Have you ever had Himalayan food? It is very similar to Indian food. Himalayan food is influenced by Nepali, Bhutanese, Tibetan and Indian food and showcases foods from the “highest point on Earth.” It ranges from soothing to spicy, from vegetarian curries to meaty momos, and much more. The menu here is as lengthy as one would find in a conventional Indian restaurant, which is to say that it’s pretty overwhelming. But I love being adventurous, so I stuck with Nepali and chose the food that was unfamiliar to me.
Himalayan is located on Lorain Road in the former Cuisine Du Cambodge building. There is a small, but nice dining room and you can order from the menu as well as enjoy a range of dishes on the buffet. There is a small kitchen, so if you order off the menu you might have a small wait.
The lunch buffet is set up in the front area to your right as you come in the front door. The buffet runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is $12 per person. It usually features two meat or chicken dishes, two vegetarian dishes plus rice, veggie chow mein, pakora, soup, salad, fruit and dessert. It is primarily Indian dishes that most people are familiar with. The food was tasty with a hint of spicy. We all enjoyed the variety from the buffet. I particularly loved the tikka masala.
I also ordered momos for the table, because I had never tried them. They are like a pierogi or thicker soup dumpling on steroids. Momos, often called Tibetan dumplings, are perhaps the most familiar Nepalese food. These housemade dumplings fill the flour-based dough wrapper with finely chopped meat and/or vegetables and steamed. Though goat, lamb, beef, chicken, and yak are still the most widely found fillings, vegetarian momos have also flourished in recent times. The wrappers are thin, soft and delicate, and the filling is juicy and brightly flavored with heaps of garlic and ginger. They are served with a spicy tomato-based chutney on the side. I haven’t seen yak on the menu at Himalayan Restaurant here in Cleveland, but there is plenty of goat, lamb and the like. I chose the chicken momos and was not disappointed. Jhol momo are served floating in the sauce. If you like spice you might want to try the Chili momo.
The chai here is probably one of the best I’ve had in Cleveland. It was not too watery and had a nice spice profile. Himalayan chai combines milk, black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves that are simmered together for a hot and spicy chai tea. It was so good that I ordered a second one!
The menu ranges from tandoori (grilled) dishes to curries, kormas, tikka masalas and vindaloos to rice dishes like biryani and basmati-based dishes. There are a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees to choose from. If you are feeling adventurous order one of the choices off the Nepali section. The Himalayan platter serves 2 and features seekh kabob, tandoori chicken, sekuwa (grilled and skewered meat) and shrimp, so it is a good choice to try several things at once.
Ha Ahn is a small, family-run Korean restaurant in the same AsiaTown strip mall as Superior Pho. They serve homestyle Korean dishes as well as sushi. Just like with Superior Pho, I highly recommend parking in the parking lot behind the strip mall and entering through the entrance in the back. There are only a few parking spots available on Superior. The easiest way to access it is to pull onto E. 31st Street from Superior (No. 1 Pho is on the other side of E. 31st and Superior), but you can also access it from E. 30th. Just remember that E. 31st is a one-way street.
Hot barley tea is available upon request. It is served in a brass kettle. The barley tea has a unique nutty flavor and slightly sweet taste. The barley is roasted and brewed and has great health benefits and is beneficial for your skin.
Each meal starts with a half-dozen complimentary banchan (traditional Korean small plates) such as house-made kimchi, fermented bean sprouts, a fermented cucumber salad, and fermented fish cakes. The banchan are always fun and varied. You can order more for another $4.
It is one of the few Korean restaurants in Cleveland that serve what they call “Mool Nangmyun” (Mul Naengmyun or 물냉면) which is an icy cold noodle soup made with buckwheat noodles. My friend K. loves it and we went there to fulfill her craving. She gave me a taste, and I really enjoyed it. It was tasty. Cold soup isn’t usually my thing, but I can see enjoying this on a hot summer day.
I have ordered either the Dolsot Bibimbap (served in a hot stone bowl) or sushi when I have eaten there. It’s a fun place for a quick meal before a show at PlayhouseSquare. Bibimbap features marinated beef, assorted vegetables, and gochujang sauce piled atop a bed of rice. Dolsot bibimbap comes out in the hot stone bowl with all of the fillings piled in sections and topped with a fried egg. The idea is to stir it all together and enjoy the crispy cooked rice that forms along the walls and bottom of the hot stone bowl.
