There’s something poetic about a burger joint that shares space with a bookshelf. That’s exactly what you get at Stash’s Table & Fable Smokehouse—a place that serves up beef with a side of book club vibes. Tucked inside a familiar space (you might remember it as Crumbzz), Stash’s doesn’t try to reinvent the walls—it just fills them with community, charm, and the scent of sizzling meat.
Right when you walk in, you order at the counter, and it’s clear this isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a gathering place. Between the upcoming events posted and shelves of books begging to be cracked open, Stash’s is trying to fill more than your belly. It’s trying to fill the library void in our town—and I, for one, support that mission, especially when the reading material pairs well with a good charcuterie board.
The menu is all over the map—in a good way. Tacos? Check. Greek salad? Yup. Fancy meat and cheese board? Naturally. But being the simple man I am, I went with the basic burger: a half-pound patty topped with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and onion. No pickles, no mustard. Which, let’s be honest, is almost heresy in Texas. Thankfully, they had mustard on hand, so I was able to restore the natural order of things with a generous squirt of French’s.
Instead of fries, it came with kettle chips. At first, I hesitated (fries are the spiritual companion of burgers), but the chips were crispy, light, and didn’t leave me in a carb coma. Consider me converted.
The atmosphere is still bistro-library-chic, not much changed from the Crumbzz days. The dining room is small, but that’s not what you’re here for. You’re here to saddle up at the counter, chat with the friendly staff, and watch your burger hit the grill.
And that burger? It was worth the wait (though I didn’t wait long). Served on a slightly sweet, toasted brioche bun, the half-pound patty was cooked just right—juicy, but not greasy enough to require a hazmat team. The lettuce was decorative, like parsley at a steakhouse, but the tomato and red onion brought the crunch and flavor. It all worked, and I devoured it like someone who forgot breakfast.
Could it use a little more onion? Sure. Maybe shredded lettuce instead of a floppy leaf? Probably. And mustard straight from the kitchen instead of a squirt bottle? That’s a luxury problem. These are nitpicks. The burger was flat-out delicious, and for $13 including a bottled soft drink, it felt like a steal.
Final Scorecard:
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Food: 4.5 out of 5
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Service: 4 out of 5
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Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
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Overall: 4 out of 5
If there’s a better burger in Forney, someone needs to point me in its direction—because until then, Stash’s has the crown.
— The Forney Foodie