Symon’s Burger Joint

DELICIOUS! The burger and fries were superb! Best burger I’ve had in Austin… so far.

So this place is both good and bad. Good in that I like the hip feel of space ²⁴⁄₂₀. Good in that the burger actually tastes pretty good. Good in that the fries are also pretty crisp and brown.
Bad in the sense the queso tastes like plastic. Bad in the sense the quantities are small. Bad in the sense things here are seriously overpriced. For the cost of a burger near campus you better be giving me a full combo for that price…
But if you tailor your expectations to just taste its pretty good. But add a splash of reality and you can’t help but go, meh.

Pros: The burgers are really delicious!
Cons: Everything else. As someone who’s a fan of getting French fries as a side for their burger, I was disappointed when I had their fries: they seem too over cooked. The worst part is their milkshake. It just tasted like melted vanilla ice cream. Not to mention that their menu is overpriced.
Overall, if you’re really in the mood for something filling and satisfying and you’re willing to shell out $ 10, then get a burger from Symons. Otherwise, I’d find another place to eat.

Just tried my first burger and very impressed, the guys that work there are very cool. Have to say that the fry’s are very good also, I’d recommend Symon’s burger Joint to anyone lookin for a good burger in Austin. will be eatin there again for sure.

All bad things come to an end… very soon. Will not be coming back.
I was craving a burger, happened to be near the UT campus, and didn’t feel like driving so came to Symon’s. There was no line, and barely any customers (there must have been just two customers waiting ahead of me).
I ordered a ¼ lb cheeseburger and a side of fries. It took about 20 minutes to get my food.
Here’s the conversation my brother and I had while we were waiting for our food:
*Wait time 10 minutes later
Me: Why is the guy just standing there and not cooking?
Bro: I dunno.
Me: Oh he just put our patties on the grill.
Bro: Finally I’m starving.
*5 minutes later
Me: Dude where’d he go?
Bro: I think he went to the back.
Me: Our meat’s going to get burnt.
Bro: Oh he just came back.
*Guy flips burgers and leaves again.
*5 minutes later
Me: He’s not wearing gloves *us watching guy use his bare hands to place cheese on top of our patties
*Guy then uses his hand to wipe the bottom of his nose (probably more of a scratch)
Bro: Dude he should wear some gloves.
Me: That’s gross, he’s like touching everything (credit cards, cash, pager, food, etc).
Bro: Hmmmm
*Guy gives us food, we awkwardly frown
Me: Is it just me or is this burger meat burnt? *eating my burger
Bro: It’s burnt
Me: Why is it so salty?
Bro: It’s so salty xP
Me: These fries are salty too.
Bro: Yea I’m not going to finish them.
Me: Alright that’s it, this place is going down.
FYI there’s windows around the whole kitchen so we were able to see everything the chef was doing… not sure if he was aware that those were windows.
My tongue and mouth are still salty as f*ck from the food 4 hours later. Either Michael Symon needs to come and slap the sh*t out of his staff or this place is done. The food is not worth the price; I’d rather go to McDonald’s knowing I’m getting what I paid for. I give them another year before it’s goodbye. *mic drop

URBN (NASDAQ) might be getting a slice of the pie from the profits at this new burger concept attached to Urban Outfitters on the Drag. I hope this burger window makes it… but I am keeping my expectations low. Most places don’t survive… ever. RIP Mellow Mushroom, next door.
SBJ set up shop in the new UO complex, along with a pizza joint from the Northeast, trendy bar, and a redesigned layout.
Fries are my metric, and the fries here are wonderful: crisp, thin, and salty – occasionally too much so. Patrick (I feel rather hip using a first name that only a handful of people local to Austin may understand) may have a run for his money. JK. P. Terry’s just opened up their umpteenth location.
Nothing to write home about apart from the fries: decent burgers, milkshakes, and dogs. Not actual dogs, you sicko… hot dogs. Processed pork product… though I guess that is pretty sick, anyway. I’ll stick to my 100% canola (or is it peanut)-oil fried potatoes.

