Following on the heels of the smashing success of SmashBurger, the California-based The Counter burger chain has Houston in its sights.
The Counter's concept features a design-your-own burger menu that's filled out by the customer. Options go far beyond the usual burger joint, with ten different cheeses, 28 different toppings, 18 different sauces, and three bun choices, totaling over 312,000 different combinations.
Denver's Magazine named The Counter among Denver's best new restaurants for 2008.
In an unrelated article, the Houston Business journal mentioned that Smashburger, the Denver-based chain, is scouting sites in the Woodlands, Memorial, and Sugar Land areas.
Smashburger opened its first Houston location near S. Main and Kirby to rave reviews.
Here is our list of Houston's Best Burgers (January 2009 edition)
10. Barnaby's (Montrose)
9. The Tavern (W Gray)
8. Mel's Cafe (Tomball)
7. 2-M's (Rosenberg)
6. Beck's Prime (multiple locations)
5. Jasper's (Woodlands)
4. Farrago (Midtown)
3. Smashburger (Reliant)
2. CJ's Cafe (Woodlands)
1. Christian's Totem (I-10 W, ITL)
A newcomer to town jumps on the list - Smashburger, the Denver-based chain, bumping Jax Grill out of the top 10.
Someburger is the classic walk-up hamburger stand that's miraculously survived into the 21st century.
It's another blast from the past: Old-school thin-patty hamburgers, lovingly prepared on a classic flat griddle. All the usual toppings are available, and they're fresh and tasty.
The staff at Someburger are great; many have been there for years. These folks know burgers, and take pride in what they do. And it shows.
Sides are quite good: Best are the onion rings, which are fried properly, only slightly greasy, and have a nice snap to them.
There's no dining room, but there are a handful of picnic tables outside the hamburger stand. Many folks choose to eat in their vehicles, especially during a hot Houston summer.
By today's standards, the burgers are downright cheap. $6 buys a burger, fries, and a Coke, and a slice of Texas history to boot.
Someburger is another place that every Houston burger lover needs to try for himself. I'll bet you go back again and again.
Someburger: 745 E 11th St, Houston, 77008, 713-862-0019
This, my friends, is a serious burger.
This unassuming Texas icehouse, located on I-10 inside the Loop, has been grilling a spectacular burger for years. It's arguably the best in Houston.
A great burger starts with the meat, and Christian's is superb. It's moist and tender, but not dripping with grease... the ooze factor is just about perfect. The meat has a nice char-grilled flavor, and it's complemented by wonderful fresh vegetables. The bun is browned on the grill; nothing fancy, but it completes the burger with zen-line balance.
This is a big burger. The single fills me up easily; the double should be reserved for professional athletes who are breaking training.
Christian's doesn't skimp on the fries, either. They're well-cooked, crisp on the outside and tender inside; again, just right.
If you're a burger fan, and haven't tried Christian's, go right now. We'll wait 'till you get back and tell us about it.
Christian's Totem: 7340 Washington Ave, Houston, 77007, 713-864-9744
I like burgers. I love good burgers. I adore great burgers. When I heard about Smashburger, I said to myself, "Self, another foreign (i.e. from out of Texas) burger chain has invaded Houston. Maybe it'll be OK, but I don't have high hopes. It's a chain, so it's going to be lame."
I was dead wrong.
Smashburger makes an excellent hamburger. It starts with a hand-formed patty (1/2 pound in this case) smashed fairly flat. It's topped with a slice of thickish American cheese, and remarkably fresh veggies -- we're talking truly crisp here. The assembled product is perched atop a fresh eggy bun, and the burger hangs over the bun about 3/4" on all sides.
Interestingly enough, this burger doesn't come across at all as an upscale burger. It's more of a traditional, down-home griddled burger, but prepared with remarkable balance and attention to detail.
How's it taste? Superb. The beef is griddled expertly, with plenty of ooze left. The cheese/beef combination approaches the Golden Mean; the combined flavor was about as dead-on as could be. The super fresh veggies added their flavors to the mix, but everything stayed distinct.
Christian's Totem, Beck's Prime, and the rest of the top notch burger joints in town now have a new, serious competitor. I'd have to give Beck's a slight edge for more flavorful meat (the mesquite taste is excellent) but Smashburger nails the beef/cheese ratio and the combined flavor is really excellent. I think this is the best chain burger in town. I still have to give the overall edge to Christian's Totem... but the mediocre experience that is Christian's Tailgate in Midtown demonstrates just how impressive Smashburger's consistent approach really is.
There may be better burgers in Houston, but I'd not fault anyone for naming Smashburger as his favorite.
