Review #27: Health Camp - Waco, Texas

This review is the first of its kind. For this review – I am using the help of my Central Texas Affiliate. He and I both visited Health Camp on two different days and ordered pretty much the same thing. This review will combine our collective thoughts on the Health Camp experience.

Located on Waco’s famous Traffic Circle just off of I-35 N, The Health Camp, home of the famous ‘Healthburger’, is a Waco legend having served up many a burger, shake, and malt in its many years of operation. The Health Camp contains many of the elements of a quintessential TBG place – family owned and operated, great food, and nothing fancy about it by any means. Just good old-fashioned burgers, fries, malts, and shakes made to your liking. For this very reason, even if The Health Camp were to meet its demise someday, it will long live in Waco restaurant lore.

Driving up to Health Camp, I immediately got the sense that I was in the presence of something special. This little burger joint has been here for years and years. No place stays around that long without having a little something special for its customers. I was hoping it was the burgers. It turned out that the big draw has to be malts and shakes instead of the burgers.

IMPORTANT: If you haven't already, please read the Texas Burger Guy terminology post. That will help you understand the terminology I use in this review.

Health Camp Cheeseburger Review
It was with great anticipation that I placed my order for my cheeseburger, fries, onion rings and a strawberry shake. I figured I could use 3000 calories... why the heck not, right?!?! I chose to visit Health Camp during the weekday lunch hour and it was packed which is always a great sign. I dispatched Mrs. TBG to grab us a seat. After a bit of a wait, my number was called and I quickly made my way to the front to retrieve my order. Upon looking at what was on this little plastic tray, I must say I was a little disappointed. It was at that point that I realized why they have a giant ice cream cone on top of the building instead of a burger. The cheeseburger was pretty small. Much smaller than I like. I also discovered, much to my chagrin, that the patty was frozen. That's a huge no no in my book. Nevertheless - I was hungry and ready for a good burger experience. Would I be pleasantly suprised? Would this little bundle of joy pack a mighty flavor explosion in my mouth? All the suspense has to be killing you right? The answer is no it was a complete letdown. If it hadn't been for the shake, fries, and onion rings - I would have been really upset. After reading my affiliates review - we both agreed that the best thing at Health Camp wasn't the burger.

Here is how my Central Texas Affiliate and I see the Health Camp Cheeseburger ranking in the TBG categories:

Oooze Factor
The burger from The Health Camp definitely had some Ooze factor to it. However, it was not overly greasy but rather slightly above par with many other burgers I had consumed in recent memory. There was some oooze on the yellow paper it was wrapped in but not enough to score a really high Oooze Factor score. The meat did have a good flavor despite being so small and frozen.
Oooze Factor Rating: 7


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Herd Killer
The Health Camp burger is a shade on the small side. My affiliate ordered the double cheeseburger and he said it was pretty good sized. Had it not been for the shake and the onion rings I would not have been very full when I left. I didn't have the achy feeling in my stomach like I do when I eat a monster burger. This was just a mild stomach ache so I'm going to give this burger a mediocre Herd Killer rating.
Herd Killer Rating: 5



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Handling
At one point during the meal, I realized I was holding the burger with one hand and baptizing an onion ring in ketchup. That translates into a low handling rating as the burger isn't over bulky. My affiliate's double was a little harder to handle but overall - mediocre.
Handling Rating: 6



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Bling Bling
My burger, fries and shake was a little over 5 bucks. That isn't too bad although I wish I had gotten more burger for the buck. If they had slapped down a 1/2 pound fresh burger with that good of a shake - I'd be all over it. A double with fries and drink runs 6.38 which seems to be a good price for the food your receive.
Bling Bling Rating: 6

Gravedigger
I hate to sound like a broken record, but had it not been for the shake, I would not have had any fears. The shake coupled with the ooozy burger and fries made me only mildly worried about my personal well being.
Gravedigger Rating: 5 Shovels

Overall - not really pleased with the burger. It was frozen which is a big no no in my book. It was small - yet another hit from me. It had good flavor and oooze which saved it from being a flop. The onion rings and shakes were awesome. My advice... if you go to Health Camp - order you onion rings and a shake. Eat it and be happy. Don't expect much from the burger.

Overall Health Camp Cheeseburger Rating: 5

Restaurant Review
While not flashy, Health Camp gets the job done. It is located in an older building. It has a great mom and pops/50’s soda fountain feel to it and a corresponding atmosphere with pictures of it and Waco’s history adorning the walls. It exists on many repeat customers. The staff is friendly and courteous. The fries were marginal, and nothing to write home about. They were clearly of the frozen variety, and not home-made thereby detracting slightly from Health Camp’s overall rating. In addition to burgers and fries, Health Camp serves up a small variety of other foods for customers to choose from. You have your standard hot dogs, and chili dogs, as well as shakes, malts, and other similar type desserts to choose from. The shakes and malts are part of what has made Health Camp famous over the years. Its been said, but my advice is to order up some onion rings and a shake.


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Restaurant/Atmosphere
Health Camp wins big in the restaurant icon category. It's the kind of place that your parents remember from their college days that is still around for you to enjoy during your college days. The people were polite and were generally helpful. It was a good place to hang out with friends and enjoy a shake.


