Houston, TX 77018
(713) 957-2875
Good burgers, amazing beer, I enjoy their cats. I really love the lamb burger and I'm always very happy with the beer selection, best in Houston.
**disclaimer** I came here already a little drunk so my review may not be 100% perfect. We got here around 8pm on a Saturday and were able to find parking and a table. Went up to the counter to order and got the Rancor burger based on all the rave reviews on Yelp while my other friends mostly got the T.B.A (turkey bacon avocado). The beers are listed on the wall and I kind of just picked one based on the name since they don't include type of beer or IBU or anything. Like other reviewers have mentioned, I was a little put off by the tip suggestions when you pay (25, 30, or 35%). Lil' weird if you ask me. Anywho, the food came out after a reasonable amount of time (but, again, I was a little drunk, so maybe time passed more quickly). The Rancor was gooooood. You can't go wrong with a lotta bacon and a fried egg. It is messy - be prepared to wear a bib or something. My friends seemed to like the TBA. Fries were ok, I know the Yelpers seem to really like them but I like a very specific type of fry. The service was really just them bringing out the food, so again not really sure why they're suggesting 25-35%. I'd come here again if I was in the area and craving a burger and beer, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
The Rancor burger is a spiritual experience. On multiple occasions, I do not talk with friends or co workers while eating it, unless it's about how good it is or what I'm experiencing from my tastebuds. I'm currently sweating in the heat while crying sweet tears of jubilee. The Rancor would be my last meal request on death row. -EH
Why 4 stars? Because the Rancor was a solid burger. --- --- --- I recently just wrote a review to similar to this one about a restaurant in OKC. My experience at Petrol Station follows the same basic principle: Giant burgers with a lot of toppings that are individually awesome, don't always equal the sum of their parts. If the following items are scored as such, Beef patty = 1 Bacon = 1 Cheddar Cheese = 1 Fried Egg = 1 Lettuce = 1 Tomato = 1 Red Onion = 1 Pickle = 1 Mayo = 1 Bun = 1 The burger does not necessarily equal out to a 10. I think I'm officially changing my status in life as a professional burger eater to: "Less is more." That being said, I don't want to come off as overly-negative about my experience. It truly was very solid. I think the Rancor just fell victim to its own hype, for me. I'd wanted to try it for years, and finally made the trek up during my last visit to Houston. I loved the vibe of the place - a gas station retro-fitted to somewhat of a dive bar, with great burgers and local beer. If Petrol Station was in Tampa, I'd be a huge champion for them.
This place was excellent! The ambiance is super islandy outdoors- kind of like a burger shack on the beach while the inside is very divey. The food was amazing, I had the spinach and artichoke dip with the veggie burger which was perfectly crispy on the outside and nice and tender on the inside. Often times, veggie burgers are just a mashed up page of unrecognizable vegetables- but this was a perfect concoction of chickpeas, quinoa and other veggies that would pop up here and there with each bite. I also had the pesto parmesan fries which were seasoned to perfection! The server recommended the Summer Wet draft by buffalo bayou and even schooled me on some beer lingo! If I come back to Houston I'll definitely be back, it satisfied a serious burger craving!
You know what? I love the food here. I love Mary's lambo with the feta and rosemary fries, or even the Parmesan pesto fries. I'll endure occasionally overly long waits for food for this burger. I'll endure the small interior and being eaten alive by mosquitoes outside for this burger. I'll endure cans of soda and no refillable drinks for this burger. I'll even endure grumpy, rude and occasionally verging on hostile staff for this burger. I guess our group of sweaty, post-workout selves don't meet with whatever clientele the servers expect or like to have around or something? Who knows. But their attitudes bother me. The food however, is excellent and I can wholly recommend the marshmallow chocolate bread pudding. Fo sho.
