Whataburger's Pancakes. Yes, They're Good.

August 2020 UPDATE

Whataburger continues to produce their hamburgers more or less the old-fashioned way: on a grill, to order. And unlike McDonald's, their pancakes are the same, not pre-cooked and steamed but grilled to order. It takes longer, is more labor intensive, and is more expensive because of the prior two points. But in my opinion their breakfast is a much better buy than McDonald's, Wendy's, Chik-Fil-A or any other fast food franchise. They recently sold the company so that they would have the cash to expand. I hope they keep the original strategy.

For now, if you're going out for fast food pancakes, breakfast burritos, etc, in my opinion Whataburger is best.

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Original post:

Bear with me here.

I have now posted two fast food posts in a row, sorry, it just happened that way.

I took a few of my grandchildren to Whataburger for pancakes today. We usually go to McDonald's but we thought we'd try WB. I was shocked. Three large, fresh-poured on the skillet, served-hot pancakes with syrup, real butter and two slices of bacon: $4.00.

And this picture from the Whatburger website doesn't do them justice because they're not that pretty. They're imperfectly formed like the home-made kind the way they ought to be.

They tasted good, too.

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La Colombe, Di Bruno's, Village Whiskey, Dogfish beer, and Rittenhouse Square

Sorry for a food post on Philadelphia but I have just returned from attending my son's graduation so you get what I get I guess.

Anyway, if you do find yourself in the City of Brotherly Love's Center City area let me make these suggestions.

Coffee: the best cup of coffee, espresso, or cappucchino in town, or on the eastern seaboard is La Colombe. I say this for many reasons, the first being, of course, an honest cup of hot coffee. But equally, it's a real place, real baristas, real wood chairs on a hardwood floor.

La Colombe keep things simple because they try to do one thing well: coffee, and they haven't turned the store into a retail gift shop that also sells coffee (Yes, that's you Starbucks), and they sell croissants from a local baker who cares about doing croissants well. As a friend of mine said, "at La Colombe, the coffee comes first, the customer second."

There's no menu, no chalkboard, just get in line and order your standard coffee drink of choice and all God's chillen' are happy. Cash only.

http://www.lacolombe.com/

La Colombe

Di Bruno's
I love this place. They have some of the best sandwiches in town. And cheese, and fish, and desserts.
http://www.dibruno.com/

Di Bruno's

Reading Terminal Market
Want the best pulled pork sandwich in Philadelphia? DiNic's.
http://readingterminalmarket.org/

Village Whiskey
Maybe the best 8 oz. hamburger money can buy. Made from grass fed beef. The bun is perfect and the Duck fat french fries aren't bad either.
http://villagewhiskey.com/

And while I'm at it a little love for the Rittenhouse Plaza-Warwick hotel. Old-fashioned hotel service. Great newly-renovated rooms, friendly staff, and reasonable rates for the location. Rittenhouse Square is the only place to stay if you the love the hum of the city.
http://www.radisson.com/philadelphia-hotel-pa-19103-6179/paphily

The Wall Street Journal agrees, by the way: Rittenhouse

View of Curtis Institute of Music from my favorite bench in Rittenhouse Square

Last thing. If you get to the beach: Don't forget Dolle's Salt Water Taffy and and DogFish Beer from the original pub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Late Spring at the Beach

Burrito Jimmy

I know the moniker "Burrito Jimmy" from sports radio station 1310 the Ticket, a radio station I shall add, that gave me  thousands of hours of entertainment as I drove my way around DFW for twenty years. Stand back Burrito is a phrase I will not soon forget.

Come to find out a couple years ago, again from listening to the Ticket, that there is a restaurant chain of the same name, and just a few weeks ago, through a Ticket radio ad, that they were in DFW.

Burrito Jimmy's is like Chipotle or Freebirds. A big tortilla wrapped around your choice of meats and fillings. Nothing new as far as that goes.There is an important difference though, at least for me.

I've had a problem with the big burrito concept from the start and isn't the taste or freshness or price. It's the same problem I had with Boston Chicken (back when it was pretty good and not Boston Market) and it's the same problem I have at restaurants that let your plate sit under the warmer bulbs while the waiter is in the back catching a smoke.

