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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Stay trill, owls

Bun B serves up smash hit smash burgers at Houston's Rice University

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Bun B is bringing Trill Burgers to Rice University.

Faculty, students, and staff at Rice University will have a fresh new dining option when classes resume for the fall semester. Trill Burgers will open its fourth Houston-area location on campus beginning Monday, August 17.

Located at the Rice Memorial Center, the new Trill Burgers will serve the restaurant’s signature smash burgers, which are available in either beef or vegan versions. That starts with the OG Trill Burger, made with two smashed beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a Martin’s potato roll. A vegan version uses plant-based smashed patties, vegan sauce, and vegan cheese. Burgers will be sold individually or as a combo with fries and a drink. Students will be able to use their campus dining dollars (Tetra) to purchase their meals.

Bun B, a Houston hip-hop legend and co-founder of Trill Burgers, has long had ties to Rice University. In 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as a distinguished lecturer, co-teaching Religion and Hip-Hop Culture with Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.

“This is truly full circle for me,” Bun B said in a statement. “To bring this brand to Rice University where I once taught is a major moment for Trill Burgers and for myself.”

In addition to Trill Burgers, Rice is also home to locations of breakfast favorite Dandelion Cafe and salad and sandwich concept Local Foods Market.

“We are excited to build upon this long-standing relationship while giving the Rice community an authentic taste of Houston,” Beth Leaver, Rice’s assistant vice president of housing, dining, and hospitality, added. “Trill Burgers brings a distinctive and celebrated part of Houston’s culinary culture to the Rice campus. I am often asked about adding a great burger option, and this partnership fills an important gap in our dining portfolio.”

While the restaurant is open to the general public, its proximity to the original Trill Burgers location (3607 S. Shepherd Dr.) means it will likely appeal primarily to people who are already on campus. Initially, the restaurant will be open from 11 am-5 pm.

Opening at Rice comes at a time of continued growth for Trill Burgers. In December, the restaurant opened in Missouri City. It is expected to open a new location at Westheimer and Hillcroft (7616 Westheimer Rd.) as soon as this month.

burgers rice university openings bun b trill burgers