Home Slice Pizza

"Even on the busiest of Saturday nights, we’re willing to brave the South Congress crowds for a visit to Home Slice. The inside feels decidedly old-school—colorful, lively, and packed full of tables. If you have friends from the East Coast who never stop talking about “what pizza is supposed to taste like,” this is probably one of the few places that’ll quiet them down, at least for a few minutes. Home Slice also has a second location in North Loop that offers most of the same menu, plus Sicilian pies, but the New York-style is the way to go." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"This mega-popular New York-style pizzeria ushered in a new era of Austin pizza when it opened in 2005. Years later, it is still pleasing the crowds with its dive bar vibe and killer full pies. The usual suspects are on the menu, but so are a few left of center options, including a pear Gorgonzola and antipasto pie loaded with Italian meats and cheeses. Take it to go by placing an order online." - Nadia Chaudhury

"There’s something especially nostalgic about birthday pizza parties that reminds us of those private party rooms you’d book up an ice skating rink or mini golf course—they usually came pre-filled with some lukewarm pizzas and a bottle of Coke. Nowadays, we just go to Home Slice on South Congress instead, where the pizzas are great (and hot), and nobody’s carrying around tiny golf clubs. Bring a few friends, grab a big table in the back, eat until you can’t, then order a big slice of tiramisu to stick a candle in. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"Home Slice has “pizza” in its name, but anyone who has frequented this New York-style pizzeria for the past few decades knows the italian sub is the stealth MVP. The sandwich still lives up to its reputation. It’s huge, with the perfect ratio of meat-to-cheese, and every table is mandated to order one (or should be). But OK, fine—the pizza’s good too. The crust is thin, foldable, and heavily sauced. We like the classic pepperoni topped with hot cherry peppers, and the greek and caesar salads make great appetizers. Home Slice gets packed around dinnertime, but you can grab a drink from the backyard bar while waiting for a table. This is a one-size-fits-all restaurant, filled with families, rowdy groups of friends, and South Congress tourists Kumbaya’ing their way through a fun meal. Or if you don’t feel like dining in, there’s a takeout joint called More Home Slice next door. Food Rundown photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Italian Assorted Sub This sandwich is packed full of ham, dry salami, capicola, genoa salami, provolone cheese, and the perfect amount of vinaigrette to offset the thick stack of meat. It’s almost too tall to fit into your mouth. Home Slice should hang up one of those boards with photos of people who can finish it in one sitting. (OK, maybe it’s not that big.) You can also get a half-sized order. Meatball Sub If you want pizza on your sandwich, this is Home Slice’s second-best sub. It’s gloriously messy, thanks in part to the gooey blend of provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese that covers the top. photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Pepperoni And Mushroom Pizza Home Slice has a menu section called “Tried and True” with fairly traditional topping combinations, including this one. Or you can build your own. Either way, add hot cherry peppers—the sweet heat turns a good pizza into a great one. photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Greek Salad Get a large serving of this or the Caesar to split among the table. Both are doused in a ton of dressing, which is exactly what should happen at a pizzeria where vegetables are supplementary." - Matthew Jacobs

"Stop by Home Slice when you just need a few slices of New York-style pizza and a glass of wine after a long day out. The inside feels like a classic old-school pizzeria—colorful, lively, and packed full of tables. If you have friends from the tri-state area that never stop talking about “what a New York pizza is supposed to taste like,” this is probably one of the few places in town that’ll quiet them down for a few minutes. There’s also More Home Slice,  a takeout shop next door where you can grab a slice and continue window shopping down the street. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion