The Stackhouse burger before its actual burger breakdown. (Entree Dallas)
It’s delicious, but the whole thing fell apart.
Yes, it sounds like a majority of the reviews for “Prometheus,” but it also sums up the burger experience at Stackhouse. It falls on the burger list right about where “Prometheus” would fall on the sci-fi movie list; right in the top 25 percent.
There are way too many movie comparisons in these columns; next week we’ll do something new – like television.
Stackhouse is located on Gaston, near the Baylor Hospitals and across the street from the “famous” Elbow Room. And with its rooftop deck and wraparound porch, the building really stands out among others in the area. The décor is pretty basic for a restaurant of this ilk. Sports painting and photos of old Dallas adorn the walls. There’s also a bar, which was not accessible to us during the visit, because apparently it’s frowned upon to have a beer at 11 a.m. on a Wednesday.
After being shot down for a drink, it was time to eat. Stackhouse has a very limited burger selection. There are only three options; single, double and veggie. After seeing the size of the single, we decided that ordering a double would require a three-hour workout. So the single it was. Every burger comes with lettuce, tomato and red onions; from there you’re on your own. So to top it off, fresh jalapenos, cheddar cheese and grilled onions were added.
Stackhouse Burger. (Justin Hutchison)
The first thing that’s noticeable about the burger is that it’s greasy; really greasy. Out of all the burgers we’ve had in Dallas, this one is the most difficult to eat. The bun soaked through, the patty fell apart and the second you pick it up half the ingredients fall out the back. So beware, this is not a burger to hold in your hands. Bring a fork.
After reassembling the burger and taking a bite, one thing was very evident; the jalapenos are going to dominate this meal. This is definitely not a problem, the spicier the better. The cheddar, beef and peppers still all seem to meld together into a delightful creation.
The beef is cooked medium and has no char whatsoever. It may have even been a little on the medium rare side, because its color is decidedly a darker pink. It is certainly the juiciest burger this side of Waco, with every bite the juices pour out of the patty. On top of the beef is generous slice of cheddar cheese. Generous meaning ‘all encompassing.’
Still, this is not a problem. It’s a hamburger; if you don’t like a lot of cheese, meat and bread, go back to Canada. On top of or inside the cheese are the fresh jalapenos and grilled onions. You’d think that by ordering the grilled onions it would negate the red onions that come on every burger. This is not the case. There were so many onions on this burger, grilled on top and red on the bottom. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it’s just that whatever flavors the insane amount of onions offer is completely negated by the fresh jalapenos.
Yes, the jalapenos. Very clearly they are the MVP of the Stackhouse burger. Every mouthful was highlighted with a spicy kick. And when they say fresh, they mean fresh. It seems like they pick them off the plant and deposit them directly on to the burger.
It was messy, extremely messy, but it was worth it. So go to Stackhouse, it’s good, but be sure to bring some extra napkins. And maybe wear an old shirt you don’t care about.
