Did they REALLY have to call it the Tex Walker Burger????
It's been such a long time since we've had a really great burger and I personally have been so very disappointed on more than one occasion lately. Let me say, Hungry Hungry Hippo is big on burgers and has staying power, despite the crappiness we've been faced with, but I am starting to get a little sick of it all. I didn't really have the highest of hopes for Jack Ruby, because someone had recently told me that it wasn't worth the visit. We couldn't exactly ignore it though, for a place that's been on our radar since almost day one, we thought it was about time we paid them a visit.
The first thing we all notice is the atmosphere. It really has such a great vibe to it. Hungry Hungry Hippo looks excited, just sitting in the corner there! It's dimly lit and Chicken notes that "it's one of those places where we could be any place, at any time." I imagine a jazz band in the corner and could picture the streets of New Orleans. It's very moody and cool... I like it.
We peruse the menu and tonight it's just Hungry Hungry Hippo and I on the burgers - Chicken had already eaten sushi (she's still not over being a bit sick post-burger a few weeks ago, not naming where). We go for the Tex Walker Burger (beef, bacon, swiss cheese, onion rings, jalapeños, chipotle bbq) even though it pains me to do so... eating something named for that revolting football player with the revolting mullet (shaved off or no) makes me feel a little... well... revolting. But as there were no other beef burgers on the menu, we both bite the bullet and order that one. I get mine without onion rings, Hungry Hungry Hippo gets his without jalapeños, and we both add pickles and ask for fries on the side. For $20 it seems a little pricey, but once again we reserve judgement.
The burgers come out and immediately we look at each other and smile. The bun is toasty warm, has a lovely glaze & colour, and the seeds... Oh the seeds!! It is not a big burger, but it is rather tall and the patty looks lovely and thick. Mine is oozing bbq sauce and mayo (which wasn't noted, but I'm glad it's there!) and I can see a plethora of pickles. My tummy rumbles at the sight of the burger, which is the first time this has happened in several weeks.
The first thing we all notice is the atmosphere. It really has such a great vibe to it. Hungry Hungry Hippo looks excited, just sitting in the corner there! It's dimly lit and Chicken notes that "it's one of those places where we could be any place, at any time." I imagine a jazz band in the corner and could picture the streets of New Orleans. It's very moody and cool... I like it.
We peruse the menu and tonight it's just Hungry Hungry Hippo and I on the burgers - Chicken had already eaten sushi (she's still not over being a bit sick post-burger a few weeks ago, not naming where). We go for the Tex Walker Burger (beef, bacon, swiss cheese, onion rings, jalapeños, chipotle bbq) even though it pains me to do so... eating something named for that revolting football player with the revolting mullet (shaved off or no) makes me feel a little... well... revolting. But as there were no other beef burgers on the menu, we both bite the bullet and order that one. I get mine without onion rings, Hungry Hungry Hippo gets his without jalapeños, and we both add pickles and ask for fries on the side. For $20 it seems a little pricey, but once again we reserve judgement.
The burgers come out and immediately we look at each other and smile. The bun is toasty warm, has a lovely glaze & colour, and the seeds... Oh the seeds!! It is not a big burger, but it is rather tall and the patty looks lovely and thick. Mine is oozing bbq sauce and mayo (which wasn't noted, but I'm glad it's there!) and I can see a plethora of pickles. My tummy rumbles at the sight of the burger, which is the first time this has happened in several weeks.
So how did it stand up?? (Tall and proud, that's how!)
Bun 8/10
Hungry Hungry Hippo: "Glaze and seeds! Double whammy!! The colour is spot on. It's a bit dry though."
I agree with him entirely. The bun seemed as though it was dried out rather than toasted, which is a bit of a let down because it was otherwise just right. It was soft inside, warm and very slightly sweet, with the richness perfectly offset by the thick steaminess of the patty. Other than seeming slightly stale (by my assumption that it was toasted a little too long at a low temperature rather than quickly at a higher temperature) it was just right.
Patty 8/10
It was thick, steaky and top quality beef. It definitely wasn't medium rare as suggested on the menu, but that's its only real fault, as far as I'm concerned. It had a lovely char.
Hungry Hungry Hippo initially thought it looked like it was too thick, but when eating it realised it wasn't. He notes that everything about it was exactly right, other than the fact that it was a bit overcooked. Hungry Hungry Hippo notes that the only reason why we didn't give this patty a 9 is that it would do Street ADL an injustice as that patty was superior.
Value 6/10
I thought that the quality of these ingredients was definitely up there. Keeping that in mind, paying $20 for a decent meal with decent ingredients is not offensive, however, for the size it doesn't quite match up, keeping in mind other burgers we've had for much less in the past.
Hungry Hungry Hippo says: "Considerations are that the rent here would be a bomb, it's prime location, the place is huge and done up well. It's a bar-cum-diner, so you expect to pay exorbitant bar prices. That being said, $20 for a burger and fries is a bit expensive."
I considered that I wasn't entirely hungry to begin with, so I wasn't left wanting at the end, but if I had had my usual appetite I probably would've still been peckish at the end. It was a little small, which is why it rates a bit lower in this area.
Balance & Composition 8/10
I thought its was hard to fault here, BUT I did struggle to get the perfect bite every time (there was never just a bit of everything, but that being said every bite I had WAS delicious). Great pickles, perfect sauces, overall excellent.
