The Woodlands already has a destination-worthy burger spot in Hubbell & Hudson, but the rapidly expanding suburb can surely support more than one high-end burger joint. At least, that's what former Hubbell & Hudson partners Cary Attar and Edel Goncalves are hoping with their new restaurant Fielding's Wood Grill.
The menu features seven burgers that utilize Black Angus beef from Texas producer 44 Farms, but there are plenty of other options, including patties made from shrimp, bison and vegetables. Those can be paired with fries, onion rings and milkshakes. It's all set in an attractive dining room with a variety of seating options. There are booths, tall tables, a full bar and the eye catching iPad bar that provides patrons with the opportunity to do a little reading while they eat.
A commitment to serving high quality ingredients extends beyond buying good beef. The restaurant makes everything in house.
Diners are greeted when they enter and assigned a table. Order at the counter, get a soft drink and then take a seat. A server delivers the orders to each table and will take care of refills. Those who've dined at Pappas Burger should be familiar with the process, although the hybrid counter/server arraignment might seem cumbersome.
Fielding's commitment to serving high quality ingredients extends beyond buying good beef. The restaurant makes everything in house. It cures bacon, bakes buns, grinds beef, cuts potatoes and spins ice cream to provide fresh products and unusual flavors. Onion rings come crusted with sesame seeds, for example, and there are a variety of sauces available for dipping.
In what looks to be a new trend, the extensive milkshake menu offers both traditional and alcohol-enhanced versions.
I stopped by last week to sample some of the items on the menu: A wood grill burger with bacon and cheddar, onion rings and a chocolate milkshake. Despite the patty not being as thick as at places like The Burger Guys or Bernie's Burger Bus, it had a lot of beefy flavor and produced an appropriate amount of drippage. Onion rings could have been a little crisper, but the sesame seeds enhanced the onion's natural sweetness.
My milkshake was pretty tasty, but my friend's that blended ice cream with a stout was a revelation: Smooth and creamy, with the chocolate enhancing the beer's flavors.
Does it require editing the definitive list of Houston's Top 10 burgers? Not yet.
But Fielding's is a must-try for anyone who lives or works in The Woodlands. For only being open a month, that's pretty good.
Wood grill burger with bacon and cheese
