(3) Love Shack, 110 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth vs. (6) Smashburger, 1605 S. University Drive, Fort Worth
In the history of bracketdom, has there ever been a more unjust circumstance: Two burger joints that both should rightly find a spot in the Final Four found themselves squaring off in an uncommonly flavorful first-round matchup. Newcomer (to this area) Smashburger positively dazzled with its 1/3 pound BBQ, bacon and cheese burger. The barbecue sauce lent just the right doses of sweetness and smokiness to the thin patty. The applewood-smoked bacon added heft and saltiness; the haystack onions offered just the right note of crunch and grease; the sturdy egg bun held it all together. Only the cheddar cheese seemed to get slightly lost in a near-flawless burger. Alas, near-flawlessness can't compete in the face of sheer perfection. We've tried and admired the signature Dirty Love burger -- a traditional American cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, bacon, a fried quail egg and Love's special sauce -- but on this sweltering afternoon it tasted better than ever before. The patty, a mixture of prime tenderloin and prime brisket, was redolent with hints of pepper and other spices. The bacon and cheese blended into a salty-greasy symphony. The fried quail egg added a subtle silkiness. Rest assured, Smashburger, you won't soon be forgotten -- but in this matchup we heart Love Shack. The winner: Love Shack
