Rachel's Caribbean - South Euclid Gem

UPDATED 6/24/2010 - Rachel's is out of business.  They will be missed.

I can not believe I have not written about Rachel's Caribbean yet. It is a perfect example of a Cleveland area hidden gem, great food, nice atmosphere and reasonable price located where almost everyone on the East side drives by and never notices. Rachel's is located at 14417 Cedar Road in South Euclid. It is part of a very small strip mall and is located in a narrow space between a Subway and a DO Summers. There is just a small sign up and no windows, so its easy to miss. While just a couple of miles away, Bahama Breeze has a huge place that serves mediocre food to lots of people, Rachel's provides superior food in a quiet and relaxed manner, so most Clevelanders don't even know it is there. Walking in you find a small dining room with a small bar up front. The room is done in a soothing blue with half wooden paneling. The walls have a number of Jamaican pictures, posters and carvings, but with the low lighting and the gentle reggae music, the feeling is very relaxing and low key. The tables are nicely set and there is a choice of tables or booths. Once you settle in you can get a beer, wine or one of Rachel's Caribbean specialties, which are quite tasty and fairly strong. The menu is not extensive, but has a nice variety of really well prepared food, including salads, fish and seafood, Jerk Chicken and other island specialties. Portions are large and cooked fresh to order, presented simply and most importantly, taste good. One of my favorites, especially to get for takeout on the way home, is the fish sandwich. A big fillet of Talapia is either fried or blackened and then served on a fresh bun, topped with cheese and a home made sauce with lettuce and tomato. Sided with Rachel's red cabbage slaw and your choice of regular or sweet potato fries (get the sweet potato, they are fabulous), this provides a full meal at about $9. The fish is always well prepared and the sweet potato fries are crispy and flavorful. The last time I was in I had the Cilantro Shrimp. Large tiger shrimp are perfectly cooked and then covered in a bright Cilantro sauce. Sided with a large portion of the rice and fresh vegetables, it was very good and a bit different then anything I have had in Cleveland. Overall I have found Rachel's food to be excellent, with careful preparation, large portions and reasonable prices. Combine that with the laid back atmosphere and good friendly service and you have a definite winner in my book. With Winter weather on its way, we all need an occasional break; if you are feeling like you need a quick dose of the Caribbean, head over to South Euclid and get some excellent food at a reasonable price.

Caballo Bayo - Chagrin Falls Mexican

UPDATED 6/24/2010 - I was by Caballo Bayo and apparently they are out of business.

With the election finally over, good weather and cheap gas prices, it was hard not to get on the motorcycle at lunch time and just keep going, but instead rode out to Chagrin Falls to try a new Mexican Restaurant, Caballo Bayo. Located at 504 East Washington Street, just past the Chagrin Falls High School, CB looks like a very small place from the front, but appearance are deceiving. Once you get inside there is a large bar to the left and a couple of dining rooms all nicely decorated with sunny yellow walls with Mexican Style paintings and appropriate decorations. The decoration is limited and you don't get the feeling of being overwhelmed as in some Mexican Restaurants. The tables and chairs are nice and substantial, the tables set with cloth napkins and silverware. Of course the chips and salsa quickly arrive. The chips are hot and fresh, the salsa nice if a bit tame, although a little kick does sneak in. My waitress brought me some of the chipolte salsa which had much more of a kick. The menu is extensive and the dinner prices seem a little higher then most Cleveland Mexican Restaurants. At lunch however the specials are very affordable and turned out to be a great value. I ordered the lunch special No. 1 which is described as a Chili Relleno, Taco, Beans and Guacomle Salad. Expecting to get a nice portion, I was shocked when my waitress brought two long plates, one had a good sized Chili Relleno and a large portion of refried beans the other plate had the taco and a large salad of shredded lettuce with a very generous portion of guacamole on top. The waitress caught that I had received the wrong taco and quickly had the kitchen fix the problem - good job. The chili relleno was well prepared and flavorful, in this case the pepper was cooked without any batter, a bit lighter and it allows some of the melted cheese to escape, but very nice. About the only problem I had was that this was a bit mild, but that happens when dealing with fresh peppers, some are hotter then others. The beans were also good with a nice creamy texture and a mild flavor. The guacamole salad was very good, very fresh aith the creamy smoothness of the avacodos contrated with the small bits of vegetables mixed in. The highlight of the meal was the Shrimp Taco; this was excellent. The medium sized shrimp were very well cooked and put into a fresh taco shell with some sauteed pepper and onions and then topped with cheese. Think of this as a mini Shrimp Fajitas. Service was very good, with my water glass refilled several times and an appropriate amount of attention. They seem to be going a little more upscale here without losing a casual feel; this seems to work and I will be checking them out in the future. I left more than full, and that is with leaving half the chip basket uneaten. If the entrees are as good as the food I have this could be a real winner. Head out East and check them out, especially during lunch time.

