Rowdy T Burger Stop

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 

Bullfrog Grill - Lake Worth

I have driven by the Bullfrog BBQ Grill many, many times and have wanted to stop, but never seemed to have the opportunity to do so until tonight.

On my way to my weekend job, masquerading every weekend, and most appropriately on this night, Halloween, as the PC Doctor, I stopped by.

The Bullfrog is housed in what looks like an old Dairy Queen-style place, complete with drive-thru ordering. They have inside 'non smoking' seating. They also have a patio area out front that looks like it is *the* place to be on a rocking night. One would assume it is also known as 'the smoking section'.

The Bullfrog is biker friendly and I have seen dozens of choppers and custom bikes out front on my various trips past it. And, owning a bike and traveling to places like this, I know how rowdy it can get. Tonight wasn't your typical Friday night, I would assume, since it was Halloween and the Texas Motor Speedway, a few miles up the road, was hosting a big race weekend.

When I walked in the overwhelming smell of BBQ almost tempted me to give it a try. If they could bottle that smell, I would buy it. I ordered up a bacon cheeseburger, sort of my gauge for all burger joints. I got it just the way it comes, all the veggies, mustard and mayo.

I opted for the potato salad instead of fries or rings. Doing my research on the address and mapping it, I found a few reviewers that raved about the rings. I probably should have tried them too, but the potato salad looked too tempting.

Taking my glass of tea, I strolled outside and waited on the burger. They had some nice blues playing over the speakers on the patio. A most interesting conversation was also occurring among the clients there, so I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere.

My burger arrived quick enough and I surveyed the package. It was at least a half-pounder, medium thick and the patty looked to be hand formed and very fresh. It didn't appear to be a Bubba-burger or something like that, but I suppose it could have been.

It was cooked perfect, not too done, a little char from the flat top and still juicy.

The veggies were fresh looking, with nice red tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and coarsely-chopped white onions. It is rare to find RED tomatoes, these days, so I was glad I didn't leave them off like I normally do. The cheese, a single slice of American held the bacon in place. The bacon was cooked well, not burnt like I prefer it, but not squealing when I chomped into it, either.

I worked on the potato salad first. It was my favorite kind, the same kind you find at most BBQ joints, soft and mustardy. I know that's not a word, but it describes it best. You know the kind, boil and mash up some potatoes, toss in some onion and pickle drown it all in mustard with a little mayo to smooth it out and it's done.

I probably should have ate the potato salad in moderation instead of devouring it first because it wasn't able to finish the burger. I normally opt for the smaller quarter-pound burgers, but I didn't see that as an option. Sure enough, about half-way through the burger, I was stuffed. Like a Thankgiving turkey stuffed. It was a shame too, because I really enjoyed the burger. But, since I was driving and wouldn't be near a fridge for a few hours, I didn't put it in a to-go box, but instead, pushed the basket away, finished my tea and got a refill for the road.

Walking back inside for the tea refill, the 'cue sure smelled good, though. I have to stop back by and try it next time.

The Bullfrog BBQ Grill is located at 6700 Azle Ave in Lake Worth, TX just north of Highway 199.

As for the Texas Burger Stop's rating, here goes:

• Patty Size and Style: appears to be hand formed, medium thick and cooked perfectly
• Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
• Char: good char across the patty
• Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty), fresh tasting, I am guessing a Mrs Baird's bun
  
• Vegetables: the veggies were fresh. I prefer sliced onions, but the coarsely-chopped ones were a suitable replacement
  
• Napkins needs: I only needed one. It was juicy, but not 'messy'
  
• Special attributes: can't wait to try the BBQ, appears to be their specialty
• Ownership: looks to be a single location, local owner
  

Kuntry Kitchen - Graham

The Kuntry Kitchen is a 'new' old place that recently moved to a new 'old' place. Yes, that's confusing, but maybe I can sort it out as we go.

Kuntry Kitchen is currently located in the old Hole In The Wall location at 934 Elm Street. The new owner, Mike, moved it down there after the building he was in on 4th Street was sold to The Cracker Town Cafe (review coming soon).

That covers the new 'old' place portion of today's lesson. Now for the 'new' old place portion, let me explain. Mike and his wife, Tina, purchased the Old Town Cafe from Billy and Laura just after they moved from their little nine-table place at 1021 4th Street to the much larger location in the old Layfield's building at the corner of 4th and Virginia.

The building owner, as I understand it, sold the building to The Cracker Town Cafe people, leaving Mike and Tina scrambling to find a place. They moved into the old Hole In The Wall location over the weekend, changed the name to Kuntry Kitchen, and appear to be doing very well.

Having tried the burgers when it was the Old Town Cafe and now as the Kuntry Kitchen, I can tell you the quality hasn't faltered. I enjoyed Laura's cooking and Mike and Tina have continued that tradition of good food at a reasonable price.

I recently dropped by on the motorcycle and ordered up a bacon cheeseburger, fries and iced tea. The burger arrived in a timely manner and was cooked to order. The bacon was crisp burnt, just the way I love it.

The veggies were fresh, although I am not a fan of iceberg lettuce. I find it bland and boring and prefer something a little greener, perhaps some romaine, field greens or spinach. A vegan friend of mine called iceberg, 'crunchy water', since it has almost no nutritional value.

One would be hard pressed to fault any burger joint in Texas for serving iceberg lettuce, it's the staple of burger joints all over. It would be nice, however, to begin a movement to replace that 'crunchy water' with something that is a little better for you, nutritionally. I mean, if you are gonna clog your arteries up with a greasy burger, at least try to offset it with some green veggies.

You know, like Al Gore offsets his enormous electric bills and carbon footprint for his mansion by buying up carbon credits.

Here's how to find the Kuntry Kitchen:

Kuntry Kitchen
934 Elm Street
Graham, TX 76450


Here at Texas Burger Stops, we rate the burger places on the following attributes:

• Patty Size and Style: slightly thick patty, appears to be hand made
• Cooking style: grilled on a flattop
• Char: decent amount of charring to give it that slight crunchiness I enjoy
• Bun: fresh bun, toasted
• Vegetables: good veggies, iceberg lettuce
• Napkins needs: one napkin should suffice
• Special attributes: on-site, working owners who listen to the customers and want to serve the best food possible. The hamburger steak is another favorite on the menu
• Ownership: locally owned, non chain