Hamburgers

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Mamie’s Kitchen

Pattison, a small town located in southern Waller County, was named after James Tarrant Pattison. This early settler built his plantation house on a tract of land he purchased in 1839. Pattison’s house served as a stage-coach stop on the Atascosito Road, a military highway established by the Spaniards sometime before 1757.

According to the Pattison family, there is a little more to the story. As they tell it, Pattison and a rival plantation owner each wanted the rights to name the town. So, they decided to match their favorite horses in a race. They agreed that the winner would have the privilege of naming the proposed town after himself. The rest is history.

Pattison is located west of Houston and north of Brookshire near the junction of Farm Roads 1458 and 359. Pattison is a small town that is home to Mamie’s Kitchen — a restaurant that serves dishes big on flavor. This small town eatery is named after Mamie Wilpitz Wilson. For more than 40 years, Mamie and her husband John operated Wilson’s Grocery in Pattison. This grocery store became a favorite gathering place for locals.

Miss Mamie earned a reputation as a woman who cared about her neighbors. That’s because she and her husband John had an open door policy that endeared them to others. Mamie, in fact, became known as an encourager who was always ready to listen and to give sage counsel to kids and adults alike. She was regarded as a mother by the folks of her community.
Mamie's RestaurantMamie’s Kitchen, a fairly new restaurant in Pattison, was named in honor of Miss Mamie. Their aim is “to reclaim the feeling of years ago, by offering food and a warm and comforting atmosphere to all who enter this place.” After stopping to eat at Mamie’s a couple of months ago, I have returned to Pattison more than once to eat at Mamie’s.
Mamie's Christmas DinnerMy first meal at Mamie’s was their Christmas Dinner. Oh my soul, it was delicious. I shared a table with a bunch of friends. Each of us received a plate heaping with turkey and dressing and the works. Every bite was filled with home-cooked deliciousness. But, as good as my turkey dinner was, I knew I would have to return to eat a burger.
Mamie's BurgerOn my return visit, I ordered a hamburger with a side of onion rings. This is one big burger. Those of you who follow my blog know that I have a first-bite rating when it comes to trying a new burger. If the first bite is good then all is well. The first bite was indeed good. As a matter of fact, it was better than good. And the onion rings were oh so amazing. Mamie’s is also known for its fabulous pies. So, I forced myself to eat a piece of pecan pie infused with slivers of almonds. Wow!
Mamie's MenuBecause we are all busy it’s easy to fall into a tired routine of eating at the same fast food joints or chain restaurants. Don’t get stuck in that rut. Get out and look for interesting places to eat near you. Make it a point to not judge a book by its cover. Take a chance on a place you might otherwise pass by. You just might find a culinary treasure like Mamie’s Kitchen — a place that will delight your palate and make your taste buds think they won the lottery.

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Novrozsky’s Hamburgers Etc

I discovered Novrozsky’s Hamburgers Etc on a recent road trip to Orange to visit the fascinating old Farmers Mercantile, a general store that has served the people of the area for almost 90 years. Hungry for a good burger, I asked Siri to find places to eat near me. Novrozsky’s topped the list. The name alone made me curious so I entered the address into Google maps and headed in their direction.

The original Novrozsky’s restaurant was founded in 1982 in Beaumont. Today, they have locations through Southeast Texas, including Orange. According to their website, they pride themselves “on serving the most delicious and satisfying burgers in Texas.” Another reason I had to check this place out for myself.
Novrozsky's FrontThe Novrozsky’s restaurant in Orange is housed in a modest and nondescript building with only the name Novrozsky’s on the front. No problem! As someone who enjoys sleuthing out a good burger, I was far more interested in what I would find inside the building.

I arrived well past the lunch crowd and walked right up to the counter and ordered their Bacon Cheddar Burger with all of the trimmings on a jalapeño bun along with a side order of hand-battered onion rings. Novrozsky’s hamburgers are made with Nolan Ryan beef — 100% all natural, hormone-free beef raised right here in the Lone Star State.
Novrozsky's CupI filled my styrofoam cup with raspberry iced tea and waited for my burger. Looking around, I noticed that I was not the only person interested in having a burger for lunch. My burger arrived with a heaping order of onion rings. If the aroma was any indication, I knew this was destined to be a mighty good meal.
Novrozsky's BurgerOf course, the first bite always tells the story and my first bite was not disappointing. Oh my soul! This was truth in advertising — a truly delicious and satisfying burger. If it had been possible I would have eaten two of these fabulous burgers. As for the onion rings — unbelievably delicious! The onion rings were a meal in themselves.
Novrozsky's Burger PlateThe only thing that disappointed me was the last, moist, delicious bite. Not because it did not taste as good as the first bite but because I did not want for this meal to end. It was that good. I give Novrozsky’s absolutely high marks in every burger regard. You can bet that I will stop at Novrozsky’s again the next time I find myself anywhere near one of their many locations in Southeast Texas.

