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About

Welcome to CRISP Wine, Beer & Eatery! Since 2012, we’ve proudly served the Houston Heights community as a family-friendly Italian restaurant and bar, owned and operated by Al Scavelli, Angelo Scavelli, and Olsi Lito. Our charming 1960s standalone building sits on nearly an acre in Shad Acres, right inside the loop in The Heights. In 2011, we renovated the space, preserving the original terrazzo floors and terracotta block walls to maintain its character.

We’re grateful to have been a neighborhood dining staple for over 12 years, and we look forward to many more. Open seven days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner, we invite you to enjoy our delicious offerings any day.

Our venue is perfect for all kinds of events—whether it’s a corporate luncheon, birthday celebration, or baby shower, we can accommodate you. We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and a memorable dining experience, thanks to our chef-inspired Italian American menu, packed with flavor.

One of our specialties is our artisanal brick oven pizzas and calzones, crafted in our wood-fired pizza oven for that perfect, smoky flavor. You won’t want to miss them!

We also offer an extensive drink program featuring handcrafted cocktails, over 100 hand-selected fine wines, and seasonal craft brews. Whether you prefer dining at the bar, relaxing in one of our cozy booths, or enjoying the fresh air on our spacious 5,000 sq. ft. patio, we have a spot just right for you.

Don’t forget to join us for live music every Friday and Saturday night! CRISP is all about bringing friends, family, and colleagues together for great food and good times.

We invite you to visit our website at www.crisphouston.com to explore our menus and learn more about us. Be sure to check out our (ABOUT) story video as well. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

The Sauce

“The Sauce” finds its origins with the Scavelli brother’s great grandfather, Casto Caiazza (pronounced Ki-azza). Casto was born in the late 1800s in the small village of Ciatz (pronounced See-ots) near Naples Italy, an area known for its Pizza Pie. Around the turn of the 20th century, the oppression of the “Black Hand” (aka, the Italian Mafia) led Casto to flee to America with hopes for a better life and a dream of sharing his family’s secret sauce with the New World.

During this time a young girl, Maria Zeppetelli, also living in Naples, Italy, was working in a family restaurant making pizza in stone ovens for local villagers. She also migrated to America in the early 1900’s. Casto and Maria settled in an Italian community in western Pennsylvania where they were wed through a family arranged marriage. While Maria was baking her famous pizza dough, Casto was perfecting his sauce-- not only was it an arrangement between man and woman but also between bread and sauce… a perfect combination!

This family recipe has been passed on through generations, bringing family and friends together in restaurants and home kitchens alike. At the heart of Crisp’s delicious pizza is “The Sauce”, a savory blend of Italian herbs and spices including oregano, parsley, garlic and other “proprietary” ingredients.

Best served with wine, as it was in Casto’s days, “The Sauce” will forever be in the hearts and cookbooks of the Scavelli family, and now in the mouths of Crisp’s valued guests.

About

The Sauce

Our Team