My problem is the dislike of food served lukewarm when it should be hot (or cold). So when the big burrito is prepared with meats kept barely warm by warming bays, and when my big burrito is sitting there waiting for its toppings while Mr. Numnuts in front of me decides whether he wants verde sauce or pico de gallo, the big burrito goes from warm to lukewarm to room temperature by the time I bite into it. So I don't care what quality meats you have or how fresh your tomatoes are if said burrito isn't hot it isn't good. In my humble opinion.

Burrito Jimmy's has a solution. After they prep the hot items they put the whole thing in a steamer and get it good and hot and then after you get your choice of vegetables and sauces they pour hot cheese sauce on it and it is good. Real good. Problem solved.

A big burrito was just under $7, add a drink and the total was under $9, and I was full-full. I liked it, I'll be back. Stand back Burrito.

Suggestion: turn volume down before clicking start arrow.

http://www.burritojimmy.com/locations.php

In-N-Out Burger. The Maiden Voyage.

Like you, I have heard the reports. Like you, I have seen the crowds, and yes, I have watched the videos of mile-long lines. I scoffed and I mocked . . .

But I had never been . . . to the In-N-Out Burger.

Marian enjoying our exciting date to In-N-Out Fort Worth.

Until tonight when Marian and I made our maiden voyage to Fort Worth's, 7th Street In-N-Out Burger.

Our Verdict: an excellent burger and fries.

Is it over-hyped? Is the hamburger/fries combination really better than the average fast food restaurant? Well, yea, it kind of is.

I don't mean it's a gourmet hamburger like M&O just down the street. But for the money, what you get at In-N-Out is a pretty good deal: fresh never frozen hamburger patties, an excellent freshly-made bun, fresh, crisp iceburg lettuce, a real tomato slice, and real potato french fries cooked perfectly, all for about six bucks if you get the double. If you get the single the cost is about five dollars. Not bad because the food is good. As my son says, it's a perfect combination of ingredients where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

I like the simplicity of the In-N-Out operation. They sell hamburgers, fries, and shakes. If you want a latte or chai tea go somewhere else. In-N-Out has made good on simplicity and freshness. Years ago, while McDonald's (a company I admire, by the way) was freezing and franchising it's way across the country, In-N-Out was plodding along with a couple stores in California and a rock solid commitment to freshness. It caught on in California and built a loyal, read, very loyal, even annoyingly loyal following.

Now 60 years later, expansion has finally reached past Arizona into Texas and by the looks of things their reputation has spread with the expansion. On the second day of opening in Fort Worth the drive-thru line was 25 cars long at 6:30 PM when we visited and the walk-in line was 50 people. But from the time we got in line to the time we got our food we waited just under twenty-five minutes. Not bad.

So to Travis and Stephen, thanks for the advice, we're now a part of the In-N-Out family. And I'll be going back.

Addendum or Part Deux.

I just returned from my second visit with a better idea how to order. I ordered a double/double with grilled onions and green chilis, extra cooked french fries. Wow. My companion had the french fries "animal," which is fries with their secret sauce, cheese, and grilled onions. Fantastic. 3 of us: $18.

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In-N-Out Burger according to D Magazine.

Before long North Texas will have its first In-N-Out Burger.

In-N-Out triple cheeseburger and fries

A couple weeks ago, D Magazine ran a piece worth reading for In-N-Out enthusiasts and for hamburger lovers in general (thanks, Travis for the link).

Writer, Nancy Luna, covered the food industry in Southern California and she provides some interesting history of the fast-food business.

For instance, In-N-Out took a different path than the other hamburger enterprises that got their start in Southern California. McDonald's being the biggest. They don't franchise, they're still privately held, and the burgers are still made to order from fresh ingredients. That kind of commitment to controlled growth builds a strong customer base.

From the D Magazine article,

It’s the kind of loyalty that Burger King and McDonald’s will never have. While most fast-food chains live and die by limited-time menu creations, discounting, and coupons, In-N-Out never resorts to those gimmicks. Other than combo meals, the most expensive single item sold on the menu is $3.05. It sells burgers, fries, sodas, and shakes. Nothing else. No onion rings. No salads. No chicken sandwiches. Not even a hot dog. The most recent change to the menu, made a decade ago, was the addition of lemonade. 

The Double-Double (two patties, two slices of American cheese) remains the chain’s most popular item. But it’s rare to find any two customers who order the same meal. . . burgers with names such as Animal Style, Protein Style, Flying Dutchman, 3x3, and 4x4 are celebrated underground requests never seen on the menu.  

Nancy Luna, D Magazine, February 23, 2011. For the complete article in D Magazine go here.

