Author: Jill (@bonnjill)

Fish Fryday #6: The Fairview Tavern and Church of the Gesu

Lunch at The Fairview Tavern

One of my friends recommended I check out The Fairview Tavern when I talked about going to Gunselman’s last week and recommended their perch dinners. One of my girlfriends wanted to check it out, so we went for lunch there today. I am originally from Olmsted Falls and dated a guy from Fairview in high school. I had never heard of it despite it apparently being in business since the 1940s. It is located in the Fairview Shopping Center close to the intersection of Lorain Road and W. 220th. It is a tiny little sports bar with not much marking it by way of signage. New owners took over in 2006 and have been producing some excellent food since then. This place is the epitome of a hole-in-the-wall hidden gem.

When you enter, you are greeted by a long bar that extends its way into the establishment. There are a couple of high top tables to the left. We had to walk through the bar to get to the dining area with the tables and several booths.

We were greeted by a friendly server, and upon asking what was on tap I was given a list of the draft beers. I was tempted to order a Guiness because the place was festively decorated for the upcoming holiday, but I just bought a four pack so ordered a Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale. It is a clear dark amber beer with a slightly syrupy taste and was a tasty accompaniment to my meal.

I was intrigued by their regular menu and will definitely be going back. One thing I knew I needed to order was the bacon-wrapped kielbasa bites. How very Cleveland. These small coins of kielbasa were nicely prepared and were doused in a maple bourbon glaze. They were a tasty appetite whetter. I will definitely be back from the mini beef wellington – and I failed to order the New England Clam Chowder today, so that will need to be remedied as well.

Both my friend and I ordered the perch dinner. You can get three or four pieces of perch with fries and slaw. We chose the perch and pierogi dinner, which also came with fries and slaw as well as a side of sour cream and a side of tartar sauce. I know I have said this before, but I don’t understand the appeal of perch. There isn’t enough meat to be satisfying. And perch is easy to overcook, which these were hovering on the edge of. They were okay, but the cod sandwich that was served to the patron at the next table definitely looked more my speed. The fries and pierogi were lovely. The pierogi were served with large slices of onion that were grilled and a tasty addition. The slaw was just okay. Knowing I would be hitting Gesu tonight, I ate a pierogi and one of my three perch and got a box for the dinner and a box for the kielbasa bites. I’m sure they will reheat well.

Dinner at Church of the Gesu

I finally made it to the Gesu fish fry tonight. The Gesu fish fry is run out of the Gesu Catholic School’s basement cafeteria and catered by EDWINS. All proceeds go to support Gesu’s Families in Need Fund and EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. I’ve been meaning to try it all season and finally made it. It took me a minute to actually find it though. What is it with Catholic schools and the woeful lack of signage?

I drove through several mobs of sorority girls and college kids in green from John Carroll walking to parties or the bars, and once I pulled onto Miramar and into the Gesu compound I drove behind the buildings to where most of the cars were parked near a building that had a sign visible through the windows indicating it was the Gymnasium. I asked two ladies who were walking in the lot where the fish fry was, and they pointed to the inside corner of the building. A sign on the door indicated there is a handicap entrance (an elevator) at the back of the building. If you have mobility issues, plan ahead and park close to the handicap entrance.

I entered the building and walked down the stairs to be greeted by a friendly woman at the door of the cafeteria. Once I told her I was a walk-in without a pre-order, she pointed me in the direction I needed to go (straight ahead). Pre-orders and to-go orders veer to the right, and there are rows of chairs available to wait for your order. I filled out my form and paid my money and was told to go to table 18. Table 18 didn’t work for me, so they easily managed to amend my order to table 4. It was brought out to me as I was sitting down. I sat with a delightful older couple with whom I enjoyed talking. They and their friends tried to recruit me for the choir. It was sweet, but the chances of this Lutheran making it to a Catholic morning mass (let alone an hour before mass to practice) are slim to none. But they definitely made me feel welcome.

I ordered the fish and shrimp dinner. Both were perfectly fried. The cocktail sauce for the shrimp was tasty, and the tartar sauce was indeed as good as the mayor of University Heights claimed it is. I ate two shrimp, nibbled on a few fries and had a couple bites of the fish as I chatted with my tablemates. I ended up taking most of it home to reheat tomorrow or Sunday.

Someone was lamenting on my Facebook food forum about a two-hour wait at the fish fry they were at. I got to Gesu shortly after they started serving (which is 5-8 pm) at 5:15 and left at 6. There were no lines and lots of tables with available seating. The fish fry is phenomenal (come on, it’s EDWINS), so if you want a great fish fry with no waiting be sure to check it out. If you pre-order a couple days ahead of time you also don’t have to worry about them running out. Pre-orders open at noon on the Saturday before the fish fry. Next week is the last chance for the 2024 Lenten season.

