Affetatti in Little Italy

I saw a TikTok about these popular sandwiches in a town in Italy where lines were two hours long. I was pleased to find this 5 minutes from my house at Affettati in Little Italy next to Valerio’s. I had heard about Affettati and how good the sandwiches were, but the descriptions don’t do it justice. I’m kicking myself I haven’t tried it sooner. The sandwiches use generous portions of fresh fillings on focaccia bread that is shatteringly crispy yet airy and tender inside. If you haven’t had one, you need to put it at the top of your list! They started out small, only offering five sandwiches three days a week, but now they have 8 and are open every day but Monday and Tuesday. It is a small place and primarily carryout only. Since I literally live at the top of the hill it wasn’t a problem to grab and go. Consider driving up the hill (or entering off Euclid Avenue if you take a side road to avoid the Mayfield/Euclid intersection) and enjoying it at Lake View Cemetery when the weather is nice (or in your car there if it isn’t).

I love mortadella and burrata, so my first choice was a no-brainer decision (the #8). The pistachios and pesto are a delicious addition and just bring this sandwich to the next level. One of the most flavorful sandwiches I’ve ever had. And it is a beautiful sight to behold as well!

I’m also a fan of roast beef, and their roast beef sandwich (#6) did not disappoint either. It features roast beef, horseradish, tomato, mozzarella, arugula, red onion. All of it super fresh and pairing really well together.

I’m also a huge fan of caprese (see the recent Raddell’s post for proof – nothing better than fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato, fresh basil and Balsamic vinegar), so the #5 was also at the top of my list, and I can definitely imagine it becoming my go-to. They do not skimp on the ingredients. As you can see, they use thick slices of mozzarella and the fresh basil and tomato is a perfect balance. The sandwich comes with a little to-go tub of Balsamic vinegar, and it is quality! Thick and viscous, it dripped off the sandwich after I added it in all the best ways.

The #7 features smoked turkey, avocado, Swiss cheese, bacon, pesto mayo, and arugula. The sandwich was so fresh that the turkey and Swiss still had a slight chill to them, which was very welcome. The creamy avocado mixed nicely with the pesto mayo and was a creamy, tasty delight. Don’t sleep on this one either.

I’m not a huge fan of cured meats, but I’m sure I will get one of their prosciutto and/or salami sandwiches at some point. You can even get extra meat for an additional $2, as the guy in front of me in line did. The portabello mushroom and caprese are perfect if you prefer vegetarian choices.

After reading all the rave reviews of the chocolate chip cookie I knew I had to try it. The cookies are huge and feature huge hunks of chocolate and the perfect dusting of salt. It truly is one of the best cookies I’ve ever had.

The staff are welcoming and friendly as well. Owner Kevin Dawe, who started on his own baking the bread two years ago, has been behind the counter making the sandwiches every time I’ve been there. The other employees are just super friendly and joking around. They make even a first-timer feel like a regular. I was lucky enough to be there when one of their first employees, Jamie, a Cleveland Institute of Music student, came to say goodbye because he was leaving Cleveland to pursue his music career. They were so thrilled for him and genuine while wishing him all the best. This is the type of small business you want to support and enjoy seeing them thrive.

There is no website, so I’ve linked their Yelp page. Give them a call to have your sandwiches ready for pick up or get in line and watch them make it. I get there before noon to avoid the rush, which I’m sure there is every day. They are open from 11 am to 6 pm every day but Monday and Tuesday.

Contact info:

Affettati
12401 Mayfield Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 333-2861

Hibachi One

I’ve noticed Hibachi One as I drive up and down Mayfield at the corner of Mayfield and Green Road in South Euclid, but after someone raved about it on our city’s chatter page I knew I had to check it out. It is primarily a carryout Japanese restaurant. There is parking and an entrance in back. There are a few tables, but it is a quick and easy option for good hibachi without having to sit down for a show. And affordable sushi rolls ($4 for a California roll?). I’ve never seen anyone eating there. That must have changed during the pandemic, because the website mentions a hibachi grill. This is a very good and affordable option for carryout. You can’t find another place east or west that beats the prices here, and you get a lot of food with the hibachi orders. Most of the one-item hibachi entrees are under $10, while the combos are $10.50 to under $16. They don’t have a website, but the menu is available on a lot of sites, including DoorDash.

They have various fried appetizers and chicken dumplings. I ordered crab rangoon on the first visit, and they were just okay. The egg rolls use spring roll wrappers. The cream cheese rolls are a unique option. They contain cream cheese, and I learned they also contain imitation crab from someone on Yelp complaining about it. So they are a better option than the crab rangoon, because they have a good filling to wrapper ratio.

