Pizza at non-pizzerias in Houston
Sometimes you don’t want to partake in a full meal and a pizza with nice glass of wine or two, or a quality beer, seems to make a lot of sense. A lot of restaurants can oblige these days. Not surprisingly, most of these are all Italian-themed. Even though it is now really more American than Italian, pizza still sports a vowel at the end of the name, and many restaurateurs are quick to reclaim its Italian heritage, even if they were born nowhere near Naples (or Italy). The pizza oven also provides a dramatic addition to the décor, and everyone loves pizza. Restaurant pizzas – as opposed to pizzeria or pizza joint pizzas – are always meant to individually sized, though well-suited to sharing, too.
Amalfi – Briargrove – 6100 Westheimer (between Fountain View and Voss), 77057, (713) 532-2201 – Run by an experienced and skilled chef, Giancarlo Ferrara originally from Salerno, down the coast from Naples, you can expect that the traditional style pizzas will be good, and they are.
Arcodoro – Galleria – 5000 Westheimer (at Post Oak), 77056, (713) 621-6888 – From a proper wood-burning oven, and a chef actually from near Naples, the pizzas at this upscale Italian restaurant are what you will find at a very good pizzeria in southern Italy, though probably prepared somewhat more artfully here. Two unusual and very good offerings take their cue from the owner’s Sardinian homeland. One features roasted eggplant mouse, dollops of goat cheese, shavings of hard Pecorino cheese and several drops of bitter honey. The other has clams, fava beans, white onions, and gratings of pressed fish roe. The individually sized pizzas are about $15 each.
Cafe Pita+ – West Houston – 10852 Westheimer, 77042, (713) 581-8261 – This humble and friendly Bosnian restaurant is an absolutely terrific value and their individually sized pizzas are quite tasty. There is no alcohol, but you can bring your own in without a corkage fee.
Carrabba’s – Upper Kirby, Galleria – 3115 Kirby (between Richmond and West Alabama), 77098, (713) 522-3131, and 1399 South Voss (at Woodway), 77057, (713) 468-0868 – Carrabba’s exuberant pizzas are not traditional in any sense – a little thicker than most and certainly American, and tasty – but the robust flavors win over most, even the occasional New York transplant. The ones at the original location on Kirby are among the best in the city on a good night.
Ciao Bello – Galleria – 5161 San Felipe (just east of Sage), 77056, (713) 960-0333 – Their Vallone-style, very thin-crust pizzas – similar in style to those you find in Rome – are topped with several appealing combinations like: prosciutto and arugula, sausage and peppers, porcini with béchamel and mozzarella, and pancetta and Brussels sprouts.
Coltivare – Heights – 3220 White Oak (east of Heights), 77007, (713) 637-4095 - Also sporting an Italian name, but more accurately described as Italian-inspired rather than Italian, this Heights hotspot has struck a chord with local restaurant-goers since it opened in January with its style of garden-fresh fare in a vibrant, comfortable setting. Arguably the most consistently enjoyable items on the menu are the pizzas. Produced in a wood-fired oven, the pizzas feature a thick and airy, almost bread-like dough that is distinctive and flavorful. Aside from a version of the traditional margherita, the topping combinations used for the pizzas are bit unusual, but seem to work. A version featuring caperberries, cured anchovies and feta - the kitchen really likes salt - and the potato pizza certainly do. With slices of Yukon gold potatoes, oyster mushrooms, rosemary and nearly indistinguishable taleggio cheese, the potato pie is very enjoyable and not heavy as the combination might suggest.
