Hey, Home Slice

Favorite Austin pizzeria finds new home in prime Houston neighborhood

One of Austin's most popular pizza joints is moving into one of Houston's hottest 'hoods. Home Slice Pizza has revealed it will take over the former t'afia/Sparrow space at 3701 Travis St. for a restaurant that will open in early 2021, according to a release.

The location has long seemed like a strong possibility since Home Slice first revealed it was adding its first location outside the Austin city limits this past October. Choosing the Mid Main neighborhood puts Home Slice in close proximity to Houston's location of The Continental Club (just like South Congress) as well as a bustling bar and restaurant district.

Opening in Midtown represents a sort of homecoming for Home Slice co-founder Joseph Strickland, who grew up in Sharpstown.

"Midtown is evolving into the most walkable, dense neighborhood in Houston, making it a perfect fit for the Home Slice brand, which is rooted in the pizzerias and slice joints of NYC,” Joseph Strickland said in a statement. “I am personally thrilled to be part of the team bringing Home Slice to my hometown.”

Home Slice's original location on South Congress has a fairly constant line as people wait for slices of its signature New York-style pies, salads, and sandwiches. A second location in Hyde Park opened in 2018. Craft beer and Italian wines offer diners pizza-friendly beverage choices.

"Although pizza was invented in Italy, it was perfected in NYC and grew from there into an integral part of the American food experience. We are simply aiming to uphold that original legacy of the hand-tossed pizza pie,” co-founder Jen Strickland added. “We love the diverse food culture Houston has to offer and we are overjoyed and excited to have the opportunity to bring Home Slice here.”

The New York-style slice joint has earned wide acclaim since its first location opened in 2005, including being named among the top pizzeria in the U.S. by both TripAdvisor and TripSavvy. Beyond its food, the restaurant has a reputation for providing warm, friendly service that's above and beyond what most people expect at a pizzeria.

Over the last year or so, Houston has seen an increase in the number of dedicated pizzerias and restaurants that serve pizza as part of their menu. The list includes Neapolitan-style pizzeria Gypsy Poet, BOH Pasta and Pizza in downtown's Bravery Chef Hall, the restaurant at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company's new facility in Sawyer Yards, and Austin's Southside Flying Pizza, which opened in the Second Ward last fall.

Home Slice is known for its New York-style pies.

Photo by Julia Keim

Home Slice is known for its New York-style pies.

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1. Unique Austin barbecue joint makes USA Today's first 'Restaurants of the Year' list. Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen was the only Texas restaurant on the list.

2. Hill Country winery makes prestigious World's Best Vineyards list for 2024. Out of the more than 100 wineries in the Hill Country, William Chris Vineyards was the only one to make the list.

3. Austin's favorite taco chain takes top honors on USA Today 10-best list. Austin-born Torchy's once again found itself on this list of the best fast casual restaurants in the U.S.

4. Austin's beloved Tex-Mex chain Chuy's gets acquired by a new owner. The chain has been acquired by Darden Restaurants, Inc., the Florida-based hospitality company that also owns Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, and more.

5. 13 Austin coffee shops join in on action day honoring Daniel Johnston. In January, locals gathered for "Hi, How Are You Day" — to honor Johnston's lasting legacy and build community.

6. Beautiful West Coast sushi restaurant rolls into downtown Austin. Sushi Roku, an alluring newcomer from California, stepped onto the less coastal scene by opening its first Texas restaurant in the Capital City.

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7. Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant in South Austin closes after 35 years. Hao-Hao Restaurant on William Cannon is now closed. Austin foodies can still visit the Round Rock spot with the same name, but the restaurants' lineages are only distantly connected now.

8. New Braunfels sausage and beer extravaganza Wurstfest returns for 2024. Austinites love any excuse to get out to the Hill Country, especially if it involves German brews, fried food and sausage, and lederhosen.

9. Brewery named after famous character Old Gregg debuts in Austin suburb. You ever drunk Bailey's from a shoe? Well, now you can order it on the menu at Pflugerville's newest brewery. But the real focus is the signature beers, plus house-made hard seltzers, cocktails, and a rotating menu for frozen drinks.

10. Both Austin finalists win H-E-B competition to sell products statewide. Birria Queen won the grand prize in the Quest for Texas Best, earning $25,000 for its birria seasoning bombs; and Certified Country Lemonade won second place and $15,000 for its frozen iced teas and lemonades.