Category: Good eats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

West Geauga High School Pancake Breakfast

It’s Pancake Breakfast season! The holiest of Nature’s holidays. When the sap starts running in Geauga County and the calendar flips over to March, it is time for pancake breakfasts throughout the area. Spring is the time of the most activity when the syrup is being made and most of the harvest work is done. Most of the local pancake breakfasts feature real maple syrup, and you can’t throw a stone around Burton without hitting one. I attended my first pancake breakfast season today and chose to try the breakfast at West Geauga High School in Chesterland. I had heard a lot of good things, and it was my first time there. We pulled into the high school parking lot and followed the crowds of people. The entrances and exits were well-marked. We just followed the signs. We got there at 11:30. It starts at 8 am and runs until 1 pm. The cafeteria was packed, but the line wasn’t very long and moved fast.

West Geauga High School pancake breakfast is run by the Kiwanis Club and relies on community volunteers. The place was swarming with Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Pixies, Brownies and Girl Scouts. There were lots of folks collecting money at the cashier table, making the food in the cafeteria kitchen, restocking silverware and beverages, and most importantly running around the cafeteria with thermoses of regular and decaf coffee and trays of pancakes and sausage. Insider tip: the sausage is from Kocian Meats at E. 40th and St. Clair, and we heard several people raving about the sausage.

For $10, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat buttermilk, buckwheat, chocolate chip, and blueberry pancakes, French toast, Geauga County’s Pure Maple Syrup, sausage, juice, coffee and milk. Children 6 and under are $6 and there is an early bird special from 8-9 a.m. for even less (but if you’ve been following me you know that I am not a morning person and will never be up and moving for an early bird special unless I haven’t gone to bed yet – which was the plan for this Saturday’s pancake breakfast at Abundant Life Ministry Center in Burton, but I decided at 5:30 a.m. that I would rather go to bed than power through until 7 a.m.). I’ll hit it later in the day later in the month. That one is on Saturdays in March from 7 a.m. to noon.

My friend joined me because she was looking forward to the buckwheat pancakes. Unfortunately she said there wasn’t as much buckwheat as she prefers. She prefers the Burton Fire Department’s buckwheat pancakes. But she still enjoyed them.

I grabbed a plate of blueberry pancakes and a plate of French toast and got several sausage patties. I liked that they asked if I wanted them well-done or regular. I told the server that I didn’t care, so he gave me two regular patties. My friend loved the well-done sausage because they were crispy and just how she likes it. I like that they give you a choice.

We found a clean spot for two and tucked into our food. The volunteers kept coming around and topping off our coffee and clearing half-empty creamer pots and syrup jars and switching them for full ones. We didn’t need refills on pancakes or sausage, but if we had wanted them all we had to do was hold up paint paddles to call for more. There was always someone close by with more. They had big urns of coffee with which they refilled the thermoses.

I was thrilled to see my friends (and former neighbors) who introduced me to the idea of pancake breakfasts just a couple people down from me. I gave them all big hugs and caught up. Not bad for a West Sider who found herself on the far East Side. My friend and I drove back home with full bellies and happy hearts. It was the perfect start to the syrup season.

We were even served some coffee by The Cat in the Hat. He was just a spot of sunshine. Everyone there was efficient and very friendly. It was great seeing families enjoying themselves, and we enjoyed chatting with the folks around us.

Contact info:

West Geauga High School
13401 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, OH 44026
(440) 729-5950

Au Jus

Au Jus is Cleveland’s first exclusive Chicago-style Italian Beef restaurant. It is tucked away in a nondescript strip mall on Broadview Road in Parma. Its grand opening was on February 8, 2023, so recently celebrated its first anniversary. Up until recently you really had to search for an Italian Beef sandwich. Ferrera’s serves one, but it sells out quickly and they close pretty early. It takes me a while to get out of the house some days, so I usually miss the window. And Ferrara’s is cash only.

