I saw a TikTok about these popular sandwiches in a town in Italy where lines were two hours long. I was pleased to find this 5 minutes from my house at Affettati in Little Italy next to Valerio’s. I had heard about Affettati and how good the sandwiches were, but the descriptions don’t do it justice. I’m kicking myself I haven’t tried it sooner. The sandwiches use generous portions of fresh fillings on focaccia bread that is shatteringly crispy yet airy and tender inside. If you haven’t had one, you need to put it at the top of your list! They started out small, only offering five sandwiches three days a week, but now they have 8 and are open every day but Monday and Tuesday. It is a small place and primarily carryout only. Since I literally live at the top of the hill it wasn’t a problem to grab and go. Consider driving up the hill (or entering off Euclid Avenue if you take a side road to avoid the Mayfield/Euclid intersection) and enjoying it at Lake View Cemetery when the weather is nice (or in your car there if it isn’t).
I love mortadella and burrata, so my first choice was a no-brainer decision (the #8). The pistachios and pesto are a delicious addition and just bring this sandwich to the next level. One of the most flavorful sandwiches I’ve ever had. And it is a beautiful sight to behold as well!
I’m also a fan of roast beef, and their roast beef sandwich (#6) did not disappoint either. It features roast beef, horseradish, tomato, mozzarella, arugula, red onion. All of it super fresh and pairing really well together.
I’m also a huge fan of caprese (see the recent Raddell’s post for proof – nothing better than fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato, fresh basil and Balsamic vinegar), so the #5 was also at the top of my list, and I can definitely imagine it becoming my go-to. They do not skimp on the ingredients. As you can see, they use thick slices of mozzarella and the fresh basil and tomato is a perfect balance. The sandwich comes with a little to-go tub of Balsamic vinegar, and it is quality! Thick and viscous, it dripped off the sandwich after I added it in all the best ways.
The #7 features smoked turkey, avocado, Swiss cheese, bacon, pesto mayo, and arugula. The sandwich was so fresh that the turkey and Swiss still had a slight chill to them, which was very welcome. The creamy avocado mixed nicely with the pesto mayo and was a creamy, tasty delight. Don’t sleep on this one either.
I’m not a huge fan of cured meats, but I’m sure I will get one of their prosciutto and/or salami sandwiches at some point. You can even get extra meat for an additional $2, as the guy in front of me in line did. The portabello mushroom and caprese are perfect if you prefer vegetarian choices.
After reading all the rave reviews of the chocolate chip cookie I knew I had to try it. The cookies are huge and feature huge hunks of chocolate and the perfect dusting of salt. It truly is one of the best cookies I’ve ever had.
The staff are welcoming and friendly as well. Owner Kevin Dawe, who started on his own baking the bread two years ago, has been behind the counter making the sandwiches every time I’ve been there. The other employees are just super friendly and joking around. They make even a first-timer feel like a regular. I was lucky enough to be there when one of their first employees, Jamie, a Cleveland Institute of Music student, came to say goodbye because he was leaving Cleveland to pursue his music career. They were so thrilled for him and genuine while wishing him all the best. This is the type of small business you want to support and enjoy seeing them thrive.
There is no website, so I’ve linked their Yelp page. Give them a call to have your sandwiches ready for pick up or get in line and watch them make it. I get there before noon to avoid the rush, which I’m sure there is every day. They are open from 11 am to 6 pm every day but Monday and Tuesday.
Raddell’s Sausage has been a Cleveland staple for over four generations. It is located in the historic Waterloo Rd. & Collinwood neighborhood just off I-90 at the E. 152nd exit. Raddell’s is known for its homemade Slovenian smoked sausage and other European-style meats. When I was there someone asked for their rice sausage (which was only available frozen that day), and they also make Boudin, which can be hard to find here. While people come from all over to grab some smokies and sausages from 8-5 Mon, Tues & Wed, 8-4 Thur & Fri, and 8-3 on Sat, this modest deli is also a great place to grab a hearty lunch from 11-2 (every day but Sunday, when they are closed). The sandwiches are tasty and affordably priced. I got there shortly before noon, and there were only a couple of cars in the lot. However, when I left, the parking lot was packed and several guys were eating sandwiches in their cars and trucks.
The newest generation is doing a great job with their social media. Their reel featuring the Chicken Caprese Sub, which was the sandwich of the month in July, piqued my interest and I knew I had to check it out. The goofy humor of the dropped knife and making the bruschetta topping was charming.
The sub certainly did not disappoint. The chicken sausage was super flavorful, and I loved the freshness of the tomato bruschetta and fresh basil. Their sub rolls are most likely Orlando rolls, because they sell Orlando bread there. My counter guy missed putting on a drizzle of Balsamic, but I was able to quickly remedy that at home. It was a delight from start to finish.
However, the other subs are just as tasty. I’ve been on a quest to try meatball subs (more on that in another post in the future), and their meatball sub wowed me. The meatballs are deliciously flavorful and soft in a tasty sauce and pillowy soft roll (ignore the weird flatness on top of the meatballs – that came from the paper and carryout container). This was a pleasure to bite into from start to finish. At only $10.99 it is a total deal. And I am addicted. I was craving one the next day.
The regular sausage sandwich is a total deal at $6.49. You can choose either a smoked Slovenian, bratwurst, or andouille sausage and can add other toppings if you’d like. I got the Slovenian sausage and topped it with the obligatory Bertman’s mustard and kraut. Divine!
Also, their #1 seller is the Big Billy, which is huge and quite filling. It features a jumbo sized house made smoked Slovenian sausage, and I of course got it with sauerkraut and stadium mustard. Despite how large the sausage is (a foot long) it was a really juicy delight and not overcooked and dry at all. I understand why it is the top seller.
