Walking into a new restaurant can sometimes feel like opening a menu without knowing where to begin. At Spice in Heights, that feeling is understandable. The Houston Heights restaurant isn’t built around the predictable Mediterranean formula of hummus, gyros and kebab platters. Instead, its menu moves through Levantine and North African flavors, bringing together clay-pot tagines, house-marinated meats, roasted vegetables, seafood and desserts with a modern twist.
For a first-time visitor, the best approach may not be to pick one dish and stop there. The menu is better understood as a journey through different flavors – starting with something familiar, moving into bolder combinations and ending on a sweet note.
Begin with the Falafel
A good introduction starts with the Falafel. On paper, it sounds familiar. On the plate, it tells a different story. The falafel comes with roasted beetroot hummus, sumac onion, pomegranate and pepitas, bringing together earthy, tangy and crunchy elements. The combination gives a traditional favorite a distinctly modern character.
Then Let the Vegetables Take Center Stage
If there is one dish that challenges the idea that vegetables are merely supporting players, it is the Zahara, Arabic-style roasted cauliflower. Served with sautéed sprouts, cashew coconut cream and garlic tahini, it has enough richness and depth to hold its own alongside the restaurant’s meat dishes. Even dedicated meat eaters may find it worth sharing.
For the Meat Lover, Follow the Lamb
The Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops take the meal in a richer direction. The pistachio crust adds texture, while cauliflower-artichoke skordalia, pomegranate lamb jus and mint jelly bring contrasting flavors to the plate. It is the kind of dish that showcases the kitchen’s more elaborate side without losing the character of the lamb.
Seafood Offers a Different Route
For diners looking for something lighter, the Seared Red Snapper provides another perspective. The tomato-coconut reduction and saffron vegetable couscous add enough warmth and spice to keep the dish interesting without making it feel as heavy as some of the grilled meats.
Don’t Leave Without Trying the Tagine
Perhaps the most revealing dish for a first visit is the Meatball Tagine. Tangy tomato sauce, olives and preserved lemon give it a distinctly North African personality, while the fried egg and saffron couscous make it feel comforting and familiar at the same time. It is also a good example of why the restaurant’s menu is difficult to place in just one culinary box.
Save Room for the Baklava Cheesecake
Then comes dessert. The Baklava Cheesecake brings honey-soaked phyllo, spiced walnuts and cheesecake together with vanilla bean ice cream. It is indulgent, but more importantly, it continues the restaurant’s habit of taking recognizable flavors and combining them in unexpected ways.
For drinks, the Midnight Express Martini, made with espresso, Licor 43 and Irish cream, offers a fitting finale after a substantial meal.
So, What Should You Order at Spice in Heights?
If it is your first visit, don’t treat the menu like a checklist. Share it. Start with the Falafel, add the Zahara for something vegetable-forward, then choose between the Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops and Meatball Tagine. Add the Seared Red Snapper if you’re dining with a larger group, and keep some space for the Baklava Cheesecake.
That approach gives you more than a taste of individual dishes. It gives you a sense of what Spice in Heights is trying to do – take familiar ingredients and traditional influences, move them in unexpected directions, and create a meal that is meant to be discovered one plate at a time.