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Tag: Best of Houston

  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Pizza – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of Houston’s Best Pizza.

    Best Pizza: Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana

    Pizaro’s has been firing up some of Houston’s best pies since 2011, with two locations and three killer styles — authentic Napoletana blistered at 900 degrees, foldable New York, and cheesy, twice-baked Detroit. Each pie proves why this spot’s a certified Houston classic, but the team still keeps things fresh with inventive specials like the Mortadella & Stracciatella sandwich and the Oh My Goud pie, loaded with butternut squash and crispy prosciutto. Regulars swear by the Sweet Pea and the fiery Vesuvius, a ghost pepper-laced masterpiece tamed by housemade ricotta.

    Multiple locations

    pizarospizza.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Burger – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of Houston’s Best Burger.

    Best Burger: The Toasted Coconut

    Burger fanatic? This Montrose tiki bar and kitchen is your next stop. An industry favorite, the totally messy, totally worth it flavor bomb features a duo of juice-dripping patties, melty American cheese, fiery chili aioli, housemade pickles and a buttery soft Hawaiian bun. Go wild with add-ons from avocado and yolky farm egg to salty-sweet bacon jam, and don’t skip the Sichuan-spiced tater tots or cheeky umbrella cocktails. 

    1617 Richmond 

    713-485-4775

    gettoastedhtx.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Music Festival – Houston Press

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    Best Music Festival: Hell’s Heroes

    Devil horns up for the best music festival in Houston, Texas, the all-out assault metal fans here and abroad know as Hell’s Heroes. The event began as a single-day offering to the metal gods back in 2018, survived a global pandemic and kept rocking, bringing fans of the genre from far off to Houston for bills packed with local, national and international acts which span generations.

    The festival has grown over the years, from the indoor rooms at White Oak Music Hall, its perennial home, to the concert hall’s spacious outdoor lawn. Its eighth edition has already been announced for March 2026 and will include three days of metal mayhem featuring acts from Germany, Japan, Norway and elsewhere. Best of all, Hell’s Heroes is homegrown, created by local musicians and music industry insiders who saw a need and filled it while making Houston a metal music destination.

    Hell’s Heroes on Instagram

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Bar – Houston Press

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    Best Bar: Winnie’s

    You may consider Winnie’s more restaurant than bar. After all, it serves some of the best noshes in town, noms that have been nommed in the field of foodies at Southern Smoke Festival and are routinely included on “eat here in Houston” lists. But we consider this Midtown wonder a bar with amazing food because Winnie’s does bar things and some of those things are our favorite things to do.

    For instance, there’s a regular trivia night, which is a lot of fun and also not routine for a “restaurant.” There’s speed-dating, an amazing drag brunch and, on occasion, you can karaoke at Winnie’s. If you sing near the bar or croon to po-boy eaters at their tables, the place magically becomes a supper club. Bands frequent the establishment, especially during Mid Main’s First Thursday block parties, which Winnie’s always participates in. There are TVs for watching sports and clear views of the surrounding area – from a spacious patio or from within the 1930s era building – for watching people.

    Our favorite bar thing to do at Winnie’s is drink and socialize. We bring along the good company and Winnie’s does the rest with just enough of the right stuff done perfectly. The place is part-owned by Johnny’s Gold Brick owner Benjy Mason, so you’re assured Winnie’s is following a stellar blueprint with classic margaritas, old fashioneds and Pimm’s cups. Staff cocktails dot the menu and include mesmerizing options. Best of all, the place morphs into a Winter Wonderland come Christmas, with specialty drinks served in seasonal glassware and cute backdrops for your holiday TikTok vids. There are lots of great bars in this town, but if you wanted one bar to situate at and accommodate all your needs for the afternoon and evening – including a killer meal – we’d choose Winnie’s.

    3622 Main

    713-520-0660

    winnieshouston.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Chicken Fried Steak – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of the Best Chicken Fried Steak.

