Marc and Elizabeth Lattanzi opened Magnolia Superburger in 2010. The couple opened their first burger establishment in 1993 in California.[/caption]The couple owned and sold restaurant locations in Costa Mesa and Salton City, California, from 1993-2005 as well as two locations in Magnolia and Willis, from 2005-10 prior to opening the current Magnolia site.
“We have a lot of loyal customers,” Marc Lattanzi said. “We’ve been feeding Magnolians for about 10 years.”
The eatery offers a variety of burgers—including elk and buffalo patties— as well as salads, frozen treats and sides.
“When you bite into a hamburger, you want to hear the crunch of the lettuce,” Lattanzi said. “We want you to burn your tongue on the bacon because it’s still sizzling when it gets to your table.”
The restaurant is family-friendly—no alcoholic beverages are available on the menu—and features patio space and a large banquet room.
“Where [other eateries] might have burgers and beer, I have burgers and shakes,” Lattanzi said.
Additionally, he said every dish is housemade—including salad dressings and sauces—and food orders are filled quickly, which allows the eatery to draw a large lunch crowd.
The New Mexico Burger ($7.15) is topped with bacon, spicy chipotle sauce and pepper jack cheese.[/caption]“We like being the restaurant that you can drive to, get your lunch and get back to work,” Lattanzi said. “If you’re going to eat it, I’m going to buy the top-quality stuff..”
Lattanzi, who works as the chef, said he learned to cook at age 9. Since then, he has served distinguished guests, ranging from former President Gerald Ford to actor Chevy Chase and singer Chubby Checker.
“To me, [cooking is as natural as] combing my hair,” he said. “We’ve been doing Superburger for [two decades].”
Lattanzi said he credits his success in the industry to the fact that he and his wife work side-by-side each day their restaurants are open.
“If we’re not here, we’re closed,” he said. “The thing about the restaurant business is: If you don’t live it, you won’t make it.”
Magnolia Superburger
281-259-8816
www.facebook.com/superburger5
Hours: Tue.-Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., closed Mondays
