Meddlesome Moth - May 20, 2010

This week's burger quest took us to Oak Lawn Avenue in the Design District to try the burger at Meddlesome Moth, Shannon Wynne's newest venture. The kitchen of Meddlesome Moth is headed up by Chad Kelley and the menu focuses on small plates of food designed to go well with over 40 draft beers and 75 bottled beers. We walked in and were promptly seated by the host and were given a dinner and beer menu and the lunch menu. Unfortunately the kitchen was unable to prepare any of the small plates featured at dinner but the lunch menu still had a nice array of salads, entrees, sandwiches and a cheeseburger featuring Burgundy Pastures beef from Grandview, Texas, fresh lettuce and tomato, horseradish pickles, aged cheddar cheese and a side of hand cut fries for $12. I ordered the cheeseburger cooked medium and waited while enjoying the stained glass windows which were previously featured at the Hard Rock Cafe on McKinney Avenue. While waiting I could look into the kitchen where I saw the meat for the burger being weighed and the patty hand formed before being cooked on a flattop. About ten minutes later the following burger was placed on the table:




The thick patty was placed on top of a thin bakery style bottom bun and then topped with a thick slice of cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes and lettuce and a fairly thick top bun. Taking a bite I was surprised at how juicy the patty was. Even though the patty was cooked to a medium well, it was still very juicy and I could taste the freshness of the grass fed beef and the salt and pepper seasoning. The flat top cooking gave the burger a nice crispy outside which I enjoyed. The cheddar cheese added a salty somewhat smoky flavor to each bite and the lettuce was crisp in each bite. The bun was probably my least favorite part of the burger. It had a good flavor but the bottom bun didn't hold up well to the juiciness of the patty and the top bun was slightly too thick. The fries were some of the best hand cut fries that I have had. They were lightly salted and the server then cracked fresh pepper over them. The fries were cooked to a good crisp and weren't soggy like a lot of hand cut fries tend to get after cooking. While I didn't put the horseradish pickles on my burger, they made for a tasty snack in between bites of the burger.


While more expensive than most burgers, overall I thought that Meddlesome Moth created a great burger offering. The service was top notch, the burger was tasty and I would definitely like to return to try some of the small plate offerings and the 115 different beers that are offered to patrons while enjoying a beautiful afternoon on the patio looking towards downtown Dallas.


Ratings (1-25):


Bun - 18, bun tasted good but was slightly too thick on the top and too thin on the bottom


Meat - 22, fresh grass fed beef, crispy crust, nicely seasoned


Appearance - 21, nice presentation of the burger, fresh ingredients


Taste - 21, great flavor in the beef and cheese, all the parts worked well together


Overall - 82

Updated Rankings Through May 12, 2010

83 – Club Schmitz
82 - Angry Dog
82 – Roasters ‘n Toasters
81 - Maple and Motor Burger and Beer
81 - Chips
81 - Ozona
81 - Melios Brothers Char Bar
80 – Riverside Grill
80 - Smashburger
80 – Wingfields Burgers and Breakfast
79 – The Burger Girl
79 – Kellers
79 – Park
79 – Taco Diner
78 – Back Country Bar B Q
78 - Jake's
78 – Scotty P’s Hamburgers
77 – Burger Spot
76 - JG’s
76 - Twisted Root
76 – Burger House
76 – Village Burger Bar
75 – Grape
75 – Snuffers
74 – Five Guys Burgers and Fries
74 - Goff's
73 – Adair’s Saloon
72 – Ball’s Hamburgers
72 - Hole in the Wall
72 - Mighty Fine Burgers (Round Rock)
72 - Central 214
72 – Tre Amici
70 - Peggy Sue's BBQ
68 – Loon
67 – Gazeebo Burger
66 – Lucky’s Cafe
66 – Pappy’s Old Fashioned Hamburger Company
65 – Dunston’s Steakhouse
65 - Midway Pointe

