Beautiful place, with its own bread bakery. Food is okay-ish. Our waitress didn't know menu well. When I was asking questions about dishes he seemed confused and lost. I end up ordering shrimp and my boyfriend ordered kebab. When I got shrimp I immediately lost appetite. They boiled full shrimp with heads, tails and legs and top it up with sauce. I decided to give a shot to the shrimp and eat it, taste was not good. My boyfriend saw my disappointment and offered his kebab instead. I tried kebab and aftertaste was awful. I decided just to eat bread and gave the kebab back to my boyfriend. Food was the biggest disappointment at this place. Waitress was not the nicest but I can't say he was rude. I left this place hungry... I have 2 star review for beautiful atmosphere at the restaurant and freshly backed bread. read more

Hamsa - Shrimp with heads, tails and legs. - Mediterranean Near Me - Houston, Texas

Such a cute Mediterranean restaurant with a very airy, coastal vibe inside! Love the open concept with the light ocean blues, light wood and greenery! The place has fancy service and fancy prices, but the food is a little lacking. First off, they don't mention this in the menu and they don't even tell you upon serving, but they charge like $2 a head for water. We had to ask about it when the bill came, which I think is a bit shady just cause they don't tell you in advance. The water also comes in a reusable pitcher, that they say is purified by a machine but just taste Iike normal tap, which isn't an option here. Water aside, we order a ton of food so that we could get a good representation of the menu. We started with the whole shebang of Salatim. Some were good and some were a miss just cause they were so sweet, but that pita came out piping hot from the brick oven. They would only serve 1-2 pitas at a time and wouldn't bring out more even when asked. It was a bit annoying having to ask for more every few mins cause we had a table of 4. What they give you with the salatim wasn't proportional to the amount of dip that came out. And you have to pay for each additional pita! What surprisingly stood out the most was the beet salad and carrot harissa! Lamb hummus contained a tiny amount of really really bland lamb. 1/5 King Oyster Mushroom came with a chimichurri sauce and was flavorful and delish. 4/5 Kebab was also pretty decent 4/5 Lamb Lahmajun was a lamb flatbread and was the most disappointing dish! It came with that same bland lamb that came with the hummus. It was like the chef forgot to add salt. We couldn't even eat this dish and left it on the table. 0/5 Shakshuka was a tomato based dip with merguez sausage. Again, bland and not as flavorful as it looks. 1/5 Overall, it was an expensive meal that was good or just horribly bland. I was hoping for more cause I love their sister bakery Badolina and the bread service and steaks were pretty good at Doris Metropolitan. But alas, this one just fails to hit the mark. read more

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There were some hits and misses. Overall, I would return for the ambiance, but that's really what you're paying for. There are many other more tasty and affordable options in Houston. For the salatim- baba ganoush and matbucha (stewed tomatoes and red bell peppers) were the winners. I also liked the labneh (yogurt) and harissa carrots (spicy). Beet salad was a miss, but I am not really a fan of shredded beets, which I feel are always very dry. The pita was fluffy, dense, and very tasty. King oyster mushroom skewer (3/5) - some pieces were better seasoned than others. Comes with an herb salad and the standard Mediterranean salad (cucumber, tomatoes, parsley). Falafel sandwich (4/5) - comes with olives and pickles. Here is my unsolicited opinion about the water upcharge. Usually when a restaurant tries to upcharge for water they will offer the options of still or sparkling (and then you clarify that you want the free tap water haha). It did feel kind of shady that the waiter just poured the "special filtered" Nero water without giving us other options. read more

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I normally love a restaurant with dips, but I think there are more flavorful options and better service elsewhere.

Came in for a quick drink and left very happy with the food and service!! The chicken skewer was smoky and delicious and I had the Trinidad sour which was incredible. The pita is phenomenal. Will be back! read more

Naya served us tonight and we had a great time! The drinks and food were amazing and the conversation at the bar was delightful. Coming back for the best hummus in Houston read more

The food was delicious. I had the green salad (it had arugula and sesame seeds with a citrus dressing covered in grated cheese - yum!). The chicken thigh skewer was scrumptious. The eggplant baladí with tahini, pine nuts, and pomegranate was light but satisfying with their fresh, out-of-the-oven pita bread. Even my mock tail (Raspberries in Paradise) was epic. My experience was such that I was making plans to return within the week. read more

Hamsa - Baladí Eggplant, Chicken Thigh Skewers, Green Salad, and warm pita bread. A Mediterranean feast to the eyes and taste buds. - Mediterranean Near Me - Houston, Texas

