We drove into Keller’s Drive-In for their burgers…
…and had to drive away.
They don’t take plastic. Strictly cash only.
A sign out front proclaims: “Been Here A Long Time…” and the place looks it. You don’t come here for the ambience or the people-watching (unless you enjoy this kind of place)…it’s probably the rattiest, dingiest little drive-in you’ll ever see. If you don’t cater to the truck-stop vibe, it will take a bit of courage to venture into the Harry Hines location. Forget about family-friendly–no Happy Meals here, no cheery-faced teenagers manning the registers, no wacky mascots, no ball-pits. The ladies walking up and down the stalls to take your order look like they can manage an unruly crowd—they won’t take no bull. This is an adult burger joint–beer is the liquid of choice to wash down their food.
But I hear it’s home to Dallas’ best burgers. So, one of these days…one of these days…
My man and I were looking for a new dining adventure, and the man was craving Indian. Previously, the man had only one year’s experience with Indian food, so going to buffets was the best way to initiate him into the earthy-spicy exotic world of Indian food.
So we headed into Addison to give Flavors a try. First mark in their favor: nice, clean and spacious digs. If it wasn’t for the Sunday buffet I can imagine this place can host upscale dining. Second good sign: we were greeted immediately and ushered to our seats. Always a telling sign that the staff gets down to business–and that business is good food.
Third good sign: 2 buffet lines and all-you-can-drink soda fountain. As soon as we hit the buffet, everything was clearly labeled and stocked with fresh food. This was a good sized buffet with diverse vegetarian and meat offerings. Some standouts include their chicken tikka masala, lemon rice, fried fish, a fried potato/veggie dish and an excellent naan. (Which is saying something since I generally avoid the bread everywhere I’ve gone.) Other dishes less memorable were the chicken biryani, goat curry, saag paneer. We were surprised by the inclusion of a bitter melon dish on the buffet–typically more ethnic than most Americans can handle…woo! that’s definitely an acquired taste.
Flavors also delivered a capable fruit custard and a gulab jamun that was more custardy than bready, a decent rice kheer and good carrot halwa (though my partner says it’s not the best gajar ka halwa he’s eaten).
One thing I must fault Flavors’ buffet: not a single thing on the line was spicy-hot (not the pickled carrots or the spiced onions). Throughout lunch, I craved a burn, a kick, anything to get the nose running or throat scratchy…but none of the dishes I found delivered on the heat. In this I suppose Flavors’ buffet is newbie-friendly, but it would not be my first choice if I were looking to shock the tastebuds.
So Flavors’ buffet is great for initiates to Indian food, but too safe a choice if you’re looking for something stronger, more flavorful. However, the price is right (10.99 on Sat-Sun with unlimited soda), especially if it’s your first foray into this type of cuisine. As for me, I’ll come back for the good service and the naan.
My Circulon Original covered saute pan (or is that a chef’s pan) has finally given up the ghost. The once-durable, ridged non-stick hard-anodized surface began to worry me over the last 6-8 months as food began to adhere to the surface and failed to lift with gentle cleaning. I expected a lifetime of use from it, but only got 10 years of heavy usage. While it was a beast to handle (heavier than other hard-anodized cookware that I owned) it was the workhorse of the kitchen. I cooked everything in it: from pan-broiling steaks, stir-frying batches of fried rice, to serving up adobo chicken. It endured constant use and never warped or scratched.
Today it sits in the sink, its bottom surface grimed and caked with burnt food that no amount of soap or scrubbing has removed. I’d hate to retire the thing, but I’ve already invested a couple of hours attempting to clean it with no success. Any stronger methods is sure to destroy what’s left of its non-stick nature. My other Circulon cookware has seen moderate use and has continued to perform as expected…just not this particular piece. I’m glad to have owned one though, and my next heavy-duty chef’s pan will definitely be comparable if not better than this one. I bought my share of cheap, short-lived $20 cookware…never go back to those again.
For now I’m having to fall back on a Kitchen Essentials/Calphalon Everyday Nonstick Saute Pan…but a few years ago, the bottom of the pan warped, no doubt from high heat. So there is a slight curve in the center of the pan that really cramps my cooking style…
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.
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.
