Mel's Country Cafe   

In case you're training for the next world-class eating competition, you need to know about Mel's Country Cafe, a dive of a restaurant northwest of Houston. Their Mega Mel Burger is a 1 pound monstrosity complete with six beef patties stacked high and layered with -pound of cheese and a full pound of bacon, plus all the trimmings. Those lucky few who are able to finish it by themselves within the two-hour time limit earn a place on Mel's Wall of Fame. For the less adventurous, or perhaps the less hungry, a regular Mel's burger - a half-pounder cooked to your specs - is worth the trip. Other menu items that get raves from regulars include the enormous chicken fried steak and the fried catfish.