This is a bar with plenty of beers and both indoor and outdoor seating. The food menu has a variety of appetizers, salads, burgers, and items that aren't burgers. To all appearances, a very popular place, and a great place to hang with friends. All ordering is at the bar. Order, and find a table. The burger came out with tasty fries, but no condiments on the table. The place was pretty busy, and I didn't want to bother, so I just ate it as is. It was delicious. :-) For Houston, there are better burgers (Hubcap Grill) but I have no complaints! Most of the people around me seemed to be gathering there to hang out and have some beers. I was simply looking for a burger. I have no idea if the staff was friendly, because (except for ordering and two seconds when the order was dropped off) there was no interaction. In hindsight, I suppose I needed to bring some friends, but I missed that requirement in looking them up. Oh, and I was alone traveling to Houston. So, I just watched Person of Interest on my phone and ate my juicy condimentless burger and fries in silence. Bring friends. Drink beer. Ask for condiments. :-)
Tons of beer and good food. Kinda hipster, I felt I was being judged with every beer choice
Location: Went here based on the reviews. I wasn't too impressed. It's your neighborhood bar, literally. Parking was limited but luckily we arrived early. Very small inside. They had 5 bench type tables inside and bar seating. There is outdoor seating but didn't venture out there in this TX heat. I wasn't a fan of the bathroom. Only 1 bathroom shared by men and women. :/ Food/drinks: We had the pretzels with Gouda fondue and spicy mustard, which was good. The friendly bartender assisted me in choosing a beer. I opted for the Ephemere which was so refreshing, I had 2! The husband had a Fireman's 4.
Good food. Bad service. Dirty inside. Don't ask for dressing on the side unless you're ready for some serious stink eye. Just say you can't do it, don't be a baby bitch about it.
Very interesting! Food is great also. I have already eaten here a lot of dishes, but my favorite is a burger "Beetle". I am very picky, when it comes to food but this place definitely knows its business! Their jalapeno bread and fries are also incredible! The other great point is that the pets are allowed at the Grafittis, the environment is very friendly! I like everything about this place: the food, the atmosphere, the staff
Amazing lil place tucked away in a neighborhood. Good beer on draft and the food is awesome! Inside is a lil small but cozy if you can get a spot. If not step outside to their cool patio which wraps around the back, side and front. Two thumbs up.
Awesome local Houston beer bar that serves up above average food. Draft list is constantly rotating and has a list of around 30-40 drafts that tend to lean more towards the hoppy side more than anything but they also have a large focus for higher ABV beers. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu! I will also add that they pour a full beer which is very much appreciated in a world where you pay $5+ for a drink.
This is our go to place. The food is ALWAYS delicious! The patio is a great atmosphere and worth the mosquito bites! The beer is rotating, so ya never know what's on tap! The selection is ALWAYS spectacular.
The rancors are large, carnivorous reptomammals native to the planet of Dathomir in the canonical Star Wars universe. The conceptual idea of the rancor in Return was described as "a cross between a bear and a potato." Jabba's rancor had an extended backstory of how it came to be his through misadventure of merchants, and ultimately loved by its keeper Malakili (formerly of the Circus Horrificus until The Incident on Nar Shaddaa) until Luke Skywalker had his way with her, the skull of Kwerve, and the fembot portcullis. (Return passes the Bechdel test now, yay!) Petrol Station is my oldest yelp bookmark. Today was the day to check her out; principally for the Rancor burger but also cuz of the beer for day drinking purposes. Eating the Rancor is less barbaric than battling a rancor for sport in Jabba's palace; though it will require several napkins in your arsenal to settle down the sloppy mess it will create as you enjoy the burger. Food here is made to order. 