The most expensive sushi roll is a Dragon Roll for $9.99. I ordered a California Roll and Philadelphia Roll and was thrilled with the results. The rolls were quite large and were tightly rolled. The ingredients were fresh (look at that avocado). They offer a two-roll combo that features two of their $4 rolls for $7.50. That’s an amazing deal!

I am a huge fan of scallops, so I had to get the scallops. The scallops are probably the most expensive items on the menu, with the chicken and scallops and shrimp and scallops being $15.99. I ordered the chicken and scallops hibachi on my first visit, and it was quite tasty. It filled the entire box. On the next visit I ordered the scallops and shrimp. The scallops have always been perfectly seared, which I enjoy. I would probably order extra vegetables in the future, because there aren’t a ton of vegetables other than a couple of stalks of broccoli and some onion.

The beef and shrimp combo was also tasty. The yum yum sauce is delicious and you can order extra for a small fee. I haven’t felt the need, but if you drown your hibachi in yum yum sauce you might want to. I prefer to enjoy the grilled char flavor without muting it.

Contact info:

Hibachi One
4454 Mayfield Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
(216) 417-1596

Raddell’s Slovenian Sausage Shop

Raddell’s Sausage has been a Cleveland staple for over four generations. It is located in the historic Waterloo Rd. & Collinwood neighborhood just off I-90 at the E. 152nd exit. Raddell’s is known for its homemade Slovenian smoked sausage and other European-style meats. When I was there someone asked for their rice sausage (which was only available frozen that day), and they also make Boudin, which can be hard to find here. While people come from all over to grab some smokies and sausages from 8-5 Mon, Tues & Wed, 8-4 Thur & Fri, and 8-3 on Sat, this modest deli is also a great place to grab a hearty lunch from 11-2 (every day but Sunday, when they are closed). The sandwiches are tasty and affordably priced. I got there shortly before noon, and there were only a couple of cars in the lot. However, when I left, the parking lot was packed and several guys were eating sandwiches in their cars and trucks.

The newest generation is doing a great job with their social media. Their reel featuring the Chicken Caprese Sub, which was the sandwich of the month in July, piqued my interest and I knew I had to check it out. The goofy humor of the dropped knife and making the bruschetta topping was charming.

The sub certainly did not disappoint. The chicken sausage was super flavorful, and I loved the freshness of the tomato bruschetta and fresh basil. Their sub rolls are most likely Orlando rolls, because they sell Orlando bread there. My counter guy missed putting on a drizzle of Balsamic, but I was able to quickly remedy that at home. It was a delight from start to finish.

However, the other subs are just as tasty. I’ve been on a quest to try meatball subs (more on that in another post in the future), and their meatball sub wowed me. The meatballs are deliciously flavorful and soft in a tasty sauce and pillowy soft roll (ignore the weird flatness on top of the meatballs – that came from the paper and carryout container). This was a pleasure to bite into from start to finish. At only $10.99 it is a total deal. And I am addicted. I was craving one the next day.

The regular sausage sandwich is a total deal at $6.49. You can choose either a smoked Slovenian, bratwurst, or andouille sausage and can add other toppings if you’d like. I got the Slovenian sausage and topped it with the obligatory Bertman’s mustard and kraut. Divine!

Also, their #1 seller is the Big Billy, which is huge and quite filling. It features a jumbo sized house made smoked Slovenian sausage, and I of course got it with sauerkraut and stadium mustard. Despite how large the sausage is (a foot long) it was a really juicy delight and not overcooked and dry at all. I understand why it is the top seller.

No lunch is complete without a side or two. They sell my favorite Sweet Maui Onion potato chips, so that is always a win. And the macaroni salad is really creamy and has visible chunks of pepper in it. I really enjoyed it.

While I was there I picked up a small Apple Strudel from their freezer and a container of Walnut and Apricot Kiflis. The Kiflis are not as soft as kolachky, but are tasty with a cup of coffee. I haven’t dug into the Apple Strudel yet, but I am confident it will be great. They are also known for their Potica, which is a traditional Slovenian walnut nut roll.

They sell Milka chocolate bars and quite a few other well-curated European items, so I know that whoever is doing the buying has good taste. The Croatian dark chocolate bar is an absolute must-try!

Contact info:

Raddell’s Sausage Shop
478 E. 152nd Street
Cleveland, OH 44110
(440) 672-1149

Dominick’s Deli at Market on Lee

I recently set off on a quest to find good meatball subs. Dominick’s Deli was one of the places recommended to me, and then a friend was raving about the Papa and their sub rolls back in May. She and her significant other are regulars there. It seemed like a sign that I needed to check it out. I’m embarrassed that I live so close and didn’t even know about it until now. I’ve been back several times in just a couple of weeks.

