Restaurant Review

You Won't Be Runnin' After Rodeo Goat

Restaurant Review (832 words)

By Chelsea Penney

June 15, 2019

You can't talk burgers in Fort Worth without mentioning Rodeo Goat. You can't talk Fort Worth without mentioning Rodeo Goat. Hell, you can't talk Texas without mentioning Rodeo Goat.

This West 7th eatery (located on the corner of Bledsoe and Currie, to be exact) boasts creative, juicy burgers, an extensive beer list and a laid back attitude. 

I had heard whispers in the grocery store, whispers around the TCU campus and whispers around Sundance Square. The awed tones repeated, "Rodeo Goat," all around the town. 

Then, as my brother and I headed over to consume another sort of delicious, en vogue fare within the same up-and-coming neighborhood, we sensed a warm glow leaking from the top of a 6-foot cinder block wall. Something great was happening on that patio, but we could not see into the secret garden.

After that, angels may or may not have come to me in a dream riding goats through a pasture. Either way, I had to get there. 

My first visit was on a cool, fall day by Texan standards. It was probably a good 78 degrees and breezy. We entered the concrete building: bar and kitchen on the left; long, tall metal tables with stools on the right; a bullpen full of tables straight ahead. A passing waitress told us to take a seat wherever we pleased. Behind her, the scent of meat and fries followed. We found our way outside since I had been curious about the glow I'd seen a fortnight ago. 

The gravel patio housed several long picnic tables and three large fire pits. We chose to grab a seat next to the middle fire. (It was a brisk night, after all.) 

A waitress found us and recommended Moontang as we perused the beer list. Moontang ($7.00), a house cocktail, is described as "Firefly Moonshine blended with Tang and other things." 

Tang? As in the orange-flavored powdered drink mix of my childhood? It can't be true. I thought it had found its extinction like the dinosaurs and Jimmy Hoffa…under mysterious circumstances. I felt mixed emotions: hesitancy and intrigue.

The waitress returned with two glasses of bright orange icee topped with a maraschino cherry and a slice of orange. (I am always pleased when my cocktails come with snacks.) One sip of the sweet but potent drink and I was hooked. Kids would be tempted by such an offering, but this is definitely an adult beverage. 

As we sipped our frozen Moontang, we examined the dinner menu. If you prefer stacks of thin patties on a bun with the standard toppings of lettuce, tomato and "spread," you'd best just turn around and travel the three blocks to In-N-Out because Rodeo Goat is not the place for you. However, if you like thick burgers topped with tantalizing combinations of flavors, you'll have a new favorite. On top of the normal menu, there are always two burgers fighting for a place on the permanent menu, so there are always new combinations to try.

Our burgers arrived just as our stomachs began to audibly complain to each other. In front of me, the waitress hoisted a Sugar Burger ($9.00), in front of my companion, a Caca Oaxaca ($9.00) and between us, Cheese Fries No Surprise ($7.00). My Sugar Burger was a delicious pile of juicy beef, candied bacon, grilled peaches, caramelized onions, peppery arugula and jalapeno jam atop a toasted, homemade bun. The salty/sweet bacon and warm, sugary peaches were cut nicely by the spicy arugula and zesty jalapeno concoction. The burger was flavorful, moist and was complemented by the flavors that topped it, not overpowered by them.

The Caca Oaxaca was a scrumptious mountain including a beef and chorizo burger, avocado, pico de gallo, fried egg, queso fresco and Tabasco mayo. The chorizo gave a delicious spicy, fatty bite to the overdone concept of the egg-topped burger. The gargantuan half-beef, half-spicy sausage burger was perfectly cooked and tasted wonderful with the accompanying toppings.

The Cheese Fries No Surprise (we opted to go without the chili "surprise") included a heaping pile of spuds smothered in cheese, bacon, jalapenos and ranch. That's a true Texan treat if I've ever seen one. The richness of the cheese is cut by the salty bacon and hot jalapenos. The gargantuan platter is definitely for sharing. 

Since that first visit, I have returned many times: mainly for Moontang Monday, which offers the delicious drink at half price. The juicy burgers I have ordered on my multiple return visits include toppings such as prosciutto, pesto, mozzarella and sundried tomatoes; Irish whiskey cheddar, bourbon-candied bacon, blackberry compote and stone-ground mustard; and sundried tomato, fontina cheese, cucumber and watermelon radish salad. During my last adventure, they introduced a new blended cocktail called Purple Drink ($7.00), which was described as a Long Island Iced Tea with purple Kool-Aid.

Whatever I eat and whatever I drink, I leave Rodeo Goat an hour later feeling happy, full and a little bit wobbly. A scrumptious experience every time.