28 minutes was the wait time for me. Rabble rabble rabble I hate waiting. The Rancor rings up at $12.50 + tax and brings a 1/2 pound patty of Angus, gooey cheddar and Swiss, lots of bacon, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and a Shania Twain-sized slathering of mayo. Because I am special snowflake I customized my Rancor with a request for medium well and to have the onions grilled. They obliged because I'm a gentlesir that gets what he wants; also because the bartender seemed to appreciate me as a customer being here. Since they didn't have 512 Pecan Porter and that's what I really wanted, he offered me a free taste of Nitro to decide if I should settle for something that was not 512. I was one of two people ordering (they had just opened) so it was not supes busy like on a Friday night when everyone is dolled up in their goin' out outfits. I would like to think service is consistent, but if nothing else, it was very good to me. The bartender even walked over my burger instead of beckoning me over to the bar to pick it up myself. Rancor is a burger that is a monstrosity: thick, vertically ambitious, and messy with the fried egg. It is a cataclysm of flavors at a large scale but on a small scale each bite maintains a simple elegance that it is pleasing no matter the profile of cheese to mayo to angus patty. The bun itself is a stand out element being soft and pillowy but still dense enough to maintain structural integrity under the weight and moisture of the rest of the ingredients. The grilled onions are a must for that extra Sonic boost of flavor; and this is the most well-done I have ever seen a medium-well so def order medium-well. Simply put this is one big, beautiful, flavorful burger with plenty of bacon. Rancor is a suitable name for it since most canonical Star Wars characters had a deep awe and reverence for the rancors of Dathomir. The closest competitor in town is Lankford Grocery's Grim Burger (mac & cheese, jalapeno, bacon, and sunny side up fried egg for $9.49) which I had the ROTD for back in 2011. Lankford has fucked up hours (7a-3p, closed Sunday) but so too does Petrol, I had to wait until they opened at 2pm to mosey on in. Rancor has the better name, but lacks the mac for substance and jalapeños for mystique. The service is downright unfriendly at Lankford; but Petrol is more in the niceness spectrum of Bubba's, Champ, Sparkle, and Old Fashion. Lankford has the edge on price and mac, but Petrol has the edge on better service and the beer list. I'll leave location out of it since I live down the street from Lankford, but I was in Petrol's hood meeting with a potential new client this afternoon. Spoiler: he went with a cheaper lawyer so I hope he is googling how to survive the prison showers down in Huntsville. This used to be a gas station, so ironically now you can legally get drunk at it, instead of that one gas station in Metairie that seemed to have such a problem with it happening on their premises when a brother was thirsty and trying to solve problems on the fly. It's a serious /dive bar/ like they mean it - it's a no frills sort of place. They don't have a website or online menu you can browse in advance to know accurate $$$ figures. You have to order your burger from the bartender since there's no waitstaff. It's a local joint for locals. It's a dive bar first, not a fine dining establishment. They just happen to have a hella nice burger available from their kitchen. With the /dive bar/ status come the hipsters, which is just a fact of life that their beard hair, tats, and viscerally disturbing facial piercings are going to be all up in your grill if you choose to party here. There are benefits and burdens to dive bars. This is a mighty fine burger you should taste for yourself if you are a person that enjoys food and unique burger offerings in the Houston scene. The fries are disappointing though. Grab a beer and wash away your sorrows over the fries. Beer and tears pair nicely with the Rancor.
The food here was suprisingly good and the atmosphere was very casual and relaxed. Indoor seating is limited, but it has a large outdoor patio which is nice when the weather is cooperative. I had the pub burger. It. Was. Amazing. Seriously one of the best burgers I have ever had. It's messy, like REALLY messy, but it's very much worth it. My husband had the Beef Tenderloin Stew. Another shockingly amazing dish. He's already talking about when we will go back again. We will be visiting often and recommending it highly to our friends and family! :)
Have no fear vegetarians - you can eat here!!! There are actual options for veg heads in the meat heavy place. I opted for the cheese plate and they will sub out some extra cheese for the meat if you ask. I also loved the kale salad here. My taste buds were happy and I was full when I left, so those are two good things right there. I love the beer selections here. I love the outdoor patio. I love the fire pits on those cold Houston nights (that don't happen often). It's order at the bar, grab a table and they bring it to you. Plus over 500 review and a 4 star rating ... do you really need my opinion? Probably not, but now you can bring that veg head friend of yours and know they can eat too!!
