Forgive me for posting this on Saturday, but a long chat with my best friend in Baltimore took precedence over writing about the absolutely perfect Fryday I enjoyed that day. As I noted last week, I had not enjoyed any pierogi with my fish fries yet this year, and I value a good pierogi just as much as a good fried fish. I set out to rectify this.
I had a delectable fried fish lunch at Larder Delicatessen & Bakery. Chef and owener Jeremy Umansky is a multi-year James Beard Award nominee, so I knew I was in for a good fish fry. Larder also has a vegan fish fry on offer, featuring fried tofu. The community table had some fun activities for kids (including a fun community cookbook from the kids who attend activities at Lake Erie Ink and some flash cards).
I’d like to start off by saying that I absolutely hate the parking situation in Hingetown. And this was at around 12:30 and closer to 1. I had to drive around the block before I found an available spot near Larder – and that was because I was lucky enough that someone pulled out of their spot just as I was nearby. I lived in Germany, so I am a parallel parking pro but I know a lot of people who aren’t. The street parking situation is hit or miss. However, Larder posted that there is a parking garage at @livechurchandstate that is just 20 steps from the building and is easy to access. I missed it. Consider that info filed for next time.
Larder is open from 11am-6pm Tuesday thru Saturday. They stop serving hot food at 5:45 p.m. The place was packed when I got there shortly before 1, but it was manageable. I was able to place an order for the fish fry, gave the cashier my cash (and stumped him when I gave him enough to give me a $10 bill and change), was given my number and took a seat at a larger table that seems like a community table. At least we turned it into one. The group that sat down with me after I ordered had planned a trip to the Rock Hall, but had to pivot when the power went out and it closed for the day. We talked a bit about Minneapolis and chatted about the Rock Hall and Cleveland.
Of course I ordered the Lake Erie Fish Fry, which changes every week and this week featured fresh Lake Erie fish, fresh cut French fries, a biscuit, coleslaw made from red cabbage and the most delectable sauces. Larder gets its fresh fish out of Lake Erie from Kate’s Fish Market in the West Side Market. It seems that lunch is different from the dinner fish fry. I read somewhere that one of the fish are smelts, and the size and shape of the fish tend to lead me to believe that my lunch was fried smelt. Whatever it was it was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the sauces, and the fries were tasty as well. It was the perfect size for lunch. I was tempted to try the bread pudding or one of the tasty-looking desserts, but decided against it to save room for the evening.
As I said above, I knew I needed pierogi with my dinner. My friend who is an Elk suggested the Berea Elks Lodge, because they serve pierogi as well as a wide variety of changing offers. I knew where the Lodge was, because I used to drive past it all the time growing up. The fish fry is served from 6-8 p.m. I ended up heading there later in the evening to avoid the post-work traffic from the Cleveland Clinic. I got there at about 6:15 p.m. The Lodge has a smaller parking lot, but there were several parking lots nearby to handle to overflow. I initially tried to enter through the front doors, but they were locked. Apparently we had to enter through the back door and head down a stairwell to the basement. I think I was one of the last diners to show up. They were able to make room for me at the bar. They can only serve alcohol to Elks members, but that didn’t bother me. I ordered a lemonade and then later a Shirley Temple, which I haven’t had since childhood. They had just run out of the lobster ravioli, but the nice gentleman sitting next to me gave me a couple of suggestions, specifically the scallops, the salmon (Salmon Citron Chou-Fleur) and the ahi tuna nachos.
I ended up ordering the Scallop Symphony, which featured pan-seared scallops on a bed of crispy fried creamy polenta with southwestern corn and a roasted red pepper sauce as well as a side of pierogi (available as 2, 4 or 6 pierogi) and the Walleye Bites. The scallops won’t be available next week, so I thought it sounded fun. The fish and chips are always available. The scallops were delicious. The red pepper sauce had a bit of heat to it, but I did not find it that spicy at all compared to the Indian or Thai food I usually enjoy.
The pierogi and the Walleye Bites were definitely the stars through. They were both phenomenal. The pierogi were perfect and stuffed with the requisite potato and cheese filling and served with sauteed onions and sour cream. The pierogi were absolutely bursting with filling and with flavor. The Walleye Bites were also amazing. I could have eaten both of them as a meal and been happy very happy. The scent of the onions tormented me the whole drive home. There is no better smell than sauteed onions (well, maybe sauteed onions and mushrooms…)
The gentleman next to me had ordered the scallops and his wife ordered the salmon and they shared the cabbage and noodles, which they proclaimed was also delicious. When I saw her salmon I ordered one to go to eat later this weekend. I of course tried a bite of the salmon and asparagus with the lemon pepper sauce, and it was fantastic.
I was almost afraid to share this fantastic fish fry find, but the Exalted Ruler and my server/bartender assured me it was ok (I outed myself so that I could get their permission after I had received my food). The fish fry is staffed by volunteers (the kitchen team as well as servers, bussers, dish washers, and runners), and it isn’t like a church fish fry. I didn’t want to overwhelm them, but I also don’t think I have so much clout that there will be long lines. If you are a group of eight like the one last night you might have to wait, but they definitely can handle it. So if you want a fantastic fish fry with different choices than the usual fried fish, be sure to check it out! They will be offering it every Friday until April 18th. I’d rank this up there with St. Joseph’s Parish in Avon Lake and St. Gabriel in Concord for the variety of choices. And the pierogi is right up there with St. Josaphat, Pokrova, St. Vladimir and St. Andrew. I felt very welcome there and had a wonderful time. And I can’t wait to tuck into my leftovers tonight! This was two wonderful fish fries in one day! Best one this season so far.
