Mine went from reddish brown to blonde to almost black," one fellow quipped. "Then," he continued, "it went to gray and then white and now it's mostly just went away." They both chuckled at the comment.
I unwrapped my fries and started eating them. They were mostly thin and appeared to be fresh cut. Knowing fries like this usually get cold and soggy quickly, I consumed them first.
The turned my attention to the burger. It was nicely seasoned and the vegetables seemed fresh. It was a thin patty, but it was still juicy. Usually a thin patty will tend to be a little dry. But, I could tell the fellow slinging the meat onto the grill had done it a time or two.
The two older gentlemen told the newborn baby's father that the owner had moved the business from over off Belknap some time ago. "If you had a penny for all the burgers he has cooked, you would be a rich man." His friend added "I bet he hasn't cleaned that grill since he started back in the late 50s."
While I know he was just exaggerating, most people would probably cringe at a comment like that. But as a burger lover, I know that's 50 years of seasoning you can't replicate.
As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:
Clown Burger Too is located on the corner of Stanley-Keller and Haltom Road, just south of the Haltom City Library. It is in the corner of a shopping center that, without it, would probably be desolate and abandoned.
When you step inside, it is reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. There are clowns parachuting in from the ceiling in every room and a corner dedicated to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis. You truly feel like you traveled back in time.
You step to the counter to place your order. The combo meals each include an order of fries and a bottle (or can) drink. You can see the grill just over the shoulder of the person taking your order, along with the prep table when it is all assembled. A single patty is 1/6 lb, so a double won't likely expand your waistline as much as a double from any other place. They do boast a 'King Burger', which is a six-patty creation. I wasn't in the mood to tackle that artery clogger today.
I ordered the single patty #1 with cheese and bacon. The counter person asked for my name and said it would be a few minutes. I looked around at the decor while I waited on my name to be called. About 10 minutes later my order arrived on a red plastic tray, the fries in a small fry 'boat' wrapped in thin white paper. The burger, too, was wrapped in a white paper. I grabbed the tray and found a spot in the adjoining room.
Two older locals were sitting there chatting, having finished their meal already. The were reminiscing about people they both knew. A couple arrived with a small baby and they noted the 2-month old's red hair. They then discussed how their hair had changed colors over their lifetime. 'Mine went from reddish brown to blonde to almost black," one fellow quipped. "Then," he continued, "it went to gray and then white and now it's mostly just went away." They both chuckled at the comment.
I unwrapped my fries and started eating them. They were mostly thin and appeared to be fresh cut. Knowing fries like this usually get cold and soggy quickly, I consumed them first.
The turned my attention to the burger. It was nicely seasoned and the vegetables seemed fresh. It was a thin patty, but it was still juicy. Usually a thin patty will tend to be a little dry. But, I could tell the fellow slinging the meat onto the grill had done it a time or two.
The two older gentlemen told the newborn baby's father that the owner had moved the business from over off Belknap some time ago. "If you had a penny for all the burgers he has cooked, you would be a rich man." His friend added "I bet he hasn't cleaned that grill since he started back in the late 50s."
While I know he was just exaggerating, most people would probably cringe at a comment like that. But as a burger lover, I know that's 50 years of seasoning you can't replicate.
As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:
- Patty Size and Style: thin and crispy around the edges
- Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
- Char: great char around the edges
- Bun: lightly toasted on the grill
- Vegetables: fresh lettuce and tomatoes, chopped onions, pickles
- Napkins needs: one napkin should do
- Special attributes: Hole in the wall, old school place that has been around for over 50 years.
- Ownership: mom and pop
1 comment:
Ah cool - you made it here! Great place. A real trip back in time.
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