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 

Grump's Burgers - Burleson, TX

Move over, Kelly Clarkson, from where I stand, the star of Burleson is Grump's Burgers.

I was in Burleson, recently, and found Grump's Burgers. What a find it was.

Located in the Old Town section of Burleson, the burger joint is housed in an old two-story building, complete with a Texas Flag roof. The location screams 'Come on in and sit a spell', so I did.

Burgers, Texas Flag, Old Town charm, I held back tears of joy.

They offer peanuts to consume while you wait, ala Logan's Roadhouse, but they playfully call them Grump's Nuts. To-go bags can be picked up for $2.99/lb along with their much-talked-about jalapeño ketchup. I didn't sample the ketchup. I wish I had.

The line to order your food forms to the left. Step up, read the menu, place your order. Simple enough approach.

On this day, I opted for the standard cheeseburger, but decided to amp it up with a jalapeño bun (.99¢ upcharge). I also was intrigued by their sweet potato fries until I saw the Dirty Fries on the list of available fry choices. Grilled jalapeño and onions smothering my fries? How can I say no? My mouth watered at the thought of it.

I grabbed my drink glass (the large is refillable for $1 on every visit thereafter) and sat down to enjoy some peanuts before my meal arrived. They point out they are not a fast food joint on a sign near the register. Hand-formed, never frozen burgers take time. Why rush perfection, I thought. Wouldn't have it any other way.

As I enjoyed the peanuts, washed down with a tall glass of half-and-half sweet tea, I watched videos from GAC on the TVs around the room. 

My Dirty Fries arrived soon and I was surprised by the mounds of jalapeño's and onions covering them. Pleasantly surprised. I should have ordered a side of ranch dressing, I thought. But, alas, I dug in and it was pure greatness. They were no match.

A few minutes later a gentleman who I presumed to be the owner or manager arrived to inform me the supply truck did not have the jalapeño buns so my burger would require a regular bun. He was so nice and apologetic about it. "Things happen", I said and continued my assault on the Dirty Fries.

The burger arrived soon after and I noticed it had a large toast mark from its time on the flat top. Nice touch.

I opened it up to apply liberal amounts of black pepper, a ritual I always perform. It contained a good amount of onions and shredded lettuce, some pickles and two slices of tomato. The tomatoes weren't the deep-red color I usually like, but, they looked fine. Good deep-red-colored tomatoes are difficult to find any longer for some reason, even in the grocery stores. The patty was a medium thickness and looked to be perfectly prepared. Overall, visually, it's a home run.

When I took my first bite, the experience was complete. It packed plenty of flavor, was juicy but not dripping with grease and had a nice melding of flavors in each bite.

Was it the best burger I had ever had? Well, no, but it's in the top 10. Maybe top 5. It's good. 

I posted on my Facebook account that this is the kind of place that would do very well in Graham, TX, on the largest downtown square in America. The old world charm of the building, the non-nonsense approach to customer service, and the quality of the food would be in instant success. Sure, Graham has the Dairy King and KN Root Beer and I wouldn't trade them for all the tea in China. But a place like this on the Square would be awesome and there is always room for another burger joint.

If Grump's ever expands elsewhere, perhaps Graham and the NE Tarrant County area might make the list. Then, my options for burgers at each place I call home would be complete.

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 (as noted above, opted for jalapeno bun, but it was out of stock)
• Vegetables: fresh shredded lettuce, onions, pickles and tomatoes
• Napkins needs: one napkin should do
• Special attributes: lots of TVs, adult beverages available, friendly wait staff, very cool old town building
• Ownership: local chain

Witten's Grill and Sports Pub - Hurst, TX

Driving down Pipeline near the Northeast Mall, I have seen Witten's Grill and Sports Pub many times, but never had an opportunity to stop and check it out.

I received the ad-pages mailer last week and decided to thumb through it. Sure enough Witten's was advertising in it. Since I need to stop by the Bank of America on Melbourne, and I was headed that direction anyway, it seemed like the perfect chance to grab some lunch and give it a try.

The place is hard to see coming eastbound on Pipeline or sitting at the red light on Melbourne, but if you are driving toward the setting sun on Pipeline, it's green and yellow signage stand out.

I arrived right before noon to an almost empty place. That isn't usually a good sign. I sat at the bar and was greeted by the barkeep, Kyle, with a firm handshake. I ordered up my standard drink, a glass of unsweetened iced tea with a side of Sweet and Low. It seems they just started opening at 11:30 am, recently, which probably explained the lack of patrons. 

