Rosenberg Texas – Explore Texas

I love small town diners — perhaps because of the nostalgia but certainly for their food and all that these local eateries mean to the life of a community. I prefer dining at places where I know it will take a while for my food to arrive and I can fill the waiting time with good conversation.

As the pace of life grew increasingly faster, old-fashioned diners and cafes began to disappear from the culinary landscape. As for their replacement, we got faster service but not necessarily better food or a better dining experience. There is something to be said about eateries where things move just a bit slower.
There is just such a place in Rosenberg, a small town just outside of Houston. Appropriately named Another Time Soda Fountain and Cafe, walking through the doors of this place is like stepping into a time machine. From the decor to the menu, this is the kind of place that just sort of hugs your heart and mind when you walk in.
This place has it all — amazing hamburgers, made from scratch meals, malts made with real ice cream, banana splits, and an array of delicious desserts. They even have soda jerks that will prepare you a fountain drink the way they used to back in the 50’s. And, to make your dining experience even more memorable, the cafe is appointed with some pretty cool period decor.
As I always do when I try out a new place, I ordered a bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and a cold glass of tea. The menu even states, “Please allow extra time for grilling.” I like that. I was not in any hurry and really wanted to soak in the atmosphere.
Once my burger arrived I cut it in half. Those of you who follow my blog know that I have this thing about burger strata. I just have to see what things look like under the hood and how a burger is put together, layer by layer. And wow, this burger had a big ol’ thick helping of meat with the bacon cooked to crispy perfection (just the way I like it).
I believe that the first bite always tells the story. If the first bite is bad then there is no reason to believe that the bites that follow will be any better. But if the first bite is good —oh my soul — then you can count on every bite that follows to keep a smile on your face.

My burger immediately passed the first bite test — really good. Everything about this old-fashioned burger was right. From the grilled bun to everything else, this was one delicious burger. I eat slow anyway, but I ate this burger even slower than usual because I wanted to savor every bite.
My mountain biking friend who was dining with me asked me if I have ever eaten a bad burger on my quest to find the best burgers in the Lone Star State. “Absolutely,” I replied. “But, this is not one of those burgers that is big on bragging and a failure on flavor.” This burger passed the test and is now on my list of burgers that I can recommend without hesitation.
You may live a long way from Rosenberg, but I’ll bet you don’t live a long way from a good burger near you. As long as you have to eat, make eating more of an adventure by searching for and trying places off the fast food highway. Remember to eat slow and have meaningful conversation around the table — just like it was done in another time.

One of the things I miss the most when I travel internationally is a good Texas hamburger. After returning home from back-to-back trips to the Amazon and El Salvador, I hopped in my pick up and headed to Rosenberg in search of a burger dive. As I often do, I stopped to ask a local for a recommendation. I had already eaten at the first two joints but had not heard of the third — 2-M’s Malt N Burger Mart.
2-M’s has been around since 1963. The drive-in style building features awning-shaded parking out front and a small dining area inside. I like places like this. Other than showing its age, this place looks pretty much the way it must have looked when it was first built. This was obviously a popular joint. Lots of folks ordered at the pick-up window while a few dined inside.
I ordered a cheeseburger with all of the fixings plus french fries and sweet tea. I sat my burger deprived body down and waited anxiously to hear the words I longed to hear — Order 72. Within minutes I picked up my burger basket and tea and sat down to enjoy the first burger I have eaten in weeks.
I unwrapped my burger and took my first bite. Not disappointed. This was just an honestly good burger built around a modest on-the-thinner-side meat patty. All of the flavors blended together well. I enjoyed the burger, not just because it has been a while since I’ve had a burger, but because it was genuinely tasty.
The sign out front boasts “Voted Best Burger in Fort Bend County.” Whether or not you agree with that assessment, you can’t argue against the fact that for the past 53 years the locals have cast their vote by keeping the doors of this joint open. That is the vote that matters the most. And, I’m glad that the place has retained its weathered vintage charm.
Those of you who read my burger reviews know that I would rather eat at a burger dive any day of the week than to cross the threshold of a fast food joint. I love the adventure of stumbling across places like 2-M’s. You might not live anywhere near Rosenberg, but I’ll bet that you can find a burger joint near you that will win you over with taste and charm. When you do, be sure to let me know and I’ll add it to my list of places to visit on a future Texas road trip.