Category: Good eats

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room

Those who know me know that I am a member of an active tea group on Meetup that visits local tea rooms and has local tea-related events at local libraries such as informative presentations, craft projects, tea blending classes and other events such as our upcoming Chinese New Year tea. Miss Hickory’s is a favorite of our group. We have attended special tea events as well as met for tea as a group in which we’ve ordered off the menu. It never disappoints.

Reservations are required. You can’t just drop in and expect to be accommodated. The ingredients are fresh and everything is made to order each day. One of my friends preorders a quart of soup ahead of time to take home with her.

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room is located in a mid 1800’s farmhouse right off State Route 82 in Strongsville, Ohio (turn on the road is across from Camp Cheerful). Cona and Joe are the owners, and they have a passion for historical properties. They own several of them on the street. The farmhouse was originally the home of Strongsville’s first blacksmith, William Weller. They have put in a lot of work on the property. There is a ramp as well as stairs to the cozy front porch. The parking has expanded a bit, which is a welcome change.

Once you enter the tea room you are greeted by the hostess. The hostesses and servers are dressed in early 1900s attire, and it has a historical vibe. While you wait to be seated they offer a sample of the ‘tea of the day’ at the tea steeping station in the front parlor. I love this station because the light fixtures are made from tea cups. If you are seated right away you will be given a sample at your table, but be sure to admire the steeping station as you leave.

The first time I was exposed to Miss Hickory’s was for a Halloween tea in which we were encouraged to come dressed as witches. The multi-course meal was impressive – they even carved out an orange and filled it with broccoli salad! I wish I could find my photos from that tea, but it was in 2016. They also were not skimpy on the portions. The food was so plentiful that many of us took home leftovers. Their Christmas tea a few years ago had a quartet of carol singers to entertain us.

Despite being a tea room that specializes in hot teas, they also offer coffee and hot chocolate, milk, iced tea and pink lemonade as well as soft drinks. My favorite blend is their Angels Dream Tea blend, which is described as a “heavenly naturally flavored black tea with maple sweetness, blackberry pungency, full flavored Assam and a mystery green tea. We have sought the heavens to try to find the flavor befitting all the virtues of this tea’s namesake. The natural flavors of maple and wild blackberry enhance this excellent tea from the tea world’s finest regions – Sri Lanka, Formosa and Assam (India).” The Arctic Raspberry and Blue Lady Tea (with passionfruit, grapefruit, orange, and grenadine flavors) are also personal favorites. I love a good flavored black tea, but they also have tasty green teas (like their Chai Tea), white teas, herbal infusions, and an Orange Blossom Oolong tea.

The High Tea Sampler is served on 3-tier serving dish filled with an assortment of Miss Hickory’s favorite things, such as BLT finger sandwiches, chicken salad wonton cups, cucumber finger sandwiches, and egg salad club sandwiches; the Scones of the Week with Devonshire cream & homemade jam; their Lemon Tea Bread; and a serving of strawberries. If several people order the tea sampler they are all served on the same serving dish and everyone gets one serving of everything. The finger sandwiches are stunning and delicious.

I usually order off the menu. There are various “house sandwiches,” paninis and wraps. You can order the House sandwiches (chicken salad or tuna salad) on fresh Artisan bread, croissant or greens. I wish the egg salad were also available as a house sandwich, but it is only available in the tea sampler. I also enjoy their various side dishes, such as the citrus broccoli salad, strawberry pretzel salads and cups of soup. I usually order a sandwich or quiche and then add a side dish or two.

Left: Chicken stew with a half sandwich, and citrus broccoli salad; Right: creamy chicken pot pie soups with puff pastry heart and half a sandwich

Their chicken stew with spaetzle soup is delicious. It is available every day. Their other soups vary weekly. The website has all of them depicted and they all sound divine (don’t mind the security alert – they aren’t tracking you; they are simply using an outdated security certificate so the site isn’t “secure.” They run a tea site and aren’t web programmers). The Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Heart is especially cute.

They offer a quiche of the day in addition to their Spinach Bacon Swiss Quiche, which is served daily. I had this quiche on my last visit and enjoyed every bite. It is made with fresh eggs and cream, spinach, crispy bacon, shredded Swiss cheese and just the right amount of spices. I was tempted to order one to go as well!

Don’t sleep on the salads either. My friend declared their most recent signature salad “the best salad [she had] ever eaten.” I ordered it to go the next time we went and loved it as well. It was their Autumn Salad, which featured assorted greens tossed with sweet pear slices & candied pecans, all drizzled with a spectacular Maple-Balsamic Dressing. The Classic Wedge Salad is available every day. They also have several other salads available, which are seasonal such as the Fruit Salad, the Honey Crisp Apple Salad and a Spinach Salad.

If you are a scone fan you won’t be disappointed. Their scones are actually scone-shaped and not too dense. The scone changes monthly.

We enjoy sitting on the front porch before and/or after event just catching up. Joe even turned on the ceiling fans for us last summer. It’s especially fun when it is decorated for Halloween, with a spooky pumpkin offering some ambiance.

Contact info:

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room
14217 Mill Hollow Lane
Strongsville, Ohio
(440) 668-3053

Quick Carol Singers video: https://youtube.com/shorts/0p5SQm6uy_I

Cozumel

I’ve never been a huge fan of Mexican food, but I do enjoy Cozumel. The owners opened their first store in Broadview Heights back in 2001. I have gone to the one in Independence in the past, but was excited to hear that a  branch would be opening near me on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. The location is the ninth location for the popular local restaurant chain. This location has a more modern vibe than the one in Independence. Some have said it seems sterile, but I like the clean, sleek vibe. And it’s nice to be able to see the menu clearly. Cozumel offers Mexican and Tex-Mex-style foods, with a wide assortment of appetizers, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and combination platters.