Au Jus prides itself on the quality of its products, and it shows. They use top-round beef and slow roast hundreds of pounds of it every day. I have been following the journey online from the planning stages to the opening and finally got a chance to try the restaurant out recently. It is primarily a carry-out business. There are a couple of seats, but it’s not exactly conducive to relaxing. The kitchen is also spotless and every corner is visible. You can watch the workers create your food as you wait. It is a welcoming environment, and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

The Italian Beef is available in regular or large, and you can choose between Swiss or Provolone cheese. You can also add mild, spicy or mixed giardiniera and hot peppers if you like it spicy. Some customers choose to upgrade with double the meat, but save your money. The portions are very big and priced excellent for the quality and quantity of the food. I can probably only eat a regular (and probably only half in one sitting), so I went for the regular Italian Beef with Provolone cheese on my first visit. I forgot to specify mild giardiniera. The beef is shaved thin and piled on a soft hoagie bun. I got the au jus on the side since I wasn’t going to be eating it right away and “dunked” would have made it a soggy mess. The sandwich was delicious. I liked it better than Ferrera’s. You can tell the beef is high quality. I was in the mood for onion rings as well, and they did not disappoint! The onion rings here are battered, not breaded.

I absolutely adore their Italian sausage sub. It comes on a soft bun and is topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce and smothered in onions, peppers and melted provolone cheese. The sausage itself is tossed on the grill in the kitchen before topping it with all that goodness. I was only going to eat half but could not stop eating it because I was enjoying it so much.

If you can’t decide between the Italian beef or the Italian sausage sandwich and like it spicy you can order the Spicy Trifecta, which features Italian beef and cheese, a spicy Italian sausage, hot peppers, and spicy gardiniera. The sausage is split and laid atop the Italian beef and then topped with the hot peppers and gardiniera. It’s too hot for me to handle, but if you are in the mood for spicy it features the best of both worlds.

I also ordered the mushroom and Swiss sandwich. It is one of their pressed sandwiches. The owner warned me that there was no meat because other customers have not been aware of that, but I was. I, however, was not aware that it was more of a vegetarian sandwich and less of a mushroom and Swiss sandwich. I was really looking forward to a mostly mushroom and Swiss sandwich, but it was overpowered by the peppers and onions in my opinion. If I order it again I will tell them to hold the peppers and onions or maybe hold the peppers and go light on the onions. But that is my personal preference. This is a great choice if you are a vegetarian and love roasted veggies.

The owner had also asked my local Facebook food group for their input on the perfect Sicilian sub when he was planning the menu before opening the restaurant. As a result, the pressed Sicilian sandwich includes ham, pepperoni, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, diced mixed olives, capers, Italian dressing and lemon basil aioli. That’s a lot of meat! It kind of makes me think of a muffaletta but with lettuce, tomato and onion. It’s one of Au Jus’ best sellers.

Au Jus is open noon-9:30 pm Monday-Saturday. The owners are there on Sundays doing catering, so they don’t mind accepting orders. The owners are friendly and really dedicated and passionate about their products. This is one of those restaurants that I really like to support and root for. Be sure to check them out!

Contact info:

Au Jus
5875 Broadview Road, Unit B
Parma, OH 44134
(216) 795-5063

Fish Fry #1 2024: Mom’s Pierogies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

Michael Angelo’s Bakery

It’s almost Pączki time. Celebrate at the Winery this year from noon-6 pm on January 28th, but you can stock up on pączki at the Bakery until February 13th this year.

My favorite pączki are made at Michael Angelo’s Bakery. The Bakery has been open for 20 years and is located on Broadview Road in Broadview Heights Ohio just to the north of Wallings Road. The same owners opened Michael Angelo’s Winery during the pandemic. It is located down the street on the corner of Boston Road and Broadview Road in Richfield, and I have heard nothing but good things about it. I haven’t made it there yet though.

