I got a recommendation via e-mail to check out Aladdin's Eatery, and when my boyfriend and I were shopping Saturday night in Mayfield Heights we got another recommendation from our cashier at Bed Bath & Beyond. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the Lebanese/American cuisine, but I was in the mood for something healthier than burgers and fries and thought it could be a good alternative.

We went to the Mayfield Village location, at the corner of SOM Center and Wilson Mills. I was instantly impressed with the friendly staff, beautiful decor and extensive menu. Any uncertainty I had about the food was squashed when I saw the restaurant had salads and what were essentially wraps made with pitas.

I ordered hummus off the appetizer menu and Taza Chicken Salad, while my boyfriend got some sort of dinner plate that included lamb and rice seasoned lightly with cinnamon. It was pretty difficult to narrow down what I wanted once I paged through the menu a few times, but I'm soooo happy with what I got. The food was so fresh and delicious, and it was filling enough that I took some of the salad home with me. We didn't finish the hummus, either, and our server boxed it up to take home -- with extra pita. (While not as good the second night, the leftovers really made me want to return to the restaurant.)

I've been raving about Aladdin's since eating there. Most people have said, "Oh, Middle Eastern? I don't think I'd like that." But there's really no need to be worried about what you would eat. The large menu has a variety of choices -- some more ethnic than others -- so if you like veggies or chicken or pita bread, you are sure to find something you'd like. Click here to view the menu.

Aladdin's has locations in Mayfield Village, Mentor, Bainbridge Township, Cleveland Heights and elsewhere throughout Ohio. In April, Janet Podolak mentioned the Mentor location in her weekly food column, which included the video below:



--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

As if I needed any more reason to support Chipotle:

Chipotle Mexican Grill, the national chain of burrito restaurants, is conducting a “No Junk” campaign.
The company is encouraging Americans to forward their junk e-mails to nojunk@chipotlejunk.com where each forwarded piece of e-mail will help provide nutritious cafeteria meals for school children around the country through a partnership with the nonprofit organization, The Lunch Box (www.thelunchbox.org).
The more junk e-mail received, the more money Chipotle will donate. For every 100,000 junk e-mails Chipotle receives, the company will donate $10,000 to The Lunch Box, which will help to give about 32 million school children at 100,000 schools nationwide access to 100 school-tested, junk-free recipes created by Chef Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady.
The “No Junk” campaign launched June 25 and is slated to run through August, or until Chipotle reaches its goal of 500,000 junk e-mails received, which releases its maximum contribution of $50,000 to The Lunch Box.
No e-mail addresses will be automatically captured when junk e-mail is submitted through its no junk campaign, and the content of e-mails will not be read.
People who participate in the program will have the opportunity to opt in to Chipotle’s e-mail list, learn more about Chipotle and its commitment to serving “Food with Integrity” on the company’s website, or link to TheLunchBox.org to learn more about that organization and its programs.

It's not a locally owned restaurant, and this blog isn't about eating there, but I can't help but want to support a company that is going to make a hefty donation to a good cause. I'll be passing along my spam and stopping in for a burrito.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com