A New Batter’s Up In Arlington
The Biscuit Bar Brings Comfort Food To Tarrant County
There’s a reason they call it comfort food. Rich flavors and filling dishes provide a sense of warmth to diners everywhere. It’s a feeling The Biscuit Bar owners Jake and Janie Burkett know well. And now, Tarrant County residents can enjoy their stacked biscuit sandwiches thanks to The Biscuit Bar’s fourth location in Arlington.
In 2016, Jake and Janie welcomed their twin girls, Blake and Brycee Joe into the world. That rush of joy was met with sorrow as Brycee Joe passed unexpectedly after her birth due to a severe infection. Loved ones surrounded the Burketts, trying to provide comfort and support during tragedy. And while they were constantly around people, food became a larger part of their lives, specifically biscuits.
After sharing their biscuit sandwiches with their friends and family, and hosting more events with “biscuit bars” where people could build their own creations, the Burketts found a vision. Fast forward two years (and thousands of bakes) later, the Burketts introduced their concept to the world with their first location in Plano.
The Biscuit Bar quickly became a beloved favorite in the Metroplex thanks to its stacked sandwiches, each housed on a homemade, fluffy biscuit.
“We started with a family recipe (which was really just a basic biscuit recipe), but then Jake did a ton of R&D to tweak the recipe so that the biscuits tasted great, were fluffy and moist, but would also be sturdy enough to hold up as a sandwich,” Janie Burkett says. “He made over 10,000 biscuits to come up with the perfect recipe! Our secret is to use lots of butter and keep the dry ingredients super cold (we keep ours in the freezer).”
Meshali Mitchell
After creating its foundation, the Burketts were able to play with flavors to ensure there was a sandwich for everyone.
“We came up with our sandwich options mostly just by feeding friends and family. We would come up with an idea, then make a round for our family to get their feedback,” Janie says.
With savory options like the Hot Hot Chicken, a Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich complete with dill pickles and homemade ranch, and The Philly, a seasoned ribeye sandwich featuring green peppers, onions, melted cheese and sriracha mayo, there’s plenty of spicy options coming out of The Biscuit Bar’s kitchen. But those with a sweet tooth can enjoy sandwiches like the Biscuit French Toast, a biscuit dipped in sweet vanilla custard and pan-fried until golden brown topped with homemade whipped cream.
A proper meal is not complete without an order of its Styled Tots. These loaded sides come with an array of toppings, like the Southern Style tots with homemade sausage gravy, cheddar cheese and green onion or the Holiday Style tots with brown sugar, pecan streusel and toasted marshmallows. To push comfort food to the limit, indulge in one of The Biscuit Bar’s sweets, like the biscuit nuggets, deep-fried biscuit bites covered in vanilla, caramel and whipped cream.
Pair it with a refreshing cocktail like the Wobbly Arnold, a combination of The Biscuit Bar’s take on a spiked lemonade and its spiked iced tea, and it is safe to say your meal will be a hard one to forget. Or for an adult take on your childhood favorites, try one of its cereal sips, featuring ingredients like Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Puffs.
Its newest location in Arlington, located within Champions Park, ensures that locals can take a bite out of these flavors, all while enjoying the area to its fullest.
“It is our largest store to date at 3,024 square feet,” Janie says. “It also boasts a two-story patio with perfect views of AT&T stadium and lots of extra TVs for watching sports (that hopefully we all get to watch in the fall).”
While there is a lot of new to be excited about, Janie says she hopes to provide guests with an authentic, homey dining experience.
“Most people in America (and particularly Texas) grew up having biscuits in some form or fashion,” Janie says. “So I hope they have a sense of familiarity and nostalgia with our staple item, but I also hope they feel wowed and excited by having a biscuit in a way they hadn’t had it before.”