Paul’s Burgers and Fries proves you don’t need a long menu to make people happy. You just need to do a few things really, really well.
Owner Paul Johannesmann grew up in Mobile and has been in the restaurant business most of his life, working everywhere from Felix’s Fish Camp to Mellow Mushroom to the Bluegill Restaurant. After living on a farm in North Carolina and working in beer and wine distribution for two decades, he moved back home and finally opened a place of his own.
Paul’s Burgers and Fries opened in Johannesmann’s cousin’s old barbecue joint when Cotton State BBQ moved to a new location. Smoked smash burgers had been part of their conversations for years. When Johannesmann took over the space, he brought that idea to life with beef from Perdido River Farms. “I lived on a farm for 20 years. I’ve had cows and grown my own food, so when I learned that Perdido River Farms cows were grass-fed and local, that’s something I wanted to support,” he says.
The laid-back downtown burger spot just off Bienville Square keeps things simple with counter service and a streamlined menu, but having an unfussy model doesn’t mean it’s slapdash. Johannesmann knows what his customers want, and with his system perfected and his recipes refined, he doesn’t need to complicate what burger buffs already love.
Johannesmann’s signature burger comes stacked with lettuce, tomato, onion, Grillo’s pickles and a zesty house-made special sauce on a brioche bun. Diners can kick it up a notch with add-ons like bacon, sautéed mushrooms or a fried egg. If you’re taking a day off from beef, the menu also features chicken sandwiches: one a tender, deep-fried delight and the other a succulent, piquant delicacy embellished with char marks. For a lunch on the lighter side, Paul’s Burgers and Fries offers a salad loaded with veggies and topped with croutons and pieces of his stellar grilled chicken. Keep an eye on his chalkboard for daily specials like the goat cheese and pepper jelly burger, a nod to his hangover favorite from his time in North Carolina.
Paul’s Burgers and Fries is the kind of place where you go to lunch for an old favorite meal and run into three old friends you didn’t know you’d see that day. It’s lunch without fuss made by a guy who knows how to make familiar food something special. It’s easy, local and always hits the spot.
On the Menu
CLASSIC CHEESEBURGER
This double-stacked cheeseburger with two charbroiled patties, onion, Grillo’s pickles, cheddar cheese and a tangy special sauce is a smash hit.
STRAIGHT-CUT FRIES
Cooked in beef tallow for a bold flavor, these golden potato batons are the gold standard of French fries.
GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH
With char lines and pickle brine, this sandwich features a tender golden chicken breast topped with lettuce, tomato, Grillo Pickles and mayo on a brioche bun.
GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD
Seasoned grilled chicken over a bed of iceberg lettuce, cabbage, veggies, bacon, cheddar and croutons make this salad craveable.
Paul’s Burgers and Fries • 101 N Conception St., Mobile. 228-5530. Instagram: Paulsburgersandfries
Mon – Fri 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
