Hamburger Royalty

There's something that's really comforting about dining at a restaraunt that's been in operation so long, it's known as an "institution." I hate chain restaurants and avoid them if possible because the food is marketed for the masses which usually makes the menu uninspiring at best. But at the institutions, they usually have a food product that's so good, it keeps customers coming back for generations. The Prince of Hamburgers on Lemmon Avenue in west Dallas was one of those places. It originally opened in 1929 and nothing much changed over the years except the prices. It was one of the last of the Fonzie-style drive in restaurants where you pulled up, flashed your lights, and got service from a car-hop. And its draw was home-made root beer. I've always meant to eat there, especially because of the root beer. But it closed last week because the owner hasn't paid $27,000 in business taxes. In a way, I feel responsible for the owners tax troubles. If I'd gone there and drank a root-beer or two, maybe the guy could have paid his taxes.