Category: Good eats

Crepes n Crisps

Crepes n’ Crisps is a tiny little hole in the wall located across the street from the Cleveland Clinic on Chester (it’s right next to the Domino’s Pizza in the small strip on the north side). It is owned by a lovely Arabic family, and the owner proudly told me about his children, who are very educated health care professionals who were working there to help him out in the beginning. In the meantime they have introduced computer kiosks to order your food. I’m less impressed by the AI-generated images on their online menu, because there is no way the Crepito looks that good in person. If you’re looking for crepes or a quick sweet treat this is the place to go. They have so much, from shakes, to coffee, sweet and savory waffles and (my favorite) crepes. The restaurant is clean and sanitary, and the employees are very friendly.

There is not a lot of seating, so it isn’t ideal for large groups. That said, I have eaten there several times now, in addition to getting a crepe or two to go.

The first time I was there I ordered the salmon crepe (Salmon De Lux). I love a good savory crepe, and the salmon crepe did not disappoint. It was chock-full of Norwegian smoked salmon, fresh spinach, red onion, capers, and sour cream and topped with garlic aioli drizzle.. It definitely hit the spot and was exactly what I was hoping it to be.

The Nutella and banana crepe (called the Monkey Business) was also absolutely perfect. It was full of Nutella and fresh banana slices and accompanied by real whipped cream.

I was less impressed by the Croffle (a cross between a croissant and a waffle). Maybe the sweeter versions would be tasty, but the spinach and cheese croffle I got was nowhere near filled with spinach and cheese as I would have liked (and the AI image made it looked full to bursting). It also would have benefited from some kind of drizzle, because it was quite dry.

Several of my friends ordered the crepes on my suggestion and enjoyed them. One had a chicken crepe (served with several cubes of breaded chicken in the picture below) and a chocolate crepe drizzled with white and milk chocolate. The photos below are the Black and Red crepe, featuring strawberries and Nutella, and fries with cheese curds. I don’t know what my vegetarian friend was thinking when she ordered it, because even the vegetarian fries sound (and probably look) better than these. The fries themselves were crisp and tasty, but I’d definitely try one of the loaded ones next time. For example, the Belgian Chocolate & Fries sounds amazing.

The coffee offerings are also great. They use locally roasted coffee beans for their espresso drinks. And this would also be a great place to try one of their Dubai Chocolate offerings. They offer a crepe, a waffle, in a cup, a shake, a sundae, an iced latte (and probably a regular latte), and a chocolate bar – all featuring some variation of phyllo dough, pistachios and/or pistachio sauce, Belgium milk chocolate sauce (and sometimes strawberries). I haven’t tried Dubai Chocolate yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Everyone is raving about Dubai Chocolate.

It’s open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 10 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM.

Contact info:

Crepes n’ Crisps
10001 Chester Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 293-5522

Blue Heron Brewpub in Medina

The Blue Heron Brewery and Event Center is an artisanal brewery that makes flavorful beers and serves good food. It is tucked away in a housing development in Medina off River Styx. It is a beautiful setting on what was once a country club. Full disclosure: I have eaten here twice now, because my niece works here. The first time she was a hostess, and my friends and I wanted to go there in the winter and rent an igloo. Alas, the strong winds shut down our dreams. LOL. We did enjoy watching her work, seating people and busing tables. She is now at college and working here as a waitress over the summer. She loves it. My family met here to celebrate birthdays and Father’s Day and spent a lovely Saturday afternoon on the back patio enjoying the sunshine and live music. She worked a shift after our lunch. Several of my family members have a lot of specific dietary needs and were able to confidently order and enjoy their meals.


The Brewpub
If you squint you can see an igloo in the center of the window.

On our first visit I ordered a Giant Bavarian Pretzel for us to all share, and we enjoyed it very much. You know the German translator had to order the giant pretzel, and it did not disappoint. It was fluffy inside with a nice crust. It is served with a green chili white queso and whipped cinnamon butter. Not exactly typical German pretzel dips, but I really enjoyed the cinnamon butter.

