Last week I drove around my high school stopping grounds Richardson Heights Shopping Center. In the 70s it was rocking and I’m happy to report the old gal is getting a second chance at life. We are all anxiously awaiting the opening of the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse in (hopefully) August.
If you can’t wait, Alamo Drafthouse is hosting free outdoor movies on July 13, 20 & 27. If you are hungry, check out Haystack Burger & Barley Burgers which is next door. I stopped in and tried one burger so this report is limited. I sampled the Haystack Burger, a Mardi-Gras-between-buns mess: thick fried onion rings, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickle, and bacon. The glossy buns were dosed with barbecue sauce.
I should have ordered something a little less “busy”: I’m an old-fashion burger gal. The Haystack burger was a little over six inches tall which is, believe it or not, bigger than my mouth. I took the onion rings off and managed to eat some of it. My takeaway? The meat, which they told me they cooked medium, was well done. The patty was dry. Conversely, the bacon was under cooked. The fat was cool to the touch and made me a bit nervous. So I took that off as well.
I’ll go back and sample other versions. They have a small bar area where they feature a large beer selection (30 bottles and 12 local beers on tap) and a specialty cocktail made with Maker’s Mark. Too bad this place wasn’t around when we were decorating the windows of the drug store (Sun Rexall?) with “Go RHS Eagles” paraphernalia. Lord knows we’d have used our fake ids to score a beer. Richardson Heights Shopping Center. 100 S Central Expy. @Beltline Rd. (972) 479-9424.