    Best Chicken Fried Steak: Killen’s

    Bib Gourmand–awarded chef Ronnie Killen’s Southern comfort spot offers a chicken fried steak that’s as refined as it is nostalgic. Made with ribeye, it’s got that gorgeously golden, craggly crust, creamy mashed potatoes and a pour of velvety gravy that hits just right. With chef Ryan Hildebrand (FM Kitchen & Bar) recently joining as culinary director, this legacy only getting stronger.

    101 Heights 

    713-637-4664

    killens.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Brunch

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    Best Brunch: Toca Madera

    Flaming cocktails. Live guitar. Fire dancing. The vibiest weekend brunch in Houston is at Toca Madera, the sultry modern Mexican stunner on the ground floor of The Pavilion at The Allen. Expect dramatic design moments from a velvet-clad lounge wrapped in a giant bird’s nest to sweeping wood ceilings and lush greenery, plus bold brunch plates and a killer tequila-forward cocktail list. Kick things off with the But First… Coffee, a bold mix of reposado tequila, espresso, coffee liqueur, tajín, and cinnamon Coca-Cola reduction; then dive into dishes like hamachi with smoked truffle ponzu, seasonal mushroom tacos, tres leches French toast and short rib barbacoa breakfast enchiladas. It’s a full-on sensory experience — and yes, it’s as extra as it sounds.

    1755 Allen Parkway
    713-715-5808
    tocamadera.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

    The Houston Press is a nationally award-winning, 34-year-old publication ruled by endless curiosity, a certain amount of irreverence, the desire to get to the truth and to point out the absurd as well…

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Bar Food – Houston Press

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    Best Bar Food: Melrose

    Since opening late last year, this stylish bar and kitchen has been drawing a mix of neighbors and in-the-know Houstonians to the fully reimagined La Grange off Lower Westheimer. James Beard-nominated and Michelin-starred chef Emmanuel Chavez crafted a menu of standout bar snacks to match its drinks program — kampachi tiradito with shiso and charred oranges, spicy tuna rice crisps, smoked pigs in a blanket, two-day brined chicken tenders, and a house burger made with 44 Farms beef.

    2517 Ralph 

    832-539-2170

    melrosehtx.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Middle Eastern – Houston Press

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    Best Middle Eastern: Rumi’s Kitchen

    Since opening two years back in Uptown’s Post Oak Place, Rumi’s Kitchen has brought Houston some of the city’s most exciting Persian flavors. Chef Ali Mesghali showcases dishes like charred saffron-orange shrimp kabob, grape-molasses glazed lamb ribs, roasted corn ribs with black seed dukkah and three-bone pomegranate short rib. Flawlessly spiced and artfully presented, the dishes pair gorgeously with inventive cocktails and a world-class wine list; while weekend brunch service brings delights from Iranish coffee to shakshuka.

    1801 Post Oak 

    713-715-7020

    rumiskitchen.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Barbecue – Houston Press

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    Best Barbecue: Pinkerton’s Barbecue

    Houston’s barbecue scene is like a pro football league stacked with winning teams. Head to head, you’re going to get a hell of a game. As fans, that’s the kind of competition we love. Often, the difference is the quarterback and Pinkerton’s Barbecue has a Tom Brady-like force in owner and pitmaster Grant Pinkerton. The best QBs can see the field and Pinkerton had a clear vision for his version of craft barbecue, one that focused on quality meats, made-from-scratch sides and family recipes.

    The go-to at Pinkerton’s is the brisket – just look at it up there. Keeping the football motif, this entrée is never a Hail Mary, it’s the X-and-O you call when you want to score. It’s what’s put Pinkerton’s on the lauded Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints list time and again. But, even if you call an audible and go with ribs, turkey or sausage once you’ve made your way to the front of the usual line to order, you’re going to get a winner. That’s thanks to Grant Pinkerton’s expertise and leadership, the sort that gets one splashed on food TV shows, placed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and compared to Tom Brady.

