Jill (@bonnjill)

Clambakes 2024

I attended my final clambake of the year tonight. I focused on quality over quantity this year, trying to hit as many of the top clambakes (according to Cleveland Magazine and other local recommendations) as I could.

Willoughby Elks

I once again attended the Willoughby Elks’ clambake with my friend, who is a member, on September 28th to kick off “clambake season.” I managed to get a really good parking space near the door and met my friend in the back where the clambakes were being prepared. Unlike last year, which was rainy, we had gorgeous weather. We grabbed a beer at the bar inside and grabbed a table. We then headed outside to line up at the tent as our meals were assembled. It was not as crowded as it has been in years past because they were doing a big clambake and fundraiser a few weeks later. But no crowd meant no line. We also met towards the tail end, so that might have also played a factor. The clambake includes clams (or mussels) with the choice of 1/2 a chicken or steak along with sweet potato, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and clam chowder. I had ordered a Chicken Bake this year, because I remembered enjoying the taste I had of my friend’s last year. I usually get a steak here. My friend ordered the mussels, while I had the clams. They grill the chicken and steak outside to order and then in my case slathered the chicken with a tasty barbecue sauce. After loading our trays with everything we headed inside where it was air conditioned. The chowder is usually a highlight, but maybe it had been sitting too long because it was pretty thick. And there were no butter issues this year (the rain had seeped through the tent last year). I once again enjoyed the clams and chowder and a few bites of chicken and brought home the rest of the chicken and the sweet potato for lunch the next day. Since it was towards the end of the clambake they were offering extra clams and mussels if people wanted them (we shared some mussels, as you can see below to the very right). Unfortunately they were somewhat overcooked and falling apart.

Reithoffer’s Clambake catered by Normandy Catering

One of my friends from high school (Dreadlock Dave) posted about a clambake he was going to perform at (he’s a musician), so I bought a ticket on Eventbrite thinking I would know some people there. Unfortunately we are from the West Side, and the clambake was decidedly on the East Side – near the Ravenna exit off 422, so I didn’t know anyone but him (and met his girlfriend). I guess technically it is in Chagrin Falls, but it is close to the border with Ravenna. Reithoffer’s Art, Spirits and Entertainment is an eclectic bar and special events center on Ravenna Road. The clambake was held outside, and the weather was stunning. The event started at 4, but I tried to get there towards the tail end since I knew I would be staying to hear him perform at 8. Dave decided to perform inside since the temperature was going to drop when the sun went down. When I arrived I found a parking space in the spacious parking lot and headed towards the catering tent. I was looking forward to this, because Normandy Catering has a very good reputation.

The clambake was delicious. I grabbed a tray with New England clam chowder, fresh clams, a 1/2 chicken, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and a roll. I went back to enjoy the delicious apple cobbler and ice cream. The clam chowder was once again thicker, but that happens with catered events. The clams were tasty (if occasionally gritty), and I enjoyed the corn on the cob. The chicken and sweet potatoes were also tasty. I had several bites and decided to save most for later so I could enjoy the dessert. The cobbler was warm and cinnamony, and the ice cream was freshly scooped from the frozen container. I think the dessert was my favorite part of the meal, so I’m glad I decided to indulge. I got to enjoy the vibe (lots of tables on the gravel lot and several fire pits) as well as the sunset beforehand. I covered my plate of leftovers with a napkin and headed inside to get a comfy chair to enjoy the show. I enjoyed a pumpkin spice martini and people-watching while I waited for the show. The inside was spacious, with several rooms to choose from. I had planned to just stay for a couple of songs but ended up staying for the entire first set as the patrons got increasingly drunker. It’s always fun to watch Dave perform. I headed to nearby LaDue Reservoir afterwards to see if I could enjoy the Northern Lights – but alas, the skies were clear but aurora-free.

The Winking Lizard

The Winking Lizard always does a great clambake. I decided to enjoy the clambake in Mayfield Heights again this year and paired it with a trip to MicroCenter afterward to buy a much-needed laptop. The Winking Lizard clambakes are on the weekends from Friday after 3 pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. I decided it would be a great Sunday treat. I got there at 3 to ensure I could have time to shop and would avoid the crowds. I didn’t remember that the Browns were playing that day. The weather was great, so the hostess seated me on the patio, which was really lovely and not drowned out by the game. The clambake includes a cup of New England clam chowder, steamed clams, baked or sweet potato, corn on the cob, and garlic cheese bread with your choice of twin lobster tails for $40, a 12 oz. strip steak for $36, a half slab of St. Louis ribs for $32 and a BBQ chicken breast for $26. Another option was “Clams & Clams” for $32. It’s a really good deal. I ordered a delightful watermelon drink and decided to opt for the ribs and add a lobster tail for $14 from the ala carte menu. Everything was of course cooked perfectly. I especially enjoyed the ribs and the garlic cheese bread. I ate the chowder, clams and lobster tail and a couple ribs there and took the ribs and sweet potato home. The waitress had asked if I wanted “the butter” (cinnamon butter), but somehow I didn’t get it and it wasn’t important enough to me to ask for it. The butter pats I did get were sufficient, but I whipped up some butter at home for my leftovers.

Rustic Grill at Stonewater

Tucked in the middle of the golf course in Highland Heights, the semi-private Stonewater club welcomes both members and guests to its annual clambake on several days in October. There was a private event in one of the rooms I passed as well as the main dining room and quite a few people sitting out on the patio. This year I attended by myself on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. I was able to pre-order my dinner when I made the reservation, so they were prepared for me. The bake features a dozen middleneck clams, a cup of New England clam chowder, a roll with honey butter, braised red skin potatoes, lemon poppy seed and apple slaw, sweet corn, half a roasted chicken or 12-ounce strip steak and apple crumble for $49. I chose the strip steak and added a lobster tail. Everything was great. The lobster tail and steak were perfectly cooked to my specifications. The clams were large, and the slaw was a nice surprise. It was quite tasty. I also enjoyed my Mai Tai from the bar.

