Wild Goat Cafe - Wholesome Food in Kent

This blog has not had many nice things to say about national chain restaurants, but I will admit that they do build good buildings that offer fertile ground for local owners when the chain abandons them; one good example of what can happen is the Wild Goat Cafe in Kent.  Located at 319 West Main Street in Kent (map is here) in what was once a Friendly's, the Wild Goat is doing things right.  When I was an undergraduate at Kent many moons ago, I used to take Star, our fraternity dog, for walks along the Cuyahoga and then head over to Friendly's for some ice cream; I can say that while I miss Star, the Wild Goat beats Friendly's with ease. 

I had heard that Wild Goat was a great place for breakfast and lunch and that it was trying to use locally sourced, wholesome foods, so combined with the name I was expecting a kind of wild and funky place; actually Wild Goat is pretty mellow and straightforward.  The one big dining room is painted with several subdued colors, the tables and chairs are restaurant standard and there is a minimal amount of decoration.  The effect is pretty much standard American family restaurant.  When I got there it was early afternoon on a Sunday and they were full up, but there was room at the small counter up front.  Service was fast and friendly, the kitchen was a bit slower, but the food was worth waiting for.


The menu begins to reveal a bit more about the Wild Goat (you can see it here) with a bit more flair and a number of items that mention quality items such as hydroponic bibb lettuce and Kobe beef for the hamburgers.  But still sticking to a fairly straightforward selection of breakfast, sandwiches, salads and starters. 

Since I was in a breakfast mood, I ordered the Pancakes and Eggs with a side of sweet potato fries.  The pancakes were 3 medium sized cakes  firm on the outside and just the right amount of sponginess on the inside to absorb the syrup with a good mild taste.  The two eggs were perfectly cooked over medium and seemed to have more yolk then most eggs I have had, which is always a good thing.

The sweet potato fries were excellent, they came out piping hot and wonderfully crispy, with a bit less sweetness then most I have tried.  Each fry was light in color, with a clear snap to the outside and the inside perfectly cooked.  The flavor was less sweet then most, which worked wonderfully by playing more on the savory side of the palate.

Finally, although I was full, I could not resist taking home one of giant Cinnamon Rolls in the front case.   For $3 this was the buy of the day, with a giant roll that filled the full sized to go container, topped with a more then generous amount of frosting.  The fresh baked roll was very nice with a well balanced cinnamon layered between its swirls and the wonderful butter cream topping.  What was unusual, especially for an item such as this was that the sweetness was well controlled, even with the icing so that while I am sure I had too many calories, it could have been a lot worse.

The Wild Goat does very good food made from quality ingredients at fair prices.  Don't let the name fool you, this is straight ahead wholesome food prepared by people who care.  It may not be the flashiest, but it is hard to go wrong.

Circle Restaurant - Monster Pancakes

So you are watching Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins on Food TV and you start to wonder why we don't have any place that serves pizza sized pancakes? Well not to far from Cleveland there is such a place and it is pretty darn good. Circle Restaurant is located on the Circle (what a coincidence!!) at the intersections of Ohio Routes 14, 224 and 225 in Deerfield, Ohio (map is here), which is South East of Ravenna and close to Berlin Lake. Evidently well know in the area, it was busy both times I have been there. The number and mix of different motorcycles in the parking lot are a good sign, we riders like big portions of good food. The outside is a nicely kept brick building of indeterminate age, the inside is very nicely kept up, with a cheery feeling and some nice touches like a tin ceiling. There is a counter and a square dining room packed with tables. Even when the line for a table is long, it does not take long as service is quick and friendly and food comes out of the kitchen in a very prompt fashion. The menu is pretty much straightforward American fare, but the portions are big, the prices are moderate and the food is fresh and good. One thing you might notice is that on the Breakfast Menu the pancakes come in orders of one or two and are about $3 per pancake. This is because the pancakes are about 14" across, and come falling over the edges of a very large plate. The pancake (and I only ordered one) comes nicely cooked with a golden brown color and nice texture. One result of making a pancake this large is that you get different textures depending on which part of the pancake you are eating. The outer edges are pretty thin and a little crisp, the middle is thicker and a bit spongier, just right to soak up the syrup. The flavor is good and in addition to the 2 eggs over easy this is a big breakfast. On a past trip I tried the Giant Cinnamon Roll and it was very good as well, with a nice contrast between the roll and the gooey cinnamon filling. Circle Restaurant has a list of about a dozen or so pies on the special board and I have a suspicion that they are very good as well. Circle Restaurant is one of those good down home style restaurants that makes good basic food and does it well. They are not trying to be cutting edge, instead doing what they know how to do and doing it well. Well worth taking a drive on a weekend and checking out some very good grub.

