Category: Fish Fry Friday

Chelo’s Kitchen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

Fish Fryday #7: Good Shepherd Shrimp Fry

I ate at Chelo’s again for lunch today and you’ve already seen the photos (their amazing tuna melt with grilled onions and Swiss and American cheese and clam chowder), so I’m just writing about tonight’s dinner.

I have heard about the shrimp fry at Church of the Good Shepherd in Lyndhurst for several years, and I finally got a chance to give them a try tonight. The Good Shepherd Shrimp Fry is special. Unlike most church fish fries, the Church of the Good Shepherd serves fried shrimp or mac n cheese and only holds it once a year on the last Friday before Good Friday, which is coincidentally traditionally the last fish fry of the season (unless you are orthodox). St. Ann’s near me also holds their fish fry tonight, but I decided I wanted to have some fried shrimp. Tonight’s shrimp fry (March 22, 2024) was from 5-7.

I’ve been to the Church of the Good Shepherd once over ten years ago for their blessing of the pets service. They used to hold it in the parking lot, but now they hold it at the South Euclid Dog Park on Monticello and South Belvoir. The church is set back from the road on Cedar near Legacy Village. It was not crowded, and I was able to get a good spot close to the church when I arrived shortly after 5:30.

As I was driving there tonight I tried to stop at the ATM, but it was out of service. I figured I could use my debit card there, but they don’t accept cards. They only accept cash, check, Cash App or something called Tithely. Dinners can also be preordered here. The pastor opened the door and greeted me, and also tried to help me scan the QR code and then walked me through downloading and using the Cash App app. Once I had it downloaded on my phone and my debit card entered I was able to easily pay my $15 for my shrimp dinner and headed on into the church hall. I was able to watch them frying the shrimp in the courtyard as I entered.

I was greeted warmly by everyone and also as I left later on. I had decided to get the dinner in a to-go box but sit down and enjoy the atmosphere for a bit. I gave the lady at the serving station my ticket and was told to take a seat. There was a table offering canned soda and homemade baked goods for $1 and $2 respectively. Coffee and water were free at yet another table. I purchased a couple of cans of soda for $1 each and sat down, only to be told to go up to the serving area to get my dinner because the shrimp was finished. I got them straight from the fryer as they refilled the serving tray. It doesn’t get any fresher than that! There was some confusion, because they told me to go back up there but they usually bring the dinners to the diners at the tables.

I grabbed some (real!) silverware, got my dinner, and grabbed a couple small containers of cocktail sauce (although they have squeeze bottles full of cocktail sauce available). The shrimp dinners come with eight pieces of shrimp, a generous ladleful of smashed potatoes (and the melted butter was glistening on the top of the serving pan), a generous scoop of cole slaw and a slice of Brownberry bread and wrapped pats of butter and, if you want, a small hunk of lemon.

I sat down and was joined by a friendly gentleman who explained the history of the shrimp fry. He explained that the first year they did it they had almost 100 diners and the line was wrapped around the sanctuary because they hadn’t worked out all the kinks (they could only fry 30 shrimp at a time and had to wait for the oil to come back up to temperature for the next batch). Someone started playing Beatles tunes on the piano and someone else ran home to get a propane burner. Now they use a propane burner to fry the shrimp and things go much smoother. He also told me about the church and about the trees and wildlife behind the church.

We had a nice chat as we tucked into our dinners. I was still full from lunch, so I ate three of the eight shrimp and a couple forkfuls of potatoes and cole slaw. The shrimp were delicately fried and absolutely perfect. I also really enjoyed the smashed potatoes. They were creamy and buttery. The cole slaw was on the bland side. I had to doctor it with salt and pepper and may add a couple of dashes of vinegar to it tomorrow when I eat the rest of my meal for lunch. Bob enjoyed a side of mac n cheese with his shrimp. Another parishioner who joined us also had the mac n cheese as part of her $15 side dishes meal (mac n cheese, smashed potatoes, cole slaw and bread), so it seems like those in the know get the mac n cheese as a side. The kid’s meal is $8 and features mac n cheese, smashed potatoes, cole slaw and bread).

I was on autopilot as I left and realized as I was almost home that I had forgotten to sign the petition against gerrymandering in the church lobby. I had toyed with the idea of grabbing a fish fry dinner to go at St. Ann’s, but it was getting late and I would have gotten there close to 7 when they closed. So I decided the petition was more important and turned my car around and drove back. I have been meaning to sign it for the last month, so I was super pleased that they had a table at the event. I might try to do both St. Ann’s and Good Shepherd next year (St. Ann’s starts at 4:30). Keep them in mind on the last Friday before Good Friday next year!

