Burger & Barrel

"You know what happens when a chef at a popular seafood restaurant wins Food & Wine Festival’s Burger Bash? Naturally, said chef opens his own burger joint. Burger & Barrel is the burger establishment from Lure Fishbar chef Josh Capon. Capon took the burger crown in 2009 and has since been serving it on Lure's menu. When demand for the "Bash Burger" became overwhelming, expansion was the obvious move. Burger & Barrel was the result. When we first saw the photos of this place, we collectively rolled our eyes. Wine glasses and perfectly folded napkins on the table at something they're calling a "winepub?" Let's just say we were skeptical. But the joke is on us for judging a book by its cover. B&B is a serious burger joint, even though it happens to be slightly upscale. The burgers are all excellent, and the menu is stocked with all kinds of goodness including an awesome Sloppy Joe burger, the "Hush-Hush" (not on the menu), a very expensive truffle burger, a bunch of tasty apps and, the biggest surprise, one incredible plate of fried chicken. But what you really want is that Bash Burger. That thing didn't win an award for nothing. What award, we're not exactly sure. But it's very prestigious. Food Rundown Braised Short Rib Tacos Really good, but a little on the expensive side. Two small tacos for ten bucks? Up that ante to three tacos for ten bucks, and we’re in business. Oh and don’t order these if you don’t like spicy, as these tacos pack some heat. Chicken Lollipops These were a big hit - the smokey ancho chile BBQ sauce does it up real nice. B&B needs to make actual buffalo wings too, in the same sauce and deliver to my apartment in the East Village please. I’d order them every Sunday for football. Bash Style Burger Not too big and not too small, the burgers here are perfectly sized. The fourteen dollar Bash Burger is all kinds of juicy and served on a really nice brioche bun with caramelized onion, bacon jam (YES), pickles and American cheese. It’s incredible. Make sure you ask for the secret sauce with it too. Sloppy Josh A Sloppy Joe burger of the highest order, served with special sauce and cole slaw. Do it. Fried Chicken We were expecting an amazing burger, which we got. We weren’t expecting equally incredible fried chicken too. Wow, this stuff is up there with some of our favorites. Also worth noting, it's actually Cornish hen instead of chicken. Fries/Onion Rings Onion Rings come standard on top of every burger, which always scores a few points in our book. These rings are excellent. Also, we'd suggest going sweet potato fries over regular fries." - Andrew Steinthal

"While Burger Bodega might resemble a millennial-smashburger fever dream, it actually pays a specific homage to the iconic bodegas around New York City, many of which are owned and operated by immigrants. But this is Texas. So Burger Bodega in Rice Military blends NYC bodega culture with Houston hip-hop, art, and our dedication to plastering the numbers 713 on just about everything—and then dresses it all in a spicy aioli. There are only five things on the menu—three of them are versions of fries, one is a smash burger, and one is a chopped cheese—and all of them are nostalgic and satisfying.  The smash burgers are surrounded by a caramelized lace of beef and smothered in house aioli, or bodega sauce. Addictive fries get dressed with grilled onions and melty cheese. There’s also a sauced-up chopped cheese, which, for the uninitiated, is a couple of chopped beef patties inside a hero roll with cheese and vegetables smothered in aioli. (We’ll take two.) The nostalgia vibes run deep here, with artistically reproduced corner store household products—think facsimiles of laundry soap or cereal—displayed art-installation style, which initially feels a little corny. But after a few bites of the food or a couple sips of a mango lassi or Vietnamese coffee milkshake, you don’t really care what the inside looks like. Drop in with your friend or bring the whole family, hang out on the rooftop patio, or, in true bodega style, just take everything to go. photo credit: Richard Casteel Food Rundown photo credit: Richard Casteel Smash Burger A certain fast food chain from New York City should try this smashburger, because it's, like, way better than theirs. The edges of each patty are wafer thin and crispy with a hint of griddle smoke, and the mayo-like bodega sauce melds together with cheese and grilled onions. And the dense but soft potato bun supports the double stack without getting soggy. photo credit: Richard Casteel Chopped Cheese The chopped cheese was invented or evolved in a New York bodega, so the inclusion on Burger Bodega’s menu is a no brainer. Wrapped in a hero roll and oozing with bodega sauce and American cheese, the chopped cheese is an instant classic. And yes, you should make it spicy. This serendipitous mash up of an iconic American sandwich cross-pollinated deliciously with another culture makes you wonder why there aren’t more chopped cheeses around Houston. photo credit: Richard Casteel Chopped (& Screwed) Fries While we’re not sure how DJ Screw would feel about the name, we do agree these fries force you to slow down and enjoy every crispy piece of chopped beef or each sliver of grilled bell pepper. The cheese sauce is so stupid good, we kind of want to pour it on the burger. photo credit: Richard Casteel Shakes A classic burger establishment really isn’t complete without a selection of milkshakes. While Burger Bodega has classic flavors, they also infuse a little more Houston into the menu with the inclusion of the tropical and fresh Mango Lassi and the sweet, caramel-like Vietnamese Coffee." - Chelsea Thomas