The Urban Hobo is On a Budget - Again

I have started my culinary education at El Centro College in downtown Dallas. The only reason that I am relating this fact to you is to explain why I was following a group of students in downtown Dallas. The fact that they were very attractive co-eds had nothing to do with the reason that I was walking behind them. That was just a bonus.

One thing that unites all colleges is that students don’t have a lot of money. Even Harvard has a few kids whose daddy is not paying the tuition bill. Students develop an almost instinctive knack for finding food that is either cheap or free. I was no different the first time I worked through college. These days my foraging skills are atrophied, although I hopefully will get them back soon. The reason that I was following the group is that they were going to lunch; and, the odds are in favor of the food being affordable. Seriously, that is why I was following them.

I found that their destination was the Bank of America building, specifically the basement level. Now most office buildings have the café that serves some forgettable prepared food, chips and candy, usually at slightly inflated prices, and soap operas playing on a worn out television set. I know that this is not one of those office buildings. The Bank of America building is one of the entrances to the Dallas Tunnel and Bridge system, which is actually a collection of restaurants and shops serving the downtown Dallas workers and apparently students. It is great during rain and the insufferably hot summers around here. The girls had moved on to their destinations by the time I got to the tunnels. They are no longer a part of this narrative.

The restaurants at the Bank of America area are: Alonti Market Café and Catering, Grandies, Amazing Wraps, Melters, Three Brothers Pizza, and Asia Wok. There is also a Bank of America branch in the basement if you need to conduct some actual business. If you go further into the tunnels you will hit an open air courtyard and more restaurants. Past the courtyard you can get to a food court under the Renaissance Tower. I will get to those places another day.

I ate at Melters which is a seriously small hamburger joint. The griddle, prep station and cash register were all in my field of vision. This place cannot afford to not keep it clean; and, it was very clean. The cooks wore gloves and hairnets. They did one thing people tell me ruins a burger, they pressed them down with some instruments that resembles the old fashioned irons, the kind you heat in the fire. The burgers tasted very good; but, not as juicy as some I have had. The dire warning were not realized either. The patties started off as large balls of meat. I really liked the fries. They put some spice that I did not recognize on them. I had lunch for under seven dollars, although I would have appreciated smaller portions and less price. Still, it was fairly affordable. Melters also serves breakfast all day, so if you like biscuits and gravy you could get lunch for under three dollars.