Contact info:

The Fairview Tavern
1867 Lorain Road
Cleveland, OH 44126
(440) 799-4200

Church of the Gesu
Gesu Catholic School
2470 Miramar Boulevard
University Heights, OH 44118
(216) 932-0617

Abundant Life Ministry Center’s Pancake Breakfast

I first read about Abundant Life Ministry Center’s Pancake Breakfast on the Geauga County Maple Leaf’s Pancake Breakfast page. It caught my eye, because it was a pancake breakfast on a Saturday. Most pancake breakfasts are held on Sunday. It takes place every Saturday in March from 7 a.m. to noon. It advertises “Enjoy all-you-can-eat buttermilk pancake breakfasts with real maple syrup at Abundant Life Ministry Center, 13724 Carlton St. in Burton. There will be three varieties of pancakes along with sausage for $10. Add a side of eggs for $1.” When I investigated further I discovered that banana is one of the three varieties. I was sold and decided I would be sure to check them out.

I didn’t know what to expect as I headed out. I left my house at 8 a.m. since I had gone to bed early the night before because my sleep schedule is all out of whack after three days of Zoom classes from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. this week. I made the mistake of not having a coffee beforehand. I decided not to get one on the way, because I knew there would be coffee there. Take my advice and get the coffee. Anyway, I drove to Burton, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and keeping my eyes on the lines on the road because it was raining so hard visibility was bad. I was also grumpily questioning why I was driving to Burton for a pancake breakfast on this chilly, rainy morning. My GPS took me out 422, which is a drive I love because it takes me past LaDue Reservoir. I even drove past several Amish residences with buggies in the driveway, and one of the small parks had blue buckets on the trees collecting sap for maple syrup.

As I said, I didn’t know what to expect. I kind of imagined a megachurch and a slick production with a ton of people. I was delighted to find the church is in what looks to be an old school (elementary school?). There were plenty of signs on several corners indicating where to turn. I quickly found a parking space quite close to the entrance (and it turned out to be even closer to the exit). I entered through the main door and followed the signs to the right. There was a cashier’s table at the entrance to the cafeteria. I handed her my $11 for the pancakes and eggs and grabbed a plate. I decided to try one of each pancake. I was given three lovely looking pancakes, several lumps of sausage (obviously handmade – no commercial, preformed patties here) and a ladleful of scrambled eggs, and was handed a fork and knife rolled in a napkin. Efficient!

I entered the dining area and quickly found a seat at one of the tables. The tables were covered in plastic tableclothes and had plates of butter, salt (Himalayan salt!) and pepper and squirt bottles filled with real maple syrup on them. There was a table as you entered that had some pancake syrup, ketchup, etc. as well as urns of coffee and hot water and jugs of orange juice and water. There were china containers of sugar and powdered creamer. I grabbed two styrofoam cups and filled one with coffee and the other with orange juice. If I come again I will bring my own mug and juice glass. And some liquid coffee creamer or half and half. But hey, for $11 I am not going to complain. And the coffee wasn’t terrible. I did enjoy it, and it did the job of waking me up.

The place was swarming with kids offering to get more pancakes or refills on your beverages. I agreed to a refill on my orange juice, but didn’t need more than my initial three pancakes. It was the perfect amount. Several of the kids even asked if they could clear my plate. There were more helpers than diners. There was even a Mennonite family there enjoying their meal. I was impressed how polite and helpful the kids were. Well done, Abundant Life parents!

As for the meal, it was excellent. I particularly loved the banana and blueberry pancakes. They were fluffy and packed with real fruit. I’m going to have to start making banana pancakes at home! I probably could have asked for more sausage, but I didn’t feel I needed it. The scrambled eggs were softly scrambled and were tasty after a quick shake of salt and pepper.

I am pleased to report that this pancake breakfast was unassuming and charming. And there was no line. It is a hidden gem and deserves more attendance. I mean, what better way is there to start a lazy Saturday than a plateful of pancakes?And for just $10 plus another $1 for eggs? I’m going to be full all day. I will definitely be back – maybe even before the end of March. It’s worth the 45 minute drive.

Contact info:

Abundant Life Ministry Center
13724 Carlton Street
Burton, OH 44021
(440) 273-8151

Fish Fryday #5: Old Brooklyn Cheese Company and Ferris Steakhouse

If you have been paying attention I have been on a tuna melt quest for the past few months. This works out wonderfully during Lent. Today’s tuna melt was an outstanding offering by Old Brooklyn Cheese Company. It is a Lenten special on Fridays from 11 am to close or it sells out. It is a delectable mix of tuna, finely chopped dill pickles, onions, celery (I didn’t notice too much crunch, so it was perfect for my “hate crunchy stuff in tuna salad” self), mayo, Old Brooklyn Mustard’s lemon preserve and a “houseblend cheese pull” of mozzarella, raclette and cheddar on fresh grilled sourdough from Leavened Bakery in Tremont (you can also get it on a baguette).

I usually prefer rye for my tuna melts, but the grilled sourdough was unbelievably crisp and held up really well to the creamy tonight. I’ll definitely be taking a trip to Leavened to buy a loaf for myself. The cheeses blended well, and I love raclette, which you don’t see everywhere. The flavors were outstanding, and no one flavor overpowered the other. They just worked together nicely to make a delicious, well-balanced sandwich. The counter dude grilled it up for me and did a great job. The place is also immaculate, which I appreciate.