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Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot

A friend recently encouraged me to eat at Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot — a tiny burger joint with a big reputation for serving tasty burgers in Houston. Sparkle’s is located at the corner of Leeland and Dowling, just east of Houston’s historic Eastwood neighborhood. Housed in a small building flanked by picnic tables and a shade tree, Sparkle’s has a very reasonably priced breakfast and lunch menu.
Sparkle's Hamburger SpotI ordered the bacon cheeseburger with a side order of onion rings at the walk-up window. The young lady who took my order was friendly and helpful. Everything at Sparkle’s is made-to-order, so the service is not fast. They wait until you place your order to start cooking. Once I placed my order, I joined the dozen other folks sitting around the picnic tables, patiently waiting to hear their number called. Those who had phoned in their orders did not have as long to wait.
Sparkle's Walk-Up WindowI have to confess that waiting was the hardest part because I was so hungry. When the gal at the window finally called out Number 74, she handed me my burger in a white styrofoam box. I settled into a comfortable seat at the picnic tables and opened the box. Inside I found a healthy burger swaddled in paper along with a generous portion of onion rings.
Sparkle's BurgerThe burger was big — at least a half-pound and inch-thick crumbly patty cooked to perfection and topped with a generous portion of cheese and bacon. The mustard and mayo slathered buns created the perfect embrace for the meat. When it comes to burgers, it generally doesn’t take more than one bite to conclude whether it’s good, bad, or downright nasty. One bite of this burger made every minute of the wait worth it all. Delicious, hearty, and flavor filled!
Sparkle's MenuIf you are looking for fancy, look elsewhere because there is nothing fancy about Sparkle’s. This place is about the food. They do burgers and they do them right! The folks on the other side of the walk-up window know what they are doing and they do it well. Sparkle’s has definitely earned its reputation as one of the best burger joints in their own neighborhood and beyond. And they have earned a spot on my own list of the best places to eat a burger in the Lone Star State.

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The Hanging Tree Restaurant

My continuing quest to find the best burgers in the Lone Star State recently me took to Goliad, one of the oldest Spanish colonial municipalities in the state. Goliad was established in 1749 and was originally named La Bahia. The name of the town was changed to Goliad in 1829 in honor of Father Miguel Hidalgo, the patriot priest of the Mexican Revolution. The name Goliad is an anagram of the letters of the name Hidalgo (minus the silent H).
Goliad CourthouseGoliad is the county seat of Goliad County. Like other county seats in Texas, Goliad boasts a beautiful courthouse situated in the town square. The current courthouse was built in 1894 and was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1964. The famous Goliad Hanging Tree on the courthouse lawn survives as a symbol of justice. This tree was used for both court-approved hangings as well as a number of impromptu lynchings during the infamous 1857 Cart War between Texans and Mexican Texans.
The Hanging TreeAcross the street from the courthouse and the actual hanging tree is the Hanging Tree Restaurant. This eating establishment specializes in good down-home cooking. The restaurant is very clean. Mounted animals adorn the walls and silently look down on diners. The glass top tables frame old historic photos of Goliad and the surrounding area. I love these old and grainy black and white photos of the area’s early buildings and residents.
Hanging Tree RestaurantOf course, I was at the Hanging Tree to eat a hamburger. I ordered a cheeseburger with an order of onion rings along with a cold glass of tea. Looks like the hamburger was a popular choice. I noticed that several other diners had also ordered burgers and onion rings. I could hardly wait.
Hanging Tree MenuA good hamburger bun is just as important to me as the flavor of the meat. A bun is supposed to serve as more than just parentheses around the meat. A bun should enhance the overall flavor of a burger. The first thing I noticed about my cheeseburger was the square bun. This was no ordinary out-of-the-bag bun. This bun was infused with bits of jalapeño and cheese. And it was mighty delicious.
Hanging Tree BurgerBottom line — I’m glad I stopped to eat at the Hanging Tree. Absolutely enjoyed my cheeseburger and onion rings. Also enjoyed the ambiance of the place and the big picture window that frames the hanging tree on the courthouse lawn across the street. I am happy to add the Hanging Tree to my list of interesting places in Texas to eat a delicious hamburger.