God I love a burger joint with a short menu, streamlined production, and TASTY veggie burgers. The best thing about coming to Austin is just how easy it is to find vegetarian options… and Symon’s didn’t disappoint. I ordered their veggie burger with cheese and a chocolate shake. My only regret is not ordering a double. I couldn’t tell what the burger base was… but the texture was PERFECT. While it’s impossible to truly simulate the FEEL of meat in your mouth (forgive the phrasing), they came damn close with this burger. It came topped with lettuce, tomato, pickled onions and Symon suace on a very nice, soft bun. It was very, very good, as were the fries, which were crispy, salty perfection. My chocolate shake was delicious, also. Maybe one day they will open a location in DFW.

This place is convenient and can be a quick lunch and even a casual dinner date. I had the Symon burger — an interesting but not exactly tasty concept. This burger consists of bacon/​onion jam in which I will give them points for creativity. The patty itself was cooked well and I enjoyed their fries which were a bit oversalted. Service is quick where there are picnic tables in the back for people to hang out, chat, and eat. There is also a bar top right behind the burger stand for those interested in beer and wine.
Food — 3.5÷5
Atmosphere — ⁴⁄₅
Food did not blow me away where I would only come back for the environment.

THESE FRIES ARE AMAZING
I visited Symon’s burger joint this weekend and loved it! The burgers were great– the bun was soft on the outside and grilled on the inside. The atmosphere was amazing as well. Behind the burger stand are picnic tables with pretty lights and good music.
I have read that people don’t like the price. I assume this is because it is on UT’s campus and the burgers are over $ 5. While I did pay a bit more, there’s two $ on Unilocal and the food is made fresh. I would gladly hang here, as opposed to waiting in a long line at Hop Doddy.

I had no set expectations of Symon’s Bruger joint as I am not familiar Michael Symon’s career and restaurant world. I participated in a workout in the shared mixed use space behind Symon’s Burger Joint and decided to join a friend for a burger afterward.
My first impression is this is a cool concept for college students which I suspect is most of their clientele. The prices are not outrageous, service is quick and there shared space with picnic tables is a great place for students to congregate. Disclaimer, I don’t eat burgers often. So when I do I want it to be good. But I also have less to compare from. With that said I liked my flavorful ¼ pound hamburger with fresh veggies on an egg bun. I requested that the Symon’s sauce be on the side (to reduce calories and prevent a mushy burger) and I am glad I did. That sauce is actually really good for dipping fries in!
There is a bar outside which was not open on an early Sunday afternoon. They serve draft beers and Botabox wine. I would likely come back if in the area. The 4^th star was solidified once I found out the pet friendly patio is pup friendly with several clean water bowls for the dogs. Note: There is no indoor seating so come prepared for the elements.

I am pleasantly surprised because honestly I didn’t expect much after reading some reviews. I got the Symon burger and the queso fries. The burger was on the small side, but the taste was awesome. Fries were the right combination of chewy and crispy, and the queso reminded me of Kerbey queso. Overall, I would come back once in a while if I need a burger fix that’s not McDonalds but not too often lest I break my bank.

So I’m judging this based off of their original burger.
I wasn’t blown away. I was actually kind of sad that I just paid $ ⁷⁄₈ for a small burger that was normal tasting. It tastes pretty fresh but there wasn’t anything spectacular to it. Not really worth it. Probably won’t be coming back because it’s pretty pricey too. I’d rather go to hopdoddys or burgertex. I’m sad I missed their free food promotion because if I tasted something I REALLY liked, maybe I would be willing to pay.
However, the staff was super nice. The eating area was really cute.