In addition to fish fries this time of year, I’m usually all about pancake breakfasts in March, but I’ve only been to one pancake breakfast so far this year. However, I attended a lovely brunch at the Cleveland Metroparks yesterday. I follow the Metroparks on Facebook in addition to getting their email newsletter and have attended several of their cooking classes in the past. I signed up for this event as soon as it was announced, and I’m glad I did because another attendee told me her mother wanted to go but waited four days only to find out it was sold out so she came on her own. The menu sounded amazing, and the price of $35 was good for the amount of food. They also offered vegetarian options, switching mushroom for the pork and tofu instead of the shrimp.
I had gotten a fish fry at the Emerald Necklace Marina during Covid and enjoyed it, so I knew the brunch would be a treat. I got there about 15 minutes before the 11 a.m. start time and was able to quickly check in, grab a maple-inspired cocktail using my provided drink ticket (I opted for coffee with Bailey’s and maple syrup) and grab a seat. I sat with a bunch of lovely people who made me feel welcome despite being by myself (again, I wasn’t the only one). One of the women had tried all three cocktails and stated that the Maple Syrup Mimosa was the best of the three, but they were all good. The other drink on offer was a Maple Syrup Old Fashioned, and there was a mocktail (below) as well as beer and wine to choose from.
The atmosphere was cozy on a cold and gray day. There was a fire burning in the fireplace, and there were three long tables to choose from. I chose a spot near the coffee. Priorities. There was a PowerPoint presentation running on a screen with lots of fun facts about maple syrup and maple sugaring.
To start, the servers came around with small shot glasses of sap water, which was a refreshing start. Sap water is more water-like than syrup-like, and the ‘sap water’ that is collected from maple trees is boiled down to make syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. There is a long tradition in Ohio of collecting sap that started with the Native Americans in the area. We were told that we are lucky enough to live in an area that is ideally suited for maple syruping. The snowy cold weather (and it started snowing a bit as I was driving to the event) after several days of warmer weather encourages the sap to flow from the roots to the leaves in the trees our area, and Ohio is ranked fifth in maple syrup production. We live in the 0.005% of the earth that produces sap and maple syrup (I’m fairly sure that percentage is correct, but I could be wrong – but it is a very miniscule percentage of the earth’s land). So our ‘Cleveland winters’ are good for maple syrup production.
The starters were served quickly and professionally. The food was served on small biodegradable plates (it is the Metroparks after all). We started with homemade focaccia bread with a maple cinnamon butter, quickly followed by roasted butternut squash soup with goat cheese, chili-infused maple and pepita. Both were delicious. The bread was fluffy, yet tender and was a nice delivery for the butter. The butter was so good I made sure to eat it all, and the soup was excellent. Everything in the soup was extremely well balanced, with nothing overpowering the other ingredients. The crunchy pepita were an excellent foil to the creamy soup.
We weren’t sure what to expect with three entrees listed. Would they be served together on a plate or served individually? I was most looking forward to the roasted garlic and herb pork tenderloin, which ended up being the first entree served despite being second on the menu. It did not disappoint! The “spinach, bacon and apple bread pudding” was a fantastic complement to the pork, which was perfectly cooked. It was topped with a delectable cider and maple butter sauce and crispy fried onions. I’m glad they served it first because I still had room to enjoy every single bite of it. I picked a bit at the next entrees, and one of my fellow diners asked for a box for hers. There was not a single thing on the plate I did not enjoy. I would go to a restaurant to order it!
The brussels sprouts in the Sambal and Maple Shrimp entree was my favorite ‘bite’ in the second entree served, although the plump shrimp were also really great and not too sweet. Each diner was served three perfect shrimp. The vegetables were chopped very small and roasted together. The puffed rice were also fun, it was nicely seasoned, and the entire dish as a whole was quite tasty.
The Pain Perdu with poached apple and smoked bleu cheese with pecan crumble was also quite delightful. Essentially a small square of French toast, it was perfectly prepared and well balanced. Bleu cheese can be quite overpowering, but this was the perfect amount to cut through the eggy french toast and complemented the poached apple. You could definitely taste the fennel in the maple/fennel reduction that was drizzled over the pain perdu, but it was also not overpowering and just offered a hint of fennel.
One of my tablemates had to leave to go see & Juliet at the Playhouse, which is fantastic and I was so happy that she got to see it (and it turns out about four or five of my friends were also at that show yesterday from the posts of Facebook), but she was able to enjoy the pain perdu and the crème brulee before she had to leave early to make it on time. I gave her fiancé my business card because I enjoyed talking to them so much. The Maple Crème Brulee with berry sauce and whipped cream was a delightful finish to an excellent meal. We then enjoyed a presentation on the history of maple syruping and maple syruping in the Metroparks, complete with props like collection bags and buckets, filters and a yoke that they wore to carry buckets of sap (an lots of photos of kids wearing the yoke). I would not have been surprised to see me among the photos of kids learning about maple syrup, because my mother took my sister and I to many educational events at the Metroparks when we were little and I definitely remember maple syrup production being one of them. We are so lucky to have the Metroparks for all of the educational as well as recreational activities!
Hopefully they will offer this event again, because it was fantastic. Be sure to follow the Metroparks on Facebook or get their email newsletter. And sign up as soon as you see it, because it sells out quick. All of their cooking events are also a fun time (I’ve attended a pie iron class and a pot pie class, among others), so keep an eye out for their events. They offer lots of different free and fee-based events (crafts, hikes, recreational classes, camping trips, etc.) in addition to cooking and food events, so if you haven’t checked them out be sure to do so! The Cleveland Metroparks rocks! Don’t be afraid to attend on your own, because everyone was very friendly, and we chatted the whole time about various topics. I left shortly after 1:00 to meet some girlfriends at Sangria y Tapas (I ordered a sangria and soup) and was full the entire day. The entire day! This meal (and specifically the pork tenderloin) will definitely be among my Best Bites in 2025.
