From immaculate vibes to delicious dishes, Zhug is the ideal place for an elevated group dinner or date night. The restaurant centers around shareable plates that feel highly sophisticated, look decadent, and taste incredible and cozy. Service was lovely and everyone was very kind-- food didn't come out super fast but it also wasn't too long of a wait. You're encouraged to get a drink & sit in the ambiance while your plates are being prepared anyways. One thing about this place is that you cannot make reservations, so the wait can be randomly long. We put our names in and went to The Fairmount and shared a drink while we waited for them to be ready for us. read more

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This is my favorite place to go for special occasions. The food is divine. The service leaves something to be desired. Each time we have gone, our waiter/waitress disappears for long periods of time (30+ min), and we have to stop them to ask for another order of drinks, our checks, etc. If the staff are trained to check in a little more frequently and not keep guests waiting, this would easily be 5 stars. read more

Zhug absolutely blew my brain away. From the first bite, it's clear this place is operating on another level. The spicy namesake zhug sneaks up on you; popping up in different bites, clinging to the edge of your fork, and slowly building heat and flavor in the best possible way. Every dish was beautiful, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying, with flavors that feel bold but perfectly balanced. The service was exceptional; warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaged without hovering. Add in a well-curated, tasty wine selection, and the whole experience just clicks. Zhug is one of those rare restaurants that feels both exciting and effortless. An absolute standout in Cleveland's food scene. read more

Favorite restaurant on the east side! Absolutely fantastic drinks and food every time. Calamari is a must, but I'll miss the octopus forever! read more

Our service at Zhug was truly amazing, our server was very knowledgeable on the menu, and we loved that they provided a separate menu for dairy/egg allergy and how you can alter the items to avoid those specific allergens. They definitely get busy quick so recommend arriving closer to opening to snag a table! The best item we ordered was the hummus, and we also loved the beef dish, but were slightly underwhelmed with some of the vegetable items. While they were still good, some of the items didn't blow us away (such as the carrots and the beets). If you are looking for a place to share some fresh small plates, this is it. read more

Zhug - Burnt onion hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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Zhug is a great place to go with a group or on a date. The atmosphere is full of energy and the food is delicious! The lamb hummus is my favorite dish and the carrots are a close second. Service is timely and kind. If you haven't been yet you need to go! read more

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Plan on getting to this restaurant at time of open. Otherwise, it's a lengthy wait. They do not take reservations.. now let's get to the review... The food will wow you!! It's delicious. The variety is great. The mujadara and brazed lamb is a must try. I would have given this restaurant a 5, however, the service can be better. read more

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Loved the lamb and hummus. The bourbon ginger drink 23 was interesting as well. Did not really care fir the curry chicken read more

Zhug - Lamb - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Ohhhh emmmm geeeee. Run here. Purely a foodies heaven. Small plates that you think won't be enough but for a party of four we ordered 6 and had leftovers. The garlic green beans delicious. The hummus with the crispy onions and fresh warm naan- excellent! The white beans- heavenly. The lamb with sweet potatoes strings- melt in your mouth. The falafel- yum yum yum. It truly was such a delightful food journey. No reservations so get there early. We went on a Tuesday night at 5:30 so we walked right in and were seated. It's not overly large in there. It's just perfect though. Cozy and soft pillows adorn the benches. Plenty of drink choices in the form of mocktails and cocktails as well as beer & wine! I think you'll love this Mediterranean fare- give it a try. I can't wait to go back! read more

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We were delighted with our pre-theater meal here. It was our first time and our superb server, Katie, gave us a few suggestions: Curried lamb and apricot hummus, Brussels sprouts in horseradish-cashew puree, and mejadra basmati and forbidden rice. They were all excellent. Such unique flavors and spice blends! Each bite made is want more. The service was quick and attentive. I also felt that the prices were good given the high quality of each dish. They are made for sharing and we found quantities generous. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, clean, and spacious. Can't wait to come back and try three more new dishes. read more

Zhug - Our selections from the "mezze"menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Be prepared to wait - this place is bustling with patrons so wait times are very normal. The space isn't massive, so that can add to the wait time. There is first come first serve seating at the bar, which I would recommend if it's a party of 2. Also important to note the parking - some street parking (often not open spots though) and a parking garage behind the restaurant. The staff was super helpful and attentive. The menu is great with so many options, it really is hard just to choose a couple. The flavors were good in the dishes, but I was hoping for a little more in some of the dishes (wanted Brussels to be more crispy, falafel was almost too well done). I did appreciate their selection of NA beverages. read more