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There isn't sufficient vocabulary to describe what a lovely experience I had at Hamsa! Darling venue, great service, and amazing food. I couldn't have asked for more! We started with the Whole Shabang + Spicy Experience and the Hummus Complet and then shared the chicken and beef skewers and rice for our entree. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, was awesome. The pita was warm, fresh, and super fluffy so even when I was full I wanted to keep dipping and dipping into the Whole Shabang and hummus. For dessert, we got the delectable beurre cake (peep the picture), which was subtle and oh so creamy. I will 100% return! read more

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Five stars for our server, Sean A, this past week! We will definitely be back again soon.

Came here for Houston Restaurant Weeks dinner on a weekday evening. We made a reservation and were immediately seated. Service throughout the evening was very friendly and attentive - our waiter was really informative and walked us through the menu offerings and inspirations before making recommendations. I ordered their Spritz di Galileo (love that they have a whole Spritz menu section) which was a refreshing cocktail of lime, cucumber, liquor, and bubbles. For my HRW selections I went with the lamb hummus starter, falafel second course, chicken skewer main, and Petite Beurre cake for dessert. All of the courses were excellent, it is hard to pick a favorite; I left absolutely stuffed! The lamb hummus was a fun elevation of your typical plain hummus with the lamb and pine nuts adding a nice touch of salty depth. I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but this was my first falafel ever, and it was so delicious (clearly I have been missing out). The chicken skewer came with a veggie skewer as well, so it was a well-balanced plate and the chicken was cooked to perfection, not burnt or overdone as can easily be done when roasting skewers. Lastly, the dessert was amazing, but that is to be expected from the great minds behind this restaurant group (hello, Badolina). Parking: Rice Village garages or complimentary valet in the small parking garage located next to Hamsa/Badolina (entrance near Badolina side). read more

The food is sooooo good and the service has always been excellent The smoked baba ganoush is our favorite.

We got the 5-dip spread, lamb hummus, chicken thighs, hanger steak, and mushroom kebabs and I couldn't pick a favorite. We loved everything we had! Amazing service and amazing cocktails. The espresso martinis and wine selection were 10/10. read more

Absolutely some of the best food I have ever eaten. I would give more stars if they were available. Take someone with you so you can share and try as many things as possible, you will not be disappointed. The food was impeccable but the service was the best, Rachel was so helpful and pleasant. read more

We had a phenomenal dinner at Hamsa. Sean was a 10/10 waiter and made us feel at home with details about the menu, different options for drinks and even a special dessert. Great restaurant with phenomenal food, ambiance and service. Highly recommend! read more

Really good food! I loved the dishes I got especially the eggplant! Very cute vibe for a date night or brunch with friends on a beautiful day in rice village. read more

Pros: -Belly dancers thursday night @ 9:30 -Free unlimited brick oven pita with order of salatim -Service was great and knowledgeable of the menu -Ambiance was elegant -Price was fair -Flavor Cons: -Hummus was overpriced -Parking was valet only -Portion size could be improved read more

Hamsa - Beef Kabob (Close) Octopus (Far) - Mediterranean Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hamsa was a great choice for my birthday dinner for 5 people. There is a complimentary valet and free parking garage parking for two hours across the street. Our waitress was really knowledgeable about the menu and did a great job addressing all of our needs and questions. I tried the G&T to drink- it was really pretty and delicious. Our server recommended the whole shabang- which is a series of small dips and salads and pita bread. It was delicious and it would be a super fun night to just order drinks & that spread. Im not sure what I said to make this happen, but our server proceeded to choose quite a few apps and entrees for our table and I highly recommend letting your server do that! It was really fun (as long as that was what you wanted... I feel like she should've clarified that with me but we really enjoyed trying everything) Some of the highlights of this meal- Shashuka hummus with sausage, falafel, turmeric smashed potatoes, cauliflower Cous Cous, lamb ribs, oyster mushroom skewer & chicken skewer, petite biscuit dessert We also had these Israeli shots that tasted like licorice. Too fun! As others have mentioned, we did get charged for our still water. They have a water filter that they charge extra for. Overall, I would definitely recommend coming here. Super fun spot. read more

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We went on a Saturday for lunch. The restaurant was half full. The service was very lapse, I had to search for our waiter 4-5 times for coffee, refills, dessert plates, etc . The food was good but somewhat disappointing. The coffee was weak and had no flavor. The fennel salad was tasteless. The Shakshuka was good and some of the other hummus and dips. I was expecting more being a James Beard nominee and the price. read more

