Metroparks maple syrup event: Tree to Table brunch

In addition to fish fries this time of year, I’m usually all about pancake breakfasts in March, but I’ve only been to one pancake breakfast so far this year. However, I attended a lovely brunch at the Cleveland Metroparks yesterday. I follow the Metroparks on Facebook in addition to getting their email newsletter and have attended several of their cooking classes in the past. I signed up for this event as soon as it was announced, and I’m glad I did because another attendee told me her mother wanted to go but waited four days only to find out it was sold out so she came on her own. The menu sounded amazing, and the price of $35 was good for the amount of food. They also offered vegetarian options, switching mushroom for the pork and tofu instead of the shrimp.

I had gotten a fish fry at the Emerald Necklace Marina during Covid and enjoyed it, so I knew the brunch would be a treat. I got there about 15 minutes before the 11 a.m. start time and was able to quickly check in, grab a maple-inspired cocktail using my provided drink ticket (I opted for coffee with Bailey’s and maple syrup) and grab a seat. I sat with a bunch of lovely people who made me feel welcome despite being by myself (again, I wasn’t the only one). One of the women had tried all three cocktails and stated that the Maple Syrup Mimosa was the best of the three, but they were all good. The other drink on offer was a Maple Syrup Old Fashioned, and there was a mocktail (below) as well as beer and wine to choose from.

The atmosphere was cozy on a cold and gray day. There was a fire burning in the fireplace, and there were three long tables to choose from. I chose a spot near the coffee. Priorities. There was a PowerPoint presentation running on a screen with lots of fun facts about maple syrup and maple sugaring.

To start, the servers came around with small shot glasses of sap water, which was a refreshing start. Sap water is more water-like than syrup-like, and the ‘sap water’ that is collected from maple trees is boiled down to make syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. There is a long tradition in Ohio of collecting sap that started with the Native Americans in the area. We were told that we are lucky enough to live in an area that is ideally suited for maple syruping. The snowy cold weather (and it started snowing a bit as I was driving to the event) after several days of warmer weather encourages the sap to flow from the roots to the leaves in the trees our area, and Ohio is ranked fifth in maple syrup production. We live in the 0.005% of the earth that produces sap and maple syrup (I’m fairly sure that percentage is correct, but I could be wrong – but it is a very miniscule percentage of the earth’s land). So our ‘Cleveland winters’ are good for maple syrup production.

The starters were served quickly and professionally. The food was served on small biodegradable plates (it is the Metroparks after all). We started with homemade focaccia bread with a maple cinnamon butter, quickly followed by roasted butternut squash soup with goat cheese, chili-infused maple and pepita. Both were delicious. The bread was fluffy, yet tender and was a nice delivery for the butter. The butter was so good I made sure to eat it all, and the soup was excellent. Everything in the soup was extremely well balanced, with nothing overpowering the other ingredients. The crunchy pepita were an excellent foil to the creamy soup.

We weren’t sure what to expect with three entrees listed. Would they be served together on a plate or served individually? I was most looking forward to the roasted garlic and herb pork tenderloin, which ended up being the first entree served despite being second on the menu. It did not disappoint! The “spinach, bacon and apple bread pudding” was a fantastic complement to the pork, which was perfectly cooked. It was topped with a delectable cider and maple butter sauce and crispy fried onions. I’m glad they served it first because I still had room to enjoy every single bite of it. I picked a bit at the next entrees, and one of my fellow diners asked for a box for hers. There was not a single thing on the plate I did not enjoy. I would go to a restaurant to order it!

The brussels sprouts in the Sambal and Maple Shrimp entree was my favorite ‘bite’ in the second entree served, although the plump shrimp were also really great and not too sweet. Each diner was served three perfect shrimp. The vegetables were chopped very small and roasted together. The puffed rice were also fun, it was nicely seasoned, and the entire dish as a whole was quite tasty.

The Pain Perdu with poached apple and smoked bleu cheese with pecan crumble was also quite delightful. Essentially a small square of French toast, it was perfectly prepared and well balanced. Bleu cheese can be quite overpowering, but this was the perfect amount to cut through the eggy french toast and complemented the poached apple. You could definitely taste the fennel in the maple/fennel reduction that was drizzled over the pain perdu, but it was also not overpowering and just offered a hint of fennel.

