Grab Fuel for the Bike Trail at Growl Grill

At Howler Bike Park (3410 US-65, Walnut Shade), riders come for the trails but stay for the food. Visitors who’ve worked up an appetite love rewarding themselves with a filling meal at Growl Grill, the park’s on-site food truck. Dustin Fox runs the show in the kitchen, and he is one of those rare chefs who can take seemingly lowbrow types of food and make them highbrow. Take the Howler Burger, for example. This delicious concoction features two smash patties and bacon plus American and cheddar cheese on top of potato buns from Neighbor’s Mill Bakery & Café. The grilled onion, jalapeño, shredded lettuce and pickles are the perfect topping combination, but it’s the Howler sauce that really makes the burger so addictive. Fox whips up this riff off fry sauce with chipotle adobos that offer a nice smokey spice. The menu changes seasonally, but this burger is a staple. Each entree comes with chips, but you won’t want to miss out on the fries. We suggest either upgrading your side or splitting the loaded cheese fries with your riding partner. Again, the toppings are 10/10 here, but it’s the toum, which is Lebanese garlic sauce, that makes it a stand-out dish. While it’s impressive what Fox manages to whip up in the pint-sized food truck kitchen, there are plans for a full-service restaurant in the works. Between the food, on-site coffee shop, overnight accommodations and nearly a dozen trails to choose from, Howler Bike Park is certainly a destination.