Absolutely amazing dinner. Came for Mother's Day, looking to relive great memories of trip to Israel. Beautiful ambiance, seating outside if you prefer. our server, Morris, was incredible. Very personable, very attentive, great suggestions. He knows hospitality !!! We enjoyed wine, lamb hummus, Israeli salad, chicken thigh and prime rib kabobs. Every bite was delicious, tender, juicy. Definitely coming back; and asking for Morris !!! read more

We arrived an hour prior to dinner service. There was only one other two top table seated when we sat down. 2-3 minutes lapsed before water was brought to our table. When the server returned, he never gave us his name. He took drink order and returned with them in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered 3 apps, an entree and an accompaniment. As our apps arrived at the table, the service staff and manager sat at other end of the dining room for a pre shift meeting/meal. I don't feel that the dining room is quite large enough for their meeting as I could very clearly hear what was being discussed. I also noticed cooks aimlessly walking around in the dining room and yet, our entree and side took an inordinate time to reach our table. A manager did stop by our table to apologize for the delay and comped us a second side (tasteless fried potatoes). The eggplant had too much char and was bitter. Also, staff should NEVER enter a restroom with their apron. Why is a server in the public restroom taking a shit with his apron flung over the handrail??? The restaurant is a nice space with a beautiful bar but the leadership is failing both the staff and patrons. read more

We decided to stop in last weekend without any plans, and it turned out to be such a great find! Our British server was super polite and helpful. Can't wait to come back! read more

Really I think I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars... Ambience is great, cute outdoor seating- just mind the heat as the sun comes up during lunch hours. There is complimentary valet, or you can park in the garage across the street/street parking if you're lucky. Menu is concise but for this very reason I would expect everything to be perfect. The pita bread is delicious and fluffy. We got a mix of small plates- the beet salad and red cabbage were so one note- I expect to have the sweetness and tang in pickled anything. The best one was the pickled carrots/cabbage, and the squash hummus a close second. The hummus with lamb ragu- ok. I think they could step up their game with Ragu. Shared the chicken skewer- also average. The real winner was the turmeric smashed potatoes! I always believe in second chances- hoping this place can take it up a notch. Came in with high expectations after having a fantastic meal at an Israeli restaurant in Nola! read more

Hamsa - Mixed small plates - Mediterranean Near Me - Houston, Texas

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So glad we were able to try this new addition to rice village! For parking-they have complimentary valet or you can park for up to 2 hours for free in the garage. The food here was fantastic!! We decided to start off with the salatim (an order of 5). We went with the matbucha, beet salad, baba ganoush, carrot harissa, and the muhammara. The muhammara was my fav!! It's basically a roasted red pepper dip that went very well with the pita bread. For our entrees we got the skewers for lunch-went with the kebab (lamb and beef) and the beef tenderloin. Both were SO good! The sides we picked were the salad and the turmeric potatoes. The potatoes were amazing-slightly smashed and so there were some crispy bits but cooked perfectly. I would have to deduct a star for service as other reviewers have mentioned. Food came out at a decent time, but our waiter rarely came around. We only saw him to place an order and for the check which we had to flag him down. When we finally even got the check, it took an additional 15 minutes to get it back. I ended up having to pay for garage parking cause I was 5 minutes over the free 2 hour limit. Slightly annoyed about that cause of having to wait so long for the check. Overall, beautiful restaurant and delicious food but service needs work. read more

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Hamsa was one of the best meals I've had in a long time! I'm visiting Houston and my friend suggested we come here for the night. We arrived early before dinner service started at 5, and were seated at the bar. I had an amazing Moscow mule to kick off an evening of great food. We shared Salatim- picked vegetables, baba ganoush, labneh, lemon tahini, and muhamra. Everything was delicious, including the pita bread. My friend had the kebob, and I had the chicken thigh. Both again were cooked perfectly! The only reason why I think this spot is deserving of four stars instead of five is because it felt as if we did not receive the same level of service compared to others in the restaurant (because we were younger and dressed slightly more casual). We weren't given menus when made to sit at the bar instead of a table, and when we did request to be seated were put in a small table off to the side. No water refills throughout the evening until we explicitly asked. Overall I'd definitely come back for the food, but would warn others that service may vary. read more

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Delicious pita, dips, and entrees. Staff are incredible (especially Rachel!). Will be back soon.