He handed me the menu and I immediately saw things I wanted to try. When he pointed out the special of the day, Sloppy Joe sliders, my decision was made. I also ordered up two of the egg rolls hand-rolled by 'Jenny', I am guessing the owner.

Kyle explained the bar was non-smoking and very family friendly. They also have a number of the finest pool tables in the area, along with darts and shuffleboard.

The food arrived and I dipped the egg rolls into the sweet chili sauce provided. It was just the right mixture of sweet and heat. The eggs rolls were amazing, crispy and flaky without being soggy from the fryer. I can't recommend them enough.

When I finished off the egg rolls, I picked up one of the two sloppy joe sliders from the basket and dug in. It wasn't your typical ground beef and sauce from a can. It rated high on my list as well. The side of waffle fries were especially good too. I commented that they should toss the sloppy joe mixture on the waffle fries as an appetizer. Looking at the menu, they already thought of that. Damn. My goal of having a menu item named after me was thwarted again.

I knew I had to bring the better half here, so I planned a return trip later that evening to see how spirited the place can be on a Friday night.

So, I was off to do the things I needed to get accomplished that day until later that evening when I would feel like eating again.

Fast forward nine hours.

When we arrived the place was busy, but not packed. We found a table and soon a waitress stopped by and took our drink order. Again, I opted for the tea, while the Mrs ordered up a Shiner.

We choose the appetizer sampler with egg rolls, cheese sticks and jalapeno poppers, each coming with a dipping sauce (sweet chili, marinara and ranch, respectively).

My wife, Kathy, ordered by the B.E.L.T, a BLT with a fried egg, and waffle fries. I chose the Witten Burger with cheese and sweet potato fries.

The appetizer arrived in a timely manner. I tried one of the cheese sticks (homemade). It had a nice crust on it and was not your typical round stick battered and fried. The cheese was cut rectangular and about twice as wide as it was thick. The marinara was good but didn't appear to be made in house.

Kathy is a big fan of jalapeno poppers and went to work on one as her first choice. She ate a second one, later, so it must have met with her approval. She tried out the egg rolls as well and liked the dipping sauce as much as I did.

The B.E.L.T. arrived, with a basket full of waffle fries, and it looked great, as did my Witten burger surrounded by the sweet potato fries.

The burger was exceptional. The bun was soft and 'buttery', yet toasted on the inside just right. The big tomato slice, green lettuce and red onions really worked well together.

If you haven't been to Witten's, you are missing out.  The food ranks well above your typical bar food, the prices are competitive, the place is clean and it appears to be well managed. 

Now, if I was only closer to it during the week, I am sure it would be the kind of place 'where everybody knows my name' (and I might get a menu item finally named after me).

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: great char across the patty
• Bun: soft, buttery roll, toasted
• Vegetables: fresh lettuce and tomatoes, red onions
• Napkins needs: one napkin should do
• Special attributes: great pool table, lots of TVs, adult beverages of your choosing, friendly wait staff  
  
• Ownership: mom and pop (no affiliation with the great Cowboy's tight end that I can tell)

Clown Burger Too - Haltom City

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:

• 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

Another Hole In The Wall - Newcastle, TX

UPDATE: No longer in business.

I have been visiting Hole In The Wall in Newcastle for some time now and have been remiss about posting a review until now.


A quick history about the name and some confusion I have with it. About 13-14 years ago there was a place in Graham called 'The Hole In The Wall', HITW for short. It was nestled in a former gas station across from the old Shawnee School (Shawnee Park). The HITW was famous for their HOG burger and would post Polaroid pictures on their restaurant wall of people who defeated it. I never attempted it, for fear it might just be the artery-clogging end of me. I don't recall the exact ingredients, but I do recall it had lots of bacon and ham piled upon a burger.


About the time the HITW in Graham was popular, a similarly-named place sprang up in Newcastle with the same type of HOG burger. I am unsure if the original HITW owner was financially involved in the Newcastle venture. If I recall correctly, the sign in Newcastle said 'Hole In The Wall 2' at one time. After the closing of the HITW in Graham, it seems 'Another' was added to the front of the HITW's name in Newcastle to differentiate the location. Perhaps a change in ownership occurred, I am unsure. All of the various web posts I have found call in the Hole In The Wall, so that is what I refer to it as now, or HITW for short.


