I enjoyed the clambake at the CLE Urban Winery on Lee Road on Friday, October 16th. It was the 4th annual Clam Bake and Music Jam, but it was the first time I had heard about it. I purchase my ticket on EventBrite and invited a friend to join me. It was a cold and rainy night, but it was close to home. I struggled to find a parking space. I like the Cedar-Lee businesses, but hate the parking situation. I’d probably be there more often if it wasn’t such a pain. I parked at the garage and was happy to not get hit crossing the street in the pedestrian crossing. A pedestrian was hit and killed a few years ago, so it isn’t an unfair concern.
CLE Urban Winery brings the unique concept of a working winery and tasting room to the historic urban setting of the Cedar-Lee neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They don’t have a vineyard. Instead, the wines are hand-crafted and bottled on-site in our craft brewery-style winery and are made from premium grapes sourced primarily from the US west coast and branded to honor and celebrate the city of Cleveland. The winery is located in a 100-year old former auto repair garage in the Cedar-Lee neighborhood. It features bar seating, table seating and a few cozy couches. I’ve been there for a book group in the past and they have board games.
We were told dinner would be served starting at 6pm, and the live music would be from 7-9pm that evening. I arrived at 6 pm and easily found a table for two. My friend arrived just as they announced dinner was served shortly after 6 pm (she had told me she would probably arrive later at around 6:15). After she checked out the lay of the land (and perused the menu), we made our way to the back, checked in, and carefully carried our loaded plates back to our table.
The clambake was catered by Brennan’s Catering, and it was delicious! The clambake included:
1 dozen Rhode Island Narragansett Bay middleneck clams
Lemon wedges and individual cups of drawn butter
Brennan’s Signature baked half chicken
Baked sweet potato
Fresh steamed corn on the cob
Homestyle cole slaw
Dinner rolls and butter
Clam broth (but I must haved missed it)
I did miss the clam chowder, which wasn’t included. Chowder is always a highlight for me so that was a bummer, but on the plus side I didn’t need a box for leftovers because I finished everything. The clams were really great and enjoyable to eat. They came loose from the shell easily. I doctored the sweet potato, corn and roll with the pats of butter before digging in. I loved the corn (fresh and juicy) and also enjoyed the chicken, which was moist and fell off the bone (the wing). I never have high hopes for the chicken, but this was good.
We also started a tab at the bar and enjoyed the Hometown Heroes Peach Chardonnay with our meal. I don’t normally like sweeter wines, but this wine was absolutely delicious (and not that cloyingly sweet) and I almost bought a bottle to enjoy later. I’ll probably pop by soon and buy a bottle of it, because I am still thinking of it! They have a lot of cocktails and mocktail choices that sounded good. The Black Cherry Rally Red also sounds delicious, and my friend and I are definitely going to be back to try it. My friend hadn’t been there before and really enjoyed it. I will definitely go back to try the Buckeye Blackberry Merlot Hot Chocolate when the snow flies. I do love their Frosé (frozen wine slushie) in the hotter months.
We walked back to our cars together as I stared down a car that threatened not to stop while we were crossing in the pedestrian zone with the lights flashing. If you hit me I’ll do some damage 🙂 At that point it was 52 degrees and raining, and I was regretting not wearing a sweater or jacket. It’s definitely Fall in Cleveland. I drove home quickly in the dark and rain and made a hot chocolate to enjoy as dessert and warm up. I’ll definitely be back next year for their 5th annual clambake – and probably organize a game night there with friends soon. Let me know if you’d like to join us.
Contact info:
CLE Urban Winery 2180B Lee Road Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (216) 417-8313
The Winking Lizard chain offers seafood-filled clambake menus at 14 of its Cleveland locations starting in September through the last weekend of October. The locations alternate (check the website for the clambakes near you). Available after 3pm on Fridays and all day Saturday and Sunday, there are 5 different clambakes to choose from: a dozen steamed clams (“clams & clams”, $32), 12 oz of BBQ chicken breast(s) ($26), a 12 oz strip steak ($36), a half slab of St Louis ribs ($32), or two 4.5 oz lobster tails ($40). Each clambake comes with a cup of New England clam chowder, 1 dozen steamed clams, a baked potato or sweet potato, Latin street corn on the cob and garlic bread.
I met some friends in Peninsula to enjoy the clambake on a Sunday. Peninsula was very busy, because it was Peddler’s Day (an annual event held on Main Street in Peninsula, Ohio, featuring garage sales, local shops, galleries, and food). Also, the weather was gorgeous and lots of people were enjoying the Towpath. I was lucky to get a spot in the Winking Lizard parking lot. Two guys were leaving as I was turning around, so I waited until the truck left its parking spot and I slipped in after it. I then met my friends who had been on the wait list (they were quoted a 45-minute wait, but they were seated when I got there – and I was not late from our 12:30 meet time). We were seated in the bar, but there were also lots of families there. Our service could have been better. They already had their drinks (and it took a while to get my drink – which was served with my entree), but most egregiously I had to flag a server down after we got our food to ask for silverware (and it took a while to get someone’s attention). It almost got to the point where I was going to get up and grab the silverware myself – and I NEVER do that.
