Falafel Café, the Lebanese lunch spot that helped define the University Circle dining scene, will lock its Uptown doors next Sunday for a full redesign as the family hands the business to the next generation. Sirjoon Elassal, who literally grew up in the restaurant, is taking over day-to-day operations and plans a slimmer, more traditional Lebanese menu plus a small retail pantry when the spot reopens in early August. The handoff caps nearly 30 years of family cooking that began in 1998 with Cedar Deli and included a forced move from a prime Euclid Avenue corner to Uptown.
Son Signs Lease And Plots A Full Overhaul
As reported by Cleveland Scene, Sirjoon, who holds a master's degree in organizational psychology with a hospitality focus, has signed a new lease for the Uptown space and will close the dining room next Sunday to begin a complete overhaul aimed at reopening in early August. The reset will trim back the sprawling menu his parents maintained for years and zero in on core Lebanese dishes.
"I've been in the industry my whole life," Sirjoon told Cleveland Scene, adding that he wants to "decolonize the restaurant" and restore Lebanese authenticity rather than serve what he calls "corporate slop." He said his mother, Mae Elassal, will step away from daily service and instead take on a role focused on preserving the restaurant's history.
Menu Staples, Pantry Goods And The Uptown Footprint
Falafel Café's website lays out the core staples that will anchor the relaunch, including hummus, falafel, shawarma, and shish tawook, and lists the Uptown address at 11454 Uptown Avenue along with current hours and menu details. For the latest on what is currently being served and when, check the restaurant's site at Falafel Café.
A Local Institution Pushed And Pulled By Development
The transition comes after years of churn around the restaurant. The family first opened as Cedar Deli in 1998, and Falafel Café grew into a University Circle staple before losing its longtime Euclid Avenue lease in 2018 and relocating to Uptown. Freshwater Cleveland chronicled Mae Elassal's return to the area, while Case Western Reserve University previously confirmed the lease for the current Uptown space.
Timing And What Regulars Can Expect
The family says the revamped Falafel Café should be open in early August, in time for the fall semester, with a leaner, neighborhood-friendly menu and a small pantry shop stocked with Middle Eastern pantry goods. We will update when an exact reopening date and the full new menu are posted.
