Burger joint puts premium on quality

With fast-food burgers available on every corner these days, the owners of JAX Burgers Fries and Shakes—a hamburger restaurant in Magnolia—opt for quality over speed. Although what they do is far from slow food—they can still whip up a cheeseburger in five to eight minutes—the cooks at JAX have gone back to the basics, making every aspect of their burgers fresh.

"We only make what you order," owner Melissa Recio said. "We're not using a frozen patty. We're not buying lettuce in a bag or tomatoes pre-sliced. Our fries won't fit in a warming drawer, so we don't even have one."

The decision to push for quality paid off quickly, Recio said. After opening their first location in Spring in January 2010, the owners saw so much business that they were able to open up two more locations before the end of the year. They started up in Pearland in July and came to Magnolia in December.

"It was a hit right off the bat," Recio said. "I have people come in and try a burger for lunch and they're so excited that they go home, get their spouse and bring them back for dinner. Usually when someone eats here, they're back within 10 days."

All JAX burgers are made with a half-pound of certified angus beef and are served both rare and well-done. The restaurant uses egg buns made by Ashcraft Bakery in Stafford.

The burgers are served to customers upside-down, which allows the juices to season the vegetables and keeps the bottom bun from getting soggy, according to Recio.

"People tell me it's the best burger they've ever had," Recio said.

The menu also features six different styles of french fries and five different milkshakes, which are served from an old-fashioned milkshake machine.

"The shakes are made with hand-dipped Blue Bell Ice Cream and whole milk," Recio said. "The Blue Bell pretty much sells itself."

In addition to dining in, customers may call ahead and pick up their orders at a drive-thru window. JAX also offers catering services for events and parties. The service is offered to groups with a minimum of 50 people and includes meals with burgers and chips for $5 each.

With vibrant red and black walls and country music playing, the atmosphere at JAX is intended to be casual and fun, Recio said. She, and her husband and co-owner, John run the business as working owners, helping cook and take orders. The restaurant got its name from combining the names of their two children, Jake and Max.

Recio said she is on a first-name basis with many of her return customers and new people continue to come in every day. She said she estimates on a typical weekend, JAX serves from 300–400 people each day.

"We're growing all the time and it's always getting busier," Recio said. "We just want to keep making our burgers and making them better than everybody else."

Owner recommendations

JAX owners Melissa and John Recio pride themselves on using only fresh ingredients in their burgers. Below are some of JAX's most popular items:

• Guac Burger—Guacamole, grilled onions, white cheese, mayonnaise and tomatoes ($7.25) with sweet potato fries ($2.25)
• Baja Burger—Bacon, jalapenos, American cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes and onions ($7.25) with cajun fries ($1.75)
• Baja Chicken—Bacon, jalapenos, white cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes ($8)
• Milk Chocolate Shake—Blue Bell milk chocolate ice cream and whole milk ($3.25)

JAX Pizzeria

Melissa and John Recio, owners of JAX restaurant, plan on opening JAX Pizzeria in the same plaza as their JAX location on FM 2920 in Spring.

• JAX pizzeria is expected to open mid-May, depending on when construction is complete.
• The pizzeria will offer eight distinctive pizzas including a barbecue pulled pork pizza with caramelized onions.
• It will feature the same JAX logo, but the colors will be green and white.

JAX, 32823 FM 2978, Magnolia, 281-259-9399, www.jaxburgers.com

Hours: Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Closed Sunday