My friend was very excited about the lamb burger, which must be a winter item. She loved it. The housemade chips are also quite tasty. Folks on Yelp suggest saving the splurge of the Wagyu burger, which sounds tasty but I would probably order the Blue Heron or California burger and save a couple of bucks.

Another friend ordered the Caesar salad and added salmon, and it looked delicious. In fact, I was leaning towards ordering it with my family, but ended up ordering something else (more on that later). My mother enjoyed her strawberry and spinach salad with a balsamic dressing and without the goat cheese because she is dairy-free as well as gluten-free.

My brother-in-law recommended the seafood stuffed mushrooms and jumbo chicken wings as appetizers. Both were quite tasty, but I absolutely loved the seafood stuffed mushrooms. They were fantastic!!! The white mushrooms are hand stuffed with diced shrimp, crabmeat, cream cheese and scallions and topped with Parmesan cheese and light Dijon aioli. I could see myself ordering these for a meal! We ordered two orders of mushrooms to share, but it would have been cheaper to buy the special 3 for a dollar less than 2 orders were (a happy hour special). But my family only wanted two, so we stuck with two.

I ordered the Coconut Curry Salmon Fillet, and it did not disappoint. The pan-roasted salmon was served with a delectable Caribbean curry sauce and cilantro lime rice and fresh seasonal vegetables (in this case Brussels sprouts, which were tender and tasty). Everything was flavorful and perfectly cooked. I would probably order this again.

My dad and sister ordered the Reuben and loved it. Seeing how lean the corned beef was I would have probably enjoyed it. Anyone who has been following this blog knows I’m not the biggest fan of corned beef because I’m not a fan of fatty meats.

If you have room at the end, I highly recommend ordering the Peanut Butter Pie if you have the room. It is made with an Oreo crust with peanut butter mousse and fresh whipped cream. It’s delicious. I ordered it during our first visit, and we got 5 spoons to share.

And if your waitress is Carley tell her you read about the Brewpub on her Aunt Jill’s blog.

Contact info:

Blue Heron Brewpub
3227 Blue Heron Trce
Medina, OH 44256
(330) 870-2583

In Forno

This post is not going to be typical for my blog. I just learned that the owners of In Forno have sold their business and will be transitioning the pizzeria over the next few months to the new owners. They are staying to train the new owners, so hopefully the quality will stay consistent. George worked in New York City as a remodeling contractor and decided to regain his profession as a chef. He and his family moved to Cleveland in 2009.

I have been a fan of In Forno for quite a long time. I first heard about it from a friend who lives in my hometown of Olmsted Falls. They would do pop-ups at farmers’ markets as well as at Ye Olde Wine Cellar at Olmsted Falls when it was in the old Master Cleaners’ storefront. As I said, as a remodeling contractor, George built a wood-fired oven and installed it on a trailer for maximum mobility. They would tow their portable wood-fired pizza oven to the various locations and created delicious Neapolitano pizza. Their pizzas are thin crust and are around 12-13 inches in diameter. Once they earned enough capital they opened a brick and mortar pizzeria in Avon.

Since I live on the east side I did not make it out to them as often as I would have liked. I followed them on Facebook for many years and remember the excitement when I read about their special peach pizza, which featured fresh peaches, their white sauce and fresh basil, several years ago. I met several friends for that pizza, which was just as good as I had hoped. It was a great summer-forward pizza – as was the Celeste (featured below on the right), which features truffle and artichoke paste, grated and fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, arugula and olive oil. The Celeste is my friend’s favorite.