I was afraid I was going to have to eat it in my car, but I was pleased to see they have added a dine-in seating area. I grabbed a Boylen’s Cream Soda and enjoyed the sun streaming through the windows as the counter dude made my sandwich. If you like a good tuna melt, you need to check it out. It’s definitely in my Top 3 Tuna Melts in Cleveland.

Life is all about pivoting. I had planned to get a fish fry dinner from Gesu tonight, but my sister texted asking me for a recommendation for one on the west side because she had an appointment in Lakewood at 7. She also wanted to dine in somewhere and not have to eat in her car. I suggested Gunselman’s and asked if I could join her. I told her I’d get there early to get a table. The wait was an hour and a half at 5:15. So I decided we should try Around the Corner, but then as I was driving there I saw Ferris Steakhouse and remembered they had a fish fry sign out when I dropped my taxes off next door earlier today (yes I drove to the Hilliard Road exit on I-90 from Cleveland Heights twice today). I have been wanting to try Ferris Steakhouse for several years now. It’s a Cleveland legend.

I pulled in there and was seated immediately. I ordered a Spiked Arnold Palmer while I waited, and chatted with the delightful waitress, who was also named Jill. She informed me that the Steakhouse has been at that location for 13 years, but they have been in Cleveland since 1940. It is still in the family and run by the third generation of Ferris. I loved the ambiance. We were seated at a candlelit table in a dimly lit room – a much-welcome change from what would have been a loud bar/restaurant at Gunselman’s.

When my sister arrived I told her the special was “three slices of fried cod, steak fries and cole slaw for $23 (no substitutions)”. She said “that’s a lot of food,” because she thought I said it was cod, steak and fries. Once the waitress explained it again, we both ended up ordering it. I also ordered a wedge salad, because I am not Catholic and don’t need to abstain from meat. I just like the excuse to eat fish. The wedge salad was delicious. The lettuce was crisp, and the diced tomato and cucumber were really fresh and refreshing. They were also generous with the bacon, balsamic and blue cheese dressing. I finished it, knowing I would be bringing most of my dinner home anyway.

The fish dinner were amazing. The cod was battered and very crispy. My sister even remarked on liking how crispy it was. I know most people rave about lake perch, but I prefer a bit more meat to my fish. Cod is great – especially when it is cooked perfectly. I love steak fries, which is what convinced me to order the dinner in the first place (otherwise I may have ordered the scallops or scampi off the menu). The bread roll was warm and soft, and even the cole slaw was really good. I also enjoyed the tartar sauce and squeezed the fresh lemon on the fish, which was a treat. And I got to have dinner with my sister, which was the best treat of all!

I ended up taking two slabs of fish and half of the fries and cole slaw home for lunch tomorrow. Happy Fryday, everyone!

Contact info:

Old Brooklyn Cheese Company
4464 Broadview Road
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 860-4000

Ferris Steakhouse
2589 Wooster Road
Rocky River, OH 44116
(216) 281-1437

West Geauga High School Pancake Breakfast

It’s Pancake Breakfast season! The holiest of Nature’s holidays. When the sap starts running in Geauga County and the calendar flips over to March, it is time for pancake breakfasts throughout the area. Spring is the time of the most activity when the syrup is being made and most of the harvest work is done. Most of the local pancake breakfasts feature real maple syrup, and you can’t throw a stone around Burton without hitting one. I attended my first pancake breakfast season today and chose to try the breakfast at West Geauga High School in Chesterland. I had heard a lot of good things, and it was my first time there. We pulled into the high school parking lot and followed the crowds of people. The entrances and exits were well-marked. We just followed the signs. We got there at 11:30. It starts at 8 am and runs until 1 pm. The cafeteria was packed, but the line wasn’t very long and moved fast.

West Geauga High School pancake breakfast is run by the Kiwanis Club and relies on community volunteers. The place was swarming with Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Pixies, Brownies and Girl Scouts. There were lots of folks collecting money at the cashier table, making the food in the cafeteria kitchen, restocking silverware and beverages, and most importantly running around the cafeteria with thermoses of regular and decaf coffee and trays of pancakes and sausage. Insider tip: the sausage is from Kocian Meats at E. 40th and St. Clair, and we heard several people raving about the sausage.

For $10, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat buttermilk, buckwheat, chocolate chip, and blueberry pancakes, French toast, Geauga County’s Pure Maple Syrup, sausage, juice, coffee and milk. Children 6 and under are $6 and there is an early bird special from 8-9 a.m. for even less (but if you’ve been following me you know that I am not a morning person and will never be up and moving for an early bird special unless I haven’t gone to bed yet – which was the plan for this Saturday’s pancake breakfast at Abundant Life Ministry Center in Burton, but I decided at 5:30 a.m. that I would rather go to bed than power through until 7 a.m.). I’ll hit it later in the day later in the month. That one is on Saturdays in March from 7 a.m. to noon.

My friend joined me because she was looking forward to the buckwheat pancakes. Unfortunately she said there wasn’t as much buckwheat as she prefers. She prefers the Burton Fire Department’s buckwheat pancakes. But she still enjoyed them.

