The area where The Woodlands and Shenandoah meet on Research Forest Drive has transformed from small strip centers and rows and rows of trees to a completely new area for residents and those passing through on I-45 to stop and grab a bite to eat.
While many of the restaurants in this area are chains, such as Panera Bread, or fast food, drive-through services -- Raising Cane's and Culver's -- there's a new kid on the block that offers All-American food with a hint of sophistication and a whole lot of flavor.
Growing up in The Woodlands, I have come to know and love its many restaurant offerings, especially ones unique to the area. So, after discovering that Fielding's Wood Grill opened in the developing area on Research Forest Drive near The Woodlands Mall, I decided to give the burger joint a chance.
Fielding's is tucked into a brand-new strip center next to a Valero gas station behind a row of trees separating it from the activity of Research Forest Drive near the freeway. It's surrounded by a few vacant spaces, so one can only surmise that the strip center will welcome a few more stores soon.
The second I walked inside, I was hit with the smell of fresh burger patties sizzling on a grill and french fries being dunked into a fryer; I instantly felt as though I were dining at Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen, just two miles down the road, and that's because the general manager, Cary Attar, is the mastermind behind Hubbell & Hudson in The Woodlands. Anyone who has dined in either the bistro or the kitchen at Hubbell & Hudson will recognize a few similarities in the menu style, ordering format and overall feel at Attar's newest concept.
The environment and atmosphere are fitting for the community. The sleek and contemporary furniture sets the bar and grill apart from other burger joints in town, and the low-lit, modern architecture makes it the perfect place for a late-night bite to eat with friends and family, or a great spot to grab a beer with the buds and watch a game or two at the bar.
There's also an iPad bar for customers to surf the Web, chat with friends or play some games. It's as though they took a portion of the Apple Store and placed it smack dab in the middle of the restaurant. During my visit, only one person sat down at the iPad bar, so I'm not sure how often customers will use it, but it is an interesting component.
Just as my fiancé, my dad and I reached the counter to order, we were greeted by a member of the staff who appeared to be a manager, who promptly explained the process for ordering food: Give the sheet of paper with your assigned table number and number of guests to the register, order food, then have a seat.
Everything is counter service until you sit down at your table; from then on, it is table service -- an interesting concept for controlling where people sit. Unfortunately, the only comfortable place to sit is in a booth; the seats on the high-top chairs are quite small; in fact, they are so small that only children can fit. Hanging off a hard metal seat is not an ideal way to enjoy dinner. If they want to clear tables quickly, there is a better way to do it than to force people to sit uncomfortably.