And be sure to check out the Cleveland Metropark fish fries! Guests can dine-in at Big Met or get carry-out at Sleepy Hollow and Emerald Necklace Cafe. Merwin’s Wharf will also have fish fry specials every Friday. The Fish Fry takes place on Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. through April 11 this year.
Contact info:
Emerald Necklace Marina Rocky River Reservation 1500 Scenic Park Drive Lakewood, OH 44107 (216) 226-3030 ext. 1
Prosperity Social Club has been part of my family’s lore since before I was born. I have heard the story about my father being sent to what was then Dempsey’s to buy the G.I.s at the shower house next door a bucket of beer and a pack of smokes. At age 8. And he proudly claims that they gave him a dime and asked for the two cents change back, and he was proud to do it. He probably knew the guys in the photo on the website. He grew up in Tremont and spent a lot of time in Lincoln Park and Merrick House on Starkweather, just a few doors down from Prosperity. It opens at 4 PM during the week, closes at midnight Monday thru Thursday and 1 AM on Friday and Saturday. They also serve brunch on Sundays, so they open at 10:30 AM and close at 10 PM. I haven’t made it there for brunch, but it’s on my list. They have late night specials from 9p to midnight.
Residing in the original 1938 barroom (the aforementioned Dempsey’s Oasis, which was in operation from 1938-2005), Prosperity Social Club is open to the public, being a social club only in a figure of speech, behavior and attitude. The bar room is cozy and eclectic, with its Art Deco influences, dark chestnut walls and vintage beer memorabilia recalling a bygone era. Plus the food is killer. It proudly declares it is “The Clevelandest Bar in Cleveland.” I enjoy sitting in the back room, but lots of people sit at the bar or at tables throughout.
I have been here several times during Lent for the fish fry. The fish and pierogi are top-notch here, so the place is always packed. Reservations are a must. It gets so busy on Fridays during Lent that they have a limited menu, serving nothing but the fish fries and pierogi and a couple other entrees. The kitchen just cranks them out. Apparently they can do the beer battered fish using hearts of palm if you are vegan, but I don’t know if that is possible during Lent. It doesn’t hurt to call to ask. I highly recommend the “Gotta Haddock” Fish Fry, because you get the fried haddock, coleslaw, potato and cheese pierogi, homemade mac n cheese, and a cup of New England clam chowder. The pierogi are pictured above with the brown caramelized onions on top. The “Big Fish” comes with the fish, coleslaw and the mac n cheese. You can always add pierogi for an upcharge. And you’ll want to have the pierogi. They are amazing.
Prosperity is also known for its Eastern European food, such as the aforementioned pierogi, one Hungarian-style stuffed cabbage, one potato pancake and cabbage and noodles with “kielbaski.” If you order the Ethnic Platter you get a little bit of everything. They serve apple-cranberry chutney and sour cream to accompany the potato pancake (and pierogi if you’d like – there are no rules). Everything is filled with flavor, particularly the cabbage and noodles, but my favorites were the stuffed cabbage and the pierogi. That said, it is very heavy and filling and features no veggies. I took half of the dinner home for lunch the next day to eat with a small salad. It heated up nicely and did not disappoint.
They have a great beer and cocktail menu. Unlike during my recent visit to The Friars’ Table (stay tuned), Prosperity serves their Belgian beer in a proper Belgian beer glass! European have specific glasses for their specific beers. Belgian beer glasses are shaped like tulips, and the wide bowl and tapered mouth develop a thick head on the beer that captures each aromatic note. I was very pleased to get a Chimay glass for my Chimay beer.
My friends also really enjoyed their meals – although one friend complained about the lack of chicken in the Chicken Paprikash (see center photo) and was given a small bowl of it in response. My vegetarian friend really enjoyed her Harvest Salad (with tofu – see the photo on the right) and was pleased by how low her bill was. The photo on the left is the Stuffed Cabbage.
One of my friends ordered the housemade potato chips and French onion dip for the table to share, and they were a big hit. If you like crispy chips be sure to try them.
You don’t get much more old-school Cleveland than Prosperity Social Club. If you haven’t been there yet, be sure to check them out.
Gus’s Diner 185 is a clean and cozy little diner on E. 185th Street in Cleveland that offers a diverse menu of diner favorites and classic American comfort food. My friend who lives down the street from it highly recommends the Eggs Benedict, and I have heard good things about their gyros. However, I often prefer sticking to favorites like breakfasts with rye toast or a club sandwich on my first few visits. They are open every day from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Breakfast is served all day, and they also have lunch and dinner options.
Since I always go at weird hours (non-rush hours) I have managed to get a spot in front of the diner on the street each time I’ve gone, but there is a parking lot behind and next to the diner with a walkway. When you walk in, you are greeted and told to sit anywhere you would like. I chose a booth close to where I was standing, and it was quite cozy. You can adjust the table in the booth as needed, and the cushion was comfortable and sturdy. The service is great and quite fast, and the servers are friendly and attentive. The server gives you a menu and a specials menu. The specials link on the website hasn’t been updated since I’ve been keeping an eye on it. They offer two soups every day, which are on the specials menu. The main menu itself is extensive, and there are lots of good choices for both breakfast and lunch.
The first time I went I ordered the croissant breakfast sandwich because I was craving one after enjoying a perfect croissant breakfast sandwich at Goldie’s in Strongsville. The croissant sandwich at Gus’s was also quite good and very generous. It came with a side of hash browns, which I needed to add salt and pepper to (probably kept under seasoned so that diners can doctor it up as they need/want). The croissant sandwich is made with scrambled eggs, cheese and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham (there is an upcharge for sausage patties or turkey sausage patties). I went with ham to replicate the one at Goldie’s. You can also get a breakfast sandwich on an English muffin or toast.
I also ordered a slice of French toast on the side. It had a really nice flavor to it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a nice hit of sweet along with the savory.
