Algebra Tea House

Absolutely delicious food and very reasonable prices! Try the Moroccan sardines with a side of hummus, salad, and pita, and you won’t be disappointed. I love the eclectic décor and the wood burning stove. It’s the kind of place that could easily become addictive!

Great ambiance, cute décor, wood stove in the corner, natural wood cut tables, games (chess etc).
Service is personal and nice, nothing fancy. Makes it easy to go there to hang out.
Food was good and interesting. Highlight is definitely the space :)

This is my second review of this place and I’m writing it because I am just SO sad.
Algebra holds a very special place in my heart. It will forever be one of my top three places to be in Cleveland. The atmosphere is cozy and rustic and away from the norm of other coffee shops. The food is absolutely fantastic and beautifully prepared and priced well. I respect the owner and his artistry so much and that only adds to my sentimental attachment to this place.
However, the last two times I’ve gone, both with out of town friends to show off, I’ve left with a bad taste in my mouth. It breaks my heart to feel this way, especially after 8 years of great experiences. In the past, I have been more than understanding of the slow service. Most of the time, there is only one employee working and they can only do so much. But the last two times, the girl acted like she didn’t want us there. She was so cold and unfriendly that it made my friend and I want to rush out of there because we felt SO unwelcome. But the biggest blow came from the unexpected pulling of my very favorite coffee in the universe from their menu. I left that day shaking my head in disappointment and disbelief. I really hope this place steps up its game.

We loved this restaurant/​tea shop! The (Middle Eastern/​Arabic) food was excellent and even prepared right in front of us. We had the fool madams entrée, the banana algebra dessert, and a cookie — all delicious. The tea selection was amazing, and I say that as someone who drinks up to 8 cups of tea a day. (I know: I have a problem.) The ambiance is relaxed and casual, and there is a variety of seating. Prices were very reasonable, and I liked the décor. If we lived nearby, I fear I would be here all the time. Regarding service, we had no problems, though I could tell that the woman working had been the only one there for many hours and was tired.

Great food and place. Some of the severs can be very rude though. Makes you not want to order sometimes.

You’re kidding right? $ 3.08 for one, half filled cup of loose tea in a drafty café? Something’s not right here. At first, I actually liked the vibe of this place, and considered giving it a good review. Once the tea came, however, I thought they must be joking. I had the Hibiscus which tasted very similar to Tazo’s Passion Fruit. For all I know, it WAS Tazo. I received one small (partially filled) mug of this stuff with no pot of hot water. Whether I could have asked for more water, I do not know; but they should have at least offered. Worst part for me, was the actual experience of sitting in this place. None of the chairs are all that comfortable and the place felt like an icebox. Someone left the back door ajar and since they don’t have running heat (aside from a wood stove in the back) it was quite nippy. Would I go back? Reluctantly, yes… but that’s just cause I’m a sucker for tea.

Oh, Algebra. It’s hard to choose a star-​rating for them as it’s such a mixed bag. I LOVE the cozy, artistic atmosphere, with the wood stove, cozy seats, hand-​made pottery & woodwork, and great art everywhere. You can’t beat that and certainly won’t find anything else like it in the area (especially now that all of the Phoenix coffees look & feel like Starbucks). It’s a great place to hang out, whether alone or with a friend, as it’s very relaxed and you won’t feel crowded or rushed out. They have a great selection of food and drinks and I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve had there. I particularly like the falafel wrap.
Where things start to get spotty is the service. Prepare to be ignored and count yourself lucky if you get timely, friendly service. On one occasion the server flatly ignored me for a good five minutes because she was too busy talking on her blu-​tooth and wandering around the place aimlessly. I will say that the service seems to slowly be getting better, but even so the norm seems to be to ignore the customer until they’re ‘ready’ to acknowledge you. I keep coming back for the atmosphere and the variety of coffee/​tea that you won’t find elsewhere. I would make it a point to come back more often if they upped their game on the customer service.

how much stuff here do they microwave?
I literally watched the waitress pull my coffee right out of the microwave and bring it to me…

I love this place! Super hipster and quaint. Perfectly tucked away in Little Italy. Food is super good and filling. Smoothies are delicious. Their service is a little slow but other than that I have nothing negative to say.

I love this place. It’s quiet and tucked away, and it has so much personality! From the cool wooden tables, to the floor seating in the back, to the HUGE variety of teas, I was sold from the start. I’ve had 2 breakfast burritos from this place and they were both delicious (beef bacon, potatoes, and eggs). I am a meat-​eater, but they appear to have several vegetarian options as well. If you need something special, I do know they make everything to order so I am sure you can customize. They also sell a few staples of groceries in case you live nearby and are in desperate need of nutella or flour.
Another really cool feature of Algebra is the game collection. You can sit on pillows in the back area and play games if you have some time to kill. They also keep a book exchange library on the front right wall. I have traded 2 or 3 books out already and I love that they do this!