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The Garden Company Cafe

On a recent day trip to Shiner to visit the Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, one of the most beautiful of the painted churches in Texas, I made my way back home on backroads. Hungry for a hamburger, I stopped for lunch in Schulenburg, a small town located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 77.

The area around Schulenburg was settled by German, Austrian, and Czech settlers in the mid-nineteenth century. The town of Schulenburg was founded in 1873 when the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railway came through the area. The town gets its name from Louis Schulenburg, the man who donated land for the railroad.
The Garden Company CafeUncertain about the restaurants in town, I asked Siri (my iPhone travel guide) to recommend a restaurant. I read some quick reviews and decided to have lunch at The Garden Company Cafe, not necessarily a hamburger joint, but a place with lots of interesting choices on the menu. Housed in a period-looking farm house, I could not help but stop to eat there.

In addition to the restaurant, The Garden Company also features a marketplace and a nursery with colorful bedding plants, shrubs, trees, and more. The restaurant is creatively decorated and has large windows that let lots of light spill in to the rooms. The place was packed when I walked in — a good sign. Of course, I took advantage of the opportunity to see what folks were eating while I waited for my table.
Garden Co Cafe MenuThe selections on the menu looked amazing. Wish I could have ordered a sampling of everything, but I was there to eat a hamburger. So, I ordered the Plain Jane — just a simple burger. The Plain Jane has a patty made of a blend of chuck and brisket topped off with an ample melted portion of aged sharp cheddar. The meal is served with oven roasted potato wedges, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on the side.
Garden Co Cafe BurgerThe Plain Jane burger was anything but plain. It was delicious. The bun was moist, the flavor of the meat was really good, and the potato wedges were cooked to perfection. Just the right size and the right amount of everything. The only thing that disappointed me was that the burger and potato wedges filled me up and I had no room left to eat one of their delicious-looking desserts.

I’m glad that I stopped by The Garden Company Cafe — absolutely a good decision. The wait staff was friendly and courteous, making the experience that much more enjoyable. If you are headed down Interstate 10 and find yourself anywhere near Schulenburg, stop by The Garden Company Cafe to enjoy a delicious meal or coffee and a dessert. I think you’ll agree with me that it was well worth the stop.

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Brady’s Restaurant in Brady

My search for the best burger in Texas has convinced me that if you are willing to drive past the fast food joints that crank out burgers faster than the speed of light, then you will find some really amazing burgers. But, you have to be intentional about looking for those out-of-the-way places that do more than slap a frozen patty on the grill. And you have to be willing to stop and check things out for yourself.
Brady's SignThat’s exactly what a friend and I recently did while making our way to the geographic center of Texas. While driving through the small town of Brady, the town known as “The Heart of Texas,” we noticed a sign that boasted the best burgers in Texas. “Look,” I said, “that place serves the best burgers in Texas!” No hesitation — we had to check this out for ourselves. So, we drove around the courthouse in the town square and made our way back to Brady’s Restaurant.
Brady's RestaurantAfter a morning of hiking at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, we were both hungry and ready for a hot meal. Simon, the guy who cooks the burgers, took our order. The menu above the counter described their burger as having a hunger-busting half-pound of Angus beef served on a caramelized bun with a side order of hand-cut fries. Perfect! That and a cold glass of tea completed my order.
Brady's MenuSimon personally brought the piping hot burgers and hand-cut fries to our table. The burger was served sans condiments, something that we got to add ourselves from the condiments bar. The aroma of the burger and fries was a treat in itself. The first bite did not disappoint. Wow! The flavor of the meat and the moisture of the bun were perfect. Whatever Simon does in the kitchen to cook these burgers he does well. The last bite was as delicious as the first.
Brady's BurgerAfterward, I had the privilege of meeting Syed, the owner of Brady’s. Syed and his family have owned the restaurant for about ten years. As we talked about some of the other dishes on the menu, Syed convinced me that I should come back to try their famous chicken fried steak or all-you-can-eat catfish — dishes he claims are the best in Texas. And, of course, there is their big Cowboy Burger for those with a really huge appetite.
Simon the Cook at Brady'sNo pretense at Brady’s. Syed and Simon believe in their product — and after eating their burger, I believe in it, too! Stopping to eat at Brady’s was definitely a good call. It’s so easy to talk ourselves out of stopping to eat at family-owned places like this and opt instead for the more familiar brand-name places. Traveling Texas backroads has certainly changed my default setting from the familiar eateries to the more interesting places that are easy to miss. I am happy to add Brady’s to my list of favorite places to eat a burger in the Lone Star State.

