The Heights definitely isn’t lacking in patty possibilities. The neighborhood has long-time favorite Hubcap Grill on W. 19th Street; there’s the Someburger stand on E. 11th Street for no-fuss burgers to-go; and Becks Prime’s mesquite-grilled burgers are just a drive-thru away at 115 W. 19th St. But the neighborhood is soon to be bursting with even more burgers.
Bernie’s Burger Bus is adding its third brick-and-mortar location at 2200 Yale at W. 22 Street and is just an alcohol permit away from opening. The Burger Joint is expanding outside of Montrose with another location opening at 2002 N. Shepherd at W. 20th Street by the end of the year. And if you want to try a new burger now, there’s Balls Out Burger, which officially opened to the neighborhood this past Saturday.
Last week, My Table got a preview of what Balls Out Burger will be serving. Owner Ian Tucker is only trying to do one thing right, and that’s burgers. No chicken sandwiches, no hot dogs, no burger bowls. It’s all about the five-ounce patty made from 44 Farms‘ Black angus beef. There’s also no frilly toppings here. If you want a mac ‘n’ cheese-topped burger, you’ll have to go somewhere else. The burgers feature an Amish potato roll produced by Slow Dough Bread Co., which stand up well to the juicy (but not greasy) beef patty.
Balls Out Burger single cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle.
The menu is short and sweet. Choose between a hamburger and a cheeseburger and make it a single ($7.50 hamburger/$8 cheeseburger, photo above) or a double ($10.50 hamburger/$11 cheeseburger, photo below). Toppings are purposefully limited to tomato, lettuce, pickle and jalapeño (5o cents extra for the spicy pepper). Then choose between shoestring fries ($3), hand-cut fries ($4) and sweet potato fries ($5).
The double cheeseburger
What’s to drink? Sodas ($2), milkshakes made with Amy’s Ice Creams ($5), cans of Saint Arnold beer and a few Texas wines. In addition to sourcing from Texas vendors, Balls Out Burger is doing its part as a restaurant to protect the planet. All paper and plastic products used are made from recycled materials, and all drinks (except milkshakes) will be served without cups or straws – in other words, bottles and cans.
The seating indoors isn’t abundant, but the outside has an ice-house atmosphere with a no-fuss attitude. The restaurant name might suggest a wild experience is awaiting you, but at Balls Outs, it’s just a chill spot serving up good burgers.
Balls Out Burger, 1603 N. Durham at W. 16th St., 832-844-3359, ballsoutburger.com
Hours: Sun. to Thur. 11 am-10 pm, Fri. & Sat. 11 am-11 pm