As I stated, I have not attempted the HOG burger. In fact, with all of the visits I have made, I usually order the same thing, a mini-burger with cheese, sometimes with a side of fries. I have tried the 'Irish burger/sandwich', a burger patty on toast with fries on top, smothered in brown gravy. If I were on Death Row it would probably be on my list of things for my last meal. I figure it would give me a Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) and save the State of Texas the trouble.


The HITW is a small place that probably, comfortably, seats 30-40 people. There is a small front area that was recently added on with a couple of tables and the main dining area has about 5-6 booths, a couple of tables end-to-end and a larger round table. 


Each time I visit the HITW, the round table is the center stage for the locals. I usually grab a booth, order some unsweet tea and my standard mini-burger with cheese, all the way. I then have a few moments while the order is being prepared to look over the collection of deer pictures hanging on the wall around the restaurant. Every year the owner has a Biggest Buck contest. Sitting in such a small dining area, one cannot help but overhear the local gossip coming from the round table. It is usually talk of the work day that just ended or the tasks ahead of them tomorrow. Good folks breaking bread, sipping coffee, swapping stories and telling lies, not always in that order. The side of the building even boasts this is the place 'Where Hunters, Fishermen and Other Liars Meet'.



Anyway, back to the burgers.


The burgers always arrive nice and hot. I have found the small burger is more than enough to satisfy my appetite. The burger to the right was my most recent order. As you can see, the patty is medium thick and hand formed. The cheese, yellow American, has melted over the piping hot patty and formed an inseparable bond between the bun and the meat. There are ample slices of white onions, a layer of lettuce, tomatoes and pickles with a thin layer of yellow mustard on the bottom bun to complete the entree. And, remember, this is the small burger. 


If you are near Newcastle, TX and looking for a burger, it's a great place to stop. The *only* drawback to the HITW is it is a smoking-allowed restaurant. And, trust me, after a meal in the small confines of the place, you *will* smell like an ashtray. I usually ride the Spyder over and fill up at the Newcastle Grocery, saving an average of 10 cents over any station in Graham, where I live. After my meal at the HITW, the ride back home rids my clothing of the cigarette smell and I can stand myself as I settle in for a few hours of television. 


Don't let the smokers bother you, though, as all of their menu items can be ordered to go and they have a convenient drive-up window.


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

• Patty Size and Style: medium thick and hand formed
• Cooking style: Cooked on a flat top
• Char: excellent seasoning on the grill makes for a great char across the patty
• Bun: Fresh buns, appears to be toasted lightly on the grill
• Vegetables: good veggies
• Napkins needs: Needed a napkin
• Special attributes: Smoking allowed. Where the locals gather. Biggest buck contest each deer season.
• Ownership: locally owned

Rock City Burger Co - Bridgeport, TX

I had a scheduled service call in Bridgeport, TX today, so I took an opportunity to grab some lunch while I was over there. I looked up local burger joints on Urbanspoon and found the Rock City Burger Company. It was sporting an 88% rating on Urbanspoon with many positive reviews, so I felt the need to visit.


Parking out front near the big green rock crawler Jeep, I noticed a covered patio area with some wood picnic tables. When the weather is nice, this would be the place to dine, I thought.


The inside of the restaurant looked somewhat industrial, with a nice black and yellow paint scheme and some shiny corrugated metal accents. There were around six booths and six tables inside with a few tables on the patio outside to serve the patrons. The windows were open and a nice breeze was blowing in.


A flat-panel TV was showing rock-crawling video clips and there were several pictures of Jeeps in various upside down and contorted positions hanging on the walls. With the name of the establishment and the rock crawling Jeep outside, I assumed it was a hobby of the owner and probably pictures of his escapades. As I found out later, it was.

I stepped to the counter and surveyed the menu on the wall. It was a chalkboard wall with the burgers, pricing and options available. I opted for the single with cheese, which the counter person begin checking off my selection on a paper menu affixed to a bag. A little like Which Wich, I thought. Exactly how I would do it, I told myself.


The reviews said to get the jalapeño bread, which I did, and the homemade chips. I opted, instead, for the onion rings and a drink. The total was a little over $10, so not your typical burger combo pricing.


I grabbed a cup and filled it up with a 75/25 mixture of unsweet and sweet tea. I noticed the small fountain had your typical sodas on tap. But, as the SNL skit said from long ago, Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Pepsi here, no Coke.


My food arrived in the paper bag where it all started at the counter. I opened the onions rings and noticed they looked like they were hand-breaded. They had a nice crust with a good amount of pepper in the batter. 

