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Empire Pizza

4.1 (249 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Empire Pizza Takeout or Delivery

Empire Pizza Photos

Business Info

EMPIRE PIZZA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Empire Pizza

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Reviews With Photos

Great 'za, had the belly buster and they let me put 5 raw eggs on it before putting into the oven. I turned it into the belly buster protein BOMB and it was delicious. Great staff.

Have a slice day
Fox E.

Barbie turns on everyone that MEETS HER She's the baddest b around and nobody DEFEATS HER She bats lashes and flirts with everyone that GREETS HER But she's more expensive than Dr. Dre's BEATS ARE Pretty much rich dudes are the only ones that EATS HER And nobodys are more famous than her FEETS ARE And when she wants slices, I'm the one that TREATS HER And there's only one place that she wants: EMPIRE PIZZA WHAT Houston's best Pizza, hands down. Texas' best Pizza, hands up. There's not a lot of good pizza in Texas, but these slices would be at home in New York City. There's no higher condiment than that. I meant compliment. But they have great condiments too. Came here to find a referee for a soccer match. Should have gone to Umpire. Also noticed Slim Shady in here, with zits. Must be a problem with Em's-pores. And don't forget that being Buddhist and Zen can really give you strength. They call it Ommm-power. But this is none of those. This is Empire. What to get: The Grandma/Nonna/Margerita is amazing. The deep dish/meat lovers is divine too. I'm glad there's only one of these places, rather than a whole Empire of them (ha, ha), because honestly, the pizza is so, so amazing that if they turned it into a massive chain like Russo's (a big local fave that is 3 times the price and about 3% as good, if that), I'm sure it couldn't possibly be this good. My pizza recs are very hard to come by down here in Texas. My NYC, Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit pizza standards are so stellar, I'm so spoiled, that it's not surprising that I rarely find a pizza that can do a thing for me. This is a huge exception. Empire Pizza does it like New York. They're delicious from the first bite to the last. They're filling, they're authentic, they're imaginative and yet the wholesome standard for a NYC slice place that isn't in NYC. I can't recall a better one outside the Pizza Belt (that cold region between Chicago and New York, for those not in the know). In fact it's the best slice I've ever had in the Southern USA. So while Christian Bale may have come onto our radar in Empire Of The Sun, you should come here because it's more along the lines of, Empire Of The Yum.

Prices
Yullissa B.

Pizza is worth buying really good and sometimes they have good deals thank you for the best and fast service

Pepperoni Pizza Large
Cesar V.

Great service and fantastic pizza. Closes thing to a New York Pie I've found around the area. Definitely would recommend.

Braised short rib beef ravioli
Cherrish A.

Good service, average food. The salads are really good but it just feels like all thier food is under salted

Garlic Knots
Kelly N.

My bf and I only tried this place because they have deep dish pizza. I'm a fan of supreme pizzas, but their "Belly Buster" pizza actually had even more toppings, so of course we went with that one, plus a dozen garlic knots to treat ourselves. We placed an online order on a Wednesday at 6pm and it took 25 minutes. There were no problems with the order. Everything looked, smelled, and tasted delicious! The deep dish only comes in large, but it still felt bigger than I was expecting. I was in awe of how generous they were with the toppings! You could barely see cheese peeking out from how loaded this thing was. Flavor in every bite! The only thing that wasn't great was that the crust tasted a little bland compared to the rest of the pizza, but, luckily, the garlic knots came with marinara sauce, so dipping the crust in that solved that minor problem. The garlic knots were also delicious! You could see actual garlic in them, which I appreciated. All in all, this place can be pricey, but unless I find another pizza place that has deep dish up to this standard, I'll be coming back for sure!

Large Pepperoni Pizza
Tenny P.

I was in the area and craving pizza. I decided to take a chance on Empire Pizza. Upon entering, I noticed the decor was very fresh. The staff were friendly and greeted me immediately. I ordered a large pepperoni pizza to go. The pizza is legit. The crust is almost perfect. A true NY style crust. The sauce is fresh with real herbs in the sauce. There are even pieces of basill in the sauce. All the ingredients tasted nothing short of amazing. I give the pizza a 7.5/10 which is a pretty hard score to get when it comes to pizza in Texas. My only complaint is that while the crust was cooked to perfection, the cheese and pepperoni could have used more time in the oven. The cheese was not well melted in some areas and the pepperoni could have used some color. I know that when I reheat the leftovers in the air fryer, it's going to be a 10/10. The kids loved the pizza too. A true gem in Houston and very family friendly. I recommend you give them a try!

Penne ala Vodka with grilled Chicken
Lyly L.

