Hat Creek Discount
Hat Creek discount: “Hat Creek Burger Co. #BurgerDeal, Tomorrow Tuesday (7/13) and Wednesday (7/14) mention this tweet/post to get 50% off any burger with Cheddar Cheese!!”
Updates from July, 2010 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Chris
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Chris
Cisco Burger Coming?
TMZ.com is reporting that Jesse James is moving to Austin and planning to open a Cisco Burger here. Never heard of the place, but sounds like they would fit in, with their “eco- friendly philosophy”, according to their website. Sounds good to me. Sandra’s loss is Austin’s Burger Gain.
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Chris
Steak ‘n Shake Thumbs Up
Yes, another chain, but this place gets props from Respected Burger Heavyweight George Motz of Hamburger America and the venerable burger blog A Hamburger Today, so have been wanting to try it. So out to Round Rock I went, via the shiny new 45 Tollway.
First, a little background, gleaned from the above posts and the Steak ‘n Shake website–their beef is fresh, never frozen. They have been around since 1934, based in Illinois. They cook the burgers on a griddle using the smash technique, resulting in razor thin patties with some crispiness to the edges.
I was surprised when I walked in to see that it is a sit-down restaurant with waiters. Was expecting the typical fast food experience. Then I was double surprised to see my food served on a real plate. I mean a real porcelain plate. Not a paper-lined plastic basket, not a school-cafeteria style bakelitey plate, but an actual breakable plate. Nice touch.
I opted for the badly-named “Cheesy Cheddar Steakburger ‘n Fries”. I had to get some clarification before ordering it because the picture and description on the menu led me to believe that the “cheddar cheese” would be that liquified type of cheese glop, the kind you see at concession stands at sporting events that is spooned out of a hot vat with a ladle. The waitress explained that they take actual grated cheddar, melt it in a cup, and then add it to the burger. Thumbs up.
Burger was quite delicious for what it is. Cheese was plentiful and cheddary. Meat-to-bun ratio good. Fries were ok–frozen thin cut fries. Good for what they are, but I always prefer fresh cut fries. They were very similar to the fries at Freddy’s Steakburgers, or should I say that Freddy’s fries are very similar to Steak ‘n Shake’s…I can now see where Freddy’s got its “inspiration”. They should have also taken the cheddar idea from Steak ‘n Shake (no cheddar to be found at Freddy’s).
So, thumbs up to Steak ‘n Shake. Just wish they had a location closer to central Austin. There’s one down south and one in Round Rock.
As delivered...real plate!
Cheesy Cheddar Burger
Fries OK
Cheesy Cheddar Cross Section
Ahhhhh
Their Famous Slogan
Round Rock Location
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sean
Their burgers are frozen and thawed for use. Wendy’s is the “fresh, never frozen” boaster.
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Chris
Red Robin on 183 to Reopen
Thanks to a comment on this blog, I learned that the recently shuttered Red Robin on 183 and Anderson Mill is going to reopen. Stopped by on the way to work and there was a “we’re hiring” sign out front as well as a note on the door stating that they will reopen June 7th.
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hungry customer
where are all of the red robins??? I AM HUNGRY! COME BACK!!! this is getting ridiculous, first 183, now parmer…. is it because you know how desparate we are and you want to see if we will drive to san antonio or houston to get some RED ROBIN?
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Chris
Top Notch Sold!
Huge news–Top Notch has been sold to new owners, who fortunately say that “nothing will change.” Sounds like a good preemptive transition plan which will hopefully preserve the character of Top Notch.
Full story here: http://www.austin360.com/food-drink/for-new-owners-of-top-notch-change-isnt-679399.html?cxntcid=breaking_news
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Chris
Culver’s
Made it out to Culver’s on Braker/Kramer for the first time in a few years. Used to go fairly often when my office was closer. Decided to check up on them. Still the same–good quality fast food burger, weak fries, no Coke, Pepsi.Culver’s is a chain based in Wisconsin, with two Austin locations. Their claim to fame is the “ButterBurger”, which appears to be a regional burger style from the midwest. Sollys Grill in Milwaukee seems to have invented it, and unlike at Culver’s, butter plays a very prominent role in their burger. Photos of Solly’s butter burger show the burger practically floating in a pool of butter. I found no evidence of butter on my Culver’s burger, so I guess they are paying homage in name only. But they do boast fresh, never frozen beef, and burgers are cooked to order. Plus they have cheddar, which is a rarity at QSRs.
The burger reminds me quite a bit of Freddy’s, another chain that has recently entered the Austin market. Both offer pretty thin/smashed patties, with the default offering a double patty burger. Freddy’s does not have cheddar though.
Overall, a quality fast food burger. Pluses: cheddar (did I mention that already?), roomy booths (room for six), table delivery, clean environs.
Minuses: weak fries, no Coke, Pepsi. And still a fast food burger.
