In the battle between pizza styles, Austinites who love the thin crust, NY variation have an often unwavering loyalty to Home Slice, the pizzeria that has long served slices and pies to South Congress denizens. Now its second location has opened up in North Loop, giving those who live a little further north the chance to enjoy top-notch pizza.
The new location, which will be in soft open mode for the next two weeks until officially opening on May 30, resembles the original Home Slice with its casual layout, dine-in and take-out service, and both indoor and outdoor seating. Designed by Michael Hsu Architecture, the 4,000-square-foot space is a welcoming mashup between classic Italian restaurants and Long Island Italian-American eateries (red-checkered tablecloths in the dining room included). You'll find the work of local artists (Cody Waker, Gary Green, Tony Romano, Laurie Mann and more) decorating the space, along with a ceiling dome mural painted by Abraham Mong. Outdoors, the seating area is a little more playful, with brightly colored tiling and banquet seating.
Photograph: Julia Keim
But while the two locations share plenty of similarities, the new North Loop location sports some serious upgrades. There's a full bar with a cocktail program—think drinks like the Negroni Danza and the Soul Fashioned—and an expanded beer program with a rotating local beer on draft. Wines are also available, with Italian boutique varietals that come by the glass, bottle and carafe. A curveball on the menu comes in the form of Buffalo wings, a dish that is not at the South Congress location but will serve as a North Loop staple.
The grand opening at 501 E. 53rd St is on May 30 at 11am; until then, stop by during soft opening for limited dine-in and take-out service. Hours are Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu 11am-11pm; Fri, Sat 11am-midnight.