Ok. Let me go ahead, get it out of the way & say I LOVE this spot!! Everything about this place works. Each time I've come here the service has been awesome. Staff very friendly & funny too! They make great suggestions & have don't have a nasty attitude when asking questions or for a sample. I've tried a great bit of their menu & haven't been disappointed by any. The portions they serve are massive, which IMO match the prices. I've gotta say my fave thing there is the garlic parmesan fries. At 1st I was hesitant to pay so much for some fries, but once that glorious basket came out...SOLD!!! Burgers are good, club sandwich is mega jumbo & the Moroccan lamb tagine they featured was sooo good. I came for that one 2 days in a row. Great seating out front as well as in back. The crowd here is always fun & you're bound to strike up a convo with the person next to ya! Very friendly atmosphere. The only things that's not my fave is the single, unisex bathroom situation. Granted they do keep up with it for the most part, it could use a lil updating; maybe better lighting? Seems to make the space seem a lil dingy or something. Other than that, Petrol is one of my fave spots in the area & I'll keep droppin in for some ice cold brews & yummy foods!
A couple of friends and I met here on a Monday night just for drinks and to catch up. We sat in the back yard area with hanging string lights, and it automatically transformed the space, apart from inside the bar itself, which is small and kind of compact. One friend ordered a hamburger, which took a good 45 mins - 1 hr for her to get, and another one ordered the feta + rosemary fries. My friend said her hamburger tasted good, which I would probably take with a grain of salt, since she isn't much of a foodie. She just likes to go out. I'd like to try their burgers myself. I had high expectations for the fries since I was craving them, and really excited that my friend was generous enough to share. The rosemary was good, but I was little confused about the feta. It didn't stick to the fries or anything, and if you wanted some with your fries, you probably should've eaten them with a utensil of some sort. I like the idea though, because the two ingredients are delicious together. The fries themselves were kind of burnt. Anyways, the beer was only $3 when we went, and I just kept gulping the Mr. Pineapple beer like it was juice. It's such a girly little beer, but whatever. It was a Monday night. #NoJudgementZone
The entrance to the place is hidden on the right so you may find the entrance difficult to find. We ordered the Rancor burger which took awhile, but was well worth the wait. I must admit, it was one of the best burgers I've ever had. My arteries were clogged as I felt a heart attack coming upon me. Service was excellent and the bartender did a good of remembering my name from my credit card. Try it out, but be patient if you want that heart attack!
Petrol Station
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985 Wakefield Dr
Houston, TX 77018 Oak Forest/Garden Oaks - Phone number (713) 957-2875
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“I think this station stays pretty packed all the time, parking is not the easiest, but it helps to have a tiny car to park ;)” in 48 reviews
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“The Rancor, paired with any one of Petrol Station's great beers is a great meal and a fantastic dining experience.” in 54 reviews
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“The outdoor seating is quite nice, and there are even bottles of bug repellent for people afraid of contracting Chikungunya.” in 37 reviews
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- Carolynasauraus P.
- Houston, TX
- 71 friends
- 16 reviews
- 17 photos
Good burgers, amazing beer, I enjoy their cats.
I really love the lamb burger and I'm always very happy with the beer selection, best in Houston. -
- Rebecca K.
- Houston, TX
- 57 friends
- 287 reviews
- 110 photos
- Elite ’17
**disclaimer** I came here already a little drunk so my review may not be 100% perfect. We got here around 8pm on a Saturday and were able to find parking and a table. Went up to the counter to order and got the Rancor burger based on all the rave reviews on Yelp while my other friends mostly got the T.B.A (turkey bacon avocado). The beers are listed on the wall and I kind of just picked one based on the name since they don't include type of beer or IBU or anything. Like other reviewers have mentioned, I was a little put off by the tip suggestions when you pay (25, 30, or 35%). Lil' weird if you ask me.
