finally!

Beloved Austin pizzeria finally sets Houston opening date

One of Austin’s favorite pizzerias is finally ready to make its Houston debuts. Home Slice Pizza will officially open to the public on Wednesday, December 14.

For those unfamiliar, Home Slice is Austin’s most well regarded New York pizzeria. First opened on South Congress in 2005, the restaurant serves hand-tossed, New York and Sicilian-style pizzas made in a gas-fired deck oven. Salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and desserts round out the menu. Beverage options include soda, craft beer, and wine.

Available both as whole pies and by-the-slice, Home Slice’s pizzas have earned wide acclaim, including being named among the top pizzerias in the U.S. by both TripAdvisor and TripSavvy. Its original location is so popular that the restaurant opened a to-go only annex next door. A second full restaurant arrived in North Austin in 2018.

The road to opening in Houston hasn’t been smooth. Home Slice signed a lease for the former Sparrow Bar + Cookshop/Winbern Mess Hall space at 3701 Travis Street in January 2020 but put the project on hold when the pandemic hit. Construction on the location began in June 2021 but took longer than expected due to supply shortages and changes in design. Home Slice partner Jeff Mettler makes no apologies for taking the time to get the buildout just right.

“We took our time finding finishes and agreeing on colors,” Mettler tells CultureMap. “It was important to us to lead with our best foot forward. In 2005, we had the luxury of being an underdog in Texas where not many people knew what New York pizza is. We’re not in that position anymore. People have expectations, and we want to exceed people’s expectations.”

Plans originally called for the restaurant to seat people on two stories and offer full service. Instead, the restaurant has been oriented towards to-go with a limited amount of indoor seating and a spacious, 50-seat, covered patio that's also dog friendly.

Mettler describes the restaurant's design inspiration as “deep Brooklyn.” A wall of framed photographs shows off the houses and storefronts that inspired the look. Home Slice went to great lengths to create the right atmosphere, including pouring custom breeze blocks for the patio. A similar devotion to getting the details right applies to its food, too.

“We’re not going to compromise,” Mettler says. “We’re not going to open until our dough’s right. We’re not going to open until our staff is comfortable to not only give proper service but provide hospitality to our guests.”

That hospitality extends beyond the register. Known for its friendly service, employees check on diners after they receive their food and will assist with things like refills.

Once the staff has its sea legs, the kitchen will be able to produce as many as one pizza per minute. Mettler estimates they’ll be somewhere between one-half and one-third of that pace at opening, so expect a bit of a wait. Home Slice will begin service at 11 am Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesdays).

Once open, diners will be able to order in person or online via the restaurant's website. A slice window will expedite pickup for those needing a bite before or after a show at The Continental Club. Third party delivery will be added in time.

Photo by Sammie Theige Burnett

Home Slice Pizza will open next week.

As the comments on the restaurant's recent Instagram posts attest, Houstonians are ready for the restaurant's opening. The company has been quiet about its plans until now, but Mettler says that's about to change.

“We’ve kept a log of every single person’s that commented or emailed ‘when are you opening.’ Once we get comfortable, we’re going to start responding and tagging them in posts,” he says.

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what's new at Julep

Southern-inspired Houston cocktail den ranks No. 84 on North America best bars list

Courtesy of Julep

Julep is North America's No. 84 best bar.

Houston’s only bar to win a national James Beard Award is once again basking in the international spotlight. Julep has been ranked No. 84 on the extended list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026.

The ranking marks Julep’s first appearance on the list since 2022, when it ranked No. 46. Last year, Bandista, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, ranked No. 59. The only other Texas bar on the list is Austin’s Nickel City, which ranked No. 96.

“Julep takes its Southern heritage seriously,” its entry on the 50 Best website reads. “American whiskey and warm hospitality form the backbone of the bar's operation and identity, together with house cocktails that lean into herbal flavours. Make sure to venture beyond its trio of namesake concoctions into the selection of house creations, such as its guava-infused vesper.”

Founded by bartender Alba Huerta in 2014, Julep pays homage to Southern cocktail traditions. In addition to its spot on the best bars list, it earned a James Beard Award in 2022 for Outstanding Bar Program.

“This recognition reflects years of focused work, strong leadership, and a team committed to doing things with intention every single day,” Huerta said in a statement. “Launching our spring menus in both the Main Bar and The Parlor is especially exciting. The creativity in house is at an all-time high, and the drinks are not only technically strong, they are incredibly delicious. It feels like a moment where everything is coming together, and that energy is something we’re excited to share with our community through experiences like Chef’s Cut.”

As Huerta noted in her statement, Julep isn’t resting on its laurels. In November, Huerta transformed an event space/storage area into The Parlor, a separate bar within Julep that serves drinks made with advanced techniques such as clarification, carbonation, and other culinary-driven processes. For spring, The Parlor has introduced new cocktails such as La Fresa, a carbonated cocktail made with tequila, house made strawberry soda, and a chile de árbol tincture, and the Silk & Oak, made with butter fat-washed rum and bourbon, activated yeast, shiitake mushroom, maple, and Angostura bitters.

On Wednesdays, Julep hosts its Chef’s Cut pop-up, where local chefs create special dishes to pair with the bar’s cocktails. A portion of proceeds from the night’s featured food items benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation, the Houston-based nonprofit that provides emergency assistance and access to mental health services to hospitality workers.

Future participants include Top Chef contestant and pitmaster Michelle Wallace on April 8, CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Rising Star Chef of the Year winner Lucas McKinney of Josephine’s on April 15, Anthony Anderson of Sophie on April 22, and Anitra Broussard, formerly of Riel, on April 29. Blood Bros. BBQ co-owner Robin Wong serves as resident DJ for the Chef’s Cut series.

“Chef’s Cut is about creating a space where culinary talent and cocktail innovation come together in a way that feels both intentional and approachable,” said Huerta. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate our peers, support one another, and work with a great cause — Southern Smoke.”

Courtesy of Julep

Julep is North America's No. 84 best bar.

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