I like hamburgers. Most of us do. Many readers of these posts like Fred's for hamburgers. I had been to Fred's about 10 years ago and was not overly impressed, but on Wednesday I decided to stop by for lunch.
Conclusion: I still do not put them in the same category as Tommy's and Kinkaid's. The fries were very good. Not great but very good.
The hamburger though, was well done, and on the dry side. I prefer the fatter burger with a smaller diameter than a burger that is wide and flat. I think the juices are kept in the fatter burger, and they can be "done" without being cooked all the way through.
I'm not saying it was a bad hamburger but for $11, including fries and a diet coke, I still prefer Tommy's and Kinkaid's.
One important difference: Fred's has what looked like a great stein of cold beer and is more of a bar/cafe place than just burgers and fries. Their website shows Fred's as much more than hamburgers with a menu that includes quail and eggs, and live music, too.
http://www.fredstexascafe.com/
14 comments:
Watch out, it's considered blasphemy to utter a negative word about Fred's. The Freds Burger is one of the best burgers I've ever had....problem is I've has 6-8 mediocre Freds Burgers since that good one. Last time I went to Freds was for Sunday brunch this past fall.....2 hours later and an awful meal and that pretty much closed the book on Fred's for me. Hopefully the next fire will finish it off for good (why do you think the damn thing burns so often)?
I can appreciate defending a favorite restaurant. It's personal after a while and not just about the food. But -- my burger was overcooked and dry.
continued --- hit the Enter button by mistake:
So, if folks want to pile on my comments -- have at it. I have been in Fort Worth almost as long as Fred's (1978) and the burger wasn't 123 with Tommy's.
That's just the ways I see it.
Your post made me curious and hungry for a burger. I tried to get into Fred's today and couldn't get a seat. I went to Tommy's on Camp Bowie and couldn't get waited on (waitresses wandering around an empty restaurant looking everywhere but my table irritate me no end). So I went to Tommy's on Green Oaks and 30; mediocre hamburger on a cold bun that fell apart and ordinary frozen fries passed through grease. ...sulk...sulk
Ok, Fred gets one try and then it's back to my beloved Old Neighborhood Grill, where the worst problem is deciding among the classic burger, the 10oz. burger, and the BLT (guarantee to clog your arteries).
Sorry to hear about the bad burger outing.
I have had bad burgers at Tommy's, which is why if I have my choice I will probably go to Kinkaids. It's not quite as good but it is consistent and cheap.
OT @ Francis~
She Who Must Be Obeyed [never figured you for Rumpole of the Stockyards] *has* my email addy, or did. If it's gone AWOL, yes please, pass it on to her.
We missed her. This Tuesday @ Borders @ Arlington Highlands [there's a Kinkaid's nearby, if you want to hang out while we knit, LOL, or you can come over and say how-do].
hmmm... that stinks that you had *yet another bad burger* experience. I didn't have hopes that it would break into your top spot(s), but I did think you'd give the Diablo Burger a try and like the flavor...
I recently went back to Tommy's to try their Green Chile Burger. Not hot at all, had to order some Jalepenos to at least give it some spice, but it was good.
I still think Kinkaid's has the best text book burger, with Fred's and Tommy's tied for flavor enhanced :) I really really really wish Kinkaid's would bring in some other interesting flavors...
You can laugh at me (or sneer), but one of my favorite burgers is from the little Fina station at the corner of So. Riverside and E. Berry. Yes, it's a flat burger with lots of the juice pressed out, but the meat has a good flavor and they grill the bun. I get the double meat most of the time, or a single patty with bacon added. They also have a good gyro, chicken or lamb, but pronounce is jiroh, not yeeroh. They are Palestinians, not Greeks and will tell you it's "jiroh". For a yeeroh, go to Paul's on Hemphill. :-)
Jake -- at 56 I have to limit my Diablo type ingredients. I hate it but it's the way it is.
Rambler: I should go to the Neighborhood Grill more often, as far as a Fina, no problem with me, every once in a while you stumble upon good food at the craziest places.
To put too grandiose a spin on it, I think flat burgers are a different genre and my favorite flat burger is the Wendys 99 cent bacon burger. I could eat a dozen of them.
Tried to go to Fred's again, but it's closed on Monday. I ended up at M&O Station Grill, off Carroll Street just south of White Settlement. It's another restaurant "voted best hamburger", and it really was good, though pricey. I had the California burger, which had grilled jalepenos and opinion, plus guacamole, lettuce and tomatoe. It also comes with cheese and pickles, but I cut those. The meat was slightly small for the bun, but had a good flavor. It was $8.97 and came with real potato french fries. It's attached to a Leonard Bros. "museum" (i.e. memorabilia shop) and has a 50s/60s Fort Worth theme to it. It certainly beat Tommy's.
I didn't see this place on your site so thought you might not know about it. It's pretty obscure.
Rambler.
Hmmm, very interesting. I will try. I love trying new burger places.
Thanks.
I recently heards that The Blue Tower Cafe had the best burgers in Fort Worth..
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=blue+tower+cafe+fort+worth&fb=1&view=text&latlng=2842230305264288295
Anybody been there?
@nemajo
Have not even heard of it... I might have to go check it out!
Dutch's on University where Jon's used to be is very good but also pricey. Go on Tuesday after 4:00 when burgers are half price.
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