(Update: A friend pointed out that I'd not mentioned the fries, and that is a mistake that should be corrected. The Smashfries are unique and delicious. It's cone of paper (artfully presented in an iron holder) filled with thinish, machine-cut fries, probably thawed and fried. The magic is in the execution: They're fried perfectly; crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and then seasoned with rosemary, olive oil, and sea salt. Very unique, and a wonderful counterpoint to the great burger.)
The biggest fault? The location. They're at Kirby and S. Main. Although I do see property values rising in that neighborhood now.
When's that Woodlands location opening?
UPDATE Spring 2017: Howie's has changed their food program. And not for the better. The cocktails remain phenomenal, but the food is merely average for a bar.
One of our biggest complaints about living in the Woodlands is the lack of great nightlife. Sure, there are a handful of good choices, but the area isn't exactly overflowing with interesting places to go at night.
Our curiosity was piqued by rumors of a new spot on 2920, just south of the Woodlands. Not just a new bar. A new Tiki Bar. Called Howie's Tiki, it is the brainchild of Mark Voros, a hospitality industry veteran and a big fan of Tiki culture.
Tiki bars are a part of the American bar landscape that seem to keep being reborn every generation, and we find them to be interesting, entertaining, and a break from the typical.
We stopped in one night, sampled a couple of the tropical drinks, and had to pick up food from a local fast food joint because they were still working on the menu. (Pro Tip: Jack in the Box egg rolls go well with rum drinks.) As much as we enjoyed this eclectic combination, we were looking forward to the rollout of the menu at Howie's Tiki, because the bar has a full kitchen, and Voros is a guy who is as passionate about his food as he is about his rum.
We were excited to get a message from him a week later. "We're ready to roll out lunch. Come try it."
These are some of my favorite words, especially from the proprietor of a place as unique as Howie's Tiki. So we hopped into the car, and made a quick trip down Gosling from the Woodlands. Within 10 minutes we were rolling into Howie's Tiki.
We exchanged greetings with Mark, and he made some suggestions for items to try. He zipped back into the kitchen, and a few minutes later the chef emerged.
He presented their signature salad, a tropical mix of citrus fruits, pineapple, and onion accented with feta cheese and served over cold kale. Nicely dressed with a light citrus glaze (we detected a hint of agave) it was one of the better kale salads we'd sampled. The brightness of the fruit and the glaze offset the slight bitterness of the kale, and the result was a clean plate in a matter of minutes. This is a salad I would gladly order again.
Next up was something I'd been eagerly anticipating, the Banzai Burger. It turns out that Mark and I share a passion for burgers, and he joked that he opened a bar so he could serve his own bar burger.
Mark specs 44 Farms natural angus beef, in a 1/2 pound patty. It's topped with a slice of melty cheddar cheese, onion, a slice of roast pineapple, and finished with their housemade teriyaki glaze. Oh joy. Another teriyaki burger, I grumped.
After my first bite, my grumpiness turned to something different. This was a great teriyaki burger... and a superb burger of any kind. The sweetness of the teriyaki glaze was mild, controlled, and well balanced with the tang of the pineapple, the sharp bite of onion, the richness of the cheddar, and the juicy, beefy swagger of the 44 Farms patty, cooked perfectly medium rare. The result was an expertly balanced, interesting burger that highlighted each of its ingredients and melded them into a delicious combination. If you love burgers, you need to try this one.
After the glorious burger, we tried the beef tenderloin kabob. Nicely thick chunks of beef tenderloin are broiled to medium rare, glazed, and skewered with pineapple, red peppers, and onion. The result is a better-than-average kabob that satisfies a craving for meat.
As we were packing up, Voros brought out one final dish - his house fried rice. Fried to order and dressed with Canadian bacon, this subtle creation is a good counterpart to some of the bolder dishes on the menu.
We were excited to learn of the opening of Howie's Tiki, bringing an authentic dose of Tiki life to the Tiki-less wasteland north of Houston. Now we're doubly excited by the promising food coming out of the kitchen, especially the superb burger that represents Mark Voros's take on what a burger should be.
The man knows his burgers. You should get to know them, too.
Howie's Tiki | 4334 Farm to Market Rd 2920, Spring, TX 77388 | (832) 299-6991
Sawdust Road just south of the Woodlands is home to dozens of small restaurants. Most are forgettable, but there are a few gems, like Hello Taco, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, and The Olive Oil.
New on the strip is The Omega Grill, an upscale casual American concept from the people behind The Olive Oil. Taking over the physical space that was a succession of two-letter grills (JP's, PJ's, etc.) the former faux 50’s diner space has been transformed.
The new space is comfortable, contemporary, and inviting.
In the kitchen, Hubbell & Hudson Bistro alum Jason Bielefeldt is creating his take on American comfort food favorites, including pork chops, chicken-fried steaks, hot dogs, and a burger made with 44 Farms beef
Our quick lunch at The Omega Grill was fresh and tasty. The new kitchen is finding its groove, and new menu items are being rolled out on a regular basis
We're excited to return and sample more of Chef Jason's menu.