I was craving for some comfort food that I enjoy best. I came across this establishment by chance. I ordered for Delivery. I ordered Penne Ala Vodka with Grilled Chicken and a Dozen Garlic Knots with extra Marinara Sauce. Let's start with the Penne Ala Vodka, The sauce is delicious and I give it a 8.5/10. The Chicken is a bit dry for me but seasoning is on point so a 6.5/10. The Penne which is the pasta itself I give it a 1/10. Pasta was over cooked, I did not get that chewy texture from an Al dente pasta. Garlic Knots were mushy, non seasoned so that is a 2/10 had the Garlic knots been seasoned with the beautiful amount of Garlic they put on top then it would have been a 5/10. Perhaps I should try to dine in next time. I decided on Delivery due to the crazy rain and thunder that was going on. Again these are my thoughts and feelings. I still recommend everyone to try it for their own opinions.

3 meat pizza

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Fantastic food, I'm from the northeast and this is the best NYC pizza in town. Highly recommend the pepperoni and Daytona wings.

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1 year ago

Good cheese pizza but more expensive than expected. $30 for a large cheese half pepperoni seems a bit steep to me. Thanks Obama

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Ask the Community - Empire Pizza

Do they offer a cheese stuffed crust Pizza? Thank you in advance.

No sir we do not. Thank you for asking

Do they have wine or beer?

I don't know either. I have never been. I just thought you should know that I don't know.

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Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria

Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria

4.5
(146 reviews)
9.4 mi

Magdalena's Trattoria was an absolute standout. The food was beautifully prepared, thoughtfully…read moreexecuted, and full of the kind of flavor that makes you slow down and appreciate every bite. Each dish felt intentional--comforting, elevated, and made with genuine care. The ambiance was warm, inviting, and effortlessly elegant--perfect for a relaxed but elevated dining experience with friends or a significant other. The service was equally impressive: warm, polished, attentive, and never overbearing. And Chef Nicolas, was a true delight--almost as sweet as the ice cream, which is saying a lot because that dessert was dangerously good! A wonderful Houston dining experience from start to finish. Magdalena's Trattoria is absolutely worth a visit--and a return visit.

This hidden gem in the West University area is fast becoming the top Italian restaurant in Houston!…read moreThe renowned Chef, Nicholas, who is using his mothers recipes, past down thru generations, hint the name of the restaurant is his Mothers name. Magdalena. Everything is home made down to the olive oil.. The bread, the pizzas, the salads, the pastas. Amazing. Delicious. Extensive wine list, nice quiet inside you can actually hear yourself talk. Great ambiance. 1st class service. Can't wait to go back.

Photos
Center bar area
Center bar area
Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.
Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.
Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.

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Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.
Mimo

Mimo

4.5
(110 reviews)
15.3 mi

The restaurant has old school New Jersey Italian vibes - low ceiling, a little moody ambiance - but…read morenone of the attitude. The staff is super friendly, and we were welcomed as we were (we had hoped to eat at a sister establishment but they sold out of what we wanted). Mimo's offers a great selection of Italian inspired apps, three well appointed pizzas, a few varied and surprising options for pasta dishes, and some mains. Items we tried: Pane - delicious Roasted Carrot Pizza - AMAZING, A little spicy, but definitely something we would order again. Pastas we ordered initially came out cold - our incredible waiter immediately corrected the issue. But from a flavor profile - Pansotti - sooooo delicious. You'd never guess that it was a vegetarian option - the mushrooms were so meaty. The delicate pouches with the spinach and ricotta were heavenly. Pappardelle - The lamb braised sauce had a depth of flavor that could rival any restaurant in Italy. My only tiny hope was that the pasta would have been served aldente, it was a little overcooked. But to each his own. Overall - really great. Would recommend. This would be great for a weeknight dinner or an off the beaten path date night.

Here's your proofread review:…read more Arrived around 7:30 PM on a Saturday night. It wasn't too packed. We chose patio seating, which was nice because the interior is quite dim -- although I now have 7 mosquito bites. I overall thought the food was good but nothing was stellar. We ordered the house salad and Capicola, which was a mistake because flavor-wise they were nearly identical, the main difference being that the Capicola had meat. Both salads were well done and had a nice balance of flavor and freshness. I really enjoyed the fish -- lightly salted, nutty, and crispy -- but I added the lemon it came with, which made it bitter. The rigatoni was creamy and cheesy. It was a solid pasta, nothing out of the ordinary but still enjoyable. Mimo is the type of place I would visit if I lived nearby.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Appetizer
Appetizer
Outdoor dining area

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Outdoor dining area
Mia Bella Trattoria

Mia Bella Trattoria

4.5
(811 reviews)
8.9 mi
$$

Thank you Mia Bella for the amazing food and service. I genuinely felt at home for my birthday…read moredinner here recently. Every dish was amazing from the appetizer sampler, fish, chicken all the protein options. We really enjoyed the burger, calamari, Brussels sprouts and seafood lasagna. The portions are done so beautifully and very generous. Thank you and thank our server Willie for making my birthday so special. The whole team worked very hard. It's so appreciated!