Contact info:

Church of the Good Shepherd
23599 Cedar Road
Lyndhurst, OH 44122
(216) 382-7770
info@gsepiscopal.org

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

Lunch at The Fairview Tavern

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

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

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

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

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

Dinner at Church of the Gesu

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

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

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

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

This was a delicious sandwich – tender and flaky with the most delectable tartar sauce. The cod was beer battered and perfectly deep fried. It was also a huge chunk of fish. The brioche bun kind of fell apart toward the end under the large amount of tartar sauce, but I didn’t mind one bit because it did not detract from and only added to the amazing flavor of the sandwich. The fries were nicely seasoned and also reheated well the next day for lunch. I also got a “cup” of cole slaw that was deliciously creamy and was made with crisp, fresh grated cabbage. As I stood at the counter I kept wanting more and more of the premade offerings. The cucumber tomato salad looked divine as well, but it was just okay. Maybe it will be better after sitting in the fridge overnight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

Fish Fry #2 2024: Ice or Rice Cafe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

Fish Fry #1 2024: Mom’s Pierogies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

The Lobster Pot

I appreciate and regularly crave good seafood. Unfortunately that is not easy to satisfy in northeast Ohio. Red Lobster is okay in a pinch, but I prefer an independent to ensure that the quality is there. My favorite seafood restaurant in the Cleveland area used to be The Lobster Trap on Ravenna Road in Twinsburg. They used to serve a special featuring two whole lobsters, green beans and rice. My parents and I were regulars when I lived near there, but unfortunately they soon went out of business. The Lobster Pot in Willoughby is a good successor. Apparently it used to be in South Euclid and moved to Willoughby Hills in 2017. It is located near the intersection of SOM Center and Chardon Roads.

The restaurant is loosely modeled after a traditional New England-style lobster house. The space is decorated with nautical artifacts like wooden buoys and floats, fishing nets, and the namesake lobster pots, and there is a wooden dory suspended above the dining room. There are also tanks filled with live lobsters and fish. There is a bar with a casual atmosphere as well as a dining room that features white tableclothes and cloth napkins. The patio is also tucked next to the building away from the street and is a great place to relax when the weather is nice

The first time I went there I was craving lobster roll. They have an entree with two lobster rolls on the menu. The rolls were authentic, and the lobster was succullent, with big chunks of tail and claw meat. They were not too heavy on the mayo and had a perfectly buttery taste.

The lobster bisque was ok, but (unlike the lobster rolls) did not contain a lot of lobster. It had a nice creaminess to it. They serve Manhatten clam chowder on the regular menu, but I prefer New England chowder. The New England clam chowder accompanied the clambake. It was a decent chowder. It’s not the worst, but also not the best I’ve had. A decent chowder is still a plus in my book.

The salad was very fresh and was a nice mesculun mix with a couple slices of cucumber, a couple cherry tomatoes and slivers of carrot. I also enjoyed the warm bread was served before meal.

The oysters are super fresh. You can order them raw, baked or as oysters Rockefeller. There is a minimum three per order. I have had them raw and Rockefeller. I have thoroughly enjoyed them every time.

The Lobster and Shrimp Newburg is made with fresh lobster meat and shrimp sautéed with shallots, celery, mushroom, tomatoes, garlic, finished with a lobster cognac cream sauce with a choice of one side. It can be served over rice or pasta. I chose pasta, and it was quite filling. It reheated nicely the next day. I really enjoyed it, despite being made with angel hair pasta, which is not my favorite.

This is a great place to enjoy the clambake or fish fry. I have enjoyed the clambake both inside in the dining room and outside on the patio. I love pairing it with a chardonnay. The clambake comes with a dozen clams, drawn butter, corn on the cob, red skin potatoes and cole slaw. Since I’m a sucker for lobster I usually add the whole lobster. Everything is always perfectly cooked and super tasty. I even enjoy the red skin potatoes.

I also really enjoy the Admiral’s Platter, which features a half pound of snow crab, one lobster til, two jumbo scampi and is served with your choice of two sides. It usually scratches my itch for fresh seafood. If you are craving fried fish, the Fisherman’s Platter is for you. It comes with breaded and fried haddock, shrimp, hush puppies, fries and coleslaw.

Overall, it is a good representation of a seafood restaurant. The parking is convenient. They have great happy hour (Haffey Hour) specials at the bar on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 pm. The Happy Hour menu features a nice assortment of dishes (calamari, firecracker shrimp, fish or shrimp tacos, shrimp bruschetta, and mussels plus a few non-seafood options) at $7 each, oysters are $2 each and shrimp are $1 each.  They also offer discounts on drinks and wine. The food and service are consistently great. You are greeted warmly when you walk in and I’ve never had a bad server. They have always been attentive and responsive to my needs.

Contact info:

The Lobster Pot
2749 Som Center Road
Willoughby Hills, OH 44094
(440) 569-1634

Choukouya Resto-Bar

If you’re looking for traditional African fare, this restaurant features dishes from the Ivory Coast and additional West African nations. I have not eaten a lot of food from Africa, so I was intrigued when I heard it had opened in the former Nazca Bar & Grill location at the corner of Richmond Road and Emory. It is on the exact opposite end from Cafe Avalaun.