One of my tablemates had to leave to go see & Juliet at the Playhouse, which is fantastic and I was so happy that she got to see it (and it turns out about four or five of my friends were also at that show yesterday from the posts of Facebook), but she was able to enjoy the pain perdu and the crème brulee before she had to leave early to make it on time. I gave her fiancé my business card because I enjoyed talking to them so much. The Maple Crème Brulee with berry sauce and whipped cream was a delightful finish to an excellent meal. We then enjoyed a presentation on the history of maple syruping and maple syruping in the Metroparks, complete with props like collection bags and buckets, filters and a yoke that they wore to carry buckets of sap (an lots of photos of kids wearing the yoke). I would not have been surprised to see me among the photos of kids learning about maple syrup, because my mother took my sister and I to many educational events at the Metroparks when we were little and I definitely remember maple syrup production being one of them. We are so lucky to have the Metroparks for all of the educational as well as recreational activities!

Hopefully they will offer this event again, because it was fantastic. Be sure to follow the Metroparks on Facebook or get their email newsletter. And sign up as soon as you see it, because it sells out quick. All of their cooking events are also a fun time (I’ve attended a pie iron class and a pot pie class, among others), so keep an eye out for their events. They offer lots of different free and fee-based events (crafts, hikes, recreational classes, camping trips, etc.) in addition to cooking and food events, so if you haven’t checked them out be sure to do so! The Cleveland Metroparks rocks! Don’t be afraid to attend on your own, because everyone was very friendly, and we chatted the whole time about various topics. I left shortly after 1:00 to meet some girlfriends at Sangria y Tapas (I ordered a sangria and soup) and was full the entire day. The entire day! This meal (and specifically the pork tenderloin) will definitely be among my Best Bites in 2025.

And be sure to check out the Cleveland Metropark fish fries! Guests can dine-in at Big Met or get carry-out at Sleepy Hollow and Emerald Necklace Cafe. Merwin’s Wharf will also have fish fry specials every Friday. The Fish Fry takes place on Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. through April 11 this year.

Contact info:

Emerald Necklace Marina
Rocky River Reservation
1500 Scenic Park Drive
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 226-3030 ext. 1

Fish Fryday #3 2025: Savour at Polaris and Church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Collinwood

After last week I needed a church fish fry. I met some friends at Savour at Polaris Career Center for lunch, and we were celebrating my one friend’s birthday (I was going to bring a cake but didn’t get moving in time). But dessert is included with the entrees, so it wasn’t needed. She had the apple tart and several of us had the raspberry cheesecake.

Savour is the Career Center’s restaurant for high school students. It is open for lunch from 11:45 am – 1:00 pm on Wednesday – Friday (most weeks except when school is not in session) in September-May. You need to make a reservation. We had a noon reservation, and the place was so packed that they sat us at a folding card table, knowing we are regulars and would not mind. There was a bus or two of senior citizens here that day. We didn’t mind at all, being not quite senior citizens, but my friends are retired (I delivered a translation and ran a bit late today). We eat here a lot when we can, because the food is delicious and very affordable.

Our server was competent and very friendly (it can sometimes be hit or miss), and we got a couple of extra bialy as a thank you for being accommodating. The bialys are always a highlight. The chef changes the menu every week. In addition to several two soups, two salads, a pizza or flatbread and a Reuben sandwich. They also offer three prix fixe meals that include a bialy, a beverage, an entree and a dessert. This week they had Crispy Beer Battered Cod with herb rice pilaf, Basil Chicken over cous cous or Shepherd’s Pie (with ground beef and lamb).

I had ordered the cream of asparagus soup to start. I love a good spring soup, and asparagus is a favorite. It had lots of fresh asparagus pieces in a delicious creamy soup. It was really nice soup, and I was tempted to get a quart of soup to take home. I have taken home their soup in the past and enjoyed it later.

