4 out of 5
Address:
7525 Burnet Rd. | Large map
Austin, TX 78757
Phone: 512- 452-2181
Hours:
Monday -Saturday, 11am-8pm
Price range: $8 - $12
Location: North Austin, Burnet Rd.
Type of restaurant: Fast food, Sonic-style curb service
Payment accepted: Cash only (ATM inside)
Good for: Families, old folks
Meals served: Lunch and dinner
Driving up to Top Notch’s burger sign and throwback architecture, you know why Robert Rodriguez (correction below) shot its facade for Dazed and Confuzed. Upon entry, the burger grill wildly flares up 3 feet behind the hunchbacked cashier, Frances, who’s the most endearing old lady ever. She’s the owner, so when her gargled voice takes your order, you feel genuinely welcomed. The placed is packed, upbeat and boasts old-school, rustic decor.
Onto fried chicken: Top Notch offers 2, 3 and 4-piece meals that come with either dark, mixed or white meat–all sided with fries, coleslaw and Texas toast. We split a 3-piece mixed, which comes with a thigh, leg and wing. We tacked on small mashed potatoes and gravy for $1.99.
Total: $9.03.
The fried chicken was golden-orange and fresh as hell. Juice dripped all over my hands. It was so juicy that it almost soggied up the crispy, abundant batter. The fries were fast-food style (stringy, yellow). The slaw was… slaw. The cream gravy’s salty bang overpowered the instant-taters’ drabness. Perfect for chicken-dipping. The Texas toast was actually just-toasted and buttery. Average sides, but awesome fried chicken.
North Burnet–not so cool. But Top Notch–a gem. Middle-aged food bloggers claim this place is truly 1970’s. I’ll take their word on it. Far from chain fast food quality, Top Notch offers fresh, juicy fried chicken in a stimulating, old-fashioned atmosphere.
Correction: Richard Linklater directed Dazed and Confused. I so knew that. I’m a huge Linklater fan and feel really dumb for that slip-up.