They make their tortilla chips and salsa in-house. During my most recent visit one father was explaining to his kids how he used to make the tortilla chips and how they were made. It was fun. In any event, the chips were fresh and warm, and the salsa had a nice level of heat – but not too spicy. I was tempted to order guacamole, but knew I would probably regret it once the food came out. Maybe another time.

I have visited the location twice since it has opened, but my experiences with the chain span many years. In the past I have ordered combo platters. The menu here has a ton of combinations to choose from. One of my friends ordered the El Combo, and it was huge. It is a lot of food, featuring a chalupa, chile poblano, chicken enchilada, taco and rice. It was served on one plate, but the taco was delivered a bit later on a separate plate, which is why it isn’t in the photo here.

I had a bite of one of my friend’s carnitas from the Carnitas Dinner and was blown away by the flavor and succulence of the meat. The Carnitas Dinner feature slow-cooked Mexican-style pork with grilled onions that are served with rice, beans, guacamole salad and three flour tortillas. Again, it was a lot of food. My friend was thrilled that she was going to have an excellent lunch the next day as well.

As for me, I ordered a margarita flight and the Cozumel Burrito and a single Chile Poblano Relleno from the a la carte menu. A margarita flight features three flavors and can be either frozen or on the rocks. I obviously went with on the rocks. I chose the classic lime, guava and watermelon, and enjoyed all three. Other choices are raspberry, cucumber, mango, and strawberry.

The Chile Poblano Relleno was great and isn’t breaded and deep-fried like it is in some restaurants. I was expecting the usual whole poblano pepper stuffed with white Mexican cheese, topped with melted cheese and ranchero sauce. The waiter then asked me if I wanted chicken or steak, which surprised me because I was expecting just cheese. I asked for chicken and really enjoyed it. It was stuffed full and really tasty. I could have easily eaten that and some cerviche and been perfectly happy/sated.

The Cozumel Burrito was a featured special. I’m not sure if it is available at other locations or if it is only available for a limited time, but I definitely enjoyed it. It was a huge burrito stuffed with grilled chicken, chorizo, rice, and beans and topped with queso, chorizo, grilled shrimp and pineapple. I particularly loved the use of grilled shrimp and pineapple. It was both light and heavy, and I enjoyed it a lot. And again for lunch the next day.

I went back several days later because I had heard Cozumel’s fried ice cream is good in an online discussion about Chi-Chis. Others talked about the seafood enchiladas, so I went in there thinking I would get seafood and fried ice cream. When asked, the waitress said their enchiladas featured shrimp, so I ordered it. Frankly, this dish was rather boring. It was just shrimp wrapped in tortillas and smothered with queso. I did enjoy the Mexican rice, and the salad was a fresh addition. I could have done without the sour cream though. In any case, the seafood chimichanga looks more like what I was hoping for, so I plan to order that soon.

The fried ice cream was okay, but it wasn’t anything like Chi-Chi’s. The ice cream was firm and there were four toppings to choose from. I had been hoping to order the honey, but the waitress must have misunderstood me when I asked about the fried ice cream and said I needed a few minutes. She ended up having a chocolate version delivered to my table, which surprised me because I hadn’t thought I had ordered it. But I ate and enjoyed it.

What I truly enjoyed during that visit was the Red-Eye Margarita, which is duo of their homemade sangria swirled in a frozen lime margarita. My first sip gave me brain freeze, but I thoroughly enjoyed the drink throughout my meal.

I’m looking forward to eating there again soon. It may not be “authentic” (whatever that means), but it was tasty and plentiful. They did a nice job renovating the space too! The service is friendly and fast. I’m thrilled to have them in the neighborhood. With nine locations I’m sure you have one near you as well. There are locations in Broadview Heights, Brunswick, Independence, Lakewood, Parma, Richfield, Cleveland (W. 150th) and Westlake – and of course in Cleveland Heights.

Contact info:

Cozumel Cleveland Heights
(among others – click on the link above for the other locations)
2196 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44119
(216) 331-6592

Levant Shawarma

20241115_140925Levant Shawarma, located in the Little Arabia neighborhood of Cleveland, offers a variety of Mediterranean dishes with a focus on shawarma.  It is easy to access, as it is right off I-90 using the W. 117th exit. The storefront is compact, and there is street parking as well as a public parking lot right next door across from the old Variety theater. When you walk in, you are warmly greeted by the staff, and you can easily place your order and choose what toppings you would like to add to your shawarma bowl in a fresh prep area behind a plexiglass guard. The quality of the food is outstanding. It does primarily take-out, but there are a few tables in the back if you want to eat in.

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20241115_140548I was introduced to this place by a friend who organized several of us to meet here for a nice lunch. We have tried several shawarma places in Cleveland, and this one is the best. We all got make your own bowls and split a container of hummus. We all loved it and took home leftovers to eat later. The Build your Own Bowls ($12.99)  are massive and are my personal favorite.

20240530_130438You start by choosing between rice pilaf, jasmine rice or mixed greens, then choose two spreads (traditional or spicy hummus, baba ghanoush, Levant baba or tabbouleh. You then pick your protein (beef, chicken or falafel) and up to 5 toppings (diced tomato, cucumber, chopped onion, pickles, turnip, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, feta cheese, crispy cheese and crispy chickpeas). The final step is to add a sauce (including toum (a whipped garlic sauce), tahini sauce, Levant’s verde sauce or hot sauce).