Jim's Open Kitchen - Solon Diner

I must have driven by Jim's Open Kitchen hundreds of times without ever noticing it. Located just West of the intersection of Aurora Road and SOM Center at 33779 Aurora Road in Solon (see map here), in a small nondescript building it is easy to overlook. Then when I did notice it the use of the words "Open Kitchen" seemed to imply one of the new trendy places that do fusion cooking; well nothing could be further from the truth. Walking in you find an old school 50s style diner done up in a Coca-Cola motif. Jim's has one long counter with the grill behind it and a couple of booths on the other wall. The menu is straightforward and classic American grub, just what you would expect (you can see the menu here). I stopped in for a Sunday breakfast and went with a couple of eggs over easy, hashbrowns, toast and a pancake. One of the nice things about this menu, orders of a single pancake, french toast, or other single item are fairly priced, just about half the price of an order of 2. The order was made quickly right in front of me and was served up fast, fresh and with little fuss. The eggs were well cooked, if a little greasy, but they were tasty. The home fries were very good, with a good ratio of crisp parts to inside, the flavor was rich and I would head back for more. The pancake was freshly made, from scratch and had a really good texture without being overly spongy, it soaked up the syrup and held onto it. Overall a very good breakfast; nothing here that will make you redefine breakfast, but just good old fashion food cooked simply and well. Apparently Jim's is family owned and operated and it shows; the whole family was working and that creates a nice atmosphere with some teasing back and forth; just the kind of place that you might want to hang out. If you are out Solon way and looking for some unpretensious food and some throw back atmosphere, give Jim's a try, just ignore the name.

Eat At Joe's - South Euclid Hole in the Wall

I almost don't want to tell you about Eat at Joe's in South Euclid, since it is already too crowded on Sunday Mornings. Located at the corner of Mayfield and Green Roads (see map here), behind one of the big drugstores, Joe's manages to do basic food very well. The name, Eat at Joe's reflects the no nonsense approach; you will find nothing fancy, just good food done right, served fast and priced at a good value. Joe's occupies the same spot that it has been at for quite a few years, when the drugstore came in and tore down the old building they provided space for Joe's to remain and the new building was a nice improvement. Joe's is decorated (if you can call it that) in white with black accents and plenty of black and white sports photos on the wall. The feel is lunch counter, but nice and tidy and clean. Open only for breakfast and lunch, you will find lines out the door on Sundays as people from the area come for a quick breakfast. The menu is very basic, covering two sides of a table standup, one side breakfast, the other side lunch. Breakfast is eggs, omlets, pancakes, french toast, cereal, toast, hashbrowns and breakfast meats. Prices are cheap, with nothing topping out above about $5. This time I had the 2 eggs overmedium, hashbrowns and toast for $3.50. The eggs were good sized and perfectly cooked, just medium and not greasy. The hashbrowns are the grated style and were crispy and fresh tasting. The toast was what you would expect. I have had the pancakes on previous trips and they are nice large not too thick with a good texture and flavor. Joe's food is very simple, but it is well prepared, served in good portions and the prices are downright cheap. Service can be a bit harried, but the waitresses try hard and do get the food out. Joe's is not the place to go for anything fancy, I don't think they even know what parsley is or why you would put it on a plate and forget about food styles and trends. About the most radical thing they served are the specials which are listed on the whiteboard, in this case Eggs Benedict, mushroom spinach and cheese omlet, and a corned beef and Swiss omlet. Lunch is a list of common sandwhiches and a couple of soups and salads, although I have never given Joe's a try I would guess they make these in the same straightforward manner. The easiest way to know that Joe's is a success, try to find a parking spot in the lot on Sunday morning. Not a place to make a special trip for, but if you are in the area and want a good basic breakfast, Joe's is a place to give a try.

