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Mon-Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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I give this place credit mainly for the fact that they offer Buffalo burgers which tend to be hard to find.
But other than the delicious buffalo burgers I had a great experience. I went at night during the week so it was not crowded although I was concerned with the safety of my car outside.
But the burgers were good and the fries were tasty. It was a little pricey but I think it was worth it. And although I didn't partake in the root beer float frenzy, they looked AMAZING!
The one thing I didn't like but other reviewers did were the sweet potato chips. I am a fan of sweet potato fries when available but these chips just weren't tasty and quite greasy.
But, I have to say I will return. It was a good burger!
oh, and p.s. THEY OFFER LONESTAR BEER! yay for Lonestar! It's sooooo hard to find in this city!
I've been here 3 or 4 times, and have always enjoyed it. I agree with some others that it is a bit pricey...I spent just shy of $14 for a 'specialty' burger, fries and a drink, plus a tip....but it is quite good. I would have even considered giving a 4th star if I rated them solely on the burger. I had a Western, and it really was delicious! I truly enjoyed every bite of it. While I am sure the curly fries have potential to be very good, mine were served on the cool side, and that certainly took some of the goodness out of them. The only good part of that equation is that it did cause me to use more of their fantastic, house-made, ancho chile ketchup, and it is very, very good. Just not good enough to get that 4th star out of me. I also thought that the slice of onion that came with the burger looked a little on the sad side considering the fact that they stress they use really fresh ingredients, etc.
So the bottom line is this...if you don't mind paying a little more than usual for an 'order and then pick up your food at the counter' kind of place and you are really in it for the burger, I think it is a great place to check out. If you are more in it for the sides it might be a little more hit and miss, or you don't want to pay 'sit-down and be waited on' prices at a place that does neither, it might not be your cup o' tea.
One last thing...the parking meters outside the restaurant *on the street* are only active after 6pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. If you park in any of the surrounding lots, however, you better be sure to pay at any time or expect to get your wheel booted and face a $110 fine. They have several signs up in the restaurant warning you of this, but I figure it can't be a bad thing to know it in advance...
This would be a solid five-star, except that the burgers - while very good - aren't the absolute best I've ever had, and that I don't like to give out too many five-starers unless they're truly deserving. But this place is definitely an all-time favorite of mine. Texans are becoming increasingly proud of the cosmopolitan metropolis that Dallas has evolved into to. And yes, Ghost Bars, light rail, Neimans, and outdoor cafes are some of the best things in life. But visitors don't care about all that. Regardless of Dallas' haute-ness, tourists are looking for the dusty floorboards, red meat, and frontier spirit that only Texas can offer. Therein lies the strength of Twisted Root. The fact that it can also regularly sustain someone that now considers themselves a local is what makes it truly great.
Like I said, the burgers are good, but by no means gourmet (read: typically served with truffle oil fries), like what you'd find in a gastropub or sidewalk cafe. These burgers are heavy, greasy, and flavored by whatever spicy concoction you add to them. The fries are of the curly crimson variety, a nice reminder of our grammar school cafeteria days. Beer is basic (as it should be), ranging from bottles of your Buds, Shiners, and Coronas. And fried pickles will more than satisfy your sodium requirements for the week while the guacamole tastes persistently spoilt (and should be avoided).
The fun is in the soup-Nazi environment in which you order and are served. I've never come here and not had to stand on line for ten minutes, during which you're instructed at multiple points that being slow or unprepared once on final approach of the counter will come with surcharges on your bill. And then, as if that's not deprecating enough, your order is assigned a "celebrity" name that you need to listen for, which can range from "Mel Gibson" to "Ivana Humpalot." Pure entertainment, no matter how many times you go. The interior is reminiscent of an old Western saloon, updated with flatscreens and beer buckets.
The cons: as stated above, the burger isn't earth-shattering, but seeing as how I haven't had a burger I crave in Dallas yet, you could do a lot worse. And parking isn't free - not such a biggie to me (as I was never taught that free parking was right up there with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), but it seems to miff the locals and I'm convinced the management somehow gets a kickback from the adjacent pay lot. But they have a nice outdoor patio, an even better outdoor loft with nice views of the Dallas skyline, and it brings a little bit of frontier fun to what is becoming another gentrified downtown, for all of the good and bad that that entails.
This place is always packed around lunch M-F with the men workforce of Dallas. Perfect eye-candy watching if you know what I mean. But, unfortunately for me that's about it.
My heart belongs to another Deep Ellum burger place, so sadly for Twisted Root they don't stand a chance. Sure they have more burger and fry choices with a fun way of calling your "name" to come collect, but it's a sub-par burger for too much cash.
Metered parking is along the street, but .50 cents typically gets you 30 minutes.
I thought I reviewed this place already?
Weird.
The burgers here are good, I wouldn't say great, but definitely good, I like to be able to choose a temp on my burger which wasn't an option here so that sucked, but it was still delicious.
The sweet potato chips are RIDICULOUSLY fantastic, I normally don't like to order sweet potato type items in restaurants but wowza, yum.
I tried the watermelon tea and it was so good, I want to try my hand at some at home, I"m craving it now actually.
I like that I can bring my dogs here and that there is a safe alleyway for my bike to hangout while I eat. The people that work here are also super friendly and I dig nice folks.
Saw this place on the Food Network and decided that i needed to try it and since i come to Dallas every couple of months for work put it on my agenda. So I went today for lunch and wasn't too impressed. I wanted to try the buffalo burger but they were sold out. So i decided to get the turkey burger. It was ok, not the best turkey burger i have eaten nor the worst. I also ordered a side of onion rings, they were cold and not too crispy. They do have a good watermelon sweeten flavored ice tea though, their peppercorn ranch is awesome and their homemade ketchup and bbq are great as well.