I grabbed a plate of blueberry pancakes and a plate of French toast and got several sausage patties. I liked that they asked if I wanted them well-done or regular. I told the server that I didn’t care, so he gave me two regular patties. My friend loved the well-done sausage because they were crispy and just how she likes it. I like that they give you a choice.

We found a clean spot for two and tucked into our food. The volunteers kept coming around and topping off our coffee and clearing half-empty creamer pots and syrup jars and switching them for full ones. We didn’t need refills on pancakes or sausage, but if we had wanted them all we had to do was hold up paint paddles to call for more. There was always someone close by with more. They had big urns of coffee with which they refilled the thermoses.

I was thrilled to see my friends (and former neighbors) who introduced me to the idea of pancake breakfasts just a couple people down from me. I gave them all big hugs and caught up. Not bad for a West Sider who found herself on the far East Side. My friend and I drove back home with full bellies and happy hearts. It was the perfect start to the syrup season.

We were even served some coffee by The Cat in the Hat. He was just a spot of sunshine. Everyone there was efficient and very friendly. It was great seeing families enjoying themselves, and we enjoyed chatting with the folks around us.

Contact info:

West Geauga High School
13401 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, OH 44026
(440) 729-5950

Fish Fry #4 2024: The Village Butcher and Benedictine High School

Lunch on Friday, March 1st was brought to you by The Village Butcher in Mayfield Heights. What a gem it is!! The Village Butcher was conceived by restaurateur Carl Quagliata (he of Giovanni’s, Crostata’s and Smokin Q’s BBQ fame) and Chef Zach Ladner. The butcher shop is a combination of an old school butchery and an Italian import store. They also have an open kitchen where they make a range of delicious sandwiches and their fresh made pastas and sauces that can be purchased retail, the recipes of which have been carefully crafted over the last 46 years at Giovanni’s.  The “grocery section” features a variety of Italian meats, cheeses, and dry pastas.

It’s located just south of the Wilson Mills and SOM Center intersection in a small strip mall next to Heinen’s. Several of my friends have raved about the sandwiches they serve here. I specifically came for the fish sandwich posted on my Facebook food group a few weeks ago. It made my mouth water, so I knew I needed to check it out.

This was a delicious sandwich – 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. The fries were nicely seasoned and also reheated well the next day for lunch. I also got a “cup” of cole slaw that was deliciously creamy and was made with crisp, fresh grated cabbage. As I stood at the counter I kept wanting more and more of the premade offerings. The cucumber tomato salad looked divine as well, but it was just okay. Maybe it will be better after sitting in the fridge overnight.

I am not Catholic (just like a good fried fish), so I also got some lasagna (huge!) and bacon-wrapped meatloaf and some sides. I had half of the lasagna heated in my microwave last night at 2 a.m. (I was moderating a Zoom class in India until 6 a.m.) and it was fantastic! The meat in the case looked great and the products they stock are well curated (soups and sauces in coolers and lots of quality canned tomatoes and dried pastas). They have been open for two years. I will definitely be back – specifically for the beef braciole I saw in the case after I had already ordered the lasagna and meatloaf!

I attended the Benedictine High School fish fry this week for two reasons: 1) because I needed to stick closer to home tonight because I had to be home and online by 9 p.m. and 2) I wanted to give them another chance after panning them before the pandemic and being called out for it in the comments. Just because they are a bunch of kids doesn’t mean the public should accept a middling experience. Benedictine High School is a private, Roman Catholic, college preparatory high school for boys, located on Martin Luther King Jr Drive near Buckeye Road. I have a friend whose son graduated from Benedictine, so I have a soft spot for them.

I had two main complaints on the first visit. The first was the lack of signage. I’m sad to report that has not been improved. Other than a small sign at the road there is no indication where to go once you park. In fact, I had to ask the security guard in an SUV in the parking lot where to go. Bigger and more signs would help a lot. Also, now you will know, because I will save you the trouble by describing what to do here. You can quickly enter the cafeteria if you pull into the first driveway and park on the side of the building and walk to the back. There is a roundabout where you can drop off people with mobility issues. The entrance puts you right at the start of the food line. If for some reason the parking spaces are full in the first driveway, there is a huge parking lot if you drive down the second driveway (also labelled “high school/visitor parking”). Head to the big white entrance and walk down several long hallways (don’t let the steps deter you, there is a ramp off to the left you can use). Once you see the doors in the third photo above, you will know you have arrived.

My biggest critique on my visit before the pandemic was the lack of sanitation – in particular, having the guests stick their hand in a bread bag to get some bread slices. I am pleased to report that they have remedied this by prepackaging several slices of wheat and white bread in ziploc baggies. I was very pleased to see this. However, the fish fry is still sparsely attended – probably just attended by their parents and fellow students. I wanted to love it but it was just okay.