As I’ve said, Michael Angelo’s Bakery (not to be confused with Michaelangelo’s (the restaurant in Little Italy) or Michael Angelo’s Winery) is my go-to bakery for pączki (pronounced poonch-kee). For those who don’t know, pączki are made from especially rich dough containing eggs, fats, sugar, yeast and sometimes milk in the month or two before Lent (but definitely on both Fat Tuesday and Fat Thursday). They feature a variety of fruit and cream fillings and can be glazed, or covered with granulated or powdered sugar. Michael Angelo’s pączki are generously stuffed with filling and are light and airy while also being heavy in weight. It is a must-visit for me every pączki season. I go during the day during the week, but you have to get there early before they run out (or you will be stuck with prune) – or order them ahead of time. The lines are long during pączki season – especially on the weekends. If they run out of a certain flavor and they still have the pastries they will run and fill them for you. But once they are out they are out.

Their bread is also very good. They make bread for St. Sava. It looks like it would have a firm crust, but it is really quite soft. It is a tasty bread, but my favorite is their Buttercrust bread. It is their Italian bread topped with butter and baked in a loaf pan. It’s so good! Pictured here to the left is the Country Grain. It reminds me a lot of European bread – a harder crust with a soft center.

They also sell lots of packaged coffee, boxed or bagged cookies and bagged chocolate-covered treats like Oreos or pretzel rods. Their chocolate chip and oatmeal cranberry cookies are great. I had a friend buy them for one of our tea events. The last time I went I also bought a bag of their peanut butter cookies with mini Reese’s pieces, and they were moist and delicious. I’ve also heard good things about the macaroons but can’t attest to them because I’m not a fan. They do look pretty though!

They are also known for their special order cakes. The cakes I have seen people pick up here are spectacular, from kid’s birthday cakes to special events like bachelorette parties or baptisms. They also have smaller individual cakes in a display case to the left of the store.

The only thing I haven’t enjoyed here are the ham and cheese croissants. They are too doughy, and the ham is not good. Croissants should be light and flaky. These are not.

They also sell coffee and tea, which is helpful when you need a jolt of caffeine or a soothing hot tea.

Contact info:

Michael Angelo’s Bakery
8035 Broadview Road
Broadview Heights, OH 44147
(440) 526-0499

Savour at Polaris and The Buckeye Room at Lorain County JVS

Growing up in Olmsted Falls I am very familiar with Polaris Career Center and its job and training courses, which offer hospitality and cosmetology services to the community such as the restaurant and bakery, hair salon and the now-closed audiovisual services. Polaris offers courses designed to help junior and senior high students and adults from the surrounding cities prepare for meaningful careers, update job qualifications, or develop a personal interest. Students who were not college-bound attended Polaris in the afternoons. The only reason I was familiar with the Lorain County JVS, which is in Oberlin, is because I know someone who works there and used to run the Culinary Arts program there. The Culinary Arts program trains students in all areas of the demanding and competitive world of food service. Basic cooking techniques, baking, salad preparation, cafeteria operation and advanced culinary skills are taught by chef instructors and guest chefs. The Buckeye Room is a full-service restaurant run by students in their senior year. They also learn to cater functions before, during and after school.

The restaurant at Polaris is Savour and the bakery is Indulge. The restaurant at the JVC is The Buckeye Room. I had never eaten at either restaurant before. I have eaten at both twice now and look forward to more visits in the future. The food is amazing and the kids take great pride in what they are doing. You can also order online for take-out at Polaris. Finding the restaurant at Polaris was easy from the visitor parking lot on the right side of the complex (the last driveway on Old Oak Boulevard). Finding the Buckeye Room was a little more difficult. I entered the main entrance and parked in the lot to the right. I then had to walk to the entrance on the right of the photo and turn right as I walked in. There was a sign pointing me to the right, but the doors to the restaurant are not marked. Once you turn to the right, if you don’t know that the restaurant is hidden behind the double doors on the left just inside the cafeteria you will walk past it and have to ask someone where it is.