Food: Margherita Pizza (7.5/10) - Thin crust pizza, fresh…read moretasting dough & ingredients. Could have a little more cheese. Came out quick. The fresh red pepper offered at the table really kicked the flavor up a notch. Beet salad (8/10)- nice presentation. Red beets tasted really fresh & clean (not earthy) and the beets were thick enough to actually taste them! Balsamic dressing is very tasty. The fried cheese, tomatoes & candied pecans are a great complement to the beets and greens. Add the fresh cracked black pepper offered by the server. Seafood lasagna (8/10) - the seafood is not lacking! Its very seafood-forward. Salmon, shrimp, clams. You definitely know you are eating seafood. The cheese/seafood/pasta/sauce ratio is spot on, well balanced. It felt more like a seafood dish than a lasagna/pasta dish. My only complaint (and it's not really a negative) is I was in the mood for lasagna & after eating this dish, although it was very good, I still had a hankering for lasagna. Other: - Service in general was good. It was a slow day during my Sunday afternoon visit. - Bathrooms were well kept & had cool big mirrors in the hallway upon exiting the bathroom. - Parking in the attached garage is free. I would return again.

Photos
Inside
Inside
Eggs bene
Eggs bene
Ceasar salad (half)

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Ceasar salad (half)
North Italia

North Italia

4.2
(2.6k reviews)
7.5 mi
$$

I'm not often wowed by Italian food in restaurants but North Italia is amazing! I find that a lot…read moreof restaurants don't put enough seasoning. Here everything was hot and fresh and flavorful. First off, get the Zucca chips. I could literally eat a whole basketful. I need to figure out what slicer and oil they use because I can never get mine this thin and crispy. We then Arugula and Avocado salad, which was light and refreshing. Then onto the Cacio e Pepe Arancini. Cacio e Pepe is my favorite pasta, so I was a little disappointed they don't have it on the menu as a dish itself, but the arancini was delicious! For mains, my husband had the salmon. We ordered it medium and it came more well done, however, it was perfectly crispy on the outside and still moist in the center. Very tasty. I had the ricotta cavatelli, which might be the best pasta I've ever had. The shrimp were so plump and fresh. There was plenty of crab throughout. And the flavor had the perfect amount of salt and spice. My husband, who isn't a pasta person loved it too. It's a nice open space and service was friendly. We will definitely return to try more things.

Stopped by for the first time and I thought it was okay. With the open concept, it's pretty loud…read more Parking on the weekday wasn't horrible but I could see it being difficult during busier times. As for what I had: Zucca chips: 3/5 what I received was much different from everyone else's pictures. My chips were much smaller and mostly pieces of chips. Maybe I got the bottom of the batch? The flavor was good, but because they were small and folded in on themselves, they held a lot of the oil. The oil did taste fresh though. Eggplant parm (small plate): 3/5 most cheese and very little eggplant. The flavor was good. My waitress told me it came with noodles but then no noodles came out. I know this place is popular and everyone seems to like it. I would try it one more time just to see if maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but overall I didn't think it was worth the money.

Photos
North Italia
North Italia
North Italia

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Fabio's Artisan Pasta

Fabio's Artisan Pasta

4.9
(363 reviews)
10.4 mi
$$

I really wanted to like this place. I first tried their pasta when a friend cooked it for me, and…read moreit was great, so I went there myself. I bought lobster ravioli, four-cheese ravioli, and pasta sauce. Lobster ravioli is $2.40 each so I paid $24 for the box. When I opened it to cook, I only found 9 ravioli inside. I wouldn't have written this review if it had been just one missing. Then, when I put the cheese ravioli in boiling water, I found a bug floating in it. Will I go back? I'm not sure. It's such a shame because their ravioli and sauce taste so good.

This is more like a store where you can purchase fresh made pasta of your choice and sauce. I love…read morethe idea and being able to make it at home with fresh ingredients without actually having to make my own at home and no preservatives. With that said, I was unfortunate to have encounter mold in the sauce. Luckily I didn't heat it up. There's no preservatives so it doesn't last as long. They need to have a way to date the containers for each items they make. I just bought it last night and was quite upset when I was making late dinner. As soon as I got home, I kept everything refrigerated. Luckily I didn't mix it in with the pasta so I end up using a different sauce I already had on hand. Pasta are delicious and I would come back, if I'm in the area and planning to cook it within the same day or next. I don't think I can try any of their sauce. My tip to you is to inspect all of your items prior to purchasing. Sauce are hard to look through the containers so I hope they change their ways and just date their food items since everything doesn't have preservatives. Limited parking right in front but didn't see any other customers there. The lady at the register was nice but limited English.