The fish fry itself is extremely affordable. It was only $13 for two pieces of fish and two sides (choice of pierogi, onion rings, fries, or chowder and choice of cole slaw or apple sauce), a baked good and coffee or tea. I took the meal to go, because I was still full from lunch and ate it the next day heated up in my air fryer. It was okay. The fish was decently fried but nothing special, and the pierogi were Mrs. T’s. The cole slaw was acceptable, but not as good as St. Vladimir’s or Village Butcher’s. The dinner was “mid” as the kids say. Not that there is anything wrong with that if you like that kind of thing.

The baked goods saved the day. I would not be surprised to hear the PTA or some parents made the baked goods. There were quite a few to choose from – from cake slices to chocolate chip cookies to several different types of brownies. The peanut butter and oats brownie I chose (and was recommended by the young man serving them) looked and tasted amazing. I could have purchased more for $1, but one baked good was enough for me and it was included in the price of the dinner. I made sure to buy a can of generic cola though because I was thirsty and needed the caffeine to keep me awake that night. It hit the spot, and I finished it just as I got home (about a 15 minute drive). I kind of wished I had bought several.

The proceeds go to different clubs each week, and this week benefited their Key Club and Band & Drama. The kids made me laugh. When I asked one of the young men which they preferred – cole slaw or applesauce – because I couldn’t decide, he honestly answered “I don’t like either of them,” which made me howl. Thanks for your honesty and the chuckle. I also bought 50/50 Raffle tickets because it’s for a good cause. If you are in the area or want to support the high school clubs be sure to check them out.

Contact info:

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

Benedictine High School
2900 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 421-2080

Fish Fry #3 2024: Chelo’s Kitchen and St. Vladimir Orthodox Ukrainian Church

It’s Lent. That means fish on Fridays. Not because I’m Catholic and don’t eat meat on Fridays, but because I love fish and can indulge most everywhere.

A week ago someone posted the Friday specials at Chelo’s Kitchen on the Facebook food group I am on. I have been on a tuna melt kick, and their tuna melt lunch special looked amazing. I had already had lunch when it got posted, but I needed the tuna melt in my life. I looked forward to it all week. It was just as good – if not better – than it looked. Their tuna melt features tuna, grilled onions, and American and Swiss cheese on seeded rye bread. It was amazing!!! I’m going back again before the season is out. Chelo’s Kitchen is a traditional American breakfast and lunch place with some South American options (the owners are from Uruguay). It’s only open until 2pm every day except during Lent, when they have dinner specials from 3:30-7:00 pm on Friday night (they call it Fish Frenzy Friday). It took over the space that used to be Kalie’s Restaurant on the corner of Mayfield Road and South Green in South Euclid. I’ve been meaning to try it and I will definitely be back! The servers were fantastic and really friendly. The hashbrowns look amazing. I have a new place to put on my rotation even after Lent.

But you are here for the Fish Fry. I chose to return to St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Ukrainian Church for my first Friday Fish Fry of the season. I took someone who just moved to Cleveland from Los Angeles 5 months ago and had never been to or even heard of a fish fry. I chose St. Vladimir because it’s on State Road (near St. Josaphat’s and St. Francis de Sales, so you know they have to offer their A game). It offers five seafood dinners (baked cod, salmon, fried perch, fried whitefish and fried shrimp) and seven sides (french fries, pierogi, potato pancake, redskin potatoes, steamed vegetables, cabbage and noodles, and mac n cheese) to choose from, and some of the best pierogis in the city. We were lucky enough to get a spot really close to the front door. As we walked in we passed the bar, so I got a Ukrainian lager to enjoy during my wait in line. I wasn’t driving, so I was able to enjoy it during the wait and during my meal.

They have six dinners to choose from – baked salmon (1 pc), baked cod (1 pc), fried perch – aka Captain Gene’s dinner (3 pc), fried whitefish (2 pc), fried shrimp (6 pc) and potato pierogi (6 pc). And they also have a kid’s dinner with a slice of pizza, french fries and applesauce. All dinners include cole slaw or applesauce, a dinner roll, coffee and a cookie – and your choice of one side. The choice of sides include french fries, 2 pierogi, 1 potato pancake, redskin potatoes, steamed vegetables, cabbage and noodles, and mac n cheese.

Last year one of the parishioners suggested I order the cod next time, so I went with his suggestion and ordered the baked cod dinner to dine in and a pierogi dinner to go. The cod was perfectly baked and had an herbacious crumb crust. I ordered the cabbage and noodle to go with it, which was tasty. But the pierogi are still my number one! The helper who carried my tray for me suggested the potato pancake as my side for my pierogi dinner, which, as I said, I got to go and will eat for the next few days. I ate half of the cod, roll, and cabbage and noodles and put the other half in the to go box holding the pierogi dinner.

My friend ordered the Captain Gene’s dinner, because I urged her to get the perch. She chose a potato pancake for her side. She also really enjoyed everything – including the cole slaw, which was nice and creamy. I really enjoyed the cole slaw too. It’s delicious. She definitely enjoyed her first Cleveland fish fry.

