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    Zhug

    4.4 (307 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

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    ZHUG ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Zhug

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    Reviews With Photos

    Brazed Lamb
    Abeer H.

    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.

    Kayla S.

    This is hands-down one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. I live about 5 1/2 hours away, and I have actually made the trip to Cleveland Heights specifically to eat here. If that doesn't tell you how much I love this place, I don't know what will.

    Garlic green beans!
    Terri D.

    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!

    Lamb
    Jan W.

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

    Burnt onion hummus
    Ashley P.

    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.

    Gazoz
    Valerie G.

    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.

    Evan G.

    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.

    Happy to see all the mocktail options!
    Wendy W.

    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.

    Our selections from the "mezze"menu
    Jackie B.

    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.

    Alessandra S.

    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!

    Pira K.

    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.

    Braised lamb

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Zhug is the best in Cleveland. The food is always gorgeous and the drinks are strong and unique.

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    Business owner information

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    Page 3 of 8

    Zhug Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Zhug

    What are some oil-free vegan options here?

    Any of our salads can be done without oil, the cauliflower can be served without oil, the pickles can be served without tahini. All of our other dishes have oil in the preparations. Thank you!

    Don't laugh, but Is there valet parking? Or... is there any parking close.

    There is a lot directly behind the restaurant. You can download the parking app (ppprk.com) when you get there. Only $1.50 for three hours! Very convenient!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Algebra Tea House

    Algebra Tea House

    4.2
    (236 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $

    When and how did I discover Algebra Tea House? I don't exactly remember. I think it was around…read more2011. (It could have been earlier but my 5 star review of this place 16 years ago is an objective starting point). Although I have spent much of the past 23 years living in various places outside of both Cleveland and Ohio, I'm a born and raised East Side Clevelander. And whenever I resettle in the area, I always find myself gravitating back to Algebra Tea House for the good vibes. In the past several months that I have been visiting, I'm happy to see the place really feels like a cultural community hub and an outright neighborhood institution. Over the years, many unique small businesses that have shuttered operations in Coventry (China Treasure House, Big Fun, Record Revolution, La Cave du Vin), Cedar-Fairmount (Nighttown). I'm so happy to see that Algebra Tea House is thriving and continuing to create a unique and inviting environment for the neighborhood. I love the unpretentious and lo-fi atmosphere and operation. I love the DIY craftsmanship that permeates in every aspect of the business. The food and beverage options are also quite good. Although I haven't been around for many years, I think maybe there are more offerings on the menu these days. I especially love the vegetable stews on their chalkboard menu and the foul madamas (fava beans). Service is lo-fi and very casual. Just place your order at the counter. It is written on a scratch pad. Sit down and be patient. The food or beverage will then be delivered to your table. Pay on your way out. Bring cash if you want to avoid a credit card transaction fee.

    Great little spot! Stopped in for brunch/lunch with a friend on a nice Saturday afternoon. Many of…read morethe tables were full but we were able to find a spot (it helps that the weather was nice so the outdoor tables were open too). You order at the counter and then they bring the food and drinks to your table and you pay on the way out. Interior decor is eclectic and fun to look at and the mugs are all unique which makes fun a nice and funky aesthetic...we loved it. Service was really friendly too. There were so many items on the menu that looked amazing - it was hard to choose just one! I ended up going for that hummus sandwich (more of a wrap, really) and subbed tomatoes for black and green olives and got the cafe algebra to drink. My friend chose the white pizza and the hibiscus tea. Food came out pretty quickly and everything was good! The hummus was creamy and delicious and the harissa was great too...the olives were excellent as well! My friend enjoyed her pizza and the hibiscus tea was so flavorful. I wasn't a fan of the cafe algebra, but that was just personal preference. I will be back to try more of the menu for sure! Thank you, Algebra Tea House!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    White Cheese Omelet
    White Cheese Omelet
    Outdoor space

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    Outdoor space
    Sittoo's Pita & Salads