Dominick’s Deli is a family run business on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights (next to the Kensington Pub) that features sandwiches, salads, and pizzas named after family members. Brothers Demetrios and Niko are co-owners who live in the Heights along with their families. Dominick’s is named after their grandfather on the Italian side, and the prepared foods and subs all have an Italian emphasis. I do love mortadella, and several of the subs feature it, as well as proscuitto, gabagool, Genoa salami and other Italian deli meats. Demetrios owns several businesses in the Land, including Oak Barrel in Valley View, Forage Public House, Chicken Ranch and the late Deagen’s Kitchen and Zina Street Food. Dominick’s Deli does business out of The Market on Lee. The Market has a small selection of carefully curated items from pantry staples to gourmet items out of refrigerated coolers. The brands at the Market range from national to hyper local – with an emphasis on local, small, family run businesses. I enjoy ordering i online for pickup directly on the Market on Lee website. Door Dash also offers online ordering, but it’s cheaper to order directly.

I recently got a craving for a meatball sub and asked my food group for suggestions. Dominick’s was one of the suggestions, and I’m so glad it was. This was a damn good meatball sub, and it was only the second one I tried. I figure most meatball subs won’t compare, because it was fantastic. The
crusty filone bread is special ordered from On the Rise especially for Dominick’s subs. It comes with or without sesame seeds. The rolls are split in half and topped with the toppings and then broiled to melt the cheese. The meatballs were nicely sliced and the cheese broiled to the sides of the container. The seasoning was also top-notch. I had to eat it with a fork, but probably could have used my hands if I really wanted to get messy.

The small Veney salad was super fresh as well. It features hydro greens, Locatelli cheese, Castelvetrano olives, Roma tomatoes, red onion, pepperoncini, house croutons and Dominick’s vinaigrette. I loved the olives. I’m a sucker for Castelvetrano olives. I also enjoyed a side of Niko’s Broccoli Slaw on another visit. The crisp broccoli was nicely dressed in the slaw sauce and had a good amount of cheese. There were some fun and tasty mix-ins (maybe cranberry?).

I had heard rave reviews of the Papa from my friend as well as Mitch from #40daysofsandwiches. Mitch claims it is one of their favorite sandwiches. It is the #1 ordered item on Door Dash. The Papa features prosciutto de Parma, Dolceterra pecorino brie, wild arugula, local honey, and toasted pistachios. I had high hopes, but wasn’t that blown away. I love brie, but just thought the sandwich was okay. The arugula kind of made it bitter despite the honey of it all.

I did, however, enjoy the tuna melt, which I ordered on another visit. The tuna melt comes with cheddar cheese, but you can customize the sub to meet your cravings. I will probably order it with mozzarella or provolone in addition to cheddar next time. I also added tomato for a bit of freshness. This was another sandwich that would have benefited from eating with a fork, but this time I dove right in and enjoyed the mess.

The sausage and peppers sub is also features sliced sausage, sauteed onions and peppers, and broiled cheese. Like the meatball sub and tuna melt it was a tasty, tasty mess with a generous helping of broiled cheese.

People on the local Cleveland Heights group also raved about the pizza, so I ordered one to check it out. I chose to build my own and ordered sausage, ricotta cheese and fresh tomato. It was good, but I honestly prefer Jet’s Pizza. I did enjoy the toppings, but it was a little more doughy than I would have preferred. I might try one of their four signature pizzas just in case I chose boring toppings though.

I tried the Pasta e Fagioli soup, and it was also good but kind of veered close to “too salty.” My friend hadn’t enjoyed the turkey pot pie soup because it was too salty and had a seasoning she didn’t enjoy. So buyer beware on the soups. The baby farfalle were a nice contrast with the cannellini beans. The farfalle had not broken down and were a nice consistency. Overall it had a good flavor.

The rice pudding was delicious. It had a great, creamy consistency and just the right amount of cinnamon on top. I could easily see me getting addicted to it. The tiramisu was very heavy on the amaretto flavor. It had a nice consistency as well, but I wasn’t expecting amaretto.

I look forward to exploring the menu more in the future.

