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| - What a surprise! As a longtime resident of Solon, I've seen 3 restaurants attempt this location only to leave, dejected and probably a little angry, within a year or months. It's close to everything "downtown," with ample parking, and in a well-lit, easy to find corner of the shopping center. For some reason, previous restaurants ranging from an Asian buffet to sushi bar have all fallen flat.
I think Saaj is here to stay. My friend and I caught up over dinner here tonight and the food, service, and ambiance were all commendable.
I don't recommend coming here for a fancy night out or a date, as it's strictly for families and is table-cloth-less. The layout is not unique, with booths in back and larger tables on a landing a few steps below, but the renovators really did an excellent job painting the place bright shades of red and orange, adding in some high-class lighting behind the bar, and coordinating furniture with the desired laid-back clime.
We ordered the sampler mezza with hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouli, and falafel. Best falafel I've had in the Midwest, hands down. Taza doesn't even come close. My beloved Mamoun's in NYC has a formidable challenger, too. The falafel stole the show, but the tabbouli and baba were also excellent and perfect for mopping up with the steady pita refills.
Note: they give you pitas and a dipping oil at the very beginning, so you might be able to skip the appetizers, especially the pita-based ones. We were gluten happy by the time our entrees came. I had the house lentil soup, which was the perfect temperature. The bowl size is perfect for a dinner portion, but combined with the sampler platter, I had too much food! Never a bad thing. The soup is vastly improved by vigorously squeezing the lemon slice they give you. Wonderful aromas and tastes like home-cooking, if I were Lebanese and this were my home cooking?
My friend had the falafel sandwich, which came with an attractive side salad.
We each owed $15 with tip, which was incredible considering the quality of food and the attentiveness of the service. It's a shame it's not more walkable from other parts of town, or I think this would be a formidable watering hole for large parties. The bar is stylish and the drinks looked like bargains.
I highly recommend Saaj for your next night out, or even for a solo culinary experience! It's about time Solon expanded its ethnic food offerings, and Saaj hits it out of the park.
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