Mighty Fine

A little back story on this way North Mopac rather newish hamburger joint pick for an Odyssey visit. On Saturday, FriedEd was hiking the hills with the cool and lovely lettuce Laura. Meanwhile, BurgerMatt was on his second margarita before noon and his day progressed predictably from that point. The next day was Super Bowl Sunday and FriedEd had planned a Super Bowl party for members of the Odyssey and friends. FriedEd, fresh off a hike was in tip-top shape and ready to go for this little fiesta. However, BurgerMatt was MIA from the Super Bowl party having been handed a sound defeat in the game of work hard/play hard that we inhabit. Apparently he couldn’t even get out of bed until the second half. This got quite a giggle from the rest of the Odyssey. Normally BurgerMatt and FriedEd consult over the weekend on the Odyssey visit for the following Monday and announce the place via text to those who have expressed interest. But, on this Sunday night BurgerMatt was nowhere to be seen and was refusing to answer his phone. So Onion Ring Sage, Milk Shake Rock Star and FriedEd were left to make the decision. Sitting on the couch sipping on our combined 15th beer we wondered aloud during the game where we should go. We were all a little stumped. Of course someone threw out Camino, but we don’t think we are ready yet. At that moment, the strangest thing happened. A locally produced commercial came on for Mighty Fine Burgers. We all instantly knew that had to be it. The television had heard us talking and it was fate. Of course we had to check first to make sure it was not a chain and sure enough it is an Austin original. So off we went.


Mighty Fine Burgers is brought to us Austinites by the same folks who brought us Ruby’s Bar-b-Que and they have been grilling up some thick natural patties since way back in 2006. The restaurant recreates the Ruby’s and high school cafeteria feel with long tables. Though it has a bit of a corporate atmosphere, the long tables encourage you to sit and chat with your neighbors which gives it a town hall feel according to Milk Shake Rock Star. Folks sitting next to us entered two of our conversations, and the band Romance Fantasy, widely recognized in North Austin parking lots, even picked up a new fan. The Odyssey was joined by a new member, JJ Jalapeno.


Ordering at Mighty Fine is industrial style with several eager and happy employees at the cash register writing your order down on bags complete with your first name and last initial. If you ask them how they are doing, the answer is “mighty fine.” The set up is basic. You order a hamburger or a cheeseburger and then can add the standard veggies and make it a red (ketchup), white (mayonnaise)or yeller (I forget what that one was). Five minutes later they holler out your name and you sit down to burger goodness.


Mighty Fine has the only hand cut crunchy fries in Texas and this is served in a baggie that you can easily mix with salt and seasoning provided on the table. Make sure you don’t over salt like FriedEd does. But if you do, note that Mighty Fine has an amazing hand washer which is something between a drive thru car wash and a pedicure. You will have to experience it to believe it. And to the burger. It is mouth watering good and all natural in eight different ways according to the card on the table. It is a thick patty with a very average bun but the natural way is the way to go as it actually tastes like you are eating meat. Top it off with a shake mixed up with Blue Bell ice cream and you have yourself, dare we say it, here it comes, a Mighty Fine meal. As Sage said of the shake, “that is what vanilla should taste like.” At Mighty Fine, they come pretty close to making what a good burger should taste like.


Burger: 92

Fries: 90

Shake: 95

Feeling of Stomach One Hour Later: 72

BurgetMatt
Mighty Fine Burgers! A name like that and you better be ready for criticism, or in this case you better make a mighty fine dang burger. I must say it was dang good. The fries already come very well seasoned and the ability to add Lowry's seasoning or pepper and sea salt, yes sea salt scored very high with the crew.

The atmosphere makes you want for the days of being in high school and sitting down with all your friends while you eat a classic and enjoy good company. The horse trough presentation for your bottle drinks, which included a Burger Blog favorite of IBC Root Beer and real Beer, was a hit as was the fresh squeezed lemonade and even more interesting the strawberry lemonade.

As for the burger, it had great flavor and all the right fixins. Many of us who have been to In-and-Out Burgers had a familiar feeling with this place. We all agreed that this burger was soon to become a chain as well as it had franchise written all over it. We were just happy to get there before it goes mainstream.

Burger 90

Fries 91

Shake 94