20240530_125844I ordered a chicken shawarma bowl with rice pilaf topped with a selection of toppings such as hummus and baba ghanoush, onions, cucumber, “pickles” and pickled turnips and topped with garlic sauce). I loved every bite of it. It was creamy and delicious, and the chicken had a nice char and was toothsome with a nice crispiness to it in spots. I also had a bite of the beef shawarma bowl and was impressed with it as well.

20240530_130441Whatever you choose to order, I highly recommend getting garlic sauce. It’s divine. The garlic sauce is made by whipping eggs, garlic, salt, lemon and vegetable oil together, and is extremely flavorful.

The hummus is creamy and really nice and is served with a lot of pita bread. I can be picky about hummus, because I have a friend who makes the world’s best hummus. This is definitely up there with hers.

20241115_143206The shawarma wraps are quick and easy. The beef or chicken are shaved off the rotating spit into a pita and topped with pickled vegetables and the garlic sauce. You can ask them to hold the pickles, but I really feel they add something to the sandwich so unless you hate pickled vegetables give them a try. The chicken shawarma wrap was a nice choice for a light appetite, but I will definitely stick with the bowls. You can also order the shawarma wrap with fries as a “shawarma meal” in which the sandwich is cut into bite-sized pieces and served with well-seasoned fries, garlic sauce, hot sauce and pickles. It’s definitely esthetically pleasing.

20241115_145206I also ordered the spinach pies, which are 4 for $9.99. I had gotten the order to go, and the 20-minute drive home did not detract from them. They were still warm, even if a little condensation had formed on the container. That said, the dough was still chewy and fluffy, and the spinach filling was flavorful. I would definitely get them again, because I am a huge fan of spinach, and these pies are tasty.

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Contact info:

Levant Shawarma
11804 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111
(216) 331-7223

Corner 11 Bowl & Wrap in Tremont and Poké & Ramen in Strongsville

I am a huge fan of Hawaiian poké. Poké is a great choice for people with gluten intolerances and people who have to watch their sugar and carbohydrate intake. Corner 11 was the first poké place that let customers choose their portion size, type of rice or salad greens, proteins, toppings, and sauces. And Corner 11 has great poké – at both locations. The first location is is located in the Tremont on the corner of 11th St and Kenilworth Ave, hence the name Corner 11. I met a group of friends here for the first time several years ago. The restaurant is very clean, and everyone enjoyed it. It offers poké bowls and “pokérito wraps”with an array of toppings to choose from. You order at the counter, and they will bring it to your table. The staff behind the counter at both locations have been very friendly and hard-working.

 I’ve become a huge fan of Corner 11 Poké & Ramen in Strongsville and have dined here several times. One of my friends noticed it on our way to a tea event, so we decided to dine here. I have also dined here several times on my own. I have always been satisfied. The Strongsville location is a fairly non-descript storefront in a strip mall, but there is plenty of seating.

My friend, who is a vegetarian, particularly enjoyed the tofu wings. The tofu wings were nicely fried and crisp and topped with a nice spicy Thai seasoning and chili sauce. She’s looking forward to organizing a dinner there in the next few weeks for our group. There are quite a few vegetarian choices to choose from, which are indicated with “(V)”.

I ordered the ramen recently, which appears to be the big seller there. It just reminded me that I’m not a huge fan of ramen, but Cleveland Scene Magazine named Corner 11 as one of the “Top 5 Ramens in Cleveland” in 2022. It was a nice bowl of ramen, but give me a bowl of pho and I am much happier. I chose pork for my shoyu ramen and one of the pieces was quite large because I was given the end. The pork was fatty, which I am not a fan of but many people like. If you don’t like fatty pork you can choose chicken or vegetarian ramen instead. The ramen noodles, menma and boiled egg were great.

My go-to there is a medium poké bowl (which comes with 2 proteins – the small features 1 protein, the large has three).  The quality of the fish like salmon and tuna is awesome, and the portion is huge for the money. One of the highlights is the unlimited toppings, allowing for endless customization and ensuring each bowl is perfectly suited to your taste. You can choose between white sushi rice, midnight (“black”) rice or mixed greens, choose raw or cooked proteins like salmon, tuna, spicy tuna, shrimp, chicken, squid or tofu, and then from a wide variety of toppings. The choice of toppings are avocado, carrot, cilantro, corn, cucumber, edamame, jalapeno, sushi ginger, scallion, kimchi, lime wedge, mango, pickled mustard greens, pineapple, seaweed salad, spicy seaweed salad, tomato, masago, and roasted black & white sesame. Certain items have an upcharge if you ask for more. I always load mine with lots of toppings and top it with Yum Yum and teriyaki sauces. The sauces are all gluten-free and include Thai spicy, tom yum, spicy mayo, sweet shoyu (V), yum yum, and teriyaki (V).

Even the beverages are special. In addition to various American and Japanese sodas, you can order a variety of juices, smoothies, milk and fruit teas as well as Thai iced coffee and tea. You can get most drinks with or without boba (tapioca balls). I enjoyed the fruit tea with passion fruit and strawberry puree (although $7 is pretty pricy for something I can easily make myself at home) and especially the Thai Iced Tea with milk. And the mango sticky rice is not to be missed! I have gotten it to go for a treat later in the day and always enjoyed it.