I have never been to an In-N-Out, enthusiasts speak very highly of their fresh beef, never frozen hamburger, and I can't wait to try one.

In our area, Fort Worth will get an In-N-Out Burger on 7th, and Hurst, on Airport Freeway.

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Five Guys Hamburgers, Fort Worth, on Hulen.

I'll make this quick.

I had already eaten lunch, so when my son called and said, "Want to go to the new Five Guys?" I hesitated, but decided to go for the conversation and to see the place. I've been to Five Guys many times in other cities and wanted to see how ours compared.

It was about 1:15 p.m. when we arrived and I figured it would be somewhat cleared out. Wrong. It was packed. About 100 people, but almost everyone was seated, either eating or waiting for their burger. Our wait was about 10 - 15 minutes before he got his burger. They had the staff to service the crowd.

Now, Fort Worth has many good burger places: Fred's, M&O, Kinkaid's, Love's, Blue Tower . . . who am I missing? No, I'm not adding Dutch's or Papa's. We will have a Smashburger soon, and rumors keep floating about In-N-Out.

In my opinion, Five Guys ranks with the best, and their boardwalk fries, when they are just out of the fryer, are fantastic. Plus, they have vinegar as well as ketchup for the fries.

Five Guys
4833 S. Hulen Street
Fort Worth, TX 76132



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Dutch's Hamburgers -- Stttrrrike two.

I went to Dutch's Hamburgers today. I had heard that my first impression of their hamburger was wrong, that Dutch's had a hamburger that could be ranked with the best: Tommy's, Kinkaid's, Freds.

Well sorry folks, but I'll stick with the first impression and here's way: a good hamburger is juicy and tasty. Dutch's is neither.

On this my second visit to Dutch's, I received what is supposed to be a premium hamburger ($6.00 with no cheese) and it was pre-cooked, dry and almost tasteless. Hey Dutch, they've got this new seasoning out, it's called salt.

I mean this sincerely -- I would rather eat a hamburger at McDonald's, Wendys, or Whataburger. I think they taste better.

Regular readers know that I rarely criticize restaurants, but I am criticizing Dutch's because they are charging a premium price and delivering poor quality and all they need to do to improve is to deliver a freshly cooked burger. Stop pre-cooking!

And by the way, screw the "great onion rings" talk. I go to a place like Dutch's for the hamburger, the side dishes are secondary.

My hamburger was bone dry. Period. End of debate. I'm not going back.

Blue Tower Cafe Review

When you ask a Fort Worth native for a good burger joint... you get one of 3 responses: Kincaid's, Tommy's, or Fred's...

And then randomly someone says: "I recently heards that The Blue Tower Cafe had the best burgers in Fort Worth.."

And suddenly time stands still... until someone visits The Blue Tower Cafe. Well we can press play on the big button of life again, because I (Jake) took the time today to seek out this mysterious burger... and I was quite surprised.

Let's start with the location:
101 Summit Avenue # 110,
Fort Worth, TX 76102

As you're driving in towards downtown Fort Worth on 7th... you'll hit Summit Ave. Swing a left and immediately enter the parking lot. Yes, you will be in the parking lot of a large office building. Don't be confused, the "Yeti" of Fort Worth burgers is hidden deep within the recesses of corporate Texas...

You enter the building and the friendly building security stops you and judges your business being there. Give him a nod and say "Blue Tower Cafe" and off you go...


You'll find the counter behind a small door to the right. Looks like the average corporate cafeteria in any standard skyscraper. Rest assured this is not.

Order up a burger, pay the nice woman your money (btw, Burger & Fries + Muffaletta & Chips + 2 Drinks = $17)... And soon enough this pops up on your table:


Enough rambling? How does it taste? What's the flavor like?

The fries are hand cut... very meaty (how I like them) and taste fresh... Now that the fries are covered, let's dissect the burger.

The bun: delightfully solid, not soggy, and hearty. Not tough or thick, but holds up better than Kincaid's burger buns.

The dressings: Fresh veggies... lettuce, tomatoe, onions, pickles, and mustard. Very fresh taste and put on at the last possible second so it doesn't get soggy or greesy from the burger.

The burger: Very juicy (read: not too greasy, just moist) and tastey. The patty is uniform in shape and thickness (flat circle) but it's hand made. The meat melts in your mouth as you take a bite. The best part is that the grease does not escape and ruin your bun, but it does leave a little on your fingers. To me, that's a good sign...

