100 Favorite Dishes, No. 4: Dry-Aged Burger At Neighborhood Services
For last week's Best of Dallas® 2014 issue, we've been counting down (in no particular order) our 100 Favorite Dishes. If there's a dish you think we need to try, leave it in the comments, or email me.
This isn't your typical takeout burger.
Remember the Off-Site Kitchen burgers we highlighted way back in the 80s? The patties were svelte and everything fit neatly of a soft, glossy bun. It seems impossible that the burger pictured above could be hatched from the same burger-mastermind, but it's true: Nick Badovinus creates great burgers all over town.
If the Off-Site Kitchen burger were your friend from high school, what's served at Neighborhood Services on Lovers Lane might be that same burger returned for a 20-year reunion. The meat is aged and formed into a fat, lumpy patty, and the bun is softer and a little bit frumpy.
The cheese is aged, too, but this cheddar has aged well. And other toppings got an upgrade, with well-marbled bacon that adds salt and smoke to a burger that's already got a lot of char from the wood-burning grill. Sorry, guy, this burger eats like a steak. If you were jealous of your burger buddy back in high school, you'll find no redemption revisiting him here.
You will recognize the fried from Off-Site, though. Thinly sliced and fried to a light blond they squish between your fingers when you pick up more than one. Save the peppery aioli --- your burger needs no condiments at all -- and make use of it with those fries. You can't stop time from passing, so you might as well enjoy life as it rolls along.
No. 100: Pastrami Egg Rolls at Blind Butcher
No. 99: Chicken-fried Steak at Tom's Burgers and Grill
No. 98: Pasta with Uni Butter at Nonna
No. 97: Camarón en Agua Chile at La Palapas
No. 96: The Wings at Lakewood Landing
No. 94: Chicken Kebab at Afrah
No. 93: Trompo Tacos at Bachman Lake
No. 92: Fish and Chips at 20 Feet
No. 91: Canelés at Village Baking Co.
No. 90: Banh Mi from La Me
No. 88: The Burgers at Off-Site Kitchen
No. 87: The White Album at Spoon
No. 86: Ramen at Tei An
No. 85: Tacos at Revolver Taco
No. 84: Stuffed Chicken Wings at Sakhuu
No. 83: Korean Fried Chicken at Bonchon
No. 82: Grilled Branzino at Tei Tei Robata
No. 81: The Toddfather at Cattleack Barbecue
No. 80: The Biryanis at Chennai
No. 79: Shish Tawook at Qariah
No. 78: Arepes at Zaguan
No. 77: Goat Momo at Everest Restaurant
No. 76: Steak Tartar at Gemma
No. 75: Escabeche at Joyce and Gigi's
No. 74: Spicy Fish in Oil at Royal Sichuan
No. 73: Pupusas at La Pasadita
No. 72: The Kathi Roll at Simply Dosa
No. 71: The Chicken Wings at Teppo
No. 70: Cheesesteak at Truck Yard
No. 69: Chicken and Waffles at Jonathon's
No. 68: Birria Tacos at Los Torres Taqueria
No. 67: Bulgogi Cheesesteak at Say Kimchi
No. 66: Suadero Tacos at La Banqueta
No. 65: Brian Luscher's Post Oak Red Hot
No. 64: Banana Flower Salad at Mot Hai Ba
No. 63: Cinco Leches Cake At Mesero Miguel
No. 62: Cabrito a la Parilla at El Ranchito
No. 61: Reuben at Kuby's
No. 60: Plain Cheese Pizza Cooked Extra Crispy at Zoli's
No. 59: Enmoladas at Mesa
No. 58: Pig's Head at CBD Provisions
No. 57: Rib "Sandwich" at Baby Back Shak
No. 56: Beef Noodle Soup at Monkey King
No. 55: The Nachos at Spiral Diner
No. 54: Elotes, Everywhere
No. 53: The Popeye At Green Grocer
No. 52: The Cuban at International Bakery
No. 51: Rush Patisserie's Croissant
No. 50: Kitfo From Sheba's Ethiopian Kitchen
No. 49: Beer at Craft and Growler
No. 48: Pastor Tacos at El Rincon
No. 47: Banh Mi From Nammi
No. 46: Beef Fajitas From Mariano's
No. 45: Italian Combo from Carbone's
No. 44: The Brisket at Pecan Lodge
No. 43: Chicken-Fried Steak at Ellen's Southern Kitchen
No. 42: Carnitas Tacos at Taqueria Y Carneseria Guanajuato
No. 41: Lamb Burger at LARK
No. 40: Regina Margherita At Cane Rosso
No. 39: Barbacoa At Barbacoa Estilo Hidalgo
No. 38: The Peace 'Stachio at Hypnotic Donuts
No. 37: Nasi Lemak at Kampong
No. 36: A Rotisserie Chicken Taco at Velvet Taco
No. 35: The Burger At Boulevardier
No. 34: Surfers On Acid At Local Oak
No. 33: Bread Pudding at Sissy's
No. 32: Pelmeni at the Russian Banya
No. 31: Loukoumathes at Greek Fest
No. 30: The Charcuterie Plate at FT33
No. 29: Short Rib Grilled Cheese at East Hampton
No. 28: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Maple and Motor
No. 27: The Pastrami Sandwich at the Whistling Pig
No. 26: Bacon-Encrusted Bone Marrow at Knife
No. 25: Meatloaf at Stock and Barrel
No. 24: The Reuben at Cock and Bull
No. 23: Causa Limena at San Salvaje
No. 22: Fish Tacos at TJ's
No. 21: The Cuban at ¡C. Señor!
No. 20: The Smoked Salmon at Zen Sushi
No. 19: The Ham Sandwich at Vagabond
No. 18: Steak and Eggs at Meddlesome Moth
No. 17: Campechano at El Come Taco
No. 16: The Chicken Scratch at Chicken Scratch
No. 15: Veal Bolognese with Pappardelle at Urbano
No. 14: Chicken-Fried Steak at Babe's
No. 13: Hanger Steak and Eggs Taco at Good 2 Go Taco
No. 12: Emporium Pies' Pies
No. 11: Bun Bo Hue at Don Que
No. 10: Fish Reuben at Rex's
No. 9: Tacos at La Ventana
No. 8: Moules Frittes at the Grape
No. 7: The Sliders at Easy Slider
No. 6: Pulpo a la Plancha at Casa Rubia
100 Favorite Dishes, No. 5: Bacon Egg and Cheese at Start
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