Contact info:

Corner 11 Bowl & Wrap
2391 W 11th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 713-1757

Corner 11 Poké & Ramen
17100 Royalton Road, Unit 9B
Strongsville, OH 44136
(216) 713-1757

One final clambake

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” I thought I was done, but one of my friends contacted me earlier last week and invited me to join her and some of my friends at one last clambake this past Sunday- this time at Gunselman’s. Gunselman’s Tavern in Fairview Park is always a favorite, and their clambake is probably the one clambake I have attended the most. The clambakes sell out quickly and early, so I assumed it wasn’t going to be an option this year. But luckily my friends had bought tickets for several of them. The clambakes are dine-in only and require the purchase of a clambake to enter the establishment. This year the weather was allowing outdoor seating as well as indoor. The Browns game made it almost impossible to hear each other this year.

I usually get the steak bake at Gunselman’s, but my friends had bought chicken bakes because the steak bakes were sold out when they got their tickets. They start serving clam broth and clam chowder at 1 PM and serve the clambakes at 2 PM. I got there at 12:45 and joined my friend inside. I debated if I wanted a beer or a glass of wine, but ended up ordering a cocktail that intrigued me – a Chocolate Peanut Butter Old Fashioned, which features Bird Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey, orange bitters, chocolate bitters and simple syrup. I really loved it and might have to buy some peanut butter whiskey and chocolate bitters so I can make them at home. I would probably add a splash of half and half, but even without it was a delightfully inventive cocktail. I’m also intrigued by the Autumn Aperol Spritz that features sparkling wine, Aperol and apple cider.

We were given a cup of steaming broth as we sat, and once the others in our party arrived we were served a bowl of Irish Kevin’s delicious New England clam chowder. The chowder had chunks of redskin potatoes and was nicely seasoned with a lot of thyme, which gave it a unique and delicious flavor.

The clams were great – tender and not gritty. According to the Gunselman’s website, “the clams are sourced from Joe at Lobster Brothers in Westlake, who has a source in Narragansett Bay, RI, which is home to the finest clams in this part of the world.” The server happily got me a side of barbecue sauce for my roast chicken, and I happily enjoyed the clams, corn, the leg portion of my half chicken, the roll, and a couple bites of the redskin and sweet potatoes. I got a box for the breast portion of my chicken and the redskin and sweet potatoes.

Several of us also ordered cheesecake – mostly to go. One of the servers proudly told us she had made blueberry and cherry cheesecake. When I ordered I told the server that I didn’t care which one she brought and to just bring me a slice of the one they had more of left. She brought me a slice of the blueberry cheesecake, and it was really nice (I had a bite of mine from the carryout box).

We made sure to ask whether the tickets included a gratuity and it did not. I hope the other diners were aware of this and tipped accordingly. I added the price of my preordered ticket to my drink and cheesecake tab and tipped our server for the full price. It would be nice if they would make it clear to everyone at some point, because I hope the servers didn’t walk out of the set dining hours with less than they would normally make – especially since it cut into the Browns “customers” (they didn’t serve brunch today in preparation and the kitchen opened at 3 PM as we were leaving).

So that was my final clambake of the 2024 Clambake Season, and I’m glad it was a good one. I love this quirky Cleveland tradition.

Contact info:

Gunselman’s Tavern
21490 Lorain Road
Fairview Park, OH 44126
(440) 331-5719

Clambakes 2024

I attended my final clambake of the year tonight. I focused on quality over quantity this year, trying to hit as many of the top clambakes (according to Cleveland Magazine and other local recommendations) as I could.

Willoughby Elks

I once again attended the Willoughby Elks’ clambake with my friend, who is a member, on September 28th to kick off “clambake season.” I managed to get a really good parking space near the door and met my friend in the back where the clambakes were being prepared. Unlike last year, which was rainy, we had gorgeous weather. We grabbed a beer at the bar inside and grabbed a table. We then headed outside to line up at the tent as our meals were assembled. It was not as crowded as it has been in years past because they were doing a big clambake and fundraiser a few weeks later. But no crowd meant no line. We also met towards the tail end, so that might have also played a factor. The clambake includes clams (or mussels) with the choice of 1/2 a chicken or steak along with sweet potato, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and clam chowder. I had ordered a Chicken Bake this year, because I remembered enjoying the taste I had of my friend’s last year. I usually get a steak here. My friend ordered the mussels, while I had the clams. They grill the chicken and steak outside to order and then in my case slathered the chicken with a tasty barbecue sauce. After loading our trays with everything we headed inside where it was air conditioned. The chowder is usually a highlight, but maybe it had been sitting too long because it was pretty thick. And there were no butter issues this year (the rain had seeped through the tent last year). I once again enjoyed the clams and chowder and a few bites of chicken and brought home the rest of the chicken and the sweet potato for lunch the next day. Since it was towards the end of the clambake they were offering extra clams and mussels if people wanted them (we shared some mussels, as you can see below to the very right). Unfortunately they were somewhat overcooked and falling apart.

Reithoffer’s Clambake catered by Normandy Catering

One of my friends from high school (Dreadlock Dave) posted about a clambake he was going to perform at (he’s a musician), so I bought a ticket on Eventbrite thinking I would know some people there. Unfortunately we are from the West Side, and the clambake was decidedly on the East Side – near the Ravenna exit off 422, so I didn’t know anyone but him (and met his girlfriend). I guess technically it is in Chagrin Falls, but it is close to the border with Ravenna. Reithoffer’s Art, Spirits and Entertainment is an eclectic bar and special events center on Ravenna Road. The clambake was held outside, and the weather was stunning. The event started at 4, but I tried to get there towards the tail end since I knew I would be staying to hear him perform at 8. Dave decided to perform inside since the temperature was going to drop when the sun went down. When I arrived I found a parking space in the spacious parking lot and headed towards the catering tent. I was looking forward to this, because Normandy Catering has a very good reputation.