When we heard that In Forno was sold, we knew we had to go there one last time and met last Friday. We got there quite early to make sure we had a table for our group. The other early bird friend and I ordered appetizers for the table – the Burrata Plate and the Caprese. The Burrata Plate featured fresh, creamy burrata on a bed of arugula that is served with grape tomatoes, black olives, coppa and fire-roasted garlic bread. It definitely hit the spot! In fact, I liked the burrata so much that I ended up ordering a burrata pizza instead of my usual margherita. It was great and another friend ordered it with fresh garlic added. She loved it. Another friend ordered the pepperoni pizza, which was also delicious. I took home half to have for lunch the next day and the slices reheated well in the air fryer.

Who knows what the future will hold. I wish George and his wife Bianka well in their future endeavors (I hear George will be opening up something on Broadway in Lorain) and am crossing my fingers that the new owners continue the success of In Forno in the future! Be sure to keep patronizing them and show them some love. Transitions are never easy. George and Bianka, thank you for bringing us delicious pizza for the past 10+ years.

Contact info:

In Forno Pizza
35840 Chester Road
Avon, OH 44011
(216) 394-9784

Sweet Pork Wilson’s

Nothing says summer like good barbecue. I first heard about Sweet Pork Wilson’s on the All Things Food in Cleveland Facebook group and was very impressed by how they handled a complaint in the group. The person complained about their visit, and the owner responded and apologized and urged them to come back. A week later the person posted a glowing review. Every restaurant can have a bad day. This is why I write about restaurants here after two or three visits. But the way a restaurant handles complaints says a lot. My friends and I were impressed and decided to give them a visit.

We met for lunch. It’s located on the corner of Madison and W. 117th. I parked across the street in the RTA parking lot, not realizing that there is a parking lot in the back. But there are also a few parking spots in front on the street. There is a big parking lot in the back where the smokers are, but you have to walk to the front to enter. The first thing we noticed after walking in was the really nice antique wood bar (there is a framed photo of it when it was new when you walk in). It is impressive. There is bar seating as well as tables to the right.

I started my meal with the Back Porch Lemonade (vodka, organic grape, blueberry, and cherry punch, grape liqueur and lemonade), which was really refreshing and delicious. I would definitely get it again.

I need to be honest and admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of barbecue (and especially the sides, which tend to be afterthoughts at BBQ places), but man, everything was really GOOD. I ordered the two meat/two side meal with ribs and brisket and collard greens and smashed potatoes. Those smashed potatoes are probably the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of mashed potatoes in my day. Little pools of butter floating on creamy mashed red skins. Collard greens are usually hit or miss for me. These were delectable. They use smoked turkey necks to make them. They add a nice flavor to the collard greens. The smoked brisket was tender and succulent, and the ribs were great (warning: if you prefer fall-off-the-bone ribs these aren’t for you, but if you love some pull you’ll be pleased). You can sauce it up however much you’d like from the bottle of BBQ sauce that is on the table.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. I had a bite of the smoked turkey, and we shared a big bowl of fried pickles. The fried pickles were fun – and were served with ranch and buffalo ranch dipping sauce. I really enjoyed the buffalo ranch.

Several of my friends enjoyed the brisket sandwiches, and one of my friends loved their Grand Slam sandwich (which is smoked chicken, coleslaw, mayo, pickles topped with BBQ sauce). Unfortunately the Grand Slam did not photograph well.

It was just an enjoyable meal from start to finish, and the owner, who came out to thank us for coming, and our server could not have been nicer. The owbner told us about thinking about implementing a Smoked Seafood Saturday – featuring smoked walleye, smoked salmon, smoked shrimp cocktail and smoked lobster tail. One of my friends went back the next day and loved the seafood. The honey glazed corn bread is moist and wonderful and worth the trip alone

I also stopped there on my own when I was craving some good meat and wanted to treat myself to an early dinner. I started with a happy hour $5 cocktail, which did not skimp on the alcohol. I only ordered one because I was driving and then pivoted to iced tea. I ended up ordering the smoked ribeye with a side of mac n cheese and those smashed potatoes. Both sides were excellent. The mac n cheese is creamy and delicious, and the potatoes were just as good as I remembered. The ribeye was perfectly cooked to my medium rare specification. Just a tasty steak.