No lunch is complete without a side or two. They sell my favorite Sweet Maui Onion potato chips, so that is always a win. And the macaroni salad is really creamy and has visible chunks of pepper in it. I really enjoyed it.
While I was there I picked up a small Apple Strudel from their freezer and a container of Walnut and Apricot Kiflis. The Kiflis are not as soft as kolachky, but are tasty with a cup of coffee. I haven’t dug into the Apple Strudel yet, but I am confident it will be great. They are also known for their Potica, which is a traditional Slovenian walnut nut roll.
They sell Milka chocolate bars and quite a few other well-curated European items, so I know that whoever is doing the buying has good taste. The Croatian dark chocolate bar is an absolute must-try!
I enjoy all kinds of food. I know a lot of people look down their nose at buffets (especially after the pandemic), but a buffet is a great way to try things you might not normally order at a restaurant (I think Indian buffets are a great way to dip a toe in – I recommend Himalayan and Indian Flame, btw). I think Kumo is one of the better Chinese/Asian buffets in town, and many people agree with me. I liked Mandarin Seafood Buffet in Twinsburg, but it was a Fiji or Kumo as well for a while and is now Fun Buffet. I would pop in when I wanted something filling and fast. In any event, many people recommend Kumo as being one of the best – with Fiji just across the street. I’ve also been to Fiji, but I just prefer Kumo. It’s got a good vibe and comfy booths/chairs, even if they are getting a little worn. It is also in the strip mall right next to the Parma Snow library branch, so I enjoy eating there before or after a library event.
I was introduced to Kumo years ago before the pandemic by a financial advisor who appreciates good food and would go there for their lunch buffet. Like it or not, buffets are a great value for the money. The lunch buffet at Kumo is $14.99 (from 11 to 3:30) and the dinner buffet is $23.99. There are cheaper prices for seniors (60+) and kids (7-10). And they sometimes run promotional prices for less ($11.99 for lunch and $19.99 most recently if you don’t get hot pot). For that, you get all kinds of chicken, beef, seafood and pork dishes, four or five different soups, a hot pot station, a salad bar as well as 20 sushi rolls and several dessert options such as ice cream, pudding and fruit to enjoy. And they also offer dim sum on the weekends (all day on Sunday, which is $23.99 all day). The buffet is also offered to go at $3.99 a pound for lunch and $4.99 a pound for dinner (seafood and hot pot are extra) with 1, 2 or 3 entrees. And they do a great job replenishing the steam tables.
If you get there shortly before dinner, you are given a choice of lunch or dinner- and all of the dinner entrees are clearly labeled “dinner only” in front of the steam pan if you just want the lunch. I was there recently at 3:15. I decided to just pay for the dinner so I didn’t inadvertantly grab some dinner choices. That’s how I know about the signs. It turns out all of my favorites are served at lunch. The only dinner item I ended up getting were some crab legs that were overcooked/dry as dust. Hard pass next time, and now I know.
When I decided to write about Kumo, I compiled all my photos from over the years (all the way back to 2015, but not all are going to be included here). I noticed a pattern, and I definitely have favorites. The nice thing about a buffet is everyone can enjoy their own favorites and mix and match/pick and choose. All of the food is labelled on the sneeze guards, so there is no guessing.
I always start my visit at the sushi station. You can get a single slice from a roll as well as nigiri and sometimes sashimi. I love sushi, but any roll is a commitment. A sushi roll is usually about $20 now, so a plate of sushi options allows me to ‘break even’ and I haven’t even hit the entrees. There is no commitment here – you just choose what looks good to you. They also have plenty of ginger and wasabi and little containers for soy and other sauces. I also enjoy the peel and eat shrimp. I have been known to get adventurous and try the crawfish or snail – or go for other things like fried appetizers (rangoon, egg rolls, dumplings/gyoza, etc.) during round one. Sometimes I get a soup. It all depends on what I’m in the mood for.
Round two is usually dedicated to the entrees. I really enjoy the ‘seafood and cheese’ as well as the chicken and broccoli or chicken and mushroom – and the mango chicken is tasty. I always get some rice and/or lo mein as well. I just grab a scoop of whatever looks good to me. I am not a huge fan of hot pot, so I don’t get any of that. The hot pot stuff is also clearly labeled and is around the left of the sushi station and towards the rear of the restaurant. If you love hot pot there is also plenty of options.
I usually don’t have much room left for a round three of entrees, so round three for me is usually dessert. The desserts are on the very right against the wall. I obviously enjoy the pudding(s) and the bananas, because I have them on every plate I’ve had. Every. Single. Time. LOL
The buffet has some picky-kid-friendly choices like wings, but I’m there for the seafood and Asian food. It’s literally got something for everyone. So if you are in te mood for a quick meal and lots of choices, be sure to check out Kumo.
The Souper Market is a small local chain (with five locations) that specializes in hand-crafted soups, stocks, salads and salad dressings, made from scratch using the finest ingredients. I drove past the location on Carnegie (Midtown location) for years and had even thought it had closed because the store front on Carnegie was closed. It turns out that the entrance moved to the side of the building off their generous parking lot. The location in Ohio City is also quite popular, and the Downtown location on St. Clair Avenue is near the Justice Center. they also have a location in Kamm’s Corner and Lakewood. Most locations are only open Monday through Friday, although the Ohio City, Lakewood and Downtown locations are also open on Saturday afternoons. None of the locations are open on Sundays.
There are a few soups that are available every day (Tomato Ginger, Potato Spinach & Swiss, Jambalaya and their beloved Chicken Paprikash, Pulled Chicken Noodle, Tuscan Vegetable and Creamy Wild Mushroom and a chili that varies weekly), but the menu also changes weekly as well as seasonally, offering heartier soups in winter and lighter options in summer, alongside a variety of salads and chilled soups. The soups can be purchased as 8 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz. and 32 oz. servings.
