Our first two stops on this tour were at Magnolia Cafe and The Oasis. While both places serve burgers, neither is actually known for its burgers. They just happened to be two places I stopped at when this idea popped into my head. This week is different. Now we’re at a place actually dedicated to the craft. It’s time to get serious.
Welcome to Mighty Fine!
You know a restaurant is committed to its craft when it’s menu is as short as theirs. Essentially, the entire menu is:
- Burgers
- Chili Dogs
- Fries
- Drinks
That’s it. Sure, you get to pick your burger size, and whether or not you want to take the unimaginable path of ordering it without cheese, but this really is all there is to it. You walk in, make a quick pick of what you want, and they write it on a bag for you.
The burgers are made fresh, on-site, and behind glass for all the world to see. It’s a lot like going to the zoo and looking in the lion cage except that the lions are human and they’re making burgers.
Burger patties, burger patties! Roly poly burger patties!
Burger patties, burger patties! Fry them up, yum!
Next up? The all-important French fries! These are also made on-site. Whole potatoes are dropped into the giant Crinkle-O-Matic machine and they come out like this:
And then deep fat fried:
For all the trips I’ve now taken to Mighty Fine, I actually have yet to try one of their shakes. Yes, I realize that’s a little like going to Disneyland and forgetting to ride any rides, but I just haven’t done it. For one reason, it’s definitely a dessert, and I don’t really want a dessert with my burger and fries. For another, it’s just extra calories. I know that sounds absurd, given the fact that the burger and fries are probably 1,200 calories together. But then again, people don’t make sense, and I’m definitely people.
And here is the final product, just minutes before disappearing like an airplane in a David Copperfield television special:
| Austin Burger Tour #3 | |
| Location: | Mighty Fine Burgers |
| Burger: | Now we’re getting there! |
| Fries: | Crinkle cut |
| Bathroom: | Disconcerting |
| Rating: |  |
A Mighty Fine burger has just about everything I like in a cheeseburger. It’s juicy without being greasy. It’s done without being burnt crispy. And it just tastes good. What more do you want? Well, apparently I do, because I only gave it four stars. Frankly, as good as this burger is, I know that better awaits. Besides, if I just hand out five-star ratings willy-nilly, then the whole system is as pointless as burger without cheese.
Next stop? You decide! Any Austinites comment below. Whatever place gets the most comments, that’s where I go next. In case of a tie, I go to all of them. (Here’s hoping for a ten-way tie.)
on April 3, 2009 at 12:08 am
i nominate austin java! it’s no so much the meat, but the bun they serve it on as well as the mayo that comes with it. the bread is a honey wheat bread i think, and it’s so much better than the typical bun. and the mayo is just good good good.
but for a real burger, if you are ever up in the dallas area, you need to try airway’s burgers in arlington 🙂 charcoal grilled yumminess.
on April 3, 2009 at 5:38 am
It might have only gotten four stars, but DANG! that looks good!!
on April 3, 2009 at 5:53 am
You gotta do Huts at some point.
And Hill’s Cafe would be a natural.
Then, of course, there is my house.
on April 3, 2009 at 10:16 am
I vote for Mooyah. That’s my favorite right now. 😉
on April 3, 2009 at 10:16 am
Wow. That’s just about all I can think of to say. Wow. Now I’m craving a cheeseburger.
p.s. Did you get the Diet Coke with that? 😉 Just kidding…sort of. That would be me.
on April 3, 2009 at 10:20 am
Actually, I always get the diet coke with that. I know it’s the eternal dieting joke: to eat big, fat meals and then order the “diet coke,” but for me, it’s simply my preferred beverage.
This is also a good time to go on record with another issue. I realize that “trying to lose weight” and “Austin burger tour” seem quite incongruous. Fortunately, that last picture tells the story. I only eat half of it. (And very few fries, to boot.) I don’t feel nearly as bad eating 500 calories as opposed to 1,200, and yet I still don’t feel like I’m depriving myself of anything. Heck, I get TWO great meals out of it. How can you beat that?
on April 3, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I wouldn’t have the willpower to eat only half. Well, I’d try and then I’d probably pick away until the other half was gone. Um, I don’t live in Austin but I have a suggestion. When the Five Guys burgers came to my area people went wild. Personally, I could just eat a sack of their fries and die happy. I noticed there is one and another coming soon in the Austin area. How about giving Five Guys a try?
on April 3, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I want to go to there.
on April 3, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I can’t imagine what a 5 star burger cheeseburger would be!
on April 3, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Oh, I can!
on April 4, 2009 at 9:02 am
1. hut’s, hut’s, and more hut’s
2. casino el camino
3. counter cafe
4. for el cheapo burger, p terry’s
5. jackalope
6. i agree: john’s house. let’s all go! 😉
on April 4, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Hey, So glad you liked it. The restroom is a trip isnt it. (My husband and sons get a kick out of the trick mirrors.) I actually dont eat much meat in general so I’m really picky about where I will eat a burger and about the only other place I can think of is, believe it or not, Culvers. 🙂 They actually do have a really good burger for a fast food place, and even tho they are called Butter Burgers, they dont make them with butter….. 🙂 Anyway, that’s my suggestion to add to the comment panel. (my husband likes huts too)
on April 6, 2009 at 5:20 am
P Terrys
P Terrys
P Terrys
P Terrys
Shady Grove (w chile cheese fries) yessssss
on April 6, 2009 at 5:30 am
The BakeHouse (AustinBakeHouse.com)
You will love it!
on April 6, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Oh yum!
on April 6, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I’ve got to vote for The Tavern. For my money, they beat all the other places I’ve seen listed (though I haven’t tried Jackalope or Hill’s Cafe). The trick is that it’s a sports bar, and thus not a valid option during any major sporting event. Grrrrr.
on May 2, 2009 at 11:14 pm
How about…
Phil’s
P. Terry’s
Top Notch
Hut’s
Five Guys
Casino El Camino
Crown and Anchor
…and I always go for the jalapeno cheeseburger.
on July 10, 2009 at 10:01 am
Mooyah by far is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!