Contact info:

Dominick’s Deli at Market on Lee
2256 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 417-2675

Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet

I enjoy all kinds of food. I know a lot of people look down their nose at buffets (especially after the pandemic), but a buffet is a great way to try things you might not normally order at a restaurant (I think Indian buffets are a great way to dip a toe in – I recommend Himalayan and Indian Flame, btw). I think Kumo is one of the better Chinese/Asian buffets in town, and many people agree with me. I liked Mandarin Seafood Buffet in Twinsburg, but it was a Fiji or Kumo as well for a while and is now Fun Buffet. I would pop in when I wanted something filling and fast. In any event, many people recommend Kumo as being one of the best – with Fiji just across the street. I’ve also been to Fiji, but I just prefer Kumo. It’s got a good vibe and comfy booths/chairs, even if they are getting a little worn. It is also in the strip mall right next to the Parma Snow library branch, so I enjoy eating there before or after a library event.

I was introduced to Kumo years ago before the pandemic by a financial advisor who appreciates good food and would go there for their lunch buffet. Like it or not, buffets are a great value for the money. The lunch buffet at Kumo is $14.99 (from 11 to 3:30) and the dinner buffet is $23.99. There are cheaper prices for seniors (60+) and kids (7-10). And they sometimes run promotional prices for less ($11.99 for lunch and $19.99 most recently if you don’t get hot pot). For that, you get all kinds of chicken, beef, seafood and pork dishes, four or five different soups, a hot pot station, a salad bar as well as 20 sushi rolls and several dessert options such as ice cream, pudding and fruit to enjoy. And they also offer dim sum on the weekends (all day on Sunday, which is $23.99 all day). The buffet is also offered to go at $3.99 a pound for lunch and $4.99 a pound for dinner (seafood and hot pot are extra) with 1, 2 or 3 entrees. And they do a great job replenishing the steam tables.

If you get there shortly before dinner, you are given a choice of lunch or dinner- and all of the dinner entrees are clearly labeled “dinner only” in front of the steam pan if you just want the lunch. I was there recently at 3:15. I decided to just pay for the dinner so I didn’t inadvertantly grab some dinner choices. That’s how I know about the signs. It turns out all of my favorites are served at lunch. The only dinner item I ended up getting were some crab legs that were overcooked/dry as dust. Hard pass next time, and now I know.

When I decided to write about Kumo, I compiled all my photos from over the years (all the way back to 2015, but not all are going to be included here). I noticed a pattern, and I definitely have favorites. The nice thing about a buffet is everyone can enjoy their own favorites and mix and match/pick and choose. All of the food is labelled on the sneeze guards, so there is no guessing.

I always start my visit at the sushi station. You can get a single slice from a roll as well as nigiri and sometimes sashimi. I love sushi, but any roll is a commitment. A sushi roll is usually about $20 now, so a plate of sushi options allows me to ‘break even’ and I haven’t even hit the entrees. There is no commitment here – you just choose what looks good to you. They also have plenty of ginger and wasabi and little containers for soy and other sauces. I also enjoy the peel and eat shrimp. I have been known to get adventurous and try the crawfish or snail – or go for other things like fried appetizers (rangoon, egg rolls, dumplings/gyoza, etc.) during round one. Sometimes I get a soup. It all depends on what I’m in the mood for.

Round two is usually dedicated to the entrees. I really enjoy the ‘seafood and cheese’ as well as the chicken and broccoli or chicken and mushroom – and the mango chicken is tasty. I always get some rice and/or lo mein as well. I just grab a scoop of whatever looks good to me. I am not a huge fan of hot pot, so I don’t get any of that. The hot pot stuff is also clearly labeled and is around the left of the sushi station and towards the rear of the restaurant. If you love hot pot there is also plenty of options.

I usually don’t have much room left for a round three of entrees, so round three for me is usually dessert. The desserts are on the very right against the wall. I obviously enjoy the pudding(s) and the bananas, because I have them on every plate I’ve had. Every. Single. Time. LOL

The buffet has some picky-kid-friendly choices like wings, but I’m there for the seafood and Asian food. It’s literally got something for everyone. So if you are in te mood for a quick meal and lots of choices, be sure to check out Kumo.

Contact info:

Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet
1975 Snow Road
Parma, OH 44134
(216) 741-3038

Cocky’s Bagels

Cocky’s Bagels is a successful local chain with three locations in the Cleveland area and one in Columbus. Keene and Natalie Cockburn opened the first Cocky’s location in North Olmsted in 2019. The brand has since expanded to add locations in the East Bank of the Flats downtown, Columbus, and University Heights. The University Heights shop is similar to the locations in North Olmsted and Columbus rather than its bar-centric Flats location. The Flats location obviously serves cocktails as well. Since I live on the East Side I obviously am basing this on my visits to the University Heights location. That location and the North Olmsted one are more fast-casual restaurants with a coffee shop aesthetic. It’s a bold choice considering Bialy’s is one street over. If you want an awesome bagel, go to Bialy’s or even Cleveland Bagel or Nubeigel. However, if you want a sandwich on a bagel, Cocky’s is a good choice. The bagels are perfect for sandwiches or schmears. Cocky’s is known for their loaded bagel sandwiches with breakfast and lunch options. Lots of breakfast meats, and they also offer vegan sausage and bacon on their sandwiches if you are into that or are watching your cholesterol.