They offer a way to enjoy a soup flight by offering a three pack of soups. You can order three DIFFERENT 8 oz. soups of your choice with 2 pieces of bread for just $14. It’s a great choice if you can’t decide on just one soup.
My go-to order is a grilled cheese paired with one of their delicious soups. It’s only $10 for a large panini pressed grilled cheese and an 8 oz. cup of soup and $11 for a 12 oz. soup. Most recently I enjoyed the Beefy Mushroom & Swiss soup and grilled cheese. I love mushroom and Swiss together, so I loved it.
They also have two deals that feature salads and soup. Deal #1 is an 8 oz. cup of soup and any salad for $13, Deal #2 is a 12 oz. cup of soup and any salad for $14. I have heard great things about the asparagus salad as well as the sweet lemon vinaigrette.
You can also buy stock in quarts or gallons. The stocks, which are the foundation of the soups, are simmered with meats, vegetables, and herbs, creating rich, additive-free, gluten-free, and low-sodium broths.
I have always enjoyed the “56” family of restaurants and met one of the owners years ago through Meetup and found him to be a stand-up guy, so I’m happy they are so successful. The 56 restaurants offer great healthy choices, with really nice salads, and use fresh ingredients. They are located primarily on the east side (56 Kitchen in Solon and Mayfield, 56 Tavern in Aurora, and Elle in Solon). In fact, the Mayfield location’s schtick is that it serves 56 salads, which I think is fun.
56 Social is an all-day cafe located in the former J. Pistone Market on Warrensville Center Road. It is open every day but Sunday from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM. J. Pistone was in business for 25 years, but I feel 56 Social has a better vibe. The open dining room is less cluttered, and the tables are nicely spaced throughout the dining room, and there is a bar with high top chairs if you like that. I also like the convenient parking in back with the back entrance. I started going after a really bad snow storm this summer and the lot and walkways were always well-cleared of snow and well-salted. If you have mobility issues you should enter from the front, because there are a couple of steps down at the back entrance. Once I entered, I was warmly greeted by the hostess to the right just as you enter and was quickly shown to a table after asking my preference of high top or table seating. The servers I have had have been friendly and communicative when there was a delay.
The all-day menu is an approachable mix of American, Mediterranean and Jewish deli foods. They have a lot of sandwiches and salads that are quite lovely. Obviously I immediately gravitated toward the “Original Pewter Mug” salad. It was really great, made with chopped iceberg lettuce and topped with strips of turkey, “turkey ham” and Swiss, diced tomato, and a creamy garlic vinaigrette. I enjoyed the combination of toppings, but I really adored the pretzel bread that came with it. It is light and fluffy and super tasty. And served warm enough to slightly melt the cheese under it. I will probably order salads in the near future agian just to enjoy one of the pretzels.
I was also tempted by what was described as a creamy egg salad served on house-baked Japanese milk bread. I enjoy a good egg salad sandwich, so I was intrigued. I have to be honest and say it isn’t to my taste. I love the idea of a pillowy egg salad, but this one is bland as hell. I prefer a zippier egg salad. I usually add a bit of horseradish or brown mustard to the egg mixture. Or it would be fine if the bread was more flavorful to offset the blander egg salad. I took half of the sandwich home, sprinkled on a healthy shake of my Pampered Chef dill mix and did enjoy it. The chips were fantastic though.
The BLT is fantastic. It is made with crispy thick-cut bacon, sliced heirloom tomato, creamy avocado, and fresh basil served on toasted sourdough. The drizzle of garlic aioli really made it stand out as well. A little garlic aioli might be a good addition to the egg salad. I ordered the BLT with a side of delicious soup of the day (it was a corn chowder that day) for a slight upcharge. The chowder was chock full of chunky potato and nice corn kernels and was well-seasoned. Overall, it was a nice light lunch.
Since you all know my love of a good tuna melt, I obviously had to order the tuna melt here. The tuna melt is made with house-made albacore tuna salad that is topped with heirloom tomato slices and Swiss and grilled on marble rye. It was a tasty tuna melt. Not the best I’ve had (the honors so far go to Chelo’s Kitchen, Yours Truly and the now-defunct Old Brooklyn Cheese Company and Katz Diner), but certainly not the worst. I liked the inclusion of tomato, and the marble rye was nice, even if I prefer a seeded rye. I will definitely be ordering it again. Again, I ordered a cup of soup, which was a delicious lobster bisque. The pairing would be a nice Lent lunch or supper alternative.
As for beverage choices, I really enjoyed the match-chai latte, which I have never seen anywhere else. The spicy chai pairs really well with the earthier matcha. It has a nice zip to it and warmed me up nicely on a cold and snowy day in February. I tried to order a smoothie the next time, but was told they are only served before 3 pm. When I went again, I ordered the Pink Dragon (see in above photo), which is made with oat milk, yogurt, ube, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, dragon fruit, and agave. It was innocuous enough, but for $10 I expected something that wowed me and that unfortunately wasn’t it. They do have a bar, so one of their cocktails will definitely be one of my next choices.
The dessert choices also sound great. I ordered the white vanilla bean cake to go to enjoy later, and it was absolutely delicious. I ate it over two sittings, because it was quite large. It would be perfect to share with someone.
