1208 E Belt Line Rd
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 245-4621

I remember when the current space occupied by Burger Island was a Thai restaurant, then several incarnations of a Mexican eatery. So I didn’t expect upper-class digs in this small, almost-rundown little joint.

Which is always a good sign of genuinely greasy diner-style burger. I’ve heard my coworkers rave about their portions…and they weren’t kidding when it came to Burger Island sides. Every takeout order came home in boxes brimming with sides.

For the first visit, I tried Burger Island for their signature Jungle Burger. A nice, thin-patty two-hander loaded with toppings and barbecue sauce. I gave the burger high marks for being tasty and messy, even though it wasn’t my typical preparation. Unfortunately, none of their fried foods traveled well–from their onion rings to their jalapeno straws (Texas Toothpicks). The sheer volume of the side orders were daunting enough, without factoring in the sogginess.

On another visit, I sampled their bacon mushroom burger which again proved a tasty, oozy mess. Once again the onion rings failed to live up to the 15 minute journey, and the seasoned fries–while uniquely tasty–also came home soggy. The fiance tried their philly sandwich and gave it an above-average mark, rare for a Philly connoisseur.

I’d have to say for the price, Burger Island rates higher than some of the “gourmet burger” stops and is worth repeat visits.

449 W Bethel Rd
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 462-0101

The Coppell Deli’s claim to fame is the Stubbs breakfast sandwich–and they count the Dallas Cowboys as their biggest fans. The fiance and I however took aim at their burger menu…and in this we weren’t disappointed.

My bacon mushroom swiss was a 1/2 pounder, tall and bristling with bacon, and loaded up with lots of onions upon request. I found their choice of white onions strangely bland and faulted their use of tiny styrofoam boxes to carry their burger. Maybe they were highlighting the size of their sandwich by cramming it into a tiny space–whatever! Those styrofoam boxes are so 80s.

The fiance partook of the double cheeseburger and found it satisfying. We both thought that the pouch-sized fries however were on the bland side and could have used more seasoning. However the overall damage came to $22 and I thought the price too steep for the average result. We might give the Deli another try minus other side options.

100 N Kimball Ave
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 416-2573

We came to Kincaid’s with high expectations–and walked away idly wondering what the fuss was all about. We expected greatness and found mediocrity.

Two things Kincaid’s had going for it–a thick burger patty and a nice chocolate milkshake. While it’s nice to bite into a hefty burger–measuring a thumb’s width by my reckoning–I wished I could have ordered it medium-rare, which wasn’t an option. Sadly, the burgers were lacking in flavor and ooze-factor–no greasy burger here, just dry over-cooked meat whose flaws were heightened by the mustard dressing. Even the crinkle-cut fries and the Blue Bell ice cream milkshake appeared standard fare, nothing truly spectacular. And let me say that I could have gotten better onion rings at Burger King–Kincaid’s rings were battered to death and devoid of flavor. The little container of ranch dressing couldn’t rescue them from oblivion.

Walking into the Southlake location reminded me too much of a Mooyah’s or a Fuddrucker’s. Everything in Kincaid’s was too clean, too neat–and dare I say it–too formulaic for a unique burger experience. I can attest that Kincaid’s isn’t gourmet enough for the Southlake neighborhood. Perhaps we’ll visit the original location someday, but we’ll definitely steer clear of this outpost.