My first hamburger to sample was The Chophouse Burger from a restaurant in Austin, which if ordered with the longhorn cheddar and bacon, is listed as the No. 12 pick in Texas Monthly.
This was my first time to visit Cover 3, but after having seen the sign upon entering advertising the 2-for-1 burger special every Sunday in August, was not the only visit I made this month.
The vibe in Cover 3 is that of a swanky sports bar: leather and large TVs. I assumed the name came from the combination of restaurant, cocktail lounge and sports bar, but was quickly corrected by a friend who informed me that the Cover 3 was actually a type of defense strategy in football. His may be the accurate meaning, but we decided mine was the female version.
The waiter was quite pleasant, and upon us ordering three burgers among five people, knew exactly why we were there. When a knife the size of my forearm was delivered to my place setting, I got excited. Although the knife turned out to be a little oversized, I was not disappointed. The burger was excellent.
The patty was a half-pound and I'd say about a inch and a half thick. It was super juicy, but not greasy enough to soak through the bun, which I appreciated. But it was the texture of the meat that made it exceptional. It melted in your mouth, but had just enough texture to know what you were biting into. The bread was soft with a little crunch on top, which was the perfect balance. I will say the cheese and bacon were a little lost among the other flavors, so upon my second visit I omitted and did not miss them. The fries that accompany the burger are thin cut and are generously seasoned with salt and parmesan cheese (thank you!) and a little parsley for color. Delicious.
Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the hamburger, this wouldn't truly be a real dining experience of mine if it didn't include a cocktail. I ordered the mojito, which was sufficiently refreshing, but was insanely jealous of the Strawberry Basil Lemonades my dining companions ordered. OMG. Bring me another.
I also adored this burger. Sadly, the horrors of public service prevented me from enjoying it with a mojito. Tragic, but survivable. Also, as a potato expert/stalker, I must say that the french fries from Cover 3 just might get a valentine from me this year...
ReplyDelete