Grub Kitchen and Bar has reopened its Katy restaurant. Situated directly off I-10 at 19143 Katy Fwy, this location of the Texas-based craft burger chain has been closed for the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in College Station in 2012, the restaurant is known for its well-priced and creative burgers, along with handcrafted and booze-optional milkshakes. In less than a decade of operation, Grub has expanded into five states, including California and Florida. Houston Food Finder was invited to the pre-opening event to get a look at the space and a taste of the menu.

The main focus of Grub’s menu is its selection of a dozen burgers. The menu includes classics such as Front Porch, which comes with the traditional toppings of lettuce, tomato, mayo and mustard and Bacon Love #9, which adds a secret sauce to the equation. Grub also offers a few over-the-top burgers like the Cadillac Wagyu topped with Swiss cheese, garlic aioli, spinach, grilled tomatoes and French-fried onions, and the Mac N’ CheeseBurger topped with mac n’ cheese, bacon and cheese sauce.

We started with the massive Lockhart Legend, which comes topped with applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce, onion rings and dill pickles for $9. Ours arrived well done, so we suggest specifying your preferred temperature when ordering. Despite being dry, it was easy to tell that the ingredients were chosen with quality in mind. 

Next up was the quirky Voodoo Mushroom burger, which arrived at a nice and juicy medium. It is served with absinthe-sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese and Tabasco mayo. Despite its presence in the cooking process, the absinthe is overshadowed by the mushrooms and Tabasco, making it palate-friendly for those wary of the anise-flavored spirit. 

With so much variety, most guests will find something they like. There’s something for vegetarians, too. The Maverick Beyond Burger, made with plant-based protein, is topped with roasted garlic aioli, tomato, spinach, Swiss cheese and French fried onions. Non-burger selections include chicken tenders, a grilled chicken sandwich and salads.

The snacks and sides section of the menu list all the classics. Choose from French fries, waffle-cut sweet potato fries, onion rings and chicken wings. Grub has also added mac n’ cheese and Brussels sprouts with barbecue sauce.

To go along with the food, Grub has a full bar and soft drinks, plus a large selection of milkshakes, both traditional and booze-spiked.

Despite a few execution missteps, Grub Kitchen and Bar is a good value — and a great choice for picky eaters.

Grub Kitchen and Bar’s hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Ryan Kasey Baker