Korean Kimbap (seaweed rolls) have a sweeter nutty flavor that is distinctly Korean, so I was nervous when I ordered sushi here the first time. I had no reason to be nervous. The sushi here tastes just like sushi at a Japanese restaurant. The rice used in many Korean dishes is a short grain sweet rice, which is the “stickiest” variety of rice consumed in Korea. The glycemic index of this rice is very high. The different flavor also obviously comes from the fillings in the seaweed roll. Kimbap uses marinated beef bulgogi and assorted vegetables. They are very tasty and among my favorite items here.
The Japanese sushi rolls here listed in the Sushi section of the menu are the standard fish and fillings you can find at other sushi restaurants. The quality is always fresh, and the rolls are tight. I have ordered both nigiri and large rolls here and have been very pleased every time.
Ha Ahn is open every day but Sunday for lunch from 11 to 2:30 and then for dinner from 4:30 to 8. It’s open from 11 to 8 on Saturday. I try to go at off-hours to ensure I can get a seat/table. It’s really small and only has about 8 tables. There are benches in the hallway where you can sit and wait for a table.
Olesia’s is a Ukrainian restaurant that features delicious Eastern European and Ukrainian food. Everything is homemade and delicious. Olesia’s husband was a customer who fell in love with her food and her at her first location. I first ate here at the first location in North Royalton when it was Olesia’s Place and looked like a former Spaghetti House (complete with a large curved plastic windowed patio). It was always packed and you needed a reservation to ensure a table. It quickly outgrew the old space and relocated to Richfield in 2019.
It now occupies the old Richfield Taverne. The new location is stunning both inside and out. It boasts two elegant dining rooms with a stunning bar on the main level and a speakeasy-style bar/lounge on the lower level, a cozy patio, and a third-floor event space (Grand ballroom). It is pretty far from me, but it worth the effort to drive there. It is now billing itself as a fine dining location, but the food is hearty and filling and just as delicious as it was in the old location. According to its website, it is open Monday from 4 to 9, Tuesday to Thursday from 11 to 9, Friday and Saturday from 11 to 10 pm, and closed on Sundays.
Olesia’s saved my Easter during the pandemic. The timing of the new restaurant opening was unfortunate, just before the pandemic, and it quickly pivoted to take-out only to survive. I ordered an Easter dinner online and lined up in the parking lot to pick it up the day before Easter. It was so good and reminded me of my Ukrainian grandmother’s Easter dinner. It featured deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, ham, Russian potato salad, brussel sprouts, green salad, and a roll. The only thing missing was the kielbasa. I ate it over Zoom with my family members on the other end. It was divine and remains one of my most memorable meals of the past few years.
Our first meal at Olesia’s is undocumented, but I remember the Borscht, the Beet Salad, Olesia’s Platter and the Beef Stroganoff being the absolute stand-outs. All are featured here in photos from other visits. Olesia’s Platter (left) features a large cabbage roll with either red or mushroom sauce, three cheese and potato pierogies with onions and sour cream, and sauerkraut with your choice of sausage or kielbasa. It definitely hits the spot. The cabbage roll was just like Grandma used to make, and the pierogi dough consistency is light yet firm and tender. The bread is fresh and homemade, and the butter is herbacious and perfectly seasoned.
Beet salad, Borscht, and bread and butter
Olesia’s also has an amazing patio. I took a group there last summer and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. The vegetarians enjoyed the spicy fried buffalo cauliflower florets, potato pierogi, and mac n cheese. We also enjoyed watching a newly married couple take wedding photos and motorcyclists driving past.
I ordered a delicious cocktail and the deviled eggs to start, and they were absolutely amazing. Olesia’s is known for the deviled eggs, and as a huge fan of deviled eggs I was quite pleased with them. They have just the right amount of zing. The crab legs (on special) were perfectly cooked and hit the spot. I tore through them and enjoyed every single bite.