Most of us ordered the Crispy Beer Battered Cod while one of my friends had the pecan chicken salad, which she ended up taking most of home. The cod fillets were dipped in a house made beer batter then rolled in crispy Panko breadcrumbs. They were crisp and delightful. The fish is then fried and served with herb rice pilaf, fresh vegetables (today it was asparagus), a delightfully sweet vinegar coleslaw, and their house tartar sauce. The meal was delightful. The fish was crispy yet moist and tender inside. I always enjoy their rice pilaf, and I love asparagus and it was perfectly cooked. The coleslaw was also a nice surprise. I usually don’t like vinegar-based coleslaw, but this one was tasty and well-seasoned. I ended up bringing one of the three fillets home with some rice and a couple of spears of asparagus. I’m looking forward to popping the fillet in a hot dog bun for a little snack over the weekend. We sat around talking until most of the place cleared out, knowing the kids would be heading out at the end of the school day. I paid using the QR Code on my bill, but my friends braved the long line.

I was tempted to head straight to St. Mary of the Assumption after lunch because I got home at around 3:00 (the fish fry is from 3 to 7 PM on Fridays in Lent). I decided to do take out, because I was full from lunch despite taking half of everything home as leftovers. I ended up stopping at home for a bit to check my email and headed out shortly after 4:00. I drove down Monticello and down North Taylor to Coit Road and E. 152nd Street, because I try to avoid as much of East Cleveland as possible and drive around it when I can. Too many traffic cameras and speed traps. One visit to the East Cleveland traffic court was enough for me.

St. Mary of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic church located on Holmes Avenue just off E. 152nd just before the Rail Yards overpass. I got to the church at around 4:30, found a parking space in a very crowded parking lot (there are several lots around the church as well as street parking) and followed the crowd. The fish fry is in the Parish Hall. There was not much of a line, but it was a bit chaotic. As we walked in several people informed us that they had run out of the soup – at 4:30. No soup for you! It must be good. If you want to get soup, brave the 3:00 crowd. The line had died down a bit by the time I arrived, but I’m sure it gets crazy from 5 to 7.

I headed to the Take Out sign thinking the line was for take out, but initially was in the line on the left wall that was for dine in (they serve the dinners on trays through a serving window – runners can help carry your tray if needed). I then headed towards the bar area (behind the crowd of people to the right of the big Take Out sign) to get in what I thought was the line, but it turns out it was just people standing around waiting for their take out meals. We were also obstructing the bar/beverage traffic, so that was fun. You actually need to order from the ladies sitting down at a table behind the dine-in condiments table (in the middle of the photo). Obviously you need to bring cash – no credit cards here. They need to do something about the logistics because it was a mess. I then was finally able to order my fried fish dinner and a side of mac n cheese to go. As we stood around waiting, one woman’s order was misplaced (but not really – it was just waylaid in the kitchen, but she quickly made a stink after her friend’s meal came up), and while they were trying to find it some other dinners were still coming out and put on a table to be bagged up. One woman who ordered after me got her meal while mine sat on the table waiting to be bagged up for me. There isn’t much of a consistent system. But hey, it’s a church fish fry with volunteers. After another minute or so I grabbed my bag and headed back to my car for a quick drive home.

As for the food, the fish is obviously the star here. I ordered the “fried perch” dinner, but they also offer baked cod, shrimp, crab cake, mac n cheese, or combo (choice of two: fish, shrimp or crab cake) dinner options. The dinners come with your choice of home fries or french fries and coleslaw or applesauce as well as a slice of bread and a dessert (slice of strudel). You can also order strudel to go. What I thought was mashed potatoes on some dine-in trays were actually the home fries. They were white and mashed potato-like and I was afraid they were going to be bland, but they had a nice flavor to them. The fried fish was actually quite tasty, and it was perfectly cooked. The fish was nice and moist and the batter was crisp. There were three fillets of fish, and they were a decent size. I really enjoyed it, but they didn’t canoe up too much. The curl indicates if it is real perch or pike or zander. The most obvious way to tell Great Lakes perch from other fish of approximately the same size and shape (other than taste) is that Great Lakes perch is always joined at the belly. Perch also curls up (or as I call it canoes) quite a bit when it is fried. These did not curl that much, but they were nicely cooked and reheated well.

