Billy's on Burnet

Billy's on Burnet

2105 Hancock Dr. at Burnet Road, 407-9305

Monday-Saturday, 11am-midnight; Sunday, noon-midnight

In this day and age of fast-food joints and soulless multinational restaurant chains, it is so refreshing to find a business that still believes in individuality and neighborhood appeal. Leave it to local pub hero Billy Forrester, the man behind home-away-from-home favorites like the Dog & Duck Pub and Waterloo Brewing Company, to create a friendly neighborhood beer and burger joint with an emphasis on good food made from scratch, fresh local microbrews, and fun for everyone.

The menu at Billy's consists mainly of sandwiches and burgers, but daily lunch specials have included great looking spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, etc. I can easily go to Billy's just to have a beer or two and a basket of chicken wings ($8 for 12, $11 for 18), some of the best I have ever eaten. They don't have unnecessary batter, are deep-fried for maximum crispness and properly coated with a zesty homemade sauce. They are remarkably not greasy, and come with very fresh carrot and celery sticks and a wonderfully chunky bleu cheese sauce.

Billy's burgers are definitely amongst the best in town. Made on kaiser rolls to better contain their gooey goodness, my favorite is the Ends burger ($7.50), named after the staff's (and my) favorite local punk band. The juicy handmade patty is topped with the spicy wing sauce and a generous portion of crumbled blue cheese. Another favorite is the Schults ($7.50), named after the singer of the aforementioned band, topped with crisp apple-smoked bacon and perfectly melted jack cheese. The Vegetarian ($7.50) is probably the best veggie burger I've ever tasted, since the patty is juicy and flavorful instead of cardboardlike. All burgers are dressed with fresh lettuce and thick slices of juicy tomato. But perhaps the best thing about Billy's burgers are the fries, which are always freshly cooked and seasoned with a spice mixture reminiscent of the wonderful fries at Shaggy's. Those were my all-time favorite fries, so I was overjoyed at the taste of Billy's version. The lightly beer-battered onion rings were also tasty.

Among the sandwiches, the Reuben ($6.75) was perfectly grilled on rye bread and loaded with sauerkraut, melted Swiss, and homemade Russian dressing. A vegetarian Philly "cheese steak" ($6.75) made with sliced veggie burger, grilled onions and jalapeños, was remarkably tasty. The satisfying Frito pie ($4.50) is a generous portion of dark, excellent homemade chili properly placed at the bottom of a deep bowl, then topped with a thin layer of Fritos and lots of melted cheddar, with freshly chopped onion served on the side. This dish elicited ooohs and ahhhs from everyone at the table.

All these wonderful bites can be washed down with one of an excellent selection of 20 beers on tap, among which are many fabulous local brews. Nothing like an ice-cold pint of Live Oak Pilz or Real Ale Fireman's #4 Blonde Ale to chase those spicy wings, or to enjoy while playing a friendly game of foosball. For all these reasons, and many more, Billy's is now officially on my list of favorite hangouts.