I also got a pulled pork sandwich with french fries and cole slaw to go because I wanted to try the pulled pork. I heated it up the next day in the air fryer, and it was quite tasty but I’d probably get a brisket sandwich next time. The brisket is phenomenal. I wish I lived closer, because I would frequent this place a lot. One thing is for sure, I will definitely be back. I’d rank this place among the top barbecue places in Cleveland. Great meals, great barbecue, great sides, great people. And as I’ve said, for me it’s all about the sides.

Contact info:

Sweet Pork Wilson’s
11634 Madison Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44102
(216) 938-5673

Crostata’s Pizzeria

Crostata’s is a Quagliata family restaurant. The Quagliatas have 50 years of history in the restaurant business here in Cleveland. Crostata’s is a wonderful spot to enjoy Neopolitan-style pizza. I was most recently here on a Tuesday night, and it was full, which is very telling. The staff always makes you feel welcome. It is tucked in the middle of a semi-residential area and is located at the corner of Bishop Road and Wilson Mills Road.

The wine is served in juice glasses. I have become a fan of Sangiovese wine, so started off by ordering a glass of Sangiovese. The waitress also brought me a glass of water. As Wikipedia explains, “Sangiovese’s high acidity and moderate alcohol makes it a very food-friendly wine when it comes to food and wine pairings. One of the classic pairings in Italian cuisine is tomato-based pasta and pizza sauces with a Sangiovese-based Chianti. Varietal Sangiovese or those with a smaller proportion of the powerful, full-bodied Cabernet blended in, can accentuate the flavours of relatively bland dishes like meatloaf and roast chicken. Herb seasoning such as basil, thyme and sage play off the herbal notes of the grapes.” If you haven’t tried it you might want to give it a try.

I can recommend the soups. First of all, the Italian wedding soup is a great wedding soup, and the New England clam chowder was a special that I enjoyed during my most recent visit. The clam chowder was refreshing and had a lot of clams and potato chunks. The wood-fired bread stick that comes with the soup was a nice touch.

First off, if you like arancini then you have to order the arancini here. They are the best I have had. Arancini are Italian rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Crostata’s arancini are delicious. They have meat, mozzarella, and peas in them. Truly delicious with a great tomato/basil sauce. I ate one and saved the other for lunch the next day.

The first time I was here I ordered a pasta dish. They apparently make their pasta in house. It was okay, but if you want a truly outstanding meal order one of their pizzas.  It is prepared in an authentic Italian style wood burning oven, which is a feature in the open kitchen behind the counter. The prices for the pizzas are also quite reasonable.

I’ve been here a couple times now and have tried a few of the pizzas. I love a good wood-fired Napolitano pizza. I love the char and appreciate being able to enjoy it with a knife and fork. The Quattro Stagioni has the four toppings, but they are mixed together on the pizza. The artichoke hearts were a little unwieldy to eat, but they were tender enough. I really enjoy the Margherita con Bufalo D.O.P., and the arugula-topped pizzas were really delicious as well.

Contact info:

Crostata’s Rustic Pizza
558 Bishop Road
Highland Heights, OH 44143
(440) 449-7800

Fish Fryday #7 2025: Eugene Kitchen at the Bottlehouse Brewery & Meadery

It’s Good Friday and officially the last Friday of Lent. This means the blog will be going back to posts every two weeks. To all of you who have recently found me by searching about fish fries in Cleveland: I hope you have enjoyed my posts and maybe will consider sticking around. I had been thinking about shutting the blog down because I wasn’t sure if people were reading it, but the traffic on Fridays have really be heartening for me. So thank you.