The bakery is open on Wednesdays through Fridays (most weeks from September to May) from noon to 2:00 p.m. and coincide with Savour’s hours of operation. The baked goods are quite good, and I can highly recommend the cookies, eclairs, individual cheesecakes and pastries such as the tarts and croissants. The bakery usually has a long line and it is SLOW. If you have a reservation at 12:30 you’d better get in line before noon because you will still be in line at 12:30 (even if you were towards the front). If you have a 11:45 am reservation grab your table and then put your order in with a friend as you queue up. Not only do all the elderly patrons slow things down, but the girls working behind the counter were not efficient either time I was there. One writes down your order while the other puts the baked goods on the tray – then they get taken to be boxed and then ring the sale up. I know they are students, but the slow pace is not doing anyone any favors. I’ve worked in restaurants and they are very high pace environments. They also tend to sell out of things quickly.

Both restaurants require reservations because demand for tables is high since they are only open a couple of days a week and only a couple of weeks a month. My friend makes several reservations at once as early in the season as she can for the lunches. I always joke that I am one of the youngest ones dining here, but there has always been one table of twentysomethings eating here as well.

Savour is open for lunch from 11:45 am – 1:00 pm. The schedule is posted here. Each table gets a basket of bialys for your party, and you can order more to go if there are extra. A bialy is flat bagel-like roll with a depression in the center typically seasoned with an onion and poppy seed mixture. The more well-known bagel refers is a round roll, typically with a hole in the center. Unlike bialys, bagels are boiled and then baked, giving them a chewier texture. On our first visit they had not taken the number of reservations into account, and our table was shorted two bialys.

First row: Walleye, Short Ribs, No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake
Second row: Clam chowder, Pot Roast, Maryland Crab Cake
Third row: cross-section of the Crab Cake, NOLA Bread Pudding, Pot de Creme

You order off the limited menu here. There are two soup choices, two salad choices, a Reuben, two flatbreads, three entrees and two desserts to choose from. All the entrees include a complementary dessert for around $16. The servers are also learning to work front of house, but they have all been fairly competent. Our beverages have been refilled and food brought out efficiently. We had one case of the shrimp in the soup being overcooked, so we let the program manager know to tell them not to cook the shrimp in the soups for so long. Other than that everything has been excellent. The clam chowder on my second visit was so good that I ordered a quart to take home. They did not overcook the clams, and the potatos and seasoning were perfect. I absolutely fell in love with the Chicken Rockefeller on my first visit, and it was one of my Best Bites of 2023. The chicken, hollandaise and rice were perfectly cooked and the sauteed zucchini was also delicious. My crab cake on my second visit was moist and delicious (see photos in the table above – including the cross-section). And the chocolate pot de creme was exquisite.

The Buckeye Room is open for lunch from 10:45 am – 1:00 pm Monday thru Friday on certain dates throughout the year. All prix fixe menus are $17.00 for a 4-course meal and a drink. The dining room here at the Buckeye Room is very small, only seating maybe 50 people. On our first visit we were seated promptly, but they had taken too many reservations on the second visit and the kitchen was in the weeds, so we had to wait a while for our table. They had some seating for waiting guests, but people were standing in the small hallway for quite a while. The clientele here tends to skew a little younger.

Just a selection of the meals
First row: Cheese & sausage stuffed mushrooms, Calamari, Potato & leek soup
Second row: Herb roasted turkey breast with sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and corn; Spiced vanilla trifle; Arancini
Third row: Winter chop salad, Chicken pot pie; Cherry pie

I can never finish the full 4-course meals here. I tend to enjoy the appetizer and soup or salad and then half of the entree, and tend to ask for a to go box. The cherry pie was easier to take home than the tiramisu, so I opted for the cherry pie even though the tiramisu looked amazing. My favorite bite here so far was the Surf & Turf on my second visit. The 4 oz. filet was perfectly cooked to my medium rare specification with a delicious demi-glace. The shrimp skewer was delightfully charred and served on a bed of roasted tomato risotto that was extremely flavorful. They had run out of the brussel sprouts, but the zucchini they substituted was also delicious and I didn’t miss the brussel sprouts. Another Best Bite of 2023.

I look forward to my meals here in 2024 and beyond.