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Had a great dinner here after a little wait. Waits should be expected since they are first come first serve with no reservations. We did end up sitting at the bar closest seats to the kitchen so it was fun to watch everything being prepared. Between 2 of us we ordered 5 dishes which was plenty of food with even a little to go at the end. I really enjoyed the mejadra rice and the Harris's peanut hummus. read more

Zhug - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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Zhug oozes warmth and class, and is probably my favorite of Doug Katz's restaurant ventures. Like his other recent restaurants, it's best enjoyed as a tapas adventure with friends. Unlike his other ventures, they unfortunately are too cool for reservations. There's usually a couple spots open at the bar for the taking, but come with any more than 4 people and your wait on a busy night may be upwards of an hour. If you're lucky, you can find street parking in front on Cedar (free since COVID days), or park in the old Dave's grocery lot across the street (also free). The dim lighting allows candlelight, plush pillows, and verdant greenery to dominate the atmosphere. The staff are entirely the opposite of the standoffish lot you might imagine would work here - every person we've encountered has been friendly and incredibly accommodating. Also accommodating is the menu, which is vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan friendly. Although they do have high chairs and children are welcome, it's not an ideal place to bring little rowdy ones since there's quite a bit of glassware and candles, not to mention tight quarters. Two gender-neutral bathrooms are located at the back and kept in orderly condition. Be prepared to get lost in the sauce, because there are a lot of sauces and dips. A satisfying order usually consists of about 2-3 dishes per person. The usual culprits on our group's order are the Nigella Seed and Burnt Onion Hummus - paired with the complimentary pita bread, and a little dollop of their complimentary zhug (a spicy green Yemeni sauce), this provides a cozy foundation for your stomach as you await the rest of the food. Cauliflower, Roasted Carrots, and Potato Tostones are other delightful, textured bites to get your fiber in and fill up. Protein wise, I'm a huge fan of the Crispy Chicken and its brightly seasoned dipping sauce, as well as the Warm White Beans (more pleasurable than the plain name would suggest) and plump Butter Roasted Shrimp. Their wine and cocktail menu is tastefully curated, but I've actually never made it to the desserts since we're usually so stuffed after the savory dishes. read more

The food and vibes are off the charts. Some of the food options are on the pricey end for a small portion, like $19 for 5 pieces of shrimp, but it was some of the best shrimp I've ever had. The cheesecake at the end was amazing too! read more

Zhug - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

After hearing rave reviews of this spot for years, we decided it was time to try it out ourselves! We went on a Saturday night. The spot doesn't take reservations so definitely be ready to wait an hour or so on the weekend. It was no problem for us because we weren't in a rush and grabbed a drink down the street while we waited. Once we were seated I immediately noticed the chic vibes. All the staff were so welcoming and kind. The menu has options for everyone and it's all small plates that are meant to be shared. Every dish was so unique and delicious! read more

I feel like the food can be really hit or miss. I know people love the drinks there, but I don't drink. read more

What a great place! We love coming here for the inventive cocktails and sharing plates. The hummus is simply delicious but also filling for two people, so plan the rest of your plates accordingly! We usually get 5 plates for two people: some type of dip, a few veggies, and a protein. Sometimes we even save room for dessert! read more

Was so excited to try this place after eating at Amba but felt Zhug fell short of our expectations. While the service and ambiance of zhug is the same as Amba the food wasn't as good, except for the hummus, which was the best part of the whole meal and was phenomenal. Everything else, eh. The Brussels sprouts were all mushy and after two we get bored and beyond that we felt kind of sick of the taste. The crispy chicken wasn't very crispy and overall bland. The best thing about the chicken was the pickled veggies it came with. The kofte came out pretty late into our meal and by the time it did come out we weren't as enthused but it wasn't bad. Seasoned well and just with it came out earlier/with the rest of our food. If you're debating between trying zhug or Amba, just go to Amba. read more

