Reggie’s Burgers, Dogs & Fries - Just another chain burger joint or off the chain?

Reggie's is a new place in the Kinsey's Crossing development, just off the loop east of Old Jacksonville highway.  It is located in a strip mall with several other new places promising to pop up next door.  Apparently there will be a new brew pub type place and a Pizza place (see this article).  It appears that Reggie's is originally based in Texarkana and is looking to branch out into Tyler.

The spread:  As you can imagine, they offer burgers, hot dogs and fries.  They also offer fried catfish, several other traditional sandwiches and onion rings.  The menu appears to be very focused.  You step up to the counter, place your order, then they will bring your food out to you.  Of note, they appear to be very focused on meeting your individual preferences with multiple different types of buns and a wide selection of "add ons" for extra - cheese, bacon, egg, avocado, etc.  The decor is modern 50's diner, with several old/new posters (props on the Aerosmith concert poster) and if anything is clean and spartan.  They also advertise that they use only "Angus" beef in their burgers.

The verdict:  I tried their hamburger with all the veggies and added cheddar cheese, bacon and a fried egg with a side of their fries.  First the good.  The patty was seasoned well, had a nice 'char' or crust to it, the bun was solid (white bun), the veggies were fresh and tasty, and the egg was perfectly cooked (with a runny yolk).  The fries were above average and fresh cut, but they didn't have that great exterior crispy crust and fluffy middle that you get when expertly "double" fried.  The problem I had with the burger is that the meat patty was approximately a quarter inch thick and smashed down and probably started out as a quarter or maybe a third of a pound of beef.  There is no way they could cook a patty anything other than well done using their current technique.  If you are going to buy expensive "Angus" beef, then perhaps focusing on cooking a juicy patty?  Also of note, the place is not cheap.  My burger, fries and a drink came out to just under 13 bucks.  Overall, the quality of the food was above average (better than Whataburger), but the quality did not match the price. For me, this is a run of the mill corporatized hamburger joint.  There is no real personality or uniqueness to the experience (no craft beers, no unique hamburgers, thin meat), but it is a decent burger.

Edible Tyler Roses:  3 out of 5.  Above average burger, well above average prices.

The Stand Hot Dogs & Sausages

The Stand Hot Dogs and Sausages
http://www.thestandhotdogs.com/



The Stand is a little place just off of Old Jacksonville Highway past the toll road 49 south of Tyler.  It looks like a tiny shack from the outside with a lot of character.  You can eat inside their small dining room or drive through and get your hot dogs.  Although I have never met the owner, Stephen Du Toit, he did some work on our house at a reasonable price and I was excited to give The Stand a try.

The spread:  They do a good job of concentrating on one thing and doing it right.  They serve hot dogs and sausages.  You can choose from Red Hot links, Bratwurst, Andouille, Boudin, Classic hot dog, etc.  Then you can choose from a variety of toppings:  Frito pie style (chili, cheese and fritos), slaw dog style, Chicago style, mac and cheese style, grilled onions, kraut, etc.

The verdict:  I really like this place.  They aren't trying to be fancy, they are just trying to put out really good hot dogs and they are very successful.  I have tried their regular hot dogs, bratwurst and polish sausage with various toppings.  They are all cooked well on a great bun.  My favorite was actually the regular hot dog.  These guys have a strong web presence and they also offer an eating challenge - The Big Dog Food Challenge - it is a 28 inch hot dog on a baguette with chili, cheese, Fritos, pickles, relish with a side of Doritos chips.  It is over 5.5 pounds of food.  One day I will take the challenge and probably fail.

Edible Tyler Roses:  5 out of 5.  Best hot dogs in town.  They keep things simple and make great food.

Wienerland - Walking in a Winter Wienerland

Wienerland



Weinerland is a little hot dog stand just off of 5th street across from Tyler Junior College.  It really stands out from the road with a unique architecture where the drive through is right through the middle of the building.  They also have a small outside seating area to dig into the grub.  They are locally owned and operated and have been in business for 45 years!  There is something to be said about that.

The spread:  Well I was expecting nothing but hotdogs, but in addition to various kinds of hot dogs, they also offer burritos, tacos, and nachos.  In fact, on their facebook page they list themselves as a Tex-mex/fast-food place.

The verdict:  Well this is really a guilty pleasure of mine.  They are likely kept in business due to their proximity to Tyler Junior college and the medical center.  I really enjoyed their hot dogs and nachos, not because they were haute cuisine, but because the food is good, the prices are right and their is definitely a since of nostalgia when eating here.

Edible Tyler Roses:  4 out of 5, give Wienerland a try and take a trip down memory lane.