Station 43

I have never had a bad meal at Station 43 in Solon (and my parents used to be regulars there on Thursday nights). It is independently owned by a former Solon firefighter. I used to eat here a lot when I lived in Solon as well as when I would meet my parents here after I moved to Cleveland Heights. I met a girlfriend there for the clambake on October 24. We had to wait about 10-15 minutes as everyone arrived all at once just before I arrived at 5:20. As you can tell from this post I usually bring home leftovers. I left without leftovers! Part of it was due to the smaller sized sweet potato and corn on the cob, but I was also really hungry that day since I had several Zoom classes and didn’t have time to have more than a couple pieces of toast all day.

I started by ordering an apple cider mocktail and adding Captain Morgan Rum. My friend enjoyed her Rum Runner (once she got it – she had to remind the server). As for the food… The clam chowder was perfect – with a great smooth consistency to the chowder with nice chunks of potato and clam. The steamed clams were perfect – and the BUTTER was perfect. Most melted butter at the clambakes this year tasted like nothing, but this butter was perfection and super-buttery. A total standout! The ear of corn was great and very fresh, the sweet potato was soft and tasty (smaller sweet potatoes are just somehow sweeter and soft), and the chicken was nicely grilled and really tender and fell off the bone easily. I knew the meal would be good (and was prepared to order off the menu if they had run out by 5:30), but it even exceeded my expectations. This clambake is not touted by anyone as one of the best in Cleveland, but it definitely is in my book! My friend just started working in Solon and was thrilled to learn about this gem of a restaurant.

Bruno’s Ristorante

I spontaneously decided to enjoy the final clambake weekend in style. Bruno’s clambake is available every Friday and Saturday (this year from September 27 to October 26 2024) during dinner service from 4 PM to close. I made a 4 PM reservation at Bruno’s earlier in the day at 11:30. They managed to accommodate me since I promised the table would be available for a 5:30 reservation. I managed to fulfill that promise, but just barely. But it wasn’t me. The servers were not whipping out the courses, which made for an enjoyable meal and I definitely didn’t feel rushed out the door. Bruno’s is always an excellent meal – if a little crowded, so reservations are a must! And this clambake was spectacular. Probably the best one this year.

Bruno’s is known for its excellent Italian food. Bruno’s Clambake Italiano includes fresh baked Italian bread with a tasty garlic butter (a cruet of olive oil and shakers of red pepper flakes and parmesan were on the table for dipping), one dozen middle neck clams in an herb broth (you can see the herbs on the clams), clam chowder, choice of cornish hen ($40), oven roasted 1/2 chicken ($40) or strip steak (my choice – for $49), corn on the cob, sweet potato (with brown sugar on the side), homemade white clam pasta, and Chef’s choice of dessert (it was a layered white cake that had a hint of strawberry and buttercream, which I got to go). I ordered a Pinot Grigio (which was perfectly chilled and served in a nice solid and hefty wine glass) and enjoyed several slices of the crusty bread to start. The corn could have been a little bigger (only half an ear instead of a full ear), but it was well-cooked and tasty. The clams were tender without a hint of grit, and the white clam pasta was good (although I had to add salt and pepper to “zhuzh” it up). The steak was very tender and just as I ordered it (but rare enough that it reheated well without overcooking). The gravy wasn’t necessary and didn’t really add anything, but it was good all the same. But I was absolutely blown away by the clam chowder. This was delicious and chock-full of tender potatoes and chunky clams. It was so good I got a pint to go! I will definitely go here again next year. The clambake is served every Friday and Saturday in October starting at 4 PM.

Stancato’s

Stancato’s hosts its clambake every Saturday in October. I met a dining out group here for the clambake last night (on the 26th). There were 8 of us, and all but one ordered the clambake. They were a little panicked because it was the last clambake of the year and things were looking tight, but they managed to accommodate us in a private dining room and we had a wonderful meal. Our server was stressed, but she handled us great. I started with a Pinot Grigio, which was a little light on the pour but I had already had a sangria at my book group earlier. We were four people to each table, and they brought out a board of five herb ciabatta rolls and a small bowl of marinara for dipping or drizzling. The ciabatta was soft and nicely herbacious. They then brought us a cup of New England clam chowder, which had a nice sherry note to it, followed by the linguini in white clam sauce. I can’t wait to enjoy it tomorrow. The third course featured a dozen middle neck clams with broth and drawn butter, which were perfectly cooked. They gladly brought out small bowls of clam broth when we asked. It was nice and was light like a wonton soup broth. At that point I was getting full. The roasted portion of the meal includes a marinated roast chicken breast, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, parsley red skin potatoes, and buttered corn on the cob. The marinated roast chicken breast was really tender and delicious. I had a piece of sausage with a pepper and onion, a bite of the potatoes and ate the entire corn cob. It was great, but they happily boxed it all up for us (including a separate container for the clam pasta since there was some liquid to it). We weren’t offered dessert, but to be fair we had promised not to take up the room for too long, so we headed out after paying our bills. It was a great clambake to cap off Clambake Season in Cleveland.

Plus one final clambake at Gunselman’s Tavern

One final observation that became painfully clear to me – why do restaurants even bother serving drawn/melted butter if it doesn’t taste like anything? It’s almost as if it was the tasteless oil-based butter. There is a huge difference between melted salted butter and unsalted butter for heaven’s sake. Next year I’ll try shaking the salt shaker into the butter. Maybe that will improve things.