Get the applesauce. The coleslaw was pretty bland (especially after the coleslaw at lunch). The apple strudel was decent. It was a lot of food for $14. I also really enjoyed my side of mac n cheese, which added $3 to my total. It was cheesy and delicious. I tried a bit of everything and popped everything in the refrigerator to reheat later.

I can’t believe it is week 3 and I have yet to have pierogi with my Friday fish. I will definitely be remedying that in the next few weeks. In my opinion pierogi are the highlight next to a good fried fish.

Contact info:

Savour at Polaris Career Center
7285 Old Oak Boulevard
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
(440) 891-7600

St. Mary of the Assumption
15519 Holmes Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44110
(216) 761-7740

Fish Fryday #2 2025: Gourmand’s Deli and Tita Flora’s

In the past I have had my Friday fish fries mapped out in advance, but this year I only have a couple places in mind that I plan to visit before Lent is over. Today just proves that being flexible is a good plan. My original plan for today was to get a tuna melt at Chelo’s and visit Church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Collinwood, but a Facebook post this morning changed my plans. Tita Flora’s posted they were serving Ginataang Langka with Shrimp for their Friday special. I really enjoyed the taste of their Ginataang in the past, which is a creamy coconut stew with vegetables. So I decided to head there for lunch. I had taken today off and was running errands anyway.

I arrived at Tita Flora’s for lunch only to find they open at 4 PM. Oops. I had driven 25 minutes without even considering they wouldn’t be open for lunch. I briefly considered heading to South Euclid for the tuna melt, but then decided that since I was already there I would stay in the area. I adore Gourmand’s Deli and Coffee, frequently making a special trip if I have time during the day (it is only open from 7 AM to 2 PM Mondays thru Fridays), so it was a no-brainer to go there instead. In my humble opinion Gourmand’s serve some of the best sandwiches in Cleveland. Usually they encourage phoning orders in advance, but I decided I would eat in and wing it. They do a lot of carry out for the business workers in the area. I was surprised that it wasn’t packed at noon on a Friday. There was a sign on the door asking for patience because they only had 3 employees working. They also recently announced they are retiring and looking for a buyer so maybe that played a role, but there were plenty of folks coming in to pick up their orders.

I have had their Flipper’s Revenge tuna fish sandwich in the past, but wanted to try something different. I asked the owner Scott whether he recommended the Cajun Redfish sandwich or the Tuna Steak, and he suggested the Tuna Steak because it is a thick slab of sushi-grade ahi tuna. I placed my order for the Tuna Steak along with a cup of their corned beef and cabbage soup and grabbed a table and a fountain drink from the back corner. About 15 minutes later my order was ready. They asked me to let them know what I thought of the soup because it was a new offering. Their soups never disappoint, and this one didn’t either. I am not Catholic, so eating corned beef today didn’t bother me. The chunks of corned beef were also nice and lean and paired nicely with the potato chunks and shredded cabbage, so I enjoyed every bite. The Tuna Steak sandwich was delicious. It was cooked perfectly rare and was extremely tender. It was dressed with Cajun seasonings, pesto, and roasted onions and topped with coleslaw on toasted farm bread. Amazing. It was so filling that I took half of it home with me. Everyone there is really friendly and welcoming. I will miss Scott and his wife when they retire, but I hope someone can continue this special business. If you haven’t tried it yet, I urge you to get there soon. I highly recommend the Hawaii Five-Oh, the Chicken and Cheeses or the Mandalicious, but they offer something to suit everyone’s taste, from vegetarian, chicken, beef, seafood and pork and even salads. Also, the fish sandwiches are offered every day – not just on Fridays in Lent.

I was pretty full from lunch, but luckily I didn’t have to get to a church fish fry early like I had planned so I headed back out to Independence a little later in the evening to avoid the Cleveland Clinic rush hour traffic. Tita Flora’s is in a strip mall off Brecksville Road close to the water tower and several doors down from the post office. It was the first dine-in Filipino restaurant to open in Cleveland several years ago.

