One of the success stories of the Fishers Test Kitchen at the Yard is that there has already been a transition from one of the businesses to a replacement. One Trick Pony has stepped into the last kitchen area in the row of pop up test kitchens next to Sun King. I got a chance to talk after my lunch with the man running the restaurant. He has grand hopes for franchising his concept across the whole country to maybe 1200 businesses! Talk about ambition. The key to that is finding out how your first business is received and ironing out any problems before you go big! I must say that this is an impressive start.
First, the name: "One Trick Pony" refers to their logo which states "We do one thing really well. An that's hot, fresh, smashed burgers that are diner style, made to order, & pressed on a hot griddle". That is definitely true. I ordered a double burger and each of the patties (about a quarter pound) was individually seasoned and seared to bring out the deep beef taste.
Know that you can order a single, double, or triple burger. Instead of telling them what you want on your order, they have "Styles" of toppings you can select. I picked the Old John style which has shrettuce (shredded lettuce), pickle, onion, tomato, mustard, mayo, and American Cheese. There are several other styles you can order and if you need other condiments, there were some packets near the cash register, so be sure to look if your "style" doesn't come with a particular one.
I also ordered a side of fries. You can get just plain fries or onion rings, but you can also order them with many types of sauces/cheeses (basically a poutine).
Let me say that the first bite of my burger had a great crunch to it! Crisp toppings (pickle, onion, tomato) and a crisp sear to each of the burgers was a pleasant surprise. That's the way I like my burger and although there was a lot to eat, I didn't feel like I had any trouble fitting these smashed burgers in my mouth. (Much different than eating the half pound Big Mouth Burgers that are usually underseasoned and rely upon the toppings for flavor. If anything, by seasoning each of the burgers, they were almost too salty by the end, but they didn't get too bad because of all the toppings on mine.
The cheesy style fries were okay. The cheese reminded my of the creamy smooth Cheez- Whiz style so that it could be pourable/dip-able. I noticed that the cheese was poured directly onto the fries and by the time I got to the end, the fries were getting soggy. After lunch, I stopped by and asked if the owner would like any feedback. I suggested they pour the sauces/cheese for the fries into a small cup and let the customer dip the fries. He said he really like that idea and thought it would be really helpful for carryout orders. So if you get fries with a topping and don't want to eat them first, simply ask for the sauce on the side!
The stand along fries seemed crisp and already salted, so my wife grabbed some ketchup packets from the counter for hers.
Overall, we really enjoyed our food and interaction with the owner.
One thing you should be aware of if you go in for lunch: Sun King doesn't open until the middle afternoon, so you will need to order a beverage from the restaurant, or wait until later in the day if you want a beer with your meal. Don't blame One Trick Pony if you can't get a beer. This business is not associated with Sun King in any way other than sharing the same dining room.
Note that like the other food places in the Test Kitchen, you pay when you order and they give you a buzzer that lets you know your food is ready to come pick up. That way you can stake claim to one of the seating places in the common seating area. Also note that napkins and plasticware are located at stations near the entrance. Down below is the place you can throw away your trash. (I believe Sun King busses the tables later in the day.) Near those stations, they also have sanitizer and cloths you can use to spray your own table and chairs before sitting if you are uncertain when the last time it was sanitized.
It's nice to see a new business looking successful during these difficult times. We enjoyed our experience and would gladly return to dine again!
Note that it isn't a cheap burger place like the fast food places, but depending upon the number of burgers you stack on your sandwich, the price can climb fairly fast. But the prices are clearly posted. Just pay attention before you order and you will be okay!
Review #3816 read more