One of my favorite South Congress gems is everyone’s favorite pizza parlor Homeslice. Homeslice is one of those places that no matter when you go there is always a wait, but it is worth it. Monday evening, nothing sounded better to me than a salad and pizza to cure my post weekend blues, and sure enough one minute inside the eclectic, aromatic restaurant I felt better already. In a city filled with low-end trailers and high-end boutique restaurants Homeslice perfectly fills that middle ground spot I think Austin is missing; it’s casual and down to earth, but still makes for a fun dinner before going out or a nice spot to take a date. It has a small, but well executed wine list where the selections change regularly and the prices don’t spring above $8 at the very most. The food is outstanding, and not only is Homeslice committed to putting out the best New York City style pizza in Austin, the owners put their money where their mouth is by taking the staff on yearly trips to the Big Apple to learn new techniques and make sure the Homeslice pizza is as authentic as possible. Truth be told, the best thing about Homeslice in my opinion isn’t the pizza, it’s the Greek salad. With Homeslice’s salads you have the option to order in three different sizes (1/2 portion, whole, family style), and since the ½ portion is very generous you can save your wallet and appétit by ordering the smaller version. The best part about the salad isn’t just the sizable amount of vegetables and homemade dressing; it is all about the garlic knots that accompany the order. These little pieces of heaven are freshly baked in the special knot oven, and try as I might, I have never been able to walk away from a Homeslice meal without at least one. On Monday evening, my tablemate, who apparently likes to live dangerously, stole half my knot, and fingers were only spared due to my post-ACL lethargy because really, they are that good. Thankfully, our sausage, ricotta, and bell pepper pizza arrived just in time. The perfectly cooked, generously topped pizza pie hit the spot immediately. Occasionally I have found Homeslice’s crust to be slightly well done, but tonight it was only slightly crisp on the bottom from the grille to provide an extra crunch, but still chewy and soft, which is exactly what I prefer. Portions are huge so a medium is a great size to share. I have a hard time with Homeslice leftovers because the wood oven grilled pizza doesn’t make for the best cold pizza (my favorite) and the crust gets a little tough in reheating, so I try my hardest not to leave any on the plate, but it has yet to work. Still, Homeslice pizza fresh or a day later is still much, much better than most so I can’t complain! And, now that More Homeslice is open for take-out and delivery next door, it is even easier to enjoy this New York City-style pizza.

#6 Pizza w/Sausage, Ricotta, and Roasted Red Pepper. – $15.

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