Photos
Where the magic begins!
Where the magic begins!
Fabio's Artisan Pasta
Fabio's Artisan Pasta

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Aperitivo

Aperitivo

3.7
(70 reviews)
14.9 mi
$$$

It was my first time at Aperitivo and I must say I'm still impressed. I've had some time to sit…read morewith my thoughts/experience so here's the review you've all been waiting for. We arrived on a Friday evening during Happy Hour (HH) around 5:30pm. Maurizio stopped by to introduce himself and let us know that he would ensure we were taken care of. As stated above, it was happy hour during our time there but we ordered from allllll the menus haha! Check out the eats below: -Fried Shrimp -Chicken Parm Sliders -Tuna Tartare -Brussels Sprouts -Aperitivo Sliders -Bottle of Wine + Pizza (x2) ~Pepperoni Pizza ~Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bottles of the Sparkling and Rose - these are the bottles we selected based on their Social Hour menu bottle of wine & pizza deal for 35 dollars! Great deal! The experience was great, there were many waiters and waitresses stopping by the table to check in on us. The food was fresh, flavorful, and piping hot! The views are lovely and the ambiance is a combination of chill, chic, and relaxing. Very vibey and spacious place. The restrooms are really nice as well and they were clean and stocked. Aperitivo is definitely on my list of places to return to, especially for happy hour. It's worth it to check this place out!

We had a reservation for 9:00 PM for an indoor table, but ended up waiting until almost 10:00 PM…read morebefore being seated in the lounge area. We were never asked for our drink order and, for the most part, weren't even acknowledged by any server. The manager did stop by and apologized, offering complimentary shots, which was appreciated, but we still weren't asked what we wanted to drink afterward. Meanwhile, we watched several groups who arrived after us get seated, order, and receive both their drinks and food before anyone came to our table. At that point, it felt like we had simply been forgotten. The atmosphere is nice, but the service really took away from the experience. I understand busy nights happen, but basic communication and acknowledging your guests goes a long way.

Photos
Gorgeous place
Gorgeous place
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Aperitivo spritz

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Aperitivo spritz
Bellissimo

Bellissimo

4.5
(85 reviews)
13.1 mi

Food was incredible, I would give them a 10 if I could. Pasta was fresh, sauce perfect, seafood…read morefresh and plentiful. Price is very reasonable for quality of food. We went before the theatre so arrived early so not crowded, but service was perfect. Building is old, but maintained well and very clean and comfortable. The part of town in interesting - independence Heights is starting to gentrify but in transition. I really hope more people will venture out there and keep them going until it is booming like the Heights.

The food was very good, and the service was decent overall. We enjoyed our meal, which is why it's…read moredisappointing that our experience ended the way it did. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and nowhere on the menu did it mention that it was served with a slice of kiwi hidden underneath the whipped cream. I'm allergic to kiwi, and because it was completely covered, I didn't realize it was there until after I had already taken a bite. I brought this to our server's attention, not because I was looking for a discount or anything free, but simply because I wanted the staff to be aware so this wouldn't happen to another customer with a food allergy. Instead, the first response I received was asking if I had read the menu, which I had. Unfortunately, the menu never mentioned kiwi being part of the dessert. What really bothered me was overhearing the conversation afterward. Our server spoke with another staff member a few booths away, and I heard comments along the lines of, "Well, he should've mentioned his allergy," and "He should've asked." It felt like the responsibility was being placed entirely on me rather than acknowledging that an undisclosed ingredient had been served. I understand that customers with allergies should communicate them whenever possible, but I also think restaurants have a responsibility to disclose ingredients that aren't typically expected, especially when they're hidden in the presentation. I've had tiramisu many times and have never encountered one served with kiwi tucked beneath whipped cream. Again, the food itself was good, and this review isn't about trying to get compensation. I genuinely wanted to help prevent a similar situation for someone else. Unfortunately, the way my concern was handled left me feeling dismissed and caused me to lose confidence in the restaurant's approach to food allergies.

Photos
Bellisimo (inside)
Bellisimo (inside)
Pollo Alla Bellissimo
Pollo Alla Bellissimo
Dining area

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Dining area

Empire Pizza - pizza - Updated July 2026

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