The clambake was delicious. I grabbed a tray with New England clam chowder, fresh clams, a 1/2 chicken, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and a roll. I went back to enjoy the delicious apple cobbler and ice cream. The clam chowder was once again thicker, but that happens with catered events. The clams were tasty (if occasionally gritty), and I enjoyed the corn on the cob. The chicken and sweet potatoes were also tasty. I had several bites and decided to save most for later so I could enjoy the dessert. The cobbler was warm and cinnamony, and the ice cream was freshly scooped from the frozen container. I think the dessert was my favorite part of the meal, so I’m glad I decided to indulge. I got to enjoy the vibe (lots of tables on the gravel lot and several fire pits) as well as the sunset beforehand. I covered my plate of leftovers with a napkin and headed inside to get a comfy chair to enjoy the show. I enjoyed a pumpkin spice martini and people-watching while I waited for the show. The inside was spacious, with several rooms to choose from. I had planned to just stay for a couple of songs but ended up staying for the entire first set as the patrons got increasingly drunker. It’s always fun to watch Dave perform. I headed to nearby LaDue Reservoir afterwards to see if I could enjoy the Northern Lights – but alas, the skies were clear but aurora-free.

The Winking Lizard

The Winking Lizard always does a great clambake. I decided to enjoy the clambake in Mayfield Heights again this year and paired it with a trip to MicroCenter afterward to buy a much-needed laptop. The Winking Lizard clambakes are on the weekends from Friday after 3 pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. I decided it would be a great Sunday treat. I got there at 3 to ensure I could have time to shop and would avoid the crowds. I didn’t remember that the Browns were playing that day. The weather was great, so the hostess seated me on the patio, which was really lovely and not drowned out by the game. The clambake includes a cup of New England clam chowder, steamed clams, baked or sweet potato, corn on the cob, and garlic cheese bread with your choice of twin lobster tails for $40, a 12 oz. strip steak for $36, a half slab of St. Louis ribs for $32 and a BBQ chicken breast for $26. Another option was “Clams & Clams” for $32. It’s a really good deal. I ordered a delightful watermelon drink and decided to opt for the ribs and add a lobster tail for $14 from the ala carte menu. Everything was of course cooked perfectly. I especially enjoyed the ribs and the garlic cheese bread. I ate the chowder, clams and lobster tail and a couple ribs there and took the ribs and sweet potato home. The waitress had asked if I wanted “the butter” (cinnamon butter), but somehow I didn’t get it and it wasn’t important enough to me to ask for it. The butter pats I did get were sufficient, but I whipped up some butter at home for my leftovers.

Rustic Grill at Stonewater

Tucked in the middle of the golf course in Highland Heights, the semi-private Stonewater club welcomes both members and guests to its annual clambake on several days in October. There was a private event in one of the rooms I passed as well as the main dining room and quite a few people sitting out on the patio. This year I attended by myself on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. I was able to pre-order my dinner when I made the reservation, so they were prepared for me. The bake features a dozen middleneck clams, a cup of New England clam chowder, a roll with honey butter, braised red skin potatoes, lemon poppy seed and apple slaw, sweet corn, half a roasted chicken or 12-ounce strip steak and apple crumble for $49. I chose the strip steak and added a lobster tail. Everything was great. The lobster tail and steak were perfectly cooked to my specifications. The clams were large, and the slaw was a nice surprise. It was quite tasty. I also enjoyed my Mai Tai from the bar.

Station 43

I have never had a bad meal at Station 43 in Solon (and my parents used to be regulars there on Thursday nights). It is independently owned by a former Solon firefighter. I used to eat here a lot when I lived in Solon as well as when I would meet my parents here after I moved to Cleveland Heights. I met a girlfriend there for the clambake on October 24. We had to wait about 10-15 minutes as everyone arrived all at once just before I arrived at 5:20. As you can tell from this post I usually bring home leftovers. I left without leftovers! Part of it was due to the smaller sized sweet potato and corn on the cob, but I was also really hungry that day since I had several Zoom classes and didn’t have time to have more than a couple pieces of toast all day.

I started by ordering an apple cider mocktail and adding Captain Morgan Rum. My friend enjoyed her Rum Runner (once she got it – she had to remind the server). As for the food… The clam chowder was perfect – with a great smooth consistency to the chowder with nice chunks of potato and clam. The steamed clams were perfect – and the BUTTER was perfect. Most melted butter at the clambakes this year tasted like nothing, but this butter was perfection and super-buttery. A total standout! The ear of corn was great and very fresh, the sweet potato was soft and tasty (smaller sweet potatoes are just somehow sweeter and soft), and the chicken was nicely grilled and really tender and fell off the bone easily. I knew the meal would be good (and was prepared to order off the menu if they had run out by 5:30), but it even exceeded my expectations. This clambake is not touted by anyone as one of the best in Cleveland, but it definitely is in my book! My friend just started working in Solon and was thrilled to learn about this gem of a restaurant.

Bruno’s Ristorante

I spontaneously decided to enjoy the final clambake weekend in style. Bruno’s clambake is available every Friday and Saturday (this year from September 27 to October 26 2024) during dinner service from 4 PM to close. I made a 4 PM reservation at Bruno’s earlier in the day at 11:30. They managed to accommodate me since I promised the table would be available for a 5:30 reservation. I managed to fulfill that promise, but just barely. But it wasn’t me. The servers were not whipping out the courses, which made for an enjoyable meal and I definitely didn’t feel rushed out the door. Bruno’s is always an excellent meal – if a little crowded, so reservations are a must! And this clambake was spectacular. Probably the best one this year.

