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Cheeseburger w/Bacon & Jalapenos |
Ever picked up a burger, took the first bite, and it was so good you forgot to breathe until it was gone? Me too. Literally, just now.
On New Year's Eve, I saw the Rowdy T Burger Stop was open for lunch, so naturally, I had to swing by. Nestled in the tiny town of Italy, just south of Waxahachie, TX, this joint is more than just a café, it's burger nirvana.
They serve burgers so fresh, I swear if they were any fresher, a good vet could get them mooing again. The interior is decorated with an eclectic mix of checkered tablecloths and old-timey signs, which makes sense because I’m pretty sure it’s in an old gas station.
I ordered a regular cheeseburger, all the way, with jalapeños and bacon. And when I say “regular,” I mean anything but. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill, pre-formed patties. I like to imagine Ruth, a cook in the back, grabbing a chunk of beef and hand-forming it into a glorious patty, then smashing it on the griddle to create that perfect char. Probably not true, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
By the time I took that first bite, I was in burger bliss. Didn’t even realize I’d eaten the whole thing until I looked down and saw an empty checkboard-lined basket, littered with juices from the burger, staring back at me. If that's not a testament to how good it was, I don't know what is.
Don't sleep on this place. If you are nearby, you owe it to yourself to drop in and enjoy one of the better burgers around.
On the day I visited, they were offering up a special of 'Cowboy Beans' with cornbread. I would have liked to try a small side of those, but they didn't offer that up. Seems like a real opportunity missed for them. I couldn't down another full meal, but I could have tore up a small side of those, I bet.
As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:
- Patty Size and Style: medium thick, hand formed
- Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
- Char: nice char across the patty
- Bun: soft, toasted (Branded on top with the Rowdy T Ranch brand)
- Vegetables: fresh leafy green lettuce, onions, pickles and tomatoes
- Napkins needs: better grab a handful, it is juicy
- Special attributes: in a small old gas station, beer available, friendly wait staff, very cool old building
- Ownership: local café
