Your budding situationship planned an elaborate scavenger hunt at the Cleveland Museum of Art. One-up them by making a reservation after at Zhug. The muhammara perfectly teeters between spicy and sweet, and you’ll dread going back to grocery store spreads after trying the curried lamb and apricot hummus.

Doug Katz created a new gravitational center for the east side of town when he opened Zhug, attracting diners with such force that many get turned away. If your idea of Middle Eastern food consists largely of tightly wrapped falafel sandwiches, shawarma carved from a twirling spit and grilled beef shish-kabob on a bed of rice, Zhug will expand your culinary horizons in a million little ways. With its dazzling small plates, meticulously crafted cocktails and ripped-from-Tel Aviv-vibe, this cosmopolitan eatery upends every Cleveland dining convention.

Helmed by beloved chef Doug Katz, Zhug has delighted culinarios in Cleveland and beyond with its punchy take on Mediterranean mezze just outside of the city in Cleveland Heights. Though the restaurant is buzzy, they don’t take reservations, which means you have as good of a chance as any to dine here — so long as you’re willing to wait. Bring your appetite for house-made labneh, curried lamb and apricot hummus (trust them on this one), honey-roasted beets, falafel and Yemenite curry fried chicken — you know, to start.

The muhammara perfectly teeters between spicy and sweet, and you’ll dread going back to grocery store spreads after trying the curried lamb and apricot hummus. As for must-order mains, the curry fried chicken has a great harissa honey sauce, and the braised lamb’s saffron flavor is lined with a little fruitiness, thanks to some dates.

Chef Douglas Katz’s Zhug brings Mediterranean mezze into a comfortable and energetic dining space. Every dish is made to share, from honey-roasted beets with spiced labneh to Yemenite curry fried chicken. The desserts are worth a celebration alone, from vegan coconut custard to tahini ice cream sundae.

For two decades, Douglas Katz was the toast of the town for his beloved Fire Food & Drink restaurant. But the pandemic forced him to shut it down, along with a few other culinary ventures. Fortunately, Katz's Mediterranean-focused restaurant Zhug overcame all the shutdowns and setbacks.

Opened: 2019Located: Cleveland HeightsSeats: 80Style of Cuisine: Mediterranean MezzeKey Players: Co-owners Douglas Katz and Todd Thompson. How do you maintain a buzz?. If anyone knows, it’s owner-chef Douglas Katz, who operated Fire in Shaker Heights for 20 years.

- Rating: 4.5/5 (285 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 12413 Cedar Road Cleveland Heights, Ohio - Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern- Read more on Yelp. You may also like:Highest-rated restaurants for burgers in the Cleveland area by diners

Zhug is a new concept by chef Douglas Katz that offers “Middle Eastern Mezze” in a casual, high energy urban space at Cedar Fairmount. Low tables with pillows surround the space filled with tables. There is no hint of its past as a Liquid Planet.

Like Amba, Zhug, or il Rione, it transports you to another place, forcing you to admit that you forgot you were in Cleveland for an hour (in the best way). It is, though, an expensive night, so here’s the best way to make the most of it.

Middle Eastern cuisine is some of the yummiest in the world. If you haven't ever tried it, Zhug in Cleveland Heights will definitely hit the spot. Here, the hummus is downright incredible...

12413 Cedar Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106216-862-2508 Visit Website. Fourteen minutes outside of downtown is Zhug. This fantastic restaurant is in Cleveland Heights on Cedar Road.

The tahini ice cream was the best dissert I had in Cleveland so far. Good if you want to eat gluten free, vegan, or dairy free.