The one thing that did grab my attention was that one of their employees was eaten behind the counter in plain view of all the guest. She did take off her gloves after but it was still a little weird. How often does this take place? Will ever come back, doubt it.
so a friend and i went there for lunch today. i had been there before but i had forgotten just how good their burgers are. I am prolly the biggest joe willie's fan ever so the bar is set pretty high. The food itself is great, i highly recommend the peppercorn ranch bacon burger. i didn't have to tell them how to cook my burger as it came out perfectly, no pink in the middle. i guess they cook everything well done. i saw that they had dessert but i didn't have any room for a sweet lil treat.
oh, they have some bbq sauce at the table that i'd love to take home and grill with. if anyone knows what is in that please let me know...i'm totally addicted.
the place isn't very big and the single-stall bathrooms could be an issue at lunch time. parking can be a challenge but there are tons of meters around. as weird as deep ellum is about their parking i don't trust any of the attendants that are out there. speaking from experience (thanks to an adair's parking lot attendant who took my money and my car still managed to get towed) i would stick to the meters.
Ok, $23 for two burgers and one soda.....need I say more? The burgers are good. As a New Mexico expat, I always enjoy finding a place that has a decent green chile cheese burger. I ordered the buffalo burger with green chile and cheese. It came bloody in the middle and blood would shoot out onto the wax paper everytime I bit into it. When I brought it up to the counter, the surly counter girl pointed to the sign that says that all burgers are cooked medium well. Apparently, nobody had ever bother to explain to her what medium well consists of. If you can stand the bad service and extremely expensive fare, you can get a pretty good burger here.
Came here on Memorial Day weekend with my SO's family. The burgers were incredible, the onion strips were yummy and their homemade root beer was just killer.
But what made it for me was the ambiance. The food can rock but if the place just isn't that desirable to go to outside of the food you won't see many repeat customers. A restaurant is more than food and this place gets that. The jokes from the cashier to the funny signs all around the place to the fake names that they call out when your food is ready all make this place a must visit, especially if you're from out of town.
It will stick out in my mind forever.
good burger place. Maybe not perfect, but good. They make homemade rootbeer, which kinda helps push it to four stars, with flavors like chocolate and cinnamon. Yum. And sometimes they have fried macaroni balls. Everything here is a diet no no, but it's worth the treat occasionally. Laid back vibe. Creative edge.
More cool places like this in Dallas PLEASE.
"That Barney Rubble, what an acta"
I truly wish to give this joint five stars but they screwed up my order and we had to wait 10 minutes for our second burger after we collectively devoured the first one. We always eat things together in order to truly experience the flavors of the place in which we dine.
Before we get to the food let's talk about the place itself. In Deep Ellum (which is slowly fading by the way. What is up Dallas? You're young upstarts are too high tech and high end to preserve this artistic treasure?) there are rows and rows off old brick and mortar single level buildings that look like each one could house a top of the line smokehouse. It still looks as cool as it did twenty years ago only then every nook and cranny was filled with a restaurant or a bar or club or tattoo shop or boutique. The streets were lined with party goers seeking out the next bar or going to a show and on the corners stood the food vendors with the ready to go late night snack. This day we visited in the daylight with the children just before the Depeche Mode show and the whole scene saddened me. 70 percent of the businesses were closed.
But I digress. This place was open and it was cool. The windows are covered with catchy phrases written in white shoe polish. The order counter is informal but demanding. As with most great places who don't need you in there if you don't have your shit together, they expect you to know what you want when it is your time to order. Once your order is placed you get the name of a celebrity, major or minor, and wait to be called. We were Chris Tucker! Bzzzztttt!
As the sign inside reads these burgers are Sofa King Tasty but they are also Sofa King Cheap! Our bacon, peppercorn ranch cheesburger was zesty, juicy and very satisfying but the fashionably late green chille guacamole burger was to die for! Excellent combination of tangy green chiles, creamy guacamole and a very noticeably well seasoned burger. The sweet potato chips taste like thanksgiving in a bag and I wish someone would sell these on the market.
If you go to Dallas visit Deep Ellum and eat a burger at this joint. They have two other locations but this one has all the mystique and character of places that are disappearing fast. I also notice Bakers Ribs right down the street so I will definitely visit them next time.
Until then toot a loo!
I did end up coming back and took my own advice...made a point to order my burger medium, and stuck with a regular bun. I got the blue cheese/jalapeno burger this time, and a banana bailey's shake. The burger was BETTER, but the patty was still kind of a snoozefest. The jalapenos and blue cheese were very flavorful, so the burger tasted good but again, it can't possibly be the meat here that keeps people coming back. The shake was pretty good, but wasn't too earth shattering either.
I think I'm done with this place. I was flirting with two stars, but I'll be nice and stick with three since I've always enjoyed good company here.
This place was suggested for dinner tonight and I agreed because this seems to be a fairly… Read more »
Western burger = I enjoyed every moment of every bite. The burgers have this peppery spice that is so good. I need the recipe.
Fried pickles = I just barfed in my mouth.
But you know what, I'm not judging the place based off the fried pickles and I'm still giving it 5 stars. The burger is freakin fantastic!!
And I like the whole idea of being called for your food with the name of a famous person. I feel like the staff doesn't enjoy that as much as a new customer though.
