The Circle is a bit legendary in Waco. While I had eaten at The Elite years ago before it closed, I had never visited Health Camp. So when I found myself in Waco for the Baylor Job Fair, I decided it would be a good time to visit and grab some lunch. I knew it would definitely beat the sandwich in a box that would otherwise be provided for me. Health Camp is one of those places you go to based on a recommendation; just driving by it would probably not entice you to stop. You can walk up to to the window and order to go, or go inside to order and sit at one of the 10 tables. Since I arrived at the end of the lunch rush, the wait for my food was not long at all. And it was exactly what you would expect from an institution that's been around since 1949. Burger, fries, and soda were less than $10 and filled me up. It's a good solid cheeseburger, served with a tomato slice, onions, and shredded lettuce (the one negative). It comes with mustard, so if you're not a fan, be sure to let them know. The fries are good and basic, no fancy spices or seasonings. I did need ketchup just to add a bit of extra flavor. If you're in driving through Waco and need a bite to eat, I'd say it's definitely worth the stop. After all, it's a mom & pop place that's been around for close to eighty years. That in itself deserves some attention and some celebrating!
Spring Break is for fun adventures with friends and I know Esther is always up for an adventure, especially when it means visiting a new place. We spent the morning at the Trinity River Audubon Center, a beautiful nature preserve about 10 miles south of downtown Dallas. It was spectacular and educational. And with all that walking in the midst of nature, we worked up an appetite. So it only made sense for us to stop for lunch before heading home. And what better place to head to than Trinity Groves. With so many options, I thought it might be a hard decision, but we immediately headed to The Hall. The Hall opened up about a year ago, by one of our favorite burger makers, James, formerly of Stackhouse. We knew we couldn't go wrong here!
As usual, James does not disappoint when it comes to a burger. Perfect meat to bun ratio, served with the freshest of condiments - Bibb (or was it Butter?) lettuce, purple onion, a tomato slice and homemade pickles! We both asked for our burgers to be cooked medium and they were truly cooked to perfection. I added Gruyere cheese and the flavors blended together beautifully. There are no gourmet burgers at The Hall, although you can add bacon, fried egg, or avocado, but there's no need as this burger was delicious! It was served with a side of cole slaw - no mayo! And you can't have a burger without fries, so we each added them to our order. These fries were cut just the way I like them. Not steak fries, but not skinny McDonald's fries either. And to me, the true test of how awesome the fries are depends on the need to use ketchup. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of ketchup. However, I don't use it with my fries unless I have to, and with these fries, there's just no need.
When you head to down to Trinity Groves you've got a few options for your burger needs. Be sure to add the burger at The Hall to your list of must visits next time you're in the area.
