New York Pizzeria

Russo's New York Pizzeria, which was voted the Best Pizza of 2008 by Houston Press, shows off its coal-fired ovens by baking up a menu loaded with flakily textured pies and calzones. Unleash voracious taste buds on a specialty coal-fired New York calzone—infused with ricotta cheese, canadian bacon, and mozzarella ($9.95)—or a cheese- and vegetable-packed stromboli ($9.95). For larger parties, grab a brick-oven, deep-dish, or by-the-slice pizza, such as the Manhattan Special—thinly sliced Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, and mozzarella cheese ($14.95 for a medium). If circles aren’t appealing enough, share a few geometrically eclectic helpings of chicken picatta ($13.95) or tiger shrimp alfredo ($16.95) with the table.