Coppa Osteria – Rice Village – 5210 Morningside (at Dunstan), 77005, (713) 522-3535 - Another contemporary Americanized Italian, this is also known for its pizzas. Thin-crust and Italianate in construction, these pizzas are generally light and feature a crisp and fairly flavorful crust and noticeably good quality ingredients available in ten different Italian-inspired combinations, plus the chance to add some additional protein in the form of an egg or cured ham. These attractive pies are a perfect complement to the breezy and inviting yet somewhat upscale setting, especially the sprawling patio. Sometimes you don’t want to partake in a full meal and a pizza with nice glass of wine or two, or a quality beer, seems to make a lot of sense. A lot of restaurants can oblige these days. Not surprisingly, most of these are all Italian-themed. Even though it is now really more American than Italian, pizza still sports a vowel at the end of the name, and many restaurateurs are quick to reclaim its Italian heritage, even if they were born nowhere near Naples (or Italy). The pizza oven also provides a dramatic addition to the décor, and everyone loves pizza. Restaurant pizzas – as opposed to pizzeria or pizza joint pizzas – are always meant for solo consumption.
Grotto – Galleria – 4715 Westheimer (just inside Loop 610), 77027, (713) 622-3663 – The kitchen might not quite be up to the level it was during its mid-1990s heyday, but the individual-sized Italian-style pizzas are excellent, befitting the “Cucina Napoletana” moniker. The crispy, thin Roman-style crusts – slightly different from their Neapolitan progenitors – are topped with the proper amount of high quality and fresh ingredients and taste like those from a quality pizzeria in the Eternal City.
La Griglia – River Oaks – 2002 West Gray (just east of Shepherd), 77019, (713) 526-4700 – Boisterous and stylish, that this former Vallone outpost serves excellent Italian-style pizza is probably overlooked by many, but the long-time patrons. Thin, crispy and flavorful crusts host the traditional Neapolitan Margherita, the standard American pepperoni, excellent sausage and roasted red and yellow peppers, plus the more fanciful, but very appropriate shrimp and pesto, and roasted chicken toppings.
La Vista – Galleria – 1936 Fountainview (between San Felipe and Westheimer), (713) 787-9899, 77057 – The mostly thin-crust pizzas here are tossed by hand and cooked in a brick oven. The range of toppings is fairly large and unusual (smoked eggplant, marinated tomatoes, caramelized onions). The individual-sized pizzas are a meal for just $11. There is a small wine list, but BYOB is welcome. There is a second location in west Houston.
Palazzo’s – Galleria, Westchase – 2620 Briar Ridge (just north of Westheimer, between Fountainview and Hillcroft), 77057, (713) 784-8110 and 10455 Briar Forest (at the Beltway), 77042, (713) 785-8800 – The dough is made daily, and the ingredients are noticeably high quality here. Their style seems to be a cross between typical American thin-crust and thinner ones found in Italy. Of the ten or so standard pizzas, especially tasty is the Athena that is topped with pepperoni, roma tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese and black olives. The range of available additional toppings is fairly wide-ranging, which includes, for some reason, fat-free mozzarella.
The Pass & Provisions – Montrose – 807 Taft (just south of Allen Parkway), 77019, (713) 628-9020 - This is another ambitious restaurant that does pizza well (just Provisions, the casual side, to be technically correct). Pizza can be found as one of the dozen headings on its busy menu, with creative combinations such as asparagus, quail eggs and pecorino, and guanciale, caramelized onions and scamorza among the seven choices, including the requisite margherita. Featuring a sturdy, chewy crust, the pizzas are fired in an oven employing both gas and wood, for which the kitchen gives a regional touch with favorites mesquite, oak and hickory.
Prego – Rice Village –2520 Amherst (just east of Kirby), 77005, (713) 529-2420 – This popular long-standing neighborhood trattoria fires up a number of individual pizzas such as burrata and caramelized onion, smoked criminis with pesto and arugula, and sausage and peppers.
The Tasting Room – Uptown Park, CityCentre – 1101 Uptown Park (north of Post Oak Boulevard), 77056, (713) 993-9800, and 818 Town and Country (east of the Tollway), (281) 822-1500 – Done in the Neapolitan-style, at least for the crust. The toppings are bit more fanciful, but the flavors should be fairly recognizable and enjoyable. This includes Perfect Piggy, barbecue sauce, pepperoni, bacon, Italian sausage, and pickled red onion, and another featuring prosciutto, sliced grapes, arugal and fresh goat cheese.
