New Knock-Out Pizza Place?

A former boxer is opening two new restaurants in Houston: Are you ready for knock-out hybrid pizza?

One feature of the current Houston restaurant boom is out of towners coming to the city to seek fortune from the city's seemingly limitless appetite for going out to eat. Bradley Ogden closed his restaurants in Vegas and launched two concepts near the Heights, while the expansionist Fox Restaurant Group just opened True Food Kitchen near the Galleria with plans to open an Italian restaurant and another TFK soon.

The trend even has an international component as both Indian buffet Maharahja Bhog and recently announced Mexican seafood restaurant Peska made their stateside debuts in the Bayou City. So, where else but Houston would a former Italian boxer turned London restaurant owner decide to make his American debut?

The restaurant's signature item is the Mascalzone, a half calzone/half pizza prepared in a special pizza oven.

Meet Andrea Magi and his Italian restaurant Il Mascalzone. The London-based restaurant will open its first Houston location in the Westchase area next week followed by a second location off Washington in the former Solea space in October.

“I chose Houston for Mascalzone’s first U.S. location because of its vibrant, growing international community and adventurous palates,” Magi said in a statement. “I’m excited to bring old and new favorite Italian dishes to the community and offer an experience that is 100 percent Italian and 100 percent unique.”

Diners with the aforementioned "adventurous palates" will also find that everything at Mascalzone is 100 percent Italian. The ingredients, furnishings, wines and more all come from Italy.

The restaurant's signature item is the Mascalzone, a half calzone/half pizza prepared in the restaurant's MaranaForni pizza oven, which a release promises is "not only state-of-the-art but looks straight out of NASA."

Other popular items include octopus carpaccio, black squid ink pasta with lobster and breaded veal escalope.

If Houstonians embrace the concept, Magi plans to open three more across the area over the next 12 months.

Il Mascalzone opens to the public August 18. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

Andrea Magi is a former boxer turned restaurant owner.

Courtesy photo

Andrea Magi is a former boxer turned restaurant owner.

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FM Kitchen closes

Inner loop pickleball bar expands into neighboring burger joint

Photo by Becca Wright

PKL Social has expanded into FM Kitchen & Bar.

One of the inner loop’s most popular pickleball destinations is getting a makeover. PKL Social is expanding its footprint by claiming the space formerly occupied by FM Kitchen & Bar.

Since both PKL Social and FM Kitchen share ownership and management, the name change unites the property under one brand. It focuses on PKL Social’s success in its first year-plus of operations and sheds the FM Kitchen brand that’s been serving up burgers, comfort food, craft beer, and cocktails since 2017. Although the change won’t officially take place until July 26, the building’s exterior is already sporting a fresh coat of paint with PKL Social’s branding.

“It’s a direct response to the demand for more,” operating partner Jason Mok said in a statement. “We’ve conceptualized everything people have loved about FM Kitchen & Bar and PKL Social by creating a single concept and venue that brings it all together in an exciting, more seamless way.”

Open since March 2024, PKL Social has four pickleball courts, big screen TVs for watching sports, and two, 140-inch LED video walls for big games and other events. The rebranding brings upgrades in the form of Full Swing golf simulators that will allow people to play golf and other games for an hourly rental fee.

Some things will remain the same. The new PKL Social will still serve many of FM Kitchen’s most popular dishes, including its signature cheeseburger, smash burger, and weekend brunch items. Additions include on-trend items such as a chopped chicken Caesar wrap and a Buffalo chicken wrap, a fried shrimp basket, and a California-style burrito.

Beverage options include cocktails, craft beer, and wine. Non-alcoholic options include beer, cocktails, oat milk lattes sourced from Tenfold Coffee, and a frozen strawberry lemonade.

In terms of the venue’s layout, the patio bar and restaurant area that had been home to FM Kitchen will remain family-friendly. The court area around PKL Social’s original footprint will remain adults-only.

“PKL Social is becoming so much more than a pickleball destination. It’s a sports bar and event-centric destination with high energy and excellent food,” Mok added. “With our new upgrades, we can offer customers everything from corporate events and happy hours to social events such as our game day and reality TV watch parties, popular bingo nights, and cold plunge socials. We are excited to expand these options even further to be a true social destination for all.”

PKL Social will celebrate its expansion on July 26 with drink specials, raffle prizes, giveaways, a DJ, sips from brands including LALO Tequila, Athletic Brewing Co., Beam Suntory, and more.

Photo by Becca Wright

PKL Social has expanded into FM Kitchen & Bar.

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