    1504 Airline

    713-802-2000

    pinkertonsbarbecue.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Greek – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of the Best Greek.

    Best Greek: Yiayia’s Pappas Greek Kitchen

    The Pappas family brings its big, bold Greek flavor back to Houston with this lively new spot inspired by the family’s beloved matriarch, Yiayia Mary. Come for meze-style plates like dolmades stuffed with beef, lamb and pistachios, sizzling saganaki with pear and date preserves, wood-grilled ribeye souvlaki with pickled fennel and tzatziki, harissa-kissed grilled octopus and house-baked Kalamata olive bread that’s pure heaven; and toast to good times ouzo and cocktails like the Frozen Athenian Spritz or Yiayia’s Tonic.

    2410 Richmond 

    2810297-8061

    yiayiasgreekkitchen.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Brunch – River Oaks – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of the Best River Oaks Brunch.

    Best Brunch – River Oaks: State of Grace

    This River Oaks favorite continues to impress with its mix of polished Southern charm, Gulf Coast flavors and wood-fired finesse. At brunch, go for Gulf crab beignets, crawfish ettouffee eggs benny and crazy good griddle cakes with buttermilk syrup. With acclaimed Houston chef Ryan Lachaine now in the kitchen, expect even more hits, including the cult favorite butter burgers and caviar-topped tater tots from his former restaurant, Riel.

    3258 Westheimer

    832-942-5080

    stateofgracetx.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Brunch – Montrose – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of the Best Montrose Brunch.

    Best Brunch – Montrose: Októ

    Another hit from Sof Hospitality (the team behind Doris Metropolitan and Hamsa), Októ has brought its playful, modern Mediterranean flair to the brunch scene earlier this spring. The menu moves from Lox & Latkes with Osetra caviar and Green Shakshuka with spinach and feta, to Octopus Carpaccio and Frena French Toast with blueberry clove compote. Cocktails and luxe snacks like mini caviar-tinis keep the energy high, even when it’s not patio weather.

    888 Westheimer

    713-485-0841

    oktorestaurant.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Fancy Burger – Houston Press

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    Best Fancy Burger: Chardon

    Melty raclette. Velvety onion fondue. Crispy watercress. And earthy black truffle. That’s what you’re in for when you order the signature Black Truffle Wagyu Steak Burger at The Thompson Hotel’s sophisticated French spot. With a sidecar of golden duck fat fries and a bright, simple salad, it’s best washed down with a bold red or opulent olive brine martini (whether or not you add the caviar bump is up to you).

    1711 Allen Parkway 

    346-560-4180

    chardonhouston.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Teahouse – Houston Press

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    Best Teahouse: Emma Jane

    Set in a charming house with neutral tones, floral accents, and a lush 6,000-square-foot back patio, his new Harlow District offers a relaxed and elegant English-style tea experience with brunch, afternoon tea, bubbly and cocktails. Guests can sip a curated selection of teas — from smoky blacks to floral honeysuckle fig — while enjoying chef-driven tea towers with globally inspired tea sandwiches, sweet and savory scones with housemade clotted cream, and pastries like curd- and crèmeux-stuffed cones. Brunch highlights include French omelets with caviar, short stacks with Earl Grey maple syrup, and classic niçoise salad.

    1226 West Clay 

    346-571-6961

    emmajanehtx.com

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Vibe Dining – Houston Press

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    Best Vibe Dining: Toca Madera

    Now in its second year at The Pavilion at The Allen, Houston’s hottest dining destination serves up fiery Mexican flavors with fire dancers, roaming guitarists and a vibe that’s equal parts luxe and sexy. Think dark and moody interiors with natural accents, an inviting lush patio, two bars, a new private speakeasy, and tableside flaming Tomahawks. Go for truffle quesadilla, crispy wonton tacos stuffed with tun and A5 Wagyu, Mayan prawns dripping in chipotle butter, aromatic cocktails hit with hibiscus, agave, serrano and smoke, and a full-sensory experience you’ll be thinking about long after you leave.