Contact info:

Chelo’s Kitchen
4446 Mayfield Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
(216) 382-4490

St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
5913 State Road
Cleveland, OH 44134
(440) 886-3223

Au Jus

Au Jus is Cleveland’s first exclusive Chicago-style Italian Beef restaurant. It is tucked away in a nondescript strip mall on Broadview Road in Parma. Its grand opening was on February 8, 2023, so recently celebrated its first anniversary. Up until recently you really had to search for an Italian Beef sandwich. Ferrera’s serves one, but it sells out quickly and they close pretty early. It takes me a while to get out of the house some days, so I usually miss the window. And Ferrara’s is cash only.

Au Jus prides itself on the quality of its products, and it shows. They use top-round beef and slow roast hundreds of pounds of it every day. I have been following the journey online from the planning stages to the opening and finally got a chance to try the restaurant out recently. It is primarily a carry-out business. There are a couple of seats, but it’s not exactly conducive to relaxing. The kitchen is also spotless and every corner is visible. You can watch the workers create your food as you wait. It is a welcoming environment, and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

The Italian Beef is available in regular or large, and you can choose between Swiss or Provolone cheese. You can also add mild, spicy or mixed giardiniera and hot peppers if you like it spicy. Some customers choose to upgrade with double the meat, but save your money. The portions are very big and priced excellent for the quality and quantity of the food. I can probably only eat a regular (and probably only half in one sitting), so I went for the regular Italian Beef with Provolone cheese on my first visit. I forgot to specify mild giardiniera. The beef is shaved thin and piled on a soft hoagie bun. I got the au jus on the side since I wasn’t going to be eating it right away and “dunked” would have made it a soggy mess. The sandwich was delicious. I liked it better than Ferrera’s. You can tell the beef is high quality. I was in the mood for onion rings as well, and they did not disappoint! The onion rings here are battered, not breaded.

I absolutely adore their Italian sausage sub. It comes on a soft bun and is topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce and smothered in onions, peppers and melted provolone cheese. The sausage itself is tossed on the grill in the kitchen before topping it with all that goodness. I was only going to eat half but could not stop eating it because I was enjoying it so much.

If you can’t decide between the Italian beef or the Italian sausage sandwich and like it spicy you can order the Spicy Trifecta, which features Italian beef and cheese, a spicy Italian sausage, hot peppers, and spicy gardiniera. The sausage is split and laid atop the Italian beef and then topped with the hot peppers and gardiniera. It’s too hot for me to handle, but if you are in the mood for spicy it features the best of both worlds.

I also ordered the mushroom and Swiss sandwich. It is one of their pressed sandwiches. The owner warned me that there was no meat because other customers have not been aware of that, but I was. I, however, was not aware that it was more of a vegetarian sandwich and less of a mushroom and Swiss sandwich. I was really looking forward to a mostly mushroom and Swiss sandwich, but it was overpowered by the peppers and onions in my opinion. If I order it again I will tell them to hold the peppers and onions or maybe hold the peppers and go light on the onions. But that is my personal preference. This is a great choice if you are a vegetarian and love roasted veggies.

The owner had also asked my local Facebook food group for their input on the perfect Sicilian sub when he was planning the menu before opening the restaurant. As a result, the pressed Sicilian sandwich includes ham, pepperoni, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, diced mixed olives, capers, Italian dressing and lemon basil aioli. That’s a lot of meat! It kind of makes me think of a muffaletta but with lettuce, tomato and onion. It’s one of Au Jus’ best sellers.

Au Jus is open noon-9:30 pm Monday-Saturday. The owners are there on Sundays doing catering, so they don’t mind accepting orders. The owners are friendly and really dedicated and passionate about their products. This is one of those restaurants that I really like to support and root for. Be sure to check them out!

Contact info:

Au Jus
5875 Broadview Road, Unit B
Parma, OH 44134
(216) 795-5063

Fish Fry #2 2024: Ice or Rice Cafe

I’m trying something different with the photos today since they aren’t displaying properly on my end (pushing to the left and overlapping the text). I promise I am working on finding a solution!

No fried fish for me this Friday! Despite my best intentions a fish fry was not in the cards for me. Work came in the way, and I had too much on my desk to be able to clear an hour or two for a fish fry. Luckily I had made plans with a friend for lunch, and we were meeting at Ice or Rice Cafe to introduce her to the place (she lived in Japan for many years, so she needed to try it). So I still had fish, but it was raw instead of fried.

I was greeted like a regular by the owner and waited for my friend to arrive. We ordered at the counter and sat there chatting as our food was being prepared. I noticed they had several new onigiri on the menu – a crab salad and a raw tuna, so I definitely had to order them. I love onigiri, and Ice or Rice is the only place that serves them here in Cleveland. They are a must for me. Onigiri (おにぎり) are Japanese rice balls made of steamed rice that you compress into a triangular, ball, or cylinder shape and are usually wrapped in a nori seaweed sheet. The filling here is very generous – with lots of crab salad and a really nice chunk of tuna. They are individually packaged to keep them fresh, and they were still slightly warm when I enjoyed them. They were both delicious.

