This summer, I had the most incredible experience.  After blind calling the Cleveland Clinic’s Integrative Medicine department back in January, I was lucky enough to experience an internship with them, and through that, explore Cleveland.  Admittedly, I used to hold a limited attitude on the Midwest, particularly Ohio.  While joyous over the Cleveland Clinic, I didn’t have any expectations for the Cleveland food scene … Well I was severely mistaken.  Not only is Cleveland bountiful in creative bites, but it is also home to – dare I say – one of the best Neapolitan pizzas in the country.  

The way I approach my restaurant selection is alarmingly similar to that of a research essay. I confer multiple sources – Google, Yelp, Instagram – and observe the comments, before landing on where to go.

VERO PIZZA 

At my storage unit facility in New Jersey, there’s a Neopolitan pizza truck, Jim Coponi.  Oddly enough, in scouring through Vero’s tagged instagram, Jim Coponi proclaimed this as the best dough in the United States.  That was enough to convince me to go.

This first-come, first-serve restaurant knows how to do pizza the real (“vero”) way.  Just take it from the pizza maker: “my pizza is my work, my process, my art. through working on the pizza from its start— a flour bag in the morning, to its finish— on the plate in the evening, i experience creation in the world complete. never absolute or full, always moving in a dance towards some idea of its truth and form. this is my experience making the pizza. I love it and thankfully its deliciously beautiful.”

Tell me if this doesn’t sound serious to you.  The dough is made with spring water and naturally leavened, allowing for an extra soft and elastic bite.  The dough is lightly topped and cooked inside a wood oven for 90 seconds.  The result is an unbelievably light and heavenly pillow of pizza.  

As a minimalist, I always go for the marinara which is perfectly salted and features four tiny jammy tomatoes.  If you appreciate Neapolitan pizza, this is a must.  

BOAZ LEBANESE, Lebanese

I love a good falafel – and Lebanese food in general.

Falafels are complex. Personally, I like them very lightly fried, crispy, not too garlicky, and not too herby.  Boaz checked off all these boxes. These falafels are both vegan and gluten-free, which is a plus.

I ordered the falafel salad, which was a bed of freshly chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and lettuce with four falafels on top with a side of tahini dressing.  It was refreshing for a hot day.  I ended up coming back and also ordering their “All green” smoothie, made of apple, cucumber, banana, kale, and spinach.  

You also have the option of building your own bowl, choosing your base, protein, dressing, and extra toppings. 

BIBIBOP, Korean

My co-worker at the Cleveland Clinic came to lunch with a bowl of Bibibop and implored for me to try Bibibop one day. Aside from my mini exploration during my international series, I’ve never actually eaten Korean food outside my kitchen.

I aliken this to a Korean Chipotle. Just choose your bases, proteins, toppings, and sauces, and there you go! A nutritious, gluten-free meal at your disposal. This place came in handy whenever I lost steam for cooking for myself after a long day. This is what I ordered:

• Base: 1/2 purple rice, 1/2 supergreens
• Toppings: carrots, cabbage, mung bean sprouts, kimchi, roasted broccoli
• Protein: organic tofu
• Sauce: sesame ginger

For approximately $9, you get a balanced – and abundant – bowl.

ZHUG, Mediterranean

When I came across Zhug’s menu, a pang of nostalgia hit.  It made me reminisce of my days in London at Ottolenghi’s restaurants.  While not as experimental as Ottolenghi, Zhug compiles elegant Israeli dishes in a tapas format.  This time, I had my mom as an accomplice. This is what we ordered:

• Nigella seed and burnt onion hummus ($13)
• Clay bread (free)
• Diced zucchini salad  pickled fennel, dill, paprika, sunflower seeds ($10)
• House made pickles tahini ($9)
• Pacific lingcod cakes horseradish, pickled shallots, frisée ($17)
• Turkish chili chocolate truffles ($8)

I may have scarfed down the hummus, which was just as it should be: luxuriously creamy, velvety, with a surprise caramelized smokiness from the onions. The pickles, however, may have been the star dish for me. They were subtly sweet, sour, and briney at the same time. The pacific lingcod cakes are a fun snack, but I would try something else next time. The turkish chili chocolates were high quality, but I do prefer a darker chocolate. Next time, I would come for the bread, hummus, and pickles, and feast on that!