Contact info:

Willoughby Elks
38860 Mentor Avenue
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 942-2747

Reithoffer’s
17711 Ravenna Road
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
(216) 333-8803

The Rustic Grill at StoneWater Golf Club
1 Club Drive
Highland Heights, OH 44143
(440) 461-4653

Station 43
39910 Aurora Road
Solon, OH 44139
(440) 836-0043

Bruno’s Ristorante
2644 W. 41st Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 961-7087

Stancato’s Italian Restaurant
7380 State Road
Cleveland, OH 44134
(440) 886-6242

The Village Butcher in Mayfield Village

The Village Butcher opened in 2022 and is part of the Quagliata empire. The tucked-away butcher shop is located in a strip mall next to Heinen’s on SOM Center Road near the intersection with Wilson-Mills Road. It is a destination for shoppers in search of imported pantry items, deli meats and cheeses, high-quality steaks and chops, and built-to-order sandwiches. The butcher shop serves as a production site for the restaurants that the Quagliata family owns. They use all Ohio-raised meats like chicken, pork, and beef. The products are all high-quality, and you pay for that quality. Those of us who appreciate that don’t mind paying a little extra. We are happy to support family-run farms and businesses.

As you walk in the first thing you see are giant slabs of beef slowly dry aging in a separate room, followed by a large red steel meat scale and a huge counter filled with gorgeous-looking slabs of meat. There is also a small refrigerated counter filled with premade items such as various salads and potato salad, meatloaf and Italian specialties such as lasagna or eggplant parmesan. There is also a modest modern kitchen in the back somewhat out of view where the staff makes the delicious built-to-order sandwiches.

The first sandwich I enjoyed was a fish sandwich they advertised for Lent. It looked delectable, and since the butcher shop had been on my radar for a little while I headed straight there to enjoy it. It was one of the best fish sandwiches I have ever enjoyed – tender and flaky with the most delectable tartar sauce. The cod was beer battered and perfectly deep fried. It was also a huge chunk of fish. The brioche bun kind of fell apart toward the end under the large amount of tartar sauce, but I didn’t mind one bit because it did not detract from and only added to the amazing flavor of the sandwich. I can’t wait until Lent so I can enjoy it again.

I bought a slab of lasagna and one of the bacon-wrapped meatloaves that same day to heat and eat later. Both were absolutely delicious. I ate the lasagna over two days, adding a little pasta sauce to moisten it. I also bought another individual-sized meatloaf on my most recent visit as well as some frozen cheesy potatoes. Both paired nicely together for a nice stick-to-your-rubs, meat-and-potatoes meal.

Most recently I tried the special sandwich of the day, a peach and prosciutto sandwich. When I asked how it was one of the employees replied that she liked it and didn’t even like peaches. It features a peach chutney on a sub bun with layers of prosciutto, arugula and slices of cheddar. It was quite tasty – and I do like peaches. I would have never thought to pair peaches with prosciutto, but it works. If you like a salty prosciutto this is one to try next peach season.

I have heard good things about their burgers and the Barbecue Short Rib sandwich. They take Ohio-raised short ribs and sous vide them with rosemary, thyme, salt, garlic and pepper, then cut chilled pieces and fry them a little so they are a little crispy but still soft and juicy on the inside. The meat is then topped with cheddar cheese, some house made sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, black garlic aioli and pickles and onions. It’s on my list for next time.

Since it’s a Quagliata business you can stock up on huge cans of tomatoes, frozen homemade Italian pasta, boxed or bagged Italian pasta, and frozen quarts of Italian Sunday sauce and vodka sauce and other soups and finds. The selection is well curated.

Contact info:

The Village Butcher
818 SOM Center Road
Mayfield, OH 44143
(440) 565-7330

The Winking Lizard/Lizardville Beer Store & Whiskey Bar

The Winking Lizard is another local Cleveland-based chain. The original Winking Lizard Tavern officially opened its doors three decades ago, in 1983, and is located on Miles Road in Bedford Heights. It was recently rebranded to Lizardville Beer Store & Whiskey Bar, which is an offshoot of The Winking Lizard restaurants. There are three Lizardville locations – in Bedford Heights, Brunswick and Copley. The food at these locations is a bit more upscale than The Winking Lizard (think flatbreads, shrimp and crab appetizers and mini-sandwiches or dinners in addition to a few Winking Lizard favorites).

The Winking Lizard now operates 21 restaurants across Northeast and Central Ohio. I have visited numerous locations, including the one on Miles Road, and each location has consistent food and a world-class beer list. There is a bar area with lots of televisions showing games and displaying the available beers as well as dining areas that don’t have as many televisions as in the bar, so you can ignore them if you need to. The Winking Lizard used to house an actual lizard, but they have been rehomed during and after the pandemic. When you walk in you are welcome to help yourself to fresh popcorn in a popcorn machine.

Speaking of the world-class beer list, several of my friends have done the world tour of beer and earned a quality jacket for their troubles. The program is in its 38th year (in 2024). It costs $20 to sign up and you have a year to drink some beers and earn some prizes. The first Tuesday of the month is Tourist Tuesday, when the beers are $1 off. Each beer is worth 1 point. You get a t-shirt after drinking 25 beers. There are also gift certificates once you hit certain milestones. Fifty beers gets you an insulated cooler and attached beer opener, 100 beers gets you a $20 gift card (essentially refunding your sign-up fee) and a Tour Jacket, and 150 beers gets you the Jacket and an insulated vest. You can also donate your “coat” to Coats for Kids. Instead of receiving your coat, Winking Lizard will make a donation to Coats for kids in the amount of $50.00. How cool is that? I don’t drink enough to make it worth it, but I do enjoy the fact that the beer list features quite a few of my favorite European beers. New beers are added all the time, with featured beers each month.

