Named after a bridge that once crossed the Brazos River, Koppe Bridge has become a classic burger joint in College Station.

     Opened in 1992 on Wellborn Road, the eatery has since won multiple awards, opened a second location on Harvey Road and has been visited by Former President George H.W. Bush.

     The restaurant’s success is due to its calm environment and simple, yet satisfying menu, according to Andy Wiley, general manager of the Wellborn location.

     “The self-service food and rustic setting are unique,” Wiley said. “There’s not many places around here that have this environment, plus  really good food. Other than that, it’s simple. We don’t have anything extravagant. It’s all homemade, freshly prepared everyday and you get the same quality every day.”

     Wiley said out-of-town customers will drive for hours to get a burger from Koppe Bridge and the restaurant also is visited by familiar faces every day.

     “We’ve got people that will come from Houston just to eat at Koppe Bridge,” Wiley said. “There are a lot of regulars too. Each day, there are a few sets of couples that come here for their weekly tradition.”

     One of the regular couples is Bob and Linda Whitson, Class of 1975 and 1974, respectively.

     “When we want a hamburger, this is where we come,” Bob Whitson said. “We just like the atmosphere here. It makes us feel good.”

    As the couple recounted their experiences at the restaurant, Bob Whitson described his hamburger with admiration.

    “Look at that guy,” Bob Whitson said. “Perfect meat. It’s got lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. Lots of french fries. Why wouldn’t anybody who loves hamburgers not come here and want to eat this?”

     Randall McCartney, Class of 2004, is a weekly guest at Koppe Bridge and said the award-winning burger makes him look forward to his visit each time.

     “I always get the cheeseburger,” McCartney said. “It’s got a great flavor and everything about it is good. The size of it is great. If you get the half-pound burger, it’s not going to let you down.”

     Jeston Texeira, Class of 2017, said Koppe Bridge is a great place to meet up with his friends.

     “It’s pretty chill here,” Texeira said. “I like it because it’s never super crowded. You can sit down easily. The people behind the counter are always nice, too. I just really like the food and the atmosphere here.”

     McCartney said visiting Koppe Bridge is truly a worthwhile experience.

     “You won’t leave empty-handed,” McCartney said. “Basically, I come here because the people are friendly, the environment is laid-back and I just enjoy the food.”