    1120 Dennis 

    281-888-5926 

    tagohtx.com

    This article appears in 2025 and Jan 1 – Dec 31.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Hotel Dining – Houston Press

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    Best Hotel Dining: Perseid

    You don’t need a room key to see why Perseid, anchoring Bunkhouse Hotels’ gorgeous new Hotel Saint Augustine in Montrose, is something special. Chef Aaron Bludorn and crew have turned the hotel eatery into a full-on culinary escape, offering Gulf Coast–inspired bistro fare that walks the line between approachable and adventurous. Pop by for caviar service and foie gras with biscuits and jam, squash blossoms with shrimp jambalaya and Creole aioli, and a house burger gone fancy with pickled veg and duck liver mousse. And don’t miss the perfect Bloody Mary, shrimp and grits, and citrus butter pancakes at brunch.

    4110 Loretto 

    832-915-2600

    bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-saint-augustine/eat-drink/perseid

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Speakeasy – Houston Press

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    Best Speakeasy: Endless Bummer

    Let’s face it, the bars of the world are overrun with folks drinking stiff drinks to distract from the reality that they too will one day be stiff, rigor mortis-stricken husks of what once was alive and boozing. If that sounds depressing then go have a drink to distract; and, if you’re ready to lean into the void rather than avoid it, the best place to celebrate your someday demise is Endless Bummer. The new Houston tiki bar (brought to life by our friends at Betelgeuse Betelgeuse) is also an IYKYK Montrose speakeasy and bills itself as “somewhere between death and vacation.”

    The décor is decidedly Dead Man’s Curve, with tropical beach tones enhanced (or dampened) by lots of skeletal and spectral imagery. The drinks also cleverly teeter between hanging 10 and being carried by 6. The menu changes with the seasons because “everything dies eventually,” according to Endless Bummer. Drinks like the Fog Cutter, Jet Pilot and Saturn are denoted by their years of origin which adds to the sense that they’re immortal now, something that outlives death. There’s a comfort in that but if it’s still just too freaky for you, you can always goofily order the Banana Hammock (it’s delicious, btw) to attempt some comic relief.

    We love Endless Bummer for big life moments – birthdays, bridal showers, bon voyages, wakes – because it intimately intimates that everything is life and death. That makes it perfect for those everyday moments, too.

    4500 Montrose

    713-640-5220

    Endless Bummer on Instagram

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Restaurant – Memorial – Houston Press

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    Overview:

    We choose this year’s winner of the Best Restaurant in Memorial.

    Best Restaurant – Memorial: Bar Bludorn

    With a year under its belt, Bar Bludorn has settled right into Memorial like it was always meant to be there. From chef Aaron Bludorn (yep, that Bludorn), this neighborhood tavern nails the sweet spot between easy-going and luxe. Come for Sunday Brunch or Martini Happy Hour, stay for the crave-worthy dry-aged Tavern Burger and Country Ham Beignets that disappear way too fast. The hits keep coming with Lamb Ragu Pappardelle, Ora King Salmon in green curry and an Ice Cream Sandwich stacked with churro, cajeta and pecans.

    9061 Gaylord

    832-271-8264

    barbludorn.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Houston Press

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  • Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Dessert Service – Houston Press

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    Best Dessert Service: Camaraderie

    Camaraderie proves chef Shawn Gawle didn’t leave his sweet tooth at March, where he was executive pastry chef. The buzzy Heights newcomer splits its personality between a tasting-menu dining room and a laid-back lounge and patio, but both end with show-stopping, whimsical desserts that are almost too pretty to eat (we said almost). Think froyo with stone fruit, granola and olive oil, “Milk & Honey” with beeswax gelato and candied almonds, a miso-butterscotch bombe with toasted buckwheat gelato, and a peachy melba pavlova. Come for dinner, stay for dessert — or skip straight to the sweets with a fancy cocktail in hand.

    608 West 11th 

    camaraderiehtx.com

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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