I enjoyed a final tuna melt at Chelo’s Kitchen for lunch, but I won’t bother posting a photo or writing about it since I have talked about it frequently in the past. If you want to see a photo just scroll down to last week’s post. I added a cup of New England Clam Chowder and a side salad today, since I knew my dinner would be fried fish and French fries.

I decided to go to a restaurant fish fry since most churches have Good Friday services today. Eugene at The Bottlehouse has been on my radar all season since I heard about it on Ash Wednesday at Voodoo Brewing, so I was looking forward to finally giving it a try. There are two locations (in Lakewood and in Cleveland Heights), and I chose the one five minutes from my house in Cleveland Heights. I got a parking spot on the street right in front and got there shortly after 4 when they open. The weather was in the 70s, and I was tempted to sit outside on their patio on the first official warm day of spring.

The Bottlehouse holds a special place in my heart. I used to come here when it hosted the Bread and Soup Experiment just before the pandemic, and I have met friends here for beverages on occasion. It has a nice floor plan and is a great place to get together with friends (they have games available and large tables that accommodate groups). They have a nice selection of beer, mead, cider and non-alcoholic beverages. Families and kids are welcome. Eugene Kitchen has been a welcome addition to provide food for its guests. Eugene is known for its Tinman Burger, which I enjoyed back when the food hall on W. 25th (Ohio City Gallery) opened. The Tinman Burger is a “drippy double smash burger with American cheese, special sauce, and sweet and spicy pickles on a brioche bun.”

Eugene is a little enclosed kitchen just inside The Bottlehouse. I walked to the order window and ordered the fish fry, which features Lake Erie walleye, fresh cut French fries, hush puppies and cole slaw for $22. I paid cash, so it was several dollars cheaper than the initial price the employee at the window quoted, which reflected the credit card price. She gave me a beeper (see above), and I then walked to the bar to order a beer. After I asked for a lager, the employee recommended I order the Community, which is a Czech / Bohemian Pilsner that tastes more like a lager than a hoppy pilsner. It paired nicely with the fish fry, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can see myself going back to enjoy one again soon.

The fish fry was fantastic. The slab of walleye was nicely fried, and the fish itself was very moist and flaky. I tore off pieces and dipped it in the nice tartar sauce that came with the fish fry. The French fries were nicely salted and perfectly cooked, and the hush puppies were nice as well. The coleslaw was okay, and if you prefer a less creamy coleslaw you will enjoy it. The sweet, spicy pickles were a nice surprise. I’m not a huge fan of bread and butter pickles, preferring dill, but these were flavorful enough to not be too reminiscent of sweeter pickles. The lemon wedge was also a nice touch to squeeze over the fish. It was a great way to end the Lent season. Thank you for accompanying me on my journey this year.

Contact info:

The BottleHouse Brewery & Meadery
2050 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 214-2120

Fish Fryday #1 2025: Chelo’s Kitchen and EDWINS at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

I first visited Chelo’s Kitchen a little over a year ago when someone posted a photo of their special tuna melt on a Facebook food group I am on. That tuna melt was absolutely amazing, one of the best I’ve had in Cleveland. I have since become a regular there – so much so that when Chelo’s wife Sarah saw my name in their Facebook feed she thought I would be requesting the tuna melt. But I have also had their fried catfish and eggs breakfast special in the back of my mind. When I saw they were serving it today, I jumped at the chance and ordered it. It was even better than I expected. The catfish was moist and tender with a crispy cornmeal crust. Just a light press with the fork was all I needed to get the perfect bite. I ordered my eggs over easy and added a side of home fries to my order. I enjoyed every single bite and finished the whole thing. I highly recommend it, so order it if you see it. That said, I will definitely also be going back for the tuna melt while it’s on offer.