Contact info:

The Buckeye Room
15181 State Route 58
Oberlin, OH 44074

Savour Restaurant
7285 Old Oak Boulevard
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130

Matteo’s

I first learned about Matteo’s from a feature on New Day Cleveland. It sounded and looked delicious, and the fact that it was located in my hometown (Olmsted Falls) made me want to check it out. I’ve been there several times and have always really enjoyed my meals there. It is located on Columbia Road/Route 252 near the intersection with Bagley Road in Grand Pacific Junction (in the strip of business just south of the railroad tracks).

Grand Pacific Junction was developed after my family moved away. It was a bunch of ramshackle buildings and a strip mall that housed my first bank (National City) and Kucklick’s Furniture back in my day. It is a very popular, fully restored Victorian shopping village with more than 30 shops, restaurants and services. Restaurants in Matteo’s location have struggled over the years, but Matteo’s has been here since 2015 and does a booming business because the food is so good. Reservations are highly recommended if you want a table.

Matteo’s main entrance is in a storefront facing the parking lot and several of the standalone buildings such as Clementine’s, although they also built a storefront facing Columbia Road. But that door is locked and you need to use the side entrance (door on the right as you look at it – the first door you come to from the street). There is ample parking behind the buildings and on the side street.

The quality of the food is good, and everything is apparently housemade. There is a good selection of vegetarian, meat and seafood dishes. The menus is fairly extensive but not too extensive or overly ambitious. The food is tasty, and the prices are reasonable. In fact, the prices about the same or a little less than places like Carrabba’s and Macaroni Grille, but it’s always nice to support an independent. Many of the entrees are available in half portions (and still come with a side AND a dinner salad)l It isn’t advertised, but if you ask they can accommodate you. You can easily eat a half portion and STILL have leftovers.

The service was friendly and very attentive. The servers and runners are well-trained and efficient, and it is obvious that management cares. The chef is definitely underrated. He is dishing out great food in generous portions – all beautifully presented and perfectly cooked.

On my first visit I met friends from high school for lunch. It was pre-pandemic. They are only open for dinner during the week (except Mondays) from 4 to 9 (and 8 on Sunday and 10 on Friday and Saturday), but are advertising that lunch is “coming soon.”

They have no trouble serving large parties. Every time I’ve been here with a group we have received prompt and attentive service. Each time we were blown away by the food – especially the pizza. It is a simple flatbread-like pizza and absolutely delicious. I really liked the pillowy yet crunchy crust that you can sink your teeth into.

As for dinner service, the bread is warm and has a nice crust. It is served with both butter and a dipping oil of vinegar and lots of herbs and roasted heirloom tomatoes. The butter was not rock hard, which I really liked. I like being able to choose between dipping oil or butter and totally appreciate being able to spread the butter I am given.

The Italian wedding soup contains generously sized meatballs, shredded chicken, escarole and napa cabbage, pastina and chunks of carrots and celery. It was tasty. I think it is one of the better Italian wedding soups in town.

The Zucchini Frites are a great starter – crispy, seasoned, and delicious – and the basil aoli is divine. Our dining group polished it off by sharing it up and down the table, and everyone really enjoyed it.

A friend and I recently arrived at 4:30 on a Friday night without a reservation (I figured 4:30 would be early and more accommodating) and were given a table in the bar. It quickly filled up, and there was a small line at the door for a table when we left at around 6. We were given beverages and then ordered from the bartender/server.

The runners who brought out our food were efficient, but we did have to ask someone for the coffee my friend ordered after she had had her tiramisu for a while. Also, when I asked about the Monte Cristo after-dinner drink the bartender admitted she had been working there since March (it was November) and had never made one. Obviously I didn’t order it, but it is really nice to be able to order a drink because the town was dry when I was growing up and residents had to cross the town line to drink alcohol in an establishment. My friend enjoyed her cocktail, which she said had lots of bourbon, and a glass of Chianti with dinner. I had a pumpkin martini, which was perfectly prepared.