I enjoyed the Everything Omelet with hash browns and rye toast on another visit, because I was in the mood for spinach, mushrooms, and ham. The rye toast was perfect. I added some grape and strawberry jam from the packets on the table and enjoyed it. The Everything Omelet is made with 4 eggs, onions, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, ham, bacon, sausage, gyro meat, corned beef, Swiss and American cheese. It was a lot, but it was really tasty. And I just realized there wasn’t any spinach in it. I’ll be sure to order the spinach and feta omelet next time. I took about a quarter of it home for later because I couldn’t finish it.
I also ordered a Turkey Club sandwich to go. It was properly cut into triangles with large toothpicks to hold the three layers together. It came with a side of fries, which were decent. I forgot to ask for a side of Thousand Island, but I was able to whip some up at home. I slathered my club sandwich in Thousand Island, as you can see in the picture. I also really enjoyed the pickle. It was fresh and had a nice crunch to it.
Gus’s is a classic neighborhood diner. It serves a good breakfast that hits the spot, and the coffee is good and plentiful (and served in the old-fashioned brown diner coffee cups, which is always comforting). There are definitely better spots out there if you’re feeling at all fancy, but it does the job and does it well. This is a real mom-and-pop place and quite utilitarian and affordable. I will definitely go back in the future. The fried chicken and gyros sound and look good. There are plenty of choices to keep me busy.
Contact info:
Gus’s Diner 185 797 E 185th Street Cleveland, OH 44119 (216) 481-8781
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” I thought I was done, but one of my friends contacted me earlier last week and invited me to join her and some of my friends at one last clambake this past Sunday- this time at Gunselman’s. Gunselman’s Tavern in Fairview Park is always a favorite, and their clambake is probably the one clambake I have attended the most. The clambakes sell out quickly and early, so I assumed it wasn’t going to be an option this year. But luckily my friends had bought tickets for several of them. The clambakes are dine-in only and require the purchase of a clambake to enter the establishment. This year the weather was allowing outdoor seating as well as indoor. The Browns game made it almost impossible to hear each other this year.
I usually get the steak bake at Gunselman’s, but my friends had bought chicken bakes because the steak bakes were sold out when they got their tickets. They start serving clam broth and clam chowder at 1 PM and serve the clambakes at 2 PM. I got there at 12:45 and joined my friend inside. I debated if I wanted a beer or a glass of wine, but ended up ordering a cocktail that intrigued me – a Chocolate Peanut Butter Old Fashioned, which features Bird Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey, orange bitters, chocolate bitters and simple syrup. I really loved it and might have to buy some peanut butter whiskey and chocolate bitters so I can make them at home. I would probably add a splash of half and half, but even without it was a delightfully inventive cocktail. I’m also intrigued by the Autumn Aperol Spritz that features sparkling wine, Aperol and apple cider.
We were given a cup of steaming broth as we sat, and once the others in our party arrived we were served a bowl of Irish Kevin’s delicious New England clam chowder. 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. According to the Gunselman’s website, “the clams are sourced from Joe at Lobster Brothers in Westlake, who has a source in Narragansett Bay, RI, which is home to the finest clams in this part of the world.” The server happily got me a side of barbecue sauce for my roast chicken, and I happily enjoyed the clams, corn, the leg portion of my half chicken, the roll, and a couple bites of the redskin and sweet potatoes. I got a box for the breast portion of my chicken and the redskin and sweet potatoes.
Several of us also ordered cheesecake – mostly to go. One of the servers proudly told us she had made blueberry and cherry cheesecake. When I ordered I told the server that I didn’t care which one she brought and to just bring me a slice of the one they had more of left. She brought me a slice of the blueberry cheesecake, and it was really nice (I had a bite of mine from the carryout box).
We made sure to ask whether the tickets included a gratuity and it did not. I hope the other diners were aware of this and tipped accordingly. I added the price of my preordered ticket to my drink and cheesecake tab and tipped our server for the full price. It would be nice if they would make it clear to everyone at some point, because I hope the servers didn’t walk out of the set dining hours with less than they would normally make – especially since it cut into the Browns “customers” (they didn’t serve brunch today in preparation and the kitchen opened at 3 PM as we were leaving).
So that was my final clambake of the 2024 Clambake Season, and I’m glad it was a good one. I love this quirky Cleveland tradition.
I attended my final clambake of the year tonight. I focused on quality over quantity this year, trying to hit as many of the top clambakes (according to Cleveland Magazine and other local recommendations) as I could.
Willoughby Elks
I once again attended the Willoughby Elks’ clambake with my friend, who is a member, on September 28th to kick off “clambake season.” I managed to get a really good parking space near the door and met my friend in the back where the clambakes were being prepared. Unlike last year, which was rainy, we had gorgeous weather. We grabbed a beer at the bar inside and grabbed a table. We then headed outside to line up at the tent as our meals were assembled. It was not as crowded as it has been in years past because they were doing a big clambake and fundraiser a few weeks later. But no crowd meant no line. We also met towards the tail end, so that might have also played a factor. The clambake includes clams (or mussels) with the choice of 1/2 a chicken or steak along with sweet potato, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and clam chowder. I had ordered a Chicken Bake this year, because I remembered enjoying the taste I had of my friend’s last year. I usually get a steak here. My friend ordered the mussels, while I had the clams. They grill the chicken and steak outside to order and then in my case slathered the chicken with a tasty barbecue sauce. After loading our trays with everything we headed inside where it was air conditioned. The chowder is usually a highlight, but maybe it had been sitting too long because it was pretty thick. And there were no butter issues this year (the rain had seeped through the tent last year). I once again enjoyed the clams and chowder and a few bites of chicken and brought home the rest of the chicken and the sweet potato for lunch the next day. Since it was towards the end of the clambake they were offering extra clams and mussels if people wanted them (we shared some mussels, as you can see below to the very right). Unfortunately they were somewhat overcooked and falling apart.
