CLEVELAND — If you want to feel like you stepped straight into a classic French film, stop in at The Judith on any given day for a latte, lunch and to feel transported across the Atlantic Ocean.
Owners Jennie and Andrew Doran have poured the utmost attention to detail into creating an exquisite space inspired by Andrew's mother, that you'll easily find yourself lost in while snacking on treats from their expansive menu.
"Our vision for The Judith was to evoke the feel of an old world European café," Jennie said.
"We created the space to have that layered, textured lived-in environment you find in the beautiful café bars in Paris.
"Additionally, it's inspired by Andrew's mother, Judith- a lifelong Francophile and French teacher in the Milwaukee public schools. Her love of French culture, fashion and of course, excellent food were the guiding principles behind this offering."
The menu is designed to play off of beautifully classic French dishes, with a café-style experience in mind. "My favorite salad is our Preserved Lemon and Carrot, with warm french lentils, mint and dukkah," Jennie said.
"The carrot salad is a total staple in Paris. Andrew ate it daily when at university there! We've paired some of our favorite bright, earthy flavors with the coriander and lemon and then added texture with our house made dukkah. It's a deeply nourishing dish."
If you want to know what the owners prefer when it comes to the drink menu, it's a classic Cafe Miel. "It's a gorgeous double shot of Onyx espresso, Hartzler's milk, Ohio honey and cinnamon," Jennie said. "Warm, rich, and delicious."
Jennie and Andrew have a clear passion for creating beautiful spaces. They've owned and operated Room Service, a boutique that focuses on inspiring, thoughtful goods for nearly 10 years.
"That ability to create connection and share beauty is hospitality in every sense of the world," Jennie said.
"That deep body of knowledge, paired with our never-ending passion for food, excellent ingredients and thoughtful service are what we bring to this offering at The Judith in this way."
The Judith is a space with a story, and was created for connection. It is a space where detail matters- texture, color, light quality.
"It's a space to feel perhaps inspired to work, to rest, or to be in communion with others," Jennie said. "It's a neighborhood café built to amplify the energies of those who gather inside."
For those who would like to check The Judith for themselves, it's open Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The café is located at 5222 Lorain Avenue, near West 52nd Street in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood of Cleveland.