I enjoy Twisted Root, if only because I've either been Fantasia Barrino or Beyonce' every time I've gone. (Rather than give you a number or a mundane flashing coaster to indicate when your order is ready, Twisted Root gives you a persona). Clearly, Twisted Root got the memo on my fabulosity, and understands that diva is not skin deep.
(Twisted Root: If you are reading this, please add Kimora Lee Simmons to your repertoire immediately, if she is not already there. I need to diversify my portfolio)
I've gone here fairly regularly, as it is walking distance from my casa. Stalker alert: This could be a short jaunt or a long haul, I'm not saying - all I'm saying is that parking is not an issue.
I typically opt for : "Sissy Food", which is what they call the burger in the bowl salad concept. I love abusive menus! Seriously. OK - so my regular order here is: The sub lean buffalo topped salads, because let's be honest - I don't keep buffalo in my fridge. Plus, it makes my roots feel twisted, and that's what we're going for, right? Or is it the full bar of cheap drinks and stout pour that makes ye old roots twist? Hmm . . .
If you sit on the patio, you will have the pleasure of seeing eclectic Deep Ellum locals, even those locals that do not have a place to call home! My favorite experience would have to be when one stopped and decided to sketch my profile during my meal, in exchange for an apple pie milkshake. The sketch, incidentally, is the most horrible thing I've ever seen in my life and makes me look like the Wicked Witch of The West, which means not only is "Sketch" an artist, he's also a clairvoyant! (I kid, I kid)
However, this is an example of the funky groove of the area and interesting encounters you can have while dining on some great burgers/buffalo. I've opted out of a full milkshake, but have sipped on the sizzurp of various friends' orders, and the milkshakes are thick, creamy, and delicious. In fact, I think they're better than Wild About Harry's, but considering I come from the perpetually-on-a-diet club, I can only vouch based on a stolen sip here and there. Strictly for field research, of course. ;)
Adair's is right across the street, and Ad-Libs is around the corner, so if you catch what I'm pitching - Twisted Root is an excellent place to have a fun dinner and set the tone for a fun and affordable evening.
First off, I'd like to thank the people who accompanied me on this outing and helped this 100th review happen. Fellow Yelpers: Jeremy D, Joseph D, and Trevor B., also their accompanying spouses, my wifey, other friends, children and pets. Also I'd like to thank my stomach for sticking with me through the good and bad (and only ralphing after one restaurant out of 100) and of course, my tongue, for enduring the months of training it has taken to develop and refine those little taste buds into what they have become today.
Now onto the food! I warn you, I don't screw around when it comes to burgers, and this may get a little long-winded.
Anyone who is serious about finding the "Best" burger in Dallas, has heard of Twisted Root. I heard about it even before I moved to Dallas. I knew that one day this Deep Ellum temptress and I would have to go toe-to-toe to decide if this "media darling" is nearly all she is cracked up to be.
So here it is. Basically, a truly great burger comes down to one thing-the beef. No matter what you hide the beef under, this is first and foremost the primary element of any fabulous burger. And this is where Twisted is severely lacking. Simply put, their beef is inferior to other burger joints in town. They season it to death (with a pretty decent seasoning mix) but the BEEF flavor is still lacking. I tried 4 different burgers tonight and the result was the same- the burger lacked the beautiful beefy flavor it needs to excel.
Now, if you are wondering whey there are a butt-load of 5 star reviews, heres why: Twisted knows how to sell a product. When you create options like peppercorn ranch, and chipotle-guacamole, the natural foodie in you says, "That sounds great!" And the truth is some of their toppings are pretty great, and they do a decent job adding that gourmet touch. However, too many people brush over the fact that the meat itself is just not that great. I know this because I also ate a very simple burger with cheese, onion, and ketchup. A GREAT burger would still be great even without all the other frills (e.g. green chile, onion rings, Danish bleu cheese). Not the case with Twisted.
That said, of the many signature burger options available- I still enjoyed the Peppercorn Ranch and Bacon burger, simply because I felt they did a good job finding the right balance of creamy ranch, crispy bacon and salty burger. The Western- fair, tasted like a Carls Jr. burger. The Green Chile and Guac.- not good.
There you have it- average burgers, fancy (but respectable) toppings= 3 stars. But, I do have to say, the Fried Ride is seriously a highlight. Well, I should say, part of the Fried Ride is honorable- the Fried Pickles and Fried Green Beans. The Sweet Potato Chips are decent but I've had better. The fries are nothing special and the onion rings are a disgrace to the name of all things onion. Hardly, even rings, they should be called "onion strings."
If you are bored enough to still be reading this, I offer this advice: If you are serious about finding the best burger in Dallas, you will probably end up here eventually. My advice is try two of the best burgers in Dallas first to compare, Kenny's and Angry Dog (you know the place, everyone walks past to get to Twisted). These burgers are like a drop-kick of burger flavor to the face.
Burger-wise it is OK, sweet potato chips still the best, and home made root beer good too... but I just can't take the attitude anymore.
My sister and I stop by for lunch and decide along with our burger and sweet potato chips, to try a side of fried pickles - never had a fried pickle, and sounded interesting. About 10 minutes after placing our order and paying I get called up to the counter and told that they are out of fried pickles and asked to select something else. I stated that that was OK, we would just take the money back, as we already had a side of chips, and weren't interested in anything else. I was told I must choose another item as they do not give refunds. What???? I could understand that if the error was on my part, but they were the ones who sold me an item they didn't have. It isn't as if the pickles are expensive, so I just let it go, but was truly shocked that she wouldn't refund the cash when she was the one in error.
Enough of the attitude. Angry Dog has a better burger anyway, and I can live without the sweet potato chips.... will take my business some place less twisted.