Today was my family's first experience at Hamsa and we ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! We were recommended by our waiter at Doris Metropolitan. Even though Doris is a steak house they have amazing vegetarian options, we dine there all the time. he suggested we try Hamsa because they have even more vegetarian items on their menu. Tonight's dining experience exceeded our expectations. Our server, Lia, was exceptional. She took us through the entire menu and gave excellent recommendations. We started the night with the mango tango mocktail, sweet and spicy! We had the Wholeshebang Salatim as an appetizer, it was all ten dips with homemade pitabread. It's worth trying them all! We also had hummus and falafel and they were both excellent. The falafel was flavored with shaved jalapeños and was cooked perfectly. We also tried the cauliflower couscous and were surprised how fresh, yet flavorful it was, 10/10 recommend. We tried all three vegetable entrees, the roasted cabbage, the king oyster mushroom skewer and the smoked eggplant. The cabbage and the mushrooms were 12/10. We got convinced to try dessert and were glad we did! We shared the Petit Beurre Cake. It was similar to tiramisu without espresso, light and sweet with a chocolate dust that was the perfect complement. This meal was incredible, the service top notch and the atmosphere was beautiful but relaxed. Loved the decor and the vibe. We look forward to bringing other plant based friends here in the future because this is incredible vegetarian cuisine! Thank you so much Lia for a wonderful dining experience, we'll be back soon! read more

Hamsa - King Oyster Mushroom Skewer, Fries, Haim's Rice, Baladi Eggplant - Mediterranean Near Me - Houston, Texas

I just had to write a review because my first time at Hamsa was so amazing!! The food was delicious and everything our server Sean recommended was to die for!! It was my birthday and Sean immediately made my dining experience special! read more

Hamsa is a relatively new, and already popular by the looks of dinner reservations, Israeli restaurant located in the Rice Village. I dropped by for a lunch a couple weeks back with 2 others and we had a great visit. Hamsa refers to the protective Hamsa hand symbol you'll see on each plate, and hidden amongst the details of other interior décor. They have a great looking patio with plenty of greenery, fans, and shade, along with the more AC friendly interior seating, including a long bar top. Parking options are the garage off to the side of the building that offers free valet, or fend for yourself amongst the Rice Village parking wars. (Lunch Menu) The menu has many familiar offerings if you've ever eaten Israeli before, along with some novel standouts. Prices range from $15 choose 5 small bites appetizers, and large hummus plates, all the way up to the $29 grilled whole Branzino fish. The standout dishes for us was the Branzino which was cooked perfectly, the very tasty cauliflower couscous, the lamb and beef kebab skewer, the deconstructed Shwarma was a show stopper, and the delicate and simple Israeli salad. Service was very warm and friendly but unfortunately not quite firing on all cylinders. There were a string of weird things that happened, drinks ran dry for long waits, serving utensils had to be asked for multiple times after getting small plates to share food, I had to go hunt out a fork that was missing and, my tablemate kept getting regular coke when she ordered diet coke, We ordered fresh peta bread for the hummus, one waiter set it down, we ripped a bite off of it, then another waiter came by and swiped it off our table without even saying anything. Just comedic stuff, that I'll chalk up to new restaurant plus labor shortage. This is a new restaurant with an entirely new staff, all being trained simultaneously, and like everyone else, they're surely understaffed to boot. Hopefully that part of the experience smooths out for others. Cocktails and wine, including some Israeli bottles, were on offer for lunch as well, but we didn't take part. I'll make sure to share a photo of the drink menu for anyone curious. Overall, Hamsa is a wonderful addition to the Houston Middle Eastern food landscape, and between the chic décor and interesting twists on staples, I'm sure they'll set roots and thrive. read more

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The food here is absolutely amazing. I had the lamb hummus and then some chicken dish I don't remember exactly what it was with the Iranian salad was on point and SO tasty. Lastly I had dessert which was great as well everything here was on point and delicious so yummy... read more