I have also had the pleasure of attending my local translator group’s Christmas event at Olesia’s. We occupied the third floor event space. You can climb the stairs or take the elevator to get there. There was a cash bar and the deviled egg appetizers and dessert plate were served family style. I ordered the beef stroganoff and it was just as good – if not better – than I remembered. The creamy short rib stroganoff in burgundy mushroom sauce was served on perfectly cooked egg noodles and topped with crispy fried onions. Soooo good!
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.
Abo’s is a family-owned restaurant on Mayfield Road just across from the Lyndhurst city facilities. The staff is friendly and the drinks are potent. The interior is dimly lit and features booth seating and a u-shaped bar with high chairs as well as some low and high tables. All of the food is cooked to order and is delicious.
I went with a group the first time and we sat on the back patio. The door to the patio is the glowing white door in the photo on the right. It overlooks a parking lot, but the weather was nice and it was covered so we didn’t have to worry about rain (not that there was a cloud in the sky at that point). I ordered the Nonna’s lasagna, which was not as heavy as a lot of lasagnas. The sauce was fresh and delicious. My friends had the chicken piccata and the chicken parmesan as well as the short ribs, which they all enjoyed. Several of us also enjoyed the cheesecake.
The second time I came was at lunchtime. I had locked myself out of my home and was fairly frazzled after having to reak in, so I decided to treat myself. I started with an espresso martini, which had quite the kick and definitely kickstarted my brain. I ordered a sausage and mushroom pizza, which hit the spot and reheated well the next day. Abo’s is known for the pizza, and it was definitely a good one. The crust was in between thin and crispy and thick and chewy, but it was definitely flavorful. I definitely recommend the pizza.
On my most recent visit I decided to try another pasta dish. I ordered the Bolognese with pappardelle noodles. If it came with complementary bread I certainly didn’t get any offered to me. I also decided to order a side salad, which didn’t come with the dinner. $21 for a pasta dinner with no salad or soup? The salad was at least quite refreshing. It consisted of fresh mixed greens, cherry tomato halves, thin slivers of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion and grated parmesan cheese. The balsamic dressing was excellent.
The Bolognese was quite good and had just the right amount of savory sauce. I had also ordered a glass of Sangiovese, which paired with it very nicely and cut the richness of the sauce (as did the balsamic dressing on the salad). I normally only eat half of a pasta dinner, ut this was so tasty that I ate enough not to make taking the rest home worth it. Toward the end of my meal somewho was probably the owner (a friendly older Italian gentleman) stopped over at my table to make sure everything was good. He also wished me a good night as I left.
Abo’s is a place where you return because you are made to feel welcome. Order the pizza.
After being in business for over twenty years, Scotti’s Italian Eatery has gone through a lot of rough times recently and has come out on the other side. In July of 2019, the owner was ready to call it quits due to the road work that closed the I-90 exit at East 185th Street. His loyal customers rallied around him, and he changed his mind and decided to stay open. Then Covid hit, and he pivoted to takeout only. The restaurant then had to suffer through the lengthy Water Pollution Control project that tore up the street and then the Streetscape Improvement Project. I am happy to say that the endless construction is finally over and business is starting to pick back up, but it wasn’t easy.
Scotti’s is cash only, which doesn’t help bring in customers since most people have stopped carrying cash. But that is also the reason that prices stay low. He also rolls with the punches and offers added bonuses like a Tesla charging station and “affordable Pet Shots” at the location. But, most importantly, the food continues to be made from scratch and is top-notch and affordable. And now that the weather is getting nicer it will be patio season, and Scotti’s has a great back patio.
The restaurant itself features a long bar, an open kitchen and a comfortable dining room with tables and booths with tables that are not bolted into the floor.
I started frequenting Scotti’s during the pandemic. Since then I have only dined here by myself in the middle of the day (so I haven’t been able to order an appetizer like the much-loved and intriguing stuffed hot peppers), but service has always been great. You are greeted warmly and told to take a seat. I was even greeted by a back of staff worker (the cook?) in addition to the server on my most recent visit. Each meal is accompanied by a house salad with tomato, cucumber, olives, walnuts and shaved cheese (get the house dressing!) as well as a basket of soft, warm, house-baked herb focaccia with a dipping sauce of herbed balsamic vinegar and olive oil. You can also just order butter to enjoy the flavor of the bread without the overpowering vinegar and oil. The bread is soft and delicious and worth the trip alone!