Anywho, the food came out after a reasonable amount of time (but, again, I was a little drunk, so maybe time passed more quickly). The Rancor was gooooood. You can't go wrong with a lotta bacon and a fried egg. It is messy - be prepared to wear a bib or something. My friends seemed to like the TBA. Fries were ok, I know the Yelpers seem to really like them but I like a very specific type of fry. The service was really just them bringing out the food, so again not really sure why they're suggesting 25-35%. I'd come here again if I was in the area and craving a burger and beer, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here. -
- Eric H.
- Houston, TX
- 73 friends
- 5 reviews
- 1 photo
The Rancor burger is a spiritual experience.
On multiple occasions, I do not talk with friends or co workers while eating it, unless it's about how good it is or what I'm experiencing from my tastebuds. I'm currently sweating in the heat while crying sweet tears of jubilee. The Rancor would be my last meal request on death row.
-EH -
Why 4 stars? Because the Rancor was a solid burger.
--- --- ---
I recently just wrote a review to similar to this one about a restaurant in OKC. My experience at Petrol Station follows the same basic principle:
Giant burgers with a lot of toppings that are individually awesome, don't always equal the sum of their parts. If the following items are scored as such,
Beef patty = 1
Bacon = 1
Cheddar Cheese = 1
Fried Egg = 1
Lettuce = 1
Tomato = 1
Red Onion = 1
Pickle = 1
Mayo = 1
Bun = 1
The burger does not necessarily equal out to a 10.
I think I'm officially changing my status in life as a professional burger eater to: "Less is more."
That being said, I don't want to come off as overly-negative about my experience. It truly was very solid. I think the Rancor just fell victim to its own hype, for me. I'd wanted to try it for years, and finally made the trek up during my last visit to Houston.
I loved the vibe of the place - a gas station retro-fitted to somewhat of a dive bar, with great burgers and local beer. If Petrol Station was in Tampa, I'd be a huge champion for them. -
- Karnesha S.
- Atlanta, GA
- 113 friends
- 33 reviews
- 11 photos
This place was excellent! The ambiance is super islandy outdoors- kind of like a burger shack on the beach while the inside is very divey.
The food was amazing, I had the spinach and artichoke dip with the veggie burger which was perfectly crispy on the outside and nice and tender on the inside. Often times, veggie burgers are just a mashed up page of unrecognizable vegetables- but this was a perfect concoction of chickpeas, quinoa and other veggies that would pop up here and there with each bite. I also had the pesto parmesan fries which were seasoned to perfection!
The server recommended the Summer Wet draft by buffalo bayou and even schooled me on some beer lingo!
If I come back to Houston I'll definitely be back, it satisfied a serious burger craving! -
- Lasairiona M.
- Missouri City, TX
- 97 friends
- 678 reviews
- 358 photos
- Elite ’17
You know what?
I love the food here. I love Mary's lambo with the feta and rosemary fries, or even the Parmesan pesto fries.
I'll endure occasionally overly long waits for food for this burger.
I'll endure the small interior and being eaten alive by mosquitoes outside for this burger.
I'll endure cans of soda and no refillable drinks for this burger.
I'll even endure grumpy, rude and occasionally verging on hostile staff for this burger.
I guess our group of sweaty, post-workout selves don't meet with whatever clientele the servers expect or like to have around or something? Who knows. But their attitudes bother me.
The food however, is excellent and I can wholly recommend the marshmallow chocolate bread pudding. Fo sho. -
This is a bar with plenty of beers and both indoor and outdoor seating. The food menu has a variety of appetizers, salads, burgers, and items that aren't burgers. To all appearances, a very popular place, and a great place to hang with friends.
All ordering is at the bar. Order, and find a table.
The burger came out with tasty fries, but no condiments on the table. The place was pretty busy, and I didn't want to bother, so I just ate it as is. It was delicious. :-) For Houston, there are better burgers (Hubcap Grill) but I have no complaints!