The bagel that immediately appealed to me was The Frenchie, which features sausage, eggs, cheddar, a hashbrown, and maple syrup on a maple bagel. I really, really enjoyed it. The bagel was soft enough to pair with the delicious fillings, and the maple bagel was just a fun variety. I really enjoy a good sausage sandwich in the morning, and this hit the spot with its combination of sweet and savory.

During my first visit I asked the woman working the counter what her favorite bagel is, and she told me she orders The Sunrise, which has eggs, cheddar, garlic herb cream cheese, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion and “Cocky’s sauce,” which has a hint of hot sauce heat, and adds bacon. So obviously that was the one I tried on my second visit. I felt healthier due to all the veg on it, but still prefer The Frenchie to wake me up. I ordered it on my beloved sesame bagel, because I wanted to taste the fresh fillings.

And of course I had to order The Lox at some point as well, because bagels and lox go so well together. Plus, it’s their number one seller according to the DoorDash interface. The Lox features smoked salmon, plain cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers. The photo on the website shows it with a nice hunk of avocado, but it doesn’t come with it. Pro tip: I added avocado the next time, but it was not worth the extra $2 and they didn’t put it on (I had to drive back for it and it was meager). Save your money and buy your own avocado at the grocery store and add as much as you want. I ordered it on an Everything bagel, because it seems the most fitting choice for the lox of it all. It was definitely a tasty bagel sandwich.

Does this look like it was worth an extra $2?

The Big Daddy is also a fun choice. It has both bacon and sausage as well as egg, the garlic herb cream cheese, American cheese, Cocky’s sauce and a hash brown. It’s like a big breakfast in one bagel. Just look at that cross-section. I really enjoyed it and will definitely order it again.

The counter helper also raved about the buffalo chicken dip. She offered to get me a sample, but it was too early in the morning to have buffalo chicken dip. I did order it on top of fries on a later trip (see below). I enjoyed the iced coffee, but it wasn’t anything that knocked my socks off. It was a nice caffeine boost, and I drank it down quickly. The cappucino was the world’s smallest coffee for a large price, so either skip it or run through the Dunkin’ drive-thru.

I’ve stuck with the breakfast bagels so far, but the University Heights location is open until 3, so I definitely intend to try some of the more lunch choices in the future. The Cocky’s features grilled turkey, salami, fried egg, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion and Cocky’s sauce. The Cocky’s Club, Dirty, and Philly bagels also sound and look tasty. They even have a grilled cheese bagel (the Grilled Cheesus). I ordered the Dirty on a recent afternoon visit. It is made with grilled turkey, cheddar, bacon, herb cream cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. The herb cream cheese really is quite tasty and made it shine. I’ve also heard good things about their regular cream cheese.

I ordered a small fry to go with it and topped it with the buffalo chicken dip. That small fry is a meal unto itself. The fries are fresh cut, and the buffalo chicken dip was indeed tasty. They didn’t skimp on the shredded chicken either. I ended up eating it with a spoon, because the fries were kind of limp by the time I got it home. They were still tasty, but being fresh cut there was no snap and couldn’t scoop the dip very well.

It definitely has a hipster hangout kind of vibe with the huge influencer flower wall. I had ordered (and paid) ahead on the website (through DoorDash apparently) during one of my visits, and once the folks in front of me got served I was able to pick up my order, which was waiting for me when I got there. I wasn’t thrilled about the DoorDash of it all, so I’ll probably stick with ordering at the counter and waiting. They have seating to accommodate that and have a nice dispenser of water in the corner.

Contact info:

 

Cocky’s Bagels

North Olmsted
26703 Brookpark Extension
North Olmsted, OH 44070
(440) 455-1205
Open M-F: 7 AM-3 PM and S+S: 8 AM-4 PM

 

University Heights
13898 Cedar Road
University Heights, OH 44070
(216) 400-7875
Open M-F: 7:30 AM-3 PM and S+S: 8 AM-4 PM

 

Flats location
1127 Old River Road
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 353-9400
Open M-W: 7:30 AM-3 PM, T+F: 7:30 AM-3 PM and 8 PM-2 AM, SAT: 7:30 AM-2 AM and SUN: 7:30 AM-6 PM

Since this is a Cleveland blog I’m leaving off the Columbus location, but you can google it if you want.