Doug Trattner reports that Scotti recommends the veal dishes, but for me the star of the show here are the calzones. The dough is light and crisp, and I love the combinations. A dish/cup of warm marinara for dipping is served on the side. My absolute favorite is the Bocconcini, which features fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes, spinach, provolone and the house dressing. The Caprese is similar to the Bocconcini (with fresh mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil and provolone cheese) but also includes proscuitto. I found it to be very salty from the proscuitto, but if you love proscuitto you’ll love it. The Florentine intrigues me, because it contains scrambled egg and cheddar cheese in addition to spinach, tomato and provolone. But I just adore the gooey fresh mozzarella and provolone combo so much in the calzone.
The pizzas are hearty and use all fresh ingredients. The Classic Deluxe features pepperoni, sausage, black olives, fresh mushrooms, green and red pepper, onion and anchovies. I recently ordered a small pizza with sausage, mushroom and green pepper to go and enjoyed it reheated in my air fryer. The green pepper was very fresh and a little overpowering, but the sausage and mushroom was perfect.
I am definitely a creature of habit. I had a photo of the lasagna as carryout during the pandemic and unwittingly ordered the lasagna again on a more recent visit. The lasagna is really good – gooey, flavorful and filling. It layers meat sauce and ricotta and provolone cheese in between fresh pasta sheets and tops it with more sauce and some parmesan.
I was in the mood for something different the other day and ordered the Scallop Fettucine Dinner with a sundried-tomato, basil and alfredo sauce. The large sea scallops are sauteed in garlic and olive oil and set atop a bed of perfectly cooked fettucine coated in the delectable sauce. It was delicious.
Scotti’s is open during the week from 11:30 to 9 pm and 4 to 9 on Saturdays. If you follow the restaurant on Facebook, Scotti often posts that he is there on a Sunday or for special events like the Super Bowl or Christmas Eve making pizza and other food, and you can tell he really loves and remembers his customers.
If you’ve been paying attention at all, I literally live at the top of the hill to Little Italy. I prefer to drive to Scotti’s on E. 185th in North Collinwood or Mama Catena’s in Euclid for a more authentic and better experience. Do yourself a favor and give them a try!
Lent is over. It was a good run of fish fries and pancake breakfasts. We now return to our regular feature of restaurants…
Chef Demetrios Atheneos’ latest foray into food here in Cleveland focuses on quick-serve comfort food. He owns a number of popular sit-down restaurants, like Forage Public House and The Oak Barrel, but during COVID he decided to open a quick-serve comfort food concept. His uncle originally had a restaurant called Chicken Ranch in the ’80s in Brooklyn, New York and it was his inspiration. His family works here – specifically his brother Niko and Demetrios’ sister and daughter. His brother rang me out on my last visit and Niko’s young child was hanging out at a table, trying to get his dad to give him something, which made me chuckle. Luckily Chicken Ranch is close to me on the east side, on Cedar Road in University Heights. Located in the former Lox, Stock and Brisket spot, this is a small place set up mainly for take-out, but it has a few tables that you can bring your food to and eat in if you want.
Chicken Ranch is “the farm to table food in a smaller, to-go kind of setting.” Chicken Ranch focuses on quality ingredients and freshly made products — everything from their signature chicken sandwiches to ribs, fish, even homemade cannoli. The menu has lots of dietary indicators, from vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free to keto-friendly. The focus on comfort food really makes it stand out, and the chicken here is next level! It is brined in a spicy buttermilk brine, battered and fried, resulting in a crispy, flaky outside shell.
