The food was wonderful. My wife had a burger and she really enjoyed it. I had the rice bowl and it…read morewas also very tasty. I also had their Homemade Ginger-ale and it was wonderful. It seemed like a great place to enjoy an evening out.

Casual service meets fantastic food in an environment perfect for families & groups of friends…read more Each time I visit Northstar Cafe I love it more (and wish more deeply it would expand to a Westside location). For brunch, my go to is the biscuits and gravy. The gravy has a good heat to it and the biscuits are flaky and buttery. For lunch, the buddha bowl and chicken & avocado sandwich are both elevated classics. My husband raves about the fish sandwich - and the salad that comes as a side is anything but simple. When you enter, you'll order with the cashier and then find a seat with your number. Typical counter service - but what makes Northstar special is that the interior feels more like fine dining and the food is much much better than your standard fare. Worth a trip for its own merits, the fact that it's located in a nice shopping area is also a draw, especially for a weekend when you want to have a leisurely stroll.

Absolutely Awesome! Whether in person or delivery but I prefer to go in person just to interact…read morewith great friendly and engaging staff members! Having relocated here from New York eight years ago I've always felt like a family member each and every time I walk through your doors. You have everything and especially the best produce I've seen since I relocated here. And let's not forget that the most important aspect of any customer experience is to be seen, appreciated, and treated like family. I am speaking from my past retail experiences that had me recognized as someone who always puts the customer first whether it was in the car business to food service to teaching!

Bruce Lee came here to grab some food and drinks since I was in the area. This location was a lot…read moremore easier to park and get to then the location in Pepper Pike. Staff here was very friendly and helpful. There was ample amount of parking and they had a little food truck out side the store as well. The store was easy to shop around and navigate. Great selection of snack bars and energy drinks. Even the hot food selection was pretty good too. I enjoyed it the staff is socially engaging with the customers. Easy access to the streets! Overall, I enjoyed my time here

Top notch service, everyone is very nice and friendly. They offer great recommendations and…read moreanswered my questions on protein sizes and things. The vibe in here is great and the nice touches are lovely. Like a post card and mini cookies at the end of the meal was a sweet gesture. Popovers: buttery, crispy, light. So good! Especially with the whipped butter and strawberry preserves was tasty Mushroom tartlets: crispy pastry, rich and savory mushrooms, cheesey top, super good! And rich. So even 1-2 of these is the right amount for me. Arctic char: nice crispy skin, tender fish, good portion size. I would get this same meal again! But I also want to try all the other things they offer... A dilemma.

Delicious unique and artisanal small plates in a fine dining atmosphere. Fried chicken livers were…read moreperfectly crispy and had a highly complementary couple of sweet cherries and bacon pieces on the bottom. The Parisian potatoes were basically hash brown balls with an interesting sort of smoky cumin tasting barbecue sauce? The mushroom tartlets were both adorable and delicious. Lightly savory little quiche type pies. The popovers were beautiful and flavorful as well. Nice and lightly crispy with a delicious strawberry jam. The baked Alaska was beautiful and flavorful. Lots of pistachios and delicious ice cream within. The kiln #2 was a very sweet tequila Serrano pepper drink. No real spice but lots of sugar and unique flavor to that degree. Incredible smoothness.

Their breakfast sandwiches are amazing! Very filling and generous with either brisket or sausage…read more I've been going out of my way to stop and get one on the weekends. I also like their donuts. They are have more of a chew than your average donut, and are much more substantial. I'd suggest getting a few to share, because you're going to want to try more than just one of their unique flavors.

delicious rib meat and sauces!! the girls were really quick and helpful with my order, so glad to…read morehave this at van aken and will definitely return for more!

The Van Aken District was such a nice find while I was casually driving around. I checked out this…read morefood court recently and was really impressed with everything it had to offer. There are tons of food options including pizza, pasta, poutine, sandwiches, salads, and a huge variety of desserts. It's definitely one of those places where everyone can find something they like which makes it great for groups. I decided to try the chicken shawarma poutine, and even though it sounded a little different at first, it ended up being absolutely delicious. The fries were crispy, the chicken was flavorful, and the toppings all came together perfectly. I noticed a lot of other unique dishes at different stalls too which makes me want to go back and try more. The prices were very reasonable as well especially for the quality and portion sizes. What really stood out, though, was the atmosphere. There was live music playing, which gave the whole place such a lively and fun vibe. You can even order a beer and just walk around or head outside to enjoy it in the fresh air. Between the food variety, affordable prices, and the relaxed but energetic setting, I think this spot is perfect for a casual meal or even a night out with friends. I'll definitely be going back!

