Has anybody noticed that the formerly spectacular burger at Hruska’s Grocery & Bakery in Ellinger has slipped a little?
I stop at Hruska’s almost every time I drive between Houston and Austin by way of I-10 and Highway 71. I think it's almost exactly half way. At breakfast time, I either get kolaches or sausage and cheese klobasniky (pigs in a blanket). And at lunch or dinner time, I always get the burger.
I remember getting a very juicy hand-formed patty. But something has changed lately. The double meat, double cheese with bacon I had there last Sunday evening was subpar. I ordered it pink in the middle, but they ignored my request--the patties were gray and well-done. The meat tasted very dry.
I used to stop at Wiekel’s Texaco in La Grange, which has much better kolaches, but I switched to Hruska’s because of the burgers. My kids love their ranger cookies. And some of my other traveling companions like Hruska’s because of the spacious, spotlessly maintained restrooms.
So I will probably give the place another chance. But I sure hope they get the burgers back to their former juicy glory. -- Robb Walsh
Hruska’s Grocery & Bakery, 109 West State Highway 71, Ellinger, 979-378-2333
Grill hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