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Directions
Exit Valley Mills Drive off I-35. Go south on Valley Mills towards the circle.

Address
2601 Circle Road
Waco, TX 76706
(254)752-2081

Map
Health Camp Map

TBG Overall Rating
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the history that is Health Camp. Its been around since 1949. That is impressive. With that kind of success - you would expect a great burger. I didn't think they were all that great. I did enjoy the other food I had at Health Camp though. If you are ever in Waco and in need of a little walk down memory lane... give Health Camp a try.

Overall TBG Rating for Health Camp: 7

Review #26: Arnold Burger - Amarillo, Texas

Much like Christian's Totem in Houston, Kincaids in Fort Worth and Tookies in Seabrook... Arnold Burger was one of the first burger joints that surfaced when I started asking readers to send in their favorite burger joints for me to review. I responded to the review request telling the reader that it was unlikely I would ever make it all the way out to Amarillo. Well... lo and behold... I found myself in Amarillo and with an empty stomach. Good thing it was an empty stomach because Arnold Burger serves up some of the biggest burgers I have ever laid eyes on. It's been a long time in the making but here is in my long overdue review of Arnold Burger in the beef capital of the world... Amarillo.

IMPORTANT: If you haven't already, please read the Texas Burger Guy terminology post. That will help you understand the terminology I use in this review.

Arnold Burger's Cheeseburger
For me, one of the biggest events in doing these reviews is actually arriving at the burger joint. When I pull into the parking lot and see a building way way way past due for a renovation - I get really excited. Especially when the parking lot for the building is full of cars. Such was the case when I pulled into the parking lot at Arnolds. Arnold's building is simple and functional. No bells and whistles... just the way I like it. I didn't see Oprah's limo anywhere but I did see plenty of locals... among them a very popular Amarillo weather man. I heeded the advice of this weather man and the owner of Arnolds and ordered up a cheeseburger. I fully expected the burger to be your run of the mill small cheeseburger. Boy was I wrong?!?! This thing was HUGE! It immediately earned a Herd Killer rating of 10. Although the burger was huge - I did feel the burger could have used a little more seasoning. With that much meat - you have to load it up with seasoning otherwise the flavor is lost in all that beef. It was big - but just not as much flavor as I hoped.

Here is how I see the Arnold's Cheeseburger ranking in the TBG categories:

Oooze Factor
Two things the Arnold's Cheeseburger did well was Oooze and Herd Killer. The owner figured out who I was before my burger was made so I think she knew I would be looking for Oooze and Herd Killer. SHE DELIVERED! This thing was ooozing all over the place. Its too bad that the oooze was probably carrying away the seasoning because the flavor was just not there in this monster of a burger.
Oooze Factor Rating: 8


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Herd Killer
The second I laid eyes on the monster - I knew it was going to be a Herd Killer of 10. Nuff said...
Herd Killer Rating: 10

Handling
Between the Oooze flowing all over the place and the sheer size of the burger, I had a hard time handling this thing. Its a monster that requires the help of a friend to shove it into your face.
Handling Rating: 8

Bling Bling
I paid 3.37 for the cheeseburger. That's an absolute steal.
Bling Bling Rating: 7

Gravedigger
Yet another category that this burger nailed. It seems like everytime I go to Amarillo, I leave there fearing for my heart. Arnold's continued the tradition of putting the fear of the Almighty in me.
Gravedigger Rating: 8 Shovels

Despite this burger nailing almost all of my categories, my overall rating is going to be a little lower than usual. Reason being the flavor just wasn't there. I haven't encountered this before with other big burgers. I think Arnold's could add some spices to their burgers and nail it.

Overall Arnold Burger's Cheeseburger Rating: 7

Restaurant Review
Between my two brothers and I - we ordered quite a few items from the menu. I didn't get a picture of their burgers before they sunk their mouths into them otherwise they would be pictured as well. We did order fries, onion rings and cheesesticks as appetizers. Little did we know that appetizers were not needed because of the huge burgers that were our main course. You just gotta love a place like Arnolds. It has character and pizazz.. just the way I like it. The food was good. The burger needed more flavor. Everything was reasonably priced. The staff was fantastic. The owner took my picture and its not on Arnolds website... http://www.arnoldburger.com/.

Fries, Onion Rings & Cheesesticks

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The Making of a Monster Part 1

Part 2

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Step 3

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Restaurant/Atmosphere
Arnold's may make itself to the top of my favorite burger joints in Texas. It has the atmosphere complete with a rather simple building, extremely polite owner and a very unique menu. I absolutely loved the atmosphere and everything about Arnolds. The burger had its issues but overall - I loved Arnolds and would love to go back again.


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Directions
Exit 69-B off Interstate 40.

Address
1611 South Washington Street
Amarillo, TX 79102
(806) 372-1741

Map
Arnold Burger Map

TBG Overall Rating
Overall, I really enjoyed Arnold Burger. It was well worth the trip. Great big huge burgers. Oooze capital of Texas. Good thing Amarillo is the beef capital... Arnolds may be putting a strain on the beef supply with the burgers they are putting out there. Disappointed in the flavor of the burger... other than that - really enjoyed it.

Overall TBG Rating for Arnold Burger: 8