Shops, restaurants, cafes, desserts, indoor and outdoor seating, an area for kids-Van Aken is…read moresmall, but has it all. Enjoyed a good meal while sitting outside just taking in the sights and sounds. The weather was perfect so it made for a great visit.

We have been going to tibors my whole childhood and adulthood . The meat is top quality and so is…read morethe service. Our favorites are the london broil split roast , the beef chuck roast (for stews ), and the french roast / boston brisket for those special occasions. Adam the manager will take care of you from start to finish , bring your little one in for a sweet at the register from mendel. Make your week and every night super rich with a stop over at tibors.

They are right down the street from Boris's kosher market and have many overlapping items. Their…read morestaff is friendly and they make fresh chopped liver on Thursdays (late morning) for the best price (or maybe a dollar more than Boris's) in Cleveland! They have a lot of delicious to-go foods such as pargiyot, kugel, barbecue sauced brisket, and more. They have an extensive refrigerated meat section and lots of frozen foods ranging from kishka and multiple varieties of gefilte fish to several desserts.

On The Rise is famous for their sweet and savory carbs…read more We kicked off Halloween with breakfast at this local gem. Since I wanted the inside scoop on this award winning bakery, we ordered a variety of goodies to taste test. This included a chocolate chip cookie, the mushroom quiche, and the classic chocolate croissant. While each was delicious, the mushroom quiche was my favorite of all three items. This creation was warm and savory, while also being light and leaving me ready to take on the rest of a busy day. Highly recommend visiting early, popular menu items sell out fast!

Try their breakfast sandwiches!…read more On the Rise Artisan Breads is a stand at the Van Aken Market Hall. It will be right in front of you as you walk into the Market Hall. The sister location is in Cleveland Heights. This stand is an easy destination for quick coffee, tea, pastries, and breads! Tea/Coffee: Good and quick. Nothing notable. Visit the neighboring stand Rising Star for an elevated cup of coffee. Sandwiches: Breakfast sandwiches (when available) are so yummy! You can add on bacon or sausage (not both). They are prepped very quickly and have the freshest bun. Must order! I will say that they're a little pricey ($9 and $2.50 extra if you want to add bacon or sausage). Bread/pastries: The case is usually full of different pastries. Croissants are really good here but light on filling. Breads are hit or miss. On some days they are very dry, at the start of the week much better. Service: Always pleasant and quick. Usually your order is taken care of before interaction with the next customer. This keeps things moving along very efficiently. Seating: After you order, you can sit at the Market Hall or on the patio. Lots of seating choices - tables, couches, high tops, and booths. It may get crowded on weekends but you'll always find seats. Specials: Check out their specials (pastry and bread days) attached to this post and on their social media. I highly recommend them for speedy breakfast and tasty breakfast sandwiches!

I've passed Honeybirch Bakehouse more times than I can count, always thinking "oh yeah! This is…read morehere. I want to try it." Finally, my husband and I went because we set a goal for 2026 to try a new bakery. Honeybirch did not disappoint! The friendly couple who owns the shop is hard at work putting out delicious and ever changing goods. I got hooked by the cardamom bun, which luckily is one of their staples. We also enjoyed some savory pastries and loaves of bread. Can't wait to make this a more regular part of our bakery rotation.

The BEST sandwiches in the area!!! I've been coming here for 3 weeks and am AMAZED by the…read morepresentation, kindness, quality and SERVICE!! The turkey sandwich is THE BEST EVER!!! Literally the fr shear ingredients and the baked goods are WOOOOWWWW!!! GO NOW!