Bruno’s is known for its excellent Italian food. Bruno’s Clambake Italiano includes fresh baked Italian bread with a tasty garlic butter (a cruet of olive oil and shakers of red pepper flakes and parmesan were on the table for dipping), one dozen middle neck clams in an herb broth (you can see the herbs on the clams), clam chowder, choice of cornish hen ($40), oven roasted 1/2 chicken ($40) or strip steak (my choice – for $49), corn on the cob, sweet potato (with brown sugar on the side), homemade white clam pasta, and Chef’s choice of dessert (it was a layered white cake that had a hint of strawberry and buttercream, which I got to go). I ordered a Pinot Grigio (which was perfectly chilled and served in a nice solid and hefty wine glass) and enjoyed several slices of the crusty bread to start. The corn could have been a little bigger (only half an ear instead of a full ear), but it was well-cooked and tasty. The clams were tender without a hint of grit, and the white clam pasta was good (although I had to add salt and pepper to “zhuzh” it up). The steak was very tender and just as I ordered it (but rare enough that it reheated well without overcooking). The gravy wasn’t necessary and didn’t really add anything, but it was good all the same. But I was absolutely blown away by the clam chowder. This was delicious and chock-full of tender potatoes and chunky clams. It was so good I got a pint to go! I will definitely go here again next year. The clambake is served every Friday and Saturday in October starting at 4 PM.

Stancato’s

Stancato’s hosts its clambake every Saturday in October. I met a dining out group here for the clambake last night (on the 26th). There were 8 of us, and all but one ordered the clambake. They were a little panicked because it was the last clambake of the year and things were looking tight, but they managed to accommodate us in a private dining room and we had a wonderful meal. Our server was stressed, but she handled us great. I started with a Pinot Grigio, which was a little light on the pour but I had already had a sangria at my book group earlier. We were four people to each table, and they brought out a board of five herb ciabatta rolls and a small bowl of marinara for dipping or drizzling. The ciabatta was soft and nicely herbacious. They then brought us a cup of New England clam chowder, which had a nice sherry note to it, followed by the linguini in white clam sauce. I can’t wait to enjoy it tomorrow. The third course featured a dozen middle neck clams with broth and drawn butter, which were perfectly cooked. They gladly brought out small bowls of clam broth when we asked. It was nice and was light like a wonton soup broth. At that point I was getting full. The roasted portion of the meal includes a marinated roast chicken breast, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, parsley red skin potatoes, and buttered corn on the cob. The marinated roast chicken breast was really tender and delicious. I had a piece of sausage with a pepper and onion, a bite of the potatoes and ate the entire corn cob. It was great, but they happily boxed it all up for us (including a separate container for the clam pasta since there was some liquid to it). We weren’t offered dessert, but to be fair we had promised not to take up the room for too long, so we headed out after paying our bills. It was a great clambake to cap off Clambake Season in Cleveland.

Plus one final clambake at Gunselman’s Tavern

One final observation that became painfully clear to me – why do restaurants even bother serving drawn/melted butter if it doesn’t taste like anything? It’s almost as if it was the tasteless oil-based butter. There is a huge difference between melted salted butter and unsalted butter for heaven’s sake. Next year I’ll try shaking the salt shaker into the butter. Maybe that will improve things.

Contact info:

Willoughby Elks
38860 Mentor Avenue
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 942-2747

Reithoffer’s
17711 Ravenna Road
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
(216) 333-8803

The Rustic Grill at StoneWater Golf Club
1 Club Drive
Highland Heights, OH 44143
(440) 461-4653

Station 43
39910 Aurora Road
Solon, OH 44139
(440) 836-0043

Bruno’s Ristorante
2644 W. 41st Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 961-7087

Stancato’s Italian Restaurant
7380 State Road
Cleveland, OH 44134
(440) 886-6242

The Village Butcher in Mayfield Village

The Village Butcher opened in 2022 and is part of the Quagliata empire. The tucked-away butcher shop is located in a strip mall next to Heinen’s on SOM Center Road near the intersection with Wilson-Mills Road. It is a destination for shoppers in search of imported pantry items, deli meats and cheeses, high-quality steaks and chops, and built-to-order sandwiches. The butcher shop serves as a production site for the restaurants that the Quagliata family owns. They use all Ohio-raised meats like chicken, pork, and beef. The products are all high-quality, and you pay for that quality. Those of us who appreciate that don’t mind paying a little extra. We are happy to support family-run farms and businesses.

As you walk in the first thing you see are giant slabs of beef slowly dry aging in a separate room, followed by a large red steel meat scale and a huge counter filled with gorgeous-looking slabs of meat. There is also a small refrigerated counter filled with premade items such as various salads and potato salad, meatloaf and Italian specialties such as lasagna or eggplant parmesan. There is also a modest modern kitchen in the back somewhat out of view where the staff makes the delicious built-to-order sandwiches.

The first sandwich I enjoyed was a fish sandwich they advertised for Lent. It looked delectable, and since the butcher shop had been on my radar for a little while I headed straight there to enjoy it. It was one of the best fish sandwiches I have ever enjoyed – 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. I can’t wait until Lent so I can enjoy it again.

I bought a slab of lasagna and one of the bacon-wrapped meatloaves that same day to heat and eat later. Both were absolutely delicious. I ate the lasagna over two days, adding a little pasta sauce to moisten it. I also bought another individual-sized meatloaf on my most recent visit as well as some frozen cheesy potatoes. Both paired nicely together for a nice stick-to-your-rubs, meat-and-potatoes meal.