Do you know what pairs well with beer? Wings. And The Winking Lizard is known for its wings. The wings are meaty and always great. You can choose traditional bone-in or boneless wings, and there are 19 different sauces to choose from with varying spice levels. I am a fan of the BBQ, Honey Mustard and Bourbon Barrel sauces, but there are plenty of hotter sauces if you prefer a hot wing. The traditional wings are $0.90 a wing on Mondays after 3 PM. The specials are available in orders of five and are dine in only. There are no special orders that day. Wings are only available as traditional or crispy. Boneless wings are $0.85 a wing on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Another thing that pairs well with beer is pizza, and pizza is on special on Mondays and Tuesdays after 3 pm (and also dine-in only). You can order a cheese pizza for $7 and add toppings (up to 4) for $0.60 each. The pizza is a decent pizza, with a nice doughy crust and a fair amount of cheese. I recently ordered one with sausage and spinach and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ribs are on special on Wednesdays for $13 for a half slab and $20 for a full slab. The rib dinners are served with their delicious garlic cheese bread and two sides. The ribs have a nice amount of meat on the bone and are nicely sauced. They aren’t fall-off-the-bone, but you also don’t have to work hard to tear off the meat.

One of my favorite items on the menu are the Bo-Man’s sandwiches. The Bo-Man’s Chicken Sandwiches are served on garlic bread and come with a side of steak fries. My favorite is the Bo-Man’s Honey Club. It’s a breaded chicken breast that is tossed in the honey mustard sauce and topped with mozzarella, applewood bacon, lettuce and tomato. There is also a Bo-Man’s Bacon Cheeseburger. Many of the other chicken sandwiches and burgers are served on brioche buns. There is something for everyone’s taste.

The Winking Lizard is also known for its clambake in the fall. The clambake menu is available at select locations every weekend starting in mid-September and running through October. It is available Fridays after 3pm and all day Saturday and Sunday, while supplies last. You can choose a barbecue chicken breast or order a bake that features a strip steak, a half slab of ribs, clams & clams, or twin lobster tails. The bakes all come with clam chowder, a dozen clams, corn on the cob, garlic cheese bread, and your choice of baked or sweet potato. You can also customize it using the ala carte menu. The clambakes range from $26 for the chicken to $40 for the twin lobster tails. The chowder is one of the better ones I have enjoyed, and everything is always delicious.

Contact info:

The Winking Lizard
Find the closest location at here

Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse

Austin’s is a small local chain, but it isn’t on every street corner like some chains. Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse is one of three locations in the Cleveland area (Brecksville, Mayfield Heights and Mentor) of the Austin’s Wood Fired Restaurants. The Mayfield Heights happens to be the one closest to me. Austin’s has been in business since 1994. I enjoy a good steak every once in a while, and since Brown Derby in Lyndhurst closed this is my go to. The food is always consistently good. The Austin’s restaurants make everything on the menu from scratch, grilling over hard wood, not gas, and it just gives it that special flavor.

I like to treat myself every once in a while. This place kept me going during the pandemic when I needed an indulgent meal, since I could pop down Monticello/Wilson Mills for my order. I wish they still served the twice baked potatoes as a side dish choice, but a baked potato (loaded or not) is also still a good accompaniment. I also miss the corn muffins in the bread basket. But restaurants do what they can to make a profit and stay in business I guess. The bread they serve now is still tasty.

The servers are all very accommodating. When my friend recently ordered some muddled cucumber drink “neat” and it came out all muddled, the server quickly had the bartender strain it for her, and she was super happy with the result.

If I am being indulgent I also enjoy treating myself to an appetizer before my main. I’ve had the potato skins and the stuffed mushrooms, and all the soups have been tasty (although it wasn’t my favorite New England Clam Chowder I’ve ever had, but it was a decent enough version). The stuffed mushrooms are stuffed with crab and topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano and mozzarella cheese. The mushrooms themselves are small but tasty. The potato skins are the old-fashioned kind and are loaded with sharp cheddar, bacon and scallions and served with sour cream on the side. They definitely bring back the memories of loaded potato skins.

I enjoy a nice New York strip when I am feeling indulgent (are you sensing a pattern?). The steaks are hand cut in house, seasoned with a 5-spice blend, grilled over the wood fire and finished with Austin’s steak butter. I order it medium rare, and it always comes out perfectly cooked. The steaks include a choice of potato and the vegetable of the day. Available sides include their house fries, a baked potato, sweet potato fries, garlic basil broccoli, house coleslaw, smokin’ (baked) beans, mac and cheese, bacon Brussels sprouts, Parmesan potato wedges and rice.

I have also enjoyed the Prime Cowboy Steak, which they claim is their most flavorful steak. It is a hand-cut, heavily marbled 18 oz ribeye. I love the visible steak butter on top.

My friend and I went there a few weeks ago, because she loves their smoked prime rib and wanted me to try it. The smoked prime rib is available on Friday and Saturday evenings after 5 pm. It is available as a 12 or 16 oz slab of beef. The Black Angus prime rib is hickory roasted. It isn’t the smoked wonder that Walter Hyde used to serve, but it was a nice slab of prime rib. I ordered the 12 oz and a baked potato and the Brussels sprouts. I could have ordered a loaded baked potato, but I didn’t want to overload the flavor of the beef with a lot of cheese and bacon. The Brussels sprouts were nicely roasted and tender. I loved the horseradish cream sauce they served on the side. My friend ordered the 16 oz so she could take half home with her for the next day. Her trick is she orders two baked potatoes so she has one for the next day as well.

Contact info:

Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse
6535 Wilson Mills Road
Mayfield Village, OH 44143
(440) 442-4340

Vienna Distributing

Founded in 1950, Vienna Distributing Company of Ohio is a family-owned and operated deli serving Northern Ohio. When I moved to Cleveland Heights 14 years ago I would drive by when driving down Carnegie to the highway and thought it was a printing company for the longest time. I eventually learned that it was THE place to buy corned beef. Vienna Distributing makes the corned beef that supplies all the best restaurants serving corned beef in Cleveland. The line can be long, but it is absolutely bonkers on the day before St. Patrick’s Day. The parking lots is full and people even park across the street.