Contact info:
56 Social 3245 Warrensville Center Road Shaker Heights, OH 44122 (216) 283-3663
I was tempted not to go our for lunch today because I had so much work, but I found myself further along than I thought I would be. I had originally thought to stay closer to home and go to Sophie La Gourmande on Lee, but they only do Friday dinners during Lent (and unfortunately tonight is the last one for the year). I had also considered heading out to the Rowley Inn, but when I read that their Lent specials are available year-round I decided to go after Lent. That left Muldoon’s on my list. It helped that I had not been able to get the Seafood Pizza out of my head. When I got there I grabbed a booth and it just happened to be the booth with the framed Woodstock ticket. Very cool memorabilia.
I was greeted by the server and ordered an iced tea, the lobster bisque and the seafood pizza. The lobster bisque was pretty good. I could have done without the croutons, but I’m weird because I don’t like eating crackers with soup as it is. It’s most likely a texture thing and entirely my peccadillo. And there are no chunks of lobster or even rock lobster in it. But the flavor profile was tasty.
When I mentioned I came in for the seafood pizza, the server commented that it is available year-round as well and explained that the only Lent Specials that aren’t served year-round are the Cajun shrimp tacos and quesadilla because they aren’t breaded. I had to laugh. So much for me trying something unique.
That said, the seafood pizza is indeed a unique and tasty choice. The pizza is brushed with garlic butter and topped with crab, shrimp and mozzarella cheese. It had a nice chewy dough, and the garlic butter and seafood toppings (and green onion) were really nice. It was fairly innocuous, and I am going to try a Keith’s Hot Sauce on it when I heat up the leftovers. I think I’ll probably try the chicken one (Keith’s Hot Sauce comes in three different varieties: Burger Sauce, Taco Sauce, and Chicken Sauce). It definitely had a nice flavor to it, and I will definitely order it again when and if I crave it. I had three slices and boxed up the rest for later. It was fairly filling so I was tempted to just get my dinner at St. Joseph’s to go, but I had already ordered and didn’t want to mess their organized system up. They have a car line for dine in and one for carry out and probably two separate systems. Since it is the last church fish fry Friday I knew I definitely had to make it to St. Joseph’s Parish in Avon Lake this year.
St. Joseph’s is probably my favorite church fish fry in the Cleveland area. Certainly my favorite on the west side. For more detailed write-ups visit my first post on St. Joseph’s Parish in 2023 (with a second visit in 2023 on St. Patrick’s Day and then in 2025). I battled the construction on I-90 and arrived shortly after five. There was no line, but I had preordered on the website yesterday so could have skipped the regular line. I checked in and was given my color-coded index cards for the salmon with chardonnay dill sauce (my favorite), cabbage and noodles and tomato bisque soup. I dropped my coat and purse off at a table and got in the long line, which was wrapped around the gym and took about 20-25 minutes from start to finish. There was a guy playing guitar to entertain the masses, which was nice.
Once I got to the food station I grabbed a tray, grabbed a cole slaw and popped my index cards on the tray. Dinners now just come with cole slaw and all the sides have to be ordered extra. I guess no one ate the green beans. 🙂 I was given a china plate with salmon and scooted down so that the cabbage and noodles could be scooped onto my plate. The sauces, dinner rolls and soups were just down the line towards at the end. I got the chardonnay dill sauce ladled onto my salmon and grabbed a lid for the soup since I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat it. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal as well as the company at the table. We traded fish fry and restaurant tips and reminisced about Midway Mall in Elyria. It was an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately Lois and Don weren’t there. I hope they were having an enjoyable evening elsewhere. I love St. Joseph’s. It is definitely a well-organized fish fry. If you haven’t been you should definitely put it on your list for next year.
With the high wind warning lasting the entire day today, I decided to stick close to home. I have been hearing wonderful things about Yours Truly’s fish fry for a while now and I already love the tuna melt, so I headed there for an early lunch today. I ordered a coffee and the fish fry and was asked if I wanted one, two or three pieces of fish. Since I knew I would be going to another fish fry tonight, I opted for the one-piece (small fish fry for $14), but I soon regretted it because it was a phenomenal piece of fried fish. The fish was flaky and moist and just perfect. It may look burnt in the photo, but I can assure you that it was not and didn’t taste like it. If anything, there was a small pool of oil underneath, but that just proved its freshness. I had opted for the red skin potatoes when offered the choice of fries, red skin potatoes, hash browns or sweet potato fries (another option for my friend with the potato allergy!), and they were really tasty as well. The homemade tartar sauce was also next level, with clear chunks of what is probably some kind of pickle relish. I didn’t even touch the lemon, which I probably could have added to water if I had asked for one. It was probably one of the best pieces of fish I’ve had in a while. Yours Truly offers their fish fry year round on Fridays, so even if you don’t make it during Lent you should keep it on your radar.
I had planned to go to the Donauschwaben’s fish fry, but decided to attend the fish fry at Communion of Saints Parish – St. Ann’s (2 or 3 minutes by car from my home) at the corner of Coventry and Cedar instead. Usually the parking lot is the bane of my existence, since the Cleveland Heights police sit there with their radar and have popped me twice for speeding (once for 5 miles over the speed limit and one I successfully fought in court because I was going the exact speed limit).
First of all, they get points for the signage. As regular readers know, signs directing you where to go are very important in my humble opinion. Not everyone is a parishioner and knows where to go. I got there shortly after they opened at 4:30 (it runs from 4:30 to 7), and the parking lot was about half full. I got a fairly close spot to the door though. After climbing down the stairs (I think there is a entrance for the disabled, because someone in a wheelchair was leaving as I was and came out another entrance), I was greeted by a young man and directed to the order tables. There was a table for credit cards (and Venmo!) as well as one for cash. I had brought cash but not enough for my meal, so credit card it was. I did have enough cash to buy a Sam Adams, which was a welcome addition to my meal. After I paid, my order form was handed to a runner, who seated me and took my order to the kitchen.