Hungry Hungry Hippo said that his was a little bit dry due to the uneven spread of sauces (on his burger, the sauces were only splodged right in the centre) so the edges were dry. When he got to that sweet spot though within the burger it was 100% perfectly balanced and composed. It was just unfortunate that perfection was not evenly spread throughout.
Flavour 8/10
Hungry Hungry Hippo says that it was so nice to have a fantastic, flavoursome patty again. Too many recently have been tasteless chunks of pre-frozen, semi-cardboardy meat. He really enjoyed the tangy and smokey chipotle. Yummy burger. He wants to tell any aspiring burger bars that a lot can be said for a quality patty.
I agree with everything he's said here. It was lovely to have a chunky steak-like patty again. It had a lovely char and smokiness, which was complemented by the chipotle. I loved the balance of sweetness throughout which was enough to match up with the meatiness of the patty, but not so much to take over from anything else. Everything had its place in that burger and I was not left wanting for flavour. Pickles were amazing. They were the right kind, well spread throughout and generous.
Overall 7.6/10
Chicken wanted to point out that the staff here were very friendly. The whole place was great. I love it and would come back in a heartbeat. Hungry Hungry Hippo gives a special mention to the atmosphere of the place. He is a notorious homebody, but he said that if he were invited to Jack Ruby for a few drinks, even he would consider saying yes. I want to say that for a burger that is named for a Crows player, I had very low expectations, but this place absolutely hit the mark!! THIS is a burger, people!! I think this definitely deserves its number 2 spot on the leaderboard - this was an excellent burger and the overall experience was, too.
Jack Ruby can be found at 89 King William Street, Adelaide
Bun 8/10
Hungry Hungry Hippo: "Glaze and seeds! Double whammy!! The colour is spot on. It's a bit dry though."
I agree with him entirely. The bun seemed as though it was dried out rather than toasted, which is a bit of a let down because it was otherwise just right. It was soft inside, warm and very slightly sweet, with the richness perfectly offset by the thick steaminess of the patty. Other than seeming slightly stale (by my assumption that it was toasted a little too long at a low temperature rather than quickly at a higher temperature) it was just right.
Patty 8/10
It was thick, steaky and top quality beef. It definitely wasn't medium rare as suggested on the menu, but that's its only real fault, as far as I'm concerned. It had a lovely char.
Hungry Hungry Hippo initially thought it looked like it was too thick, but when eating it realised it wasn't. He notes that everything about it was exactly right, other than the fact that it was a bit overcooked. Hungry Hungry Hippo notes that the only reason why we didn't give this patty a 9 is that it would do Street ADL an injustice as that patty was superior.
Value 6/10
I thought that the quality of these ingredients was definitely up there. Keeping that in mind, paying $20 for a decent meal with decent ingredients is not offensive, however, for the size it doesn't quite match up, keeping in mind other burgers we've had for much less in the past.
Hungry Hungry Hippo says: "Considerations are that the rent here would be a bomb, it's prime location, the place is huge and done up well. It's a bar-cum-diner, so you expect to pay exorbitant bar prices. That being said, $20 for a burger and fries is a bit expensive."
I considered that I wasn't entirely hungry to begin with, so I wasn't left wanting at the end, but if I had had my usual appetite I probably would've still been peckish at the end. It was a little small, which is why it rates a bit lower in this area.
Balance & Composition 8/10
I thought its was hard to fault here, BUT I did struggle to get the perfect bite every time (there was never just a bit of everything, but that being said every bite I had WAS delicious). Great pickles, perfect sauces, overall excellent.
Hungry Hungry Hippo said that his was a little bit dry due to the uneven spread of sauces (on his burger, the sauces were only splodged right in the centre) so the edges were dry. When he got to that sweet spot though within the burger it was 100% perfectly balanced and composed. It was just unfortunate that perfection was not evenly spread throughout.
Flavour 8/10
Hungry Hungry Hippo says that it was so nice to have a fantastic, flavoursome patty again. Too many recently have been tasteless chunks of pre-frozen, semi-cardboardy meat. He really enjoyed the tangy and smokey chipotle. Yummy burger. He wants to tell any aspiring burger bars that a lot can be said for a quality patty.
I agree with everything he's said here. It was lovely to have a chunky steak-like patty again. It had a lovely char and smokiness, which was complemented by the chipotle. I loved the balance of sweetness throughout which was enough to match up with the meatiness of the patty, but not so much to take over from anything else. Everything had its place in that burger and I was not left wanting for flavour. Pickles were amazing. They were the right kind, well spread throughout and generous.
Overall 7.6/10
Chicken wanted to point out that the staff here were very friendly. The whole place was great. I love it and would come back in a heartbeat. Hungry Hungry Hippo gives a special mention to the atmosphere of the place. He is a notorious homebody, but he said that if he were invited to Jack Ruby for a few drinks, even he would consider saying yes. I want to say that for a burger that is named for a Crows player, I had very low expectations, but this place absolutely hit the mark!! THIS is a burger, people!! I think this definitely deserves its number 2 spot on the leaderboard - this was an excellent burger and the overall experience was, too.
Jack Ruby can be found at 89 King William Street, Adelaide