I was able to get there shortly after 6. I ordered a juice to start off, and the server recommended a juice that is popular in the Phillipines called Calamasi, which is a sweet, sour, citrusy flavor like a mix between a lemon, an orange, and a lime. The can was small, and I sipped it to savor it. I used my metal straw instead of the plastic straw they gave me.

I was able to order the Ginataang Langka special, which featured full head-on shrimp, green jackfruit and big chunks of ginger. It was tasty, but I didn’t love it as much as I enjoyed the vegetarian Ginattang. It wasn’t as creamy and coconutty as I remember it being. I don’t know if it was the jackfruit or shrimp that changed it. I did enjoy it, but not as much as I had built it up in my head. It was also really messy getting the heads and shells off the shrimp. I ate half and took the rest home for tomorrow.

I wish I had been more hungry, because their desserts (Halo-Halo, ube ice cream, and fried bananas) are great. On the plus side, I got some driving in and soaked up lots of Vitamin D and fresh air. I own a Prius, so I get good gas mileage. I hope you all had a good Fryday as well!

Contact info:

Gourmand’s Deli & Coffee
5345 Canal Road
Valley View, OH 44125
(216) 328-0942

Tita Flora’s
6531 Brecksville Road
Independence, OH 44131
(216) 232-4303

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

Ash Wednesday at Voodoo Brewing Company

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

Prosperity Social Club

Prosperity Social Club has been part of my family’s lore since before I was born. I have heard the story about my father being sent to what was then Dempsey’s to buy the G.I.s at the shower house next door a bucket of beer and a pack of smokes. At age 8. And he proudly claims that they gave him a dime and asked for the two cents change back, and he was proud to do it. He probably knew the guys in the photo on the website. He grew up in Tremont and spent a lot of time in Lincoln Park and Merrick House on Starkweather, just a few doors down from Prosperity. It opens at 4 PM during the week, closes at midnight Monday thru Thursday and 1 AM on Friday and Saturday. They also serve brunch on Sundays, so they open at 10:30 AM and close at 10 PM. I haven’t made it there for brunch, but it’s on my list. They have late night specials from 9p to midnight.

Residing in the original 1938 barroom (the aforementioned Dempsey’s Oasis, which was in operation from 1938-2005), Prosperity Social Club is open to the public, being a social club only in a figure of speech, behavior and attitude. The bar room is cozy and eclectic, with its Art Deco influences, dark chestnut walls and vintage beer memorabilia recalling a bygone era. Plus the food is killer. It proudly declares it is “The Clevelandest Bar in Cleveland.” I enjoy sitting in the back room, but lots of people sit at the bar or at tables throughout.

I have been here several times during Lent for the fish fry. The fish and pierogi are top-notch here, so the place is always packed. Reservations are a must. It gets so busy on Fridays during Lent that they have a limited menu, serving nothing but the fish fries and pierogi and a couple other entrees. The kitchen just cranks them out. Apparently they can do the beer battered fish using hearts of palm if you are vegan, but I don’t know if that is possible during Lent. It doesn’t hurt to call to ask. I highly recommend the “Gotta Haddock” Fish Fry, because you get the fried haddock, coleslaw, potato and cheese pierogi, homemade mac n cheese, and a cup of New England clam chowder. The pierogi are pictured above with the brown caramelized onions on top. The “Big Fish” comes with the fish, coleslaw and the mac n cheese. You can always add pierogi for an upcharge. And you’ll want to have the pierogi. They are amazing.

Prosperity is also known for its Eastern European food, such as the aforementioned pierogi, one Hungarian-style stuffed cabbage, one potato pancake and cabbage and noodles with “kielbaski.” If you order the Ethnic Platter you get a little bit of everything. They serve apple-cranberry chutney and sour cream to accompany the potato pancake (and pierogi if you’d like – there are no rules). Everything is filled with flavor, particularly the cabbage and noodles, but my favorites were the stuffed cabbage and the pierogi. That said, it is very heavy and filling and features no veggies. I took half of the dinner home for lunch the next day to eat with a small salad. It heated up nicely and did not disappoint.

