Foodie News
Buzzed-over restaurant grocery store opens in historic Heights spot — with rooftop dining power
After almost a year of construction, the Heights General Store will open for its first dinner service Thursday night. Located next to the recently opened Torchy's Tacos on 19th street, the restaurant/grocery store has made extensive changes to the former Harold in the Heights space it took over.
Heights General Store will serve dinner Thursday and Friday before opening for breakfast, lunch and dinner starting on Saturday.
“I am so excited to bring this unique concept to the neighborhood," owner Alli Jarrett said in a statement. "My goal is to provide a relaxed, comfortable environment with convenience close to home and a delicious dining experience. Supporting our local and regional growers and suppliers is also important to me."
A market will sell local produce, prepared foods, fresh meats, bread and other items, but the upstairs restaurant is the real star.
Downstairs, a market will sell local produce, prepared foods, fresh meats, bread and other items, but the upstairs restaurant is the real star. The dining room utilizes reclaimed wood from a 19th century barn and incorporates a mirror from the Harold's men's dressing room. Although situated in a dry part of the Heights, diners will be able to purchase drinks from the full bar by signing up for a free membership to "Harold's Club."
Now that the weather's finally cooled off, expect the rooftop terrace to be a favorite place to dine, particularly during brunch.
Former Catalan/Hay Merchant/Federal Grill chef Antoine Ware has created a menu based around Southern classics and local ingredients that's divided into starters, sharable plates and entrees. He's curing bacon and grinding fresh sausage. The restaurant makes it own dough for the pizza and flatbreads that emerge from the wood-fired, stone-floor pizza oven.
For those who want to sample the menu more broadly, Ware will offer a chef's tasting option ($60, $80 with wine). Full happy hour and dessert menus will follow in the coming weeks.
For now, a couple of the most intriguing options look to be the Gulf fish on the half shell and the shrimp-based Low Country Beaufort Stew. At $16, the restaurant's burger better deliver big flavor if it hopes to compete with the high-quality offerings from neighbors such as Down House and Hubcap Grille.