Good little hamburger spot - definitely has the Austin vibe, even though it is somewhat contrived.… Read more »
A big group of us went out to celebrate Daniel W.'s 100th review last night at Twisted Root. I figured if this place was his choice for his first review in the tripple digits it had to be something special. Unfortunately, the highlight of the night was not the burgers, but rather a conversation between Joseph D. and another non-Yelper girl in our party. Here's how it went down:
Joseph D. (JD): Where should we sit?
Non-Yelper Girl (NYG): Let's sit at the booth.
JD: I hate booths!!
NYG: What did you say?!?
JD: I hate booths.
NYG: Oh, I thought you said something else ...
JD: Oh no, haha, I like those a lot.
Awkward silence.
Classic.
I think Twisted Root has let its national fame go to it's head. I mean, they rattled off so many unsolicited compliments to themselves while we were there I thought I was at a rap concert. Any place that has to announce that they are the best burger joint in Dallas is not the best burger joint in Dallas, plain and simple.
I tried 4 burgers, including the Peppercorn Ranch & Bacon, Western, Green Chile Guacamole & Pepperjack and the Cheddar Burger. The Peppercorn Ranch & Bacon was the standout by far, with a perfect mix of creamy ranch and crunchy bacon that was just stellar. The other burgers were kinda boring, and I'll agree with Daniel W. on the Western tasting like Carl's Jr. The guac on the Green Chile was just disgusting. It was green like an avocado, but it was so blended up and pasty it didn't really taste like one.
My hat goes off to the hip vibe of this place. Even though they pretty much hate their customers, there are still some very unique options to choose from, including their Twisted Root Beer, which was excellent, and their fried pickles, which I loved even though I usually don't like pickles. I might be back just to try their buffalo and / or ostritch burger.
If you're on a quest to find the best burger in Dallas I think you have to stop here just to have the experience. But alas, it will just be a stop, as your journey will most assuredly carry you to greater heights than Twisted Root.
Don't go during lunch hours you'll have to wait in a very long line while you get tortured by the aromas. But this will be voted if not already as the best Burger Place in Dallas, keep an eye out for the Chef's picks I've always ordered from there and my mouth is beginning to water right now, my favorite one has guacamole, chipotle and onion rings, it is a hamburger symphony.
Parking can suck as with many places in Dallas. I usually go from 1-3 late lunch, because it can take long for your burger to be ready (specially during lunch time) since large groups of downtown white collared execs have lunch there. Anyways, the burgers are excellent, they have different root beer flavors every time but they've all been the bees knees, Almond Flavored Root beer is the one I remember the most.
They will give you a little card with an actor's or a character's and call it on the microphone when your order is ready, I once got Mildly offended when I got George Lopez, since I'm Mexican.
I just went to Twisted Root for the first time today. I went pretty late in the afternoon so I didn't have to wait in the ridiculous line that everyone talks about.
Their Western burger was awweesome. The burger was cooked just right, and it was topped with pepperjack, bacon (thick bacon.. not the wussy ones), and onion rings. That burger turned out to be huge, but I somehow managed to fit it in my mouth.
I was disappointed by the sweet potato chips though, they were very thin and crispy, but I didn't think the flavor matched well with the a burger. With the seasoning they add on top of it, it seemed more like a dessert.
To drink, I started with their Twisted Root Beer which, honestly, tastes just like any other root beer. Nothing special. But on the way out, I filled up my cup with their watermelon iced tea, and it was awesome! It had quite of bit of watermelon flavor (not like some other tea where it only has a hint of whatever flavor it is), like they threw in a handful of watermelon jolly ranchers instead of sugar. That tea (as well as the burgers) will definitely keep me coming back.
I have seen the error of my ways.
It had to be the type of burger I tried when I went (buffallo sauce and blue cheese) So, when I went back and tried the blue cheese and jalapeno burger the sky parted, a dove descended, and Gods voice spoke directly to me saying "my daughter why hast thou scorned an amazing burger joint" Guilt overcame me and I saw the error of my ways...lol!
This place is sooo good. I will go back over and over because the flavor, texture, size, condiments, bun, cheese (need I go on) was just perfect.
Oh twisted root I heart you...
Frozen salbury steak or school food burgers...yuck, just terrible. I threw it away after 1 bite and… Read more »
Twisted Root is hard to grade because the buzz around this place right now is so intense that it may cloud clear judgment. The line was out the door and down the block and the restaurant was full of energy.
The front counter is covered with signs expressing the general disdain management feels for the customers, such as, $25.00 surcharge for being a jackass, the right to refuse service to jerks, and a bumper sticker that said, "Some call them obnoxious morons, we call them customers". I was reminded of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Have order ready, place money on counter, take two steps to the right, get out of the way. The management seems to care so little for the customers that they don't even take your name for the order; they assign you one. Having said that, this is what I thought of the FOOD.
MEAT: 2 stars. The beef was completely unimpressive. Take grocery store ground beef and form it into a 1/2 pound patty and that's what you find on Twisted Roots burgers. They add a little seasoning, but it doesn't help much.
SAUCE: 5 stars. The sauces they provide are incredible, including chipotle ketchup, tangy buffalo, etc, which you will need to cover up the boring meat.
FRIED RIDE: 4 stars. A HUGE plate of all their fried foods (curly fries, onion rings, sweet potato chips, fried pickles, fried green beans). The fried pickles and fried green beans were the best. If you go with a group, get this sampler and it will feed 6 people.