I asked to be sat near the beverages and was seated near the free beverages as well as the Beer Garden. I bought my beer from the Beer Garden and mixed up an Arnold Palmer from the table with free lemonade, tea and water.
I had the most enjoyable evening. The fish fry was good, but the company there was the best. I met a fellow fish fry enthusiast who had announced his presence on Facebook and came to meet me when I commented with my table number. I met a nice couple and his mother and a group of three women (one of whom had never been to a fish fry or had walleye before despite being a native Clevelander). She had seen the News 5 feature on St. Ann’s fish fry a few weeks ago and decided to check the fish fry out. All three were from Cleveland Heights. After the couple and his mother left, a gentleman was seated with us whose wife is in the Clinic for a double lung transplant. He’s from Rochester and said he might know my friend from college when I asked him. And then I ran into another friend, who is a German who lives here and was in my German Meetup group. She was there with her children, and her youngest (who was in a stroller when I met him) is now a tall young man who attends Benedictine. And apparently I just missed my friend Emil, who was there getting takeout when he saw my Facebook post. I love Cleveland Heights. The photo below is of the priest who said a prayer mid-meal.
Another nice addition was the accordian player. How Cleveland can you get? I love Cleveland Heights.
Anyway, you are here for the food, so… I ordered the fried walleye, and it came with fries or pierogi. I obviously went for the pierogi because the pierogi are just as important as the fish if you ask me. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese, which was the highlight of the meal for me. It was a nice baked mac and cheese. The walleye was great and nicely fried. The pierogi were good. I missed a side of sour cream, but the cole slaw worked with it. And the free cookie was a nice surprise – and so moist it fell apart easily.
The runners brought our food to the table written on the order form, which was apparently a new system they were implementing. By the time I left, it was packed and they were running about a half hour to an hour behind. They apparently hold their fish fry every other week, so only three times during Lent. I think that is definitely a way to ensure the volunteers don’t get burnt out. It was a nice fish fry that was run by the Knights of Columbus (and some student volunteers). I missed the raffle, and apparently they had another prayer after I left, according to Emil.
Before taking half of my dinner home with me, I stuck around to see what one of the women thought of the walleye (and told them not to order it at Sts. Constantine and Helen when they go in a couple of weeks since it has been too salty to the point of being inedible in the past). We also gave the gentleman from Rochester some restaurant suggestions in the neighborhood too (Zhug, Vero, Stone Oven, Anatolia, etc.). By the time I left at around 6 it had gotten pretty crowded. I headed home and stopped to pick up my neighbor’s bins from the middle of the street and my next-door neighbor’s shingles that had blown off into our back yard. I’m looking forward to reheating the leftovers tomorrow evening. I’m meeting friends for dim sum at Spice Spring tomorrow, so the small amount of leftovers will be perfect. This is what fish fry season is all about – community and good fish. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with good food and good community.
Fun fact: Dean Martin, Paul Newman and Humphrey Bogart got married at St. Ann’s. How cool is that?
Contact info:
Yours Truly Go to the website and use the location feature to find one closest to you Available year round
Ohio Pie Co. bills itself as the “Home of the Original Ohio Style Pizza!” Their pizzas feature scratch-made medium-thick crust, edge-to-edge cheese and toppings, a sweet red sauce spiral on top, and a garlic oil drizzle. The pizzas are cut into squares. You can can design your own pizza from a list of toppings or go with a specialty pie like the double-pepperoni Heartburner, the Firebird starring Buffalo chicken and blue cheese, and the monthly Nick’s Pick. The flagship location in Brunswick opened on Feb. 9, 2019 and did so well a second location soon opened in Rocky River in 2021.
I had been hearing good things, but didn’t have one close to me so it wasn’t really on my radar. For example, they serve brunch pizzas every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to noon. All of the brunch pies made with their signature “everything” [bagel] crust and cream cheese-based white sauce and are topped with a cheese blend, scrambled eggs and garlic oil and other breakfast toppings like potato, bacon or ham. I am seriously tempted by the idea, but the chances of me making it out the door before 11:00 to drive a half hour to forty minutes before they close are slim to none.
That was until I heard that they were doing a Crab Rangoon pizza for Lent. They will probably be doing this again this year, so keep it in mind starting on February 18th. The Crab Rangoon pizza is made with what they call “Goon mix” (imitation crab, cream cheese, soy, sweet chili), cheese blend, sweet chili, chow mein noodles, green onion, and of course some more sweet chili on the side for dipping. It is only available as a medium and was only available through Lent. Again, I was intrigued, so I made a point to head to Brunswick when I was somewhat close in Broadview Heights. I phoned in an order for the Crab Rangoon pizza and a pizza called the Basic B from my car and headed out. The Crab Rangoon pizza was very sticky and very sweet, but also very tasty. It didn’t have as much goon mix as I thought it would, but it still hit the spot.
The Basic B is a white sauce pizza that is topped with their cheese blend, fresh spinach, and dollops of fresh ricotta. I had ordered a small just to try it and almost ate the entire thing in one go. I tried a slice of each in the car as I drove home and absolutely fell in love with the Basic B. In fact, I counted it among my best bites of 2025. I now order it as a medium because I know I can enjoy it over several days that ways. Their pizzas reheat nicely in an air fryer.
It turns out my sister lives near the Brunswick location, so I once again ordered a Basic B as well The Heart of it All, which is basically a Deluxe. The Heart of it All features pepperoni, crumbled sausage, mushroom, onion, and green pepper on their signature red sauce. It was a tasty pizza as well, but my heart still belongs to the Basic B.