I was tempted to order the Seared Salmon roll again, but I wanted to try something new. I ordered a Rainbow Roll, because I am trying to eat through the sushi menu. The roll was smaller than most Rainbow Rolls in a sushi restaurant (just six cuts instead of eight), but it suited me just fine because I ordered enough for two meals as it was. A Rainbow Roll is a roll that is filled with imitation crab, cucumber, and avocado, and topped with salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. Their Rainbow Roll was fresh and tightly wrapped, draped with thin slices of raw salmon, tuna and avocado. They don’t have yellowtail on the menu so they use what they have, but I didn’t miss it. It was a tasty roll. I had half (3 pieces) in the restaurant and put the lid on the other half to take home for later. It was just as good later as a snack/light dinner instead of the fish fry.

If you want something tasty and hot (but not fried), order the shrimp okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients cooked on a teppan grill and topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayo, powdered seaweed, scallion and bonito flakes. My friend ordered the pork belly okonomiyaki and loved it. She used to make it all the time for herself and her kids, and she really liked this version. She lamented it didn’t have pickled ginger, but she really enjoyed the flavor of the cabbage, scallions, batter, pork belly, and toppings. I’ve had the shrimp version before and loved it. I enjoyed the bite she shared with me.

I ordered the lychee kumquat sparkling lemonade, which was really refreshing and had a couple full-size lychees and kumquat zest and juice in it. My friend very much enjoyed her iced boba matcha. I ordered one for myself to go and even though I don’t like boba all that much I enjoyed the flavor of the brown sugar boba they use.

If you haven’t given Ice or Rice Cafe a try, be sure to check them out! I’m looking forward to next Friday when I will be enjoying a tuna melt at Chelo’s for lunch and a fish fry! Have a great week.

Contact info:

Ice or Rice Cafe
3713 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 539-9092

Fish Fry #1 2024: Mom’s Pierogies

The Lenten season is upon us, and in Cleveland that means the start of Fish Fry Season. Ash Wednesday fell on Valentine’s Day this year. I knew there was no way I was going to even try to dine in at a restaurant on one of the busiest days in the restaurant industry, and most of the churches don’t offer fish fries on Ash Wednesday since they have church services. So I decided to do carryout, and Mom’s Pierogies posted their carryout fish fry on my Facebook group so it was fate. I placed my order online and headed out to pick it up before most people even got off work. My order was ready when I arrived, and I was greeted by the friendly staff and given my order. I handed the employee who retrieved my order a couple bucks for a tip and went happily on my way. It smelled divine despite all of the containers (and the can of Pepsi) being wrapped in plastic wrap. And the fish was wrapped in foil inside the styrofoam (you can see it peeking out of the side below). No chance of leakage here!

After following Waze’s convoluted driving directions and driving on streets I’ve never driven on before, I located Mom’s Pierogies on Memphis Avenue. Getting home was also fairly convoluted and took me through a speed trap in Linndale and had me going south on I-71 before exiting and reentering to go north again, but all in all the drive was about 20-25 minutes there and back. It is located next to Aldo’s and very close to the Memphis Kiddie Park, which I had been to once with my nieces when they were younger. So I *kind of* recognized the area, but most of the streets were fairly new to me despite being a lifelong Clevelander and living on the west side for 23 years.

There is no seating available. It is strictly carryout. Mom’s Pierogies started in the early 2000s when the owner Janet Vedda was inspired to use her mother’s recipes to make and sell pierogies to family and friends during the holidays. She then branched out to selling pierogi at farmer’s markets and supplying many restaurants. Mom’s Pierogies opened as a brick-and-mortar shop in August 2018. They sell frozen pierogi in bulk – a dozen or 1/2 dozen at a time. The menu boasts around 20 flavors, and they always keep about a dozen of the traditional, most popular flavors on hand. I think I need their breakfast pierogi (featuring sausage, egg and cheddar cheese) in my life and freezer. They make the pierogi by hand every day.

I am so glad I chose Mom’s Pierogies, which I had never heard of before their post (social media works, folks!). In my opinion, an excellent fish fry always includes pierogi (plural: pierogi or pierogies or pierogis, but I prefer without an s – it’s the language geek in me). For the uninitiated, pierogi are small, semi-circular ‘dumplings’ made of dough and filled with a range of ingredients, which can be sweet, savory or spicy. They are a staple in Cleveland, and some would argue that these little pockets of deliciousness are also the national dish of Northeast Ohio. Mom’s Pierogies specializes in gourmet Polish pierogies, and you should not sleep on these pierogies. Although they were smaller and not as filled as I prefer the dough was so delightfully soft and almost melted in my mouth. These were stellar pierogies! Anyway, I digress… We are here for the fish fry.

