Along East Central Texas Expressway in Harker Heights, The Heights Pizzeria and Drafthouse has quickly become the go-to spot for artisan pizza and good company under one roof. 🍕
Opened in October 2023 by a hospitality-savvy local family, the restaurant blends Italian recipes passed down through generations with a full drafthouse bar and weekend brunch.
Between a Godfather pie loaded with Sicilian meatballs and a Quinceañera pizza topped with Mexican chorizo, this family-owned pizzeria has built a menu diverse enough to keep every table talking.
How The Heights Pizzeria won Harker Heights’ hearts
The Heights Pizzeria and Drafthouse is run by the Halabi family, with Mike Halabi at the helm alongside his sons Jed and Daniel, who have become a well-known name in Central Texas hospitality. 👨👦👦
Before switching to their current Italian-inspired concept, the family operated Palmera restaurant in the very same building, giving them years of hands-on experience in the space before
The Heights opened its doors on October 23, 2023. Their goal from day one was straightforward: create a place where people in Harker Heights could enjoy handcrafted food in a space that feels genuinely welcoming and familiar.
That mission shows in the menu itself, built around artisan pizza made fresh daily using nothing frozen or pre-made, alongside Italian sandwiches, wings, and salads.
What has fueled the restaurant’s fast rise, though, is a menu broad enough to satisfy nearly any craving under one roof. 🍝
Diners consistently order pies like the Carnivore and Omnivore, while the specialty Heights pizza, layered with charbroiled chicken, spinach, and artichoke hearts on pesto, has become a favorite among regulars looking for something beyond classic pepperoni.
The Halabi family recently announced a second location opening in nearby Killeen, proof that the crispy, loaded pizzas and welcoming vibe locals rave about have resonated well beyond Harker Heights.
That blend of family hospitality, made-from-scratch cooking, and a menu with genuine variety is exactly what has made The Heights Pizzeria and Drafthouse one of Central Texas’ fastest-rising local favorites. 🌟
Food Highlights
- Pie Presidente: Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, portobello mushrooms, and fresh garlic. 🍕
- Pie The Heights: Charbroiled chicken, baby leaf spinach, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, and fresh garlic on pesto. 🌿
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Pie Carnivore: Pepperoni, Genoa salami, Canadian bacon, Italian sausage, and fresh garlic. 🥓
- Pie Texas BBQ: BBQ chicken, smoky bacon, Tillamook Cheddar, red onions, and green onions on garlic sauce. 🍗
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Pie Omnivore: Pepperoni, Italian sausage, baby leaf spinach, button mushrooms, white onions, bell peppers, and black olives. 🍄
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Pie Quinceañera: Mexican chorizo, queso fresco, Roma tomatoes, sweet corn, jalapeños, fresh cilantro, a lime wedge, and Valentina’s hot sauce. 🌶️
- Pie The Godfather: Sicilian meatballs, pepperoni, fire-roasted tomatoes, red onions, fresh garlic, and basil. 🍕
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Pie Aloha: Canadian bacon, pineapple, smoky bacon, green onions, and Parmesan-Reggiano, putting a smoky spin on the classic sweet-and-savory Hawaiian-style pizza. 🍍
Atmosphere
The Heights Pizzeria and Drafthouse blends a casual pizzeria feel with a full-service bar, giving the space a welcoming, hangout-friendly energy. 🍺
The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, drawing a steady crowd from morning weekend brunch service through late-night Drafthouse hours on weekends.
It works well for a family dinner earlier in the evening and a livelier bar scene once the night picks up. It’s the kind of Harker Heights, Texas spot that manages to feel familiar and communal rather than like just another chain pizzeria. 🍕
Bottom Line
The Heights Pizzeria and Drafthouse earns its fast-growing reputation through genuinely handcrafted pizza, a family with deep Central Texas hospitality roots, and a menu broad enough to satisfy any craving.
Add a full draft-house bar and specialty pies like The Godfather and the Quinceañera, and it’s easy to see why this Harker Heights restaurant is already expanding into new locations. 🍕
Address:
201 E Central Texas Expy #1460, Harker Heights, TX 76548
📞 (254) 432-7903
🕔 Open Sun, 11 AM–8 PM; Mon–Thu, 11 AM–10 PM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–11 PM