Can’t choose between five or four or five stars, it fluctuates a bit between who works there and current mood of the owner, but generally definitely still one of my favourite places in this town, in fact I would enjoy it in other towns as well.
You can relax and refresh, eat middle eastern, have smoothies, teas and coffees (but if you think a coffee is a liquid born in a plastic or Styrofoam cup with fluffed up what-​once-​used-​to-​be-​sold-​as-​milk on top and a double tailed mermaid on the side, this is not your place, you have to be more adventurous than that, much more, in fact!)
You may be very surprised about the combination of literature from coffee-​table books about Islamic Art to high end investment magazines, but one might also say: there is something for everyone.
You can play games (chess, if you find all the pieces, probably you will find more than all), or draw in the sketchbooks that are available.
The adventurous wooden furniture and coffee-​cups are all handmade by the imaginative owner, even for sale if you want to bring something home, also available emergency supplies for the first time away from own student, staples like Nutella or canned beans, you will not starve!
There was a time when the mood was pretty low in here and staff at that time would become infamous for hanging over the counter busy texting to who knows, luckily these days are gone, and current staff at the time of writing this is very efficient and polite.
Great place, love it, recommend it.

Algebra is the hidden gem of University Circle. The food and smoothies are incredibly tasty –and– healthy, with a warm and comfortable environment for working and studying.
Best part is it’s all incredibly priced for students on a budget.

We found the Algebra Teahouse yesterday while walking Murray Hill for the Feast of the Assumption. Eclectic, cozy, bohemian vibe, reminiscent of a small village gathering spot on the Mediterranean. Artsy, beautiful hand finished wood tables, great selection of coffee and tea. Even the bathroom is really cool!

I like this place. The food is good, and the smoothies are a great value. Service is a little inconsistent. Really cool one night, closed early the next (they close at 11PM
normally).
I love the variety of teas, and the medditeranean menu. Will go again, depending on who’s working there

Great place to explore different types of tea and the culture behind! Had Libyan tea for the first time! Very exotic and tasty! Definitely will come back for more tea and coffee!

What a fun spot to enjoy a snack, coffee or tea. The interior is very unique and feels like you’re in a museum. Great atmosphere to study or read a book. I loved all the art work everywhere.
They have products for purchase including different types of coffee. I love how everything is local and home grown. It’s great to support places like this rather than a typical Starbucks. Worth checking out! They also have outdoor seating :)

Algebra is amazing on so many levels. Firstly, the food and drinks are stupendously delicious. The house coffee has cardamom blended into it, their tea selection is extensive, and their iraqi kebab is to die for.
The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing. The mugs, cutting boards, tables and other décor are all made by the owner. It is a great place to study, go on a date, or simply get a bite to eat or drink.

Very eclectic. It’s my favorite place to get work done b/​c I feel inspired. They also have a cool wood burner. Sights, smells, sounds… all come together at this place to create a true experience all it’s own. 5 stars for that alone.
5 stars also for the coffee drinks, expertly crafted and well priced. I haven’t found their coffee concoctions elsewhere. Root tries, but just isn’t as good.
They do operate on the honors system when you order, so you just go to the register at the end and tell them what you had. Quite honestly, I’d rather just pay right away, but I appreciate the novelty.
We did wait for our coffee for a while, but the relaxed atmosphere made me feel like a jerk for being so impatient.
I really really love this place.

Don’t be intimidated by the front door or the dark atmosphere when you first step in. I know I was on my first visit.
I remember walking in and feeling like everyone had stopped what they were doing and turned around to see who the non-​belonger was standing alone at the entrance. But that was all in my imagination, I think.
I have since become a regular algebra-​goer, coming here at least once a week for my fill of delicious coffee, tea, and authentic Mediterranean food
Owned and built by a Case alum, this gem of a tea house really delivers on uniqueness, authenticity, and atmosphere. With their one of a kind handmade tables, cups, wooden plates, artwork, they really leave their mark as one of the coolest coffee houses in Cleveland
You really can’t go wrong with any of their food, I am a big fan of their falafel and shawarma. Their hummus is also very good, but a little tame for me, I like my hummus more offensive with more lemon and a tad more garlic, but that’s just a preference thing. Algebra is also very vegan friendly and has a large assortment of healthy menu options. Isn’t it a great feeling to finish a big meal and still feel healthy afterwards?
Their drinks are not for the average venti-​mocha-​frappuccino-​with-​extra-​whipped-​cream ‘coffee’ sippers. As is the food, the drinks are authentic and are generally not too sweet, if at all.
If you are unsure of what to order, I recommend the chai tea and perhaps the falafel sandwich as starters
My only gripe with this place is that they aren’t too consistent because they have a different person working there almost everyday, all of whom have their own slight variations on food and drink prep, so if you liked the chai tea you had Monday morning, you might not like it as much Wednesday night.
But this place delivers on so many other aspects, that I can’t bring myself to give them anything below a ‘as good as it gets’
So come check this place out, order an iced chai tea with falafel sandwich, you won’t be disappointed!
And remember, on your way out, it’s push not pull :)

I think I’m seriously in denial that I had to leave NYC and now live in Cleveland. That said, Unilocal has threatened to take away my beloved elite status if I do not step it up and come out of my reviewing shell so since I’m a big girl here it goes…
I couldn’t stand studying at home anymore so I turned to Unilocal for somewhere quiet that would feed me and let me study for a few hours. This place is close to campus near my house and overall so darling.
It immediately reminded me of a bunch of places in Park Slope-​except for the amazing perk of being middle eastern!
They have Arabic coffee, zaatar and labneh! And the tables are mismatched like my favorite tea lounge: hey, I think I might embrace Cleveland living after all.
Come here for somewhere quiet and friendly where you can read, eat delicious comforting food and study. Wish me luck-​boards are Tuesday!