Ohio Pie Co. opened a third location in Parma in May 2025, which means it is closer to me than the other two locations. The Nick’s Pick recently was a Vodka Ziti Pizza, so I wanted to give it a try. It features a delicious Vodka sauce, ziti noodles, cheese blend, and crumbled meatballs. I ordered it from the parking lot at PlayhouseSquare and headed out. They quoted me 20 minutes, and my GPS told me it would be 22 minutes. I knew it was on Ridge, but wasn’t sure where on Ridge. Imagine my surprise when I saw it is in the strip mall just past my old orthodontist’s office (from the 1980s). I laughed. And then realized it is located right next to Omizu Sushi, which is one of my favorite sushi places in Cleveland.
Unfortunately there was a mix-up, and I was given a Vodka Pizza, which apparently right next to the Vodka Ziti pizza on the order screen. My first clue was the lack of ziti noodles. And pepperoni and pesto sauce. I called to ask about it when I got home and discovered the error, and the employee could not have been nicer. She offered to redo it, but I explained I was a half hour away and not driving back in the snow. She then put me on a list with a credit. She offered me a large specialty pizza, but since I had ordered a small ziti I told her I only needed a small and would be by some time that week. How a restaurant handles mistakes really tells you a lot, and Ohio Pie Co. handled it right. The vodka pizza was definitely delicious. That vodka sauce is killer. However, I then tried to use my credit for a Vodka Ziti pizza and was given a Ziti pizza instead, which was boring without the Vodka sauce. I am giving up and not trying to rectify the situation again. The Parma location is not close enough that I can just pop by before that pizza stops.
They also sell cookies. I got a banana pudding cookie and was completely blown away. It was soft and flavorful. So be sure to get a cookie or several for dessert.
HOURS OF OPERATION for all 3 locations Closed Monday Tues. – Thurs. – 11am-10pm Fri. – 11am-11pm Sat. – 9am-11pm Sun. – 9am-10pm
Funshi has recently established itself here in Cleveland. This locally owned restaurant puts the “fun” in sushi. Funshi opened Funshi Sushi, Ramen and Boba in Rocky River in early 2025. It was so successful that it opened Revolving (conveyor belt) sushi locations in Avon and now Beachwood.
There were two things that we were impressed by (besides the service). The tables have built-in drawers for utensils and chopsticks, which saves servers from having to run back and forth and allows you to not have to wait at their mercy. The other fun addition is the robot that delivers your beverages and appetizers to the table.
I initially got a few friends to gather at the Rocky River Funshi. The tea menu is overwhelming in a good way.
I like that you can customize the tea to your exact specifications – light or no ice, sugar level (50% is just fine) and add-ins like boba, lychee, coffee or crystal jelly or popping strawberry boba. I prefer jelly over boba, but to each their own. I initially ordered the Grape Peach tea, which was very refreshing. My friend ordered the Strawberry Peach tea, and it had chunks of fresh strawberry in it. She liked it as well. When I finished my tea I then ordered a Mango Coconut Foam tea with light sugar (75%). It was really tasty as well.
We then ordered appetizers. I was blown away by the Crabby Pringle and Takoyaki. The Crabby Pringle is exactly as it sounds – crab salad nestled on a Pringle. The creaminess of the crab salad paired with the crisp Pringle is delightful. Takoyaki are Japanese octopus balls that are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The filling held small chunks of octopus. They are then drizzled in eel sauce and mayonaisse (most likely Japanese mayo). There are several other appetizers that sound intriguing, but don’t skip the Crabby Pringle.
I wanted a nigiri and a sushi roll on my first visit because I wanted to judge the freshness of the fish, but was also intrigued by the curry chicken. The nigiri had a generous portion of salmon draped over a sushi rice cake that held up well. You can barely see the rice because it was so large. As for my roll, the Triple immediately caught my eye, which features three generous chunks of fish (tuna, salmon and yellowtail) wrapped with a generous chunk of avocado in seawood and drizzled with spicy mayo. I loved it. I was impressed by the size of the fish compared to the rice. As you can see, there is mostly filling and less sushi rice than at most places. The curry chicken was also a nice choice. The chicken cutlet was nicely fried and it was served on a bed of rice and steamed broccoli. The soy egg was also a nice touch.
My friend ordered the Chashu Pork ramen. I think she went with Tonkatsu broth. She was leery of the black fungus, but I encouraged her to try it and she liked it. However, she was less impressed with the pickled bamboo shoots. They were not at all to her liking.
I tried to be a bit more adventurous on my second visit and didn’t have quite as good of an experience, but that was only because the rolls I ordered didn’t wow me as much as on my first visit. I ordered the Sweet Heart because I liked the optics. The spicy tuna, asparagus and “crunch” (probably tempura?) wrapped in a thin layer of rice and then fresh tuna in the shape of a heart. But it was just okay. My other choice was the Volcano. Maybe I was expecting the Volcano to be like a normal volcano roll, which seems to be the Dynamite here, but it was just kind of bland despite the spicy mayo and wasabi mayo drizzles. It just didn’t wow me. My other friend who ordered it had the same opinion.
Once I heard they were opening a revolving/conveyor belt sushi location near me in Beachwood I knew I had to give it a try. It opened on December 15th. If you’ve never experienced it, a conveyor belt travels from the kitchen loaded with small plates, then winds its way past the tables through the restaurant and back to the kitchen again. The sushi is on white or black plates, indicating raw and cooked items. The dishes leave the kitchen covered and remain that way until removed from the belt by the diner. Everything is $3.50 based on portion size. Some plates hold just one item or two or three items, depending on the ingredients. The plates arrive in groups, preceded by a sign with the name of the dish and the ingredients, which is especially helpful if you have dietary issues or want to know what is in a certain roll. There is also a tablet at each table to order items from the tea bar or kitchen and a call button if you need a server (to the left of the bow in the video below).
