Laziza

Enter a world of Mediterranean cuisine when you open the doors to Laziza in downtown Kent. With flavors ranging from the simple hummus and seasoned chicken or marinated char-grilled lamb seasoned perfectly with grilled onion, pepper and parsley, it’s hard not to fall in love with delicious, authentic food.

Be sure to save some room for dessert. Dive into a delicious plate of baklava — filo dough layered with nuts and sweet syrup for an unforgettable experience. This place will have your taste buds in a frenzy for the tastes of the Mediterranean coasts.

“We’ve drawn a lot of people from outside this area like Solon, Aurora, Hudson, Stow, so we’re drawing a lot of people to Kent,” owner Michael Awad said.

Enjoy two levels of dining — the first floor complete with a full bar plus upper-level seating for additional dining space. Outdoor seating is also available.

Main Street Continental Grill

Ordering mouth-watering ethnic food is just a few steps away from the Kent State campus. This restaurant offers delicious Mediterranean food with a twist of America for an affordable price.

New to Mediterranean food? Be sure to check out some of the favorites there like the spinach pie — lemon juice, olive oil and onion marinated spinach with a touch of Middle Eastern spices re-baked in a pita dough.

For a real taste of the Mediterranean, try the three-piece lamb chops, grilled top-quality meat seasoned and marinated with spices served with either rice or tabouli (a mixture of crushed wheat, parsley, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oils with spices.)

“I like their diverse menu,” sophomore chemistry major Tom Joseph said. Joseph ordered the chicken kabobs and said he would certainly go back to the Main Street Continental Grill.

Troy Grille

Nestled perfectly on East Main Street is Troy Grille — one of Kent’s favorite places for great Mediterranean and Turkish ethnic food. The delicious flavors are created by owners Gokmen and Eser Kalkavan.

With dishes that range from a multitude of baba ghanoush, fresh hummus or waffles with Nutella and strawberries, these are just a few specialties this place as to offer.

If you want something simple and delicious, try their falafel meatballs with tahini sauce. Its crunchy breaded coating filled with chickpeas, fresh parsley and other vegetables pairs perfectly with the light sauce.

Kent local Bonnie Graham said Troy Grille is her favorite.

“I love getting the salads with baba ghanoush and the meats. This is a great family-owned business, and there are really friendly people [who work there].”

Contact Melissa Puppo at [email protected].