5 Healthy Spots to Try in Northeast Ohio
From nutritious smoothies to a wholesome dinner with vegan and gluten free options, North-East Ohio has so many amazing options! Here’s a list of our 5 favorites including tips and tricks, menu favs, and a little bit about each!
1. Kava Sol | Nonalcoholic, Botanical Kava Bar
Open: Tuesday - Thursday (10 am- 9 pm), Friday - Saturday (10 am - 10 pm), and Sunday (10 am- 6 pm)
Address: 4055 Erie St Rear, Willoughby, OH 44094
Kava Sol is a nonalcoholic, botanical kava bar that recently opened its doors in Downtown Willoughby in June 2023. Kava Sol is the place to go if you’re looking for a healthy, alcohol-free space dedicated to creating meaningful conversations and following ceremonial tradition. Catch a plant buzz and learn about the indigenous history behind the kava and kratom cocktails. Currently, Kava Sol offers 12 signature drinks from the fan-favorite, tropical Vacation Cocktail to the energizing Bulletproof Kava coffee.
Pro Tip: Come for the drinks, but stay for the fun!
Kava Sol hosts a ton of social events throughout the week, such as open mic night every Tuesday from 6 - 9 pm, breathwork sessions, reiki, Buti yoga, and more. Kava Sol also welcomed its new book club in September, which will hold meetings every Thursday from 5 - 7 pm. There’s plenty to do here, and it’s a welcoming space for connections and new friendships to flourish.
(Kava Sol, Branding Pics (OneDrive), Vacation Cocktail, @KavaSol on Instagram from June 23, 2023)
Happy Hour Discounts!
Be sure to visit Kava Sol for happy hour, which is every day between 3 - 5 pm for $1 off Lieilo kava cans, $6 house kava shells, and $1 off all craft offerings.
2. Sage’s Karma Kitchen | Plant-Based Restaurant
(The Thai Dye bowl, @sagekarmakitchen on Instagram, June 21, 2022)
Open: Tuesday - Thursday (11:30am- 9:00pm), Friday - Saturday (11:30 - 10:00pm), Sunday (10:30am - 8:00pm)
Address: 4051 Erie St 2nd floor, Willoughby, OH 44094
Sage’s Karma Kitchen is a gold mine for organic and plant-based ingredients. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you’ll be delighted by the impressive selection of V/VA options. Some popular appetizers include the vegan pretzel sticks with ranch and the sweet potato fritters! There’s a wide variety of lunch and dinner options to satisfy both non-vegan and vegan diets, such as grain bowls, tostadas, flatbreads, burgers, salmon, and more. There is also a nice protein selection for the grain bowls and salads made 100% gluten free, such as the steak, salmon, chicken, black bean quinoa patty, chickpea patty, and tofu. Overall, their menu excels in transparency, clearly labeling gluten free and dairy free options, as well as food allergies that might contain tree nuts, peanuts, soy, etc.
What to Order: The Thai Dye bowl is a staple here and includes rice, carrots, zucchini, peppers, broccoli, Thai peanut sauce, ground peanuts, cilantro, and sriracha. Their vegan and gluten free mac and cheese or vegan tostadas are also a hit!
Pro Tip: Most of the food options on the menu are vegan friendly. If you have a dietary preference that is not offered on the standard menu, just ask the helpful staff and it can easily be made vegan or vegetarian.
Happy Hour Discounts: Sage’s Karma Kitchen holds happy hour from Tuesday - Friday from 4 - 7 pm, and includes $1 off drafts, $2 domestic bottles, and $2 well drinks. Be sure to try one of their three flavors from their mocktail list: the Kali (blueberry, lime, and basil), Ganesha (lemon, orange, and sage), or the Shakti (strawberry, lemon, and mint) with the option to add lemon lime CBD for $3.
