Grind Burger Bar brings chef-crafted burgers, beer to McKinney’s Craig Ranch

That headline barely scratches the surface of McKinney’s newest burger joint.

Grind Burger Bar + Tap Room has finally debuted at The Shops at Craig Ranch, and a longtime, trustworthy EscapeHatch reader says the wait has been worth it.

The chef behind the project is Brent Hammer, a Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Oak restaurant veteran. He’s joined by another burger industry vet, co-owner and general manager Robert Hede, whose track record includes time at Village Burger Bar and Royale Magnificent Burger. 

Together, the two oversee a kitchen that turns out damn tasty 2×2 burgers, wings, clucker sandwiches, salads and weekend brunch. You can fancy your burgers up with bacon jam, bleu cheese and avocado; an umami bomb whose punches come from good beef, charred tomato, bacon, wild mushrooms, country ham aioli, crispy parmesan cheese; or go straight to the big-deal burger constructed with 45-day dry-aged sirloin, LTO, aged cheddar and Kewpie mayo. Going meatless? The beet and mushroom falafel has your name all over it, but so do the triple-fried Kennebec fries with ghost peppers.

A bunch of local beers flow through the icy taps to cap it all off. 

The Shops at Craig Ranch at 7500 Stacy Rd., McKinney, (214) 228-3459

photo: Grind Burger Bar