Jerusalem Grill - Falafel Hot Spot

One of my favorite foods is Falafel. When done right, it is the perfect vegetarian food, a wonderful mix of vegetables, fried balls and creamy sauce all nestled in a pita. So I had the yen for one the other day, and since it was a Monday I remembered that Jerusalem Grill near my house does a special with a full falafel and a can of pop for $4.99. Turns out to be a very good deal. Jerusalem Cafe at 14421 Cedar Rd S. Euclid, Ohio 44121 is located in one of the small shopping centers at the corners of Cedar and Green. A Kosher restaurant that serves meat (so no dairy is allowed), Jerusalem has falafel, shwarma (think gyro), hamburgers, chicken and middle eastern salads. The restaurant is a store front with tables up front and then a deli case and counter in back where all the food is prepared. They have at least tried to make the place look a bit nicer by painting the walls and decorating. Even if you don't keep Kosher or are not even Jewish, you should feel right at home. But the real question is how is the Falafel. Overall I found this to be one of the better Falafels in town. The falafel balls are prepared fresh to order, with the chickpea batter fried just about right. The texture is good, if a little heavy, with the outside crisp and the inside firm. Taste is good, if a little light on seasoning to my taste. However the rest of the sandwich more then made up for that; the Isreali Salad was crisp and fresh, the purple cabbage just a slight bit tart. Add on the Tahini and Shug (green hot sauce) and you have a fine combination of flavors that tickle the tounge. The pita was good and fresh, if a little undersized to handle all of the stuffings, in the end this was a bit messy to eat by hand, but that can be a good problem as long as you have a fork handy. So I know what will become a regular option on Mondays and any other day when I have a hankering for a Falafel, just down the street to Jerusalem Grill

Agave - Oberlin Tanqueria

With the good weather this last weekend a little road trip on the motorcycle to try to find some good food sounded like a good idea, so I headed West to Oberlin, Ohio to see what a nice liberal college town would have to offer. On the main square at 19 W College St, Oberlin, OH 44074 I found Agave Burrito Bar and Tanqueria. For those familar with Chipolte or the late lamented Que Tal, you know the basic set up, you order a burrito, plate or salad and then tell the person what items you want off the steam table, however Agave presents some very good and very high quality choices. I had a vegetarian burrito in a spinach tortilla. For $6.50 I got a giant burrito stuffed with rice, beans, roast veggies, sweet potato puree, lettuce, cheese, guacamole, salsa and a couple of their sauces. In addition to the usual items, you will have choices like the sweet potato puree and a couple of home made sauces. I believe they had a tomatillo cream, a red pepper sauce and another one. Overall, this was one of the more tasty burritos I have had in a while and well worth the price. All of the items were excellent and the salsas had some real zing to them and contrasted nicely with the velvety guacamole. It was also nice to get distinctive flavors from each item. I wanted to try the Chipolte Pecan Brownie for desert, but they were out. Maybe next time. Decor is nice, with a number of Mexican masks on the wall and cacti and succulents in the front window with some warm earthtone walls. A very nice, relaxed place with food made from scratch and seasoned well. Agave also has beer and a small bar selection, so you can wet your whistle. If you are out Oberlin way and looking for a good quick meal, give Agave a try.