12.17.2004

Review #2: Bellaire Broiler Burger - Bellaire, Texas


In response to a review request received from a reader this week, I made the trip to Bellaire Broiler Burger tonight with a good buddy of mine. Upon laying our eyes on BBB - we immediate agreed that this place met the criterion for being reviewed on Texas Burger Guy. It truly is a mom and pop burger joint.

IMPORTANT: If you haven’t already – please read the Texas Burger Guy terminology post at: http://texasburgerguy.blogspot.com/2004/12/important-texasburgerguy-terminology.html. That will help you understand this review.



BBB Flame Broiled Hamburger No. 3 Review
All in all - the burger had a pretty overpowering "grilled" or "charcoaly" flavor to it. This coupled with the melted cheese, vegetables, and bun made for a pretty solid burger. Every person is different - here is how I see the Bellaire Broiler Burger ranking in the Texas Burger Guy categories:

Oooze Factor
A little light on the ooze. I didn't have anything running down my arms and didn't really have any use for a napkin when eating the burger. It was moist enough though - just not very ooozy. The burger came in a cute little paper burger robe that was not even the least bit wet after the burger went bye bye.
Oooze Factor Rating: 4

Herd Killer
The burger I ate was a 1/3 pound patty. It was flattened out pretty good. Not really a thick and hearty meat patty by any means. The best thing about the patty was it absorbed the american cheese that was melted on top of it. So much so that the cheese melted down into the grooves of the meat itself. Kindof like the meat and cheese became a new creation... a "chatty" if you will. It was evident the cheese was melted into the meat because it all stuck together during the first bite. That may be more info than you wanted - but oh well - for you connoisseurs out there - you'll know what I mean. All in all - the herds are safe from being exterminated by BBB.
Herd Killer Rating: 3

Handling
Despite the picture - the BBB was not huge. It wasn't small by any means - but it is not a big bulky burger. The buns on the burger are soft. No sesame seeds, just your run of the mill buns. It does require 2 hands to eat, but you could also one hand it if you really had to.
Handing Rating: 3

Bling Bling
The money you pay for this is being spent on the flavor. It really isn't a big bulky burger. It isn't meant to make your belt bust off or a button to shoot off your shirt from eating it. The burger I had was 3.55 plus they charge 50 cents for cheese to bring the total to $4.05. All in all - it isn't excessive. Pretty standard cost for a burger at a mom and pop.
Bling Bling rating: 5
Overall Bellaire Broiler Burger Rating: 6


Restaurant Review
Bellaire Broiler Burgers menu is pretty diverse. They have everything from hot dogs to chili and even some salads on the menu. Pretty good looking stuff. We tried the burgers, onion rings, fries, and shakes. Onion rings and fries are nothing special. The shakes however would make a lactose intolerant person drink one anyway and just suffer the consequences. They are awesome!!! We tried the strawberry and chocolate and both were fantastic!!! Highly recommend the shakes!

Bellaire Broiler Menu: (click to enlarge)


Restaurant/Atmosphere
The outside of the restaurant is small. The parking lot only has parking for about 10 cars at the most. The outside looks seventies and the inside is so seventies it is shagadellic baby! We both felt like we had stepped through a time machine and were in the 60's or 70's. It was messing with our minds. Booths are small - hard to sit straight if you are tall like me. Tables looked a little bigger - but not much. Cash and check only. No credit cards accepted. They allow smoking. There is a little (and I mean little) bar area with a TV. No kidding - they have a Spuds McKenzie doll above the cooler in the bar area. I haven't seen that little guy since 5th grade! BBB definitely has the feel of a mom and pop joint complete with the Spuds and a set of longhorns prominently displayed above the grill in the kitchen.

Directions
Be ready to brave the Loop 610 west traffic to get here. Once you pull off the loop though - it isn't bad at all. It is at the intersection of Bellaire Blvd and Bissonnet.

