It’s tough to find a restaurant that works hard to provide healthy, delicious items to vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike. But Treehugger’s Café (1330 Bagley Rd., 440-973-4277, treehuggerscafe.com) in Berea is that rare intersection of good, healthy food and thoughtful sourcing that welcomes all diners.
Gluten free? Dairy allergy? Treehugger’s got you covered. The café's variety of tasty menu options makes this a place where just about any diner can find something delicious to eat. With a warm, inviting and kid-friendly atmosphere, Treehugger’s is a great place to score a healthy meal for the whole family.
That being said, the restaurant's close proximity to both a gym and Baldwin-Wallace University also draws students, athletes and many other health-conscious diners. This year, the owners added a comfortable sidewalk patio for outdoor dining, and they even have a drive-through for diners who call in orders ahead of time. The restaurant's success has allowed them to recently open a second location in Oberlin, another area heavy with students, hippie-types and health-minded folks looking for delicious food that also happens to be good for them.
A word of caution: The Berea restaurant is on the small side, and everything is cooked to order, so there can sometimes be a wait for your food — but it’s worth it. The grilled chicken wrap, an otherwise innocuous and common dish, really jumps off the plate here. Whether it’s the dressing or marinade for the chicken, or perhaps the olive tapenade and feta cheese inside, you'd be hard pressed to find a better-made wrap to sink your teeth into. As an added bonus, the wrap includes a choice of delicious, healthy side dishes made fresh each day, like a curried carrot and raisin salad or fresh kale salad.
Healthy with a conscience, Treehugger’s focuses on buying seasonally from nearby farms whenever possible. In addition to offering vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and raw menu items, the cafe also uses Certified Humane® beef and wild-caught seafood — all good things.