Reithoffer’s Clambake catered by Normandy Catering
One of my friends from high school (Dreadlock Dave) posted about a clambake he was going to perform at (he’s a musician), so I bought a ticket on Eventbrite thinking I would know some people there. Unfortunately we are from the West Side, and the clambake was decidedly on the East Side – near the Ravenna exit off 422, so I didn’t know anyone but him (and met his girlfriend). I guess technically it is in Chagrin Falls, but it is close to the border with Ravenna. Reithoffer’s Art, Spirits and Entertainment is an eclectic bar and special events center on Ravenna Road. The clambake was held outside, and the weather was stunning. The event started at 4, but I tried to get there towards the tail end since I knew I would be staying to hear him perform at 8. Dave decided to perform inside since the temperature was going to drop when the sun went down. When I arrived I found a parking space in the spacious parking lot and headed towards the catering tent. I was looking forward to this, because Normandy Catering has a very good reputation.
The clambake was delicious. I grabbed a tray with New England clam chowder, fresh clams, a 1/2 chicken, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and a roll. I went back to enjoy the delicious apple cobbler and ice cream. The clam chowder was once again thicker, but that happens with catered events. The clams were tasty (if occasionally gritty), and I enjoyed the corn on the cob. The chicken and sweet potatoes were also tasty. I had several bites and decided to save most for later so I could enjoy the dessert. The cobbler was warm and cinnamony, and the ice cream was freshly scooped from the frozen container. I think the dessert was my favorite part of the meal, so I’m glad I decided to indulge. I got to enjoy the vibe (lots of tables on the gravel lot and several fire pits) as well as the sunset beforehand. I covered my plate of leftovers with a napkin and headed inside to get a comfy chair to enjoy the show. I enjoyed a pumpkin spice martini and people-watching while I waited for the show. The inside was spacious, with several rooms to choose from. I had planned to just stay for a couple of songs but ended up staying for the entire first set as the patrons got increasingly drunker. It’s always fun to watch Dave perform. I headed to nearby LaDue Reservoir afterwards to see if I could enjoy the Northern Lights – but alas, the skies were clear but aurora-free.
The Winking Lizard
The Winking Lizard always does a great clambake. I decided to enjoy the clambake in Mayfield Heights again this year and paired it with a trip to MicroCenter afterward to buy a much-needed laptop. The Winking Lizard clambakes are on the weekends from Friday after 3 pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. I decided it would be a great Sunday treat. I got there at 3 to ensure I could have time to shop and would avoid the crowds. I didn’t remember that the Browns were playing that day. The weather was great, so the hostess seated me on the patio, which was really lovely and not drowned out by the game. The clambake includes a cup of New England clam chowder, steamed clams, baked or sweet potato, corn on the cob, and garlic cheese bread with your choice of twin lobster tails for $40, a 12 oz. strip steak for $36, a half slab of St. Louis ribs for $32 and a BBQ chicken breast for $26. Another option was “Clams & Clams” for $32. It’s a really good deal. I ordered a delightful watermelon drink and decided to opt for the ribs and add a lobster tail for $14 from the ala carte menu. Everything was of course cooked perfectly. I especially enjoyed the ribs and the garlic cheese bread. I ate the chowder, clams and lobster tail and a couple ribs there and took the ribs and sweet potato home. The waitress had asked if I wanted “the butter” (cinnamon butter), but somehow I didn’t get it and it wasn’t important enough to me to ask for it. The butter pats I did get were sufficient, but I whipped up some butter at home for my leftovers.
Rustic Grill at Stonewater
Tucked in the middle of the golf course in Highland Heights, the semi-private Stonewater club welcomes both members and guests to its annual clambake on several days in October. There was a private event in one of the rooms I passed as well as the main dining room and quite a few people sitting out on the patio. This year I attended by myself on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. I was able to pre-order my dinner when I made the reservation, so they were prepared for me. The bake features a dozen middleneck clams, a cup of New England clam chowder, a roll with honey butter, braised red skin potatoes, lemon poppy seed and apple slaw, sweet corn, half a roasted chicken or 12-ounce strip steak and apple crumble for $49. I chose the strip steak and added a lobster tail. Everything was great. The lobster tail and steak were perfectly cooked to my specifications. The clams were large, and the slaw was a nice surprise. It was quite tasty. I also enjoyed my Mai Tai from the bar.
Station 43
I have never had a bad meal at Station 43 in Solon (and my parents used to be regulars there on Thursday nights). It is independently owned by a former Solon firefighter. I used to eat here a lot when I lived in Solon as well as when I would meet my parents here after I moved to Cleveland Heights. I met a girlfriend there for the clambake on October 24. We had to wait about 10-15 minutes as everyone arrived all at once just before I arrived at 5:20. As you can tell from this post I usually bring home leftovers. I left without leftovers! Part of it was due to the smaller sized sweet potato and corn on the cob, but I was also really hungry that day since I had several Zoom classes and didn’t have time to have more than a couple pieces of toast all day.
I started by ordering an apple cider mocktail and adding Captain Morgan Rum. My friend enjoyed her Rum Runner (once she got it – she had to remind the server). As for the food… The clam chowder was perfect – with a great smooth consistency to the chowder with nice chunks of potato and clam. The steamed clams were perfect – and the BUTTER was perfect. Most melted butter at the clambakes this year tasted like nothing, but this butter was perfection and super-buttery. A total standout! The ear of corn was great and very fresh, the sweet potato was soft and tasty (smaller sweet potatoes are just somehow sweeter and soft), and the chicken was nicely grilled and really tender and fell off the bone easily. I knew the meal would be good (and was prepared to order off the menu if they had run out by 5:30), but it even exceeded my expectations. This clambake is not touted by anyone as one of the best in Cleveland, but it definitely is in my book! My friend just started working in Solon and was thrilled to learn about this gem of a restaurant.