Most recently I tried the special sandwich of the day, a peach and prosciutto sandwich. When I asked how it was one of the employees replied that she liked it and didn’t even like peaches. It features a peach chutney on a sub bun with layers of prosciutto, arugula and slices of cheddar. It was quite tasty – and I do like peaches. I would have never thought to pair peaches with prosciutto, but it works. If you like a salty prosciutto this is one to try next peach season.

I have heard good things about their burgers and the Barbecue Short Rib sandwich. They take Ohio-raised short ribs and sous vide them with rosemary, thyme, salt, garlic and pepper, then cut chilled pieces and fry them a little so they are a little crispy but still soft and juicy on the inside. The meat is then topped with cheddar cheese, some house made sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, black garlic aioli and pickles and onions. It’s on my list for next time.

Since it’s a Quagliata business you can stock up on huge cans of tomatoes, frozen homemade Italian pasta, boxed or bagged Italian pasta, and frozen quarts of Italian Sunday sauce and vodka sauce and other soups and finds. The selection is well curated.

Contact info:

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

The Winking Lizard/Lizardville Beer Store & Whiskey Bar

The Winking Lizard is another local Cleveland-based chain. The original Winking Lizard Tavern officially opened its doors three decades ago, in 1983, and is located on Miles Road in Bedford Heights. It was recently rebranded to Lizardville Beer Store & Whiskey Bar, which is an offshoot of The Winking Lizard restaurants. There are three Lizardville locations – in Bedford Heights, Brunswick and Copley. The food at these locations is a bit more upscale than The Winking Lizard (think flatbreads, shrimp and crab appetizers and mini-sandwiches or dinners in addition to a few Winking Lizard favorites).

The Winking Lizard now operates 21 restaurants across Northeast and Central Ohio. I have visited numerous locations, including the one on Miles Road, and each location has consistent food and a world-class beer list. There is a bar area with lots of televisions showing games and displaying the available beers as well as dining areas that don’t have as many televisions as in the bar, so you can ignore them if you need to. The Winking Lizard used to house an actual lizard, but they have been rehomed during and after the pandemic. When you walk in you are welcome to help yourself to fresh popcorn in a popcorn machine.

Speaking of the world-class beer list, several of my friends have done the world tour of beer and earned a quality jacket for their troubles. The program is in its 38th year (in 2024). It costs $20 to sign up and you have a year to drink some beers and earn some prizes. The first Tuesday of the month is Tourist Tuesday, when the beers are $1 off. Each beer is worth 1 point. You get a t-shirt after drinking 25 beers. There are also gift certificates once you hit certain milestones. Fifty beers gets you an insulated cooler and attached beer opener, 100 beers gets you a $20 gift card (essentially refunding your sign-up fee) and a Tour Jacket, and 150 beers gets you the Jacket and an insulated vest. You can also donate your “coat” to Coats for Kids. Instead of receiving your coat, Winking Lizard will make a donation to Coats for kids in the amount of $50.00. How cool is that? I don’t drink enough to make it worth it, but I do enjoy the fact that the beer list features quite a few of my favorite European beers. New beers are added all the time, with featured beers each month.

Do you know what pairs well with beer? Wings. And The Winking Lizard is known for its wings. The wings are meaty and always great. You can choose traditional bone-in or boneless wings, and there are 19 different sauces to choose from with varying spice levels. I am a fan of the BBQ, Honey Mustard and Bourbon Barrel sauces, but there are plenty of hotter sauces if you prefer a hot wing. The traditional wings are $0.90 a wing on Mondays after 3 PM. The specials are available in orders of five and are dine in only. There are no special orders that day. Wings are only available as traditional or crispy. Boneless wings are $0.85 a wing on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Another thing that pairs well with beer is pizza, and pizza is on special on Mondays and Tuesdays after 3 pm (and also dine-in only). You can order a cheese pizza for $7 and add toppings (up to 4) for $0.60 each. The pizza is a decent pizza, with a nice doughy crust and a fair amount of cheese. I recently ordered one with sausage and spinach and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ribs are on special on Wednesdays for $13 for a half slab and $20 for a full slab. The rib dinners are served with their delicious garlic cheese bread and two sides. The ribs have a nice amount of meat on the bone and are nicely sauced. They aren’t fall-off-the-bone, but you also don’t have to work hard to tear off the meat.

One of my favorite items on the menu are the Bo-Man’s sandwiches. The Bo-Man’s Chicken Sandwiches are served on garlic bread and come with a side of steak fries. My favorite is the Bo-Man’s Honey Club. It’s a breaded chicken breast that is tossed in the honey mustard sauce and topped with mozzarella, applewood bacon, lettuce and tomato. There is also a Bo-Man’s Bacon Cheeseburger. Many of the other chicken sandwiches and burgers are served on brioche buns. There is something for everyone’s taste.

The Winking Lizard is also known for its clambake in the fall. The clambake menu is available at select locations every weekend starting in mid-September and running through October. It is available Fridays after 3pm and all day Saturday and Sunday, while supplies last. You can choose a barbecue chicken breast or order a bake that features a strip steak, a half slab of ribs, clams & clams, or twin lobster tails. The bakes all come with clam chowder, a dozen clams, corn on the cob, garlic cheese bread, and your choice of baked or sweet potato. You can also customize it using the ala carte menu. The clambakes range from $26 for the chicken to $40 for the twin lobster tails. The chowder is one of the better ones I have enjoyed, and everything is always delicious.

