Best burger in Texas? Pretty tall order to fill. Plus, there’s always my slightly offbeat tastes, some aspects that combines history, time-honored traditions, ambience and nuance, as well as decent meal.
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[/style>For years and years, in my mind, from its humble beginnings as a tiny burger dive, Snuffer’s on Lower Greenville was the champion. Been a few years since I’ve been there, and on the way out of the Dallas, I figured a quick stop on a sultry Sunday summer afternoon was as fitting as any to test the theory.
Sadly, the title must be passed on to another burger joint, someplace else. to be sure, it’s still a good burger, but I’m sure that they’ve made some changes, driven, no doubt, by current market conditions. But what I recall was a slightly different burger. Still good, and arguably one of the best in the world, but not the best. Like BBQ, I’m sure it can be argued a number of ways, but for my tastes, back in the day, the burger was dressed with a salad mixture of lettuce, onion and tomato, then cheese and the burger itself was a half-pound of almost raw meat.
Not quite the same. Not quite as good as it once was. Not as much onion, market driven decision, I’m sure, slice of tomato, mustard was right, and the cheese thing changed to “aged cheddar” instead of “american,” as the standard.
Been years since I was last there. One evening, while cruising around, I noticed that there was a valet service on the busy nights. Sort of ruins the concept of sloppy burger dive; however, in its defense, the prices are reasonable, and the title for the best chili-cheese fries can still be claimed.
The chili-cheese fries were regular fries, tossed into a lined platter, then smothered in cheese, baked, or re-heated to melt the cheese (product), then liberally spiced with bacon bits (real bacon), chives, and jalapeño. Delightful. Artery clogging, I’m sure, and served with a side of ranch dressing. THey’ve also added chili, but I asked for that on the side and never touched it. Why ruin a memory?
So the fries still rock right along. In my mind, it’s a toss up between a local Austin place’s chili cheese fries and Snuffer’s. But I’d give the nod to Snuffers.
However, the burgers are no longer Number One. Close. Damn good. But not quite what they used to be. Therein is the danger, though, comparing what they serve these days to what I remember from the years gone by.
The menu used to fit on a single side of a 5 X 8 card, and alas, it’s grown, too. That’s probably the problem, trying to please too many people. I don’t live there, and I don’t eat there often enough for my opinion to matter.
Plus, it’s a slippery slope, calling up vague memories of living on one cheeseburger, every two days, as a way to get by.
That tricky memory was sharply punctuated by last shot of espresso for the road.
“Gachet? What’s the name from?”
“It was Von Gogh’s psychologist,” the Scorpio sister explained.
Three summer’s past, the best espresso was done by that Taurus lad at the Hideout. Often and on, Jo’s and Little City have held top honors, in my mind. All of those have been eclipsed by Gachet. On Lower Greenville. Across from where Tango used to be, asa point of reference, or about two blocks south of the old Hot Club. Just order an espresso, a double. Takes them at least 23 seconds to “pull” it. Each of the three sisters packs the grounds in a slightly different way, and if I had to make a recommendation, the Virgo seemed to do it best.
The yellow roses are courtesy of Kathleen’s Art Cafe, the original location, on Lover’s Lane. Just a nod for Ma Wetzel since, as per her Scorpio oracle, the yellow rose bush was blooming.
Copyright 2005 by Kramer Wetzel for astrofish.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without prior written consent from the author.