3. DTW Nutrition | Smoothie and Tea Bar
(Mint Oreo Cheesecake and a Summertime Glow Tea, @dtwnutrition on Instagram, August 23, 2022)
Open: Monday - Thursday (7am- 4pm), Friday (7am - 3pm) Saturday - Sunday (9am- 3pm)
Address: 37918 Vine St, Willoughby, OH 44094
Downtown Willoughby Nutrition is a Herbalife smoothie and tea bar that opened in May 2018. They specialize in creating macro-friendly shakes, energizing teas, coffee chillers, and more! This place is known for its heavenly, ice cream-like flavors, from chocolate peanut butter banana to mint oreo cheesecake. The drinks are not only delicious and filling, but packed with protein and nutrients with a low fat and low sugar profile. DTW Nutrition is also constantly coming out with new, fun flavors, like the Chip Ahoy shake. Check out their Instagram @dtwnutrition for updates, especially on this year’s fall-themed menu hopefully coming in October!
What to Order: If you’re a first timer at DTW Nutrition, you can’t go wrong with the classic Cinnamon Toast Crunch protein shake. Many customers are also highly favorable toward the delicious Tropical Oasis (peach and blue raspberry) on the tea menu.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a wonderful meal replacement, pair a shake and a tea together for a combo deal. The shakes have an average calorie intake of about 200 - 250 calories, while the tea-based drinks deliver a lower calorie intake of about 5 - 30 calories.
5. Verbena | Free Spirited Cafe and Dry Bar
(La Verbena, @verbenafreespirited on Instagram, Sep 2, 2023)
Open: Wednesday - Sunday (8 am - 8 pm)
Address: 1434 W 29th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
Stop by Verbena for a coffee during the day or grab a mocktail with some friends in the evening. Recently opened this past summer in July 2023, Verbena triples as a cafe, nonalcoholic bar, and free spirited shoppe. From 8 am - 3 pm, Verbena is a vibrant space to work and have breakfast. Their morning menu includes a nice selection of coffee and tea drinks as well as toast, the CTR signature rice bowl, the veggie sandwich, and the chickpea salad. Their evening menu includes marinated olives, house potato chips, stuffed dates, the cheese board, and the tinned fish plate with plenty of house pours and 8 free spirited cocktails to choose from!
What to Order: After 3 pm, Verbena has a full nonalcoholic cocktail menu serving traditional nonalcoholic sparkling wine, beer, and cocktails. Some popular mocktails that customers tend to gravitate towards include the Lavender Haze (butterfly pea tea lemonade and Three Spirit Livener) and La Verbena (iced jasmine tea with Aplós Arise). The Crown is also a wonderful selection and is their version of a classic Pimm’s cup.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip out on Verbena’s free spirited shoppe to purchase drinks to bring home! They have a wide selection of brands that mimic alcoholic beverages: Athletic Brewing Co, Lyre, Monday, Prime Pave, and Ritual. They also carry additional spirits and supplements that have mood-enhancing benefits, such as relaxation and boosted energy!
4. Aladdin’s Eatery | Mediterranean Restaurant
(Spicy Cauliflower @aladdineatery on Instagram, August 14, 2023)
Open: Sunday - Thursday (11 am - 9:30 pm), Friday - Saturday (11 am - 10 pm)
Address: Lakewood location: 14536 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107; Cleveland location: 12447 Cedar Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
Aladdin’s Eatery is a Lebanese-American restaurant with multiple locations across Cleveland. The establishment first opened in 1994, with its first location in Lakewood , Ohio. Although they are considered a chain, they have a healthy, plant-based menu catering to vegan and vegetarian diets with multiple dietary options available. Their menu consists of an array of appetizers, salads, specialty plates, rolled pitas, pita “pitzas”, soups, smoothies, and raw juices!
What to Order: We recommend starting with Aladdin’s hummus or crispy vegan falafel as your starter. The Jasmine’s Favorite is a popular dish at Aladdin’s for your main entree and includes a mix of cooked beans, vegetables, and rice with your choice of salata, chicken mishwi, chicken tawook, beef shawarma, shish kabob, lamb, or grilled tuna. The chicken curry pitza and the vegetarian cauliflower rolled pitas are also phenomenal choices.
Pro Tip: Order a side of the spicy cauliflower! The flavor is delicious with just the right amount of heat without being too overbearing.