The cavatelli and gnocchi and other pastas appear to be housemade. Two of my friends ordered the gnocchi and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the lasagna, since they are well-known for their “5-layer lasagna.” It is made with sheets of fresh pasta and mini meatballs and smothered in their house red sauce and provolone cheese and baked. It was definitely one of the better lasagnas out there.

The eggplant parm is absolutely amazing. Three big, thick slices of tender breaded eggplant topped with a tomato slice and cheese and served with a side of pasta. My friend ordered it and gave me her extra slice to take home with my leftovers, and it reheated well and was absolutely delicious.

I asked our waitress which entree she recommended – the Chicken Matteo or the Shrimp Matteo – and she quickly answered “Chicken Matteo.” The Chicken Matteo is their signature dish and is billed as breaded chicken with “romano cheese, tomatoes, asparagus, lobster sherry sauce, served with mashed potatoes.” The mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy, and the two chicken cutlets were perfectly cooked. The lobster sherry sauce didn’t seem very “lobstery” or sherry-heavy. It just seemed like a cream sauce. It was very good and reheated well.

The dessert options were tempting, and included limoncello mascarpone cake, cannolis, and cassata cake. My friend ordered the tiramisu, and it was creamy and absolutely delicious – and large enough to share.

If you enjoy delicious Italian food and are on the west side, be sure to check Matteo’s out!

Contact info:

Matteo’s Casual Italian
8072 Columbia Road
Olmsted Falls, OH 44138
(440) 427-5400

Clambakes 2023

This year money has been really tight, as the translation industry is being decimated by machine translation and AI. So I only attended two clambakes at restaurants this year and was treated to a tasty clambake at a friend’s house.

Gunselman’s Tavern

I attended the clambake at Gunselman’s Tavern with several friends who organized a table of six. It was my fourth year in a row. We were seated inside this time, because it was rainy and cold out. They were still cooking the food outside, but under the cover of their garage and a large tent.

The clambake was, as always, delicious. They started by serving us clam broth as a starter, followed by clam chowder at 1 o’clock on the dot. One of my friends saved his broth to add to his clam chowder. This year’s clambake included clam broth, New England clam chowder, a dozen clams, a small portion of both sweet potato and roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, 1/2 chicken or steak and a small roll. No cole slaw this year, Two of the folks at our table ordered extra clams, while one didn’t like clams and let three of us share her portion. The chowder was once again packed with clams and potatoes. I once again ordered the Steak Bake, and the steak was perfectly medium rare, which allowed me to take it home and reheat it for leftovers. I ate all the clams and the corn and took the potatoes and steak home for later. 

Willoughby Elks

Since tickets for the Willoughby Elks’ clambake have to be purchased in advance because they sell out and I had bought my ticket in the summer, I only had to shell out some money for my beverages at the bar. I had attended a tea in Burton and drove down side roads through the countryside to Willoughby. It was a beautiful day for a drive, and I got to admire the changing leaves. I had to wait for my friend Kerrie to arrive, but it was nice to catch up with her. We lined up outside in the then-drizzling rain (luckily not too heavy) and waited for the folks under the tent to assemble our meals. 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. Kerrie got the Chicken Bake and extra mussels, while I got the Steak Bake. We grabbed a table inside and enjoyed our meal, chatting with the folks around us. The corn is usually the highlight for me, but my corn this year was pretty dried out. And they had issues with the butter. I still enjoyed the clams and chowder and brought home the steak and the sweet potato for lunch the next day.

SweetBerry Fresh Market

One of my good friends had me over for a clambake she purchased from SweetBerry Fresh Market in Wickcliffe. We all contributed to the potluck dinner. One guest brought rumaki and a goat cheese and fig spread appetizer. I brought a s’mores cake made with German chocolate and marshmallow cream in a graham cracker crust in my Quick Cooker/InstantPot. Our host ordered 100 medium-neck clams from SweetBerry and made a delicious vegetable and seafood soup, some side dishes and a berry trifle for dessert, while another attendee brought beautiful steaks for each of us. The fourth guest brought some bottles of wine. I ate a ton of the rumaki (who doesn’t love bacon?), and we all gorged on the clams. One hundred clams divided between 4 people goes a long way. I took my steak home for a steak sandwich the next day. Everything was impeccable. Definitely a highlight of the year.

