Memorial’s New Pizza Spot Serves Aperitivo-Style Tiki Cocktails
The team behind Houston’s fast-casual bowl and salad mini-chain Leaf & Grain is branching out with a new pizza restaurant. Murray’s Pizza & Wine opened Friday, October 24, in the Memorial neighborhood. The restaurant is located at 9655 Katy Fwy, Suite 3110, right next to the newly opened Leaf & Grain.
Murray’s menu is centered around its lineup of pies including a sausage alla vodka with Italian sausage, whipped ricotta, fennel, and vodka sauce; the Not-Hawaiian topped with salami piccante, pickled shallots, and pineapple-infused hot honey; and the wild mushroom with garlic cream, roasted wild mushrooms, parmigiano reggiano, and salsa verde. Familiar options include cheese, pepperoni, and prosciutto and arugula pizzas.
Small bites are also available which include marinated olives with citrus, fennel, rosemary, and olive oil; white bean hummus with pistachio and sumac, served with crostini; and a focaccia and burrata pairing with cracked pepper, flake salt, and olive oil. Heartier options include a Texas Black Angus and Duroc pork meatball in tomato sauce with whipped herbed ricotta; a beef carpaccio with smoked sea salt, pickled shallot, and vincotto; and a crudo of yellowtail hamachi and salmon in leche de tigre, finished with salsa macha, Fresno pepper, and oranges.
Desserts include Italian bread pudding with amaretto, vanilla gelato, warm caramel, and pistachio brittle; a horchata tiramisu with horchata custard, cinnamon cream, black cocoa, and chocolate crumble; and assorted gelatos.
As the group’s first foray into a full-service restaurant, Murray’s features a full bar with natural wines from around the world, including bottles from local purveyors like Padre’s Wine. The back bar also highlights Texas beers and spirits, along with a cocktail menu that leans into Italian classics like a frozen blood orange negroni and spritzes. A bit unexpected are “AperiTiki” drinks that combine elements of Italian aperitivos and classic tiki drinks — two things on vastly different spectrums. The former is known for light, breezy, effervescent sipping and the latter is the standard for boozy, sweet cocktails. The bar menu was developed with Derek P. Brown, a veteran beverage director with experience at Riel and Blood Brothers.
The 2,800-square-foot space was designed by Garrison Design Office, whose projects also include Better Luck Tomorrow and Nancy’s Hustle. And the restaurant’s named after co-owner Deets Hoffman’s wife, Murray.
Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Reservations will be available online through Resy.
