welcome to the north
Drake-approved pizza and pasta spot bakes up 3rd Houston locale in CityCentre
Cacio e pepe arancini and white truffle garlic bread are coming to CityCentre. North Italia will open its third Houston-area location in the bustling mixed-use development on Wednesday, February 7.
Part of the nationwide Cheesecake Factory restaurant group, North claimed the former Tasting Room location at 818 Town & Country Blvd. The almost 12,000-square-foot restaurant offers seating for 138 in its dining room and 50 in the bar. Two patios, one on the building’s north side and another on the west, add an additional 142 seats. North opened its first Houston-area location near the Galleria in 2015. An outpost at The Woodlands Mall followed in 2022.
Chef Jairo Gonzalez will be tasked with executing the restaurant’s familiar menu of pizzas, pastas, shareable items, salads, entrees, and more. Highlights include tagliatelle bolognese; The Pig, a pizza topped with salumi, pepperoni, spicy soppressata, and Italian sausage; and a braised short rib served with mascarpone polenta. Pasta and pizza dough are made from scratch daily.
North’s beverage offerings include Italian twists on classic cocktails and a lengthy list of wines by-the-glass. During happy hour, most bottles of wine half-off and craft beers are $5.
Part of the restaurant’s popularity stems from its availability. The restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. It offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery via third party apps.
Count Drake as one of North Italia’s fans. The hip-hop superstar caused a minor sensation when he dined at the restaurant’s Galleria-area location in 2016.
North joins a lengthy roster of both locally owned and corporate-owned restaurants in CityCentre. The 47-acre mixed-use development’s restaurant roster includes upscale neighborhood restaurant Daily Gather, South American steakhouse Sal y Pimienta, luxury steakhouse Capital Grille, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, and more.
Those interested in working at the restaurant may attend jobs fairs now through Sunday, January 21. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm Monday – Saturday and 11 am – 4 pm on Sunday (840 W Sam Houston Pkwy, Suite 101).