May 16, 2026 | 11:00 am
Editor’s note: It’s time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, from an unusual bar interaction to a new pizzeria and a neighborhood restaurant’s goodbye. Read on for our most popular stories, then find the best things to do this weekend right here.
1. Houston bar owner speaks out about surprise arrest for health code violations. One of the most unusual interactions between a restaurant and City of Houston officials took place on May 6 when Betelgeuse Betelgeuse owner Chris Cusack was arrested for health code violations at his location on Washington Avenue. Cusack told CultureMap his side of the story.
2. Prolific Houston pizza chef fires up a new Italian restaurant in River Oaks. One of Houston’s most prolific pizzaiolos has quietly opened a new restaurant in River Oaks. Anthony Russo, founder of Russo’s New York Pizzeria, opened Anthony’s New York Italian in the former Pie Tap Pizza space at 3748 Westheimer…