Reviewing Spitz: Mediterranean cuisine in North Portland.

Spitz Mediterranean Restaurant has been on my radar to check out for quite some time. It’s in my neighborhood in North Portland, so I drive and even walk my dog by it all the time. Its gluten-free friendly menu and street-style, colorful art on the building instantly drew me in.

Right away, you feel the restaurant’s effort to give the “street food” experience despite being a brick and mortar. For example, there is a large seating area along Killingsworth Street, and the restaurant behind it can open a large garage-type door to blend the line between the inside and the outside (weather permitting).

Inside, the walls are lined with colorful street-art murals featuring musicians playing instruments and athletes wearing Adidas — a nod to the restaurant’s proximity to the large Adidas headquarters. Even at 11 a.m. on a weekday, Spitz was busy with small groups meeting for lunch.

I didn’t realize it when I ate there, but Spitz has about 12 locations total across California, Oregon, Utah, and Minnesota, with more on the way. However, it still has a local and intimate feel, rather than a commercial one. I hope it keeps this vibe as it expands. The brand was started by two friends who wanted to bring a healthier version of the Mediterranean street food popular in European cities to the United States.

I’d say they succeeded. I ordered their Remix Bowl with chicken. It was a quinoa-based bowl with fresh veggies, crispy chickpeas, feta, and harissa, topped with a creamy dill tahini sauce. It was seriously one of the best salad bowls I’d ever eaten. Everything had the right proportions and amounts. I didn’t feel like there was too much or too little of any component, and I wasn’t overly full at the end.

There was a great mixture of textures and flavors. The chickpeas and cucumbers added crunch, while the dressing added creaminess to the salad. The seasoning of the chicken was also amazing.

I appreciate that Spitz is able to accommodate a variety of diets, such as gluten-free and vegan. They even have a vast drink menu with some very fun, inventive cocktails. While I wasn’t drinking at that time (11 a.m. is a bit early for me to start!), I definitely want to come back to try a few.

Overall, Spitz is a vibrant, well-conceived, and delicious restaurant. I have already told several people about my time there because it was so memorable. I am sure I’ll be back.