Attentive service and a pleasing ambience do not compensate for disappointing food. Early on a weekday night, I finally had the chance to dine at Hamsa. As a frequent consumer of middle eastern food, I had anticipated offerings at Hamsa that were far enough above what I'm accustomed to eating to at least justify the premium charged. It wasn't to be. The hummus we ordered and the garnish appetizers were OK. The lower end of mediocre was not what I expected and certainly did not anticipate that the middling appetizers were to be the high point of the meal. I ordered a cabbage entree. My companion ordered the chicken schnitzel. While my selection was far from flavorful but edible, the offering served to my table mate was not. The thin chicken breast had been breaded with panko and fried to a bland, impenetrable shell. I know that schnitzel is not of middle eastern origin but the number of Ashkenazic Jews in Israel likely make having a schnitzel offering a mainstay on Israeli menus. My experience with schnitzel is that it is lightly fried to where it is supple and able to be cut with a table knife. Chicken schnitzel at Hamsa was overly fried to where the panko crust was hard as a carapace and likely just as void of flavor. I left Hamsa at a loss in understanding how my experience was in such contrast to that of others who had dined there and raved about it. read more

I came here twice with family and our favorite is the lamb humus. The mushrooms are so delicious but not filling. I'd keep coming back read more

Hamsa - Lamb hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Houston, Texas

Such amazing service! Kimberly was amazing. Definitely ask for her!! Bring back the hanger steak please!!

Came by the other night since I heard the food was good & they have a great bartender! Sat at the bar, started off with the ananas boat, it has rum and an apple syrup so it tastes a little like apple cider to me, really enjoyed it. I ordered some of the Salatim- baba ganoush, shaved tomato and feta, & I believe the lemon tahini. It's served with fresh pita bread (my favorite part of the meal!!) for dinner I order some kebabs- the ground lamb and beef & the chicken. Both were fairly flavorful and served with vegetables & a parsley salad. I finished off the meal with another drink- the tel a viva- very refreshing. Overall I enjoyed my experience here and would definitely come back! read more

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Wonderful Israeli and other middle eastern dishes both vegan/vegetarian and carnivore. Good wine selection, many from Levantine countries. Friendly service. read more

Solid five stars, outstanding food and servic! Lovely space. Great date night spot interactive small plates for sharing. For our vegan friends try the king oyster mushrooms skewer, wow easy five stars. read more

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Food was sooo good - falafels were incredible, would recommend the potatoes as your side, salatim was enjoyable, really loved the pickles. Drinks - I really liked my spritz! Other drinks we got were less exciting, gin and tonic tasted like a gin and tonic. The guy in charge of the bar was very passionate about his craft and sweet to talk to! Service overall was pretty good - had to wait a long time for the check, but food came out promptly. I'd definitely love to go back soon, I'm sure they will continue to work out the kinks (all minor) as time goes on. So glad Hamsa is here!!! read more

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Absolutely perfect dining experience , this my first time to Hamsa. Best octopus ever so says this Houston foodie. read more

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The food at this restaurant tastes really good. The branzino was surprisingly good. Hanger steak dish amazing over a base of potato/ground almonds/ garlic, lamb short ribs so omg if you like lamb good. Don't confuse this one w a rack of lamb... these are short ribs. Tried 5 of the small salads. Speaking of small the above sharing portions definitely deliver on flavor, but the portions are not large. Lets say 3 people could share 2. Unless one person is really hungry or not enjoying the pita. Which is amongst the best I've had. That stuff is good. Speaking of good we thought the falafel was tops. Don't miss it. The drink menu is interesting enough. Service was not lacking, but neither was it superlative. Prices reflect inflation, location in village and probably just how good the food is. PS we didn't have dessert. Some cake looked good, as do the Turkish coffees served in copper. read more

Went to Hamsa for lunch and ordered off of the pre-fixe menu. It was AMAZING! I will definitely be back. read more

Went to hamsa yesterday with a group of people for a business lunch. I Had not been to Hamsa in 1-2 years and must say that I was disappointed by the experience. The restaurant was half empty , it was 12:30p on a Friday and while the food is still very good the service can only be described as atrocious. Probably the worst I've had at any restaurant in houston in the past few years. It took over 25 mins for a server to approach and ask about drinks and appetizers. The server was not knowledgeable about the menu, was incapable of making suggestions for our group of four and to make matters worse messed up our order and for my entree I got something I didn't order and had to wait 15 extra mins for it to come out. I got it after everyone else was almost done eating. During the 1h 40 mins we were at the restaurant , the server never checked on our table, never asked how we were doing , we had to constantly call him to refill our waters, order more drinks, request the check, etc. Again, the restaurant was half empty and it looked as if most servers had a light load. Another member of the group said poor service is what they remembered about hamsa from a prior visit. This, is likely my last visit to the restaurant as I was embarrassed with my colleagues about the poor experience. Do yourself a favor and either order the food to go or go somewhere else if you want to dine in. read more