Its not always in Life that one gets to run across something that was an experience from so long ago. Maybe there was that certain someone you had encountered and in one glorious night or weekend every sensation in your body was made manifest and you knew, upon parting, that the probability of your getting to experience that again would probably be dim.

Yet…you search. Maybe its recapturing a first kiss…or grandma’s apple pie, or the smell of your first brand new car. For me, it is nothing so simple as meat and bun. A hamburger. Nothing more. But what makes it different than any other burger on the planet is that the burger of my memory came from a steakhouse in Arlington. And it was a rare outing that my family got to take to go there (what with my parents having four young boys who could pack away the chow) and so with tray in hand, we’d place the order in cafeteria-style, and they’d place a colored stick on your try signifying what you ordered and the level of doneness. For me it was a hamburger always medium-rare and it was as simple as meat and bread. No cheese, no ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise or vegi’s. The bun and meat that the now defunct York Steakhouse used was beyond comparison.

So that leads to me the Now. And the Now has me doing burger reviews far and wide all over the Metroplex and beyond looking to recapture that same taste and deliver me in the Way-Back Machine to capture the taste of my Youth.

And I have discovered it. I can only tell you this My Friends…I would go to the Ends Of The Earth for this burger. If I lived a Paupers existence I would toil and labor in the fields of Disgusting Wretchedness to earn enough money once a year to savor that burger again.

So now that i’ve totally built this place up, let me first start off by saying this is no burger joint. Much like the ones I review this place buries them all. I said it and i’d put their burger up against anyones Champion only to watch them crumble and fall off one by one. D Magazine reviews burgers, and so does the Observer and Texas Monthly…but they didn’t come to the Man…me…and I could have eliminated many a contender they used. So that said, this is a classy place and among other things, they sell this burger and its the only one on the menu. As far as I was concerned the only one on the planet from this point.

So now…lets get to the review of…

Ricks Chophouse. Mahogany wood and leather in abundance, like I said..this place is classy. And I knew what I was getting my self into. Just a really cool interior and a perfect date night place. Fancy, but you can wear jeans and a hat because you know what? I did. I know, Classy Mondo…that’s me!

Now they do have a full service bar and the night I was there, they had a really cool piano and singer and guitarist playing while the Mavs were finishing up their pre-season on the big screen. I was enjoying some vino and then the moment came…time to seat me at my table. I was very much looking forward to this. The smells coming from the kitchen were amazing!

So now lets cut to the chase. Its says it plain and simple on the menu. “Burger”. I ordered mine plain and dry…and medium rare. In restaurant parlance that means no vegi’s or condiments…just like I had it when I was a kid. And so after an appetizer..the burger arrived.  Now, before I go any further I need to tell you two things. First, the burger on the menu is certified Angus beef, comes with Cheddar, Heirloom tomato, lettuce and tobacco onions with fries. I do have pictures of it. And the bun…to me…that’s what makes the burger and Rick has done himself a favor by getting a French guy to do his hamburger buns homemade…and lemme tell you…WORLD of difference! Here’s what THAT burger looks like:and another picture of it

So finally we go to the burger I ordered. Remember plain and simple…just delicious. the Grapple and Grip rating I give it a 5. Pure perfection. The bun was nice and fresh and toasty and the burger was the perfect size for it. It didn’t slide around and move about. One hand was all that was needed. Gutbomb Or Nothing To It: Well, you know what, definitely not a gutbomb because I didn’t have anything on it! But I have to tell you…that first bite stopped me in my tracks. When that first bite was being enjoyed, I might as well have been 8 years old again. I was transported back in time and to tell you that I savored that first bite is an understatement. I can’t stress this enough. This is the burger of MY childhood, and the memories it evokes are mine. For me, this is burger perfection. I could have wept at the table because of my joy. I contained myself don’t worry, but wow that first bite was stellar…and every bite was as good as the first all the way the crumbs on the table. High Roller or Nifty Thrifty: Its a High Roller. Its $11 at lunch or dinner, but as far as i’m concerned…well worth it. Hell, there’s some chain restaurants who’s burgers are that much and lemme tell you…they don’t hold a candle to Ricks Chophouse. You can take that to the bank.

SO all in all…Rick’s Chophouse is well worth the trip for the best burger on the Planet in my humble opinion. Don’t be fooled, I know some of you like bacon and chili and jalapeno’s and whatnot…thats cool. That’s fine. As for me, i’ll make mine a Ricks plain and dry and be as happy as one can be.

Rick’s Chophouse107 North Kentucky, McKinney, Texas 75069 (214) 726-9251

HOURS:

Lunch: Monday through Saturday 11:00 to 5:00

Dinner: Monday through Thursday 5:00 to 9:00

Friday and Saturday 5:00 to 11:00

Grand Bar: Monday through Wednesday until 10:00

Thursday until 11:00

Friday and Saturday until Midnight