Most of the people around me seemed to be gathering there to hang out and have some beers. I was simply looking for a burger. I have no idea if the staff was friendly, because (except for ordering and two seconds when the order was dropped off) there was no interaction. In hindsight, I suppose I needed to bring some friends, but I missed that requirement in looking them up. Oh, and I was alone traveling to Houston. So, I just watched Person of Interest on my phone and ate my juicy condimentless burger and fries in silence.
Bring friends. Drink beer. Ask for condiments. :-) -
- Charles C.
- Houston, TX
- 49 friends
- 16 reviews
- 3 photos
Tons of beer and good food. Kinda hipster, I felt I was being judged with every beer choice
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- Dani U.
- Houston, TX
- 0 friends
- 12 reviews
- 8 photos
Location:
Went here based on the reviews. I wasn't too impressed. It's your neighborhood bar, literally. Parking was limited but luckily we arrived early. Very small inside. They had 5 bench type tables inside and bar seating. There is outdoor seating but didn't venture out there in this TX heat. I wasn't a fan of the bathroom. Only 1 bathroom shared by men and women. :/
Food/drinks:
We had the pretzels with Gouda fondue and spicy mustard, which was good.
The friendly bartender assisted me in choosing a beer. I opted for the Ephemere which was so refreshing, I had 2! The husband had a Fireman's 4. -
- Lisa G.
- Houston, TX
- 90 friends
- 168 reviews
- 49 photos
I had been meaning to try this place for a while, and it definitely lived up to expectations. The place wasn't too crowded on a Saturday evening, but the wait for food took a while. However, the service was super friendly, and selections from the substantial beer list made the waiting time go by faster. I split a burger and fries with a friend, and it was just enough food to feel pleasantly full.
Rancor burger: Amazing. The burger is enormous, both in diameter and in height; people with TMJ issues will surely need to deconstruct the burger to fit it in their mouth. The well-seasoned patty was super juicy, and the bun pretty solid. Also, who can turn down bacon and a fried egg?
Parmesan garlic fries: Very good. The flavor was fantastic; I loved the kick of fresh minced garlic, but the parmesan and garlic were just haphazardly sprinkled on the fries, so the distribution was quite uneven. Also, the fries were kind of mushy.
I really liked the laid-back vibe of this place. The outdoor seating is quite nice, and there are even bottles of bug repellent for people afraid of contracting Chikungunya. -
- Rhiannon H.
- Austin, TX
- 39 friends
- 7 reviews
- 5 photos
Good food. Bad service. Dirty inside. Don't ask for dressing on the side unless you're ready for some serious stink eye. Just say you can't do it, don't be a baby bitch about it.
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- Ryan K.
- Houston, TX
- 31 friends
- 12 reviews
- 1 photo
Very interesting! Food is great also. I have already eaten here a lot of dishes, but my favorite is a burger "Beetle". I am very picky, when it comes to food but this place definitely knows its business! Their jalapeno bread and fries are also incredible! The other great point is that the pets are allowed at the Grafittis, the environment is very friendly! I like everything about this place: the food, the atmosphere, the staff
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- Lisa M.
- Chicago, IL
- 29 friends
- 60 reviews
- 72 photos
Amazing lil place tucked away in a neighborhood. Good beer on draft and the food is awesome! Inside is a lil small but cozy if you can get a spot. If not step outside to their cool patio which wraps around the back, side and front. Two thumbs up.
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- Todd O.
- Lake Highlands, Dallas, TX
- 1 friend
- 4 reviews
- 6 photos
Awesome local Houston beer bar that serves up above average food. Draft list is constantly rotating and has a list of around 30-40 drafts that tend to lean more towards the hoppy side more than anything but they also have a large focus for higher ABV beers. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu! I will also add that they pour a full beer which is very much appreciated in a world where you pay $5+ for a drink.
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- Robyne D.
