“Simple done exceptional” is the mantra Scott Terraciano-Spence and his business partners Jeff Braunstein and Martin Hennessy used to create Dugg Burger.

After working in the corporate restaurant industry for years, they cultivated their own restaurant and came up with Dugg Burger, a build-your-own, go-down-the-line style of building a burger.

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The family friendly joint offers options for everyone.

“Even though our menu is simple, we have something for burger and chicken lovers, salad eaters, gluten-free dieters and vegetarians,” Spence says. “We even have chalk available for kids to draw with on our brick wall.”

The restaurant hones in on simplicity by doing a few things very well.

Customers start by choosing a brioche bun or a bowl of mixed greens. Next comes the protein: beef, crispy or grilled chicken or a portabella mushroom. Next, customers can choose from five types of cheese and more than 15 condiments and vegetables.

The restaurant offers a unique no mayo chili-lime slaw and a custom Dugg Sauce. It is a Thousand Island base mixed with roasted garlic, capers and shallots.

“One of our employees once described it as being ‘more like Ten Thousand Island dressing’ when he had it the first time,” Spence says.

The name Dugg comes from the unique aspect of the burger. The top of each bun is “dugg” out, so all the toppings stay on the burger. Dugg uses the leftover bun to make its homemade bread pudding.

The first location opened in Casa Linda in 2015.

“We’ve had great success with our original unit in Casa Linda,” Spence says. “We’ve become ‘the neighborhood place’ there and felt that Preston Hollow offered the same opportunity.”

Spence opened a second location in Preston Hollow Village amid the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been challenging to spread the word about the new restaurant, but Dugg modified its system to cater to customers despite restrictions.

“We retooled the operation to focus on delivering food to people’s cars so they could minimize their contact with the outside world,” Spence says. “And of course, we have become maniacally focused on sanitation and safety.”

The restaurant is locally owned and operated and strives to be neighbors in its business areas. The eatery is also a local business supporter.

“We rotate our beer, but right now, we offer Dallas Blonde, Mosaic IPA, Blood & Honey, Shiner Bock and Local Buzz,” Spence says. “We also buy wine from a local producer, Times Ten Cellars. Other local products we buy are our buns from Empire Bakery and ice cream from Henry’s that goes in our hand-spun shakes.”

As for future locations around Dallas: “Nothing on the horizon, but we always have our eyes open for the next Dugg,” Spence says.

Dugg Burger, 9540 Garland Road, 214-584-6261, duggburger.com