Foie gras, Fritos, and beyond

9 insanely over-the-top burgers that will blow your mind

We'll take a big fat juicy burger any day of the week. And though we will never turn our noses up at one simply topped, sometimes we yearn for one that goes above and beyond the expected slice of cheese. Check out these nine unbelievably over-the-top versions at these restaurants:

Carpet Bagger at B&B Butchers
B&B Butchers on Washington Ave. offers a colossal, hard-to-surpass burger, available during lunch (and brunch). The Carpet Bagger ($18) features a deluxe patty, made with filet mignon and dry-aged sirloin, topped with thick-cut bacon, house-made blue cheese dressing, crumbled blue cheese, Cajun-fried oysters, and house-made hot sauce. All on the same burger.
1814 Washington Ave.; 713-862-1814

Party Melt at Better Luck Tomorrow
Cozy Heights neighborhood cocktail bar Better Luck Tomorrow takes the standard cheeseburger to a whole new level with the Party Melt ($12). A brisket-wagyu hamburger patty is covered with onions that have been caramelized for six hours, and crispy hand-grated Parmesan. It’s all served on house-made bread, twice-fried on a griddle. You definitely won't want to miss this one.
544 Yale St.

Terlingua at Hopdoddy
A burger with chili is a big yes in our book, but Hopdoddy ups the ante with the Terlingua ($8.50), piled high not only with chile con carne, but also with Fritos Corn Chips. Cheddar cheese and “sassy” sauce, a mix of horseradish, mustard, and mayonnaise, round out the list of toppings.
Multiple locations.

Ritual at Ritual
The extra-meaty house burger at Ritual restaurant, which shares the restaurant's moniker ($17), is presented with a heaping of tender brisket (tossed in onion demi sauce) atop a prime patty. But it’s the hefty drizzling of blue cheese fondue spiked with Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale that really sets it apart from the pack.
602 Studewood St.; 832-203-5180

Foie Gras at Toulouse Cafe and Bar
French eatery Toulouse in River Oaks District offers an elevated spin with off-menu burger, the Foie Gras ($32). Along with the decadent duck liver, the ultra-flavorful sandwich comes with Gruyere, onion marmalade, and a side of bearnaise sauce.
4444 Westheimer, Ste. E 100; 713-871-0768

Spicy at Burger-Chan
The name says it all: Burger-Chan’s Spicy Burger ($7) comes with a five-ounce ground chuck patty (seared and glazed with umami sauce), pepper jack cheese, and... wait for it… fiery house-made sambal mayonnaise and jalapenos three ways: charred, house pickled, and fresh. Go big with optional toppings of pickled habaneros and dried ground ghost chilies.
3 Greenway Plaza, Food Court; 832-542-3528

The Cooper at FM Kitchen and Bar
At FM Kitchen and Bar near Washington Ave., sink your teeth into souped-up burger, The Cooper ($9.69). A double patty meets smoked slab bacon, griddled tomato, and here's the best part: queso. It all combines for a bite you’ll be thinking about for days.
1112 Shepherd Dr.; 832-804-6006

Hicks at State Fare
State Fare’s unique take on the quintessential American meal, the Hicksburger ($19), starts with a beef patty and Gruyere. From there, the kitchen goes all out, adding hot pastrami, whiskey-grilled onions, and chicken-fried fries, battered and then deep-fried, to the mix. State Fare, you have our attention.
947 Gessner; 832-831-0950

Fajita at The Original Ninfa's on Navigation
Celebs including Martha Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, John Travolta, and Sarah Jessica Parker have hit up The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation for stellar Tex-Mex fare. The east downtown staple also boasts an epic hamburger showcasing the house specialty: the Fajita Burger ($16). The patty is made with ground fajita meat — and stuffed with chopped fajita meat. It’s finished off with grilled red onions, poblano peppers, avocado, chipotle mayo, and a cheesy blend of Jack and Oaxaca cheeses.
2704 Navigation Blvd.; 713-228-1175

Here's a video from our new partners at ABC13:

The Hicksburger at State Fare is topped with chicken-fried fries.

Photo by Julie Soefer

The Hicksburger at State Fare is topped with chicken-fried fries.

burgers

Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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