Smashburger, Addison, Texas

SMASHBURGER IS A HIT!

By Ellen "EJ" Sackett

Attention hamburger hounds! There's a new quick bite in town. Smashburger just opened its first Dallas location in the north suburb of Addison on Belt Line Road. With so many places to choose from along restaurant row, it might be tough for yet another to succeed. So what makes Smashburger special?

In fact, what the heck is a Smashburger?

It starts with a ball of fresh--not-frozen--100% certified Angus beef that's literally smashed on a buttered grill for ten seconds with a cookie-cutter-style press. This searing process locks in the juices, and then the meat patty is seasoned with Smashburger's garlic and herb mix. Put it on a soft Artisan-style bun and add the extras to order. The end result? A five-napkin burger that tastes as good or better than homemade--ready to eat in about six minutes. How can you beat that?

There's several variations on the Smashburger theme: the Classic, the All American, the Lonestar (developed especially for Dallas taste buds), the BBQ Bacon and Cheese, the Spicy Baja and the Mushroom Swiss. Or make your own from a combination of the menu-item ingredients.The best part? All of the ingredients are fresh, not frozen. The meat is delivered daily. The veggies aren't pre-packaged; they're cut on site. The seasonings and sauces are Smashburger's proprietary recipes. This is high-quality, cooked-to-order fast food.

What's a burger without fries? Smashfries are of the retro, shoestring style. They're deep-fat fried in tallow and oil, mixed with rosemary, extra virgin olive oil and garlic. The Sweet Potato Smashfries are made the same way, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. There's also the Chili, Cheese or combination Chili-Cheese Fries. Veggie Frites is a yummy, albiet greasy, fries substitute: a slightly-crunchy combination of flash-fried asparagus, carrot sticks and green beans. Another notable side is the tasty fried dill pickles served with a creamy buttermilk ranch dressing.

And what's a burger and fries without a shake? Take your pick of a vanilla, chocolate or strawberry shake or malt with the consistency of soft-serve, blended with whole milk and Haagen-Daz ice cream. The tangy fresh lime shake was not-too-sweet, and the classic root beer float could double for dessert.

Smashburger doesn't only serve up hamburgers. The Smashburger concept works for chicken as well. Unfortunately, most chicken sandwiches take a while to cook and are often dry as a result. Smashburger solves both problems by pounding the chicken breast thin first before searing. You could mistake the Smashchicken for a healthy option, but only if you ignore the butter. Hot dog lovers have three to choose from: Classic, Chili Cheese or DFW Dog, split and made to order, dolled up how you like it and served on a toasted poppy seed bun. If you don't eat meat, order one of three salads, but have 'em hold the bacon. Here too you can have it your way.

No Smashburgers near you? No worries. The two-year-old Denver-based chain is just getting started. Within the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex, there's another thirty franchises on their way, and nationwide, there's hundreds more to come. Smashburger hasn't sold billions and billions of hamburgers--yet. But just wait. Smashburger is well on its way. 

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Smashburger
Belt Line Road & Dallas Parkway
4980 Belt Line Road, Addison, Texas 75254
www.smashburger.com (Order online through the Smashburger website)
(214) 884-1124
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Crickles and Co., Corinth, Texas

MAKE IT CRICKLELIOUS!

by Ellen "EJ" Sackett

If it weren't for a Facebook post from a friend who lives on the opposite side of Dallas from me, I would have never known about Crickles and Company, a yummy breakfast place, right in my own backyard. It's funny I never heard of Crickles before. There's not many restaurants in Corinth, Texas, and I know them all. Or so I thought.

But there's a good reason why this particular one missed my radar. Crickles and Co. subleases space in another restaurant, NY Sub Hub, in a strip mall off of Swisher Road, and is only in operation from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Only a free-standing easel in front helps to entice potenial customers, and since this is not a heavily trafficked area in the morning, Crickles must rely largely on advertising and word of mouth.

There's not a lot of atmosphere given that the location is a sub shop, but the good food makes up for the decor. For a to-go-style joint, the breakfast menu was surprisingly extensive. It was hard to choose between the many breakfast taco combinations, which all use eggs and cheddar cheese as their basis. The Breakfast Taco Baskets also come with Rosemary Potatoes and homemade salsa. If you're hungrier, you can create your own ommelette from thirteen ingredients, or if you just want something light to take on the road, the breakfast croissants and sandwiches will do the trick. Pancake and French toast lovers can slather syrup to their heart's content here too.

I had a South of the Border Burrito without the sausage. The flour tortilla containing egg, cheese, potato, onion, and tomatoes arrived hot, wrapped in foil. For the price, I was disappointed in its size but not the flavor. It came with a side of the salsa, and the owner presented me with a taste of warm peaches and cream. Made with canned peach slices, the idea was better than the execution.

