A Week of Houston Pizza Bagels and Deli Counters

Start at Katz's if a generous sandwich tells you more than a trend report. Then walk along Shepherd toward Via 313 for a crisp Detroit-style edge. For a friend who photographs the first bite, I'd split the deli order and save room for a square pizza.

A bagel makes a useful change of pace after yesterday's two-stop appetite. Burger Vibe pairs New York bagels with house-ground burgers, a combination I'd keep in mind when the hunt turns toward a counter rather than a dining room. Ask about the bagel selection before choosing your order.

Midweek, I'd make Coastline the uncomplicated choice for someone who wants a pizza and a drink without turning the evening into a checklist. The Houston Avenue pizzeria puts pies and cocktails together. Ask which pizza is available first, then decide whether the table or the order deserves your photograph.

For the friend who likes a room as much as the plate, Incanto adds a cocktail-bar mood to the pizza run. Order a wood-fired style pizza first; the striking glassware offers another frame. It's a useful contrast to the simpler counter stops earlier in the week.

On Waugh Drive, Pizza Birra Vino makes sense when the group wants pizza with beer or wine rather than another hurried counter visit. I'd choose an artisan pizza first and keep the wings for a second decision. That leaves the pie as the clear subject of the evening.

By Saturday, a coffee counter is a welcome pause for anyone tracking a week of substantial slices. Active Passion pairs its in-house coffee with smoked brisket bánh mì. I would ask about the sandwich first, then choose a drink and give that combination the photograph it deserves.

Finish downtown at Frank's, where giant New York-style slices bring the week's pizza comparison back to its simplest form. For a friend deciding where to eat in Houston after a long day, I'd start with one slice rather than a whole pie, then see if the appetite warrants more.