Algebra Tea House — Restaurant in Cleveland

We came here to support a Muslim-owned business and the cause it represents, and I truly appreciated the décor and solidarity with Palestine and other oppressed communities. The atmosphere and mission are worth recognizing and respecting.

That said, the food experience was very disappointing and there is a lot of room for improvement. We ordered shakshuka, falafel, fruit platter, mango strawberry lassi, Iraqi kebab sandwich, shawarma sandwich, cappuccinos, honey bread, and labneh. Unfortunately: • The shakshuka was just scrambled eggs—not what shakshuka is supposed to be. • The falafel tasted like frozen falafel. • The lassi was bitter. • The honey bread was literally honey scraped onto pita. • The Iraqi kebab sandwich and shawarma sandwich were basically the same. • The fruit platter was just three fruits on a plate, with no effort in presentation. • The labneh was not labneh at all—it was just cream cheese. • Mexican omelet was supposed to have home fries and bacon, they missed both. But didn’t forget to charge for both. Brought a side of bacon when my friend was halfway done eating. • Even the coffee was so poor we had to go elsewhere afterwards.

On top of that, the bread wasn’t warmed and wasn’t even proper pita—it resembled the bread usually placed under rice at Turkish restaurants. The service model also made little sense: order at the counter, wait, then line up again to pay.

We still tipped generously out of respect for the cause, but strictly on food and service, this place was a letdown. The 4.7-star rating feels misleading. People may be coming here to support the mission (which is admirable), but the food itself is not something I...

Algebra Tea House is something else entirely.

The moment I walked up to the front doors, I knew I was entering a different world. The entrance feels like stepping into the trunk of an ancient tree — not just walking into a building, but leaving the outside world behind. It reminded me of the concept behind traditional Japanese tea houses, where a small crawl-through door signals a transition into another realm. At Algebra, the door isn’t small — it’s massive — but it still works that magic. You swing it open and step inside, and it’s like walking into a treehouse dream.

The interior is a sensory escape. Live-edge, organically shaped tables and stools. Rounded benches. Wild, sculptural chandeliers made by artists. Wood cutouts on the walls. A glowing fireplace in the back. It doesn’t feel designed — it feels grown.

And then there’s the food. I started with the trio of dips — each one excellent, but the green dip? Unreal. Then came the Iraqi kebab, and I was floored. The flavors were familiar and completely new at the same time — bold, comforting, and unforgettable.

I’ve driven past Algebra Tea House so many times, and I cannot believe I hadn’t stopped in before. If you’re reading this, take it as a sign: open the tree-trunk door, step inside, and let yourself be...

This place is awesome. We just stopped in here on our way to a vintage shop, I had eaten a sandwich. About 20 minutes before we arrived. Had I known we were coming here I would have fasted for hours so that I could’ve tried multiple things on the menu. My wife and daughter shared, a sun-dried, tomato salad, a carrot salad, and a three cheese omelette. There were so many things that looked fantastic. Hummus plates, Shawarma, lots and lots of other incredible options. What really blew me away was the craftsmanship of everything from the front door to the fireplace in the corner, as well as the beautiful exploration of the tea cup all created by this wonderful restaurants proprietor. If I wasn’t flying I definitely would have bought one of his tea cups but I wasn’t wanting to worry about it breaking on the flight home. I come to Cleveland roughly once a year and I’m going to make a point to come back and be sure to leave room in the suitcase to bring one of his mugs home the next time I’m in town. Also I had the Friday Libyan Market Tea which is my new favorite way to have tea. Don’t...