I opened the burger and found it was cooked on a flat-top grill, my favorite method. It was medium thin and looked to be hand-formed. The jalapeño bun was toasted on the grill as well, but was still a little soft, not hard and crunchy. I ordered my burger with lettuce, onions, grilled onions, cheese and mayo as well as mustard. The lettuce was your standard iceberg, the raw onions were white and the cheese looked to be a shredded cheddar variety. It was so well melted between the bun and burger, I couldn't be completely certain, but it looked like a shredded cheddar cheese. Not my first choice in cheese, but nothing that would prevent me from enjoying my meal. The grilled onions were translucent, but not caramelized like I prefer.


The burger had good flavor and was still pretty juicy. The jalapeño bun was the perfect choice, still soft, but a different texture than your normal boring bun. As I looked around the room, I could see this place could get busy on Friday nights after a football game or on the weekends after a bunch of crawlers worked over the local Northwest OHV Park.


I got an opportunity to visit with Trevor, the owner of the place. He has been in business a couple of years. He seems to enjoy running the restaurant and sponsors many of the Jeep clubs. 


It certainly is worth a trip. Tell Trevor you read about it here.

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

• Patty Size and Style: medium thick and hand formed
• Cooking style: Cooked on a flat top
• Char: good char across the patty
• Bun: Excellent bun, toasted on the grill
• Vegetables: good veggies
• Napkins needs: Needed a napkin (paper towel) or two
• Special attributes: BYOB, Music on weekends
• Ownership: locally owned

Paula's by the Lake - Graham, TX

I saw an advertisement for Paula's By The Lake, a new place occupying the space where The Steele Grill was on Lake Graham. Since I am always in the mood to try some place new, I figured I would drop by on my way home one evening.


It was past 7:30 when I arrived and there was only one other person in the place. Normally, that might be a bad sign, but being the trooper I am, I went inside.


The location is nicely decorated and clean looking. They took out the glass counter and salad prep area along the wall and added extra tables. It looks like they have a private area available for dining as well.


The menu, it appears, changes daily. I happened to visit on the 'homestyle' day, so chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken and catfish were on the menu.


I noticed a chalkboard with two or three burger choices written down, so I inquired about them. I settled for the Claude Burger, named after the owner of the space, a half pound single-patty cheese burger with grilled jalapenos and bacon. I ordered a side of onion rings as well.


The cook went to work on the burger, I could hear the sizzle of the grill as he started cooking the patty. He brought out the burger and rings in a few minutes and I surveyed my meal.


The rings were cooked perfect. They were hand-dipped with a thick, crunchy batter. The burger was a medium-thick, hand-formed patty with a nice crunchy char where it made contact with the grill. It was cooked just right, enough of a sear on it to seal in the juices. I love charred mammal flesh.


I started with the rings first before moving to the burger. The jalapenos were grilled, swimming in mustard, and formed a nice layer on the bottom of the burger between the patty and the bun. The cheese melted into the patty, just the way I like it.


Overall the meal was great. The bun could have been a little more substantial, it started to fall apart before I was done, probably because it was one of the thinner buns you sometimes see.

I look forward to my next stop. I told them I would be in enough that they would name a burger after me.


If you are in the area, you should stop by. They are located at 1733 FM 3003, just this side of the Double Docks on Lake Graham.

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

• Patty Size and Style: medium thick and hand formed
• Cooking style: Cooked perfectly on a flat top
• Char: good char across the patty
• Bun: fresh tasting, little too thin, came apart before the burger was finished
• Vegetables: good veggies
• Napkins needs: I found I needed a couple
• Special attributes: Lake Graham
• Ownership: locally owned

Scotts Drive In - Wichita Falls, TX

I have been to Scott's Drive In a few times in my life, with my most recent stop this past weekend.

My wife and I were in Wichita Falls picking up some things we couldn't find locally in Graham. We were driving down Old Jacksboro Highway heading toward Southwest Parkway and passed Scott's. We had been discussing where to grab a late lunch when I saw Scott's. We turned around and parked under the awning and begin to peruse the menu.

I zoned in on the Big Scottie Burger dead center of the menu, a double meat, double cheese burger. I also opted for the small order of onion rings and a large Root Beer. More on the root beer later.

My wife, Kathleen, chose a hot dog with mustard, onions and relish, a small order of rings and a cherry limeade.

