Photo: Juliana Workman

Sliders, those mini burgers, have been around in America since the 1920s. And yes, it was White Castle, founded in 1921in Kansas, that popularized them. (Side note: Texas will see it’s first White Castle this summer when one opens in the North Texas suburb of The Colony, according to the Dallas Morning News.) And while everything is bigger in Texas, what with the intense diet and weight loss trend today, downsizing portions has become more popular.

And now, the district has a new slider shop. Founded by owner Rasheed Refaey, he says Slip Sliders was created with the vision of offering more than just a meal. It’s a destination where friends, families and neighbors can gather over creative takes on the classic slider. The 1,467-square-foot space features 12 seats and 10 barstools, with outdoor seating to come, for people watching.

“At Slip Sliders, we’re passionate about doing things the right way,” said Refaey. “From freshly ground beef chuck loins to house-made sauces prepared daily, our goal is to create sliders that satisfy everyone who craves a good burger. Houston is a city that loves food, and we’re excited to offer a fun, approachable spot where people can gather and enjoy quality flavors.”

Rasheed, a Houstonian with a history of assisting in the opening of standout restaurants like Le Colonial and Houston’s, chose the Museum District because he loves the area, and the building was in a great location, right near Hermann Park.

The official grand opening was in late January when they offered free sliders and a promotion to let visitors vote on the February Slider of the Month, with fan-favorite menu items like The Hickory Dickory and Shrimp Shack Sliders. Portions of the weekend sales were donated to their neighbor the Children’s Museum Houston.

Photo: Juliana Workman

Slip Sliders bite-size burgers are juicy handmade patties, with gourmet cheeses. The shop also offers chicken tenders, fries and onion rings, and fried pickles. There’s even a couple of salads on the menu!

And just in case you’ve ever wondered why they’re called sliders, food historian George Motz had this to say:

“There are two stories about the history of the word ‘slider,’ both from White Castle. One is that they’re so small they slide down your throat—that’s the obvious choice. The other choice, which I like better, is that in the old days, White Castle was sort of like a show. You’d walk in and there would be two or three men behind the counter in white paper caps and clean white aprons on. They’d greet you when you came in, it was sort of a fun, happy environment. And if you were sitting at the counter, they would make your burger – everything was served on porcelain – and they would slide the burger down the counter to you. That’s how they became known as sliders. White Castle likes both stories; they haven’t picked a favorite.^”

Slip Sliders
1802 Binz St, Suite 121, Houston, TX 77004
713.714.8177

by Marene Gustin