Since this was the end of my 3 clambake weekend I chose the ribs. I’ve been known to go there just for ribs. The Winking Lizard’s ribs are great, and these were fantastic and a fun pairing with the clams. They also reheated really well the next day along with the baked potato. The clams were pretty good. Not chewy like Salty Mary’s. They weren’t amazingly tender, but they were just right. The clam chowder was fine. Some cups of chowder had more clams than others. The street corn was tasty (although I would have preferred just straight corn on the cob with butter) and the sauce covered the hint of overcooked dryness in the corn. I really enjoyed my cocktail, the Hocus Pocus, which featured 3 Olives grape vodka and grape and lemon juice. My one friend enjoyed her beer flight of three seasonal beers. Beer just goes nicely with a clambake.
Everyone else at the table ordered the twin lobster tails and enjoyed them. I have gotten the lobster tails in the past and enjoyed them. They are cut in half and broiled/grilled.
Well, not every clambake is going to be awesome. I was looking forward to the clambake at Salty Mary’s, since it specializes in seafood. I stopped in after an afternoon gathering in Avon Lake the day after I enjoyed the clambake at Bruno’s. I was one of two tables there. I liked the vibe as I walked in. Any place that plays The Travelling Wilburys is okay in my book. And the oyster shell chandeliers made me smile. I was greeted as I walked in and took a seat.
I ordered a nice glass of Kalpela Chardonnay, which might be up there with Kendall Jackson in my book, and gave my server my order. The clambake ($46.50) came out fairly quickly. It was served on a big metal platter and was a lot of food (a dozen clams, a cup of clam chowder, a quarter chicken, a heap of red skin potatoes, and an ear of corn cut into three smaller pieces). It was visually very appealing. I started with the clams, because they cool down quickly. Frankly, they were pretty disappointing. Really rubbery and overcooked. I probably should have sent them back, but that’s not really how I roll, having worked in a restaurant. Something has to be really bad to be sent back, and they were okay after soaking in the butter. The clam chowder was also just okay, but to be fair, nothing would have measured up coming right after Bruno’s chowder. I had to add some salt and pepper to it, which I also added to the red potatoes.
I did enjoy the corn, the quarter chicken and dinner roll. The chicken was actually really tasty and nicely seasoned (and the chicken is never my choice if given options). The dinner roll was crusty. Probably food service, but it was really warm and I enjoyed it. I would have liked to slather some butter on it, but the only butter was the melted butter for the clams. And the clam broth was a nice thought, but it had spilled out at some point.
Overall, I was unimpressed with the clambake. However, I had ordered a tuna melt to go for later that was really, really good. It was tuna, tomato and cheddar cheese on an English muffin and was really delicious. So I’m not going to write the place off entirely and will give it another chance when I am in Westlake again. The deviled eggs and crab legs look tasty.
In the past I have simply written one post summarizing my various clambakes and added a link to my Clambake page. That said, that means that they kind of get brushed aside. I don’t have a hard and fast rule on how many clambakes I attend every year – some years I have visited six and some only three. This past weekend alone I attended three, but I don’t know how many I will enjoy in the subsequent weekends to come. So I’ve decided to post about them in separate posts at random times and then summarize them in a 2026 clambakes post.
I started the clambake season out with one of my favorites – Bruno’s Ristorante on W. 41st. Bruno’s opened in 1996 when Bruno DiSiena, who had been working as the executive chef at the Cleveland Browns’ training facility in Berea, decided he was going to open a restaurant. Bruno’s is truly a hidden gem. I’ve been to Bruno’s a couple of times and have loved it every time. The clambake is just as special as the regular Italian dishes. I remember being absolutely blown away by the clam chowder last time – so much so that I ordered a quart to go. I may or may not go back to Bruno’s towards the end of the month because it’s that good. Bruno’s is just a great restaurant in general, and if you love great Italian food you need to check it out outside of the clambake.
I usually like to get in and out before the dinner rush there because it is such a small space. I called and made a reservation at 4 (the dinner service start time) when I decided to start my clambake season. It’s available every Friday and Saturday from 4 PM to close.
It took a little while for my server to come over, so I gave him my entire order, including drinks. It’s been a busy, stressful week, so I started with a cocktail. The Blu Oceana was basically a blue dreamsicle, with citrus vodka and some other juice. It was a nice start. I also enjoyed the homemade bread and butter.