I introduced my niece and her boyfriend to conveyor belt sushi when they were home from college in early January, and they really enjoyed it. Unfortunately there was a mix-up, and they went to the Rocky River location while I was in Beachwood. My niece texted me and then stressed out about the mistake, but I assured her it wasn’t a problem. It was a Monday afternoon, and the staff couldn’t have been lovelier about the fact that I took up the table while I waited for them to drive the 40 minutes between locations. I ordered a honeydew milk tea with lychee jelly and pulled up my Kindle app on my phone. I pulled two orders of Crabby Pringles to ensure we had a good start about 30 seconds before they walked in (good timing on my part). They were a hit and my niece grabbed another plate off the conveyor belt later, but if I were to do it again I would order them fresh from the kitchen to ensure they are crisp and not lightly soggy. They were still tasty, but a little soggy nonetheless.
I didn’t take photos once they arrived because I wanted to concentrate on getting to know him, but they enjoyed everything. We had gyoza, various nigiri (I especially liked the scallop nigiri), some rolls, and my niece grabbed a Tamago egg omelette nigiri and the Inari. The boyfriend enjoyed the steak nigiri. There was also a brisket roll and chicken nigiri for those who don’t like fish (my youngest niece probably would have enjoyed them if she had been able to join us). They were nicely surprised by the sweet potato roll I suggested they try. My niece burned her mouth on a somewhat molten fried red bean paste pastry but liked the taste a lot. We sat there for two hours talking, and they did not rush us out. The servers came by occasionally to make sure we were okay and assured us there was no rush.
I went back by myself about a week later. Once again, I recommend the Crabby Pringles be ordered from the kitchen. They were cold and soggy and are phenomenal when the crabmeat is warm and the Pringles are crisp. I am adding a table with several choices off the conveyor belt so you can get an idea of what to expect. It is a good way to try a lot of different sushi. I really enjoyed the Yum-Yum roll, which features shrimp tempura, cream cheese, asparagus, spicy crab and ‘crunch’ topped with a mango sauce and coconut sauce. The rice fell apart under the red clam (bottom right), which leads me to believe it had been on the belt longer and had lost some moisture, and the avocado on the dragon roll had turned brown. So definitely take a close look before you grab anything off the belt. Because once you’ve taken a plate off the belt you can’t put it back. The sushi is good but not great, but conveyor belt sushi is not about gourmet sushi – it’s about the experience. The only phenomenal sushi I’ve had off a conveyor belt is at Kura, which is worth driving to Columbus for. For phenomenal sushi in Cleveland go to Issho Ni, Pacific East or Omizu. For a fun time check out Funshi.
When you are ready to settle the bill you ring the call bell, and the server will count your plates and bring you your bill. Quick and easy.
It was another quiet year. I am not organizing big dinners with friends anymore and have been dining out alone a lot (just me and my Kindle). And I attended a couple Dinner in the Darks, which are always an adventure. But I still enjoyed several Best Bites in 2025.
I’m going to start with the appetizers, because who doesn’t appreciate a good appetizer? There were three appetizers/starters that blew me away this year: the seafood stuffed mushrooms at Blue Heron Pub in Medina, the Crabby Pringles at Funshi in Rocky River (I’m so excited for the Funshi conveyor belt sushi place that just opened in Beachwood, because I can now get this closer to home), and the mushroom tartlet at The Friars’ Table downtown. First of all, my niece works at Blue Heron Pub on college breaks, and we ordered several orders for our family get-together there in June on her recommendation. I could not stop eating them. They feature large white mushrooms that are hand stuffed with diced shrimp, crabmeat, cream cheese and scallions and then topped with Parmesan cheese and a Dijon aioli. If I lived closer I would be there all the time for these, and they would be my main meal. They are creamy and delicious. Second, I’m sensing a pattern because the Crabby Pringle features a crabmeat salad made with baked real crab meat, crab stick, fish roe, green onion, and mayonnaise on top of Pringles potato chips. Just delicious. And to round it out my third choice is another mushroom dish. The mushroom tartlets at The Friars’ Table is a puffed pastry topped with sauteed wild mushrooms. Simple, yet absolutely delicious. I’ve ordered them every time I’ve dined there.
I love a good breakfast and enjoy going to the Original Pancake House when I’m in Woodmere. Their thick-cut bacon is amazing, but I finally ordered the Apple Pancake with the bacon and will probably never order anything else again. The Apple Pancake is one of their most popular dishes, and I can see why. The Apple Pancake really isn’t much like a pancake at all. It’s more a like an oven baked Dutch Baby on steroids or really, really moist bread pudding that is topped with thin slices of fresh Granny Smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze. If you want to make it at home, you can find the recipe here.
I finally made it to Doink’s again after having attended a pop-up at The Wine Spot several years ago. The brick and mortar location on Waterloo churns out awesome smash burgers, but the item that blew me away and has me repeatedly coming back is the Wedge Salad. As I wrote in October, “I love a good wedge salad, and this is definitely a great wedge salad. The pickled onions are a great addition. The lettuce has always been fresh and crisp. The blue cheese dressing is divine and pairs well with the pickled onions, and there is just enough bacon to make it sing.” It is a unique side offering that pairs well with the unctiousness of the burger.
I fell in love with Ohio Pie Co pizza pies this year – specifically the Basic B. I went to Ohio Pie Co in Brunswick to try the Crabby Rangoon special pizza of the month in May and ordered a Basic B because I love spinach on pizza and it sounded good to me. Ohio Pie Co makes “Ohio Style Pizza,” which they explain is a round pie with a mid-thickness crust that is square-cut and has cheese to the edge. They finish their pizzas with a “signature Ohio Style sweet sauce,” but the Basic B is a white pizza. It features a white sauce and is topped with a cheese blend, spinach, and ricotta. Big dollops of lovely ricotta. I took the pizzas home and started eating them in the car and could not stop. I think I might have only had a few pieces of Basic B left by the time I got home. Their Thanksgiving pizza was also a fun monthly special, but I don’t have a photo of that. If you love stuffing it is a definite must try next November. In the meantime, I am happy with the Basic B and am glad they opened a location in Parma, which is closer to me than Brunswick.