Zhug had been in my list of restaurants I've been wanting to try and I'm so glad we went! It was a group of 8 and we kinda just ordered and shared our food as it was small plate style. My bf and I ordered the muhamura, lamb and falafels. The Muhamura was delicious with the bread that came with the table and the falafel was so crunchy and good! The lamb was my favorite as it didn't taste gamey at all and the fried sweet potatoes added an extra touch! The service was great for the most part but we had to ask for bread like 5-6 times because they would only bring one pita bread every time we asked. read more

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This is one of the toughest reviews I've done, because I want to give them a five, but while there is very good and adventurous food, there are some fails. The Good Stuff: Interesting Med/Middle Eastern combinations. Hummus offerings are stellar. The peanut-harissa hummus is delicious and exactly what it states. Moussaka is also stellar, and is redolent of the Greek Isles. You may be tempted to try the cod, which is actually a cake, and the consistency of an Aldi's crab cake, if with nicely vinegar'd greens and a strange tartar sauce. There was nothing we didn't like and among three of us, we tried eight items. The Bad Stuff: The first problem is that the music is loud enough to make conversations very difficult in parts of the restaurant. If you have hearing issues, don't go. We felt we were being up-sold a lot. This is a formal dining establishment but it was almost Chili's for the upsell. The wine list is good, if limited. And with all these dishes we ordered (especially hummus), we got one (1) flatbread for three of us. Brilliant. An extra then requested, finally arrived. At the end, we arrived home and someone said, what about the labneh? Yes, we ordered it, were charged for it, but it never arrived. Shame on us for not discovering it-- we were pleasantly stuffed. Yes, their Brussels Sprouts are really good. Some of the blended tastes are really fine, and the ingredients and prep were top-grade. The kitchen knows its chops. What failed is "the customer experience". Their items aren't inexpensive (about market price for the area). But we found it a nominally hostile (LOUD!) experience with somewhat pretentious upsells. It's worth a try. Sit towards the front. Ignore the dirty hall leading to the restrooms; the restrooms are fine. read more

I've been super excited to try Zhug and although this experience didn't hit it out of the park for me, I'm excited to return. I stopped in alone on a Friday night after a show nearby. It was about 10 pm and they closed at 11 and I saw that the kitchen was starting to clean up. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by a friendly bartender. I asked a few questions about non-alcoholic wines and mocktails and she assured me that if I didn't want either of the two mocktail options they had listed, she could whip me up something good. I ended up choosing one that had a gin alternative and af chardonnay. It was tasty and refreshing, but served in a super small glass and with lots of ice, so I finished it pretty quickly. The menu is all small plates, great for getting a lot of different things to share with others. Since it was just me, I decided to get two things, the roasted carrots and the braised lamb. They both pretty much came out at the same time, which was fine. The lamb was delicious. It was super tender and I could taste the saffron flavor. The sauce from the lamb had a sweet date flavor that was amazing. They give you warm pita bread with this dish and I basically soaked every bit of meat dripping up with my bread! It also came on a bed of ricotta, which was cooling I guess and some crispy sweet potato chips. The chips were light and added a good crunch to the dish, but they weren't seasoned at all. Some type of Zatar seasoning on then could have been cool. I was very excited for the roasted carrots but they were only okay. Again, they lacked seasoning and were kind of over roasted making them a little dry. Salt could have gone a long way here. I did really enjoy the honey and the walnut crumbles that were on top and then the whipped feta on the bottom. Both dishes were a good size for the price and since I wasn't super hungry, I took the rest home. While I wasn't necessarily wowed by anything, I do recognize that towards the end of the night, you might not get the best of the best. The service was good and quick and the ambiance is beautiful. Perfect for a date night or nice family dinner. There was good music playing which definitely created a vibe. I'm looking forward to returning with friends at a later date and trying more dishes. read more

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We came on a Monday evening (holiday) and were seated right away. The atmosphere is trendy but warm and inviting. The food was all very flavorful and unique. The server told us that all plates are typically shared and recommended about 2 plates per person, but we ordered 7 plates for 4 people and thought that was more than enough. Our favorites were the curried lamb and apricot hummus and the brussel sprouts. Definitely would recommend! read more

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This is one of my new fave restaurants in Cle! They serve super yummy Mediterranean small plates best shared family style. Obsessed with their octopus, honey roasted beets, and muhammara! They don't take reservations so would recommend getting there early. Free parking lot across the street behind the Firestone. read more