Overall I think this burger beats Fred's and Tommy's and really does give Kincaid's a run for the top burger in Fort Worth. The anonymous commenter heard right that this could quite possibly be the best burger in Fort Worth. There will have to be other visits (from you readers) and myself to ensure the consistency... but I'm pretty much ready to dethrown the 3 kings...

The place has you fooled... Feels corporate and cafeteria like, but with the fresh flowers on the table, nice staff, excellent fries, and tastey burger... it's a spot to hit up and adventure out. Ambiance isn't quite burger joint friendly, but it's the meat that counts right?

Hmmm what to have for dinner?

Fred's Texas Cafe

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/

Dutch's and Public Opinion to the Contrary.

I had a bad first experience at Dutch's, but maybe I need to try again. I usually eat an early lunch, around 11:30, and that was when I pulled into Dutch's. I ordered and got my "burger ready" call about one minute after ordering. For a 6 - 8 ounce burger that's not possible unless they are already cooked, which they were. I don't care how good the beef is if it is a lukewarm burger I'm not happy.

Since then I have read a half-dozen opinions to the contrary, like this one just in from someone I trust:

Dutch's burgers--yesterday. Good burger. Hot. Bun just a little honey-sweet. Onion rings made from scratch; covered in flaky batter.

As a burger lover if they have a good one, and I need to go when they are hot, I will.

More Restaurants: Small and Good.

I love the small, owner-operated eatery. I don't care if it's pizza, Chinese, Mexican, barbecue or burgers. If I see a truck pulled over on the side of the road smoking ribs, I'm tempted to stop and often do. There are no fancy surroundings, artwork, or owner's BMW's included in the cost of these meals.

I had been thinking about asking readers to send in their favorite no-chain, locally owned, taco truck or corner restaurant. Then Jake offered a suggestion that Meli's is his favorite Mexican corner restaurant. My favorite has been the taco truck on 8th at the now abandoned Carnival. I seem to remember Rambler suggesting that there is some good food outside the Fiesta, a little ways south.

Please send me your favorites. I will post them in a list format and visit them.

One of my favorite little places is Boogie burger on Lancaster. Love that place.

Submission requirements:
1. Owner must be directly involved in the food preparation or service.
2. The building in which food service takes place must be a truck, strip shopping center, old gas station, or abandoned Burger King.
3. Menu must be limited in cuisine. No combo Chinese-Italian-Mexican cafeteria style joints.
4. At least one child of owner should be sitting at a table doing homework or playing a Gameboy.
5. One television is allowed in establishment, no flatscreens, and television should be showing soap operas or soccer, preferably not in English.
6. Most importantly, food must be fresh, taste good, and the cost should be reasonable.
(7. Not a requirement, but is preferred that the nationality of the owner match the kind of cuisine).

Editors Note: Old DQ's, Pizza Inn's, Fried Chicken franchises, and the like are all in the letter and spirit of the requirements. The requirements are not meant for literal interpretation (obviously) but are meant to convey the idea of sole proprietorship, originality and love of the end product, which is good food, and then happy customers.

A Burger for the Hungry Traveler ---

If you are ever in the eastern part of the country, including Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and Richmond, and I think even down into Florida --- and you are looking for a real hamburger, go to a Five Guys. Wow. Fresh meat patties, cooked after you order. Double stacked. Boardwalk style french fries and a lot of them. A big burger, more fries than you can eat and a drink for $8 -- in center-city Philadelphia. Not bad. Can I start one in Fort Worth?

The Five Guys guys have won a griddle full of "Best Burger" awards from New York to Washington, and in my view, they deserve them. I'm going back.

http://www.fiveguys.com/

A Winner, but Suspicious Activity in Burger Poll . . .

After 54 votes, Kinkaid's is the landslider winner in the "Fort Worth's Best Burger Poll."
But there is a slight statistical problem. Kinkaid's received 26 votes, Tommy's 10, but "other" received 12 votes coming in second place. Help me. Who is the other(s)? Since no one received 50% of the vote I am having a run-off election between Kinkaids, Tommy's and the "other". I started this poll before I knew about Dutch's. Could that be the "other"? I need a name people. Thanks.

Dutch, Dutch, Dutch . . .

