Burger of the week: Cast Iron’s black Angus cheeseburger
In a way, the Cast Iron restaurant inside the Omni Hotel Fort Worth was the inspiration for our Burger of the Week quest that began a couple of weeks ago.
We were actually looking into something else at the Cast Iron when we noted the burgers on the menu -- at a restaurant we tend to forget about even though it’s only a few blocks from our offices, because it’s south of the Fort Worth Convention Center and most of the downtown restaurant action is north.
About five blocks south of us is a restaurant that has its own burger of the week that changes weekly. And while this burger isn’t as flashy as the Dagwood Burger at Dagwoods Fire Grill Tap or as foodie as the Ozersky at Knife Dallas, our two previous entries, it stands up in its own unpretentious way.
The burger: Cast Iron’s lunch menu listes a half-pound black Angus cheeseburger ($12) and a “Knife & Fork Burger of the Week” ($16). Seeking something more permanent than a burger that switches out weekly, we went the traditional route: with the black Angus cheeseburger: black Angus patty; choice of cheddar, Swiss or pepperjack; lettuce, tomatoes, red onions; all on a toasted challah bun.
The patty: Cooked a shade beyond our medium request, but still juicy with plenty of beefy flavor and a hint of seasoning. Pretty strong.
The bun: The toasting is a nice touch at first, but it does dry out the bread a little, and we could tell there was going to be a bun breach somwhere along the line. Sure enough, it came about three-quarters of the way through.
The toppings: We opted for the cheddar, which was laid on thick but not too thick and was served at a perfect meltiness to avoid congealing. The cheese’s flavor didn’t get lost, either, despite the aggressive red onions (sorry, co-workers). Lettuce and tomato were fresh, cut in portions that made for an easy bite, and played their usual subtle supporting roles.
The sides: Waffle fries were salty without being overpowering, and passed the don’t-need-the-ketchup test (there were other options, such as sea-salt fries and onion rings, but we weren’t asked about nor did we specify our choice — no biggie, because the waffle fries were good).
The verdict: At $13, the burger’s a little on the pricey side, although that includes the fries, and the price is on par (and in some cases cheaper) than other burgers nearby. We’ll have to remember to go south for our burgers occasionally when we’re hanging out at the office.
Cast Iron Restaurant, inside the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Houston St., Fort Worth. 817-535-6664, www.omnihotels.com/hotels/fort-worth/dining/cast-iron
Got a suggestion for Burger of the Week? Tell us in the comments.
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Burger of the week: Cast Iron’s black Angus cheeseburger."