Dining: Top Notch
Vintage burger joint's indoor grill is top-notch
By Dale Rice
American-Statesman Restaurant Critic
Web posted: July 6, 2005
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Photos by Ha Lam for AA-S The No. 3 cheeseburger, onion rings, fried chicken and Texas toast at Top Notch on Burnet Road are -- as the name implies -- top of the line. Top Notch, 7525 Burnet Road, 452-2181 Rating: Forks up. Price: Cheap. |
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Top Notch, one of Austin's old-time burger joints, cooks those beef patties over what must be one of the few indoor charcoal grills in the area, if not the whole state.
That method, as the aromas that fill even the parking lot will attest, imparts a flavor to Top Notch's burgers that is hard to match outside your own backyard.
And it's a bargain to boot. A basic cheeseburger, garnished with lettuce, onions, pickles and tomatoes, goes for $2.99.
But don't stop there. The crisp, nongreasy, homemade onion rings ($1.75 for the small order) are among the best in the city.
Then how come so many people were forgoing a burger in favor of fried chicken at lunchtime on a recent Saturday?
It's because the skilled frying isn't limited to one item. The fried chicken ($4.89 for a two-piece, white-and-dark-meat plate) was as crisp and non-oily as the onion rings, with juicy, tender, flavorful meat beneath that golden crust.
Served with fries, cole slaw and Texas toast -- making the chicken a hearty meal -- that fried poultry is no pushover, even on a table with tasty burgers.
So, whether you want a backyard burger without the hassle or fried chicken without the work, Top Notch is a top contender on both fronts.
drice@statesman.com; 445-3859