Bruno’s Ristorante
I spontaneously decided to enjoy the final clambake weekend in style. Bruno’s clambake is available every Friday and Saturday (this year from September 27 to October 26 2024) during dinner service from 4 PM to close. I made a 4 PM reservation at Bruno’s earlier in the day at 11:30. They managed to accommodate me since I promised the table would be available for a 5:30 reservation. I managed to fulfill that promise, but just barely. But it wasn’t me. The servers were not whipping out the courses, which made for an enjoyable meal and I definitely didn’t feel rushed out the door. Bruno’s is always an excellent meal – if a little crowded, so reservations are a must! And this clambake was spectacular. Probably the best one this year.
Bruno’s is known for its excellent Italian food. Bruno’s Clambake Italiano includes fresh baked Italian bread with a tasty garlic butter (a cruet of olive oil and shakers of red pepper flakes and parmesan were on the table for dipping), one dozen middle neck clams in an herb broth (you can see the herbs on the clams), clam chowder, choice of cornish hen ($40), oven roasted 1/2 chicken ($40) or strip steak (my choice – for $49), corn on the cob, sweet potato (with brown sugar on the side), homemade white clam pasta, and Chef’s choice of dessert (it was a layered white cake that had a hint of strawberry and buttercream, which I got to go). I ordered a Pinot Grigio (which was perfectly chilled and served in a nice solid and hefty wine glass) and enjoyed several slices of the crusty bread to start. The corn could have been a little bigger (only half an ear instead of a full ear), but it was well-cooked and tasty. The clams were tender without a hint of grit, and the white clam pasta was good (although I had to add salt and pepper to “zhuzh” it up). The steak was very tender and just as I ordered it (but rare enough that it reheated well without overcooking). The gravy wasn’t necessary and didn’t really add anything, but it was good all the same. But I was absolutely blown away by the clam chowder. This was delicious and chock-full of tender potatoes and chunky clams. It was so good I got a pint to go! I will definitely go here again next year. The clambake is served every Friday and Saturday in October starting at 4 PM.
Stancato’s
Stancato’s hosts its clambake every Saturday in October. I met a dining out group here for the clambake last night (on the 26th). There were 8 of us, and all but one ordered the clambake. They were a little panicked because it was the last clambake of the year and things were looking tight, but they managed to accommodate us in a private dining room and we had a wonderful meal. Our server was stressed, but she handled us great. I started with a Pinot Grigio, which was a little light on the pour but I had already had a sangria at my book group earlier. We were four people to each table, and they brought out a board of five herb ciabatta rolls and a small bowl of marinara for dipping or drizzling. The ciabatta was soft and nicely herbacious. They then brought us a cup of New England clam chowder, which had a nice sherry note to it, followed by the linguini in white clam sauce. I can’t wait to enjoy it tomorrow. The third course featured a dozen middle neck clams with broth and drawn butter, which were perfectly cooked. They gladly brought out small bowls of clam broth when we asked. It was nice and was light like a wonton soup broth. At that point I was getting full. The roasted portion of the meal includes a marinated roast chicken breast, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, parsley red skin potatoes, and buttered corn on the cob. The marinated roast chicken breast was really tender and delicious. I had a piece of sausage with a pepper and onion, a bite of the potatoes and ate the entire corn cob. It was great, but they happily boxed it all up for us (including a separate container for the clam pasta since there was some liquid to it). We weren’t offered dessert, but to be fair we had promised not to take up the room for too long, so we headed out after paying our bills. It was a great clambake to cap off Clambake Season in Cleveland.
One final observation that became painfully clear to me – why do restaurants even bother serving drawn/melted butter if it doesn’t taste like anything? It’s almost as if it was the tasteless oil-based butter. There is a huge difference between melted salted butter and unsalted butter for heaven’s sake. Next year I’ll try shaking the salt shaker into the butter. Maybe that will improve things.
The Winking Lizard is another local Cleveland-based chain. The original Winking Lizard Tavern officially opened its doors three decades ago, in 1983, and is located on Miles Road in Bedford Heights. It was recently rebranded to Lizardville Beer Store & Whiskey Bar, which is an offshoot of The Winking Lizard restaurants. There are three Lizardville locations – in Bedford Heights, Brunswick and Copley. The food at these locations is a bit more upscale than The Winking Lizard (think flatbreads, shrimp and crab appetizers and mini-sandwiches or dinners in addition to a few Winking Lizard favorites).
The Winking Lizard now operates 21 restaurants across Northeast and Central Ohio. I have visited numerous locations, including the one on Miles Road, and each location has consistent food and a world-class beer list. There is a bar area with lots of televisions showing games and displaying the available beers as well as dining areas that don’t have as many televisions as in the bar, so you can ignore them if you need to. The Winking Lizard used to house an actual lizard, but they have been rehomed during and after the pandemic. When you walk in you are welcome to help yourself to fresh popcorn in a popcorn machine.
Speaking of the world-class beer list, several of my friends have done the world tour of beer and earned a quality jacket for their troubles. The program is in its 38th year (in 2024). It costs $20 to sign up and you have a year to drink some beers and earn some prizes. The first Tuesday of the month is Tourist Tuesday, when the beers are $1 off. Each beer is worth 1 point. You get a t-shirt after drinking 25 beers. There are also gift certificates once you hit certain milestones. Fifty beers gets you an insulated cooler and attached beer opener, 100 beers gets you a $20 gift card (essentially refunding your sign-up fee) and a Tour Jacket, and 150 beers gets you the Jacket and an insulated vest. You can also donate your “coat” to Coats for Kids. Instead of receiving your coat, Winking Lizard will make a donation to Coats for kids in the amount of $50.00. How cool is that? I don’t drink enough to make it worth it, but I do enjoy the fact that the beer list features quite a few of my favorite European beers. New beers are added all the time, with featured beers each month.