Still hungry, I went back for little extra something sweet. I was torn between the Sticky Bun and the Cinnamon Roll, tempting me on the counter. I went with the roll, covered with a cream cheese frosting, which melted into the pastry once warmed in the microwave--making it a truly sinful breakfast dessert. I was told by the owner that her daughter is the baker, who has culinary training and has worked at such fine dining restaurants as Craft Restaurant in the W Hotel and The French Room at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.

A glance at the Crickles website gave me more insight. Sweets and pastries are their specialty, and in addition to the menu choices, they also offer cheesecakes, cookies, layer cakes, pies and cobbles, as well as squares and bars.

Crickles and Co. also caters. Some suggested themed meals are: a barbecue buffet, a gameday spread, an Italian feast, a Mexican fiesta and a Texas Chili buffet. Within each theme are a variety of main course options and side dishes as well as desserts.

If you're hungry and are on your way north from Dallas to Oklahoma during the early hours, or if you are headed south to Dallas on your morning commute, consider taking the time to exit Swisher Road for a bite at Crickles and Co. It's worth going a little out of your way.

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Crickles and Co.
4271 FM 2181, Suite 308 (Off of Swisher Road in the Albertson's Shopping Area near Radio Shack)
Corinth, TX
Breakfast Served Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(214) 476-2568
(940) 497-2530

Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, Denton, Texas

MIND YOUR BELLY

By Ellen "EJ" Sackett

Sweetwater Grill & Tavern has that worn-out, but loved-long look about it. This corner pub, one block south of Denton's downtown square, is a haloed hangout. Founded in 1996 by Restauranteur Bob Harmon and Chef Jimmy Meredith, it's overdue for an overhaul but draws a steady following nonetheless. Regulars include the line-the-bar locals, the take-off-your-tie happy hour cronies, and the too-hip-to-be-cool college kids. And then there are those like me, who simply need a Sweetwater fix.

If it's a nice day (and it almost always is), expect the garage-door style windows to be open to the patio. The air is filled with a mix of conversations bursting with laughter, classic rock playing in the background, and the drone of overhead ceiling fans whose sole purpose is to stir up cigarette smoke.

At first you might notice the crumbling cement floor beneath you, the weathered wooden tables and chairs, the sticky laminated menus, and wonder how all of this got past the last health inspector. But before long you'll be absorbed in conversation with friends, enjoying a few hours of free time with no responsibility. Forget the dingy surroundings. Instead, look up at the cheery colored lights strung overhead. That's the Tao of Sweetwater.

It might take a while for your twenty-something server in tattered jeans and a T-shirt to notice you. In the meantime, you eyeball the menu, equally split between good and bad for you. You contemplate one of Sweetwater's kiss-a** hamburgers—blackened, perhaps? With blue cheese and bacon? Jalapenos or guacamole? But you go with the old standby—Chicken Enchiladas. Your spouse debates getting the Southwest Pasta with grilled shrimp in a rich creamy sauce or the Frito Pie with a bowl of gumbo soup, but he ultimately decides on the 12 ounce Rib Eye. You note one particular line on the menu: ...Fried Bologna Sandwich...$4.99..... W/bottle of DOM...$195.00. Does anybody actually order this, you laugh? Then you remember why you're here.

Dinner takes a while, but no worries. Look up at the colored lights. Breathe in some of that second-hand smoke. Catch your server as he flies by and order the fried pickles and a frozen margarita, which will come long before the food. Talk over the rev of a motorcycle engine about something innocuous, like the weather or the last movie you saw, or trade jokes with the customers at the next table. Hum along with The Eagles, and squint to see the football scores on the TV inside the next room.

At last, the meal arrives. As always, the food is pretty much the same. The chicken enchiladas come with black beans and rice on a plate that's way too hot to touch with way more cheese than your diet allows. The rib eye comes medium rather than medium rare, but it's a good enough cut to eat without having to send it back. The mashed potatoes are sufficiently comforting, although the side salad is ho-hum: mostly iceberg lettuce slathered with creamy ranch dressing. It's predictable and familiar. But isn't that the point?

Peach is the cobbler of the day, but instead you choose the Bread Pudding smothered with hot Whiskey Sauce--worth every lovin' spoonful. You feel grateful to be American just so you can eat decadent desserts in a place like this. After a few minutes, the bread starts to expand in your stomach and you wonder how you're going to make it to the car. Seriously.

You eyeball a skinny co-ed in short shorts at a neighboring table, spooning the Smoked Shrimp and Scallops marinated in Pico Salsa into her tiny little mouth, and swear you're going to order that or the Grilled Vegetable Plate next time. At least you promise to forgo the Bread Pudding.

Then you remember why you came.

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Sweetwater Grill and Tavern
115 S. Elm Street
Denton, Texas 76201
(940) 484-2888
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. - midnight