Omega Grill | 399 Sawdust Road | The Woodlands 77380 | 832-299-6665
Cary Attar is a man you should know if you enjoy great food in the Woodlands. He created Hubbell & Hudson Bistro, considered by many to be the finest restaurant in the Woodlands area, and one of the best in Houston. His Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen concept elevated fast casual dining, bringing an attention to detail that is often sorely lacking in the genre.
More recently, Cary created Fielding's Wood Grille, which quickly earned a reputation as one of the Woodland's premiere dining destinations. The focus on locally sourced ingredients and classic French technique applied to elevated comfort food won over the Woodlands locals. Fielding's burger's are among the best in the Woodlands, and their cocktail program is the benchmark by which others are measure.
His latest creation, Fielding's Local, is set to open soon in the Creekside Park village center. We stopped in to get a sneak preview of Cary's latest creation.
Stepping into the restaurant, we were taken by the bright, airy interior. The dining room and bar areas are surrounded by glass, looking over the lovely Creekside Park village center grounds.
Thoughtful, modern touches abound - each table has power and USB, allowing digital savants to recharge their devices while they refuel their bodies.
The bar area is airy and open, and the signature Fielding's cocktail program is in full effect, along with, 18 beers on tap. The well edited 100 bottle wine list is supplemented by 20 choices by the glass.
Scotch is a focus at the bar at Fielding's Local, with an impressive lineup of bottles. If you're a scotch fan, you're going to enjoy working your way through the collection.
And as always, the craft cocktail program is second to none in the area. We sampled the Dragon's Breath, featuring Herman Marshall whiskey, St. Germaine, crushed lime juice, and smoke, poured over a single cube from Fielding's Ice Program. Yes, Fielding's has an ice program, and we expect this unique idea to spread throughout the area.
The kitchen at Fielding's Local is open, spacious, and stocked with state-of-the-art equipment. No expense has been spared.
All of this leads up to the centerpiece of this new restaurant: The food. We sampled several items at this sneak preview; Fielding's was generous enough to invite us over as their guest. Since this was a pre-opening runthrough, we won't be critically evaulating the dishes, but we will point out highlghts.
Hammond Farms goat cheese, with charred avocado, Colinas De Garzon EVOO, house made fennel crisps. Smooth, creamy, with a hint of sweetness. One of the mildest goat cheeses we've tasted; we see it having broad appeal, even to those who don't typically like goat cheese.
Fingerling potatoes, served in a tiny iron rammekin. Perfectly cooked. A simple side executed very well; it speaks to the attention to detail that is a halmark of all of Cary Attar's restaurants.
44 Farms filet mignon. Nicely seared, rare center (as ordered), supremely tender. Fielding's knows how to handle high quality meat, and it shows here.
Dessert: Coconut rice tamale. Jasmine rice, pina colada sauce, mango habanero salsa. Superb dessert; sweet, light, tropical, with a subtle kick from the habanero. Perhaps the perfect Texas summer dessert. Do not miss this.
We've been fans of Cary Attar's restaurants for years, and with Fielding's Local, he has created another exciting concept. From the beautiful setting to the interesting, creative cuisine, we look forward to returning and sampling more from this exciting new restaurant.
Fielding's Local | Creekside Park Village Center | 26400 Kuykendahl Road 77375 | 281-352-2225
Bernie's Backyard opened today to a throng of hungry guests ready to check out North Houston's first food truck park. Located on the Northbound I-45 feeder between FM 2920 and the Grand Parkway, Bernie's hosts several popular food trucks in a modern, comfortable facility. Covered outdoor dining in a large pavilion, and an indoor, air conditioned bar area (beer and wine only) complete the complex.
Bernie's opened with a good range of popular food trucks, offering a variety of foods:
BBQ Godfather - South Texas BBQ from the award-winning pitmaster.
Black Garlic - Gourmet burgers and fries.
Rustica - Italian offerings from the team behind the Lasagna House.
Gogi Paradise - Unique Korean-influenced comfort food. Tacos, burgers, and more.
Love Me Tenders - Specializing in chicken tenders.
The Naked Fry - Serving a variety of fries, both naked and not.
Buzzles - Purveyors of shaved ice, including New Orleans-style with creamy toppings.
Bernie's opens at 11am daily, and closes at 9pm.
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We're live on opening day at Bernie's Backyard, the new food truck park on I-45 in Spring.
BBQ Godfather, Black Garlic, Rustica, Gogi Paradise, Love Me Tenders, Buzzles, and The Naked Fry are lined up for the opening.
Members of the Woodlands Area Foodies group are in attendance for the event.
  