- Houston, TX
- 0 friends
- 13 reviews
- 11 photos
This is our go to place. The food is ALWAYS delicious! The patio is a great atmosphere and worth the mosquito bites! The beer is rotating, so ya never know what's on tap! The selection is ALWAYS spectacular.
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The rancors are large, carnivorous reptomammals native to the planet of Dathomir in the canonical Star Wars universe. The conceptual idea of the rancor in Return was described as "a cross between a bear and a potato." Jabba's rancor had an extended backstory of how it came to be his through misadventure of merchants, and ultimately loved by its keeper Malakili (formerly of the Circus Horrificus until The Incident on Nar Shaddaa) until Luke Skywalker had his way with her, the skull of Kwerve, and the fembot portcullis. (Return passes the Bechdel test now, yay!)
Petrol Station is my oldest yelp bookmark. Today was the day to check her out; principally for the Rancor burger but also cuz of the beer for day drinking purposes. Eating the Rancor is less barbaric than battling a rancor for sport in Jabba's palace; though it will require several napkins in your arsenal to settle down the sloppy mess it will create as you enjoy the burger. Food here is made to order. 28 minutes was the wait time for me. Rabble rabble rabble I hate waiting.
The Rancor rings up at $12.50 + tax and brings a 1/2 pound patty of Angus, gooey cheddar and Swiss, lots of bacon, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and a Shania Twain-sized slathering of mayo.
Because I am special snowflake I customized my Rancor with a request for medium well and to have the onions grilled. They obliged because I'm a gentlesir that gets what he wants; also because the bartender seemed to appreciate me as a customer being here. Since they didn't have 512 Pecan Porter and that's what I really wanted, he offered me a free taste of Nitro to decide if I should settle for something that was not 512.
I was one of two people ordering (they had just opened) so it was not supes busy like on a Friday night when everyone is dolled up in their goin' out outfits. I would like to think service is consistent, but if nothing else, it was very good to me. The bartender even walked over my burger instead of beckoning me over to the bar to pick it up myself.
Rancor is a burger that is a monstrosity: thick, vertically ambitious, and messy with the fried egg. It is a cataclysm of flavors at a large scale but on a small scale each bite maintains a simple elegance that it is pleasing no matter the profile of cheese to mayo to angus patty. The bun itself is a stand out element being soft and pillowy but still dense enough to maintain structural integrity under the weight and moisture of the rest of the ingredients. The grilled onions are a must for that extra Sonic boost of flavor; and this is the most well-done I have ever seen a medium-well so def order medium-well.
Simply put this is one big, beautiful, flavorful burger with plenty of bacon. Rancor is a suitable name for it since most canonical Star Wars characters had a deep awe and reverence for the rancors of Dathomir.
The closest competitor in town is Lankford Grocery's Grim Burger (mac & cheese, jalapeno, bacon, and sunny side up fried egg for $9.49) which I had the ROTD for back in 2011. Lankford has fucked up hours (7a-3p, closed Sunday) but so too does Petrol, I had to wait until they opened at 2pm to mosey on in. Rancor has the better name, but lacks the mac for substance and jalapeños for mystique. The service is downright unfriendly at Lankford; but Petrol is more in the niceness spectrum of Bubba's, Champ, Sparkle, and Old Fashion.
Lankford has the edge on price and mac, but Petrol has the edge on better service and the beer list. I'll leave location out of it since I live down the street from Lankford, but I was in Petrol's hood meeting with a potential new client this afternoon. Spoiler: he went with a cheaper lawyer so I hope he is googling how to survive the prison showers down in Huntsville.
This used to be a gas station, so ironically now you can legally get drunk at it, instead of that one gas station in Metairie that seemed to have such a problem with it happening on their premises when a brother was thirsty and trying to solve problems on the fly.
It's a serious /dive bar/ like they mean it - it's a no frills sort of place. They don't have a website or online menu you can browse in advance to know accurate $$$ figures. You have to order your burger from the bartender since there's no waitstaff. It's a local joint for locals. It's a dive bar first, not a fine dining establishment. They just happen to have a hella nice burger available from their kitchen.