They have a great beer and cocktail menu. Unlike during my recent visit to The Friars’ Table (stay tuned), Prosperity serves their Belgian beer in a proper Belgian beer glass! European have specific glasses for their specific beers. Belgian beer glasses are shaped like tulips, and the wide bowl and tapered mouth develop a thick head on the beer that captures each aromatic note. I was very pleased to get a Chimay glass for my Chimay beer.

My friends also really enjoyed their meals – although one friend complained about the lack of chicken in the Chicken Paprikash (see center photo) and was given a small bowl of it in response. My vegetarian friend really enjoyed her Harvest Salad (with tofu – see the photo on the right) and was pleased by how low her bill was. The photo on the left is the Stuffed Cabbage.

One of my friends ordered the housemade potato chips and French onion dip for the table to share, and they were a big hit. If you like crispy chips be sure to try them.

You don’t get much more old-school Cleveland than Prosperity Social Club. If you haven’t been there yet, be sure to check them out.

Contact info:

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

Gus’s Diner 185

Gus’s Diner 185 is a clean and cozy little diner on E. 185th Street in Cleveland that offers a diverse menu of diner favorites and classic American comfort food. My friend who lives down the street from it highly recommends the Eggs Benedict, and I have heard good things about their gyros. However, I often prefer sticking to favorites like breakfasts with rye toast or a club sandwich on my first few visits. They are open every day from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Breakfast is served all day, and they also have lunch and dinner options.

Since I always go at weird hours (non-rush hours) I have managed to get a spot in front of the diner on the street each time I’ve gone, but there is a parking lot behind and next to the diner with a walkway. When you walk in, you are greeted and told to sit anywhere you would like. I chose a booth close to where I was standing, and it was quite cozy. You can adjust the table in the booth as needed, and the cushion was comfortable and sturdy. The service is great and quite fast, and the servers are friendly and attentive. The server gives you a menu and a specials menu. The specials link on the website hasn’t been updated since I’ve been keeping an eye on it. They offer two soups every day, which are on the specials menu. The main menu itself is extensive, and there are lots of good choices for both breakfast and lunch.

The first time I went I ordered the croissant breakfast sandwich because I was craving one after enjoying a perfect croissant breakfast sandwich at Goldie’s in Strongsville. The croissant sandwich at Gus’s was also quite good and very generous. It came with a side of hash browns, which I needed to add salt and pepper to (probably kept under seasoned so that diners can doctor it up as they need/want). The croissant sandwich is made with scrambled eggs, cheese and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham (there is an upcharge for sausage patties or turkey sausage patties). I went with ham to replicate the one at Goldie’s. You can also get a breakfast sandwich on an English muffin or toast.

I also ordered a slice of French toast on the side. It had a really nice flavor to it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a nice hit of sweet along with the savory.

I enjoyed the Everything Omelet with hash browns and rye toast on another visit, because I was in the mood for spinach, mushrooms, and ham. The rye toast was perfect. I added some grape and strawberry jam from the packets on the table and enjoyed it. The Everything Omelet is made with 4 eggs, onions, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, ham, bacon, sausage, gyro meat, corned beef, Swiss and American cheese. It was a lot, but it was really tasty. And I just realized there wasn’t any spinach in it. I’ll be sure to order the spinach and feta omelet next time. I took about a quarter of it home for later because I couldn’t finish it.

I also ordered a Turkey Club sandwich to go. It was properly cut into triangles with large toothpicks to hold the three layers together. It came with a side of fries, which were decent. I forgot to ask for a side of Thousand Island, but I was able to whip some up at home. I slathered my club sandwich in Thousand Island, as you can see in the picture. I also really enjoyed the pickle. It was fresh and had a nice crunch to it.

Gus’s is a classic neighborhood diner. It serves a good breakfast that hits the spot, and the coffee is good and plentiful (and served in the old-fashioned brown diner coffee cups, which is always comforting). There are definitely better spots out there if you’re feeling at all fancy, but it does the job and does it well. This is a real mom-and-pop place and quite utilitarian and affordable. I will definitely go back in the future. The fried chicken and gyros sound and look good. There are plenty of choices to keep me busy.