The Souper Market

The Souper Market is a small local chain (with five locations) that specializes in hand-crafted soups, stocks, salads and salad dressings, made from scratch using the finest ingredients. I drove past the location on Carnegie (Midtown location) for years and had even thought it had closed because the store front on Carnegie was closed. It turns out that the entrance moved to the side of the building off their generous parking lot. The location in Ohio City is also quite popular, and the Downtown location on St. Clair Avenue is near the Justice Center. they also have a location in Kamm’s Corner and Lakewood. Most locations are only open Monday through Friday, although the Ohio City, Lakewood and Downtown locations are also open on Saturday afternoons. None of the locations are open on Sundays.

There are a few soups that are available every day (Tomato Ginger, Potato Spinach & Swiss, Jambalaya and their beloved Chicken Paprikash, Pulled Chicken Noodle, Tuscan Vegetable and Creamy Wild Mushroom and a chili that varies weekly), but the menu also changes weekly as well as seasonally, offering heartier soups in winter and lighter options in summer, alongside a variety of salads and chilled soups. The soups can be purchased as 8 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz. and 32 oz. servings.

They offer a way to enjoy a soup flight by offering a three pack of soups. You can order three DIFFERENT 8 oz. soups of your choice with 2 pieces of bread for just $14. It’s a great choice if you can’t decide on just one soup.

My go-to order is a grilled cheese paired with one of their delicious soups. It’s only $10 for a large panini pressed grilled cheese and an 8 oz. cup of soup and $11 for a 12 oz. soup. Most recently I enjoyed the Beefy Mushroom & Swiss soup and grilled cheese. I love mushroom and Swiss together, so I loved it.

They also have two deals that feature salads and soup. Deal #1 is an 8 oz. cup of soup and any salad for $13, Deal #2 is a 12 oz. cup of soup and any salad for $14. I have heard great things about the asparagus salad as well as the sweet lemon vinaigrette.

You can also buy stock in quarts or gallons. The stocks, which are the foundation of the soups, are simmered with meats, vegetables, and herbs, creating rich, additive-free, gluten-free, and low-sodium broths.

Contact info:

The Souper Market

Midtown
7501 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44103
(216) 361-1355

Downtown
87 W St Clair Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 929-1054

Ohio City
2528 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 737-7687

Kamm’s Corners
16804 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111
(216) 303-9240

Lakewood
14809 Detroit Ave
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 712-7292

56 Social

I have always enjoyed the “56” family of restaurants and met one of the owners years ago through Meetup and found him to be a stand-up guy, so I’m happy they are so successful. The 56 restaurants offer great healthy choices, with really nice salads, and use fresh ingredients. They are located primarily on the east side (56 Kitchen in Solon and Mayfield, 56 Tavern in Aurora, and Elle in Solon). In fact, the Mayfield location’s schtick is that it serves 56 salads, which I think is fun.

56 Social is an all-day cafe located in the former J. Pistone Market on Warrensville Center Road. It is open every day but Sunday from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM. J. Pistone was in business for 25 years, but I feel 56 Social has a better vibe. The open dining room is less cluttered, and the tables are nicely spaced throughout the dining room, and there is a bar with high top chairs if you like that. I also like the convenient parking in back with the back entrance. I started going after a really bad snow storm this summer and the lot and walkways were always well-cleared of snow and well-salted. If you have mobility issues you should enter from the front, because there are a couple of steps down at the back entrance. Once I entered, I was warmly greeted by the hostess to the right just as you enter and was quickly shown to a table after asking my preference of high top or table seating. The servers I have had have been friendly and communicative when there was a delay.

The all-day menu is an approachable mix of American, Mediterranean and Jewish deli foods. They have a lot of sandwiches and salads that are quite lovely. Obviously I immediately gravitated toward the “Original Pewter Mug” salad. It was really great, made with chopped iceberg lettuce and topped with strips of turkey, “turkey ham” and Swiss, diced tomato, and a creamy garlic vinaigrette. I enjoyed the combination of toppings, but I really adored the pretzel bread that came with it. It is light and fluffy and super tasty. And served warm enough to slightly melt the cheese under it. I will probably order salads in the near future agian just to enjoy one of the pretzels.

