33 replies to this topic

[d4rksabre]

So this coming weekend I will be heading to Cleveland with the girlfriend because she has to spend the day at the Cleveland Clinic on Friday. We're leaving Thursday night and getting into Independence where our hotel is probably pretty late.

That said, we've got the rest of the weekend to mess around Cleveland. We're already planning to hit the Cleveland Auto Show, the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and maybe a Lake Erie Monsters game if time allows. But one of my favorite things to do is explore the local food.

I'm usually pretty good at finding the little places, the pieces of Americana, that wont be packed with tourists. There's always a 50/50 chance of food poisoning, but that's a risk I like to take.

Anyone from the Cleveland area have some tips? I'm looking for all types of places. 24 hour diners with a great Country Fried Steak, burger joints, good pizza, etc. None of that Apple Bees, Bonefish Grill, chain restaurant BS.

[sabills]

Couldn't resist.

[d4rksabre]

sabills, on 24 February 2013 - 03:31 PM, said:

Couldn't resist.

[elj4176]

Sorry I missed this. I'm a bit south of Cleveland and most of my recommendations would be based around a brewery/brewpub anyway.

Did you find anything good since no one gave you any ideas?

[d4rksabre]

elj4176, on 24 February 2013 - 04:42 PM, said:

Sorry I missed this. I'm a bit south of Cleveland and most of my recommendations would be based around a brewery/brewpub anyway.

Did you find anything good since no one gave you any ideas?

oh we haven't gone yet, we're going this coming weekend.

We like brewpubs!

[Sabres Fan In NS]

I hear that Cleveland Rocks ...

[Spndnchz]

Dude you have to go to Melt. Google it. Killer grilled cheese. Not what you'd expect.

[Bmwolf21]

Try Melt.

http://meltbarandgrilled.com/


Edit:  Chz beat me to it. Great food.  Opened a couple new locations.

If you're looking for a decent local bar/grill, Winking Lizard locations are pretty good, with lots of craft beers and imports from around the world.  Great Lakes Brewing Co. is pretty good too.

Edited by Bmwolf21, 24 February 2013 - 05:06 PM.

[d4rksabre]

I f*cking love grilled cheese.

[Bmwolf21]

d4rksabre, on 24 February 2013 - 05:06 PM, said:

I f*cking love grilled cheese.

d4rk - there is a Melt in Independence.  Right on Rockside Road, which is where I assume your hotel will probably be.  Winking Lizard is also on Rockside.  Both places within half-mile of each other.

Edited by Bmwolf21, 24 February 2013 - 05:08 PM.

[Spndnchz]

d4rksabre, on 24 February 2013 - 05:06 PM, said:

I f*cking love grilled cheese.

Crazy grilled cheese and awesome beers too.

[d4rksabre]

Spndnchz, on 24 February 2013 - 05:25 PM, said:

Crazy grilled cheese and awesome beers too.

It's happening without a doubt.

[JJFIVEOH]

[BuffalOhio]

If you can find a B Spot, they have great burgers.  Another great burger joint, although a drive-in, is Swenson's.  There's one just south of Independence on Broadview Road.  GREAT burgers, but you have to eat in the car.  That's part of the fun of it!

I hope your lady is OK, man.

[d4rksabre]

BuffalOhio, on 24 February 2013 - 07:17 PM, said:

If you can find a B Spot, they have great burgers.  Another great burger joint, although a drive-in, is Swenson's.  There's one just south of Independence on Broadview Road.  GREAT burgers, but you have to eat in the car.  That's part of the fun of it!

I hope your lady is OK, man.

Great tips!

She's good. Had a heart condition growing up and they did some experimental surgery on her that basically grafted surgical mesh over a hole by one of her valves. She's supposed to get checked out like once a year but life gets in the way.

http://en.wikipedia....l_septal_defect

http://en.wikipedia....heter_procedure

[bcardona]

+1 for Great Lakes Brewing.  Cool neighborhood too.