But I’m a fan.
Further details and reviews found at auslunch.com.
Cheddar!
Cheddar (but wish it were a bit more melted)!
Edge Detail — a Bit of Crisping
Under the Hood — Weak Tomato
Cross Section — Bottom Veggie Placement
Zzzzzz
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Paula
Tip from a Wisconsin girl: order the root beer at Culver’s, they make their own.
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Chris
Now that’s some good info there. Thanks for the tip Paula!
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Frayton
I go there for the fried cod. Best fried fish I’ve found in a fast-food place. Fries are, as you noted, kind of middle of the road, but at least they’re the crinkle cut. I go to the one out on Wm Cannon and Brodie and walk up to the convenience store for a Coke and sneak it in (the Midwestern-accented lady manager winked at me and said I could do this, she’s used to it apparently).
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Chris
I’ve also had the fried cod a few times and it is good. Nice tip on the Coke Sneak. Thank god for Dr. Pepper is all I can say.
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Andre
Next time, skip the fries and get a side of cheese curds with your combo instead. They’re essentially bite-sized mozzarella sticks and worth every second you’re losing from your life for eating them.
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Chris
Austin Fuddrucker’s Closings
Was not aware, but Fuddrucker’s has gone into bankruptcy. As a result, they are closing several restaurants nationwide. Details available at a special site they set up for bankruptcy info. They are closing the one on Anderson Lane and one near Highland Mall. The one on South Lamar remains open. And “no franchisee-owneed or operated restaurants are affected,” which I assume includes the location in Cedar Park.I recall when Fuddrucker’s first opened here, there used to be sides of beef hanging at the entry of the restaurant, visible through a large window that looked into the cooler. We used to call it “Bloodrucker’s“. Last time I went (which was to the Cedar Park location), I thought the burger was good–fresh tasting–but the price was too high for burger + fries + drink. And the fries are weak–soggy and limp. Good bun though (made onsite).
Hopefully they can recover.
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Hamburglar
We used to go there pretty often, but the quality just seemed to deteriorate with each visit. The veggies seemed less fresh, the fries not as good, &c. And as mentioned it was a bit too pricey. Plus with the recent springing up of several local burger joints that surpassed Fudd’s in both quality and price there just wasn’t much reason to go there any longer. Unless of course you had a hankering to eat at an Irish bed.
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Chris
Top Notch
Made it out to one of my favorite burger places for the first time in a long time, Top Notch on Burnet Road. It’s a rare original in Austin, going on 40+ years now. There’s a very family friendly feel to it with the mother-daugther combo usually running “the front of the house” (I learned that phrase on Top Chef). The burger is flame-kissed over charcoal briquettes, thin patty. Fries are frozen. Onion rings are made in-house and are tasty. The fried chicken is good. The classic signage is great. They offer curbside service in addition to a dining room. They bus your tables for you (you pick up your food at the counter). Coke, not Pepsi. There is nothing not to like about Top Notch.
One thing that resonates with me about Top Notch is the configuration of the #2 with cheddar. It’s the burger I always order, and it’s so perfectly conceived that I don’t have to alter anything about it–comes with grated cheddar, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle and diced onion on a toasted bun. That’s the perfect cheeseburger setup in my book. The fact that Top Notch has this precise burger configuration as a standard menu item indicates a harmonious concordance between my burger psyche and Top Notch that’s hard to deny.
The beef at Top Notch cannot boast a hormone-free grass-fed antibiotic-free etc. provenance, like so many of the new burger spots, and the fries are not fresh cut…but it has something special about it that more than compensates for any of those shortcomings.
Flame kissed
Standard American Burger Specimen
Cheddar!
Cross section
Ho hum fries
Onion rings--very tasty
Dessert available
Old school interior
Great sign (tshirts available inside)
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Chris
EZ’s Brick Oven and Grill
EZ’s is almost a local chain. Based out of San Antonio with only one Austin location and five in San Antonio. Their Austin location is in the former 2J’s Hamburgers spot on North Lamar, across the street from Central Market.They sport a wood fired brick oven for pizza and flame-kissed burgers, along with chicken and salads and other options (full menu pdf). My experience has been very hit or miss here. Sometimes the burger is outstanding–juicy and full of grill flavor. Other times it’s dry and overcooked. They do offer cheddar and a few specialized burger options, like a poblano burger and a “bean burger” with fritos and refried beans.
Fries are unremarkable curly frozen fries. Onion rings are tasty and appear to be made fresh in house. Kids eat free on Wednesday nights–beware the clown.
I think I will request a specific doneness next time and see if that results in a more consistently juicy burger.
Watch out for clowns on Wednesdays
A bit dry
House-made bun
Cross section--veggies on bottom
Boring fries
Good onion rings
Nice sign, a rework of the old 2J's sign
Joanne 6:04 pm on July 13, 2010 Permalink |
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