Contact info:

Gus’s Diner 185
797 E 185th Street
Cleveland, OH 44119
(216) 481-8781

Sand Pebbles in Aurora and Pinecrest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact info:

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

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

The Best Bites of 2024

2024 was a quiet year for me. My weight loss journey has stalled, but my health has improved so that’s a bonus. I am not organizing big dinners with friends anymore and have been dining out alone a lot (just me and my Kindle, which is fun). But I still enjoyed several Best Bites in 2024.

First of all, I’ve been on a quest to find the best tuna melt. I have been ordering a tuna melt whenever I see it on the menu. And there are a lot of restaurants that serve tuna melts (but also especially during the Lenten season). A good tuna melt to me has a nice toasted bread and good flavor. The tuna should also be warm throughout. So far, my favorites have been at Chelo’s Kitchen in South Euclid and Old Brooklyn Cheese Company. Chelo’s tuna melt (left) is a Lenten lunch special, and it is so good I went back and ordered it three times during Lent this year. Chelo’s tuna melt is made with grilled onions, American and Swiss cheese on seeded rye bread. I love the pairing of American and Swiss. Old Brooklyn Cheese Company’s absolutely delicious tuna melt (right) also has a great combination of cheeses. It features tuna, mayo, diced dill pickle, onion, Old Brooklyn Mustard’s lemon preserve and a blend of mozzarella, raclette and cheddar on grilled sourdough from Leavened Bakery. Amazing flavor! It was an outstanding tuna melt, and I hope they serve it again soon.

I became a regular at Chelo’s Kitchen this year. It is located at the corner of Mayfield and Green and is run by a really nice married couple. Sarah runs the dining room and handles takeout orders, while Chelo cranks out great food from the kitchen. Since he is from Uruguay you can’t beat the empanadas and other Latin American dishes. They have great breakfasts and advertise different dinner specials on Wednesday and Friday nights (when they are open for dinner). I have had a lot of great meals here, from fall-off-the-bone ribs to stuffed cabbage and chicken parm to fish fries, but my Best Bite is the Chelo Burger. Not only is it impressive to look at, it is tasty to boot. The Chelo Burger features a large homemade hamburger topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, lettuce, and tomato topped with two hand-battered onion rings.

Speaking of good burgers, everyone knows I appreciate Gunselman’s burgers of the month. Their French Onion Dip Burger was so delicious that I couldn’t put it down. If you love French onion soup this burger was the epitome. It was the burger of the month in April, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I highly recommend it if they offer it again. It features a fresh baked onion bun from Sauced Pizza of Fairview Park as well as an 8 oz brisket/short rib/chuck burger patty, balsamic carmelized onions, bacon, Swiss cheese and garlic aioli. It was served with a bowl of delicious French onion soup. The two together was cheesy, oniony goodness!

In addition to Gunselman’s french onion soup, undoubtedly the best soup I had this year was the New England Clam Chowder at Bruno’s. It was served as part of their clambake and was probably one of the best clam chowders I have ever eaten. I liked it so much I got a pint to go to enjoy the next day. It was chock-full of chunks of potato and bites of clam with a heavenly herby flavor (I think it’s thyme among other seasoning). Absolute heaven!

I also couldn’t get enough of the poké bowl at Corner 11 Poké and Ramen in Strongsville. It is a suburban offshoot of Corner 11 in Tremont. I am a huge fan of Hawaiian poké, which is diced fresh fish over rice with a variety of toppings. Corner 11 was the first Cleveland poké place that let customers choose their portion size, type of rice or salad greens, proteins, toppings, and sauces. It’s in a non-descript strip mall, but the quality and portions are outstanding. I prefer the poké over the ramen. My go-to there is a medium poké bowl with salmon and tuna. The toppings are unlimited, allowing for endless customization and ensuring each bowl is perfectly suited to your taste at that moment. I usually order the white rice and as many vegetables and fruit as I’m in the mood for (as well as avocado, ginger and roasted sesame seeds). I then usually top it with Yum Yum and teriyaki sauces. Heaven. And the fruit teas, milk teas, and Vietnamese ice teas and coffees aren’t bad either.

