Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving.  It was pretty hectic around here.  The wife and I decided to roast our first whole turkey as we had family coming in from Houston to celebrate with us.  I wish I could take credit for the delicious bird that resulted, but as I had to go into work that day, the wife tackled the entire meal by herself and came up with this…

I’m not one to brag, but I certainly don’t mind bragging on others — the wife did a phenomenal job with the turkey feast!  It’s always great to spend time with family and take some time out to remember all we have to be thankful for.  That being said, I was quite thankful to take a break from all the turkey and indulge in the #12 burger on Texas Monthly’s list this past weekend – the Chop House Burger at Cover 3.

Cover 3 was unlike any sports bar that I’d been to before.  If it weren’t for all the flat-screen TVs playing football, I would’ve sworn that I was in an upscale dining establishment.  The hostess greeted us with a warm smile and helped us find a table so that we I could watch the game of my choice.  Although I’m not much of a drinker, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the Bloody Mary bar that they had set up.  Different veggies, an assortment of sauces, and a bunch of other stuff that I didn’t get a good look at.  Very cool.

I really didn’t know what to expect from my burger.  I was still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that this elegantly styled restaurant was showing nearly every college football game on TV.  I soon discovered that creating a great atmosphere wasn’t the only thing that these guys were good at.  As I mentioned before, I ordered the Chop House Burger – a 1/2-lb Angus beef patty (ground fresh on-site), Longhorn cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles on a ciabatta bun.

This was one good burger.  I mean, so good that I wanted to go back the next day and get another one.  The square ciabatta bun was nice and spongy on the inside with a firm crust on the outside.  The veggies were vibrant and fresh, but I was a little disappointed by their use of shredded iceberg lettuce – the little strands usually end up falling off and don’t really contribute much in terms of flavor.  This occasion was no different, but that didn’t hinder me from enjoying my meal.  The beef patty was delectably juicy and cooked just as I had asked.  The surprising highlight for me had to be the slice of Longhorn cheddar.  It was chock-full of flavor and finished each bite with a lingering richness.  The parmesan-dusted shoestring fries were the perfect accompaniment for this burger.

I was gonna try to think of a witty football analogy that I could finish my post with, but I got nothin’.  I did find another reason to be thankful, though.  Cover 3’s little sister, Cover 2, opened up a little while back not too far from where I live.  I’m just hoping that they’re pumping out the same quality food as their elder sibling.

So far, the folks over at Texas Monthly have been spot on.  Each burger that I tackle on their list gets me more and more intrigued.  Thankfully, I’ve still got a long way to go.

Location:  2700 West Anderson Lane #202,  Austin, TX

The 50 Greatest Hamburgers in Texas (burgers eaten)

9.  Bacon Cheeseburger (Becks Prime, Houston)

12.  Chop House Burger (Cover 3, Austin)

30.  Half A** Burger (Roaring Fork, Austin)

37.  Hamburger (Mighty Fine, Austin)