If your idea of Cleveland cuisine is pierogies and pork, a whole new world of healthy eating awaits your exploration. From the shores of Lake Erie where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame greets music-loving visitors, to the downtown district and its surrounding neighborhoods, Cleveland's food scene has embraced health-conscious diners. Whether you're a resident, business traveler or a vacationer in Ohio's Great Lakes Region, set aside time to enjoy a flavorful, healthful dining experience.
Decades ago, Tommy's became famous for its milkshakes. While the smooth dairy treat is still on the menu today, it's accompanied by yogurt shakes, sorbet frappes and non-dairy shakes made of soy tofu. Tommy's menu caters to all ages and a wide range of dietary choices, making it a destination for family outings or a sit-down with friends. Gluten-free, macrobiotic and vegan dishes share the menu with veggie burgers, hamburgers and classic meat pies. The Cleveland Heights restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It offers a Wi-Fi hotspot for diners to stay connected and has an adjoining bookshop.
For a light meal of soup, a fresh salad or a toasted pita sandwich, go to Liquid Planet, where you can also order breakfast and lunch specialties, seven days a week, at three locations in the greater Cleveland area. A full page of the menu is dedicated to smoothies with all-fruit combinations, yogurt and oatmeal blends. The SouperMarket, also with three Cleveland-area locations, creates homemade soup from their own stock, including a vegan version. Their soup and salad salad selections change routinely to feature fresh, seasonal farm ingredients.
The Greenhouse Tavern made Bon Appetit's 2009 list of top 10 "best new restaurants in America" and routinely ranks in Cleveland Magazine's Silver Spoon awards. The restaurant focuses on foods fresh from nearby farms and operates by organic and environmentally sound principles. Menu selections range from a French breakfast radish appetizer to aged beef dishes to vegan dessert options. Another Silver Spoon winner, Aladdin's Eatery, is the Cleveland Height's site of a six-state chain that serves natural, nutritious food in Lebanese/American style. Open daily from lunch until late, its menu includes diabetic, heart-healthy, gluten-free options, plus over 70 items for vegetarian diners.
With shared chefs and menus, Vine and Bean Cafe on Larchmere Boulevard and Lucky's Cafe in the city's Tremont District emphasize local, fresh ingredients. Homemade bakery goods top the menu throughout the week, along with farm-fresh egg dishes and fair-trade coffee. Weekend brunch brings out the house granola with flax, spelt and almonds included in its ingredients, curried chicken salad and sweet corn griddle cakes. During the summer months, diners at Vine and Bean are welcome on the outside patio; live musicians often perform outdoors. Picnickers and those strolling Tremont's galleries and shops find healthy munchables at Lucky's.