 I’m not always healthy. I met friends at The Palazzo on Detroit Avenue near Edgewater and was blown away by the Quattro Stagioni there. I fell in love with Quattro Stagioni when I was living in Germany, and they actually do a proper Quattro Stagioni. Oftentimes a Quattro Stagioni here has the toppings, but they are jumbled together over the entire pizza. Quattro Stagioni is a very popular pizza in Italy. It means Four Seasons. The pizza is prepared in four sections with diverse ingredients, with each section representing one season of the year – artichokes represent spring, tomatoes and basil (the sauce) represent summer, mushrooms represent autumn, and prosciutto and olives represent winter. Palazzo’s Quattro Stagioni features artichoke hearts, mushrooms, olives and sausage. I was so thrilled to find a pizza with delineated sections!

I enjoyed several other great pizzas on a beautiful day in early August at In Forno in Avon. It was definitely worth the drive. In Forno’s wood-fired oven churns out amazing Neapolitan pizzas with great char and flavor. I first enjoyed the pizzas when the chef was crafting pizza in the wood-fired oven on a trailer at pop-up pizza events (outside the Olde Wine Cellar in Olmsted Falls). This time some friends and I spontaneously decided to meet there when they posted a photo of their special Peach Pizza on social media. The peach pizza was a taste treat. It is made with thinly sliced fresh peaches, walnuts, smoked bacon (my vegetarian friend ordered it without bacon and it was just as tasty), mozzarella and a drizzle of honey. I wish it was closer, but it is always worth the drive.

Italian seems to be a favored cuisine for me this year. In addition to Mama Catena’s on Babbitt Road in Euclid, I have been frequenting Scotti’s Italian Eatery on E. 185th in Cleveland whenever I want to treat myself to a nice lunch/early dinner. Scotti’s is cash only, so I always make sure I have enough with me. I love the fresh-baked herb focaccia bread. I found a new favorite this year when I had a hankering for ravioli. I ordered the Mushroom Ravioli and started second-guessing myself after I ordered it. I’m glad I didn’t call the waitress back, because it was perfect. The portion was perfect, with a tasty mushroom sauce (no canned mushroom here). I usually take leftovers home, but this was so good I stuffed myself until it was all gone. I couldn’t stop enjoying each bite. One of my friends met me here a couple of months later and ordered it because I had raved about it. She was just as pleased as I was.

Levant Shawarma has become a favorite this year as well. It is in the Little Arabia neighborhood right off I-90 near the intersection of W. 117th and Lorain Avenue. It has rotating spits of chicken or beef ready to shave and top with a variety of fresh toppings. The quality is outstanding. It does primarily take-out, but there are a few tables in the back if you want to eat in. I enjoy getting a shawarma bowl. I’m a fan of the rice pilaf (although jasmine rice and mixed greens are options as well) and add 2 spreads (I always choose their delicious hummus and baba ghanoush) and 5 toppings (the pickles and turnips are a must). My sauce of choice to top it is the toum (whipped garlic sauce). It’s a huge portion – enough for two meals – and absolutely delicious.

And last but not least, the chorizo risotto balls (Chorizo Funky Balls) at Funky Truckeria in Norton are amazing. One of my caterer friends highly suggested them when we were out and about one afternoon, and I’m glad she did. One order contains two deep-fried risotto balls filled with chorizo, goat cheese, and chihuahua cheese and topped with poblano crema, queso fresco and cilantro. It sounds like it would be spicy, but it isn’t. It’s just delicious. Funky Truckeria used to be a food truck called Wholly Frijoles Mexican Street Foods. Plus, I don’t usually like tacos, but their tacos were fantastic. I had the tequila lime chicken and Korean BBQ pork loin tacos, and definitely plan to go back to try some more the next time I am in the area. There is a Salted Turtle Nacho Sundae that looks and sounds amazing when it’s warm out again.

What were your favorite bites in the past year? What should I try in 2025? I am open to suggestions. Here’s hoping we all have a delicious 2025.