Vincent’s – Montrose – 2701 W. Dallas (between Montrose and Waugh), 77019, (713) 528-4313 – These are generously topped with a thickish crust and generally quite pleasing.
Originally published on May 25, 2013.
Amalfi – Briargrove – 6100 Westheimer (between Fountain View and Voss), 77057, (713) 532-2201 – Run by an experienced and skilled chef, Giancarlo Ferrara originally from Salerno, down the coast from Naples, you can expect that the traditional style pizzas will be good, and they are.
Arcodoro – Galleria – 5000 Westheimer (at Post Oak), 77056, (713) 621-6888 – From a proper wood-burning oven, and a chef actually from near Naples, the pizzas at this upscale Italian restaurant are what you will find at a very good pizzeria in southern Italy, though probably prepared somewhat more artfully here. Two unusual and very good offerings take their cue from the owner’s Sardinian homeland. One features roasted eggplant mouse, dollops of goat cheese, shavings of hard Pecorino cheese and several drops of bitter honey. The other has clams, fava beans, white onions, and gratings of pressed fish roe. The individually sized pizzas are about $15 each.
Cafe Pita+ – West Houston – 10852 Westheimer, 77042, (713) 581-8261 – This humble and friendly Bosnian restaurant is an absolutely terrific value and their individually sized pizzas are quite tasty. There is no alcohol, but you can bring your own in without a corkage fee.
Carrabba’s – Upper Kirby, Galleria – 3115 Kirby (between Richmond and West Alabama), 77098, (713) 522-3131, and 1399 South Voss (at Woodway), 77057, (713) 468-0868 – Carrabba’s exuberant pizzas are not traditional in any sense – a little thicker than most and certainly American, and tasty – but the robust flavors win over most, even the occasional New York transplant. The ones at the original location on Kirby are among the best in the city on a good night.
Ciao Bello – Galleria – 5161 San Felipe (just east of Sage), 77056, (713) 960-0333 – Their Vallone-style, very thin-crust pizzas – similar in style to those you find in Rome – are topped with several appealing combinations like: prosciutto and arugula, sausage and peppers, porcini with béchamel and mozzarella, and pancetta and Brussels sprouts.
Coltivare – Heights – 3220 White Oak (east of Heights), 77007, (713) 637-4095 - Also sporting an Italian name, but more accurately described as Italian-inspired rather than Italian, this Heights hotspot has struck a chord with local restaurant-goers since it opened in January with its style of garden-fresh fare in a vibrant, comfortable setting. Arguably the most consistently enjoyable items on the menu are the pizzas. Produced in a wood-fired oven, the pizzas feature a thick and airy, almost bread-like dough that is distinctive and flavorful. Aside from a version of the traditional margherita, the topping combinations used for the pizzas are bit unusual, but seem to work. A version featuring caperberries, cured anchovies and feta - the kitchen really likes salt - and the potato pizza certainly do. With slices of Yukon gold potatoes, oyster mushrooms, rosemary and nearly indistinguishable taleggio cheese, the potato pie is very enjoyable and not heavy as the combination might suggest.
Coppa Osteria – Rice Village – 5210 Morningside (at Dunstan), 77005, (713) 522-3535 - Another contemporary Americanized Italian, this is also known for its pizzas. Thin-crust and Italianate in construction, these pizzas are generally light and feature a crisp and fairly flavorful crust and noticeably good quality ingredients available in ten different Italian-inspired combinations, plus the chance to add some additional protein in the form of an egg or cured ham. These attractive pies are a perfect complement to the breezy and inviting yet somewhat upscale setting, especially the sprawling patio. Sometimes you don’t want to partake in a full meal and a pizza with nice glass of wine or two, or a quality beer, seems to make a lot of sense. A lot of restaurants can oblige these days. Not surprisingly, most of these are all Italian-themed. Even though it is now really more American than Italian, pizza still sports a vowel at the end of the name, and many restaurateurs are quick to reclaim its Italian heritage, even if they were born nowhere near Naples (or Italy). The pizza oven also provides a dramatic addition to the décor, and everyone loves pizza. Restaurant pizzas – as opposed to pizzeria or pizza joint pizzas – are always meant for solo consumption.
