If you need any proof that “quirky” doesn’t cut it in Cleveland, consider the imminent demise of Venezia, chef Moha Orchid’s delicious, but determinedly unconventional, little restaurant in Lakewood.
The Moroccan-born, Parisian-trained Orchid made quite a splash in the Big Apple before deciding to move to Cleveland. Once here, he quickly developed a following at his popular, if short-lived, Galleria lunch spot, Soup & Stew. Then in the fall of 2006, he resurfaced with Venezia, a modest, moderately priced restaurant with a menu of beautifully prepared and presented Italian foods and pizzas. …
This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2008.