ATMOSPHERE: 3 stars. A lot of energy. A lot of people. Some may love the thick air of resentment from management, others may feel offended.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Ignoring everything else, the burger did not deliver the savory dripping awesomeness I was hoping for. My mouth did not water. I didn't have to wipe any grease from my chin. Twisted Root was a fun experience but it did not satisfy my craving for a juicy burger.
Third visit to Twisted Root, first in over a year...
Apparently, word continues to spread about the awesomeness that is Twisted Root, as we arrived 10 minutes prior to opening this last Sunday (they are open from Noon until 4:00 p.m. Sundays), and a line of about 25 people was already there. Yowza!
However, upon prompt opening at noon, line moved relatively quickly for such a busy place, and the food start flyin'.
One nit for customers, though: when there is an uber line, please don't grab a table ahead of someone already in line. In fact, the folks at TR should post something about that, as I saw it occur from folks near back of line that assumed they wouldn't get a table (inside or only outside); thing is, turn over happens pretty quickly (we were in and out within an hour), so it usually isn't a problem, unless of course you do that. Just a thought.
On to the burgers...we (Dad, Wife, Me) all had the green chile burger; so good, very large (more than I care for, but I can indulge occassionally, right?) and fries/sweet potatoes were a perfect side to a perfect burger.
Stayed away from dessert this time around, as the line was still in full-force by the time we were done, besides, wasn't necessary.
All in all, a great place to visit occassionally.
Awesome burgers and fries. Long line but worth the wait. They cook all the burgers medium-well so remember to tell them when you order if you like it cooked another way. Fun atmosphere with cool signs all over the place to read while you wait.
I was very disappointed in this place. For starters when I walked into this place, they were blasting hip hop and just bad music in general. I asked the manager if could switch it to some old fashion rock n' roll. The bathrooms were dirty and smelly.
Of all the hyped reviews, I was expecting much better. The basic burger I had was very average at best. Actually a little dry and flavorless. The bun looked and tasted store bought. Overall I would compare it to a expensive Fuddruckers hamburger . The curly fires were no better than what you would get at Arby's. The sweet potatoe fries were way to sweet. They muist soak them molasses or sugar before they fry them. Good for desert but not as a side item. I am a steak frie guy. I like big wedges of potatoe to attack my ketchup with.
The only bright spot was the watermelon ice tea. Don't waste you time unless you want a good glass of tea. There are much better places for a burger for much less
I have just gone to Twisted Root for the first time--finally. And I have to say, I am a hesitant fan. I got the Bison/Buffalo burger with chipotle, guacamole, something else and the fried onion things on it. Was still sort of full from a big breakfast so I skipped getting fries or anything on the side.
I always rail against "flavored" iced teas, but their watermelon tea was friggin' delicious! I have a fixation on aguafresca and drinking watermelon juice, so I loved this. REALLY good. The milkshakes at the next table looked great. When asked how they were, the two ladies that had them simply gave me the thumbs up sign. I asked 'em if it was vanilla and one said it was cookie dough. Mmmmmm....
Anyway, the burger: meat was awesome and flavorful, bun was good, condiments were good--everything was really good about this very sloppy burger. Why am I a hesitant fan? Because one burger and a tea cost me $12.80. That is sick stupid.
It's been a while since I've posted anything, so I'll squeeze a few in tonight for my lack of contributing lately (been so busy....).
Triple D. That Guy Fieri, he's fun to watch, but I've tried one of his showcased restaurants before and was disappointed (I'm looking at you Jamaican Gates!!), but hey I'm a believer of give people second chances.
Twisted root reminds me of a Wing Stop but with more decoration. Random items hung above the wavy metal lined walls. They use random names instead of numbers for your orders. My group and I decided to each grab a burger and split to see what all the rave was about. Let's see....
- Green Chile Burger (8.5/10)
- Blue Cheese Jalapeno (6/10)
- Chipotle Guac Burger (7/10)
- Mixed Fried Basket (6/10)
- Homemade Root-beer (6/10)
The famous hatch green chiles of New Mexico. The Perfect topping for burgers. I've been topping all the burgers I've grilled since with fire roasted hatch green chile's of my own. That is one tasty burger, despite feeling like I had just stuffed a cow and it's calf down my belly, I just had to finish the last piece of Green chile burger.
Everything else however was quite tasty and tasted of quality, but it didn't woo me like the green chile did. I'd eat any of them again, but wouldn't drive an hour to do so. I LOVEEE fried sweet potatoes, although the chips are decent on their own right, they were a bit greasy. The same can be said about the fried pickles, and to a lesser extent the french fries. Fried green beans were the best of the bunch. They're homemade spicy pickles were great additions to munch on the side.
Homemade root-beer was a bit too sweet for my taste, but then again so is Dr. Pepper. Everyone else however, drank multiple cups.
If you're close by, I'd recommend it if you're itching for tasty burgers, but nothing you can't make at home with a charcoal (not gas) grill. =)
Don't get grossed out -
This is totally the kind of burger place where your burger makes the wax paper it's sitting on turn clear. And when you take that burger and put it in your mouth, you're not going to go "ewww greasy" you'll go 'OMG BEYOND DELICIOUS'.
Bacon & peppercorn ranch burger with a side of homemade sweet potato chips = insanely happy lunch.
The best part about the food is that the burger itself is the perfect size - not some bizarre monstrosity - just mouthworthy!
And the staff rocks.
I hear this place used to be something magical back in the day, before DDD discovered it and Guy made it famous. Nowadays, it feels more like a cattle chute than a local gem that the owners originally had intended.
That said, my burger was still pretty darn delicious. I ordered a Fried Ride and the guacamole-green chilie-pepperjack burger, all for a proud $15.13. And that was without a beverage of any kind...yeesh!
