Burgers, Vaquero's Barbecue and Other Best Bites from April

Each month, we like to scroll through our photos and look at all the stuff we ate in the past month. Below is a recap of the Observer's food team's favorite finds of the month: specific dishes (and drinks) that we can't stop thinking about. Consider this your game plan for May. 

Vaquero's Texas Bar-B-Q

Pork Burnt Ends

If you missed our first look at the new Allen home of Vaquero's Texas Bar-B-Q, you also missed out on what may be our new barbecue obsession: a Filipino take on pork belly burnt ends. Instead of a rubbed and sauced traditional burnt end, Vaquero's marinates and cooks these Lechon-style until the skin is crispy and packed with flavor. The pork cube is topped with a pineapple and cilantro slaw with crispy chicharrones sprinkled on top. The brisket and ribs may be classics at Vaquero's, but it's creative bites like the pork belly that keep calling us back to Allen for more. - Chris Wolfgang

The Charlotte

Spaghetti and Catfish

We made the mistake of skipping The Charlotte's spaghetti and catfish more than once since the bistro's September opening, mostly due to unfamiliarity with the Deep South classic. Don't be like us. The Charlotte's spaghetti and catfish ($29) is a full-on flavor bomb, so good it'll make you forget the innate urge to let the phone eat first. A cornmeal-battered catfish filet tops a bed of spaghetti drenched in a spicy, savory meat sauce so rich you'll want to drink it. We kept our dignity and packed up the leftovers so we could lick the plate in private. - Desiree Gutierrez

Nirvana Lounge

The Hunan Heatwave

We got a first look at the new Nirvana Lounge at the Toyota Music Factory in April. This spot is a more casual sister concept of the upscale Sanjh, and while the Indo-Asian street fare was bright, spicy and refreshing, we can't stop thinking about the cocktails, all from Ajay Tomer, who is absolutely a mixologist to watch. His take on the old fashioned uses a sandalwood-infused mezcal and a light sandalwood syrup served in a creative form. But the Hunan Heatwave's large frothy dome over a spot-on mix of tequila, lime and cilantro, with a hint of tandoori-roasted pineapple and chili keeps appearing in our dreams at night. It's drinks like this that make us "go out for cocktails." Each option on their 10-drink signature cocktails is just $14. Go get 'em. - Lauren Drewes Daniels

Havana Cafe

Famous Cuban

Don't be fooled by its simple appearance: the famous Cuban sandwich at Havana Cafe is delightful. The sandwich is stacked with double meat in the form of Criollo ham and shredded pork, met with melted Swiss cheese, thick dill pickles and a heaping of mustard, culminating in a savory tanginess in each bite. Each sandwich comes with a sizable serving of french fries, dusted in an equally tangy lemon pepper seasoning. If the taste wasn't enough of a selling point, the meal's $9.50 price tag is. Bonus points if you order on a Friday night, when Havana has live Cumbia music until midnight. - Simon Pruitt

Burger Schmurger

The O'Brien Burger

Last month marked the long-awaited opening of Burger Schmurger, the debut brick-and-mortar location from the storied pop-up. We thoroughly enjoyed tasting several of the restaurant's newly permanent burger offerings on the menu, but the Irish-inspired O'Brien burger was our favorite. With Irish stout beer cheese and a thin layer of horseradish, it's only a matter of time until we're back to order it again. Perhaps Remmick, Jack O'Connell's Irish vampire in Sinners, could've lured our heroes out of Club Juke if he had an O'Brien to offer them instead of eternal life. Food for thought. - Simon Pruitt