Smashburger - May 12, 2010

This week's quest took us to Addison to visit Smashburger which is just west of the Tollway on the south side of Beltline Road. Smashburger is a chain of burger restaurants that started in Denver and has rapidly expanded throughout the southwest. The Addison location of Smashburger is co-owned by Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo of the Dallas Cowboys and both of their jerseys are prominently displayed at the entrance to the restaurant. As we entered the restaurant, there was a short line to place our order at the registers. As we noticed the clean modern look of the restaurant which was full of hungry patrons enjoying their burgers or waiting for their orders and we could smell the cooking through the small window to the kitchen. As we waited to place our order, we reviewed the menu which has various topped burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and hot dogs. After a short wait, I placed my order for a 1/2 pound bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions, an order of Smashfries and a cup of water which totaled $10.03. I was given a number and my drink cup and was told that my order would be ready in five to seven minutes. About six minutes later, the following burger was brought to my table:




The large smashed patty was placed on top of the bottom bun and easily dwarfed the small bun. It was then topped with a small slice of cheddar cheese, a generous portion of grilled onions and three slices of bacon. The buttered top bun was slathered with mayonnaise. The first thing that I noticed when taking a bite was how large the patty was compared to the bun. It was a little difficult to eat at first but taking a bite, I could taste the combination of the bacon, the crispy bits on the patty from being smashed on the flattop and the buttery bun. The patty was very juicy and seasoned with salt and pepper. The fresh meat flavor was very good. Unfortunately the cheddar cheese was missing from most bites. Another slice or a large slice of cheese would have helped since the patty was so large. The grilled onions were thin slices of white onion that had been slightly caramelized and added a nice profile to every bite. Finally, the Smashfries had a good flavor but were served at a lukewarm temperature. It was almost as if they had been sitting under a heat lamp before being tossed in the olive oil and seasoning mixture. I was able to taste the regular fries and they were very good when fresh from the oil.


Overall I thought that Smashburger prepared a really good burger. The meat and toppings were fresh and the patty was very juicy and cooked nicely. I would have liked more cheese but I am sure I could order double cheese to help the flavor. I would go back to Smashburger and try some different combinations of burgers as well as the hot dogs or chicken sandwiches.


Ratings (1-25):


Bun - 19, toasted bun, good flavor, could have been a little larger to hold the patty better


Meat - 21, fresh well seasoned meat, crispy bacon, burger was very juicy with crispy bits


Appearance - 20, fresh ingredients stacked nicely, very good looking burger


Taste - 20, very good burger, nicely seasoned with good flavor in every bite


Overall - 80


Bonus Pic of Smashfries (French Fries tossed with olive oil, rosemary, garlic and salt):



Bonus pic of hamburger, fully dressed:

Lucky's Cafe - April 28, 2010

Last week's burger quest took our group to Lucky's Cafe on Oak Lawn Avenue near Lemmon Avenue. Lucky's Cafe has been open for over twenty years and specializes in diner foods such as meat loaf, grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken fried steak and chicken, omelets, pancakes and hamburgers. We walked into the restaurant and were promptly seated by a server. The restaurant is very open with an open kitchen in the back where great smells and sounds were welcoming guests to enjoy their meal. I ordered a medium cooked Bull's Eye Burger which was described as half-pound wood-grilled burger topped with sauteed onions, bacon and cheddar served open-face on a whole wheat bun for $6.99. It was almost as if Lucky's had created the perfect menu item for me. About ten minutes later, the following burger arrived at the table:





The thick patty was placed on top of the bottom bun and then topped with bacon, sauteed onions and shredded cheddar on top of the onions. The top half of the whole wheat bun was slightly toasted and topped with fresh tomatoes, pickles, lettuce and purple onions. I took off the vegetables and made a nice salad and then took my first bite. I noticed that the bun was somewhat dry and bland. The bacon was cooked crispy and had a nice salty flavor. The patty was cooked to well done and was somewhat dry and unseasoned. It did have some nice grill marks from being cooked over wood-fire and I could taste some smokey flavors from the grilling. I would have liked to have seen the cheese get placed directly on the patty so that it would have melted more over the patty. The sauteed onions had good flavor and a little bit of caramelization on them but still added a nice crunch to each bite of the burger. The fries were larger shoestring style and were crunchy and were very tasty.