It was a bare-bones deli and catering company for the longest time, but recently it is actually advertising with banners (I made a comment once on social media that I thought it was a printing company – coincidence?). It has also expanded what it sells. They have added coolers, a wall of chips, a wider variety of mustards, ketchups, and condiments, and a pick-up counter with hot dogs and the like.

There is no seating. It is purely a take-out place. Be prepared to wait because they are always busy, but trust me its worth it!! The wait during the lunch hour can be quite extensive. I usually go there on “off” hours – like 4 PM on a Thursday. It’s open from 9 am-6 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am-4 pm on Saturday, and it’s closed on Sundays.

I learned many of those “in the know” would stop by to buy Reuben fixings and make fresh Reubens in the parking lot during their lunch hour. So I used to stop in and buy Swiss cheese and corned beef (sliced hot) from the counter, a loaf of seeded rye bread, a jar of sauerkraut, mustard, and Thousand Island dressing. Most corned beef is too fatty for me, but Vienna’s corned beef is nice and lean, which I appreciate.

It also used to sell cheesecake on a stick, which I got a huge kick out of. Think a slice of cheesecake covered in chocolate on a stick. You can check out the PDF menu of available items here. You can order ahead and pick up at the counter on the right – or get it delivered through DoorDash or UberEats.

I stopped there recently because I was hosting a fire pit get-together where we roasted hot dogs and s’mores over the fire. They also sell Five Star real casing hot dogs as well as various packed hot dogs and kielbasa. They used to be in the middle cooler at the counter, but now they are stored in a cooler when you are in line. I stocked up on a 2 lb. package of (16?) natural casing hot dogs and 8 cheddar franks.

Contact info:

Vienna Distributing
8110 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103

(216) 361-4500

Himalayan Restaurant

Have you ever had Himalayan food? It is very similar to Indian food. Himalayan food is influenced by Nepali, Bhutanese, Tibetan and Indian food and showcases foods from the “highest point on Earth.” It ranges from soothing to spicy, from vegetarian curries to meaty momos, and much more. The menu here is as lengthy as one would find in a conventional Indian restaurant, which is to say that it’s pretty overwhelming. But I love being adventurous, so I stuck with Nepali and chose the food that was unfamiliar to me.

Himalayan is located on Lorain Road in the former Cuisine Du Cambodge building. There is a small, but nice dining room and you can order from the menu as well as enjoy a range of dishes on the buffet. There is a small kitchen, so if you order off the menu you might have a small wait.

The lunch buffet is set up in the front area to your right as you come in the front door. The buffet runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is $12 per person. It usually features two meat or chicken dishes, two vegetarian dishes plus rice, veggie chow mein, pakora, soup, salad, fruit and dessert. It is primarily Indian dishes that most people are familiar with. The food was tasty with a hint of spicy. We all enjoyed the variety from the buffet. I particularly loved the tikka masala.

I also ordered momos for the table, because I had never tried them. They are like a pierogi or thicker soup dumpling on steroids. Momos, often called Tibetan dumplings, are perhaps the most familiar Nepalese food. These housemade dumplings fill the flour-based dough wrapper with finely chopped meat and/or vegetables and steamed. Though goat, lamb, beef, chicken, and yak are still the most widely found fillings, vegetarian momos have also flourished in recent times. The wrappers are thin, soft and delicate, and the filling is juicy and brightly flavored with heaps of garlic and ginger. They are served with a spicy tomato-based chutney on the side. I haven’t seen yak on the menu at Himalayan Restaurant here in Cleveland, but there is plenty of goat, lamb and the like. I chose the chicken momos and was not disappointed. Jhol momo are served floating in the sauce. If you like spice you might want to try the Chili momo.

The chai here is probably one of the best I’ve had in Cleveland. It was not too watery and had a nice spice profile. Himalayan chai combines milk, black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves that are simmered together for a hot and spicy chai tea. It was so good that I ordered a second one!

The menu ranges from tandoori (grilled) dishes to curries, kormas, tikka masalas and vindaloos to rice dishes like biryani and basmati-based dishes. There are a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees to choose from. If you are feeling adventurous order one of the choices off the Nepali section. The Himalayan platter serves 2 and features seekh kabob, tandoori chicken, sekuwa (grilled and skewered meat) and shrimp, so it is a good choice to try several things at once.

Contact info:

Himalayan Restaurant
13124 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111
(216) 716-4500

Cavotta’s Garden Center

Cleveland in the summer absolutely rocks. Cavotta’s is a great place to enjoy it. I almost don’t want to write this post and keep this place a secret!

Cavotta’s is a locally owned family business established in 1930 located on Nottingham Road in South Collinwood just north of Euclid Avenue. I used to drive past it all the time when I headed to Euclid to visit my friend. Cavotta’s has been selling annuals, perennials, produce and everything decorative for your garden – as well as and more than 150 varieties of tomato – for more than 80 years. In the spring and summer, Cavotta’s is a garden center selling soil, flowers, plants and garden statues and decorations. They sell pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees and decor and chocolate goodies in the winter. But the reason I am writing about it on a food blog is because of the secret back garden. Think speakeasy meets garden center. With chickens and goats. The goats are very entertaining!

One of my friends invited me to join her and a couple of friends at Cavotta’s last summer. She knew some of the guys in the band who were playing that night. Parking is tight, with a larger lot to the north of the garden center, but I’ve always been able to park across the street. Walk through the garden center entrance into the backyard and be amazed. The space is beautiful, and they have live music on the weekends (highly recommend). The band plays near the entrance under the shelter and tables with umbrellas line the patio and garden. You must be 21 years old to enter during bar hours (Friday from 4-8 and Saturday and Sunday from 12-6).