I initially scheduled a dinner with my dining out group there. We arrived at 6:30 PM on a Tuesday and were the only diners there. We were greeted by a friendly server who it turns out was also bartending. We were also entertained by a group of ladies in a line dancing class. One of my friends joined the class.

We were given a plate of grilled bread, and several of us ordered appetizers. I ordered the Meat pie, which is stuffed with meat and vegetables and deep-fried like an empanada. The African flavor really made it stand out from an empanada. It was quite tasty. A vegetarian version of the meat pie is also available.

To start off, I ordered the Chi Chi Watermelon – “five different rums with watermelon and pineapple juice served inside a watermelon fish bowl. (To Be Shared)” Oops. I didn’t share. I drank the whole thing and enjoyed every drop. The watermelon and pineapple juices were very refreshing. That said, they either served me a non-alcoholic version or I have a hella tolerance because I was not tipsy or buzzed after drinking it. It doesn’t appear to be on the menu anymore.

There are a wide variety of dishes to choose from – from soups and appetizers, to salads, stews, chicken (quarters or thighs), beef, lamb (rack of lamb or lamb shanks), steak (ribeye or t-bone), rabbit, fish (catfish, red snapper, or salmon) or seafood (scallops, shrimp, or lobster tail) to vegetable side dishes, FuFu and rice dishes to desserts. The choice of FuFu includes Eba (“gari” stirred in hot water and slowly cooked in plastic wrap – see photo to the left along with Egussi), pounded yam, pounded banana plantain, steamed rice, Jollof rice (rice cooked in a tomato sauce), Wake rice (rice steamed with black eyed beans) or Riz mosaique (rice mixed with vegetables). Other sides include Attieke (cassava (manioc) couscous), couscous (Moroccan couscous steamed in a tomato sauce) or mashed potatoes as well as starchy or vegetable sides such as Pomme lyonnaise (listed under Appetizers, but it’s fried African potatoes mixed with sautéed onion and choukouya seasoning), sweet potatoes, French fries, banana plantains, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, grilled zucchini, sauteed mushrooms and sauteed spinach.

Diners can choose from a variety of meats and vegetables and even two pasta dishes for the less adventurous. There are three African stews that are the focal point of the menu. They can be served with your choice of meat (lamb, goat, fish, chicken, or beef) or with none at all (vegetarian or vegan) and come with one side. The Peanut Sauce is made with groundnut (peanuts) cooked in a mild tomato soup with garlic and black pepper. There are 10 levels of spiciness to choose from. Egussi features West African melon seed cooked with fresh cut spinach in a spicy (or not spicy) broth with palm oil. Sauce feuille (see above photo with Wake rice) is made with well-seasoned fresh cut spinach and collard greens cooked in a red sauce with palm oil.

The shrimpy sauce (left) is delicious and the same sauce is used with the scallops. It seems to be a tomato-cream sauce that is simply scrumptious. I ordered the steamed rice (to truly enjoy the sauce) and a side of asparagus for a nice meal that I will also enjoy the next day. The asparagus was nicely grilled and tasty as well.

Thiebou Dienn is a popular dish from Senegal that is only available on the weekends. Served with fish, chicken or lamb, it is cooked in a red tomato sauce that is well-seasoned with a lot of veggies including cassava, carrots, eggplants, and other vegetables and served with its own rice.

I chose the Fruit de mer (above), which steams shrimp, scallops, and salmon together with organic leek, peas, mushroom and carrot in parchment paper. When the paper is opened, the seafood and vegetables are perfectly cooked and very delicious. I ordered the Riz mosaique with it, which was tasty. The dish is pricy, but definitely worth it!

One of my friends ordered the red snapper (Poisson braise), which is available either grilled (25 min) or fried (10 min) with some fragrant spices and topped with a salsa of vegetables. You can order it as a fillet, headless or with the head. My friend chose a grilled, headless red snapper with a side of Jollof rice and a side of banana plantains. The snapper and salsa was extremely fresh and delicious. I would definitely order it again.

One of my less adventurous friends ordered the Poulet Roti, which features a rotisserie chicken quarter with flavorful seasoning served atop a sauce of sautéed mushrooms and white garlic. It comes with a brick of its own rice. I can imagine ordering this myself for the mushroom and garlic sauce alone!

The service was a little slow, but I have a feeling it was because she was the only one there. Things got better once another employee arrived. We enjoyed the vibe and loved the food. It is worth noting that the food takes a little bit of time to prepare, but the times are stated on the menu and you expect a bit longer if they are busy, but the wait is worth it.

Contact info:

Choukouya Resto-Bar
4620 Richmond Road, Suite 292
Cleveland, OH 44128 (Beachwood)
(216) 245-6660