I finally got a chance to try khachapuri at Georgia Bakery Tiflis on Pearl Road in Parma Heights. The name khachapuri comes from the Georgian words “khacho” (meaning cheese curds) and “puri” (meaning bread), so it translates to “cheese bread.” Tiflis offers several different khachapuri flat breads like imeruli khachapuri, penovani khachapuri, gehruli khachapuri or megruli khachapuri. My favorite is their classic adjaruli. Adjaruli khachapuri is a delicious boat-shaped Georgian cheese bread that is filled with a mixture of flavorful cheeses and herbs and topped with an egg. You mix the egg into the cheese and tear off pieces of the bread and dip it into the mixture. Khachapuri is the national dish of the country of Georgia.
I found myself repeatedly going to Geraci’s this year for their lasagna. It is an individual serving in a gratin dish (I know because I own a set of gratin dishes LOL). I know most people rave about Geraci’s pizza, but I regularly crave the lasagna. I can usually only finish half and take the other half home for later. The lasagna is an ooey gooey baked lasagna made with ricotta, mozzarella, chopped meatballs, and Geraci’s sauce. I can’t even count how many times I have had a craving this year and popped in for a fix.
One nice surprise this year was the Chopped Cheese sandwich at the CleaveLand Grill, which took over Rumi’s at 83rd and Carnegie (about 5 minutes from me). I organized a dinner with friends to have the Tikka Boti Platte (a chicken kebab with rice). Several of my friends ordered their smash burger, which I have had in the old Parma location that closed due to a fire and found to be really great. However, the surprise standout that night was the Chopped Cheese. The difference between the Chopped Cheese and the Cheesesteak is that the chopped cheese is available with the chicken, beef (hamburger) or lamb patties and the cheesesteak is sliced ribeye or chicken. One of my friends ordered it with beef on the paratha wrap, and it was outstanding. Cleaveland Grill is the exclusive HFSAA certified establishment (Halal) in Ohio, and all of the meat is seasoned very well. It may not look all that appetizing, but it blew all of us away with how tasty it was.
I was thrilled when Gunselman’s brought back the French Onion Burger for Burger Week in June. As soon as I saw it was one of the burgers I rushed right over to Fairview Park to enjoy it. It was just as good as I remembered. Probably one of my all-time favorite burgers – and that’s saying a lot since it seems this year a lot of my best bites involved burgers. Although if Gunselman’s were to bring back the Christmas Dinner (1/2 pound burger made with brisket, chuck and short rib topped with an amazing prime rib topped with horseradish aioli, rosemary au jus, Muenster cheese, argula and tomato on a weck bun – probably the best burger I’ve ever had) or the Coldwater Lobster Love (their burger topped with Cajun butter coldwater lobster meat, smoked bacon, Muenster cheese, arugula and tomato) I would be a very happy girl… (hint, hint)
Last but not least for main courses was the Salmon St. Celestine at The Friars’ Table. It is a simple preparation, but the cream sauce prepared with leeks, mushrooms and sorrel is absolutely divine. I tried a bite of my friend’s and loved it so much that I ordered it when I went back. The salmon is now more of the slab salmon you see at most restaurants. The star is the sauce though, so the shape of the salmon itself is secondary.
I also enjoyed several delicious desserts this year. Most surprising was the Shokupan (a classic Japanese toast that is a blend of sweetness and texture)—basically a croissant bowl—at You&I Tea Bar on Aurora Road in Solon (right across from the Chipotle). I met my tea group there to enjoy their range of matchas and fruit teas (with or without boba). I was a little peckish, so I ordered the Bananas Foster Croissant Bowl on a whim to go with my iced matcha lattee. It was FANTASTIC. The croissant was flaky and absolutely delicious (it is a square bowl made out of croissant dough), the bananas were fresh, and the ice cream and drizzled topping was a great pairing. If you are in or near Solon, be sure to check You&I Tea Bar and try one.
Two other desserts worth mentioning are this year’s birthday cake (the Cleveland cassata cake from Baraona’s) and the tiramisu at Chelo’s Kitchen in South Euclid. The cassata cake never disappoints and was loaded with custard and strawberries and topped with fresh whipped cream. The tiramisu that Chelo’s wife Sarah makes is probably the best tiramisu I have ever had. It is creamy and moist. Simply divine.
So that is my recap of my favorite bites this year. While I have your attention, I was wondering if I should keep doing this. I don’t get many comments, but I do have hits on my statistical analysis. It seems my most popular posts are the Stouffer’s Thrift Store and Lawson’s Chip Dip posts. Are you enjoying my restaurant recaps? Please comment and interact with me here so that I know what I am doing is worthwhile to someone. Other bloggers seem to be blowing up while I simply chug along. Should I switch to videos/reels? I prefer to be anonymous though, so that kind of goes against my vibe. I’m open to ideas.
So, what were your favorite bites in the past year? What should I try in 2026? I am looking forward to checking out Batuqui’s new location in an old church on Larchmere and am planning on checking out the Funshi conveyor belt sushi place with my niece, who has never had sushi off a conveyor belt. Plus, I would like to check out Never Say Dive on Broadview Road in Cleveland and Down the Block in Kirtland. I am open to suggestions, and who knows what the new year will hold. Here’s hoping we all have a delicious 2026.
Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Eats 