Mediterranian food is one of the few cuisines we haven’t hit yet, even with it being one of our favorites. So, this week, we traveled to Clintonville to check out the Lávash Café. Owner Nasir Latif has been in the restaurant industry for quite a while since immigrating to the United States in the 70s. After taking a hiatus from the restaurant scene for a few years, he opened Lávash in 2008. The cafe has racked up hundreds of great reviews and awards over the last fifteen years and recently purchased the storefront next door to become their bakery. All this, combined with the pictures online, made the decision to visit easy.

Accessible parking is one thing we love as much as the food. The lot in the back surprised us, considering the area – where parking is usually tricky. As soon as we stepped out of the car, we were hit with a delicious aroma wafting out of the building. After that smell, we knew we were in for a treat.

We ordered some of the most popular and expensive meals at the counter and chose a table. The entrees were all twenty dollars, but it was well worth it once we saw the portions. Appetizers, salads, and sandwiches were all slightly less. One of the employees delivered the salads that accompanied our meals just moments after we sat. Although it was a simple dish of lettuce and oil, it made us realize how something simple and healthy can still be delicious with a touch of salt and pepper.

The employee returned with our entrees not even ten minutes later. Even though we had ordered at the counter and gotten our drinks, the rest of the meal felt like we were being served. It was the perfect storm of a casual yet served dining experience. Josh had ordered the Shawarma with lamb and beef- a massive portion of shredded meats alongside rice and red onion. The seasoning on the meats was incredible; there were so many flavors going on that the tzatziki sauce on the side wasn’t necessary. My choice of entree was the lamb kabab, complete with fire-roasted bell pepper and red onion. My portion was smaller, but it was still more than I could finish (even though it was so yummy that I wanted to). We drooled over the desserts as we left, but we were on a sugar-free week, so we abstained from them reluctantly.

Another delicious meal, all for the sake of an email; how lucky are we! We can’t wait to see what this year brings for us all and all our adventures around Columbus. Happy New Year to all!