Bungalow neighbourhood north of Buffalo Bayou with a White Oak Drive food cluster: Coltivare, Eight Row Flint, Pinkerton's Barbecue and Heights Theater anchor the strip.
Coltivare in Houston is Ryan Pera's Italian room on White Oak Drive since 2014, with wood-fired pizzas, on-site vegetable gardens and salads pulled minutes before they hit the table.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Garden salad from the on-site beds
Order: The Margherita pizza and whichever pasta is on the day's board. Salads come from the back garden.
Tip: Walk-in only. Get there before 6pm or be ready to wait at the bar for 90 minutes.
Truth BBQ in Houston is Leonard Botello IV's Heights Boulevard smokehouse, the Brenham original relocated in 2019, with post-oak-smoked brisket Texas Monthly's Top 50 list backs every year.
Signature: Brisket, Pulled pork
Order: Brisket fatty, sliced thick. Pulled pork. A side of pinto beans and a slice of the strawberry cake.
Tip: Open Wed to Sun, lunch only until they sell out (usually 2 to 3pm). Get there by 11am for brisket; the line moves fast.
Pinkerton's Barbecue in Houston is Grant Pinkerton's Heights smokehouse on Airline Drive, a Michelin-recognised joint with brisket, smoked turkey and the new 2026 Upper Kirby second location.
Signature: Brisket, Smoked turkey
Order: Brisket fatty, smoked turkey, beef ribs when they show up.
Tip: Open Wed to Sun for lunch only. The newer 3801 Farnham Upper Kirby location opened January 2026 and has shorter lines.
Coltivare in Houston is the Heights Italian room on White Oak Drive from Ryan Pera, with wood-fired pizzas, on-site vegetable gardens and a small-plates menu open evenings only.
Signature: Wood-fired Margherita pizza, Garden salad
Order: Margherita pizza, whichever pasta is on the daily board, the salad from the back garden.
Tip: Walk-in only, party of six max. Get there before 6pm or wait an hour.
Eight Row Flint in Houston is the Heights icehouse from Agricole Hospitality in a converted Citgo gas station on Yale Street, with brisket tacos, frozen margaritas and 200 whiskeys.
Signature: Brisket tacos, Margarita
Order: Brisket tacos, the frozen-tied-with-Topo-Chico margarita, queso fundido.
Tip: The patio under the old gas station canopy is the seat. East End second location for a different crowd.
Truth BBQ in Houston is Leonard Botello IV's Heights Boulevard smokehouse since 2019, with post-oak-smoked brisket regularly ranked on Texas Monthly's Top 50 list and a strawberry cake to close.
Signature: Brisket, Strawberry cake
Order: Brisket fatty. The strawberry cake (the legend of Truth). Pulled pork.
Tip: Wed to Sun lunch only until sold out, usually 2 to 3pm. Get there by 11am for brisket.