One of my friends who attends St. Paul’s Episcopal Church sent me a notice about their Fish Fry, which is a one-day event featuring EDWINS and their special fish fry batter. The fish fry is prepared onsite by EDWINS students and graduates. Walk-ins are also welcome, but reservations are preferred for planning purposes. I pre-ordered the large fish and shrimp combo to go, which cost $18 and featured 5 fried shrimp, 1 piece of fried cod and French fries as well as cocktail and tartar sauces, to mark the start of Lent. I added a hot cross bun for $2 to my order and look forward to enjoying it tomorrow morning with a cup of coffee. All profits support the EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. I have enjoyed their fish fry at EDWINS Butcher Shop and Church of the Gesu in University Heights in the past.

I stopped there this evening to pick up my meal. I parked in their parking lot off Fairmount Boulevard and walked to the church and simply followed the smell of fried fish through the rear entrance. There were stairs to climb down for the fish fry, so if you have mobility issues you might need to see if they have an elevator. I didn’t see one, but I didn’t look too hard. We had to order ahead of time, and I chose carry-out. There were plenty of tables in the room for dine in though. There was a bit of a wait when I arrived at 5:30. I ended up getting my fish at around 6 and the runner apologized for the wait. Apparently they were running behind packing the food.

I eagerly tucked into my meal when I got home. I enjoyed every bite. The fish was a pillow of moist fish in a crispy batter, and the tartar sauce was as scrumptious as always. The fried shrimp were also perfectly fried and delicious paired with the included cocktail sauce. The fries were also quite tasty, although I had to add my own ketchup. They did have ketchup packets on the tables for those dining in. The fish was phenomenal, and I really enjoyed the shrimp a lot too. In short, EDWINS never disappoints.

Contact info:

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

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
2747 Fairmount Boulevard
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106
(216) 932-5815

Ash Wednesday at Voodoo Brewing Company

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and to kick of the Lenten season I decided to head to Voodoo Brewing Company on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights to try their fried walleye. Voodoo has been on my list of Lenten places to try, because numerous people in the neighborhood groups have raved about the fish. This review differs from my usual reviews, because I usually write about a restaurant after I have visited several times. This was my first visit to Voodoo. It opens at 4 PM on Wednesdays, and I got there shortly after 6 PM.

I parked in the large lot behind the strip and entered through the back entrance. I had done a little research, so I knew I needed to order my food at the bar and pick it up at the kitchen window I walked past as I entered through the back.

I took a seat at the bar and was greeted by a friendly bartender. I ordered a Melon Executioner, which is made with vodka, Liquid Death Convicted Melon (apparently a Voodoo creation) and lime juice. It was a refreshing start. I then ordered my food and was given the above pager that notified me once my order was ready for pick-up.

They started serving the fried walleye dinner and shrimp po’ boys today and will continue to offer them on Fridays (until 4/18) during Lent. The fried walleye is a 1/2 pound walleye and a ton of housemade fries. It was available from 4-6 PM tonight. The shrimp po’ boy special for the week features battered fried shrimp, lettuce, tomato & bayou sauce on a toasted hoagie roll. The po’ boy is served with house-cut Old Bay fries. I have to say that I was happy I ordered the walleye, because Old Bay can be a bit much in my opinion. The slab of walleye was perfect. The batter coating was crisp and not greasy (I forgot to grab a fork, so I ate it by breaking off pieces with my hands and dipping it in the tasty tartar sauce), and the fish was flaky and moist. The fries came with a little container of malt vinegar, but I opted to enjoy ketchup with them. I was extremely pleased with the walleye, which is usually not a go-to fish for me.