Do you know what pairs well with beer? Wings. And The Winking Lizard is known for its wings. The wings are meaty and always great. You can choose traditional bone-in or boneless wings, and there are 19 different sauces to choose from with varying spice levels. I am a fan of the BBQ, Honey Mustard and Bourbon Barrel sauces, but there are plenty of hotter sauces if you prefer a hot wing. The traditional wings are $0.90 a wing on Mondays after 3 PM. The specials are available in orders of five and are dine in only. There are no special orders that day. Wings are only available as traditional or crispy. Boneless wings are $0.85 a wing on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Another thing that pairs well with beer is pizza, and pizza is on special on Mondays and Tuesdays after 3 pm (and also dine-in only). You can order a cheese pizza for $7 and add toppings (up to 4) for $0.60 each. The pizza is a decent pizza, with a nice doughy crust and a fair amount of cheese. I recently ordered one with sausage and spinach and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Ribs are on special on Wednesdays for $13 for a half slab and $20 for a full slab. The rib dinners are served with their delicious garlic cheese bread and two sides. The ribs have a nice amount of meat on the bone and are nicely sauced. They aren’t fall-off-the-bone, but you also don’t have to work hard to tear off the meat.
One of my favorite items on the menu are the Bo-Man’s sandwiches. The Bo-Man’s Chicken Sandwiches are served on garlic bread and come with a side of steak fries. My favorite is the Bo-Man’s Honey Club. It’s a breaded chicken breast that is tossed in the honey mustard sauce and topped with mozzarella, applewood bacon, lettuce and tomato. There is also a Bo-Man’s Bacon Cheeseburger. Many of the other chicken sandwiches and burgers are served on brioche buns. There is something for everyone’s taste.
The Winking Lizard is also known for its clambake in the fall. The clambake menu is available at select locations every weekend starting in mid-September and running through October. It is available Fridays after 3pm and all day Saturday and Sunday, while supplies last. You can choose a barbecue chicken breast or order a bake that features a strip steak, a half slab of ribs, clams & clams, or twin lobster tails. The bakes all come with clam chowder, a dozen clams, corn on the cob, garlic cheese bread, and your choice of baked or sweet potato. You can also customize it using the ala carte menu. The clambakes range from $26 for the chicken to $40 for the twin lobster tails. The chowder is one of the better ones I have enjoyed, and everything is always delicious.
Founded in 1950, Vienna Distributing Company of Ohio is a family-owned and operated deli serving Northern Ohio. When I moved to Cleveland Heights 14 years ago I would drive by when driving down Carnegie to the highway and thought it was a printing company for the longest time. I eventually learned that it was THE place to buy corned beef. Vienna Distributing makes the corned beef that supplies all the best restaurants serving corned beef in Cleveland. The line can be long, but it is absolutely bonkers on the day before St. Patrick’s Day. The parking lots is full and people even park across the street.
It was a bare-bones deli and catering company for the longest time, but recently it is actually advertising with banners (I made a comment once on social media that I thought it was a printing company – coincidence?). It has also expanded what it sells. They have added coolers, a wall of chips, a wider variety of mustards, ketchups, and condiments, and a pick-up counter with hot dogs and the like.
There is no seating. It is purely a take-out place. Be prepared to wait because they are always busy, but trust me its worth it!! The wait during the lunch hour can be quite extensive. I usually go there on “off” hours – like 4 PM on a Thursday. It’s open from 9 am-6 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am-4 pm on Saturday, and it’s closed on Sundays.
I learned many of those “in the know” would stop by to buy Reuben fixings and make fresh Reubens in the parking lot during their lunch hour. So I used to stop in and buy Swiss cheese and corned beef (sliced hot) from the counter, a loaf of seeded rye bread, a jar of sauerkraut, mustard, and Thousand Island dressing. Most corned beef is too fatty for me, but Vienna’s corned beef is nice and lean, which I appreciate.
It also used to sell cheesecake on a stick, which I got a huge kick out of. Think a slice of cheesecake covered in chocolate on a stick. You can check out the PDF menu of available items here. You can order ahead and pick up at the counter on the right – or get it delivered through DoorDash or UberEats.
I stopped there recently because I was hosting a fire pit get-together where we roasted hot dogs and s’mores over the fire. They also sell Five Star real casing hot dogs as well as various packed hot dogs and kielbasa. They used to be in the middle cooler at the counter, but now they are stored in a cooler when you are in line. I stocked up on a 2 lb. package of (16?) natural casing hot dogs and 8 cheddar franks.
Cleveland in the summer absolutely rocks. Cavotta’s is a great place to enjoy it. I almost don’t want to write this post and keep this place a secret!
Cavotta’s is a locally owned family business established in 1930 located on Nottingham Road in South Collinwood just north of Euclid Avenue. I used to drive past it all the time when I headed to Euclid to visit my friend. Cavotta’s has been selling annuals, perennials, produce and everything decorative for your garden – as well as and more than 150 varieties of tomato – for more than 80 years. In the spring and summer, Cavotta’s is a garden center selling soil, flowers, plants and garden statues and decorations. They sell pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees and decor and chocolate goodies in the winter. But the reason I am writing about it on a food blog is because of the secret back garden. Think speakeasy meets garden center. With chickens and goats. The goats are very entertaining!
One of my friends invited me to join her and a couple of friends at Cavotta’s last summer. She knew some of the guys in the band who were playing that night. Parking is tight, with a larger lot to the north of the garden center, but I’ve always been able to park across the street. Walk through the garden center entrance into the backyard and be amazed. The space is beautiful, and they have live music on the weekends (highly recommend). The band plays near the entrance under the shelter and tables with umbrellas line the patio and garden. You must be 21 years old to enter during bar hours (Friday from 4-8 and Saturday and Sunday from 12-6).
