By now, anyone who lives or works in Frisco has probably cranked their neck in traffic on Main Street and noticed that the previous location of Manny’s Tex-Mex has been being renovated into something totally new. Neutral tones, white painted brick and a more modern, farmhouse chic look now catches the eye of those making their way into bustling downtown. Haystack Burgers and Barley, which has finally opened, is one of the newest restaurants to hit the dining scene here in Frisco. Known for its wild variety of burgers and craft beers, this restaurant is the perfect fit for our quaint downtown vibe.
I have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the newest location of Haystack Burgers and Barley (with locations in Richardson and Dallas, as well) since I first saw renovations taking place a few months back. So, once I heard that they were open for business, I rallied a couple of my friends and we headed right over.
Immediately upon entering the new restaurant, we were directed past a large set of windows overlooking Main Street to the place where you order food. Delicious smells from the kitchen wafted through the air and greeted us happily as we perused the menu for a few minutes. We each placed our orders and then found prime seats at the long, sleek bar located in the middle of all the action. There were various types of wooden-top tables spread throughout the open environment of the restaurant and light fixtures one might imagine in a barn illuminated the room, created a warm ambiance and the feeling of being at home. Within one glance around the large room, you can see people in the kitchen working to make the burgers and light blue paint accents throughout the space pop against the rustic wood floors.
We were quickly welcomed by one of the friendly owners and decided what we wanted to drink. One of my friends ordered a Guns & Oil beer, as she is a big connoisseur of Texas-brewed beers. She was impressed by the number of fabulous craft beers offered on draft and in cans and quickly expressed her excitement about this to the person behind the bar. We noticed a frozen drink machine and were offered a cute little mason jar sample of the restaurant’s famous Haymaker cocktail, complete with Maker’s Mark infused in a frozen cocktail mixture with a margarita-like texture. It was really different from any other colorful cocktail I have tried in the past, especially since it is whiskey-based, but it really was good!
We decided not to order any appetizers since we had so much food coming among the three of us, but I saw an order of the Ranchero Stuffed Jalapenos pass by and made a mental note to be sure and get an order of them the next time. Other appetizer-like choices include items like Homemade Fried Mozzarella, Frito Pie and Guacamole and Chips.
Before we knew it, the burgers, sides and salad were all out. The time had come! We did not waste a second before taste-testing each item and, I kid you not, they were some of the best hamburgers I have ever had. With each bite, new flavors surfaced, and the juicy meat was complimented by the toppings.
When you choose what sides to order with your meal, you have the option to get a Half/Half so you can combine Fresh Cut Kennebek Fries, Haystack Onions (fried onion strings) or Fried Pickles with another as one side.
I decided to try the Haystack Onions and Fried Pickles with my Barn Burner Burger, which featured tasty chipotle mayonnaise, lettuce, grilled poblano peppers, pico de gallo and pepper jack cheese piled on top of a large beef patty. The most intriguing (and the yummiest) thing about this burger is the queso that is served on the side with it! Drizzle some of that melted cheese on the burger and you have a combination of flavors unlike any other. I loved the spices in the batter on the fried onion strings, and the pickles, in all of their salty, sour glory were everything I had hoped they would be, complete with a light crunch with every bite. The onion strings exploded with flavor and were devoured very quickly. Once we discovered the special Chipotle Ketchup available by the napkins, flatware and drink machine, we dipped every bite in the condiment until they were gone.
Another burger that was ordered by our crew was the Escabeche Burger, which has jalapeno escabeche, pepper jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon, chipotle mayonnaise and haystack onions on top of a large beef patty, all held in one large hamburger bun. With so many toppings, new flavors surfaced, bite after bite.
The Haystack Salad, which was also ordered by one of my friends, is complete with chicken tenders (which she ordered fried), Haystack onions, avocado, bacon, cheddar cheese and tomato with a creamy, delicious ranch dressing. She said the chicken was extremely tender and the ranch dressing was zesty and fantastic (which, let’s be honest, is the most important part of a salad)!
The serving sizes are very large, and the burgers, stuffed with delicious blends and choices of toppings, end up stacked tall on the plate once all the ingredients are present. As absolutely scrumptious as our burgers were, we could not finish them. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs on this one.
After deciding to order another drink and finishing up as much of our feast as we could, we were somehow talked into ordering the Homemade Nana Pudding, which was nothing less than perfect. If pudding is not your thing, a variety of flavors of shakes are also offered, including chocolate, vanilla, Oreo, Nutella and banana pudding.
Throughout our dinner, countless families with kids of all ages showed up at the restaurant. It is a very kid-friendly destination and the menu features cheeseburgers, chicken tenders and grilled cheese sandwiches for little ones.
Haystack Burgers and Barley, located at 6705 Main Street in Frisco, is now serving up some of the best burgers, sandwiches and cocktails around. Plan your visit or check out the restaurant’s unique menu at haystackburgers.com.
Frisco STYLE Magazine dining reviews are not scheduled with or paid for by the featured restaurant. All reviews are completed for the purpose of helping readers know and enjoy local dining options.
