Nature’s Oasis, located at 15613 Detroit Ave., is a Lakewood café that also operates as a store hosting products from different small businesses. The storefront is a longtime pillar of the Lakewood community. The establishment offers food, drinks, seating and groceries, providing customers with nearly everything they could need in one location.
The café section provides a wide variety of menu items and coffee drinks. Breakfast foods include egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, avocado toast, bagels, and more. Lunch options range from chicken and pesto sandwiches to various salads. Most food items can be made vegan or gluten-free. The café also features a large bakery selection and pre-made food, all ready to go.
The drink menu is extensive, offering everything from smoothies to customizable lattes. The café introduces new seasonal menus, featuring a sandwich, a breakfast or bakery treat, a coffee drink and a smoothie. The specials are themed to fit the month’s events; for example, the November specials have a fall and Thanksgiving theme. The Maple Pancake Latte is absolutely delicious and is definitely a must-try before the month is over. Sophia Zarbo, a barista at Nature’s Oasis, said, “My favorite drink is our seasonal drink, because it is something new and exciting each month.”
Nature’s Oasis adheres to high standards for its food, prohibiting any added hormones, artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and artificial and trans fats. They also promise to locally source all products to the best of their ability, ensuring customers know exactly what they are eating and that it is likely from the area. Lakewood High School student Evie Drew said, “The chicken pesto sandwich…and the Aloha smoothie are what I come here for.”
Food is prepared fresh upon ordering, contributing to the personalized experience of eating at Nature’s Oasis. Manager Lisa Festa said, “One of our most popular things is the Yammy Yam burrito…along with the breakfast sammy.”
The community is what makes the café so special. The friendly workers make it easy to decide what to order. Their motto, “conveniently healthy,” perfectly describes the experience at the café.
While waiting for their food, customers can browse the store’s collection. Featuring many small businesses from Lakewood, products include honey and maple syrup, spices, healthy snacks and seasoning soup bags. The rest of the shop contains other grocery products, including popular health food items and condiments.
This innovative store design brings so much more than just coffee to the café. It connects the community through consumers and small businesses. Nature’s Oasis has partnered with over 100 Ohio-based businesses to support the local community. Festa said, “People from the community come in and present their product; most of the time, if it’s local, we will give them a shot!”
Nature’s Oasis provides a large seating area with many tables and a counter looking out on the Detroit storefronts. Additional seating in the back offers a quieter place for customers to enjoy their food and company. It is a great environment to study in, work in, or have a weekend family breakfast. Local Artists are also given the opportunity to sell their artwork and place it on display, adding to the atmosphere.
Nature’s Oasis is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. It really is a freshwater spring in a desert, and it provides a perfect service to the community. Be sure to take some time to check out the December menu while it’s available. Nature’s Oasis should be at the top of anybody’s list of cafés to try!