The dozen clams were picture-perfect. They were middleneck clams and were extremely tender and delicious. They were sprinkled with fresh basil. I ended up putting a shake of salt in the melted butter, because I prefer a butter that tastes like butter. I enjoyed every single clam.
Next up was the clam chowder, which is one of my favorite clam chowders in Cleveland. I liked it so much that the last time I was there I ordered a quart to go. The clam chowder is buttery, creamy and packed with chunks of clam and potato. The bone-shaped hunk in the middle of the photo is a clam.
The third course was the main course. I chose the steak, but I heard one waitress recommending the chicken because she loves how it is seasoned. Well, the steak didn’t disappoint either. It was really nicely seasoned and perfectly medium rare. I also chose a sweet potato, which came with brown sugar that I mixed with the butter pats. The white clam pasta is also always a treat. I got my pasta craving fulfilled while enjoying the steak and corn. I took half the steak, pasta and sweet potato home. The server did a great job packing it up, wrapping it up with plastic wrap to ensure no spillage. That is a really appreciated detail.
The final course was the dessert course. I imagine it is a large sheet cake that they cut into triangles. They served me a slice of strawberry white cake on a plate with a puree painted on it. I ate a few bites and got the rest wrapped to go as well.
I headed home happy as a clam. I may head to Bruno’s one more time this month, but if I do I won’t write about it. This post should suffice. If you are looking for a great clambake, this is it. I think it’s one of the best clambakes Cleveland has to offer.
Contact info:
Bruno’s Ristorante 2644 W 41st Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 961-7087
Clambakes became quite the rage this year. Our clambake tradition was featured in Food & Wine, reporting that “Cleveland’s appetite for clams outpaces anywhere else when the weather cools” (duh) and was a hugely popular topic online with newbies asking food forums where to find a clambake. The hearty Cleveland clambake menu reflects the Midwest appetite and the cooler climate, making it less of a seaside delicacy and more of a harvest celebration. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of clams are consumed in Northeast Ohio during the early fall, when the harvest is at its peak. Cleveland fish purveyors claim that they sell more clams to Cleveland from August through September than to any other city in the country, thanks to all the clambakes that are held here. Kate’s Fish at the West Side Market claims, “We go from selling about a thousand clams a week to 10,000 in September and October.” As the owner of Salty Mary’s Oyster Bar (which is on my list for next year) reported in the Food & Wine article, “It’s like fish fries during Lent or Browns games on Sunday — it’s one of those Cleveland traditions. It’s comforting to come back to something every year.”
I jumpstarted the clambake season back in mid-September at Chelo’s Kitchen as a Friday special. I was there on the Wednesday before with a friend who wanted their Prime Rib special and ordered mine for that Friday as soon as Sarah told us the specials. Their specials sell out quickly, so I reserved one immediately. I have become a regular at Chelo’s. It’s a great restaurant operated by a really nice young couple. Chelo (pronounced ‘cello’) consistently puts out some tasty food. The clambake included one dozen clams, a 1/4 chicken (bbq or plain – I ordered bbq), sweet potato or baked potato (sweet potato for me with their cinnamon butter!), a cup of clam chowder, a mini corn cob and a dinner roll. It cost me $46 including a generous tip.
My friends ordered tickets for two of the clambakes at Gunselman’s Tavern. I’ll be out of town for the second one, but was able to join them for the first one. Gunselman’s Tavern in Fairview Park is always a favorite, and I have attended their clambake for five years in a row. The clambakes sell out quickly and early. The clambakes are dine-in only and we had a table reserved inside (if you order patio seating you may get rained out, but the weather was perfect this year). The Browns were playing in London that day, but the volume wasn’t on. I got my usual steak bake. They start serving clam broth and clam chowder at 1 PM and serve the clambakes at 2 PM. The clam broth was sufficiently spicy. I added a couple dashes of pepper to mine, but some of my friends added pepper and hot sauce. Irish Kevin’s New England clam chowder was a treat. The chowder had chunks of redskin potatoes and was nicely seasoned with a lot of thyme, which gave it a unique and delicious flavor. The clams were great – tender and not gritty. I had a couple bites of my redskin and sweet potatoes and ended up taking them home along with half of my steak. We were sad that the woman who made the cheesecake is no longer working there. I wasn’t the only one who had been looking forward to the cheesecake. The price of the clambake ($45 with steak) does not include the gratuity or any beverages or add-ons.