AMBA, Modern Indian

Yes, I have a self-proclaimed love affair with Indian food.  There is no situation in which I will deny it.  Hot weather? Give me a sizzling pakora. Feeling under the weather? I’ll get a tadka dal. Too spicy? No such thing. Try me.

A dinner with my Granita paesans presented the opportunity to go to this restaurant.  As one of them noted, it’s rather “vibey.”  The lights are low, setting a relaxed, intimate atmosphere – perfect for sharing tapas-style Indian food.  The menu is extensive, with loads of gluten-free and vegan options.  In fact, about half the menu can easily accommodate those with gluten, dairy, and meat aversions. 

Amba is from the same chef, David Katz, as Zhug, so I knew we were in for a treat.  So what did we order?  It was more a question of what didn’t we order? Feasting with the paesans meant that trying experimental foods – and lots of it – is simply part of the friendship.

• clay bread (VEG) ($5)
• roasted eggplant tamarind, cilantro purée, pickled chilies, coconut (VEGAN, GF) ($15)
• ghee basted shrimp ginger, garlic, garam masala, lime, coconut (GF) ($19)
• spicy sloppy joe keema venison-tomato curry, serrano chili, green onion (GF) ($19)
• lentil donuts spicy serrano chili jam, coconut chutney (VEGAN, GF) ($12)
• popcorn chicken thai basil, pickled chilies, bbq sauce, amchur (GF, DF) ($16)
• warm spinach dip lemon, garam masala (VEG, GF) ($13)

Every dish was an explosion of unexpected, yet cohesive flavors. They all had umami, sweetness, tart, spice, all rolled into one bite.  Our unanimous favorites were the eggplant dish, donuts, and popcorn chicken.  The clay bread was soft and the perfect accomplice to every dish. 

BEET JAR, Healthy

Beet jar opened in 2014 in the up-and-coming Ohio City area of Cleveland.  If I hadn’t known it’s location, I would’ve placed it in Brooklyn.  It has a funky, earthy feel that I find to be personally irresistible.  This is what I got:

• SUMMER TEETH: blueberrry, banana, maca, almond butter, oat mylk smoothie bowl ($12)
• RAW FALAFEL dehydrated flax, parsley, almond, garlic, carrot, lemon, w/avocado spring mix, cashew mayo, and BJ-made slaw, mustard vinaigrette ($12)

The Summer Teeth was, as the name implies, the perfect invigorating summer feeling. I particularly loved their “coconut fluff” which was just roughly chopped coconut flakes. While absolutely delicious, the bowl was a bit too sweet for my morning tastebuds; perhaps opting out of the granola would be wise. The raw falafel salad blew me away. The falafels were so delicious and if there were more of them, borderline addictive. They were seedy and balanced the creamy avocado effortlessly.

GREEN GOAT, Healthy

I ate like a goat at the Green goat. As I was finishing my groceries for the week, my greens ran out – prompting visit to the self-proclaimed “healthiest cafe in America”. Conveniently located only minutes away from my volunteering at MedWish, Green Goat has become my health food oasis.  They don’t just talk the talk, but walk it too.  The entire cafe is 100% non-GMO, uses low metal seafood, grass-fed beef, organic chicken and low lactose cheeses.  This is what I’ve gotten there:

• Coffee ($3)
• B.L.A. organic fermented rosemary focaccia | coconut bacon garlic aioli | broccoli sprouts | avocado | shallots ($11)
• WILD GREENS SALAD BOWL 15 organic wild greens | pea + sunflower shoots citrus | avocado | NO farm cheese | pepitas | fermented miso vin | lemon + avocado oil | dates | coconut bacon ($16)

The wild greens salad bowl was so light, yet satisfying. The type of food that truly makes your tummy smile and ignites you brain power.  The BLA was equally flavorful and hearty.  In particular, I loved the coconut bacon in both dishes and it’s something I must replicate for an extra yum in my recipes!  Just like the food, the ambiance at Green Goat is spectacular.  I usually don’t study in cafes, but this part open part closer restaurant was the perfect place to get some MCAT Kaplan shenanigans going.  

Closing Remarks

Cleveland has been a city of opportunity and surprises for me! The food did not disappoint.