The chicken tenders are almost the size of entire breasts – not thin tenderloin strips. During my first visit I ordered the tenders (3 for $13) and was not disappointed. They were so big I couldn’t eat them in one sitting. You can order them as regular batter dipped or grilled. They have 15 different homemade sauces to choose from, ranging in spiciness level from the House BBQ and Comeback Sauce (which is keto-friendly) to Black Garlic Toum, Kim Chi Hot Sauce, Dragon Fire Honey Butter, Cleveland Hot Sauce and Nashville Hot Oil. The spiciness level is indicated on the menu. I’m partial to the honey mustard. The tenders came served with a mini jalapeno corn bread, which was super tasty. I also ordered the crinkle fries and beet salad, which was made with golden beets, jalapeno and goat cheese. It is unfortunately no longer on the menu. Maybe it’s a seasonal side. It was a nice, refreshing side to balance out the fried tenders and fries. The fries were nicely cooked, with a crisp exterior and creamy interior, and dusted with a nice seasoning.
On my next visit I went with the Crispy Chicken Sandwich (they have several spicier choices as well, including the Nashville Hot Chicken they are known for). The herb buttermilk mayo was a great addition, and the slaw was fresh and crispy. They were a nice balance to the huge brined chicken breast. I obviously couldn’t finish it either. I had wanted to order the white cheddar mac n cheese, but somehow was confused when I opened the container and found no noodles. Turns out I was given the mashed sweet potatoes. I have no idea if I ordered the wrong thing or the wrong button was pushed. Mistakes happen (like my friend who ordered a patty melt instead of the tuna melt she had been thinking about all week – it happens). I wasn’t about to drive back and exchange it, so I ate it. It was sweet and tasty, but when you have your heart set on comforting mac n cheese it was kind of disappointing. Check your order before you drive away (not bad advice wherever you are, but easy to not think about in the moment). The serving sizes are generous and easily made two meals.
Chicken Ranch is also known for its homemade cannoli. They are next level. I’m fairly certain the cannoli I got on my first visit was a chocolate chip cannoli, but they have a banana cream cannoli on the menu now. Who doesn’t love banana cream??? It’s one of my favorite things in life. I really enjoyed the cannoli. The shell was crisp and shattered nicely, the filling was delicious, and I am fairly certain the whipped cream was real whipped cream and not the fake stuff.
I’m going to try the ribs next time, but they also have Wagyu sliders that sound good. Also, be sure to check the Specials board.
Contact info:
Chicken Ranch 13892 Cedar Road University Heights, OH 44118 (216) 938-7645</p
One of the first Ukrainian-owned businesses in Parma, a Cleveland suburb that’s been home to Ukrainian immigrants for the better part of a century, Mama Maria’s has been a local staple for about half that time. It serves excellent and authentic Eastern European food. It was run by Mama Maria until her son George took it over. George also State Meats next door. State Meats is my favorite place to buy Ukrainian delicacies like fresh and smoked kielbasa (try the double-smoked – wow), frozen pierogi, German potato salad (oil-based with bacon) and Russian salad (Olyvie, which resembles a potato salad, with the addition of other cooked vegetables like peas and carrots and meat.). You can obviously get that here too, but the pierogi are freshly made and hot. Mama Maria’s is known for its homemade jumbo pierogi, cabbage rolls, pelmeni (smaller Russian pierogi with a meat filling), German schnitzel, chenaky (stewed pork, potatoes, and carrots), and savory borscht (beet soup with pork and vegetables). They make authentic Ukrainian food that you cannot really find anywhere else.
I absolutely adore their kielbasa sandwich on a soft bun. The kielbasa is fresh and steamed to perfection. It is perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of garlic. You can get it with or without sauerkraut. I’ve been known just to stop and get a kielbasa sandwich when I get a craving for it. It always makes me think of my Ukrainian grandmother, who always served fresh kielbasa on Easter. And she lived in the area, so it probably came from State Meats – just like Mama Maria’s does. We now serve fresh kielbasa at Easter and Thanksgiving in her memory.
I met several girlfriends here for a quick dinner before an event at the public library on Snow Road. They loved their meals, which ranged from the schnitzel with a pierogi to stuffed cabbage and pierogi. The schnitzel was perfectly fried. It doesn’t seem to be hand-pounded like I am used to in Austria and Germany. They tend to be huge and hang over the plate, but this was a very serviceable option. The stuffed cabbage was also tasty and the pierogi were little pillows of potatoey heaven.