Wednesday night is apparently also Trivia Night starting at 6:30 PM, and I didn’t plan on staying for it but ended up talking to two guys next to me at the bar who happily let me join them for the first half. When I asked what they recommend on the menu since they are regulars, they suggested the burgers and sandwiches, not so much the pizzas. Good to know. I gave them a fist bump when I left and we/they were ranked 8th. I may just go back another Wednesday night and seek them out, because I really enjoyed talking to them and playing trivia. Quelle surprise., but I guess it isn’t *that* surprising…

I ordered their MOSA, which is a Belgian ale with orange, after my meal. The bartender gave me a sample of it first because it is too sweet for some people, but I thought it was great. The bill was delivered tucked in the front of a book, which made me chuckle. Definitely a unique delivery option. A lot of previous visitors added notes to it. My only complaint is that my feet didn’t reach the metal supports on either the bar or the tall bar chair, which caused my feet to repeatedly fall asleep. I was afraid I was going to fall on my face walking back to grab my fish. But I didn’t.

I would definitely recommend checking out Voodoo Brewing Company if you want a good slab of fried fish and tasty fries as well as a refreshing beer.

Contact info:

Voodoo Brewing Company
2279 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 331-6775

Prosperity Social Club

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.

Contact info:

Prosperity Social Club
1109 Starkweather Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 937-1938

Sand Pebbles in Aurora and Pinecrest

My parents are creatures of habit. Due to my mother’s dietary issues they eat at home a lot and rarely go out to eat. But when they do they are very careful where they go. Their new weekly restaurant outing for the last few years has been Sand Pebbles in Aurora. Sand Pebbles is owned by a very nice Thai brother and sister. For a while the location in Pinecrest just served Thai food, while the location in Aurora also served sushi since that is where the sushi chef worked. Now both locations serve sushi in addition to Thai. The Pinecrest location is in the old Inca Tea spot very close to Graeter’s and the movie theater.

The Aurora restaurant (above) was initially at a smaller location on W. Garfield Road with limited parking, but they have relocated about a mile down the street in the strip mall where Marc’s and Pappou’s is located. It took them several months to get a new liquor license, but now they have a full-service bar. They have also added brunch/lunch hours (11-3), but I can’t report on that. The photos on Yelp look appealing though. We have eaten there as a family several times to celebrate my parents’ birthdays.

The shrimp summer rolls are a great way to start the meal. It is made with iceberg lettuce, boiled shrimp  and carrots wrapped in a thin rice wrapper served with plum or peanut sauce. It is easily shareable with the table. My sister’s family also ordered a California roll to share as well.

The attention to detail for their meals is meticulous. Every dish is served with a beautiful, decorative flower. The first time I ordered a sushi roll I was blown away by the hand-carved lemon. The rolls are rolled tightly, and the fish and other ingredients are very fresh.

My mother usually orders the Vietnamese pork chop. She has gotten it as a salad and with a side of gluten-free fried rice. It is no longer on the menu, but they happily make it for her because they know about her dietary issues (she is dairy and gluten-free). My father loves the crab salad and particularly loves it when it is made with soft-shelled crab. It is usually made with crab meat, spicy mayo, lettuce, cucumber, scallion, sesame seeds, yum yum sauce.

Pearl is very proud of the Kahiki Pineapple (above), which is a tribute to the famous Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus, Ohio. It is $25, but it is a stir fry of tofu, chicken or shrimp, pineapple, egg, garlic, onion, carrot, green pepper, red pepper, curry powder, cashew nut, scallion, and cilantro served in a carved out pineapple. It’s beautiful. And yes, there is a carved out pineapple under there.

I ordered sushi and the coconut soup during the most recent visit. I loved the coconut soup, which is made with chicken and mushroom in coconut milk seasoned with lime juice, scallion, and galanga. The sushi was as good as always, but the soup was the definite highlight.

As long as they keep taking care of my parents so well, my parents will continue to patronize Sand Pebbles. They love it here, and enjoy chatting with all of the employees. Everyone is very friendly and attentive. The owner, Pearl, is the smiling lady in the above photo talking to my father. You should also give them a try. I highly recommend it.

Contact info:

Sand Pebbles
Aurora: 340 Aurora Commons Circle
Aurora, OH 44202
(330) 954-9331

Pinecrest: 100 Park Avenue, Suite 120
Cleveland Ohio 44122
(216) 245-6092