It was late in the day, that time just after lunch, but before dinner, so the place was pretty quiet. A pickup sat under the awning near us, no occupants inside. While we were waiting on our order, two gentleman came from the front of the building and drove away in the pickup. I assume they have an inside dining area, but I didn't investigate further. We were soaking up the cold AC in the car and didn't want to step into the 100°F+ weather, so inside dining didn't appeal to us at the time.

The carhop delivered two white bags and two drinks, totaling $14.77. We provided him a decent tip with the cash payment and starting opening up the bags and dispersing the contents.

The onion rings were on top, so I started eating them first. They had plenty of packaged ketchup in the bag, but I tossed it aside. I usually only eat Whataburger ketchup, the taste is very unique and I enjoy it best.

The small rings order contained about five good-sized onion rings. They could have been made on site, but they might have been frozen as well. They were tasty in either case. I took a sip of my drink and was immediately disappointed in the taste. I don't think they filter their water, so there was a slight aftertaste that I didn't care for.

I finished my rings and looked over at Kathy's meal. She was eating a hot dog that had been cooked on the grill. It looked very good. If I were to order the hot dog, I would probably opt for two, as they were a bit small in size.

When I unwrapped the burger, it was a thing of beauty. The American cheese was melting into the patties, creating that wonderful taste I crave. From the first bite to the last, I was evaluating it against all of the other burgers I have eaten. This one clearly ranked up there high on the list. 

The burger was cooked just right, still full of juice, not dry like the one I tried at Mary's recently. In fact, this one made me update my list, pushing Sac-A-Burger out of the top five. Scott's easily pushed into the number two spot. Overall the burger was the star of the meal.


The only drawback from the experience was the drink. If they were going for a sandbass-tasting root beer, they had it spot on.

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

• Patty Size and Style: thin and hand formed
• Cooking style: Cooked perfectly on a flat top
• Char: good char across the patties
• Bun: fresh tasting, a perfect compliment to the burger
• Vegetables: good veggies
• Napkins needs: I found I needed a couple
• Special attributes: A Wichita Falls landmark for over 50 years
• Ownership: locally owned

Mary's Cafe - Strawn, TX

While out on weekend service call at Possum Kingdom Lake, recently, my wife and I decided to drop by Mary's Cafe in Strawn, TX to see what all of the hubbub was about. For years, I had heard of Mary's and their famous Chicken Fried Steak (CFS). Not only had former colleagues and friends told me about Mary's, it was also featured on an episode of Texas Country Reporter (Show #1143 - Best of TCR Volume 2, Show #2) with Bob Phillips, one of my favorite Sunday shows. So, we headed down highway 16 to grab some lunch.

Strawn is a small town a few miles off of I-20 pretty much in the middle of nowhere. If you are traveling down I-20 between Thurber and Ranger, jump on State Highway 16 headed North and you will find it.

It was only a short ride from our service call, so we arrived around lunchtime. A good size crowd was gathering inside, so the hostess ushered us to the back room. It was a bit dark in there, lit mainly by the glowing neon beer signs that adorned the room. Once our eyes adjusted to the reduced lumens, I scanned the menu.

I have heard of the CFS here for years, but never had the opportunity to visit and try it, so I was looking forward to that. I was tempted by the burger, since I have made it a point to try a burger almost ever where I can. When my wife, Kathy, decided to order the small CFS, I opted for the burger, figuring she would have some available for me to sample. I was curious about the comment on the menu about the burgers taking extra long to cook, but not curious enough to ask about it. That should have tipped me off to the burger size.

The 1.25 lb burger at Mary's Cafe

Kathy's CFS arrived in a short time. Even though she ordered the small one, it pretty much took up the entire plate. The waitress came around the corner carrying a hubcap of meat stuffed between two buns. I belted out a comment I shouldn't repeat here when it came into view. My first thought, good thing I didn't order fries too.

I begin to attack the burger and immediately noticed the patty, while very large and hard to bite into, was pretty dry from being cooked so long. The flavor was good, the veggies were fresh and the bun was soft, but the well-done consistency really took away from the overall experience. I proceeded to break it down using a knife to create bite-sized pieces for a more manageable eating experience. 

Kathy cut off a portion of her CFS and put it on my plate. I coated it with peppery gravy and gave it a taste. I had made the wrong decision. The CFS was amazing.

After about 10-15 minutes, I had eaten just about half of it when I decided I needed a take-home box. There was no way I was not going to be able to finish this monster here. Rarely do I bring home a 'doggie bag', but this big 'un was a little too much beef for one meal, even for a big boy like me.