Contact info:

The Winking Lizard
Find the closest location at here

Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse

Austin’s is a small local chain, but it isn’t on every street corner like some chains. Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse is one of three locations in the Cleveland area (Brecksville, Mayfield Heights and Mentor) of the Austin’s Wood Fired Restaurants. The Mayfield Heights happens to be the one closest to me. Austin’s has been in business since 1994. I enjoy a good steak every once in a while, and since Brown Derby in Lyndhurst closed this is my go to. The food is always consistently good. The Austin’s restaurants make everything on the menu from scratch, grilling over hard wood, not gas, and it just gives it that special flavor.

I like to treat myself every once in a while. This place kept me going during the pandemic when I needed an indulgent meal, since I could pop down Monticello/Wilson Mills for my order. I wish they still served the twice baked potatoes as a side dish choice, but a baked potato (loaded or not) is also still a good accompaniment. I also miss the corn muffins in the bread basket. But restaurants do what they can to make a profit and stay in business I guess. The bread they serve now is still tasty.

The servers are all very accommodating. When my friend recently ordered some muddled cucumber drink “neat” and it came out all muddled, the server quickly had the bartender strain it for her, and she was super happy with the result.

If I am being indulgent I also enjoy treating myself to an appetizer before my main. I’ve had the potato skins and the stuffed mushrooms, and all the soups have been tasty (although it wasn’t my favorite New England Clam Chowder I’ve ever had, but it was a decent enough version). The stuffed mushrooms are stuffed with crab and topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano and mozzarella cheese. The mushrooms themselves are small but tasty. The potato skins are the old-fashioned kind and are loaded with sharp cheddar, bacon and scallions and served with sour cream on the side. They definitely bring back the memories of loaded potato skins.

I enjoy a nice New York strip when I am feeling indulgent (are you sensing a pattern?). The steaks are hand cut in house, seasoned with a 5-spice blend, grilled over the wood fire and finished with Austin’s steak butter. I order it medium rare, and it always comes out perfectly cooked. The steaks include a choice of potato and the vegetable of the day. Available sides include their house fries, a baked potato, sweet potato fries, garlic basil broccoli, house coleslaw, smokin’ (baked) beans, mac and cheese, bacon Brussels sprouts, Parmesan potato wedges and rice.

I have also enjoyed the Prime Cowboy Steak, which they claim is their most flavorful steak. It is a hand-cut, heavily marbled 18 oz ribeye. I love the visible steak butter on top.

My friend and I went there a few weeks ago, because she loves their smoked prime rib and wanted me to try it. The smoked prime rib is available on Friday and Saturday evenings after 5 pm. It is available as a 12 or 16 oz slab of beef. The Black Angus prime rib is hickory roasted. It isn’t the smoked wonder that Walter Hyde used to serve, but it was a nice slab of prime rib. I ordered the 12 oz and a baked potato and the Brussels sprouts. I could have ordered a loaded baked potato, but I didn’t want to overload the flavor of the beef with a lot of cheese and bacon. The Brussels sprouts were nicely roasted and tender. I loved the horseradish cream sauce they served on the side. My friend ordered the 16 oz so she could take half home with her for the next day. Her trick is she orders two baked potatoes so she has one for the next day as well.

Contact info:

Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse
6535 Wilson Mills Road
Mayfield Village, OH 44143
(440) 442-4340

Vienna Distributing

Founded in 1950, Vienna Distributing Company of Ohio is a family-owned and operated deli serving Northern Ohio. When I moved to Cleveland Heights 14 years ago I would drive by when driving down Carnegie to the highway and thought it was a printing company for the longest time. I eventually learned that it was THE place to buy corned beef. Vienna Distributing makes the corned beef that supplies all the best restaurants serving corned beef in Cleveland. The line can be long, but it is absolutely bonkers on the day before St. Patrick’s Day. The parking lots is full and people even park across the street.

It was a bare-bones deli and catering company for the longest time, but recently it is actually advertising with banners (I made a comment once on social media that I thought it was a printing company – coincidence?). It has also expanded what it sells. They have added coolers, a wall of chips, a wider variety of mustards, ketchups, and condiments, and a pick-up counter with hot dogs and the like.

There is no seating. It is purely a take-out place. Be prepared to wait because they are always busy, but trust me its worth it!! The wait during the lunch hour can be quite extensive. I usually go there on “off” hours – like 4 PM on a Thursday. It’s open from 9 am-6 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am-4 pm on Saturday, and it’s closed on Sundays.

I learned many of those “in the know” would stop by to buy Reuben fixings and make fresh Reubens in the parking lot during their lunch hour. So I used to stop in and buy Swiss cheese and corned beef (sliced hot) from the counter, a loaf of seeded rye bread, a jar of sauerkraut, mustard, and Thousand Island dressing. Most corned beef is too fatty for me, but Vienna’s corned beef is nice and lean, which I appreciate.

It also used to sell cheesecake on a stick, which I got a huge kick out of. Think a slice of cheesecake covered in chocolate on a stick. You can check out the PDF menu of available items here. You can order ahead and pick up at the counter on the right – or get it delivered through DoorDash or UberEats.

I stopped there recently because I was hosting a fire pit get-together where we roasted hot dogs and s’mores over the fire. They also sell Five Star real casing hot dogs as well as various packed hot dogs and kielbasa. They used to be in the middle cooler at the counter, but now they are stored in a cooler when you are in line. I stocked up on a 2 lb. package of (16?) natural casing hot dogs and 8 cheddar franks.

Contact info:

Vienna Distributing
8110 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103

(216) 361-4500