Charley's

Visited: Saturday May 22, 2010

4616 Granbury Road
Fort Worth. TX 76133
817.924.8611
Map


This place is what you think of when you say "hole in the wall." Started way back in the day, it has remained in the same spot forever. Originally built as a walk up and order venue, they have added a few seats inside over the years and plenty of picnic tables outside. Its the sort of place you would stumble onto when tooling the small towns in Texas and not the metropolis of Fort Worth.

Burgers are 1/3 lb served in a basket. Temperature was good and flavor was good as well. Cooked on a griddle, the seasoning was solid and the juice factor a winner. The buns are simple white bread and not much to get excited about (comparatively thinking that is.) The #2 cheeseburger comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle onion and mustard.

Fries are hand-cut with the skins on and good, but they are hit and miss. Mine were good, but AGH's were soggy and not tasty. This has happened to us before. Most likely the timing between the burgers and fries is off. But we will say that the portion of fries helps make up for it.

There is a lot good about this place and this burger. There are plenty of good sides like corn nuggets and fresh homemade lemonade while you wait.

Probably would be #11 on the list, so just outside the Top 10, but close. The value at this place is good as well, so we would recommend it. The other burgers on the menu are fun and seem to be the "draw" of this place. Remember, we are judging the basic cheeseburger, but the canadian bacon stuffed between two beef patties is pretty awesome.  

Stats:


Locations: 1
Date Est: ?



SCORE:  (1 - 5)

Burger: 4 pickles

Sides: 2 pickles

Menu: 3 pickles

Character: 3 pickle

Service: 2 pickle

                                                 Price: $8 cheeseburger (comes with fries & drink)

Tommy's

Visited: Saturday May 15, 2010

2701 Green Oaks Road
Fort Worth. TX 76116
817.735.9651
Map
Website
Menu

The Smith family opened up the first Tommy's 25 years ago. They are a Fort Worth tradition and have a nice collection of family recipes they use. They have won several awards and make many people's Top 10 lists for burgers. We have been to this place before, but now it was time to put them to the test.

The burger is served wrapped in a basket. It's a true 1/2lb burger and its served with your choice of fries, tots or okra which was a nice "Texas" menu surprise. Rarely can you find more than just fries, but this place has okra and even more if you wanted to "upgrade."  The fries, however, were cold and not that tasty in the crinkle cut variety.

Burger has great flavor. Definitely lots of grease, not as bad as others, but juicy none the less. Buns were okay, would have liked something more inspiring. Basic cheeseburger comes with mustard, onion, tomato, pickle and lettuce. Options for mushrooms, bacon, guacamole and jalapenos.

The menu would best be described as Texas-bar food. Lots of choices if you like fried. Sort of the "state fair" burger joint in Fort Worth. There are several good burger combinations so you can try different ones each time you visit.

We visited the Green Oaks location on the West Side of Fort Worth. This is an open kitchen concept - and one of their specialties is fried catfish. So we recommend ordering to go. We left the place both times with strong smelling clothes and had to change. (Feel bad for those who work there.) Besides the atmosphere is non-existent anyway.







Stats:


Locations: 2
Date Est: 1993


SCORE: (1 - 5)

Burger: 3 pickles

Sides: 3 pickles

Menu: 3 pickles

Character: 2 pickle

Service: 3 pickle

                                                 Price: $7 cheeseburger

Daybreak Cafe

Visited: Saturday May 8, 2010

2720 White Settlement Road
Fort Worth. TX 76107
817.335.0508
Map

This is a true "hole in the wall." It will not win the best burger - but it is dirt cheap! Our total price for both us of was $9.45! But when the best thing on the menu is not the burger (in fact it is a 4 pound stuffed potato - which is nice) it meets expectations. This place caters to the hard working, blue-collar patron and is more packed for breakfast then lunch.

We used to frequent this place years ago and at the time, it was the best burger in town. Then it was a double patty piled high. But, its a different story now.

Burger has good flavor. Served basket style. Buns are not toasted and portion was just shy of 1/3rd pound. (not sure why it was shy, but it was.) Basic cheeseburger comes with onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato and mustard. Options for mushrooms, bacon and jalapenos. Liked the sesame seed bun. We are big fans of something happening on our bun - either seeds or toasted. This one is not toasted, I think we said that! Plus, when a bun looks like it just came out of the Mrs Baird's bag, it takes some of the "zing" out of the experience. You probably got the same impression when you looked at the picture on the right. There should be a a big gap between McDonald's and burger joint and this does not get there.

Fries are from a bag and not hand-cut. And the portion of fries was small. However, probably right to the price.

Overall, not the same place of year's past, but if you want cheap, then this is your place. But, we would probably recommend you go for the other 90 items on the menu (yes, it is extensive) versus the burgers.

Stats:


Locations: 1

Date Est: 1995



Score: (1 - 5)

Burger: 2 pickles


Sides: 3 pickles

Menu: 2 pickles

Character: 3 pickles

Service: 3 pickles

                                                 Price: $4 cheeseburger

Pappa's Burger

Visited: Saturday May 1, 2010



2700 West Freeway (I-30)
Fort Worth. TX 76102
817.870.9736
Map
Website
Menu

We liked this place. I will start with that. We did not want to because it was a chain and we are not chain-friendly, but it was a good burger.

Its an odd concept service-wise. You place your order at the door and then find your table with your number. A server comes to you and verifies your order and then gets your drinks.

The burger was a 9 oz juicy beefer. The thin-cut fries were seasoned (quite a bit actually!) but were great. The burger comes in a blanket (or diaper depending on what your friends call it) and on a platter. And you will need it for the juices. But as you have been following us, we would have it no other way.

The bun is toasted and the temperature of the burger was fresh and hot - the way a made-to-order burger should be.

When I first ate at the Pappa's in Houston (where these people are based,) it was at the joint next to the Pappa's steakhouse. The benefit there was the fact that the meat was cut from the Grade A stuff in the steakhouse, ground and brought over daily. This is not the case in Fort Worth - and you could tell the difference.

Our one complaint is the price. This place is the most expensive burger we have had so far. And if it had been the best, perhaps we could let that go. But, alas, it was not. Our advice is to go on "Half price" burgers on Tuesday nights.  Then you will definitely be pleased.

Stats:


Locations: Lots
Date Est: 1996



SCORE: (1 - 5)

Burger: 4 pickles

Sides: 2 pickles

Menu: 4 pickles

Character: 3 pickles

Service: 4 pickles

                                                 Price: $7 cheeseburger