It’s a really small space with not a lot of seating. Our table was tight and had to be moved to accommodate us. They do most of their business as carryout. It is open from 9:30 am to 6 pm every day but Sunday. Mama Maria’s doesn’t even have a website and its Yelp listing is sparse. It’s definitely a Cleveland secret that shouldn’t be.
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!
The Century Village Museum, located in Burton, Ohio is an authentic representation of a Western Reserve Village from 1798 to the turn of the 19th century. It’s also the host of a fantastic pancake breakfast. In addition, they offer free tours of the Maple Museum on Pancake Sundays. The museum and store just reopened a couple of days ago (March 15) after being closed for renovations.
The Century Village Museum is located just off of Burton Square. My GPS directed me to the parking lot off of Park Street. I knew how popular this pancake breakfast is and just how small the parking lot is, so I took advantage of St. Patrick’s Day to ensure I could avoid the crowds, who I knew would be either at the parade downtown or at one of the many bars and restaurants serving green beer, kegs and eggs and corned beef. Anyone who knows me know I am not a fan of corned beef. This seemed like the perfect way to spend the morning/afternoon. I woke up at 10 am and headed out shortly after 11. The drive was gray and cloudy, and it started to sleet and then snow. I seriously questioned my decision, but in the end I am so glad I decided to brave the weather this morning. It was totally worth it!
The pancake breakfast is served every Sunday in March from 9 am to 2 pm. They also have signs directing cars through a drive-thru. I got there shortly after noon and had to drive around the small parking lot until someone left. I felt lucky to get a spot. Other people parked on the square, crossed the road, and walked a bit. By the time I left (probably at around 12:30 or so) there were some spaces open. I am also happy that I am walking better now, because it was a bit of a walk to the Bond Building, where the pancakes are served. I followed the signs, and because there was no line I had to ask someone at the door where to go. They have a cordoned off line along the inside of the building to the right. I followed the cordoned area down to the ladies sitting at the cashier’s table and handed over my money. They also take debit and credit cards.
The cost for the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast is $10 for adults and $6 for kids aged 6-12. The meal includes all you can eat pancakes (buttermilk, blueberry and apple – and they also had gluten free pancakes!!!), 2 sausage links, scrambled eggs, milk, orange juice and apple sauce. I also purchased extra sausage links for $1 each and extra orange juice for $1 (it said $0.75 on the sign, but they probably rounded it up to avoid dealing with quarters). Extra milk and water was also $1 each. I was glad I ordered the extra sausage and orange juice, because the sausage was fantastic. I didn’t remember about the milk and apple sauce being included in the price. Oh well, next time.
I grabbed a tray with a plate and plastic ware and grabbed my orange juices (and probably should have grabbed a container of apple sauce and container of milk). When I got to the serving window they had steamer trays filled with pancakes, eggs and sausage. I chose to get one of each pancake, asked for another half-scoop of scrambled eggs and ended up with four sausage links.
After I left the window, a nice gentleman asked if he could “buy me a cup of coffee” and poured me a cup from the urn. He made me smile. They also had hot water and decaf coffee. I grabbed some sugar and creamer and headed into the seating area to find a seat. The table had jugs of real maple syrup and bowls of individual butters and salt and pepper packets. They also had paddles to hold up high if you needed more pancakes or more coffee. I got a refill on my coffee, and the thermos of coffee was nice and hot.
The coffee was quite good – and strong, which was appreciated. The orange juice hit the spot (and wasn’t still frozen like at West Geauga). As for the food, it was fantastic! The scrambled eggs were just how I like them, and the sausage links were also outstanding. The pancakes themselves were fantastic – even the buttermilk, but the star of the show was definitely the apple pancakes!! These are definitely my favorite pancakes at any pancake breakfast so far. The smell was divine, and the taste was even better. The apple pancakes had a nice amount of cinnamon and were delicious.
I finished the eggs and ate half of the pancakes and sausage on my plate. I moved the pile away from the puddle of maple syrup on the plate and carefully carried my plate of pancakes and sausage to my car.
I plan to run through the drive-thru next week after the Burton Fire Department’s pancake breakfast and get all apple pancakes for later in the day. And I will probably start making apple and cinnamon pancakes at home, because they were a revelation.
Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Eats 