Celebrity chef Michael Symon has opened a burger and fries joint on the Drag across the street from UT. We went during Christmas vacation so everything was pretty much abandoned. There are a few burgers with ¼ and ½ lb. options. We got the Symon burger ($ 6.99/$ 9.99) and were pretty happy. The meat is flavorful and juicy. Fries ($ 2.49) is a large portion, fresh cut and well made; we gobbled them up. Milkshakes ($ 4.99) come in chocolate and vanilla; they are rich, thick and flavorful.
You order and pay at the front window then pick up your food around the corner then find seating in a large outdoor patio that shares with a pizza place. They have an outdoor bar serving wine and local beers. This place should get lots of traffic.

I wish I could give this place a 3.5 rating. For a burger joint their burgers weren’t very memorable and a little over-​priced. I’d give the burgers alone 3 stars. The hot links are the better deal but overall I think the quest fries are the best thing on the menu. I haven’t tried the milkshake, but might the next time I’m on the drag and in the mood for something sweet.
I think the saving grace for this place is that they have Urban Outfitters splitting the location. Honestly, the drag needs a place like this to stay alive in the ever changing Austin culture.

A long line and a sleek exterior made this place look pretty appealing from the outside. However, the line took a long time, the food wasn’t great, and it was way too expensive for what you get. The beer is outrageously priced and the mediocre burgers and fries were double what I would pay for it. I got the Hook ‘Em burger which is a burger (overdone and small) topped with a link (half a store-​bought hot dog, also kinda burnt), fries (there were a few fries thrown on top), and «queso sauce» (who calls it that?! — and the «sauce» was runny, white, thin, and not very flavorful). The fries were fine. The back outside area was lovely to sit in, I just wish I had some decent food to go with it.

Very pleased with my trip to Symon’s burger joint. I loved the Symon burger. The bacon/​onion jam was well-​made with big chunks of bacon in the jam. The queso fries were hand cut and tasted great!
I was satisfied to see the affordable prices for a «celebrity» restaurant.
I will most definitely be back!

Burger was not cooked through the middle… Charred on the edges. Not worth the wait or the $

Get ready for a juicy, messy burger, which is an awesome thing. Solid fries with the skin still on and a tasty seasoned salt.
I greatly enjoyed my burger. I really like the outdoor area they have for eating. Would be fun at night, especially with the outdoor bar to keep you lubricated. The only negative is there isn’t anywhere to eat inside, so if the weather is bad you might want to go elsewhere.
As someone who works on campus, it’s nice to see more food variety in the area. Obviously, there are better burgers in town, but around campus options are limited!

I think the main thing about this place is that it’s not memorable; I really have no opinion on how the food tasted, nor could I tell you anything special about it.
Portion size is good as they pack the sh*t out of the fries. The burger presentation is a little on the sloppy side especially since it’s a part of UO. Not a bad deal for the meal combo though.
Would I come back here again? Probably not unless I was really craving an In-​N-​Out, P. Terry’s, or Shake Shack burger and my car had broken down and couldn’t get to any of those places… then I might swing by here.

This was a huge let down in my book. I love the burgers in Austin and having a new burger place open up right next to campus was a huge plus. The only thing I would give this place a pat on the back for was the outside bar and patio set up which gave it the laid back college vibe with a couple of drinks. The food on the other hand was where my disappointment’s lie. I ordered the ¼lb cheese burger and it was pretty steep for a college vibe around $ 7.00 bucks plus tax. The fries were an addition $ 3.00. So all around $ 10.00. The burger itself was tiny and not that juicy. From past burger joints around Austin this was the most least satisfying burger. As I took a bite I felt this instant regret in my decision and a wave of depression. The only thing to make this burger more satiable was drowning it in a heap of ketchup (which was amazing). The fries were so salty that it felt like I was coming out of Atlantic ocean with a mouth full of sea water, the pidgeons enjoyed it though. I do not recommend this place for lunch and I definitely will not be coming here again.

