These days, I get a lot of requests for restaurant recommendations from friends and family. Lately, no matter what style of food or neighborhood they ask for, they’re all getting the same answer: Go to Zhug.
Douglas Katz’s exploration of Middle Eastern cuisine just might be Cleveland’s most important dining experience right now. Still, not enough people have cozied up in its pillowed banquette seating, snapchatted envious friends pictures of their sumac-speckled nigella seed and burnt onion hummus ($13) or polished off the Yemenite curry fried chicken ($17) with harissa honey. The small plates menu features an exciting blend of influences from Katz’s travels and his 20-year run at Fire Food & Drink.
I know parking is a hassle in Cleveland Heights. I don’t care if you’re picky. Don’t let the no-reservation policy's potential wait scare you. Get to Zhug now. zhugcle.com
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