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I have been waiting to try zhug for years and so happy I finally got a chance. COME EARLY! They don't do reservations and we came around 530PM Saturday for two and it was only a 20 min wait which was impressive for the crowd that was already eating there. The staff was so friendly and food arrived very quick. Must have is the PEANUT HUMMUS! I could come back and only eat plates and plates of this. The creamy smooth hummus with the crunchy peanuts was a palate bomb. FYI extra pita is free, just ask for more! The smoked octopus was tasty and not chewy, the carrots had a good flavor but a little soft for my taste, and the crispy chicken hot honey sauce was so tasty but I do wish the chicken was crispier. I was shocked by the bill because 4 tapa like dishes for two was plenty of food but the bill was approximately the price of two nice entrees. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Worth the long-term hype and credibility. Very curated and delicious menu. Great date night choice, but would probably not recommend for larger groups as there are limited table options. If you like NA drinks, the bartender can whip up a few great cocktail options. read more

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Ambiance was very relaxing and laidback. Love the warm lighting that set for a chill or even romantic vibe. Great place to come grab dinner and relax with friends or celebrate after an event. Decor makes the place cozy and comfy. Service was attentive but not overbearing which we loved. Our server was so thoughtful in giving advice on how to pair or eat specific dishes best. Food came out immediately when each were done one by one. It was also hot because of that, which made it taste even better. Food was absolutely phenomenal. Even though it's a tapas restaurant, we all left full and completely satisfied with both taste and service. Curried lamb hummus was one of the best hummus I've ever had and I will definitely be ordering that again and taking my friends who visit from out of town! I absolutely loved the smoked octopus... my favorite! Soft and tender, yet you can taste the Smokey flavor and the dish paired so well with the warm pita bread! I'm already drooling just thinking about how it tasted omg. Highly recommend giving this place a try if you like Mediterranean food and creative dishes! read more

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Many interesting options on the menu. The three dishes my wife and I shared were wonderfully flavorful (eggplant moussaka, kofte, mejadra) , although those with sensitive stomachs might be cautious about the spiciness. read more

Fantastic meal with the family close to the university. We enjoyed every dish. The children was very tender and the hummus and babaaganoush really hit the spot . We will certainly come back . Great ambience and service! read more

Came here during the Thanksgiving holiday season, to treat our Moms to this unique restaurant concept. For the four of us, we ordered six shareable plates and that seemed to be just enough food for this crew. We ordered the following items: labneh, warm white beans, za'atar roasted carrots, eggplant moussaka (very spicy), Yemenite curry fried chicken, smoked octopus. I think our two favorites at the table were the labneh and the octopus. That labneh was soooo creamy and spooned out onto fresh pita made for a terrific meal starter. And those tender, smokey octopus bites were what dreams are made of! Running a close runner-up had to be the Yemenite curry fried chicken and its addictive dipping sauce. The space is tight and the atmosphere boisterous...but we had a wonderful evening and meal experience. read more

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My sister highly recommended this spot so we finally went to to try it and it was a 10/10! The food and experience was amazing. The food is shared plates so I would recommend 1 dish a person unless you're getting dips then I would get 2 per person, but also depends on how hungry you are. We were 3 people and the 4 dishes we got we perfect! The hummus was literally so fresh and creamy and honestly peanut sounded odd but so yum! The chicken was cooked to perfection and the sauce it came with added so much flavor. The carrots were very soft which is not how I'd prefer them but the taste was so good! Finally, the lingcod cakes were basically like a crab cake and was really good - didn't have much of a seafood taste which I appreciated. We didn't have any room for dessert but will definitely try it the next time I'm visiting. The service was amazing and quick and the food always came out hot so that was great. There is a decent amount of seating inside and I didn't see any outdoor seating - but normally there is a wait time if you come during peak hours, however you can get lucky if you come on a random night of course :) They don't take reservations but it's so worth checking it out! read more

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Amazing food and atmosphere! Everything was soo good. Def would come back, when I visit Ohio again. Love the NY Sour as well. Service was prompt and professional. read more

