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| - If you're from Cleveland and haven't been to Nate's shame on you. If you're visiting from out of town make it a point to stop in, either before or after your visit to the West Side Market.
In the 23 years that I have been going to Nate's I have yet to sample anything other than their fantastic Lebanese food from their menu. Instead of a deli sandwich, make sure you try the superb baba ganooj and the beguilingly creamy hummus ($4.25/$6.95). The pureed eggplant is slightly smoky with the perfect balance of tahini and lemon. The hummus is addicting and you will want to eat it with everything; don't blame me if you find yourself dipping everything and anything in it, just like they do in Sandler's "You Don't Mess with the Zohan", trust me it's that good. Each of these delicacies is drizzled with olive oil, served with warm pita, and piquant, garishly colored pickled turnips.
Next, try the Shish Tawook Sandwich ($5.50) - a rolled up piece of pita bread (like a cigar) contains tender cubes of chicken breast and a zippy garlic mayo. If you're looking for something more substantial, the beef Shawarma Platter with hummus ($12.75) will definitely satisfy.
The fattoosh ($5.50) is equally satisfying in the "I-need-something-green" kind of way; mercifully the toasted pita chips remain crisp and you get plenty of tomatoes, green peppers and onions mixed with the lettuce, oil and vinegar. The tabbulee ($3.75/$6.50) at Nate's has the requisite zing from the fresh lemon juice based dressing without making your lips pucker like in some versions that I've had in those new age hippy-dippy joints. This is the real thing.
For me, dropping into Nate's is like visiting my own family where the surroundings are well-known, the greetings sincere and relaxed, and the aromas familiar. The food is authentic, unpretentious, and remarkable for its consistency. There are some things that shouldn't change; I'm thankful Nate's hasn't.
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