Overall, I thought that Lucky's Cafe served an average burger. It had fresh ingredients but they didn't blend well to create a great burger. The whole wheat bun was probably a healthier option but it detracted from the overall burger. The patty could have used some more seasoning and not cooked past medium to medium well. I will continue to visit Lucky's Cafe for their great breakfast items and chicken fried chicken but a burger probably won't be my first choice of menu items.


Ratings (1-25):


Bun - 15, whole wheat bun slightly toasted, dry and bland


Meat - 17, thick patty cooked over wood-fire, crispy bacon was highlight of burger


Appearance - 17, fresh ingredients, well put together burger


Taste - 17, tasty bacon and sauteed onions, patty could have used some seasoning, flavorful cheddar cheese


Overall - 66

Taco Diner - April 21, 2010

This weeks burger quest took us to Preston Center to an unlikely burger spot, Taco Diner. Taco Diner is a Mexico City style taqueria but their menu proclaims that they have a fabulous diner cheeseburger that makes them proud for $7.95 so we decided to try it this week. It was a beautiful day in Dallas so we sat outside on the patio and I ordered the cheeseburger cooked medium with a side of fries. As I waited for the burger, the server brought the table warm chips with two salsas - a creamy green sauce and a warm red sauce. It was weird eating chips and salsa while waiting for a burger but the table enjoyed them while we waited. About ten minutes the following cheeseburger was brought to the table:



The cheeseburger was a combination of gooey cheese between three thin style patties on a slightly toasted hamburger bun. The bun didn't seem like it would hold up to the patties and cheese but taking a bite it was substantial enough to do the job. The patties had been cooked on the flattop and the cheese was melted perfectly on top of each patty. I am not sure why the server asked how I wanted the burger cooked since the patties were too thin to cook any way other than well done. The patties were seasoned with salt and pepper and had a nice crisp from cooking on the flattop. The cheese had a nice flavor and blended well with each bite. I would have liked bacon on the burger but Taco Diner only serves bacon with their breakfast in the morning. The fries aren't traditional diner fries but are extremely good. They are deep fried then tossed in butter and salt to give them a unique flavor and crunch in every bite.


Overall I thought that Taco Diner lived up to its claim of having a good burger. The thin patties were flavorful and the melted cheese worked well in every bite. The bun help up to the large amount of meat and cheese on the burger. If others in your party are craving Mexican food but you aren't, you would be well served to order the Diner Cheeseburger at Taco Diner.


Ratings (1-25):


Bun - 18, thin bun but it held up well to the burger


Meat - 19, nicely seasoned patties with a nice crunch from the flattop


Appearance - 22, gooey cheese, well cooked patties, nice looking burger


Taste - 20, flavorful patties and cheese, great fries


Overall - 79

Scotty P's Hamburgers - April 14, 2010

Yesterday's burger quest took us to the southwest corner of Preston/Forest to try the burgers at Scotty P's Hamburgers. Scotty P's is a family owned chain that prides itself on six ounce hand formed patties made from 100% ground chuck. Other offerings on the menu include hot dogs, salads, chicken sandwiches, hand breaded chicken strips and for $299 you can get a bottle of Dom Perignon or for a $1 more you can have two burgers and fries added to your bottle of Dom. We walked in the restaurant and they have two queues - one for to-go orders and one for dine in customers. We made our way to the register while listening to very loud top forty music and looked at the menu posted above the registers. You could see into the kitchen where cooks were grilling burgers and frying up fries and onion rings. I placed my order for a bacon cheddar burger cooked medium with grilled onions and mayonnaise with a side of frings (combo of fries and onion rings). I was given my drink cup and a buzzer to let me know when the burger was ready. About seven minutes later the buzzer went off I picked up the following burger:




