A Meal in Review: Mr. Burger

Courtesy of Facebook

Courtesy of Facebook

Mr. Burger is a hub for students, friends, and families of the Wylie community to gather and converse over a simple meal. The all American diner, with its wooden booths, its warm environment, and its mom-and-pop feel, has a simple and homey charm that can only be found in the warmest communities

The American burger is an iconic part of American cuisine. Each component of a burger brings an added quality to the overall taste of the dish, as well as texture, and smell, all of which adds to the experience of a burger. There is no definite set of rules for an American burger; Americans all over the U.S. have toyed with the concept of burgers to mold and form new flavors and experiences. What many people can agree on is that a burger is comprised of a type of meat, a selection of vegetables, its condiments, and the bun. Those four factors are the basis of my opinion on the three burgers I tried there on my most recent visit.

 

I tried five entrees from Mr. Burger—allegedly its most popular five entrees, according to the employees. They were as follows: the classic burger, the chicken bites dinner, the patty melt, the hickory smoked burger, and the mushroom and Swiss burger.

 

THE CLASSIC BURGER

 

I’m not a mustard person, nor am I a pickles person; however, I enjoyed this burger. The burger comprised of a bun, a patty, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mustard, and onions. The bun was good for its price. The patty was a little plain, but it was saved by the mustard. The mustard was in abundance, almost overpowering, a trait I found to be common in all burgers and its respective sauces. The lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions were pretty average as far as vegetables go. Individually, each part of the burger was ordinary in quality, but together, it formed a fairly satisfying burger.

 

THE CHICKEN BITES DINNER

 

The chicken bites dinner was made up of fried chicken pieces, fries, two slices of toast, and a side of gravy. The chicken bites possessed a great balance of crunch and moisture, and it was lightly seasoned. This didn’t take away from the quality of the chicken bites; if anything, its nature was perfect. The fries are possibly some of the best fries I’ve had in Abilene—an exemplary balance between crunch and soft potato. It was unsalted, for it didn’t need salt. Anyone who argues that it does, can easily just add salt on their own accord. The two slices of toast were toasted perfectly, and the bread itself had a light crunch and the right amount of butter.

 

THE PATTY MELT

 

The patty melt was made up of two slices of toast, hamburger meat, cheese, mayonnaise, and onions. The same comments I made about the toast with the chicken bites dinner and the hamburger meat in the classic burger are applicable here. The mayonnaise, like the mustard in the classic burger, was plenty. There were lots of chopped onions, and its taste was emphasized against the mayonnaise flavor. Despite relatively simple components, the flavors of the patty melt flowed well and possessed a great balance of flavor. Overall, the patty melt was satisfying and delectable.

 

THE HICKORY SMOKED BURGER

 

The hickory smoked burger was comprised of a bun, a patty, barbecue sauce, and chopped onions. The high notes of the sauce were extremely prevalent in this burger. The sauce accentuated the strong flavor of the chopped onions, and they paired together to form a delightful flavor combination. The sauce brought out the flavor of all the parts of the burger and tied together everything wonderfully.

 

MUSHROOM AND SWISS BURGER

 

The mushroom and Swiss burger had precisely what the name entails: a bun, a patty, mushroom, Swiss, mayonnaise, and chopped onions. This burger had a strong balance between all of the flavors of the individual ingredients. Where the onions and mayonnaise overpower, the mushrooms impart umami to counter the mayonnaise, and the Swiss contributes a sweet nut-like flavor to balance out the intensity of the chopped onions.

Mr. Burger is a great burger joint not only because of its tasty food, but because of its kind, charming employees, its convenient location, and its cozy atmosphere. Mr. Burger has so much more to offer than what I have reviewed, but I can’t review every item on its menu. I may offer my opinion and insight, but the only way to know what you like is to go out and try for yourself.