Kaba's African & Caribbean Market in Lee-Harvard neighborhood is deeply rooted in tradition and…read moreoffers a variety of products you won't find elsewhere. How did I find myself at this market? My book club was reading a book about Botswana. I wanted to share some traditional African fruit with the group. I was really pleased with the assortment! Let me share all that excited me! LAYOUT: The market is fairly small, one room retail space. Checkout is at the front and so is veggie/fruit section. Find frozen foods on the right and meat department on the left. Middle rows are reserved for everything else. Don't miss the beauty section on your right as you walk in. The store is very simple, no decor or complications. Just a simple ethnic market. The parking lot is small. INVENTORY: Kaba's offers a wide range of products that will allow you to cook full African or Jamaican meal. Categories include meat, fish, fruit/vegetables, snacks, tea, canned goods, flour, condiments, beauty, and more. You'll find the expected here like plantains, fufu, ginger, Goya products, and more. The inventory is predominantly Jamaican. I was most impressed with a rustic, wood mortar and pestle. It looked very authentic. I learned that traditionally the pair is used for milling and grinding maize, grains, cassava, and spices into powder. It is most often used to make fufu (powdered yam). What a meditative activity it must be! I love that this item was part of the store's inventory. It definitely motivated to research and learn something new. MY PURCHASE: I purchased four plantains, plantain chips, and chayote ($6 something total with credit card sub charge). I was especially excited to share chayote with my book club. It's a type of squash that is mild and crisp. It is traditionally added to salads raw, used in soups, stews, and sautés. The assortment of authentic fruits and veggies was impressive. I also felt like it was good value. My only criticism is that the fruit and veggies are not well labeled in terms of names and pricing. I had no idea how much anything cost. I would have purchased more if I knew. SERVICE: Service was warm. I had a nice casual chat with the employee about their amazing selection. When I mentioned another African store in Akron, they lovingly called them their friends. It's heartwarming that these stores think of each other as community and not competition. Overall, I was very excited to find African and Caribbean market so close to home. I often reminisce about my trip to the Caribbean. Now I have somewhere to go in order to try and recreate the cuisine. I'm most excited about trying teas during my next visit. I'm such a global tea addict!

Large selection of legit African foods. I got a pound of oxtail cut for $11. Abdoulaye was very…read morehelpful in describing the ingredients of several products I was not familiar with. Sometimes they have hot patties but they only had frozen today. Lots of frozen smoked fish, flours, fufu, ground nut products, and snacks. Lots of spices and sauces and decent prices too.

Get a free 12 oz of coffee here with any coffee beans purchase!…read more Rising Star Roasters is my destination for a strong cup of coffee. It's by far my favorite local coffee shop chain. I frequent this location inside Van Aken Market Hall. This coffee stand is located right as you walk into the main doors of the market hall. You'll need to go to the counter, order your food and/or drinks, and wait for the order to be called (typical coffee shop experience). Wait can be a little long during peak hours but it's worth it! You can then select various seating options inside the market or outside. Various options are available inside - comfy leather-like couches, leather-like booths, individual or group tables, and high tops. Outside you'll find tables immediately outside of the Van Aken Market Hall or seasonally on the lawn. If you stop by during the right times, you'll find the district bustling with music and seasonal events. It's also always a good idea to pick up a cup of coffee then go cowork at AO or browse the local shops. The menu at this and other locations is concise and simple. You can get brewed coffee, tea, espresso, lattes, and seasonal drinks. The menu is straightforward and not confusing. My morning go-to's are usually perfectly strong iced coffees. I also always pick up something from the specials menu. All specialty drinks are very well made and consistently prepared. I have never had any drinks here that disappointed me. Small batch snacks are available at this location such as croissants and tea biscuits. I sometimes purchase a snack here or patronize other vendors at the market. All coffee beans at Rising Star are top notch. I recently learned that they have a dedicated coffee buyer who travels to coffee farms and brings coffee back to Cleveland. They're also incredibly serious about their roasting process and have a local roastery. How amazing is that especially for a local coffee shop?! You can pick up beans at their location that are named after regions of where the coffee farms are located. Each coffee bean bag has taste notes listed on the bag, choose your adventure! Coffee bean bag prices vary from $16-19. They'll roast them for you and tailor to your coffee preparation method (i.e. coffee press). If you purchase coffee beans in store, you can get free 12 oz drip coffee! You can also order them online and they'll be roasted within 48 hours of shipping. I love to explore their coffees, get something new every time. I highly recommend this location for your coffee cravings! While you're here, look out for notNeutral coffee mug - sleek, 12 oz, and must have. In the words of Rising Star, "a laser-etched Rising Star emblem adds a subtle, sophisticated touch to the side of each piece."

I usually wouldn't spent $6.25 on a coffee but rising star coffee is top notch. My usual cappuccino…read more(which is about $3.25) just wouldn't do when I saw that they had a Mayan mocha on special. Coffee + chocolate + cayenne? Say less! This has become a treat for me while it's in season. Once this special is over I'll return to my old ways. It's so worth every penny. I get it with whole milk. I also love the latte art they do. Check out rising star! Service is always quick and the workers are patient and sweet!