Spitz Shines!

by Lisa Sciortino

Frisco has officially become a North Texas dining destination courtesy of an influx of innovative and outstanding eateries that have opened their doors here in recent years. 

From fast-food favorites to fine dining, burgers to biryani, Nashville hot chicken to Chinese hot pot, one thing is certain: Culinary options in our city have never been greater. 

Amid Frisco’s increasingly crowded dining scene, a location of the fast-casual chain Spitz is holding its own. 

 Tucked in a strip mall on Warren Parkway, in the shadow of several high-end, renowned restaurants in residence across the street at The Star, this funky gem serves tasty takes on Mediterranean street food as well as a few Indian favorites.  

Under the glow of its vibrant pink neon sign, my teenage son and I entered the place on a recent weeknight and were surprised to be among only a handful of diners (although the takeout business appeared brisk). We were greeted by a friendly staffer who, after learning we were first timers, offered a couple of menus for us to sit and peruse prior to placing our order at the counter. 

Spitz’s double-sided menu is absolutely packed with an array of yummy and mostly healthy-sounding entrees, including Doner Wrap sandwiches: warm, grilled flatbread loaded with veggies — chopped bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, shredded romaine and cabbage among them — thinly shaved meats (a choice of beef, lamb, chicken or a combination of the three) or falafel (deep fried balls of mashed, seasoned chickpeas) and generously drizzled with creamy tzatziki sauce. 

 Other offerings include the sizeable Doner Salad, a trio of “bowls” (featuring rice or the ancient grain quinoa, veggies and a choice of the aforementioned proteins) as well as a selection of vegan and vegetarian entrees. 

It is worth noting that the Frisco location of the chain (which operates in a half-dozen states with five additional locations forthcoming, according to its website) is the only one that also serves a trio of entrees featuring paneer, a fresh cheese that is a culinary staple in India. 

 Awash in vibrant neon colors and with quirky lighting fixtures, Spitz boasts a fun, funky, industrial-esque interior design. An eclectic assortment of electronic, classic rock and ‘80s pop tunes pumps through the air. The place salutes its neighbors across the parkway, the Dallas Cowboys, via a blue-and-white football-themed mural on a wall adjacent to the front door. 

Meanwhile, the rear and side walls of the eatery are adorned with similarly styled murals of the Frisco water tower and long-gone local signage, as well an image of the former Box Ranch mansion during its heyday when it served as the setting for the series Dallas. 

 Spitz also boasts a petite bar where cocktails, craft beer, whiskey and an assortment of other adult libations may be ordered and enjoyed. A small selection of board games (think: Yahtzee, Battleship and checkers) is available for playing at the dining room’s tables. 

As healthful as many of the items on Spitz’s menu seem to be, there are a few decadent dishes to be had, mostly in the form of sides. 

Case in point: My son and I started our meal with the loaded Street Cart Fries (“A Must Try,” the menu insists). We opted for Spitz’s “famous” thin cut fries (although their Sweet Potato Waffle Fries are also an option). The perfectly crisp pile is topped with chopped red onions, bell peppers and tomatoes, thinly sliced pepperoncini, kalamata olives and feta cheese crumbles that are generously drizzled with a garlic aioli. Hands down, this dish is worth the price of admission and truly is a meal in itself. 

 An unabashed fan of hummus (which I order whenever I spy it on a menu), we also got Spitz’s oh-so-creamy version of this traditional dish. It is accompanied by strips of crispy pita bread that are tossed in the place’s self-proclaimed “secret seasoning.” Warm and slightly crunchy, the bread provided a perfect juxtaposition to the cool dip. 

We may have stopped there had we known how large the portion sizes of the entrees are here.  That was a rookie mistake, for sure. 

I opted for the Mediterranean Doner Wrap, which was (no exaggeration here) about the length as my forearm and nearly as wide around. Falafel, along with the previously noted selection of veggies, kalamata olives and garbanzos are sprinkled with a dill-forward Za’atar spice mix, drizzled with creamy tzatziki and enveloped in soft lavash flatbread resulting in a fantastic amalgamation of flavors. 

My son went with the Gyro Combo, which boasted some of the tastiest, most tender chunks of chicken I’ve encountered in a while. Also cradled in the fluffy pita that serves as this sandwich’s base are chunks of onion, tomato and feta cheese as well as French fries (still more fries are served on the side). All of this is topped with tzatziki and Spitz’s slightly spicy Berliner sauce. 

 We wrapped up our meal with Spitz’s version of the traditional Greek dessert Baklava. Comprised of crispy layers of nut-filled phyllo pastry, our first bites of these petite, diamond-shaped treats hit us with an explosion of floral flavor (my guess is it’s flavored with a rose water simple syrup). This sweet, flaky treat is not to be missed. 

In city like Frisco, where the variety of dining options and culinary choices available is vast, it would be easy to overlook a spot such as Spitz. That truly would be a shame, however, since the flavorful food and terrific service at this fun, filling, family-friendly eatery unquestionably is on par with many of its high-profile neighbors.