‘Really good burgers’ on the menu at new family-owned Modesto restaurant. Where to find them
As the old adage goes: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
That mindset is part of the reason two brothers are opening a restaurant as well as a food trailer in Modesto — so they can serve the community "a really good burger," Brandon Benefield said.
Benefield and his brother Brian Bettencourt are opening the Double B's Burgers food trailer, stationed in Paradise Plaza on I and Eighth streets. In addition, they'll soon open a restaurant with the same name and menu on Beckwith Road where Magnolia Southern Kitchen recently closed.
"There are so many burger places everywhere," Benefield said. But a good burger is different than just a burger — and "that's where (Double B's) separates" itself, he said.
The brothers were born and raised in Modesto. Bettencourt has a 35-year background in concrete work and Benefield is a musician who won the 2023 Modesto Area Music Award for best hip-hop.
So, how do a blue-collar worker and a hip-hop artist come to open a burger restaurant?
"We both love food," Bettencourt said.
The brothers dreamed about opening a food spot for a number of years and would brainstorm what to serve. They considered Philly cheesesteaks and American home-cooked-style meals before landing on burgers.
"We came up with a great recipe and everybody loved it," Bettencourt said.
Double B's Burgers are made with a blend of cross rib, chuck and brisket and seasoned with a custom mix. They're served on an oil-top bun with choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and house-made sauce.
When it comes to their menu, the brothers plan to keep it simple. It will include single-, double- and triple-patty burgers. The triple burger contains more than a pound of meat.
"(We're just going to) focus on making a good burger," Benefield said.
Sides will include fries and onions rings, and the restaurant also will serve milkshakes. Double B's may at some point introduce a western burger, a chicken sandwich and burnt-end sausage.
While the brothers originally planned to open only a food trailer (or two or three), the brick-and-mortar "fell in (their) lap" when they discovered Magnolia Southern Kitchen was going out of business, Benefield said.
"In the midst of the trailer coming to an end of the build — we're getting close, like we're getting ready to go and everybody's beaming for it — I said, 'Brother, guess what,'" Bettencourt said.
They put the food truck on the back burner to work on the restaurant, and money started going out but not coming in. That's when the brothers decided to get the truck finalized for business.
"Our trailer is truly like our steppingstone (to the restaurant)," Bettencourt said.
The Double B's food trailer will open Tuesday at 722 I St. from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until burgers are sold out. For now, the trailer will be at Paradise Plaza during those hours Mondays through Fridays.
The restaurant, at 4937 Beckwith Road, will open in November. The hours are not finalized but likely will be similar, though it probably will be open Saturdays, too.
There's also talk of potentially opening the restaurant for breakfast to cater to the local farm workers.
"We're hearing that they like breakfast," Bettencourt said, suggesting they might serve the farm crowd while prepping for the rest of the day.
If you can't wait until Tuesday to try Double B's Burgers, it will be at Binford's Custom Cycles' 25th anniversary bike show Saturday at 1297 N. Main St., Suite B, in Manteca, beginning at 11 a.m.