The patty had grill marks from being cooked over open flame and the bun was nicely toasted. I am not sure what happened to the grilled onions but they were left off the burger. Two thick slices of bacon sat on top of pile of nicely melted grated cheddar cheese and the mayonnaise was slathered on the top bun. Taking a bite I was met with a fluffy bun with a nice crunch from the toasting and I could taste the freshness of the patty and a little touch of smoke from the cooking over fire. The bacon was crispy and well cooked. The patty was cooked to a perfect medium with a little bit of pink still left in the meat. It wasn't the juiciest patty but it had been seasoned well. The onion rings were thick cut rings of large white onions that had a crispy tempura style batter. I am not usually a fan of such large slices of onions but these were flavorful and crispy. The fries were cooked nicely but didn't have much flavor.


Overall I thought that Scotty P's prepared a good burger. Thick fresh patties and hand cut bacon and shredded cheddar cheese made a for nice flavor combination. I would like to try the grilled onions in the future to see what they add to the burger as well as I would like to try the homemade chili on a burger as well. Scotty P's is a nice addition to the restaurant offerings in the Preston/Forest area.


Ratings (1-25):


Bun - 20, nicely toasted fluffy bun, held up well with every bite


Meat - 20, well seasoned fresh patty, crispy bacon, well cooked burger


Appearance - 19, fresh ingredients, nice grill marks, pink center in patty


Taste - 19, good seasoning on fresh ingredients, bacon had smoky peppery flavor


Overall - 78


Bonus Pic of Frings:

Back Country Bar B Q - March 31, 2010

This week's quest for burgers took us to Back Country Bar B Q at the northeast corner of Park Lane and Greenville Avenue. Back Country has been serving barbecue in Dallas since 1975. I had heard from several people that they serve a good burger so we decided to head over this week to check them out. When you walk in the restaurant, you are greeted by several friendly men behind the counter who ask you to step and place you order for smoked meats, chicken fried steaks or burgers. The burgers come in either a 1/3 pound ($4.55) or 1/2 pound variety ($5.65) with a $0.50 upcharge for cheese. If you want a side and a drink, the combo costs $8.00. I ordered a 1/3 pound cheddar burger with fries but you have a choice of other sides such bas beans, slaw, pea salad, fried okra or onion rings. I went the cafeteria style line, poured my drink and paid for my meal. All of the sandwiches and meat plates are made to order so burgers and fries take a little longer to prepare. I sat down and less than ten minutes later the following burger was brought to my table:




The burger appeared to have been cooked on a grill with nice grill marks under the melting cheddar cheese and the bun was buttered and toasted. French fries were thinner hand cut skin on fries that weren't cooked super crispy but were fresh and hot from the fryer. Taking my first bite, the meat was probably a frozen patty but it had a good flavor from the grill and seasoning put on the patty. The cheddar cheese had a sharp flavor that was present in every bite. The bun had a good contrast of crispy toast and soft insides and help up well to the patty which wasn't the juiciest. I would have liked the ability to add bacon to the cheeseburger but unfortunately it is not an option at Back Country.


Overall, while Back Country serves a no-frills burger since its main focus is smoked meats, it served a nice addition to the numerous choices of burgers in the area. The meat was grilled well and was flavorful. French fries were flavorful and the barbecue sauce made for a nice condiment to dip them in. I would definitely go back to Back Country but it would be a hard choice between the smoked meats or a hamburger.


Ratings (1-25):


Bun - 21, toasted buttered bun, held up well to the burger, good flavor


Meat - 19, nicely grilled patty, seasoned well, no bacon choice


Appearance - 19, fresh ingredients, cheddar cheese melting well over patty, golden bun


Taste - 19, good smoke flavor and seasoning on the patty, cheddar cheese was sharp


Overall - 78