8 things to know

8 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, closings, and gluten-free pizza

Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know.

Openings, closings, and coming attractions

A second location of Greenway Plaza-area favorite Kolache Shoppe is now open in The Heights. Located at 1031 Heights Blvd., the cafe features 30 flavors of kolaches, both traditional fruit-topped and meat-filled varieties, along with a full range of brewed and espresso coffees from Boomtown Coffee. Best of all, a drive-thru makes ordering extra convenient. Currently, the shop is open from 7 am to 2 pm Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays).

Speaking of the Heights, Lee’s Fried Chicken and Donuts is now Sam’s Fried Chicken and Donuts. The change reflects the restaurant’s acquisition by Sambrooks Management Company, which purchased the concept along with Star Fish and Pi Pizza from Cherry Pie Hospitality back in September. Along with a new name, Sam’s features new menu items from culinary director Lyle Bento, including chicken and waffle wings, collard greens, and the pork cracklins’ Bento served at Southern Goods.

The changes at Sam's are only the first manifestation of the Sambrooks takeover. Coming up, Star Fish will close for some mild renovations after which it will reopen with a new name. Diners can get a sneak peek by visiting the restaurant and trying the new menu created by Bento and executive chef J.D. Woodward.

The Westchase location of better burger joint BuffBurger has begun a quiet soft opening of its third location (10550 Westheimer Rd.). Named because it serves its burger “in the buff,” i.e., without unnecessary adornments, the better burger concept features 44 Farms beef, scratch-made sauces, and locally sourced products. In addition to its burgers, all three locations now feature a new cocktail menu created by star bartender Laurie Harvey (Triniti, State Fare).

Now open in the Galleria area, Pacific Poke brings the popular Hawaiian dish to a new neighborhood. In addition to all the usual combinations of the raw fish salad, the restaurant features hot dishes such as grilled shrimp, blackened honey-ginger salmon, and a Hawaiian burger topped with a slice of grilled pineapple. Located at 5549 Richmond Ave., Pacific Poke is open beginning at 11 am Wednesday through Monday.

Is Sterling House closed for good? Swamplot reports that the bar has been shuttered since early December. General manager Tate Drennen tells PaperCity the bar will reopen next month, but the odds of that actually happening seem slim. If it were going to reopen, why would real estate website LoopNet list the property as available for sale or lease?

Popular Mediterranean restaurant Island Grill will open its fifth Houston-area location in the CityPlace mixed-use development that’s part of Springwoods Village. When it opens in mid-2019, Island Grill will occupy an approximately 3,600-square-foot space in CityPlace 2. The fast casual restaurant is known for serving a wide array of dishes that includes both classic American fare and dishes created with a nod towards owners Maria and Faysal Haddad’s native Syria.

Other news and notes

B.B. Lemon has a new executive chef. Emily Trusler replaces original executive chef Eric Johnson, who has parted ways with Berg Hospitality. Trusler brings lots of experience to the role, including time as executive sous chef at Fleming’s Steakhouse and chef de cuisine at Emmaline. Open since November, the casual restaurant and patio bar has become known for its straightforward cheeseburger, blue crab beignets, and fish and chips.

Cane Rosso now has a gluten-friendly dough option. Made with gluten-free flour and prepared on separate sheets to avoid cross-contamination, the new pizza is topped with hot soppressata, bacon marmalade, and hot honey. While the pizzeria probably has too much regular flour around for the pizza to be a viable option for those with a serious allergy, it is available for people with a more mild gluten sensitivity or who are just looking to cut out the protein as part of a diet.

Kolache Shoppe is now open in the Heights.

Kolache Shoppe heights kolaches and coffee

Photo by Carla Gomez

Kolache Shoppe is now open in the Heights.

openings news-you-can-eat closings

rumor no more

East Coast-style Austin pizzeria confirms plans to open in the Heights

Home Slice Pizza Heights location rendering

Courtesy of the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

A rendering previews Home Slice Pizza's new location in the Heights.

One of Austin’s pizzerias is expanding its presence in Houston. Home Slice Pizza has claimed the former Mapojeong space in the Heights (602 Studewood) for a new location that will open in the fall of 2026.

Founder Joseph Strickland tells CultureMap that Home Slice wanted to add a second Houston location that would build on the success of its Midtown restaurant that opened in late 2022. Unlike Midtown, which is counter service and offers limited seating, the Heights location will offer full service, an expanded menu, and cocktails, which is in line with Home Slice’s North Austin location.

“We saw a lot of synergy in North Austin and the Heights,” Strickland says. “They have a similar feel, a lot of families, a lot of people looking to get together in big groups. There’s also a robust bar scene on White Oak that we’re happy to be part of.”

Strickland says Home Slice had several requirements for a new location, including a larger dining room than Midtown, a decent-sized parking lot, and enough kitchen capacity to serve both dine-in and larger to-go orders. Not only did they find the right building, but they established a productive relationship with the property’s owner, Revive Development, the Houston-based firm that also owns properties that are home to Loro, Squable, Camaraderie, and the Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks.

“It was hard to believe at first. The more we talked with the Revive folks, there was a lot of alignment and opportunity for us to expand what we’re showing Houston,” Stickland says.

Home Slice is working with the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture to renovate the building. Strickland notes that it will require some extensive changes, including removing the butcher shop that was installed as part of its iteration as Ritual, a steakhouse that closed in 2021. Assuming everything goes according to plan, the restaurant should open sometime in the fall of 2026.

Home Slice Pizza food spread Home Slice serves New York-style pizza.Photo by Garrett Smith

Once open, Home Slice will serve its East Coast-inspired menu of New York-style pizzas (whole or by-the-slice), hot and cold Italian deli sandwiches, salads, and desserts — all of which utilize dough or bread that’s made in-house. In particular, the restaurant is known for its white clam pizza, as well as classics such as pepperoni and mushroom or sausage with ricotta and roasted peppers. In 2024, the Houston Press awarded “Best Sandwich” to the restaurant’s Italian Assorted, which is made with ham, dry salami, capicola, genoa salami, vegetables, provolone, mayo, and oil & vinegar.

Critically, the Heights Home Slice location will add wings to the New York and Sicilian-style pizzas, salads, and sandwiches that the restaurant serves in Midtown. Inspired by the wings served at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, Home Slice keeps its wings simple — medium or hot and served with a house made blue cheese dressing. “It goes with our pizza quite wonderfully,” Stickland says.

He hopes that the the wide-ranging menu, flexible menu, and late night hours will appeal to Heights locals, people patronizing the nearby bars on White Oak, and anyone else looking for a slice and a drink. The larger location and full service should make home slice an option for date nights, office happy hours, any just about any other occasion.

“We hope the neighborhood will be happy to have another offering that’s like ours, where you can bring a first date or your office or go by yourself. We offer all those experiences,” Strickland says.

openings news-you-can-eat pizza home slice pizza