Since opening in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus in 2015, Brassica added Central Ohio shops in Bexley, Upper Arlington and Easton. In 2019, the Malhames ventured for the first time outside their hometown to open at the then-new Van Aken District in Shaker Heights. Northstar Cafe, which opened last year at Van Aken, is run by the same restaurant group.
Building on their Lebanese heritage, the siblings developed a fast-casual, build-your-own Middle Eastern concept.
“The restaurant was inspired by great falafel shops around the world,” Malhame told Scene.
Diners select between a base of hummus, greens or a fresh-baked pita. Those are topped or filled with a choice falafel, braised Niman Ranch brisket or roasted chicken and a large selection of vegetables and sauces. To drink, there’s a short but high-quality list of wines by the glass and bottle, regional craft beers, cold-pressed juices and cold-brewed coffee.
“The restaurant will be very similar,” Malhame adds. “The experience should be very much the same as the Brassica at Van Aken.”
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This article appears in Nov 22 – Dec 5, 2023.