They have your basic wines and beers and some picnic style food featuring luscious tomatoes and fresh herbs. You can go to the little drink hut (photo from Yelp until I can go back and include one I’ve taken) or sit on one of the tables on the patio and get waited on. You can also sit throughout the garden on benches and chairs sprinkled throughout. The people and the atmosphere is great. Everyone, from the staff to the patrons, is chill and easygoing. You can settle your bill at the hut. They take credit cards and of course cash.

The first time I was there I ordered the caprese skewers. I am a sucker for tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. These skewers did not disappoint. They were literally bursting with flavor (and the cherry tomatoes burst in my mouth). I enjoyed a Leinenkugel shandy and several cans of ginger ale. We were celebrating one of my friend’s birthdays, so one of my friends had ordered a cannoli cake from Mama Catena’s. Even though the website says no pets or outside food or drink, the servers were extremely accommodating and didn’t blink an eye at the cake. We gave them some leftover cake, and they were thrilled.

I was there recently and ordered a margherita pizza (which is a common go to pizza for me). The pizza was simple and delicious. The dough had a nice chew, and it was topped with a refreshing red sauce, fresh tomato slices, fresh basil, and slices of fresh mozzarella and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It was damn good and just like I make at home (minus the drizzle even though I can do it if I think about it). I ate half there and took the rest home to reheat the next day for lunch.

They have several pizzas to choose from (white pizza, margherita, sausage or pepperoni and even a Nutella dessert pizza with berries) – as well as an antipasta plate, a summer salad and a caprese salad, an Italian wrap (with salami, capicola and pepperoni as well as roasted red peppers and provolone), and a BLT wrap. Two of my friends split a bottle of the house red wine and filled my glass after I finished my glass of wine. It was really good.

It’s a nice place to sit back, have a cold beverage and some tasty tomato-forward food and enjoy a live band. The bar patio is open from late spring to early fall (this year until October 13th – check the schedule in the link below). And I hear the clambake in September is always a treat and sells out in July. Maybe I’ll be organized and manage to buy a ticket next year…

Contact info:

Cavotta’s Garden Center
19603 Nottingham Road
Cleveland, OH 44110
440) 897-1497

Ha Ahn Korean Restaurant

Ha Ahn is a small, family-run Korean restaurant in the same AsiaTown strip mall as Superior Pho. They serve homestyle Korean dishes as well as sushi. Just like with Superior Pho, I highly recommend parking in the parking lot behind the strip mall and entering through the entrance in the back. There are only a few parking spots available on Superior. The easiest way to access it is to pull onto E. 31st Street from Superior (No. 1 Pho is on the other side of E. 31st and Superior), but you can also access it from E. 30th. Just remember that E. 31st is a one-way street.

Hot barley tea is available upon request. It is served in a brass kettle. The barley tea has a unique nutty flavor and slightly sweet taste. The barley is roasted and brewed and has great health benefits and is beneficial for your skin.

Each meal starts with a half-dozen complimentary banchan (traditional Korean small plates) such as house-made kimchi, fermented bean sprouts, a fermented cucumber salad, and fermented fish cakes. The banchan are always fun and varied. You can order more for another $4.

It is one of the few Korean restaurants in Cleveland that serve what they call “Mool Nangmyun” (Mul Naengmyun or 물냉면) which is an icy cold noodle soup made with buckwheat noodles. My friend K. loves it and we went there to fulfill her craving. She gave me a taste, and I really enjoyed it. It was tasty. Cold soup isn’t usually my thing, but I can see enjoying this on a hot summer day.

I have ordered either the Dolsot Bibimbap (served in a hot stone bowl) or sushi when I have eaten there. It’s a fun place for a quick meal before a show at PlayhouseSquare. Bibimbap features marinated beef, assorted vegetables, and gochujang sauce piled atop a bed of rice. Dolsot bibimbap comes out in the hot stone bowl with all of the fillings piled in sections and topped with a fried egg. The idea is to stir it all together and enjoy the crispy cooked rice that forms along the walls and bottom of the hot stone bowl.

Korean Kimbap (seaweed rolls) have a sweeter nutty flavor that is distinctly Korean, so I was nervous when I ordered sushi here the first time. I had no reason to be nervous. The sushi here tastes just like sushi at a Japanese restaurant. The rice used in many Korean dishes is a short grain sweet rice, which is the “stickiest” variety of rice consumed in Korea. The glycemic index of this rice is very high. The different flavor also obviously comes from the fillings in the seaweed roll. Kimbap uses marinated beef bulgogi and assorted vegetables. They are very tasty and among my favorite items here.

The Japanese sushi rolls here listed in the Sushi section of the menu are the standard fish and fillings you can find at other sushi restaurants. The quality is always fresh, and the rolls are tight. I have ordered both nigiri and large rolls here and have been very pleased every time.

Ha Ahn is open every day but Sunday for lunch from 11 to 2:30 and then for dinner from 4:30 to 8. It’s open from 11 to 8 on Saturday. I try to go at off-hours to ensure I can get a seat/table. It’s really small and only has about 8 tables. There are benches in the hallway where you can sit and wait for a table.

Contact info:

Ha Ahn Korean Restaurant
3030 Superior Avenue E
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 664-1152

Olesia’s Place (now Olesia’s Taverne of Richfield)

Olesia’s is a Ukrainian restaurant that features delicious Eastern European and Ukrainian food. Everything is homemade and delicious. Olesia’s husband was a customer who fell in love with her food and her at her first location. I first ate here at the first location in North Royalton when it was Olesia’s Place and looked like a former Spaghetti House (complete with a large curved plastic windowed patio). It was always packed and you needed a reservation to ensure a table. It quickly outgrew the old space and relocated to Richfield in 2019.

