With locations in Solon and Akron, Mustard Seed Market is renowned throughout Northeast Ohio as an extensive resource for a vast selection of superior quality natural and organic goods. Each Market houses a Mustard Seed Café, which embodies, as well as offers opportunities to sample, the ideals that inspired owners Maggie and Phillip Nabors to found their original 2,000-square-foot Akron store in 1981. Distinguished by the natural ingredients and the creativity in the menu, Mustard Seed Café caters to every diet restriction, sensitivity, and preference – or even just your yen of the day.
   
   Maggie and Phillip's first market was located in Marin Valley, Akron and expanded to a 9,000-square-foot location in Montrose, Akron in 1989. In 1996, that location expanded to 31,000 square feet, and the 56,000-square-foot location in Solon was added in 1999. The Cafés, however, were not in the original plans. Maggie explains, “I never intended to do a restaurant. At the first store, I would eat my lunch at the register counter in between helping customers. Soon I found customers were specifically coming in around noon to see what I was eating and ask for a taste. I figured that as long as I was giving away my lunch, I might as well sell it. We added small tables scattered throughout the store, and hence, the restaurant was born.” By the time they moved to their Montrose location, the Nabors knew they had a market for more than a natural market.

   As one of the only restaurants around that does not serve any foods with artificial colorings or flavorings, Mustard Seed Café can also cater specifically to nearly any diet. Their menu is dotted with triangles to indicate vegetarian items, circles to specify vegan ones, and is complete with reassurances that customers should speak up about their personal restrictions so that the kitchen can cater to their individual needs. Kyle Begue, Head Chef, comments, “We give our customers personalized service by coming to the table if they have a diet restriction. We can take care of them on the spot because we have the market available downstairs. If someone cannot have gluten and wants spaghetti, I just go downstairs to get rice pasta.”

   Maggie adds, “We can make sure to follow their restrictions and also feed them a meal that they are hankering for, rather than restrict them to a couple items on the menu.”

   Spurred by her own experiences with her parents (introducing them to natural ingredients and passing up some of her mom's home-cooked dishes), Maggie created the café to foster peaceful togetherness. “I want harmony at the dinner table. I want Dad to eat his steak with a snifter of scotch, Mom to eat her fish with a glass of wine. And the kid who is vegan can sit down and have harmony with Mom and Dad. For one meal, they can sit down and not argue about what they're eating.” Therefore, the menu contains a wide range of appetizers, meats, poultry, seafood, soups, sandwiches, pasta and more. Of course, you still can't find all these favorites on most other menus because everything here is natural – no artificial flavors or colors, no growth hormones or antibiotics. Plus, they use local ingredients whenever possible.

   The Café in Solon, the location I chose for this visit, is perched on the second floor with a bird's-eye view of the Market below. I nestled myself in a warm window booth bathed in sunlight and perused their extensive menu, which changes seasonally. My meal began with two unique appetizer selections. The Portabella Mushroom Cheesecake was truly exceptional and original. Served with fresh basil, fruit and toasted slices of baguette, this creamy, savory concoction was a velvety combination of cheeses, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and roasted garlic. The Chipati Pizza, baked on a crispy tortilla, also boasted delicious, full flavors. Mounds of artichoke hearts and spinach were buried under a blanket of mozzarella cheese and abundant amounts of fresh basil.

   Moving on to entrees, I selected a variety of feasts. I first sampled the Vegetarian Tempeh Reuben. The seasoned tempeh, which is a fermented, soy-based complete protein, was moist and pleasingly chewy. The toasted sourdough rye also held Swiss cheese (soy cheese can be substituted by request), sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. My second sandwich sampling was their fabulous French Dip. Tender, oven-roasted, shaved prime beef topped with melted Swiss cheese was piled on a colossal baguette and nestled next to a cup of au jus (oh joy!). Yes, I think this is one of the best, albeit one of the messiest, ways to eat a sandwich. Plus, the gargantuan portion is sure to more than satisfy any appetite.

   The Horseradish and Potato Crusted Trout can be found on both the lunch and dinner menus. Mashed redskin potatoes (with skins remaining for texture), combined with a hint of horseradish and a speckling of capers, topped the fresh and flaky farm-raised trout. The flavors mingled perfectly with the bed of spinach, roasted whole garlic cloves and cherry tomatoes. A small heap of sweet balsamic onions crowned the dish, and exceptionally complemented the slight saltiness of the crispy trout skin.

   The dessert menu includes a wide variety of options, including vegan ones like soy ice cream. The Very Chocolate Raspberry Torte, vegan cake with raspberry jam and chocolate ganache, easily lived up to its title of “very chocolate.” With rich, moist cake and fudgy frosting, this velvety creation is truly for the chocolate lover. The Signature Carrot Cake, described on the menu as “made with love and pineapple,” also exceeded all expectations. This light, cinnamony cake was punctuated by walnuts and encased in rich cream cheese frosting.

   Whether you have a diet restriction or you prefer to eat natural/organic food, or even if you just have a desire to dine deliciously, the Mustard Seed Café will cater to you. As Maggie says, “We will go above and beyond to feed you.” In addition to a lunch and dinner menu, the cafés offer Sunday brunches. On Saturdays, the Solon location offers a vegetarian brunch buffet. With a full bar, daily specials and weekend musical entertainment that ranges from jazz to oldies to swing, the Mustard Seed Café is sure to delight more than your palette.

Mustard Seed Market & Café in Solon is located at 6025 Kruse Drive. The Market can be reached at (440) 519-3663, and the Café can be reached at (440) 519-3600. The Akron location is located at 3885 West Market Street, and can be reached at (330) 666-7333. See them online at www.mustardseedmarket.com. They also offer catering.

Photos by Bob Perkoski, www.Perkoski.com.