Boheme Cafe & Wine Bar

At this Montrose mainstay, personal-size, extra-thin-crust pies are around $17 a pop, and—trust us—well worth the price. The bar is known for its eclectic vibe, serene back patio, plush seating and inventive lavash bread pizzas with topping options like chicken banh mi with cucumber and carrots; barbacoa with Korean gochujang sauce; and muhammara and mushroom, which is vegan, by the way. 

Bombay Pizza Company

This super-casual downtown joint combines the exotic flavors and spices of Indian cuisine with Italian classics like pizzas and pastas—an unpredictable pairing that works wonderfully, as saag paneer and chicken tikka masala taste even better on a pie layered with spicy tomato sauce, fragrant herbs and cheese. The chutneys are house-made here and equally excellent atop hot naan or pizza crust. 

Coltivare Pizza & Garden

A creation from the same talented team at nearby Revival Market, this Heights hot spot has become known for its wood-fired pizzas. Try the Revival pepperoni, a meat-lover’s dream, or a vegetarian pie loaded with greens from the lush on-site garden, which is, by the way, the perfect spot for a pre- or post-prandial stroll, glass of wine or tasty craft cocktail in hand.

Dolce Vita

Housed in a converted two-story home, Marco Wiles’s beloved pizza parlor is as Montrose as it gets, with a bustling bar scene and patio on the lower level and a cozy dining area right up the stairs. This is the place to enjoy authentic Italian-style pizza, small plates and imported wine in a charming setting. If you can tear yourself away from the robiola pizza with leeks and pancetta, try the famous egg toast with black truffles or the sweet, spicy roasted beets with horseradish.

Frank's Pizza

Sure, it’s a slogan, but it’s also the truth: "You haven't done it all if you haven't done Frank's at 2 in the morning." This downtown stalwart is open daily, serving big, New York–style pizza-by-the-slice and pies to-go. Over the years, bars and restaurants near Market Square Park have come and gone, but Frank's has endured, and appropriately so.

Gino’s East

Fans of authentic, Chicago-style deep-dish need look no further than the two Texas outposts of Gino’s East: one in The Woodlands and one in Willowbrook. And while you can certainly indulge in a spicy Chicago Fire or a traditional Meaty Legend, Gino’s has added some local twists to its Texas menu. Try the BBQ Brisket Za topped with smoked beef and caramelized onions with a local craft brew on draft.

Jupiter Pizza & Waffle Co.

There isn't a time of day when this spot isn't packed with diners looking to satisfy sweet and/or savory cravings. Located in the heart of Sugar Land Town Square with a patio facing the main plaza, the place serves good waffles at both lunch and dinner, but we like the pizza best. Go simple and get the Pie 101 with tomato and mozzarella, or go crazy with the Angry Rooster, topped with pulled pork, caramelized onions, jalapeños, yard eggs, barbecue sauce and cilantro.  

Luna Pizzeria

Located in the same Upper Kirby shopping strip as Sushi King and Fat Bao, Luna Pizzeria has made a name for itself with a simple menu offering fresh, local ingredients for build-your-own nine-inch personal pizzas (a 16-inch is available for $6 more). The salads and Italian subs are also excellent, and there’s beer and wine to-go—in other words, everything you need for a Netflix night at home.

Oporto Fooding House & Wine

While this Midtown hot spot gets attention for its creative small plates and bar scene, aficionados know the restaurant’s second location as one of the few places in town to get a fresh seafood pizza. The Pizzette do Mar comes loaded with shrimp and calamari, shaved spinach, mozzarella and spicy tomato sauce, and is a must. Weekday happy hour brings inexpensive pizzettes and discounted beer and cocktails. 

Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana

Pizaro's prides itself on offering authentic Neopolitan-style pizzas made with imported ingredients and fresh mozzarella and baked at 900 degrees in wood-fired brick ovens. They’re all 12-inchers of the thin-crust variety and come with a variety of toppings—we prefer the Fino and its blend of fennel sausage and goat cheese. As with the original in Memorial, this second Montrose location is BYOB, so you can enjoy a pie with your own favorite vino for a minimal corkage fee.

Provisions

Even the trendiest of trendy restaurants offer pizza these days, and this modern Montrose eatery is no exception. Creative topping combinations—from lamb sausage and pea pesto to salami and peaches—make these pies special, and since the menu here changes with the seasons, you never know what chefs Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan have in store. We suggest enjoying yours on the patio and pairing it with one of Provisions’ equally adventurous wines. 

Star Pizza

This Montrose mainstay is the brainchild of two friends from Chicago who pined for the deep-dish-style pies back home. The Zwirek family has served up pies at the two-story house on Norfolk St. since 1976, where diners can enjoy hearty slices best eaten with a fork and knife. Dipping the thick wheat crust in the famous ranch dressing, made in-house, is worth the trip alone, whether to the original or the outpost on Washington Ave.

Russo's New York Pizzeria

You’d never guess by the name, but the first Russo’s—which has since gone global—was right here in Houston. With a dream of creating a New York–style pizzeria in his new hometown, Italian-American Anthony Russo opened the place in 1992, and his large, thin-crust pies soon developed a rabid following. If you’re feeding a crowd, try the monster 28-inch pizza, which serves up to six people.

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