[Braedon]

Agree with most above. Others-

-If you like Italian, I have never had better than Bruno's on the west side.  Neighborhood is a little ghetto bit worth it.
-Corned beef Panini from Paninis
-Westside Market has EVERYTHING (mexican, brats, seafood) but not sure if open on the weekends.
-Sullivan's Irish Pub in Lakewood.  Killer food, Salmon Boxty is my fab
-Beer at Great Lakes.  Yes.
-I used to get a killer Cubano sandwhich on the west side but can't remember the spot.

[Bmwolf21]

Braedon, on 24 February 2013 - 11:22 PM, said:

Agree with most above. Others-

-If you like Italian, I have never had better than Bruno's on the west side.  Neighborhood is a little ghetto bit worth it.
-Corned beef Panini from Paninis
-Westside Market has EVERYTHING (mexican, brats, seafood) but not sure if open on the weekends.
-Sullivan's Irish Pub in Lakewood.  Killer food, Salmon Boxty is my fab
-Beer at Great Lakes.  Yes.
-I used to get a killer Cubano sandwhich on the west side but can't remember the spot.

West Side Market is open on weekends.

http://www.westsidem....org/about.html

Hours of Operation:
Monday & Wednesday: 7AM - 4PM
Friday & Saturday: 7AM - 6PM

They just reopened after an electrical fire tore through the facility.  Was shut down for a little longer than 2 weeks.

[wil1226]

Any of Iron Chef Michael Symon's restaurants are well worth it....

http://lolabistro.com/
http://lolitarestaurant.com/
http://www.bspotburgers.com/

See what the Broadway Market could and should be with a visit to the West Side Market

http://www.westsidem....org/about.html

then go next door to the Market Garden Brewery

http://marketgardenbrewery.com/

or across the street to the Great Lakes Brewing Company

http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/

No trip to Cleveland should be complete without a trip to one of the many Panini's locations for an overstuffed sandwich

http://www.paninisgrill.com/

E 4th St has a lot to offer including Lola and The Greenhouse Tavern (chef Jonathon Sawyer)

http://thegreenhousetavern.com/eats/

Saywer's other restaurant Noodlecat is around the corner

http://noodlecat.com/menu/

Historic Little Italy isn't far from the Cleveland Clinic

http://clevelandlitt...om/restaurants/

[d4rksabre]

Wow great info! Thanks!

[Claude_Verret]

Definitely Great Lakes, one of my brewing pals has been a few times and he raves about it.  I think he has mentioned that there is a market nearby, not sure if its the one mentioned above.

[elj4176]

Pretty much everything I was going to suggest has already been mentioned. Market Garden is worth a stop for sure and Great Lakes is in the same area. Buckeye Beer Engine is awesome too.

http://www.scout.me/...independence-oh

I've been to most of those places on various pubcrawls over the years so if you have any questions about any of them specifically just let me know.

[sizzlemeister]

Claude_Verret, on 25 February 2013 - 07:27 AM, said:

Definitely Great Lakes, one of my brewing pals has been a few times and he raves about it.  I think he has mentioned that there is a market nearby, not sure if its the one mentioned above.

I love their beer.  This thread is making me want to do an over night trip to Cleveland just to take the tour.

[IKnowPhysics]

If you get bored, the science museum is nice and is close to the RnR HOF.  HOF's worth it.

Don't skip out on the Great Lakes Brewery either, some of the best beers in the nation, IMO.

[Braedon]

Claude_Verret, on 25 February 2013 - 07:27 AM, said:

Definitely Great Lakes, one of my brewing pals has been a few times and he raves about it.  I think he has mentioned that there is a market nearby, not sure if its the one mentioned above.

Great Lakes is right across the street from the West Side Market, just behind the park.

[BuffalOhio]

I live in Cleveland and there are places listed above that I have to check out myself!

[MattPie]

Is that odd chili-macaroni thing from Cleveland or am I thinking of Cincinnati? I'm a sucker for finding the local "Speciality" and trying that.

