Star Pizza

"Credited with introducing pizza delivery to Houston, Star Pizza has been a Houston mainstay for nearly 50 years. The hometown pizza joint, which has locations in Upper Kirby, Downtown, and Katy, serves a variety of New York and Chicago-style deep dish pizzas, with a cult following for its wheat crust and house-made ranch dressing, in particular. Try some of its unique combinations, including its Cowbell that’s loaded with slow-smoked brisket and barbecue sauce, or its newest chef’s special — a hybrid deep-dish dough topped with a salted butter base, marinara, cheese, two different styles of pepperoni, link sausage, hot honey, and flower-like swirls of ricotta. Can’t get enough pizza? Catch its all-you-can-eat pizza lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays." - Brittany Britto Garley, Kayla Stewart

"Star Pizza is a family-owned restaurant with ambience as warm as its food—the outlet owes its homey qualities to its painted walls and original architecture, as it was initially a house bought by the two founders to act as both a pizzeria and a home. Enjoy made to order pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and sweets being served up in its lively atmosphere since its establishment in 1976." - Daniel Bosse & Brandon Robinson

"Though Star Pizza allows guests to choose from white or wheat crust on its New York and Chicago deep dish-style pizzas, the wheat crust has a cult following, as does the house-made ranch dressing. Try the Starburst with ground beef and Italian sausage; the three-cheese Cowbell, with slow-smoked brisket and barbecue sauce; or stop by on Tuesdays for its Street Taco pizza special, which includes different taco-inspired pizza combinations, including a birria version. Save room for the dessert pizza — an apple cinnamon pie topped with seasoned apples, toasted walnuts, and chocolate sauce." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Deep dish is the overlord at Star Pizza in Montrose. And whether you order a 10, 12, or 14-inch pie, the hefty silver pan that arrives at your table somehow always looks bigger than you expected. The crust is golden, extra thick, and supports a mini-bathtub’s worth of red sauce. Freestyle the toppings with a laundry list of ingredients ranging from gorgonzola cheese to roasted poblano peppers. Or let Star do the hard work for you and get one of the specialty pizzas, like the Starburst with ground beef and Italian sausage." - Chelsea Thomas, Gianni Greene

"Star Pizza has been slinging pies from a two-story bungalow on the edge of Montrose since 1976. While the main pizza overlord here is deep dish, Star also makes New York-style pizza, gluten-free crust, a whole bunch of pasta dishes, sandwiches, and really addictive cheesy garlic bread. Order a deep dish pie, and, no matter the size, the hefty silver pan that arrives at your table somehow always looks bigger than you expected. The crust is golden, extra thick, and supports a mini-bathtub’s worth of red sauce and toppings. Make your own pie and combine a laundry list of ingredients ranging from gorgonzola cheese to roasted poblano peppers. Or let Star do the hard work for you and get one of the specialty pizzas, like the Starburst with ground beef and Italian sausage. You could feed a small village at Star Pizza, so it’s great for big groups—whether that’s inside or on Star’s patio—or anyone who wants to grab a giant pizza to-go and eat like a king for a week. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel" - Chelsea Thomas