Grotto – Galleria – 4715 Westheimer (just inside Loop 610), 77027, (713) 622-3663 – The kitchen might not quite be up to the level it was during its mid-1990s heyday, but the individual-sized Italian-style pizzas are excellent, befitting the “Cucina Napoletana” moniker. The crispy, thin Roman-style crusts – slightly different from their Neapolitan progenitors – are topped with the proper amount of high quality and fresh ingredients and taste like those from a quality pizzeria in the Eternal City.
La Griglia – River Oaks – 2002 West Gray (just east of Shepherd), 77019, (713) 526-4700 – Boisterous and stylish, that this former Vallone outpost serves excellent Italian-style pizza is probably overlooked by many, but the long-time patrons. Thin, crispy and flavorful crusts host the traditional Neapolitan Margherita, the standard American pepperoni, excellent sausage and roasted red and yellow peppers, plus the more fanciful, but very appropriate shrimp and pesto, and roasted chicken toppings.
La Vista – Galleria – 1936 Fountainview (between San Felipe and Westheimer), (713) 787-9899, 77057 – The mostly thin-crust pizzas here are tossed by hand and cooked in a brick oven. The range of toppings is fairly large and unusual (smoked eggplant, marinated tomatoes, caramelized onions). The individual-sized pizzas are a meal for just $11. There is a small wine list, but BYOB is welcome. There is a second location in west Houston.
Palazzo’s – Galleria, Westchase – 2620 Briar Ridge (just north of Westheimer, between Fountainview and Hillcroft), 77057, (713) 784-8110 and 10455 Briar Forest (at the Beltway), 77042, (713) 785-8800 – The dough is made daily, and the ingredients are noticeably high quality here. Their style seems to be a cross between typical American thin-crust and thinner ones found in Italy. Of the ten or so standard pizzas, especially tasty is the Athena that is topped with pepperoni, roma tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese and black olives. The range of available additional toppings is fairly wide-ranging, which includes, for some reason, fat-free mozzarella.
The Pass & Provisions – Montrose – 807 Taft (just south of Allen Parkway), 77019, (713) 628-9020 - This is another ambitious restaurant that does pizza well (just Provisions, the casual side, to be technically correct). Pizza can be found as one of the dozen headings on its busy menu, with creative combinations such as asparagus, quail eggs and pecorino, and guanciale, caramelized onions and scamorza among the seven choices, including the requisite margherita. Featuring a sturdy, chewy crust, the pizzas are fired in an oven employing both gas and wood, for which the kitchen gives a regional touch with favorites mesquite, oak and hickory.
Prego – Rice Village –2520 Amherst (just east of Kirby), 77005, (713) 529-2420 – This popular long-standing neighborhood trattoria fires up a number of individual pizzas such as burrata and caramelized onion, smoked criminis with pesto and arugula, and sausage and peppers.
The Tasting Room – Uptown Park, CityCentre – 1101 Uptown Park (north of Post Oak Boulevard), 77056, (713) 993-9800, and 818 Town and Country (east of the Tollway), (281) 822-1500 – Done in the Neapolitan-style, at least for the crust. The toppings are bit more fanciful, but the flavors should be fairly recognizable and enjoyable. This includes Perfect Piggy, barbecue sauce, pepperoni, bacon, Italian sausage, and pickled red onion, and another featuring prosciutto, sliced grapes, arugal and fresh goat cheese.
Vincent’s – Montrose – 2701 W. Dallas (between Montrose and Waugh), 77019, (713) 528-4313 – These are generously topped with a thickish crust and generally quite pleasing.
Originally published on May 25, 2013.