Every single component of this meal was outstanding – there was not a miss in the styrofoam container. Even the little details like the tartar sauce, carmelized onions and butter, and garlic sour cream (!!!!) were outstanding. The fish is a 9 oz. pollock. It was lightly breaded and perfectly fried. The fish itself was moist and flaky and simply delectable. The housemade tartar sauce was an excellent addition, but it was even tasty without it. I ordered an extra pierogi for $2 and should have ordered more. These pierogi were so good! Most pierogi dough is a little thick and chewy. These were thinner and soft and pillowy – and had a tasty potato filling. The pierogi have been handed down from the owner’s Polish mother’s recipe. I can see why. These are the softest pierogi I have ever enjoyed. The garlic sour cream was ethereally good. You can choose between regular or garlic. Get the garlic! It isn’t overpowering and just gilds the lily. I wished I had ordered more extra pierogi, because I only had one left for lunch the next day and you can eat them in a couple bites even if you are savoring them. I would drive all the way back for a pierogi dinner, but they also serve stuffed cabbage that looks right up my alley, so…

I also added a side of cucumber salad, because it never hurts to have a veggies to balance the fried food. LOL The cucumbers are small and sliced razor thin. They are drenched in a sour cream and onion dressing that I really enjoyed. This was a quality cucumber salad. It is also available in 1 and 2 lb portions. Even cole slaw was a revelation. I definitely detected a heavier pepper presence, which I enjoyed, but there is an herb mix that I can’t quite place (dill? thyme?). The mayo-based cole slaw was delicious, and I enjoyed every forkful of it as well.

All in all, this was an excellent start to Fish Fry Season 2024. I’ve already planned which churches and restaurants I want to try this season (St Mary’s Church in Collinwood, Gesu Catholic (catered by EDWINS), St. Agnes / Our Lady of Fatima and Voodoo Brewery are new to the list and I plan to revisit St. Joseph’s Parish and St. Vladimir as well as Benedictine High School to give them another chance after a less than stellar review pre-COVID). I have lunch plans at Ice or Rice Cafe tomorrow, so we’ll see if I am hungry at fish fry time. There may or may not be two reviews tomorrow. So see you tomorrow (or Saturday whenever I get the post written)!

They also sell t-shirts if anyone wants to get me one 🙂 The photo above is just one of the choices on their website (follow the link). Mom’s Pierogies has apparently been in business since 2003. They are closed on Sunday and Monday and open from 11-7 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11-5 on Thursday and 11-4 on Saturday. Be sure to check them out – and don’t forget the garlic sour cream!!!

Contact info:

Mom’s Pierogies
8467 Memphis Avenue
Brooklyn, OH 44144
(216) 309-1570

Mochinut

Mochinut is an American restaurant chain specializing in mochi donuts, boba, and Korean-style hot dogs with locations in the U.S. and South Korea. It was founded in California in 2020. A location opened on Detroit Road in Westlake near the Columbia Road exit on I-90 in August 2022. The next closest location is Ann Arbor, Michigan and then another is in southern Indiana. It is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 8 pm.

My friend Judi is obsessed and stops there whenever she is in the area. Her daughter lived in Japan and got her hooked. She took me there after a tea presentation at Bay Village Library. I of course had to try the boba (bubble tea) and mochi donuts. The dining area was very clean, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. 

I ordered a Thai Tea boba, which was perfectly made. They have a cool plastic can with a metal lid that they make the tea in. It was not super environmentally friendly though, and they don’t recycle them (I asked). The milk and sugar ratio in the tea was just right. If you want more sugar order the brown sugar ones.

The mochi donuts are made with rice flour, making them flexible and recognizable due to their distinct shape of eight small balls connected as a circle. Mochi doughnuts have a crispy exterior, due to being fried or baked, and a chewy interior thanks to the use of sweet rice flour. Apparently some of the donuts are gluten free, since they use rice or tapioca flour rather than the conventional wheat variety. Be sure to ask, and they encourage you to do so with some signage. The flavors change daily and they serve eight different flavors each day.

I ordered a chocolate donut with chocolate sprinkles on my first visit (in the first photo – this one on the left is Blueberry Lychee). The donut is light and chewy. I really enjoyed it. I ordered three donuts ($10) on the second visit and enjoyed all three. I liked the Matcha donut I ordered on my second visit even more. I stopped here with a couple friends after meeting them for sushi just down the street at Yuzu King. Being a huge fan of matcha is was a no-brainer the minute I saw it on the board. I also ordered the Milky Fruity Pebbles and Chocolate Funnel Cake donuts. The Matcha donut and Funnel Cake ones weren’t as sweet as the chocolate one, and I really enjoyed them a lot. And who doesn’t enjoy Fruity Pebbles? My friend thought the Pina Colada one was too sweet, so I got to take it home with me and enjoy later. It was sweeter but still enjoyable. I do prefer the less sweet ones though.

They are also known for their Korean hot dogs. The Korean hot dogs  are wrapped in a bun similar to a corn dog. You can get a hot dog or mozzarella cheese or a half/half (hot dog and cheese) on a stick. They are then dipped in batter, coated in potatoes, ramen, Hot Cheetos or “Blue Heat” (apparently covered by crushed Takis rice cakethat is a blue hue) toppings, and deep fried. I ordered the half mozzarella half hot dog coated in ramen. I would have prefered it if the mozzarella and hot dog were next to each other sharing space instead of one on top of the other. I still enjoyed it though. It was a crunchy delight. My friend enjoyed her potato-covered mozzarella one.

Look at that cheese pull!

I definitely look forward to my next visit. I can’t wait to see what will be on the board then. And I need to try the Ube boba.

Contact info:

Mochinut
26161 Detroit Road
Westlake, OH 44145
(440) 455-1028