Granddaughter Ella’s dance competition had a long break between morning and evening sessions, so Viv and I decided to eat locally before heading home for a rest and then returning to the Convention Center in Mesquite (the rodeo arena area).
My wife made the mistake of asking me if and where I wanted eat, and I said, “Do I really get to choose?” Her quick answer was, “Yes, honey, and I will be happy wherever it is.”
My answer was, “I choose GRIFF’S, and it is just across the street where it has been the past many years.” I had eaten there several times years ago when I made more trips to Mesquite for things and to visit one of my friends, David Ramsey. It was always fairly cheap and great tasting in my opinion, and the servings were generous. When I checked reviews recently, Griff’s still receives nearly all 4—5 stars and words like, “Biggest and best burgers for the price anywhere you go!”
When we had made the short hop across the way to 2010 Military Parkway, we saw about 30 cars in the drive-thru lines and not many places to park to go inside, but I found one near the sign—and in we went!
To say the crowd was diverse would be an understatement— many ethnicities, many socio-economic groups, and many ages. It was a great place to “people watch.”
We opted for the “giant cheeseburger combo #2 baskets” with Diet Cokes, French fries for me and onion rings for the lady, and both mayo and mustard on mine and just mustard on the lady’s!
The next time we dine there, I plan to try the fish sandwich combo #8, and I think Viv will opt for the steak finger combo #9, at least I hope so! And, I can already taste the “real ice cream floats” with Dr. Pepper or Root Beer!
We received our drinks right away, but then waited for our number to be called as partially-filled trays of burgers and fries and rings and sandwiches and more were lined up on the counter as they gained their final contents. One lady was in charge of the drinks, one the food placements, and one the “pick-ups.”
It appeared rather haphazard, but it all “fell into place” as customers came and went and came back for re-fills. The main two cooks at the back looked like the ones who could really “turn out the burgers and fries” at local restaurants of my youth!
When I picked up and then brought the tray to our table, Viv said, “I’ll never be able to eat all that. Why don’t you take some of my onion rings and part of my burger.” (I will admit the burgers were really big, and one side would have been enough for two people most of the time!)
It was a good thing I didn’t. I think she finished the burger faster than I, and she did leave one onion ring for me—and it was surprisingly good, even in the opinion of a guy who does not order them for himself!
We finished, spoke to the folks at the table next to ours and especially complimented the child who had prayed before eating.
On the way out, we picked up re-fills and placed our trash (but not the tray) into the bin. On the way to the car, I said, “Let’s not wait another 15 or 20 years to do this again!” My “honey” agreed!
I noticed the dining room is open 9:30 a. m.—11:00 p. m. daily, about my usual hours of being “out and around.” And, I found out the 1st Griff’s Burger Bar opened in Wichita, Kansas, in March of 1960, and in 1962, their burgers were $0.15. That’s right, 15 cents!
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