I was also tempted by what was described as a creamy egg salad served on house-baked Japanese milk bread. I enjoy a good egg salad sandwich, so I was intrigued. I have to be honest and say it isn’t to my taste. I love the idea of a pillowy egg salad, but this one is bland as hell. I prefer a zippier egg salad. I usually add a bit of horseradish or brown mustard to the egg mixture. Or it would be fine if the bread was more flavorful to offset the blander egg salad. I took half of the sandwich home, sprinkled on a healthy shake of my Pampered Chef dill mix and did enjoy it. The chips were fantastic though.

The BLT is fantastic. It is made with crispy thick-cut bacon, sliced heirloom tomato, creamy avocado, and fresh basil served on toasted sourdough. The drizzle of garlic aioli really made it stand out as well. A little garlic aioli might be a good addition to the egg salad. I ordered the BLT with a side of delicious soup of the day (it was a corn chowder that day) for a slight upcharge. The chowder was chock full of chunky potato and nice corn kernels and was well-seasoned. Overall, it was a nice light lunch.

Since you all know my love of a good tuna melt, I obviously had to order the tuna melt here. The tuna melt is made with house-made albacore tuna salad that is topped with heirloom tomato slices and Swiss and grilled on marble rye. It was a tasty tuna melt. Not the best I’ve had (the honors so far go to Chelo’s Kitchen, Yours Truly and the now-defunct Old Brooklyn Cheese Company and Katz Diner), but certainly not the worst. I liked the inclusion of tomato, and the marble rye was nice, even if I prefer a seeded rye. I will definitely be ordering it again. Again, I ordered a cup of soup, which was a delicious lobster bisque. The pairing would be a nice Lent lunch or supper alternative.

As for beverage choices, I really enjoyed the match-chai latte, which I have never seen anywhere else. The spicy chai pairs really well with the earthier matcha. It has a nice zip to it and warmed me up nicely on a cold and snowy day in February. I tried to order a smoothie the next time, but was told they are only served before 3 pm. When I went again, I ordered the Pink Dragon (see in above photo), which is made with oat milk, yogurt, ube, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, dragon fruit, and agave. It was innocuous enough, but for $10 I expected something that wowed me and that unfortunately wasn’t it. They do have a bar, so one of their cocktails will definitely be one of my next choices.

The dessert choices also sound great. I ordered the white vanilla bean cake to go to enjoy later, and it was absolutely delicious. I ate it over two sittings, because it was quite large. It would be perfect to share with someone.

Contact info:

56 Social
3245 Warrensville Center Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
(216) 283-3663

The Hot Dog Diner & Burger Co.

Even though it’s been in business since 2005, I first visited the Hot Dog Diner just before it announced it was closing in February 2025. I was bummed because I had been wanting to try it for a while, but at least I had been able to eat there once. Well, luckily the neighborhood convinced the new owner to stay and not relocate it to Brunswick. This customer-centric approach extends to the menu, which evolves based on customer requests. For example, the first burger I tried was the pierogi burger (how could I not?). And it was great. They serve BLTs with local tomatoes in the summer during tomato season. This is your basic hamburger and hot dog spot (as well as chicken sandwiches).

This restaurant is housed in an old 1970s-era Taco Bell, which is pretty cool. It’s a small place with multiple tables and booths. Several people have complained that there is no restroom, so keep that in mind. They also have a drive-thru if you don’t want to eat in the restaurant. The employees behind the counter were friendly, and you can see them prepare the orders. Once I ordered I took a seat while they freshly prepared my order.

In the mood for something traditional? They have have Coney Dogs, Slaw Dogs and Windy City (Chicago) Dogs. They have a spicy hot dog with jalapenos, cream cheese and red pepper flakes called the Hellish Dog. When it comes to the basic hot dogs, you have your choice of hot dog: a classic dog (think Ballpark), a “snappy dog” in a natural casing, a jumbo 1/4 lb. all-beef hot dog, or even a 1/4 lb. kielbasa. Sometimes you need a kielbasa for kraut and brown mustard, and this will scratch the itch nicely (although my absolutely favorite kraut sandwich is at Mama Maria’s Kitchen next to State Meats). I’m not a huge coney/chili fan, so I can’t speak to those. I prefer a snappy dog. I can make a classic dog at home. There are a wide variety of choices to cover anyone’s taste. The photo below is the Windy City on the left and Diner Dog (topped with chili, sauerkraut, onions, and mustard) on the right. They were okay.

One of my absolute go-tos when it comes to hot dogs is a Slaw Dog, and Hot Dog Diner serves a great one. My snappy Slaw Dog was tasty and came with a generous portion of creamy cole slaw, which I appreciated, and a generous drizzle of mustard.

