This place is right around the corner from my office. I yam so lucky! I eat here constantly, as does nearly everyone else that works in the area. It's like the Facebook of downtown Cleveland. You will see people you haven't seen in years!
THE FOOD: It's a build your own healthy bowl of goodness sort of thing. You start off with a bowl of brown rice or rice noodles, add some steamed veggies (too much bok choy for my taste, though) add tofu, beans or chicken and some sauce or broth. The staff is very cool, so if you feel like mixing rica rica and peanut, hold the scallions, it's completely copasetic. There are a million combos-- and you can hold the starch if you are feeling all South Beach. Love the rica rica and the miso/shitake broth.
The turkey chili is a mixture of shredded turkey (natch), the bean medley and rica rica sauce. Very tasty. The baked tofu is fantastic. I'm serious. Yum. The Thursday/Friday special-- the Freakin' Rican is soooo good-- beans, olives, veggies, rice, rica rica and chicken or tofu.
Vegans and veggies can actually find something to eat here. Carnivores can get some fowl. Joy!
ATMOSPHERE: Small and crowded. There are a few tables, but it's a tight fit. That being said, it's a pleasant place to wait for your takeout.
SERVICE: The staff is really nice and accomodating. They don't mind special orders or creative mixing. There is always a line out the door. Never fear, the staff is also very fast!