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Good unique Mediterranean contemporary food in an uplifting ambiance with lots of natural light. Harissa peanut hummus was very try flavorful. Not very spicy, perfectly savory and nutty with a fantastic chickpea purée! Cauliflower was huge in size and good for sharing. Plenty of it and coated in a nice brown sweet kind of tangy coconut curry type sauce with plenty of turmeric. Lots of flavor in each cauliflower piece too. Brussel sprouts were small in volume so not great for sharing from a little bowl and were unremarkable and not roasted but just sort of cooked and with a small amount of drizzle and a few pomegranate seeds on top. The lamb was pretty unremarkable. Smallish pile of shredded kinda flavorful lamb next to a pile of delicately crispy sweet potato chips. Some drizzles of sweet date sauce which needed to be more plentiful to really make the dish great. I felt as though overall the food has been overhyped and is a bit pricey for the dishes but the ambiance is very nice and comfortable. It does get loud quickly in such a large open space. It did take a solid 10 minutes of awkward waiting at my seat for water to come by. Otherwise very pleasant and timely service. read more

Overall, food was very good. Risotto was slightly undercooked, even though I find that is common, not for my preference. Enjoyed the environment. Service was not friendly, borderline rude, attitudinal and dismissive. Would definitely try again, with a different server. read more

One of the best restaurants in Cleveland Heights. They serve Mediterranean small plates meant for sharing. We ordered five dishes (the burnt onion hummus, the potato tostones, the beef, the carrots, and the Brussels sprouts) for three people, which was more than enough and had some leftovers. Everything was amazing and came out quickly. My favorite was the beef and the potatoes. Zhug does not take reservations and gets pretty crowded, so I'd definitely recommend getting there early, especially on the weekend! read more

Zhug - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Great food. Bad ventilation. Service was five star. Bar was great too! We had a couple of drinks, the butter shrimp and the hummus. All was first rate! Bar was good. Cocktails on their list were a little too eclectic. We went with standards but they were impeccably made. Service was excellent. Parking was surprisingly good! read more

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Service was rude and very bad. The server's eyes lit up when we ordered cocktails and they got excited- I don't want to have to see that !!! It went downhill from there: inattentive, absent, and disinterested. We felt rushed. Food was just so-so, we weren't impressed. Too oily and greasy, lacked flavor. The falafel was awful. Manager was confrontational and borderline sarcastic. Just go to Amba ! read more

Zhug was a rather tasty meal. The food was incredibly flavorful. I really liked the creativity of each dish, you can tell there was a lot of thought put into each dish. Sharing plates, portions are kind of small but whatever. Helpful with the allergy menus if needed, or so I've heard. Something odd I did notice was that throughout the meal the lighting was dimmed more and more, making it a little hard to see at times but overall a pretty good meal. read more

The service is always so quick and our server was very attentive. The food is high quality and delicious and comes with unlimited pita. While the restaurant can be a little loud at times, it is still a solid place for a nicer meal. read more

Zhug - Onion hummus, peanut hummus, zhug sauce - Mediterranean Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Fabulous place! Stopped by here for dinner. The staff are kind and courteous. I was seated promptly. The decor is very nice as is the music. The cheese and leeks appetizer is amazing! The fried chicken was so good: tender and flavorful. The chocolate cheesecake was also a hit. read more

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The chef may be James Beard nominated but the service sure as heck wouldn't be. We arrived at 4:30 when the restaurant was empty and were seated promptly for a special birthday dinner. We had been very excited to try Zhug but our experience was a huge disappointment. As soon as we didn't order a cocktail, the quality of service and demeanor of our sever declined and only got worse as the meal went on. Despite ordering 5 dishes, we felt consistently rushed as we tried to enjoy our meal, with our server at one point grabbing a plate off the table as soon as my partner picked up her piece of bread. It was obvious to anyone who's worked in the industry that our server was more interested in turning our table, rushing us though our birthday meal, and jacking up their tips for the night than providing quality service. We were there less than an hour before our sever not so passive aggressively asked if we were done with our meal yet. The food was fine, the burnt onion hummus, and leeks and feta being the standout dishes of the evening, but for a place that specializes in "small plates" I expected each dish to be a flavor bomb and found the Kofta especially lacking. Save your money if you want a special night out in Cleveland and go to Cordelia instead. Better bang for your buck and the severs actually want you to enjoy your meal. read more

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