EDIT: oops, Cincinnati. Never mind, although I'm sure you could find some in Cleveland if you looked.

Edited by MattPie, 26 February 2013 - 09:41 AM.

[elj4176]

MattPie, on 26 February 2013 - 09:39 AM, said:

Is that odd chili-macaroni thing from Cleveland or am I thinking of Cincinnati? I'm a sucker for finding the local "Speciality" and trying that.

EDIT: oops, Cincinnati. Never mind, although I'm sure you could find some in Cleveland if you looked.

Yeah you are thinking of Skyline Chili. Nasty stuff.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Fun thread.....I just remember a chain called the Brown Derby. It was a tinge classier than the Ground Round and they had a great burger.

Love the passion though. If I'm ever there for a few days I will take advice and do the circuit.

PS....Sounds like Jo should be fine. Good luck nonetheless....I know the drill.

[d4rksabre]

Bmwolf21, on 24 February 2013 - 05:05 PM, said:

Try Melt.

http://meltbarandgrilled.com/


Edit:  Chz beat me to it. Great food.  Opened a couple new locations.

If you're looking for a decent local bar/grill, Winking Lizard locations are pretty good, with lots of craft beers and imports from around the world.  Great Lakes Brewing Co. is pretty good too.

So it turns out not only is there a Melt right near our hotel, but we're across the parking lot from a Winking Lizard. #winning

[Bmwolf21]

d4rksabre, on 01 March 2013 - 05:33 PM, said:

So it turns out not only is there a Melt right near our hotel, but we're across the parking lot from a Winking Lizard. #winning

Bmwolf21, on 24 February 2013 - 05:07 PM, said:

d4rk - there is a Melt in Independence.  Right on Rockside Road, which is where I assume your hotel will probably be.  Winking Lizard is also on Rockside.  Both places within half-mile of eachother.

[d4rksabre]

Sitting at Melt in Lakewood for our last meal of the vacation. This place is just cool lookin. Real rockabilly atmosphere. Plus the Lakewood neighborhood was gorgeous to drive through.

Spent yesterday at the Cleveland Auto Show, then Great Lakes Brewery for dinner. The Brats and Pierogis were incredible!

Today we hit up the Rock and Roll hall of fame for nearly 6 hours. My first time. What a cool place.

I have to say, Cleveland really impressed me as a city this weekend. There is something to be said for the feel of a bigger rust belt city. It's like a bigger Buffalo. We'll be back for sure.

[Spndnchz]

d4rksabre, on 03 March 2013 - 05:34 PM, said:

Sitting at Melt in Lakewood for our last meal of the vacation. This place is just cool lookin. Real rockabilly atmosphere. Plus the Lakewood neighborhood was gorgeous to drive through.

Spent yesterday at the Cleveland Auto Show, then Great Lakes Brewery for dinner. The Brats and Pierogis were incredible!

Today we hit up the Rock and Roll hall of fame for nearly 6 hours. My first time. What a cool place.

I have to say, Cleveland really impressed me as a city this weekend. There is something to be said for the feel of a bigger rust belt city. It's like a bigger Buffalo. We'll be back for sure.

So what sandwich did you and the gf get?

[Bmwolf21]

d4rksabre, on 03 March 2013 - 05:34 PM, said:

Sitting at Melt in Lakewood for our last meal of the vacation. This place is just cool lookin. Real rockabilly atmosphere. Plus the Lakewood neighborhood was gorgeous to drive through.

Spent yesterday at the Cleveland Auto Show, then Great Lakes Brewery for dinner. The Brats and Pierogis were incredible!

Today we hit up the Rock and Roll hall of fame for nearly 6 hours. My first time. What a cool place.

I have to say, Cleveland really impressed me as a city this weekend. There is something to be said for the feel of a bigger rust belt city. It's like a bigger Buffalo. We'll be back for sure.

Yep.