Address/Phone:
5216 Bellaire Blvd
Bellaire Texas 77401
713.668.8171

Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Bellaire&state=TX&address=5216+Bellaire+Blvd&zoom=7

TBG Overall Rating
Bellaire Broiler Burger was not all I hoped it to be. The burger was pretty good - not great - just good. It definitely had flavor. If you don't like the grilled flavor - you won't like this place. The best part for me was the building itself and the atmosphere inside. I love little hole in the wall type place and BBB is definitely a hole in the wall. This restaurant has been around for a very long time and it has a lot of local appeal. For me though - it is all about the burger. Make the burgers a little more mean and the Texas Burger Guy rating will go up.
Overall TBG Rating for Bellaire Broiler Burger: 6

Other Reviews of BBB:
http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0718.asp
http://www.digitalcity.com/houston/entertainment/venue.adp?vid=171191
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/business/111702_a13_blueribbonsun.html

16 Comments:

At 2:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Read your review of Mel's and BBB. I love Mel's and agree with your review. However, I am a little confused by your choices at the BBB. Looking at the menu you posted, why not order the Bellaire Special. It seems to be more in line w/ the M

 
At 2:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

sorry, continuing from above.

Why not order the Bellaire special. It seems more in line w/ the Mel burger. It is their signature, named item. The extra patty and the bacon could have given a completely different experience.

I moved to Houston about a year ago and would love to hear your reviews of these places as you find them. I just think you should order and consume what is considered the main burger at a joint. In most cases, as you say in your glossary, that is one that will have the joint's or owner's name.

I think that would make your review a little better.

But, as I said, good job on the Mel's review, except that you never put their address on the web. Half the enjoyment of eating there the first time is from actually having to find it. It's especially not fair to actually spell stanolind road out. Make everyone else have to decipher what the lady on the other end of the phone is saying when shw says that word.

 
At 7:52 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"order and consume what is considered the main burger at a joint" ... hmm ... now that's a challenge Texas Burger Guy would love :) GO TBG GO!!! Get your name on the Wall Of Fame at Mel's. See if you can beat the 10 min record.

 
At 10:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

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If you want to start for the price of a burger to supplement
your income you need a simple method. No PPC cost, no list!
Just some of your time! You can work at home with a system
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At 12:32 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't believe what I'm reading. I LOVE the BBB. Not only do I, my firends and family memeber also swear by it. The Bellaire Special is by far " a man's meal" but I personally like the #2 with cheese and bacon. You can't get a better burger. The crispy bacon, the melted cheese on everything. Makes me hungry just thinking about it. And the fries may be nothing special to you. But well done they are so tasty it hurts. They always taste as if they have been cooked in clean greese which is hard to find now a days.

 
At 7:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your review was very kind. I agree with comments. Service slow and harsh. Does have a steady stream of customers. Better to go a few doors down to Roadster for a burger.

 
At 8:13 PM, Blogger curseofleisure said...

I used to place BBB third behind Lankford and Christian's, but then I ordered a 1/2-pounder with cheese at BBB. The thicker patty was juicier and less done, and the burger had all the right ratios of ingredients. And maybe it's from growing up in Oregon, land of the "charburger", but I like the extra charcoal-y taste, which is less prominent on the thicker 1/2-pounder. Next time I'm ordering it with cheese and bacon. Their bacon is really good.

 
At 1:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is the Best Burger Ever.

 
At 8:29 AM, Blogger Lauren said...

It's a great place to go to once in a while for the nostalgic experience and a decent burger. Plus, when you leave, you take the smell with you! And they started accepting credit cards...

 
At 8:27 PM, Blogger AgRyan04 said...

When I stumbled onto the site my first thought was, "Has he been to Bellaire Broiler Burger? That has to be on the list."

Mmmmm.

 
At 6:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are working our way through the Texas Burger Guy list. BBB was our second stop. I liked the staff and location. The burger was a "B" at best.

 
At 1:06 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Bellaire Special is the best burger in Houston and has been since I first started going there in the 60s.

 
At 12:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bbb is tha best. If the burgers aren't messy to you you're a slob. Staff is only harsh if you're a snooty asshole.go to roadster for greek food. A real burger can be found at bbb. The staff shreds cheese,cuts all veggies.n make sauce by hand n cooks each burger/side to order. With prices comparible 2 a poor quality fast food joint if you have anything other to say than thank GOD there's still a place left like this then there's seriously something wrong and you need help

 
At 5:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I eat here often. The Bellaire special is the burger to get. The ooze factor would be at least an 8 or 9. As them to make your fries extra crisp.

 
At 1:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

go back & do over these years later. read the comments.! if you don't do The Special, you aren't playing.

 
At 7:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Bellaire Special is the second best burger I've ever had. Second only to HubCap grill, downtown Houston, I expect to see a review sometime soon, hands down the best

 

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