Austin Burger Tour: Top Notch

Top Notch is one of the old time Austin institution burger places. The place has been around for several decades and was featured in “Dazed and Confused,” or at least that’s what my co-workers tell me (and according to the IMDB, so I guess it’s true). You can either go inside, or order out at the drive-up menus, “Sonic” style. The inside is small, and you may have to wait for a table at peak times, although the last time I was there for lunch it didn’t seem that crowded. The burgers are good; cooked on a flame grill, you get that back-yard grill taste. However, they are a little inconsistent. The first time I was there, the burger was way too greasy. There was a little puddle of grease from the burger which was kind of unappetizing. However, after coaxing by a co-worker who is a big proponent of Top Notch, I went back and had a much better burger, although it was still slightly too greasy. Later trips proved the same, although I’m wary that I’ll have a bad burger again. The fries are good, a little on the thin side, which I like.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Austin Burger Tour: Mike’s Pub

Mike’s Pub is an interesting little place located in the parking garage behind the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel on Congress and 7th. The place is pretty small, the ceiling is low, and…oh yeah, they serve burgers. I’m not sure how long it’s been there, but it’s a quirky place that fits in well in Austin. It’s pretty good greasy-spoon type fare, however the negatives detract from the overall experience. Let’s start with the burger: pretty good, a little greasy, and there is a fixin’s bar so that you can accessorize your burger the way you like it.  The bad: First, the place is tiny, so seating is limited, and it’s pretty popular, so it gets crowded fast.  Second, they charge for refills.  Who charges for refills?  Third, they don’t take credit cards, but there is a little ATM type machine at the counter where you get a receipt for money and use to pay for the meal, and there is a charge to do this.  Basically, this is a good little place, but I don’t go out of my way to go there.

Overall Score: 6 out of 10.

Austin Burger Tour: Texas Chili Parlor

The Texas Chili Parlor is a little hole in the wall on Guadalupe that is famous for, well, its chili. And the chili is good; I like the black bean and Elgin sausage chili, but have not yet tried the XXX chili. However, we’re here to talk about the burgers. And the burgers are good, too. The burgers are a little thicker than places like Crown and Anchor or Fran’s, but not a thick as Casino el Camino (although I have not seen a place with a burger as thick as Casino yet). The burgers are not too juicy, but not dry either. I guess it’s the “Goldilocks” burger: just right. Another good thing is that the Parlor is very consistent. While this place is not at the top of my list, I have never had a bad burger there, and it has a prominent position in my restaurant rotation. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s conveniently located one block east of the Capitol and between downtown and the UT campus.One thing: they don’t serve fries.  That’s a minor annoyance for me, but they do serve fritos, which is acceptable.  Atmosphere wise, the place is pretty small and dark. They have the old-timey signs and license plates on the walls. Service is pretty good, although not as consistent as the burgers.

Overall score: 7 out of 10.

Austin Burger Tour: Crown and Anchor

Crown and Anchor is a little bar/restaurant just north of the UT campus on San Jacinto.  They have an outdoor patio, some of it covered, pub games (darts and pool), and some of the best burgers in Austin.  I like to get the double patty, bacon cheeseburger.  One thing I have not talked about before, when it comes to burgers, is the bun-to-meat ratio.  There has to be enough bun to hold the burger and condiments in place, but not too much bun to overwhelm the burger.  The burgers at Crown are a little thin, what my friend referrs to as a “60’s style burger,” and I think that the buns are a little too big for just one patty.  Now I think that the patties, even one, are good at Crown: tasty and not too dry or too greasy.  However, I feel that two patties equals one think burger and gets the best burger/bun ratio.  In addition, the bacon is nice and crisp, and the fries are excellent.  Top off the experience with a sunny day (so you can sit out at an uncovered table) and a cold Shiner, and life is good…

Bonus: Just did a quick google and it seems they also have free wi-fi.

Overall score: 8 out of 10

Austin Burgers: Huts

What can I say about Hut’s? It is almost an institution in Austin. It has been around for years, constantly voted as one of the best burger places in the annual Chronicle poll, has a nice, quirky dinerish atmosphere…oh, yeah, and the burgers are pretty good, too. There are 15 or 20 different types of burgers you can order on the menu, plus you can swap out the beef with buffalo, chicken breast, or a veggie burger. (Go ahead, try the buffalo, you know you want to…actually, it’s pretty good, leaner than the beef, with a richer taste)

The place is small, so get there early to avoid the wait. There is baseball and football pennants and other local memorabilia on the wall. You can also get hot dogs, sandwiches, and other things, but why? You go to Hut’s for the burgers (except on Friday, when they have the catfish special). I usually get the Hut’s Favorite (mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and American cheese), shake, and the fries/onion rings combo. The burgers are semi-thick, probably 1/3 lb, and are a little juicy/greasy, but not too much. Fries and onion rings are cooked well and are crispy.

But…(there’s always a but, and this is where I’m going to get the hate mail) while I think that the burgers are good (and consistently good), and I always enjoy going there, I think that other places in Austin have better burgers, like the previously reviewed Casino El Camino. So if you want a little bit of “classic” Austin, go to Hut’s. You will not be disappointed. However, I hope that I can introduce you to some other places that I think are a little better…

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Austin Burgers: Casino El Camino and Roaring Fork

Got a comment (Whoo-ho! First Comment!) pointing out the Roaring Fork and Casino El Camino, as, I would assume, the best burgers in Austin (this detail was left out of the comment). It just so happens that I have been to both of these places, and they represent two extremes on the burger goodness experience.

Great Austin Burger Tour!

I, along with a co-worker, have been looking for the best burger in Austin.  This, I have learned, is a very personal topic, subject to much dispute, raised voices, and strong feelings.  Many have their own favorite burger place, which they defend even in the face of a superior burger from somewhere else.  “Yeah, sure it’s good, but not as good as X,” they’ll say.  Anyway, my co-worker and I have gone to over 20 places so far, and have reached some preliminary conclusions, but the quest continues.  I will post my reviews of the burgers around Austin, and some of the best are from out of the way places where even I was suprised to see such quality.  I only hope to spread the light, that the great masses, only used to standard fast-food fare, can rise up, and experience a burger the way it was meant to be.