I’m slightly obsessed about food TV chefs. So I monitored the opening of this joint the same way Black Friday shoppers monitor door clearance at Walmarts. I b-​lined down the day I thought it opened only to find that it was a soft opening the day before grand opening that you had to have an invite from Urban Outfitters for. My paralyzation from fear quickly subsided when I was informed you could get said invite by making a purchase in the Urban Outfitters store next door. I did, and was awarded 3 invites. This was a legit invite because it consisted of a full size burger, full size shake and fries. So you were getting the real deal Hollyfield. What a classy move.
The menu seems short but once you’re served you realize it’s not. They have just made everything on the menu amazing instead of offering a menu of 30 options of mediocre. We had one of every burger and my favvvvvvvvvvvvvorite was the Hook’em w/​sausage. Whatever that white sauce is, douse me in it! The shakes were incredible… and those fries! I eat low carb 6 days a week but after trying those fries that quickly became 5 days this week. I could not stop. Like a Black Friday shopper I trampled every guest at my table to make sure no fry was left undevoured. They are perfect cut from fresh potatoes perfectly fried and sea salted bites of pounds on my arse. But I don’t care. I’d travel down here just for the fries!
It’s counter service but there is no shortage of outdoor seating, both covered and uncovered, some with outdoor heaters. Bean bag toss and and live music stage. The outdoor bar is totes awesome as well. Great place to eat your weight in fries and have a local craft beer.
On point, Symon!

Burgers are big, well seasoned, and fries were kickass! Quick service too.

Well, let’s be frank: I’ve got nothing. There was nothing bad about my single cheeseburger, but there was nothing that changed my life either. All I really noticed was giving the nice walk-​up window person here $ 7.57, and in return getting a burger that’s bigger than Shake Shack’s, but a whole lot sloppier too. And then wondering what Michael Symon has to do with any of this. If he showed up in Austin tomorrow, where would he go for a burger? Here?
I actually thought the coolest thing about Symon’s Burger Joint was the huge back patio area, and that they’re open until midnight on weekdays & 2am on weekends. If I was stuck on UT’s Drag with $ 7.57 and no transportation, yeah I’d probably come here for a burger, and not stray too far from the madding crowd. I’m not entirely certain the walk-​up windows have been transient & bullet-​proofed yet, but I have no doubt there’s a contingency plan already in place.

In my mind the burger is the ultimate American food. While I prefer a steak over anything, I think the burger is the American staple. It’s gotta be the hardest food category to compete in due to the large competition and vastly different types of burgers. With that in mind I think Symons is a hell of a burger. It’s on par with p-Terry’s and in n out. (I consider shake shack a step below)
It’s at a great location for students right on Guadalupe. The burger was greasy and cheesy and juicy. I think it was the perfect size and I devoured all of it. The fries are the unsung hero hero though, crispy and salty just the way I like it. I’ll be coming back again to try the other things on the menu

I came on one of the nights they were were having their opening promotion. They had vouchers for free burger, fries, and a shake, which I must say is a really good deal. This place is apparently owned by Urban Outfitters along with the pizza place, and it’s this new thing they’re trying out.
The burgers were pretty decent (original hamburger and cheeseburger) but a little dry and small for their original price. The fries were good and fresh, but over salted. The milkshakes were good and to my liking, but honestly I’m not sure I’d pay this much for a milkshake. It was not too thick, which I like, I just didn’t think the quality was that high.
The atmosphere is really nice, and the back patio is a great place and so beautiful at night with the music. They also have a stage in the back, which I hope means live music to come in the future. They also have wine and beer ready to serve.
Honestly love the atmosphere but it is a little overpriced for the quality of this food. My meal would have been around $ 15, and I would honestly take that and go to another burger place downtown. Definitely would visit one time or maybe come to chill at night, but I wasn’t too blown away by the food.