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Filipps Restaurant in Sealy

Randy and Georgia Hinze’s life took an unexpected turn after Randy experienced problems with his heart. Unable to find employment because of his health and yet not ready to retire, Randy looked in a new direction. Filipps Bar-B-Q had just come up for sale, so he and Georgia decided to buy it and go into the restaurant business.
Filipps RestaurantFilipps is located in Sealy, a small town on Interstate 10 west of Houston. A guy named Joe Filipps started the restaurant forty years ago and ran the place for thirty years. Filipps sold the restaurant to another couple who owned it for a few years. They sold it to yet another couple who eventually sold it to Randy and Georgia in 2009.

I learned about Filipps from my friend Gil Harris who also enjoys eating at these kind of off-the-beaten-path places. Gil knows that I am on a quest to find the best burgers in Texas. So, he invited me and some other friends to join him for lunch at Filipps. And I am so glad he did. Filipps is now on my list of favorite places to eat.

The restaurant sits a block off the main street in town just west of the railroad tracks. You can’t miss the small tan-colored building with the letters B B Q on the front of the building. But, don’t let the Bar-B-Q sign fool you. Randy and Georgia serve much more than Bar-B-Q. They have an amazing menu of delicious home-cooked dishes served in generous Texas-sized portions.
Filipps OrderingI was there, of course, to sample their bacon cheeseburger and onion rings. Gil ordered their hand-cut sweet potato fries with his burger. I had been waiting a month to visit Filipps and walked through the door with a big appetite. I was so hungry I could hardly wait for my burger. So, you can imagine my delight when Georgia finally delivered my meal to the table.
Filipps BurgerThe burger had a half-pound of meat served on a moist bun with all of the fixings. One bite and I immediately concluded that this is one of the best burgers I have eaten in the Lone Star State — a burger with a flavor as big as Texas! Holy smoke it was good! I savored every bite as I thought about how soon I can make it back to Sealy to do this all over again.
IMG_6298Afterward, Randy and Georgia invited me into the kitchen to see where the burger magic happens. That’s where they shared their story with me about how they ended up running a restaurant at this season of their lives. It was immediately apparent to me how much they care about the freshness of their ingredients and refuse to compromise on quality.

Randy and Georgia are passionate about what they are doing. They treat every customer like family. Within minutes of meeting them I felt as though I had known them for years. Although their food is unquestionably delicious, their restaurant works because they care deeply about their customers. They offer what you will never get at a fast food place — warm hospitality and the kind of home-cooked food that keeps you coming back.

Filipps is indeed off-the-beaten path, unless you live in Sealy. But it is definitely a place worth visiting if you are ever anywhere near this small town. The restaurant is open between the hours of 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Stop by Filipps if you are in the area — and tell them I sent you. You’ll be glad you did and you won’t go away hungry!

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Texas Star Cafe

A friend introduced me to the Texas Star Cafe a few years ago — and I am glad he did! Located on FM 1094 in New Ulm, this small town cafe is big on delicious home cooked meals offered in Texas-sized portions. On my first visit I sampled their chicken fried steak. “Order the small one,” my friend advised, “or you won’t be able to eat it all.” He was right!
Texas Star Cafe SignOn my most recent visit I tried one of their hamburgers for the first time. For whatever reason, I have been on a quest to find the best burgers in Texas this year. So, I wanted to try one of the many burgers on the menu at the Texas Star. Figuring out what to order was easy. I ordered the Jalapeño Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of their homemade onion rings and a tall glass of iced tea.
Texas Star Cafe MenuAs soon as the burger arrived at my table I knew I had made the right choice. I could tell just by looking at it — a half-pound of meat covered with crispy bacon, cheese, and a generous helping of jalapeños. Step one was to cut the burger in half just to make it easier to eat it. The first bite confirmed that I had indeed made the right choice.

One of the key ingredients to a great burger (at least in my humble opinion) is the bun. The bun should serve as more than just parentheses around the meat. I have sampled some tasty burgers only to be disappointed by the bread. Not so at the Texas Star! The buns were expertly prepared, perfectly moist, and enhanced the flavor of the burger.
Texas Star Cafe BurgerAs for the onion rings — definitely some of the best I have ever had. Absolutely delicious! I could have easily made a meal of nothing but onion rings and iced tea. So, the bottom line is, I thoroughly enjoyed my jalapeño bacon cheeseburger and onion rings.
Texas Star Cafe InsideI can’t wait to visit again to sample one of the other burger selections at the Texas Star Cafe. And, I can’t wait to discover other places along Texas back roads on my quest to find and enjoy the best burgers in the Lone Star State. I welcome your suggestions on great burger joints.