• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Home Slice in Houston

    Austin pizzeria serves up prime Midtown spot as first Houston outpost

    Eric Sandler
    Feb 11, 2020 | 10:00 am

    One of Austin's most popular pizza joints has revealed its Houston location. Home Slice Pizza has claimed the former t'afia/Sparrow space at 3701 Travis St. for a restaurant that will open in early 2021, according to a release.

    The announcement makes official a location that had seemed like a strong possibility since Home Slice first revealed its interest in the Bayou City last October. Choosing Mid Main puts Home Slice in close proximity to The Continental Club, another Austin import, as well as a bustling bar and restaurant district that includes Kura Revolving Sushi, Spicy Girl, and Double Trouble Caffeine and Cocktails. Opening in Midtown represents a sort of homecoming for Home Slice co-founder Joseph Strickland, who grew up in Sharpstown.

    "Midtown is evolving into the most walkable, dense neighborhood in Houston, making it a perfect fit for the Home Slice brand, which is rooted in the pizzerias and slice joints of NYC,” Joseph Strickland said in a statement. “I am personally thrilled to be part of the team bringing Home Slice to my hometown.”

    Home Slice's original location on South Congress has a fairly constant line as people wait for slices of its signature New York-style pies, salads, and sandwiches. A second location in north central Austin opened in 2018. Craft beer and Italian wines offer diners pizza-friendly beverage choices.

    "Although pizza was invented in Italy, it was perfected in NYC and grew from there into an integral part of the American food experience. We are simply aiming to uphold that original legacy of the hand-tossed pizza pie,” co-founder Jen Strickland added. “We love the diverse food culture Houston has to offer and we are overjoyed and excited to have the opportunity to bring Home Slice here.”

    The New York-style slice joint has earned wide acclaim since its first location opened in 2005, including being named among the top pizzeria in the U.S. by both TripAdvisor and TripSavvy. Beyond its food, the restaurant has a reputation for providing warm, friendly service that's above and beyond what most people expect at a pizzeria.

    Over the last year or so, Houston has seen an increase in the number of dedicated pizzerias and restaurants that serve pizza as part of their menu. The list includes Neapolitan-style pizzeria Gypsy Poet, BOH Pasta and Pizza in downtown's Bravery Chef Hall, the restaurant at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company's new facility in Sawyer Yards, and Austin's Southside Flying Pizza, which opened in the Second Ward last fall.

    The Austin joint is coming to Houston.

    Home Slice Pizza
      
    Photo by Julia Keim
    The Austin joint is coming to Houston.
    pizzaopenings
    news/restaurants-bars

    most read posts

    Ben Berg's New York-inspired, fancy burger joint will soon shutter

    Dough-obsessed pizzeria picks River Oaks for first Houston location

    Award-winning Houston chef reemerges with new Memorial restaurant

    What's Eric Eating Episode 470

    Two top 10 pitmasters react to Texas Monthly's new top 50 barbecue list

    CultureMap Staff
    May 28, 2025 | 4:36 pm
    Ernest Servantes and Leonard Botello IV
    Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma
    Ernest Servantes and Leonard Botello IV are two of this week's guests.

    On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” CultureMap editor Eric Sandler is joined by three special guest to discuss Texas Monthly’s new list of the 50 best barbecue joints in the state.

    They are:

    • Ernest Servantes, pitmaster and co-owner of No. 1 ranked Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin
    • Leonard Botello IV, pitmaster and owner of No. 9 ranked Truth BBQ in Houston
    • Robert Jacob Lerma, a photographer who has captured some of the most iconic images in Texas barbecue

    Ernest Servantes and Leonard Botello IV
      

    Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

    Ernest Servantes and Leonard Botello IV are two of this week's guests.



    Servantes is candid in saying that earning No. 1 on Texas Monthly’s list has been a goal of his since he opened Burnt Bean in 2020. In its writeup, the magazine hails the restaurant as “a museum of small-town Texas, with barbecue perfection the main exhibit.” Servantes shares that his wife told him he can’t complain about the hard work or attention, because “you asked for it.” He continues:

    “The pressure to be No. 1. You have to be willing to accept it and say you asked for it. I grind every day. I try to be innovative. I love what I f—ing do. I love to be here. I love to work and innovate. I asked for this. I’m honored to take the No. 1 position, but at the end of the day, we’ll just keep on doing what we do now.”

    Botello has his own perspective on the list. Truth is one of only two restaurants statewide to make the list in 2017, 2021, and 2025. With so many new places opening every year, he’s had to innovate and improve to maintain his status within the world of Texas barbecue.

    “All of the information to cook a good brisket is out there. I’ve put information out there,” he says. “You can buy a Mill Scale or a Moberg [smoker]. So, what’s next? What is going to change the era of barbecue? I think that’s where we’re at today on the list. Brisket, ribs, and sausage aren’t going to make the cut, because so many people do it so good.”

    Sandler turns to Lerma for his perspective on Snow’s BBQ. Located in the small town of Lexington, the restaurant is arguably one of the world’s most famous barbecue joints, complete with an episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table documentary series centered around its pitmaster, Tootsie Tomanetz. Ranked No. 9 in 2021, it fell into the unranked, alphabetized portion of the Texas Monthly list for the first time in 2025.

    “To me, it’s quintessential Texas barbecue that encompasses more than food. You have the history with Tootsie. You have this feeling on Saturday morning that reminds me of a Sunday church pot luck with people coming from all over the world. The common denominator is their love for barbecue and their love for this lady and this place,” he says. “Does it need to be number one for me to have a good time there? Absolutely not . . . To me, whether it’s 10 or 25 or one, it’s arbitrary.”

    As for Servantes, he shares that he’s achieved his goals of making No. 1 on Texas Monthly’s list, earning a spot in the Michelin Guide, and a James Beard Award nomination. He’ll celebrate with a great bottle of champagne and then get back to work serving people barbecue.

    “I feel like Thanos right now with all the stones. People say, what’s next? What’s next is what I asked for. We’re bringing people from all over the world to try the barbecue and tell my story to everybody,” he says.

    “I’m still evolving. We’ll be snapping necks and cashing checks.”

    Listen to the full episode to hear more about Servantes’ plans for the future. Botello also shares more thoughts on the evolving role of pitmasters in the larger culinary scene. Sandler and Lerma discuss some of the other places in the top 10 as well as some of the restaurants that earned honorable mentions.

    -----

    Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

    podcastsbarbecuenews-you-can-eatinterviewlists
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...