Home Slice in Houston?

Famous Austin pizza joint explores Houston for first restaurant outside city limits

Home Slice Pizza has its eyes on Houston.

Photo courtesy of Home Slice Pizza

The eyes ofHome Slice Pizzaare on Houston. The Austin-based pizza joint has filed an LLC with the State of Texas as the first step in opening a Houston location; however, the restaurant has not signed a lease for a specific space, a representative tells CultureMap.

Of course, the confirmation only means that the document discovered by a user on the Houston Architecture Info Forum isn't some elaborate hoax designed to prank UT alums. While the forum users speculated that the restaurant could open in the Mid Main development that includes Kura Revolving Sushi, Brass Tap, and Spicy Girl, the building appears to be almost fully leased.

On the other hand, the former T'afia/Sparrow Bar + Cookshop has been vacant since the Winbern Mess Hall closed last year. With two floors of seating, a shaded patio, and its own (limited) parking, the currently empty restaurant would seem to be an ideal fit for the acclaimed pizzeria.

Whenever and wherever Home Slice opens, Houstonians will have the opportunity to sample one of Austin's most popular establishments. Named one of America's best pizzerias by outlets such as TripAdvisor and TripSavvy, 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 north central Austin added Sicilian-style pizza, buffalo wings, and a full bar to the mix. At both locations, the beverage offerings focus on Italian wines and craft beer; the second location offers a spirits list centered around vermouth and amaro.

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Basil And...

Pflugerville chef brings Vietnamese eats to Hutto with new concept

Broth & Basil/Instagram

Basil & Bites, a new concept by the owner of Broth & Basil, is opening in Hutto in spring 2025.

A Pflugerville chef is circling Austin and opening a second, new concept in Hutto. Basil & Bites, which fuses Vietnamese cuisine with Texas influences, will open in fall 2025 at the junction of TX 79 and CR 119, according to a press release.

The new restaurant by the chef behind Broth & Basil is part of the Townwest Commons development, owned by NewQuest Properties. The same company also promised this summer to bring a new Chuy's to the same development by early 2025. It says in the Basil & Bites release that Chuy's is on track to open in January.

Basil & Bites has claimed half a building, totaling 5,500 square feet of space. It's across from the EVO Entertainment — a movie theater, bowling alley, arcade, bar and restaurant, and more — that the developer has been using as an anchor in promoting the new business park. It also maintains its "original anchors" Lowe's and the YMCA.

Phen T. Diep owns Broth & Basil, and was already familiar with in NewQuest because the restaurant is located in another one of its properties, Stone Hill Town Center in Pflugerville.

The release offered few details about the restaurant itself, including what would be on the menu. At Broth & Basil, as the name suggests, pho is a main offering. And like Basil & Bites, the existing restaurant also takes pride in its Texas heritage, offering Texas Wagyu Beef from Ranger Cattle, which is based in Austin.

Other menu offerings include a variety of meats served over vermicelli or rice, and a few specials like Wagyu bo luc lac (shaking beef) cooked on the hot plate it's served on.

According to the Broth and Basil website, Diep started out as a home chef. He's committed to traditional Vietnamese dishes, even though he's added some Texan elements, and the bone broth simmers for 10 hours so no additives are needed.

"We recruited him because of the yearslong success of his first restaurant, which was the first one in Austin to feature Pho Wagyu," said NewQuest leasing director and senior vice president Josh Friedlander in the release. "It's now one of the most popular dishes on the menu."

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