I ordered mine medium (all come out medium-well unless otherwise specified), and it came out medium-well. Sigh. They were crowded and pushing out meat left and right, but really? I asked for it one way and got another. But the toppings were excellent, and made for a super messy knife-and-fork burger (which is the way I like 'em!).
I didn't get the thick-cut onion rings in my Fried Ride (I guess they ran out and gave me onion strings instead, boo), but everything else on the platter was a perfect solution to my just-almost-there-hangover. And adding the BBQ, ancho ketchup and spicy pickles on the side made it all that much better.
All in all, I don't think I'll make a special trip to stand in line again for 45 minutes for a TR burger. But if in the area, why the heck not? Especially if I'm still, umm, feeling the effects of the night before.
I think it's time to be honest with each other, Twisted Root. We've danced a few times now, haven't we? Unfortunately, we've woken up the next day with sour breath and runny mascara. You're starting to believe your own hype, Twisted Root, and that's never good for a relationship.
I've tried several different burgers in an attempt to find the right combination for me and yesterday's burger - a Classic Swiss-Mushroom Burger - made me realize that no amount of fiddling is going to turn Twisted Root into the delicious burger I want it to be.
The visit started off on completely the wrong foot from the second I walked up to the counter. The dude working the register was pissed off and mumbling to himself while he finished the previous order. I tried to crack a funny to lighten up the situation by asking if he was already having one of those days. He growled that he was pissed off that the people before me paid for their $57 tab and didn't even leave a tip. *blink* Guess he didn't get the memo about tipping being for the wait staff (who actually wait on you) that only pull in $2.13/hour, not surly dudes pushing buttons on a register and making minimum wage or higher. My bad. I then felt guilted into tipping him so he didn't spit on my food. Kitchy insult-the-customers only goes so far, Twisted Root. This behavior tells me your employees don't give a shit about me and see me only in terms of dollar signs. Strike #1.
I ordered my burger medium, rather than medium well, in an attempt to retain some of the greasy goodness that I'd hoped to find in these burgers eventually. When I got my burger, it was overcooked. Not necessarily to medium well, but certainly not to medium. I also chose not to add any exotic toppings (blue cheese, guacamole, etc.) to try and get a good taste of the burger. And I'm more unimpressed than ever. Strike #2.
My swiss & mushroom burger was served with canned mushrooms. Seriously? I might expect canned mushrooms at the ballpark, but getting canned mushrooms from a restaurant that claims "Three chefs, sick of eating frozen and factory-fabricated burgers, decided to quit their jobs to open a real burger joint and make everything from scratch " just pisses me off. Strike #3.
Add to that the frenetic atmosphere of half of Dallas trying to get through the door - thereby leaving the door open the entire time I was there and matching the interior temperature to the sweltering exterior temperature - and then those same people who just spent 30 minutes or more in line who try to find a place to sit and it all adds up to one big mess.
It's been fun, Twisted Root, but I think it's time we both look for different dance partners. I have a feeling you'll do just fine without me.
I've now been to Twisted Root several times now and it wasn't until this last visit, for a very… Read more »
This was another lunch time stop. After seeing the place featured on a TV show, I figured I'd give a try.
Overall, the burgers are pretty good. I've had burgers just as good and better. Maybe next time I'll try one of the "exotic" burgers. Maybe it was the lunch crowd, the place was packed. The burger wasn't as juicy as I'd like. But for the most part the sides got good reviews from my table.
I will be back again. Maybe a little before or after the main lunch crowd.
A. parking is a pain...which is unfortunate since deep ellum is truly trying to make a come back...
2. had no idea that this place made it onto DDD, so I was a little shocked when I saw the line around the building...and it was HOT outside...not a pleasant wait while a bit hungover...UNLESS you have fellow yelpers who made it inside already and will bring you water and conversation while you wait ;)
3. quite a crowd...almost standing room only.....but you're hungry and the food looks and smells amazing.
I've been here 2 other times....first time I got the burger with bison meat...not a fan. The second time was only for one of their milkshakes.....and that, dear friends, was delish! So this time, I was diving in for the thing that has made them famous..that big ass juicy burger!
I got a mushroom swiss burger, and added sauteed onions....i dont mind that they cook them medium well, but if YOU do...be sure to tell them you want it cooked differently...although from the rest of the yelpers experience, it may not make any difference. Nikki B got the Fried ride, which came with fries, sweet potato chips, fried green beans, onion strings (which were supposed to be the thick onion rings, not sure why we had to miss out, maybe they ran out) and fried pickles. My burger was truly great...big, juicy, the toppings were just what I wanted (except they use canned mushrooms....fresh mushrooms would have sent this burger off the charts). The fried shmorgousboard was good, but really heavy on the tummy and a couple of the sauces were weird.
the atmosphere is fun with all the funny stuff they say when they call out your character name (they give you one when you order, so when ur food is done, you're famous for a moment)..but the corwd was so thick and intense, that part of the experience was a bit overshadowed.
Bottom line..they make a damn good burger....but having to fight the line, the parking, the heat, the crowd, finding a table.....and then realizing that if you want another beer, or order a milkshake to leave with, that you have to get BACK in that long ass line....is enough to make this a rare occasion visit.
I'm proud of ya, twisted root...you're enjoying your 15 minutes of fame and serving out some good cow....but it's too much for this southern girl.....call me when you put in a drive thru!
My blood type used to be AB positive... pretty sure by the time I waddled out of Twisted Root yesterday I was watermelon sweet tea double-positive. WOW. That is some tasty stuff... don't think Jolly Rancher watermelon, more like sucking on an actual chunk of melon. No joke, I think I had at least 6 refills. Hey - it was HOT, yo.