    Sittoo's Pita & Salads

    4.3
    (45 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    After spending time at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, came here for a late lunch. We found…read moreparking in front of the beautiful Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. A quick pay for parking and a short walk to the corner. My aunt is complete Lebanese (I'm only 1/2) so was interested in her feedback too. :-). We ordered two of the business lunch specials. Lamb patty, kafta, chicken shawarma, and falafel; served with salad, pita bread, and cinnamon rice pilaf. It was a good price and a chance to try a few of their options. When it first arrived to the table, I was surprised there was no pita. Then she delivered two large pita that were nice and warm. Perfect for the dish!! The lamb was tender and had good flavor. The chicken shawarma was also tender and spiced nicely. The kafta was good as was the falafel. The rice was delicious and reminded us of our family's rice flavor. The salad dressing was perfect and there was extra to sop up with the pita ! They gave us a hot sauce and a garlic sauce to try. They were both very nice! This is a simple place. Get your own beverage, put your dishes on the tray. They were keeping the tables clean. There was a nice picture of family and the matriarch "Sittoo" on the wall. My unapproved and enjoyed ! We also had two baklava rolls. They were tasty. Definitely recommend. Just know parking might be a challenge if you're not in the area.

    Went here with my girlfriend on her lunch break. It smelled amazing and she enjoyed the quick…read morebusiness meal that she got. Said the chicken was amazing. It was pretty busy too for such a small shop. They had a ton of vegan and vegetarian options. Even some gluten free!

    Photos
    Saturday, 28 June 2025
    Saturday, 28 June 2025
    Saturday, 28 June 2025
    Saturday, 28 June 2025
    Saturday, 28 June 2025

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    Saturday, 28 June 2025
    Aladdin's Eatery - Cleveland Heights

    Aladdin's Eatery - Cleveland Heights

    4.1
    (218 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Alladin's is such a solid spot, especially if you have dietary restrictions. I tried the chocolate…read moremini dessert, which is both vegan and gluten free, and it was so good. It wasn't overly rich or heavy like some chocolate desserts can be, which made it perfect after dinner. I also enjoyed Jasmine's favorite topped with Lebanese Salata. It very filling and fresh. The service was also great. Our waitress was really kind, and the manager even came over to check on us, which I always appreciate. The restaurant itself had a nice, clean atmosphere and felt comfortable to sit and chat for a while. We split a regular hummus as an appetizer, and it was honestly the perfect size for three people to share before our meals. The only small downside was that the food came out a little slowly, so it might not be the best place if you're in a rush. Otherwise, it was a really enjoyable experience.

    Recently renovated location!…read more Aladdin's Eatery is a located in a historic and charming Cedar Fairmount neighborhood (with many buildings constructed in the 1920's)! This Aladdin's was recently renovated, contains updated lighting fixtures, decor (like mosaics on the wall), and furniture. It looks much more trendy. Food order options: You can order Aladdin's to go/pick-up, order via food order apps, or dine in. If you're pickup up and ordering online, it will save you a few bucks placing an order on Aladdin's website and not other apps (like Uber Eats or DoorDash). Food: This location has a traditional Aladdin's menu. The food has recently improved. Most of the dishes used to be very dry (such as Mediterranean Lamb Plate). Lately, the main dishes improved tremendously and became more flavorful. My latest order comprised of Taza Chicken Salad ($14.75) and Sally's Favorite Bowl ($9.95). Both dishes had generous servings, were flavorful, and not dry. These dishes were very good value! I also ordered dessert - Tiramisu. I used to love desserts from Aladdin's. The latest dessert was a miss. I think that this location stopped working with their previous baking partner. Nonetheless, there are various options for cheesecakes, baklava, and other tasty treats. Service is always pleasant and quick whether you're dining in or ordering to go meal. Parking is available at the back of the store - small lot. There are also street parking options. Review signs on the street to ensure you don't get a parking violation. I recommend this location for a casual eatery option. Also, if you enjoy a stroll and dinner, this is a perfect destination. You can check other restaurants in the area for cocktails or beers. Check Cedar Fairmount website or Facebook to get ideas about other restaurants in the area.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Mediterranean Lamb Plate
    Mediterranean Lamb Plate
    Dining room

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    Dining room

    Zhug - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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