Michael Symon’s first burger joint in Austin inspired by his B Spot Burger chain of restaurants! They’re doing a soft opening today with FREE food. At their soft opening, they had the entire menu available, and I’m really sad I didn’t get one of everything…
The ordering experience is pretty easy. There are two walk up windows with staff (that are still being trained) that quickly take your order and issue you a pager that will buzz when your order is ready. When they launch the patio space after construction is finished, I believe you’ll be able to then pick up your order at the window. During the soft opening, they brought it out to us from behind a steel gate that leads to the patio space.
I ordered the Longhorn Burger (available at the Austin location ONLY) with fries and a vanilla shake. While the menu may not state it, the burgers come with a quarter pound of meat, but you can upgrade to a half for a couple of bucks. In addition to the «regular» burgers & the local Longhorn burger, the Symon burger is also available, which has grilled onions and bacon.
The Longhorn burger had bacon and two hot links with a well seasoned beef patty and some white queso on top of all of it. The meats were all very good and had their own distinct flavors. Apparently, the beef is just seasoned with salt… but I don’t believe that. My one complaint is that the queso was just a bit too salty, which took away from the mostly great flavors of the burger. The bun itself was fresh and soft and did not distract from the focus of the burger (the meats!). As far as the fries go, they give you SO much. I am sitting in my chair two hours after I ordered and I still have yet to finish my fries… In regards to quality, they’re not my favorite, but I would definitely add them to my meal for $ 2.50. The shake ($ 4.99) was the most disappointing part of the meal. I got the vanilla shake hoping for something unique and refreshing. However, after a couple of sips all I got was plain old vanilla ice cream blended with milk. I was hoping that a little more thought/​effort would have been put into the shakes, but they seem like an afterthought of the menu.
I’m excited to see how well this place does given its proximity to campus and the high turnover of retail spaces on this part of the Drag, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be back!

Super excited to get to try iron chef Michael Symon’s burger joint. Overall this place is yummy! Who doesn’t like burgers, shakes, and fries? It’s just something we all crave, and I think a good burger joint is much needed on the drag.
I came in for their soft opening, and I got the cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate shake.
Pros:
The cheeseburger itself was really good and seasoned well. Not too salty, maybe could’ve used a tad more salt in my opinion. Seasoned with just ground pepper and salt I believe, and you can really taste the pepper, at least I did, but the beef flavor is clean. The peppery taste could’ve been from the special Symon sauce tho, I’m not too sure. Everything was pretty fresh tasting, and the quality of the beef was very good, the menu says they don’t use antibiotics or growth hormones. The bun was really yummy, they use a sweet potato roll bun I believe, and it’s almost like the King’s Hawaiian bread. Super soft and yum and doesn’t fall apart because of the grease.
Fries were bomb. They seemed super fresh and were made with actual potatoes. I’m pretty picky when it comes to fries and I really enjoyed these. Way better than any fast food fry place by far, and not too expensive at 2.50 for a basket with a ton of fries. Worth in my opinion.
Cons:
The shake was meh. Pretty average and definitely not worth 5 dollars. It was alright but I don’t think I’ll be getting it again. They only offer chocolate and vanilla as of now. Really wasn’t impressed. Also, they could’ve done with better quality lettuce than iceberg meh.
Overall:
Pricing can be kinda steep but considering everything I feel like I would come back to get burgers here. Don’t get me wrong, I like McDonald’s, five guys and all these fast food places, but I really don’t like how I feel after eating there. My stomach has been really sensitive to food lately, and I felt completely fine after eating at this place. While the burgers may seem small, the patty is actually super thick and filling, surprisingly so. At first I was like wow that’s it, but really it is a good amount of beef and not too greasy.
While I don’t feel like this is up to Michael Symon standards yet, this place is probably the best burger place close to/​on campus, dare I say. Not as good as Hopdoddy but it’s a different style of burger! I’d definitely say better than In n out and Shake Shack tho, and the location is a dream! They also do have options other than burgers such as hot links (upscale hot dog??) and queso!!! Like what! I’m excited to see what new things they’ll add and to try the hot links and queso. They even have a burger with hot links and queso, like I see you Michael Symon. He knows we Longhorns like our queso.