However, the famous homemade specialty root beer? Make sure to check the sign taped to the front of the coke machine first... yesterday's variety was chocolate root beer. One experimental sip and I was gagging; it was like drinking root beer through a Tootsie Roll straw. You've been warned.
And! Another warning - 11:15 arrival time was perfect... we got to sit and watch the 40-minute / 95-degree line form out the door while sipping that chilly iced tea.
I actually liked my lunch here... as we got to the counter, the cashier fellow made a crazy comment about non-tippin' fools, and that seemed like poor form to me. But whatever - burger medium, mushrooms, grilled onions and bleu cheese with sweet potato chips, please. *insert guilt-induced tip here*
The canned mushrooms kinda blew my hair back, though. Really? They're so easy and quick to sautee - and even if they sit, they only get more delicious the longer they soak in the butter/mushroom juice. For as all-out as they go elsewhere, it seemed odd. Don't get me wrong, everything was really good - and YAY sweet potato chips w/chipotle ketchup or whatever that was. The burger was drippy, sloppy, juicy, GIANT chunk of bleu cheese-y goodness. Missed the pickles until I was too stuffed to do anything about it though, dammit.
Between Pouty McTipless and the randomly lazy mushrooms, it wasn't perfect - but I'm definitely firmly in Yay! I'm a fan territory (if I'd had to wait in that line... maybe not). After I make the rounds of Adair's and Angry Dog for comparison purposes, I'm sure I'll be back.
And fer the luvva gawd, they better have some decent shizz in that rootbeer dispenser this time!
Alright where should be begin; how about the good before the bad. If you like it the other way around then just read my review from bottom to top.
The Good:
First and foremost the burgers here are amazing. I honestly never thought that I could eat buffalo but know I know why they were all most wiped out. Mmmmm Tasty. The burgers here are all medium-well but tend to lean more to well done. The condiments which are their own unique blend of spices and flavors, really do add a kick to the burgers.
As people have said their sweet potato chips are really are good. Their curly fries are standard and seem some what cafeteria like just by the sheer amount of oil they soak up.
The atmosphere is some what cheezy in the sense they assign ever order a unique name from pop culture. The seating is what you would expect of restaurants such as these and it is always packed, or has been every time I have gone.
The Bad:
Well I would say the one down side of this restaurant is the herding of cattle feeling that comes from the sheer amount of people who are waiting to be served and the number of individuals they actually have staffed. Now I know this place is not targeted to serve those who want personal service, but lets just try to make the cashier just a little more upbeat.
I would recommend this place to everyone who would like a good burger and is still searching for the best burger in Dallas. This one should definitely make your list.
My husband & I really enjoyed our experience at Twisted Root. We watched the Triple D episode on the Food Channel and had to see what the hype was all about.
Parking wasn't a problem, but on an insanely busy day I can see how it would be. For Parking, $2.00 M-F and $5 .00 Saturday & Sunday.
The line WAS out the door, but we only waited 10 minutes or so and drank Watermelon tea while in line. I ordered a Turkey burger w/o bun and a side salad and it was delicious. Flavorful meat and the lettuce was ultra fresh. Balsamic dressing is really good. My husband wanted Bison, but they were all out of buffalo meat. He had some sort of concoction of a hamburger, curly fries, fried pickles & onion rings. He said everything tasted great, except for the onion rings. Very stringy and bland.
We sat at the bar to eat and the bartender was extremely nice & friendly even though we took up his work space. We tipped him a few $$ just for being so friendly, even though he did not serve us.
Awesome place to eat, just be prepared to wait or struggle to find a table.
When I heard that we were doing a show in Dallas, there was one thing and one thing only on my mind:
I'll finally get to try Twisted Root Burger Co.
This place really stuck in my mind after seeing it on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It looked so freakin' good and I'm not even what you would refer to as a burger lover. It's all about flavors for me. Subtle flavors. Bold flavors. Flavor combinations that you wouldn't expect. Savory and sweet. Spicy and mild. These guys are mad scientists. I imagine their creative process being the 3 of them in a secret laboratory somewhere atop a mountain during a thunderstorm.
"Behold our newest creation! Pepperjack, Bacon, Jalapenos, and a single onion ring!" (Thunder claps loudly followed by evil laughter)
This has to be the most extensive menu for a burger place. Of course you can get your 1/2 lb beef patty, but you can also get a burger made with elk, buffalo, turkey, and gator. So help me God, I'm hoping we get more gigs in Dallas so I can try all of those different burgers. They have interesting options as far as cheese goes. In addition to the usual suspects (American, Cheddar, Pepperjack, etc) they have Deep Ellum Goat cheese and Danish Bleu cheese. They also have a wide array of condiments. The flavor combinations are endless.
After some thought, I got the Chipotle, Guacamole, & Cheddar Burger topped with a fried onion ring. My girl got a turkey burger with beer sauteed onions, mushrooms and bleu cheese. We decided to split an order of the sweet potato chips. Another plus is the funny name cards they give you to let you know when your order is ready. They have names like Oprah, Harry Potter, Lisa Simpson, Sarah Marshall, etc. We were Mary Tyler Moore.
Waiting for the food, I noticed the homemade sauces. They have their own chipotle ketchup, horseradish, and an ancho chili barbecue sauce. I could hardly wait to bust them out. When our food came out, it was on. The sweet potato chips were amazing! My burger was out of this world. Perfectly cooked with fresh delicious guacamole. It's not for the faint of heart though. The chipotle sauce is very spicy but it's so good I wish I were eating it now. Without a doubt, this is the best burger I have ever eaten.