Plus, the Hot Dog Diner introduced burgers a few years ago. In fact, Cleveland Magazine named their burgers some of the “Best Burgers in Cleveland.” In honor of Parma’s Polish community, their best-selling burger is the Pierogi Burger. It’s a 1/3 pound fresh beef patty topped with a potato and cheese pierogi, grilled onions, sour cream and cheese sauce on a toasted, fresh buttered bun. I really enjoyed it. I loved the combo of burger contrasted with the grilled onions, pierogis and melty American cheese. I’m not sure where they source their pierogi, but it would be nice to know if they use a local pierogi like Rudy’s or State Meat’s (or even Pierogi Lady). But it definitely hit my pierogi and burger combo button. The only other time I’ve had a pierogi on a burger is at Buckeye Beer Engine in Lakewood. It’s definitely an indulgence worth trying.

Hot Dog Diner’s french fries are hand cut. The fresh onion rings are quite tasty and perfectly fried. And who doesn’t love tots? You can turn your meal into a combo for only $4 more. The combo includes a regular fry and a regular drink and you can upgrade to tots or onion rings for $1 and upsize your side and drink for $2. They serve Coke products, iced tea (sweet and unsweetened), lemonade, and milkshakes.

The drive-thru isn’t the speediest, but the food is obviously made once you order. In that case I don’t mind waiting at all at the window. The diner operates six days a week, closed only on Sundays, serving from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Contact info:

Hot Dog Diner & Burger Co
5494 Pearl Road
Parma, OH 44129
(480) 440-2109

Lehman’s Deli

Lehman’s Deli and Bakery is a deli on Detroit Road in Westlake. Lehman’s Country Store started in the 1940’s and has evolved into Lehman’s Deli. It has been operating as a deli since 1983. Lehman’s serves coffee and tea, baked goods, soups, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches. In fact, Lehman’s makes over 140 different soups (several soups a day and they change every day – you can also buy quarts from the cooler) and nearly 100 different sandwiches. They also say you can invent your own sandwiches as long as they have the ingredients on hand. You can also just get half a sandwich if you want. Lehman’s cooks its own roast beef, corned beef, pastrami, chicken breast and turkey breast and bakes almost all of the desserts. It serves Cleveland Bagels and Rising Star Coffee.

The place is split into two different entities – the deli counter and the bakery/coffee bar and dining area. If you want a coffee or baked good take the entrance on the right. The deli counter and coolers are to the left. My doctor is just down the road, so I order on my phone from the parking lot and drive there to pick it up. I may have to chill in my car for a few minutes, but I have also been known to go into the bakery and grab a coffee.

Lehman’s got on my radar when I started my tuna melt quest. People recommended it, saying the Lehman’s tuna melt is up there among the best tuna melts in Cleveland. It was indeed fantastic. The tuna was warm, and the cheese was nicely melted. I paired it with a cup of Italian wedding soup and a Lehman’s vanilla cream soda, which was a total treat. You don’t see cream soda much anymore. The Italian wedding soup was pretty much perfect – with just the right amount of meatballs, pasta and spinach (escarole is ideal, but spinach is a perfectly fine substitute and more commonly found in most non-Italian restaurants).

I ordered a turkey reuben on my next visit and paired it with a bag of chips and an order of deviled eggs. The eggs were a little tougher than I like, but the filling was great. The turkey reuben had a decent amount of smoked turkey along with sauerkaut and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye. And the bread was perfectly grilled. I also really enjoyed the Calypso Island Wave Lemonade, which blends pineapple, banana, mango, passion fruit and orange with the tartness of lemonade.

They also offer a nice selection of sub sandwiches. The one pictured here is the Italian sub, but I’m intrigued by the idea of a clam strip sub (“super sized clam strips on a grilled hoagie roll with tartar sauce, lettuce & tomato”). The Poor Boy also sounds tasty with bologna, hard salami, American cheese, shaved ham, onion, pickle, tomato, lettuce, cole slaw & mayo. I grew up calling them hoagies, but I like the addition of cole slaw. The Italian sub could easily be held up against any Italian sub. It features hard salami, Provolone cheese, shaved ham, pepperoni, onion, tomato, pickle & lettuce that is topped with zesty Italian dressing. It had a nice zesty punch to it between the Italian dressing and the salami and pepperoni.

I’m looking forward to my next doctor’s visit in March so I can explore more of the menu. The deli is open 6 days a week (Monday through Friday from 7 am to 8 pm, Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm and closed on Sunday), while the bakery is open 7 days a week (from 6-4 Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 7 am to 1 pm on Sunday).

Contact info:

Lehman’s Deli
24961 Detroit Road
Westlake, OH 44145
(440) 871-3445