Hamburger Day is reason to celebrate
Saturday is National Hamburger Day.
Yes, those faux holidays are silly, but it’s a good excuse for having a burger.
Here are a couple off-the-radar spots for, as Guy Fieri would say, off-the-hook burgers:
• The 4-year-old sports bar Little J’s has a solid lineup of burgers. The Mushroom & Provolone Burger ($12) is constructed with rosemary/lemon aioli, arugula and basil tomatoes. Paired with a generous side of fries ($2), it’s a delicious mess of a meal.
The bar also serves award-winning tacos. Its grilled pork tacos with black bean hummus, pickled red onion and jalapeño cream recently took both the judges’ and the people’s choice trophy at the fifth annual Two Saints and a Taco Tasting. The event, a fundraiser held at Saint Arnold Brewing Co., included taco titans such as El Tiempo, Berryhill and Escalante’s.
Little J’s opens at 11 daily for lunch, and brunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the weekends. Tuesday is Steak Night, and on Wednesday nights, the Geeks Who Drink drop by for trivia.
5306 Washington, 832831-5015
• Just 4 months old, Howie’s Tiki is a tropical oasis — complete with tiny pastel umbrellas and pina coladas — plopped down in Spring. While not extensive, the menu is exciting: sautéed lobster rolls, conch fritters and baby-back ribs slathered with a blackberry barbecue sauce.
If you can resist those, go for the Banzai Burger. A half-pound 44 Farm Angus patty is augmented with grilled onion, grilled pineapple, cheddar cheese and a sweet teriyaki glaze.
Howie’s also serves more than three dozen classic and modern tiki drinks, including Singapore Sling, Planters Punch and the ominous Walk of Shame (two rums, raspberry liquor, pineapple and lemon).
Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. weekdays, 2-7 p.m. Saturday and all day Sunday. 4334 FM-2920, Spring; 832- 299-6991
Openings
• King’s Court
Bar & Kitchen has opened next door to Compass Stadium. The contemporary sports bar includes a rooftop patio and a menu with British/Indian pub fare, including bangers and mash, chicken tikka and butter chicken. 903 Hutchins, 281-974-3496 • Henderson Heights has moved into the neardowntown house that was Big Eyed Fish. The pub boasts a full bar, an expansive dog-friendly patio and a burger- and pizza-centric menu. 908 Henderson, 713-714-8367
• Express Rolls ,a Houston-born chain specializing in grab-andgo sushi, summer rolls and other Asian fare, has opened its seventh store in Cy-Fair. The cafe will celebrate its grand opening June 2 by taking 50 percent off all menu items all day. 19865 U.S. 290, 281-809-6094
• The Cheese Bar, a combination cafe and cheese shop, has opened in Cypress. In addition to offering more than 50 artisan cheeses and charcuterie, the store serves Karbach beer and wines by the glass and bottle. Salads and soup are available, but the stars here are the signature sandwiches, which include the French Onion Beef Dip and the Prosciutto Fig and Goat (with Texas-made chevre). 9945 Barker Cypress, in Cypress; 281-245-0909 • Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza has opened in the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Located in Terminal A between gates A1-A15, the California-based pizza chain offers custom pizzas, created Subwaystyle, for about $8. 2800 N. Terminal A, 281-2333321
• Columbus, Ohiobased chain Piada will open its third Houston-area store at Vintage Park. The chain specializes in freshly made Italian street fare, such as tascas (sandwiches on thincrust bread) and chopped salads. 10420 Louetta, 832-761-0997