My girl's turkey burger was fantastic. The best part about it was the consistency. A lot of times when you get a turkey burger, it's a bit denser and drier than a beef patty. Turkey is a leaner meat than beef is. I don't know how they do it, but that turkey burger was as juicy and tender as a medium rare burger. The blend of onions, mushrooms, and bleu cheese was amazing. Adding the chipotle ketchup to it made it unforgettable. In every way....
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to book some more gigs in Dallas.
Twisted Root is a great local burger joint and a great place for a cool 'field trip' lunch if you work anywhere near downtown.
Lots of cool little quirks about this place and funny signs (example: "Our Burgers Are Sofa King Good!" sign right above fountain drinks). I definitely recommend getting the sweet potato chips with your burger - stellar. Also some good milk shakes here along with homemade root beer.
Here's a few words of wisdom though before you make the voyage to Deep Ellum:
1.) Bring your bullet proof vest (alright, j/k, it is sketch, but not that bad)
2.) Parking will suck...you'll have to either pray you'll find a metered spot on the road (ideal but rare) or get stuck paying $2 for the lot right next door to the joint.
3.) You will wait in a heinous line if you go for lunch and show up at noon, so try to get there early.
After many months of never shutting up about how great Twisted Root is, my friends finally brought me there. It definitely lived up to the hype. They make everything from scratch, which I really appreciate.
I had the cheddar burger with their beer-sauteed onions and jalapenos. I think it was one of the top five cheeseburgers of my life. A few weeks ago, I even ate at the famous Ray's Hellburger in Virginia, which is now famous because Barack Obama and Joe Biden ate there. I can confidently say that the burger at Ray's is like eating a hot pile of garbage compared to Twisted Root. I know this is a strong assertion, but yes, I'm saying that the President of our fine nation eats garbage if his burger is put in a head to head comparison with Twisted Root.
Let me tell you about this burger. The meat was cooked perfectly. I like to eat my burgers around the edges and save the most delicious, middle bite for last. The enormous half-pound burger was hard to finish, but I'm glad I did, because it was so worth it for that middle bite. It you're not a heavy eater, I would recommend you eat your burger the normal way so you can still eat the middle bite even if you're unable to finish the whole thing. I highly recommend getting their beer-sauteed onions or crispy onions on your burger; both are unusually delicious.
Their homemade root beer was also really good, more earthy and less sweet than I'm used to. My only problem with Twisted Root was their sides. We tried the twisted (curly) fries and the deep fried pickles, and I didn't think either of them were anything special. This is why I'm giving it four stars instead of five.
All in all, Twisted Root was a great experience, and it's definitely worth a special trip.
I went back to Twisted Root for the second time because of my over-the-top craving for the root beer. It is grade A.
My veggie burger was comprised of black beans, grains, and veggies. It fell apart, but who cares! I got the garlic mushrooms, beer sauteed onions, and guac on top. It was really great. The turkey burger was also very tasty, and they served it on a wheat bun! My boyfriend was ecstatic when he saw all of the different sauces on the table to choose from, and my friends felt this place lived up to my talk.
I love the twisted fries, they remind me of the good ole days when Chili's served curly fries. The sweet potato chips were light, crunchy, and actually got too sweet 'n greasy for me after a while... but the cinnamon sugar on top kept me going in for more!
The atmosphere is old-school fun and they have lots of beer to choose from, but I pass that up for the homemade root brew here!
I'm pretty sure I've reviewed this before, but when making my burger list I couldnt find it!
Anyhow, I love Twisted Root for the same reasons everyone else has mentioned. Quality food, great service, fun atmosphere (where else can you go and when your order is ready they call out Snoopy, Oscar, or Tweety instead of John, Charles or Bob!?)
I also love that the guys have set up shop in Deep Ellum, gotta love someone showing some love to an area that needs it. We usually sit inside, but they have a pretty spacious patio as well, in case you want to bring your pooch - maybe after taking him for a spin in the Bark Park!
So back to the food...The sweet potato fries are to die for, as are the homeade sauces for your burger. This is a cut above the others, and typically in my top 3 choices when I have a hankering for a hunk a meat between 2 buns :)
There are over 70 reviews here already so I'll talk about something other than the celebrity impersonations and line going out the door.
The cold pickles were awesome, they come in regular and spicy. The Fried Ride basket... we couldn't finish it, and it almost finished us. I liked the green beans, sweet potato chips, seasoned curlies, and pickle chips. I like my onion rings big and crunchy, but theirs are cut small and served limp, haystack style. Not my thing, but it seems to be a popular side item. The Fried Ride was served with ranch dressing and a second sauce that tasted a lot like Raising Cane's dipping sauce. I also had to try the spicy mustard, chipotle ketchup and BBQ sauce. All good. I'm a double dippin' fool.
I had a regular hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and mustard. Without all the fancy stuff glopped on, the flavor of the meat shined through. It lived up to the hype. I might try one of the gourmet style burgers next time. Tip: order your burger medium or you might get a hockey puck. My medium patty was juicy and delicious.
I don't drink sweetened drinks, but I had to try a sip of the watermelon sweet tea. It was candy sweet and delicious. I also sampled the root beer. Does anyone else treat the beverage area as a sampling bar? Yum!
Dallas, TX
Category: Burgers
Frisco, TX
Category: Churches
Dallas, TX
Category: American (Traditional)
Dallas, TX
Category: Burgers
Dallas, TX
Category: Burgers
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