Dutch's Burgers. Man, was I looking forward to Dutch's. I hate to slam a place after one experience so I won't, too much, but I am going back at a different time. I went early, 11:30, and, as they were anticipating the lunch crowd, they prepared the burgers in advance. I understand. But if you are going to do that, do what everybody else does, cook them a little, then throw the semi-cooked burgers in a pot of ice water and as you need them, you cook them. That way they stay juicy, semi-prepared, but not pre-cooked entirely.
My burger was pre-cooked entirely. They called my name 30 seconds after I ordered it. No sooner did I get a drink, and find a seat that my name was called. I exaggerate not. That's an 8 ounce burger, cooked through, well done. And my burger was just slightly past warm, yet still well done. I'm disappointed. This ain't Krystal's , 4-pack for a dollar. Slow the hell down. For $10 including the drink, but without fries, I expect better. I know that for every customer who feels as I do, there's one complaining that it's hot and fresh but it took too long to cook. Neverthless, I think most customers would prefer to wait 5 minutes or so and get a freshly cooked hamburger.
Some well intentioned manager thinks, "hey, I know we're going to serve 20 hamburgers in the first 15 minutes, why not make them in advance?" Great idea for donuts, bad idea for hamburgers. It's my biggest complaint, management efficiency winning out over common-sense and taste. I was looking forward all last week to Dutch's and, bam, a $7 pre-cooked hamburger that I could have gotten at Whataburger. I'm going back when they are busy to see if it's better.
On the plus side, great burger-place atmosphere, spacious seating, well lit, and a condiment bar with great dill pickles.
Dutch's vs. Kincaids,? The winner today is still Kinkaids.

Sometimes Weird Things Happen . . .

Yesterday, when I wrote the review of Pappas Burgers, I did not know that the Fort Worth Star Telegram was going to have a review of the new burger places in their GO section of Friday's paper (columnist:Amy Culbertson). I also did not know that they were going to use boxing gloves in the cover photo with a burger in the middle when I wrote the headline, In This Corner . . . (okay it's an obvious image, but still, it's weird). My little competitor buddy compared the new Dutch's, near TCU, the Love Shack on Exchange, and Pappas, burger-to-burger, and added a sidebar on the old standbys of Kincaids, Goffs, Tommys, etc. They (actually, she) chose Dutch's. Also, the Star-Telegram corrected me on Pappas' source of meats in that it is ground by the Papas Steak House not aged (they have some obligation to journalistic integrity, I don't), but they agreed with me on the bun at Pappas, that it was "smooshed". My mission over the next few days is to try the other new burger places to see if I agree with Ms. Culbertson (great job, by the way) and our local press.

In This Corner, Pappa's Burgers . . .

Just back from my first trip to Pappa's Burgers . . . but first a little background of the Pappa's restaurants. Most of us are familiar with Pappasito's and Pappadeaux' restaurants, two in the group of the Pappa's restaurants. But there is also, Pappa's Bros Steaks, Pappa's Barbeque, and even Pappa's Pizza. The chain of privately held restaurants is based in Houston, Texas and is run by the two grandsons of the original "Pappa" who emigrated from Greece and started a restaurant equipment business in Houston. The two grandsons started in the restaurant business in 1976 and have built a very successful company.
They have a formula and it works. Quality food, strict procedures for cooking, cleaning, table setting, and guest treatment which keeps a certain uniformity and quality to their restaurants. Now the burger....
The restaurant is the walk-up and order style, with a "server" bringing you your meal after you are seated. The decor is typical Pappas' style. Open beams, wood, funky old fashioned. It's comfortable and it works. I chose to sit at the bar, because the line was long. I asked the friendly bartender for a cheeseburger, cooked medium well, the fries come with the order. I spoke to the bartender while I was waiting. The beef is select and aged by the Pappa's Bros steak house in Dallas. It is very good. Here are my complaints though: It has little fat in the meat which keeps it from being hamburger-juicy and also keeps it from being hot enough by the time you get it. That's a personal preference I know, but also, the bun seemed to be steamed and not grill-top toasted and kind of formless, and pushed down, which is not preference, that shouldn't be. The fries were fair at best, but plentiful. The kicker to me is that I spent $12 + 2 tip for a burger, diet Coke and fries. Will I go back? Yes, if it's a business setting or I'm taking friends out to have a beer and burger and watch a game (they have at least 20 flat screens on the walls). But just for a quick lunch? Probably not. I still think the Pappa's brand is as good as their is in the industry.
Is it a gourmet burger? Yes. Do I still prefer Kinkaid's? I do. You might not. See the poll.