I also enjoyed a phenomenal clambake at Square Bistro in Chardon, which are served every Friday & Saturday for dine-in and take-out in the month of October. It was worth the 45 minute drive from Cleveland Heights. It was a nice drive through the countryside with the changing leaves. I had a reservation for 7:30 because they were booked solid when I went to reserve my table that morning. The clambake is available every Friday and Saturday in October (for dine in or carryout). I was tempted to get the sushi bake ($42 for 1 futo maki and 1 maki roll and the clambake) because it’s so unique, but ordered the lobster tail ($45) instead. The chicken option is $39, the steak is $55 and the crab crusted red grouper bake with lobster cream sauce (!!!) is $50. I was extremely pleased with my choice, but it was a hard decision to make. The lobster tail was my favorite part because it was delicious, but there wasn’t a bad component in the bunch: fresh baked bread with brown sugar cinnamon butter, smoky clam chowder with some corn kernels in it, a dozen perfectly steamed Cape Cod middleneck clams, butter poached lobster tail, rosemary and garlic roasted mashed redskin potatoes and applewood smoked bacon braised brussel sprouts. I was taken aback by the small portion of mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts, but it was honestly perfect and super flavorful. I paid a total of $59.80 for the clambake with lobster and a glass of wine plus $12 for the tip in cash. Honestly, it was one of the best clambakes I’ve ever had.
I decided to stay closer to home for the next clambake, deciding to try Poppy on Larchmere. I had been there when it was Felice, but hadn’t been to Poppy yet. Since it is run by the women behind Salt+ (RIP) I knew I would be in good hands. Poppy serves its clambake special every Friday through November 14. I arrived shortly after they opened at 5 without a reservation, but they were able to accommodate me on the large converted front porch (and the early arrival ensured street parking close to the restaurant). The hostess and my server were both lovely. I was given a carafe of water, which I appreciated. I tend to drink several glasses of water when I’m out to dinner. I ordered the PCP, which is made with Bacardi dark rum, pumpkin spice syrup, coconut cream and tropical juice. It was a nice start. The clambake came with the choice of clam chowder or a wedge salad. Since I love both and couldn’t decide, I ordered both and had her add it to the bill. The clam chowder was phenomenal. It was a small portion, but I enjoyed every spoonful. The wedge was not the typical wedge salad. It features romaine instead of iceberg. The salad came as two baby romaine wedges topped with crispy pancetta, polenta crisps, shallot fennel relish, buttermilk and french vinaigrettes & gorgonzola. It was quite tasty. I’m not quite sure what to say about the clambake. It came served in a big bowl holding a dozen clams, a quarter roasted chicken, a small grilled corn on the cob, and crispy fingerling potatoes. The broth was red in color, and I suspect it had harissa in it due to the color and kick of spice. When my server asked, the kitchen said they used Old Bay. I’m not a huge fan of chicken quarters (as you can see from the other choices on this page), and I missed the drawn butter of it all. The fingerling potatoes, on the other hand, were great – crispy and nicely salted. I’m glad I tried it, but I don’t know if I will put it on my clambake rotation. I’ll probably be back to try some other things at Poppy since it is so close. Because I ordered a cocktail, a glass of wine and an extra starter, my bill was around $74.50, making it the priciest clambake this season.
I ended the season at Fat Cats with Rosie’s Clambake, a fundraiser for St. Joseph Academy. It’s an annual one-day event, and there are three seatings – at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. As seems to be the case this year, by the time I called to reserve a spot only 6 and 8 p.m. seatings were available. Since I didn’t want to have to sit at a high bar stool, I decided to choose the 8 p.m. seating even if it was a little later. I have/had been working overnights for the past 2 weeks, so my sleep schedule was/is already whacked out, and 8 p.m. didn’t seem that much of an issue. There were three clambake options to choose from — the basic clambake for $40, one featuring St. Louis ribs for $45 and a 10-ounce steak dinner for $50. The steak came with potato salad, and the ribs came with baked beans. The potato salad was tempting, but I was in the mood for ribs when I called to reserve a spot. The clambake features a dozen clams with lemon butter, corn on the cob with sage burnt butter and parmesan (yum!), New England clam chowder, and a roll. It was as phenomenal as I expected. The clams were the tenderest of all the clambakes, and the chowder was delicious with lots of tender clams. Considering I was at the last seating, the tender and perfectly cooked food was a nice surprise. I also really enjoyed my Arnold Palmer and buttery chardonnay. The only negative was that the corn was cool, but I still enjoyed it with the sage burnt butter and parmesan – and it was grilled. Fat Cats always knocks it out of the park.
In summary, it was a very delicious clambake season.
Best chowder: Fat Cats, second place to Poppy Best clams: Fat Cats, second place to Square Bistro Best entree: Square Bistro, second place to Gunselman’s Best side: Square Bistro, second place to Fat Cats (corn) Best beverage: Gunselman’s, second place to Chelo’s because they keep my unsweetened iced tea topped up Most affordable: Chelo’s
Contact info:
Chelo’s Kitchen There’s no website but follow them on Facebook to see the Wednesday and Friday specials 4446 Mayfield Road Cleveland, OH 44121 (216) 382-4490