With the /dive bar/ status come the hipsters, which is just a fact of life that their beard hair, tats, and viscerally disturbing facial piercings are going to be all up in your grill if you choose to party here. There are benefits and burdens to dive bars.
This is a mighty fine burger you should taste for yourself if you are a person that enjoys food and unique burger offerings in the Houston scene. The fries are disappointing though. Grab a beer and wash away your sorrows over the fries.
Beer and tears pair nicely with the Rancor. -
- Brittany F.
- Houston, TX
- 54 friends
- 25 reviews
- 38 photos
The food here was suprisingly good and the atmosphere was very casual and relaxed. Indoor seating is limited, but it has a large outdoor patio which is nice when the weather is cooperative.
I had the pub burger. It. Was. Amazing. Seriously one of the best burgers I have ever had. It's messy, like REALLY messy, but it's very much worth it.
My husband had the Beef Tenderloin Stew. Another shockingly amazing dish. He's already talking about when we will go back again.
We will be visiting often and recommending it highly to our friends and family! :) -
Have no fear vegetarians - you can eat here!!! There are actual options for veg heads in the meat heavy place. I opted for the cheese plate and they will sub out some extra cheese for the meat if you ask. I also loved the kale salad here. My taste buds were happy and I was full when I left, so those are two good things right there.
I love the beer selections here. I love the outdoor patio. I love the fire pits on those cold Houston nights (that don't happen often).
It's order at the bar, grab a table and they bring it to you. Plus over 500 review and a 4 star rating ... do you really need my opinion? Probably not, but now you can bring that veg head friend of yours and know they can eat too!! -
Ok. Let me go ahead, get it out of the way & say I LOVE this spot!! Everything about this place works. Each time I've come here the service has been awesome. Staff very friendly & funny too! They make great suggestions & have don't have a nasty attitude when asking questions or for a sample.
I've tried a great bit of their menu & haven't been disappointed by any. The portions they serve are massive, which IMO match the prices. I've gotta say my fave thing there is the garlic parmesan fries. At 1st I was hesitant to pay so much for some fries, but once that glorious basket came out...SOLD!!! Burgers are good, club sandwich is mega jumbo & the Moroccan lamb tagine they featured was sooo good. I came for that one 2 days in a row.
Great seating out front as well as in back. The crowd here is always fun & you're bound to strike up a convo with the person next to ya! Very friendly atmosphere.
The only things that's not my fave is the single, unisex bathroom situation. Granted they do keep up with it for the most part, it could use a lil updating; maybe better lighting? Seems to make the space seem a lil dingy or something.
Other than that, Petrol is one of my fave spots in the area & I'll keep droppin in for some ice cold brews & yummy foods! -
A couple of friends and I met here on a Monday night just for drinks and to catch up. We sat in the back yard area with hanging string lights, and it automatically transformed the space, apart from inside the bar itself, which is small and kind of compact. One friend ordered a hamburger, which took a good 45 mins - 1 hr for her to get, and another one ordered the feta + rosemary fries. My friend said her hamburger tasted good, which I would probably take with a grain of salt, since she isn't much of a foodie. She just likes to go out. I'd like to try their burgers myself.
I had high expectations for the fries since I was craving them, and really excited that my friend was generous enough to share. The rosemary was good, but I was little confused about the feta. It didn't stick to the fries or anything, and if you wanted some with your fries, you probably should've eaten them with a utensil of some sort. I like the idea though, because the two ingredients are delicious together. The fries themselves were kind of burnt. Anyways, the beer was only $3 when we went, and I just kept gulping the Mr. Pineapple beer like it was juice. It's such a girly little beer, but whatever. It was a Monday night. #NoJudgementZone
Business info summary
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- Today
- 2:00 pm - 12:00 am Open now
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$$
- Price range
- $11-30
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turnt up in the fine tradition of ulysses s. grant. 150 businesses
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