It now occupies the old Richfield Taverne. The new location is stunning both inside and out. It boasts two elegant dining rooms with a stunning bar on the main level and a speakeasy-style bar/lounge on the lower level, a cozy patio, and a third-floor event space (Grand ballroom). It is pretty far from me, but it worth the effort to drive there. It is now billing itself as a fine dining location, but the food is hearty and filling and just as delicious as it was in the old location. According to its website, it is open Monday from 4 to 9, Tuesday to Thursday from 11 to 9, Friday and Saturday from 11 to 10 pm, and closed on Sundays.

Olesia’s saved my Easter during the pandemic. The timing of the new restaurant opening was unfortunate, just before the pandemic, and it quickly pivoted to take-out only to survive. I ordered an Easter dinner online and lined up in the parking lot to pick it up the day before Easter. It was so good and reminded me of my Ukrainian grandmother’s Easter dinner. It featured deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, ham, Russian potato salad, brussel sprouts, green salad, and a roll. The only thing missing was the kielbasa. I ate it over Zoom with my family members on the other end. It was divine and remains one of my most memorable meals of the past few years.

Our first meal at Olesia’s is undocumented, but I remember the Borscht, the Beet Salad, Olesia’s Platter and the Beef Stroganoff being the absolute stand-outs. All are featured here in photos from other visits. Olesia’s Platter (left) features a large cabbage roll with either red or mushroom sauce, three cheese and potato pierogies with onions and sour cream, and sauerkraut with your choice of sausage or kielbasa. It definitely hits the spot. The cabbage roll was just like Grandma used to make, and the pierogi dough consistency is light yet firm and tender. The bread is fresh and homemade, and the butter is herbacious and perfectly seasoned.

Beet salad, Borscht, and bread and butter

Olesia’s also has an amazing patio. I took a group there last summer and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. The vegetarians enjoyed the spicy fried buffalo cauliflower florets, potato pierogi, and mac n cheese. We also enjoyed watching a newly married couple take wedding photos and motorcyclists driving past.

I ordered a delicious cocktail and the deviled eggs to start, and they were absolutely amazing. Olesia’s is known for the deviled eggs, and as a huge fan of deviled eggs I was quite pleased with them. They have just the right amount of zing. The crab legs (on special) were perfectly cooked and hit the spot. I tore through them and enjoyed every single bite.

I have also had the pleasure of attending my local translator group’s Christmas event at Olesia’s. We occupied the third floor event space. You can climb the stairs or take the elevator to get there. There was a cash bar and the deviled egg appetizers and dessert plate were served family style. I ordered the beef stroganoff and it was just as good – if not better – than I remembered. The creamy short rib stroganoff in burgundy mushroom sauce was served on perfectly cooked egg noodles and topped with crispy fried onions. Soooo good!

Deviled eggs, beef stroganoff, and dessert plate

Contact info:

Olesia’s Taverne
3960 Broadview Road
Richfield, Ohio 44286
(234) 400-0288

Chelo’s Kitchen

Chelo’s Kitchen is a family-owned traditional American breakfast and lunch diner that also serves authentic Latin cuisine (Chelo is from Uruguay). It is located in the strip mall at the corner of Mayfield and South Green Roads. It is open until 2:00 pm everyday but Monday and then from 2:30 to 7 pm Wednesday and Friday nights, where they serve several specials. You need to order the specials through their Facebook page or by email (Cheloskitchencle(AT)gmail.com) in order to ensure they are available at the time you specify, because the specials are limited and can quickly sell out. They do A LOT of take-out, so you need to specify the time and whether it is for dine-in or take-out. The food is made from scratch, the service is attentive, and the family atmosphere permeates the place. The servers recognize me as a regular now and remember whether I like cream and sugar with my coffee or sugar and Sweet and Low with my iced tea.

There is plenty of parking in the lots behind the strip mall, and there is a rear entrance. You can also enter from the front, but it is easier to enter from the back because the hallway funnels to the cash register/host seating area and dining room. The kitchen is at the front of the restaurant and the dishwashing area is at the rear. The bathrooms are in the very rear where you enter but before a second door.

The menu is simple and straight-forward, and they are very accommodating to special requests. On my last visit a guy a few tables over ordered an eggs benedict and subbed white toast for the English muffin, changed the meat and asked for hollandaise on the side. The server laughingly told him it wasn’t eggs benedict anymore but a breakfast sandwich, but happily took his order.

Chelo’s wife Sarah runs the dining room and is a whirling dervish, taking orders, clearing tables, running food and cashing customers out. You can use a credit card, but if you intend to add a tip you need to tell them as you hand them your receipt so they can run it. There is a sign on the plexiglass, but it is easy to overlook so be forewarned. She also makes the amazing desserts. More on them below.

I had been meaning to check them out for a while (I had eaten here when it was Kalie’s), but a post on All Things Food in Cleveland advertising their tuna melt at the start of the Lent season prompted me to check it out. Their tuna melt is in my opinion the best in Cleveland (with Old Brooklyn Cheese Company’s tuna melt a close second). It features grilled onions and American and Swiss cheese. The tuna is briefly grilled on the flat top, and the rye bread is perfectly grilled as well. You can sub out the bread, but rye on a tuna melt is my favorite. I ordered the New England clam chowder, which was the soup of the day during Lent. It was creamy and delicious with nice chunks of clams and potato.

