3 Houston Restaurants to Try This Weekend: May 9

Venture out into the greater Houston area for strawberry mole and cheesecake, a family-friendly barbecue joint with a top-notch burger, and the pie that won chef Gordon Ramsay over

Each week, we’ll provide a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here are four places to check out this weekend in Houston. And if you need ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town.

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For one of the region’s best moles: Belly of the Beast

5200 Farm to Market 2920, Suite #180, Spring

Houston diners are known to travel at least 20 miles north to try the many creations of chef Thomas Bille, who is also a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Texas this year. The menu’s mainstays are captivating enough. Birria quesatacos entice with crispy cheese-laced edges; pork belly and shrimp lettuce wraps give a punch of tom yum flavor; fried empanadas de papas y queso get filled with a rich combination of velvety Comte cheese and mashed potatoes, served with a side of crema and caviar. But Bille knows how to invigorate diners with his seasonal additions. Many fans are anticipating the summer return of Bille’s street corn agnolotti. Still, Bille has some worthy contenders that will make the wait easier, including a stunning spinach artichoke cavatelli reminiscent of a fancy spinach-artichoke dip. The Rohan duck served two ways is distinct, featuring tender seared duck breast and braised duck leg confit complemented by an everything bagel-like seasoning and silky strawberry mole with pickled fennel and salsa seca. Use the side of tortillas, which Bille nixtamalizes in-house, to assemble a taco dripping in mole.

If you have leftovers, you’re in for a treat: Both the duck and mole taste just as good the next day, and can be repurposed in fun dishes (I used my leftover duck mole as the protein base in my ramen). If you can, save room for Bille’s mascarpone cheesecake, which features a crust made from Maria Camesa cookies, a popular Mexican brand of sweets, and a luxurious blueberry compote. You’ll want to lick the plate clean.

For a good burger in a family-friendly space: Feges BBQ

8217 Long Point Road, Spring Branch

If you’re headed to Feges BBQ in Spring Branch, you’re likely going for the smoked meats (its ribs remain exceptional), but other worthy dishes abound. The hefty smoked wings, covered in a sauce of diner’s choice, and the sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts have a following of their own, but the burger might be Feges’s hidden treasure: The simple two-patty situation is layered with melted American cheeses, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato; slathered with Feges’ special Riot sauce; and topped with tangy pickles (a version of the burger also makes an appearance on the kids’ menu). Dining here during the weekend can also be the start of a family-friendly adventure. The barbecue joint is spacious with plenty of larger tables and a small, pig-themed play area outside. You can also stop for a scoop at the nearby Cosmic Ice Cream Co. after, or make it an entire food crawl by popping into the other neighboring restaurants. If you can make it during the week, try to — kids eat free on Wednesdays, with two free children’s meals for every adult order, and Feges offers half-off wine, too (the adults might need it). For other burgers, check out Eater Houston’s newly updated burger map, which includes new details on price points and insider tips.

For the pie that won chef Gordon Ramsay over: The Blind Goat

8145 Long Point Road, Spring Branch

Houston chef Christine Ha, winner of MasterChef’s third season, and her husband opened the first rendition of the Blind Goat in Downtown Houston’s Bravery Chef Hall. The larger, reimagined standalone restaurant in Spring Branch opened in 2023, offering a spread of Vietnamese dishes with some hometown flair. There’s Texas brisket fried rice with chunks of fatty beef, an interesting fish sauce margarita with visible flakes of chile, the sticky wings, and fried dumplings. I had my eye on the pie. The reputation of the Rubbish Apple Pie à la mode precedes it (its menu description reads: “Christine’s famous pie praised by Gordon Ramsay”). This open-faced pie, which is more in tart form, holds a luscious filling of sugary, soft-cooked apples with a Vietnamese twist — a warming combination of spices, including star anise, ginger, and lemongrass. If you’re looking for a dose of fall this spring, this is your dish.