They have your basic wines and beers and some picnic style food featuring luscious tomatoes and fresh herbs. You can go to the little drink hut (photo from Yelp until I can go back and include one I’ve taken) or sit on one of the tables on the patio and get waited on. You can also sit throughout the garden on benches and chairs sprinkled throughout. The people and the atmosphere is great. Everyone, from the staff to the patrons, is chill and easygoing. You can settle your bill at the hut. They take credit cards and of course cash.
The first time I was there I ordered the caprese skewers. I am a sucker for tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. These skewers did not disappoint. They were literally bursting with flavor (and the cherry tomatoes burst in my mouth). I enjoyed a Leinenkugel shandy and several cans of ginger ale. We were celebrating one of my friend’s birthdays, so one of my friends had ordered a cannoli cake from Mama Catena’s. Even though the website says no pets or outside food or drink, the servers were extremely accommodating and didn’t blink an eye at the cake. We gave them some leftover cake, and they were thrilled.
I was there recently and ordered a margherita pizza (which is a common go to pizza for me). The pizza was simple and delicious. The dough had a nice chew, and it was topped with a refreshing red sauce, fresh tomato slices, fresh basil, and slices of fresh mozzarella and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It was damn good and just like I make at home (minus the drizzle even though I can do it if I think about it). I ate half there and took the rest home to reheat the next day for lunch.
They have several pizzas to choose from (white pizza, margherita, sausage or pepperoni and even a Nutella dessert pizza with berries) – as well as an antipasta plate, a summer salad and a caprese salad, an Italian wrap (with salami, capicola and pepperoni as well as roasted red peppers and provolone), and a BLT wrap. Two of my friends split a bottle of the house red wine and filled my glass after I finished my glass of wine. It was really good.
It’s a nice place to sit back, have a cold beverage and some tasty tomato-forward food and enjoy a live band. The bar patio is open from late spring to early fall (this year until October 13th – check the schedule in the link below). And I hear the clambake in September is always a treat and sells out in July. Maybe I’ll be organized and manage to buy a ticket next year…
After being in business for over twenty years, Scotti’s Italian Eatery has gone through a lot of rough times recently and has come out on the other side. In July of 2019, the owner was ready to call it quits due to the road work that closed the I-90 exit at East 185th Street. His loyal customers rallied around him, and he changed his mind and decided to stay open. Then Covid hit, and he pivoted to takeout only. The restaurant then had to suffer through the lengthy Water Pollution Control project that tore up the street and then the Streetscape Improvement Project. I am happy to say that the endless construction is finally over and business is starting to pick back up, but it wasn’t easy.
Scotti’s is cash only, which doesn’t help bring in customers since most people have stopped carrying cash. But that is also the reason that prices stay low. He also rolls with the punches and offers added bonuses like a Tesla charging station and “affordable Pet Shots” at the location. But, most importantly, the food continues to be made from scratch and is top-notch and affordable. And now that the weather is getting nicer it will be patio season, and Scotti’s has a great back patio.
The restaurant itself features a long bar, an open kitchen and a comfortable dining room with tables and booths with tables that are not bolted into the floor.
I started frequenting Scotti’s during the pandemic. Since then I have only dined here by myself in the middle of the day (so I haven’t been able to order an appetizer like the much-loved and intriguing stuffed hot peppers), but service has always been great. You are greeted warmly and told to take a seat. I was even greeted by a back of staff worker (the cook?) in addition to the server on my most recent visit. Each meal is accompanied by a house salad with tomato, cucumber, olives, walnuts and shaved cheese (get the house dressing!) as well as a basket of soft, warm, house-baked herb focaccia with a dipping sauce of herbed balsamic vinegar and olive oil. You can also just order butter to enjoy the flavor of the bread without the overpowering vinegar and oil. The bread is soft and delicious and worth the trip alone!
Doug Trattner reports that Scotti recommends the veal dishes, but for me the star of the show here are the calzones. The dough is light and crisp, and I love the combinations. A dish/cup of warm marinara for dipping is served on the side. My absolute favorite is the Bocconcini, which features fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes, spinach, provolone and the house dressing. The Caprese is similar to the Bocconcini (with fresh mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil and provolone cheese) but also includes proscuitto. I found it to be very salty from the proscuitto, but if you love proscuitto you’ll love it. The Florentine intrigues me, because it contains scrambled egg and cheddar cheese in addition to spinach, tomato and provolone. But I just adore the gooey fresh mozzarella and provolone combo so much in the calzone.
The pizzas are hearty and use all fresh ingredients. The Classic Deluxe features pepperoni, sausage, black olives, fresh mushrooms, green and red pepper, onion and anchovies. I recently ordered a small pizza with sausage, mushroom and green pepper to go and enjoyed it reheated in my air fryer. The green pepper was very fresh and a little overpowering, but the sausage and mushroom was perfect.
I am definitely a creature of habit. I had a photo of the lasagna as carryout during the pandemic and unwittingly ordered the lasagna again on a more recent visit. The lasagna is really good – gooey, flavorful and filling. It layers meat sauce and ricotta and provolone cheese in between fresh pasta sheets and tops it with more sauce and some parmesan.
I was in the mood for something different the other day and ordered the Scallop Fettucine Dinner with a sundried-tomato, basil and alfredo sauce. The large sea scallops are sauteed in garlic and olive oil and set atop a bed of perfectly cooked fettucine coated in the delectable sauce. It was delicious.
Scotti’s is open during the week from 11:30 to 9 pm and 4 to 9 on Saturdays. If you follow the restaurant on Facebook, Scotti often posts that he is there on a Sunday or for special events like the Super Bowl or Christmas Eve making pizza and other food, and you can tell he really loves and remembers his customers.
If you’ve been paying attention at all, I literally live at the top of the hill to Little Italy. I prefer to drive to Scotti’s on E. 185th in North Collinwood or Mama Catena’s in Euclid for a more authentic and better experience. Do yourself a favor and give them a try!