Contact info:

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

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

SweetBerry Fresh Market
30022 Euclid Avenue
Wickliffe, OH 44092
(440) 569-1042

The Lobster Pot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant

Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant opened on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights in 2016. Back then Empress Taytu had my heart, but I was willing to give Zoma a try. It didn’t disappoint. Ethiopian cuisine is characterized both by its unique flavors and known for its communal presentation, a family-style approach with multiple items arriving on a large platter. Ethiopian food centers around vegetable, meat and fish-based stews, some of which are spicy, that are scooped up and eaten with small pieces of injera, a spongy flatbread made from fermented teff batter. It is eaten with your hands.

We went as a large group right in January 2017 after it opened and had a great time. They do not take reservations, but appreciate the heads up if there is going to be a big party. The dining room isn’t as homey as Empress Taytu, but it is still decorated nicely and has plenty of seating. They serve lunch from 11:45 to 2 and dinner from 4 to 9 (3 to 8 on Sundays). The lunch special is quite a good deal – two vegetarian entrees (not including the tibs) for $10.99, and you can add an extra veggie entree for $4. Extra injera is $2. The spicy beef stew and one veggie entree is $12.99.

I ordered the mild chicken stew, which is made with chunks of chicken breast simmered in a tumeric sauce and seasoned with ginger, garlic, onion and an herb butter. It is also served with a hard-boiled egg. It was quite tasty. It could have used a touch more heat, but I am not a spicy fan. The spicy chicken stew (dorowat) is simmered in a red pepper sauce and seasoned with the ginger, garlic, onion and herb butter. Dorowat is the signature dish of Ethiopian cuisine.

They have a wide variety of tib dishes, which are meat (chicken, beef or lamb), mushroom or tofu marinated with a special sauce and fried with onion, rosemary, jalapeno pepper and fresh garlic served in a sizzling pan. My favorite Ethiopian dish is without a doubt the chicken tibs. Their tibs are quite tasty. Unfortunately I can’t order it with a side of tikil gomen. The meat and veggie combo features only beef stew. I haven’t gotten the nerve to ask if I can sub it out. The meat combo features the stew and your choice of 2 veggie entrees.

They have a large variety of options for vegetarians and vegans. One of my friends couldn’t decide which vegetarian option she wanted, so she ordered the veggie combo. There are two veggie combo options available – 3 or 4 entrees. The Zoma Special Combo features beef tibs, spicy beef stew, home made cottage cheese and all 6 of the veggie dishes.

The fun part about Ethiopian food is they often serve the food on communal platters, which allows everyone to share several options. Ethiopian portions may look small at first, but the injera will fill you up. You will never leave hungry.

I met a vegetarian friend for lunch there a little while later, and we sat at one of the basket tables. We enjoyed the samosas (small vegetarian pastries filled with sauteed whole lentils, onions, and jalapeno pepper and served with a sweet chili dipping sauce) as well as the tim-tim fit fit, which is made with pieces of injera bread mixed with chopped fresh tomato, onion, jalapeno and Ethiopian herbs. The fit fit is obviously quite spicy, but it was really tasty. We both ordered vegetarian combos that day. I ordered my beloved tikil gomen (on the menu as simply “cabbage”), the collard greens and green beans and carrots, while she ordered the cabbage, green beans and carrots and split red lentils. The split red lentils are simmered in a medium hot berbere garlic and onion sauce, while the split yellow lentils are milder and simmered with onions, garlic, and turmeric.

Ethiopian offers a little something for everyone. They serve a wide variety of wine, including honey wine (Tej). The honey wine is light and refreshing, but also not overly sweet. I like the tea because it has a nice spice note. You can also get amped up on their coffee service. They roast the beans right in front of you and it is quite an experience for the senses.

Contact info:

Zoma Ethiopian RestaurantZoma Ethiopian Restaurant
2240 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 465-3239