“Bake & Grind.” The bright white phrase set into a neon sign on the back wall at Plano’s Grub Burger Bar might be a little misleading at first. By the time diners realize it’s a cheeky nod to the fact that the burger chain bakes its buns from scratch hourly and grinds the meat in-house daily, they’ve already sunk their teeth into one of Grub’s delicious burgers.
First opened in 2012 in College Station, Grub Burger Bar already has 17 total locations across the country with two here in DFW – Plano and Dallas. From its brick walls and Edison bulbs to iron and wooden finishes, the ambiance of the restaurant is rustic and industrial yet vibrant and welcoming. Families, couples and friends can be found relaxing at the bar, in booths and on the large open-air patio, enjoying their food and each other’s company amidst faint, catchy pop music.
One look at the menu and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Be sure to ask the servers for recommendations as everything sounds mouth-watering, and they are clearly passionate about the food they serve. One of the most popular burgers and a family favorite, the “Mac ‘N’ Cheese” overflows with macaroni and melty cheese sauce and is topped with bacon. An all-American staple, the “Front Porch” is a classic, juicy burger that lives up to its name – it evokes thoughts of grilling out with close friends and family in the summer. For something more adventurous, the “VooDoo Mushroom” is an employee favorite. With perfectly melted swiss cheese and absinthe-soaked mushrooms, it explodes with flavor.
As for the vegetarians? No problem. Customers can enjoy all the offerings, as any of the burgers can be substituted with a chickpea patty. On the sweeter side, Grub offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic milkshakes. The Bourbon and Caramel is the best-selling spiked shake by far; it’s the perfect mix of salty sweet and smooth, smoky bourbon.
With an extensive list of specialty cocktails and punches, including quite possibly the best $5 margarita in town, Grub Burger is also a great place to begin or spend a night out. The happy hour can’t be beat: With hours from 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to closing, $3 margaritas and rotating craft beers on tap for $4, why go anywhere else?
Aside from comfort food, Grub is making the community feel good in a different way, too. At the end of each day the leftover buns are packaged up to be sold, and each month a different charity is given the proceeds from those buns. The restaurant also has a profit share program with local schools where a percentage of the donations and funds raised go to a school organization.
Despite being newer to the Plano dining scene (it opened mid-2016), Grub Burger Bar stands just as tall as the other gourmet burger joints in town, but with more offerings and variety across their menu without breaking the bank. The Plano location also serves as a research and development kitchen, where burgers and shakes from your wildest dreams are created and released monthly for a limited time. Numerous appetizers, salads, bowls and a dizzying array of burger concoctions keep customers coming back to try something new, serving as a reason for both families and friends to meet up and mingle. For good food and drinks and a great time, this is the spot in Plano to be.
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