Some mornings, you just want pizza for breakfast. And we’re not talking about leftover Domino’s from your post-bar 3:00 a.m. bad decision. We’re talking fresh-out-of-the-oven, hot and bubbling breakfast pizza.
And because Houston is such a wonderful, wonderful place, you can get your fix of bright-and-early egg-topped pizza all over town. Here are five of our favorites:
1. The Southern
Where to find it: Royal Oak Bar & Grille Eggstraordinary ingredients: Hot Sauce, Chorizo, & Scallions
You can feast on this spicy flatbread during Royal Oak’s weekend brunch, available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The $7 mimosa pitchers and house DJ make for a fun time, but it’s the breakfast pizza that keeps us coming back for more. Baked on ultra-thin lavash, the square pie is piled with fluffy scrambled eggs, crumbles of hot chorizo, mozzarella, fresh green onions and a healthy dose of hot sauce — all of which the beautifully-charred crust holds up to with ease. For those of you who would like to keep your jeans buttoned, a vegetarian pie — topped with eggs, tomatoes, zucchini, roasted mushrooms, red onion, and basil — is just as satisfying.
2. Spicy Breakfast Pizza
Where to find it: Ruggles Green @ The Heights Eggstraordinary ingredients: Jalapeno Cream, Crispy Potato Strips, Sausage
Ruggles’ wood-fired pizzas are a fan favorite. And with the Heights location now serving breakfast on the weekends, you can get your pizza bright and early from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For this spicy pie, house-made organic wheat dough is topped with a jalapeรฑo cream base, then piled high with mozzarella and fontina, hunks of sausage, fried potato strips, sliced red onion, and spinach. When it comes crisped and oozing out of the wood-burning oven, it’s finished with fresh basil and an over-easy egg for good measure. Make sure to spread the love and coat each bite with the thick, luscious yolk. And be warned: This pizza is large enough to share.
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3. Build-Your-Own Breakfast Pizza
Where to find it: Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Eggstraordinary ingredients: Prosciutto di Parma, Farm-Fresh Eggs, Pesto, & More
Russo’s hand-tossed New-York-style pizza isn’t just for delivery. The Spring Valley location of Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen is serving up an Italian brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p,m. Choose from toppings like baby spinach, prosciutto di Parma, farm-fresh eggs, and jalapeรฑo. Round out the pie with your choice of housemade marinara, pesto, or garlic sauce and prepare to have a happy day.
4. Breakfast Pizza of the Day
Where to find it: Tiny Boxwood’s Eggstraordinary ingredients: Pancetta, Goat Cheese & Sunny-Side-Up Egg
The brunch menu at this charming, tucked-away cafรฉ changes often, but if you’re lucky, you’ll find a breakfast pizza on the small chalkboard menu. The incredibly thin and crusty dough still has a balance of softness, while melt-in-your-mouth toppings like crisp and salty pancetta, creamy and pungent goat cheese, and bright egg-yolk make each bite a little piece of heaven. Fresh squeezed lemonade and the garden view doesn’t hurt, either.
5. Grilled Flatbread Breakfast Pizza
Where to find it: Canopy Eggstraordinary ingredients: Smoked Mozzarella, Arugula, & Roasted Tomatoes
Head to the sleek and welcoming Canopy during brunch hours (Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) for a taste of this crispy breakfast pie. The grilled flatbread — slightly charred with a rich and smoky flavor — comes topped with tart and tender roasted tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, chunks of bacon, and two eggs cooked-your-way. Fresh arugula finishes off the decadent pie with a peppery bite, while shaved parmesan brings a sharp nutty flavor. Have your eggs prepared whichever way you please; you can’t go wrong with this one.
This article appears in Feb 6-12, 2014.