I probably won't order the burger again at Mary's. It wasn't bad, just a little too cooked for my palate. I usually live by my own rule on things like this: stick with the specialty of the house. I should have listened to myself, but my love of burgers won out.

Oh, well, it was still a nice drive to Strawn, a cool place to have lunch and definitely a place to go back to in the future. For a chicken fried steak, that is.

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

• Patty Size and Style: monstrous
• Cooking style: grilled to death on a flat top
• Char: good char across the patty
• Bun: fresh tasting, falls apart under the weight of the patty
• Vegetables: good veggies
• Napkins needs: cooked to well to have any juice left
• Special attributes: really good Chicken Fried Steak
• Ownership: appears to be locally owned

Circle K Drive-In - Olney, TX

I had a recent opportunity to stop in Olney, TX for a quick dinner before visiting my brother, who was in the Olney Hamilton Hospital for the night.

As I drove through town, the usual fast food and chain places caught my eye, but I was hoping to find something with a little local flavor. I drove past the Circle K Drive-In and decided that was the place to try, so I turned the motorcycle around and pulled up near the door.

Circle K Drive-In (Olney, TX)

When I walked in the door, I felt like I stepped back in time about 30 years. The little cafe was rather small and looks to have been around for a long time. It had 10 tables around the small dining area with a total seating capacity of about 30 people. There were painted saw blades hanging on the wall around the restaurant, just the kind of thing I would expect from a place like this.

The two whiteboards on the wall indicated what appeared to be specials that might not be on the everyday menu. They listed everything from egg salad sandwiches to chocolate pie, including steak fingers baskets and BBQ sandwiches. Being a burger junkie, I knew I had to order one up.

Since it was really hot outside, I didn't have a large appetite, so I ordered up a small cheeseburger and some onion rings with a glass of iced tea. The tea really hit the spot after being out in the 107°F weather on the motorcycle.

My food arrived in a timely manner. The burger looked like the standard quarter-pounder, with a thin patty and the small-style hamburger bun. The onion rings didn't appear to be made in house, but they were cooked correctly and tasted great.

As I ate my dinner, I could hear and see the locals discussing events of their day. I could imagine the stories these walls have heard over the years.

The waitress offered up a refill on my tea and I finished up my meal. Closing time was rapidly approaching and the place was beginning to empty rather quickly. I tipped the waitress and left. As I was leaving the cook came out of the kitchen with a great-looking taco salad and sat down with one of the locals for a well-deserved meal and break from the heat of the kitchen.

Next time, I gotta give that taco salad a try.

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

• Patty Size and Style: thin, appeared to be preformed patty
• Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
• Char: good char across the patty
• Bun: fresh tasting, probably Mrs. Baird's small hamburger bun
• Vegetables: good veggies
• Napkins needs: Needed a few, nice and juicy
• Special attributes: homemade desserts
• Ownership: appears to be locally owned

Chapp's Cafe - North Richland Hills

My wife and I visited Chapp's Cafe in North Richland Hills, TX recently. I am a big fan of Chapp's Baby Burger and cajun fries, a quarter pound patty on a soft, fresh bun.

Chapp's has recently introduced fried onion and jalapeno strings as an appetizer. I ordered up a Baby Chapp's burger, loaded all the way with grilled and raw onions, mustard and mayo with American Cheese.

My wife, Kathleen, ordered up a Baby Chapp's, sans fries. We ordered up some of the fried onion and jalapeno strings and shared them. A quick note, the appetizer does not come with any dipping sauce, so you must purchase a side of ranch if you so desire something to dip them in.

The picture to the right shows what my ordered looked like when it arrived.

Chapp's appears to serve up Nolan Ryan's All Natural Beef (shown by the toothpick flag planted in the center of the bun). The burger was very good, the bun was toasted inside, but soft and fresh on the outside. The patty was cooked just right and yielded enough juice to require a couple of napkins to clean up.

Chapp's is one of the better local chains. I have been to several of their locations across the Metroplex and each of them have been consistently good.

If you get a chance, stop by, you won't be disappointed.

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

• Patty Size and Style: thin, not handmade but cooked just right
• Cooking style: grilled on a flat top
• Char: good char around the edge of the patty
• Bun: cooked on the grill (not toasty), fresh tasting, might be made in house
  
• Vegetables: the veggies were fresh. I enjoyed the options of grilled and raw onions
  
• Napkins needs: One or two will do
  
• Special attributes: cajun fries are worth the trip alone
• Ownership: local chain