My friend K. had also seen the post and called me, and we decided to check them out on the following Friday. It’s a funny story. She had been thinking/obsessing about the tuna melt all week and was stunned to see a patty melt placed in front of her and insisted she had ordered a tuna melt. I promptly informed her that she had indeed ordered a patty melt. I think the fact that they talked about onion rings as her side (Chelo made them specially for her because they weren’t available that day) threw off her thinking. I gave her a quarter of my tuna melt and got a quarter of her patty melt in exchange. I love a good patty melt and usually order it as one of the first things I try at a new place. It was an excellent patty melt, perfectly grilled and the burger cooked to her specification (which honestly should have clued her in, but again… she was thinking of the onion rings).

I came back here several Friday evenings to try some of the delicious looking specials (they post the specials a day or two ahead of time on their Facebook page). The fish special features cod and is not just served during Lent. It is available every Friday night, and you can order it fried or baked. It comes with two sides. It’s a lot of food for $13.99.

The first special I tried was a half slab of ribs. It came with a grilled half ear of corn and one side. The ribs were perfectly and easily separated from the bone. To be honest, it has triggered a craving for ribs in me. I ate half and took the other half home for the next day. I of course devoured the small ear of corn, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I then decided to share my find with some friends and started organizing a Friday night dinner, to be followed by frozen drinks at DaqFac. The next Friday most of them couldn’t make it, but I came here with a friend. I preordered the prime rib special, which she enjoyed, and ordered one of the fish fries for myself. My friend is allergic to potatoes, so she was somewhat limited in her choice of sides. She ordered the steamed vegetables and cole slaw, which she enjoyed. She was surprised that it only cost $19.99 because it was a lot of food and cooked nicely.

My fish fry came with two large pieces of fried fish and two sides. I chose the mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables and enjoyed it a lot. That said, the table next to us ordered a baked fish special and rice, and it looked delicious as well. I’ll definitely order rice the next time I have a choice of sides. The half I took home reheated nicely in my air fryer (fish) and microwave (mashed potatoes and veggies) the next day.

I also tried the beef and ham and cheese empanadas. They were nicely fried and not greasy at all. The filling was plentiful. The beef empanadas are stuffed with ground beef, peppers, onion, hard-boiled egg, cheese, and Spanish olives, while the ham and cheese empanadas have diced ham and American cheese. They are good and filling.

The soups are also homemade. The beef and barley soup had huge slices of beef in it, and the creamy chicken and gnocchi was chock-full of fluffy gnocchi and hunks of chicken.

We finally got together for dinner the next Friday at 5:30. They tend to get busiest at 6 and do a lot of takeout. Two of my friends ordered the fish fries, one ordered the surf and turf (6 oz strip steak & blackened shrimp – served medium rare as specified), and one ordered a club sandwich off the menu. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. I ordered the tuna melt because it was on special (unadvertised) and a club sandwich to go because I had intended to order one that night.

The club sandwich was really good. It is properly cut in quarters and secured by toothpicks. It is so fresh that the filling can easily slide out from the bread, so be sure to keep those toothpicks in and nibble around them. I learned to slather my club sandwich with thousand island dressing when I worked at Bakers Square a million years ago and always order a side of dressing. No need here! They slather the club with the thousand island dressing inside the sandwich, and it is quite generous and adds to the tastiness.

We went for drinks afterwards at DaqFac (short for Daquiri Factory), which serves delicious and potent frozen drinks and opens at 4 pm. We enjoyed our beverages on the patio along Mayfield. Yes it was a little loud, but the weather was great and the beverages were tasty. I had the Hennessy colada and my friends enjoyed their drinks as well. They use fresh juice and lots of alcohol. It was a quick walk just across South Green next to the CVS, so keep that in mind!

Chelo’s also makes some great breakfasts. I am not a morning person, so the likelihood of me making it there early is pretty low. That said, I wanted to try their breakfasts. Being located across from Eat at Joe’s makes it a good alternative if Eat at Joe’s is packed. The breakfasts are just as good and affordable. I ordered a skillet the first time I ate breakfast here. I was tempted to get the Chelo Skillet, which is a bed of home fries topped with peppers, onions, sausage links, two eggs and mixed cheese and drizzled with a spicy mayo and scallions, but had a craving for sausage gravy that day. So I ordered the Southern Skillet instead. It also features home fries topped with peppers and onions, but it also contains mushrooms and is topped with a two egg omelet with your choice of meat, cheddar cheese and sausage gravy. Because there are a lot of older customers I highly recommend using salt and pepper to season your food to your taste. It was pretty bland without the added salt and pepper. But if you are on a low-salt diet you’ll be okay.

I smelled the pancakes when I was there (a kid ordered one the next table over and they had a strawberry shortcake pancake on special that first morning), so I ordered a pancake combo and added blueberries on my next visit. The combo comes with eggs and your choice of meat. I went with scrambled and bacon. Again, add salt and pepper to the eggs. The bacon was nicely cooked but a little softer and chewier than I prefer. If you also prefer bacon crispy, be sure to order them cooked crispy. The pancakes were a delight, fluffy and delicious, and I was glad I ordered the blueberries, which were plentiful (I flipped the pancake over to show the added blueberries).

Also worth mentioning is that they have little containers of flavored creamer if you ask for it.

I promised to talk about the desserts. I had heard good things about the tiramisu and got one to go on one visit. It did not disappoint! It was great. My friend ordered the Alfajor for dessert, which is a South American cookie that is somewhat like shortbread with a dulce de leche filling and rimmed with coconut. I had kept seeing it on the Facebook page, but am usually too full to order dessert. She gave me a bite of her cookie, and it was absolutely divine. It was moister than I expected and the combination of dulce de leche and coconut was great. I can’t wait to try the Chaja, which is a vanilla cake with layers of Dulce de Leche, meringue, whipped cream, and peaches and looks absolutely divine. I’m keeping an eye out for it.

Contact info:

Chelo’s Kitchen
4446 Mayfield Road
Cleveland, OH 44121
Cheloskitchencle@gmail.com
(216) 382-4490