Waffle House - Fast Cheap Breakfast

We were out taking a hike at Mentor Headlands Park and I suggested we have lunch at the Waffle Hut on Route 44 and I-90. The other Waffle Hut nearby is at 36333 Vine Street in Willoughby. While I generally stay away from chain restaurants I have to say that every so often I get an urge for some good waffles and I head out to the Waffle Hut. For those who haven't ever had the Waffle Hut experience, they are relatively small restaurants with a large glass front. Inside the counter occupies a good deal of the restaurant with a couple of booths as well. The decor is primarily shades of gray tiles, but it comes across as cheery. The service is usually young, but well trained and friendly. Food comes out hot and fresh and most times very quickly. In addition you will see a lot of team work used and the staff works hard. The breakfast menu is built around waffles, either regular or buttermilk, eggs and breakfast meats and then the other accessories. Waffle Hut also has some southern flavor with biscuits and grits available. The waffles are thin, but fresh and very good. At $2.70 it is very well priced and for $1 you get a double order. My order of double buttermilk waffles were just right, crisp on the outside and moist and fluffy on the inside with just a bit of the buttermilk twang. topped with some syrup a very good morning start. I also tried the $1 egg and cheese biscuit and it was very good as well. The egg was fried and put on a split biscuit with cheese. The highlight was of course the biscuit, which while a little heavier than some, had a rich flavor. While I passed on the hashbrowns this time, they are very good and once again a good value at $1.50 can be doubled for only $.50 more. Waffle House gives you an options to top the hashbrowns with additional items such as onions, peppers, mushrooms, cheese or even chili for additional cost. Waffle House also has a full menu including burgers, sandwiches and such, but I head there for quick cheap breakfast. If you are on the roads and see the yellow and black sign stop in for a quick meal. So why do I like Waffle House despite it being a chain? The food is made to order, it is actually flavorful and comes out hot and fresh. The food is not underseasoned, and there is an actual assortment of sauces and seasonings on the table to add even more flavor. Also Waffle House offers a good value.

Burgers -N-Beer Breakfast - Willoughby Delicious Dive

A place called Burgers N Beer would seem to be problematic for me; after all I haven't eaten meat in over 30 years, so the Burgers are out, and as tempting as a good draft might be I do not drink when I am out on the motorcycle; but thankfully they did tack on Breakfast at the end of the sign. I am always looking for good breakfast places, you know the kind of place that gives a good sized breakfast at a reasonable price. Especially for Sunday mornings; I don't know why I will usually not eat breakfast all week and then come Sunday, time for a full breakfast. Located at 4027 Erie St. Willoughby, Ohio 44094, right near the intersection with Route 20, BNBB is housed in an old building, with the front of the building underwhelming, almost uninviting. Once inside however you are presented with a nice two room restauraunt/bar done up in vintage European posters, and other knick nacks. The theme even goes to the tables, with posters laminated onto them. The place has a cozy, dive like atmosphere, partially coming from the dark ceiling. The menu is the usual collection of eggs, pancakes, French Toast and the usual go alongs. You will notice that the prices are very reasonable and that they actually offer a good number of different combinations. I did a couple of pancakes with 2 eggs over medium and added a side of homefries. The pancakes were outstanding, with 2 very large and pretty thick pancakes well cooked and very flavorful. The eggs were cooked just right and not at all greasy and the homefries were also very good, with thin slices of potato cooked until crispy on the grill. I have heard that their burgers are very good and having had the fish sandwich, I can say the portion sizes are large, with sandwiches served on large slices of garlic bread. Burgers N Beer Breakfast may not have the most original or catchy name, but it is a cool place to hang out and get some good grub at a very reasonable price, so if you are over Willoughby way, check them out.

Westside Market Cafe - Great Breakfast

With a brief window of good weather on Sunday, I hopped on the Motocycle and headed west to check out the breakfast/brunch at the Westside Market Cafe. Located at 1995 W. 25 St. in the Southeast corner of the Westside Market the Cafe is open even when the Market is closed. Walking in the Cafe has the decor is a bit nostalgic, but in a very genuine way. This is not a space that has been made to look old, rather it is an old space that has been carefully cleaned and taken care of. The overall feeling is that this is a comfortable neighborhood place. There is a bar/counter and two seating areas. The breakfast menu is medium length with most of the items being based around variations on eggs benedict. I went for the Market Special, 2 eggs, toast and home fries for $2.75 and a short stack of the buttermilk pancakes for $3.50. The special was very good, with the eggs cooked perfectly over easy and a large helping of finely diced home fries cooked crisp with onions, and green and red peppers added. But the highlight of the meal was the pancakes. They were nicely presented on a colorful plate with some powdered sugar. The pancakes were medium thick and had just the right buttermilk taste to offset the sweetness of the syrup. These were some of the best pancakes I have had in a while. My overall impression of the Cafe was that they are doing very simple food using the best ingredients and careful attention to details at very reasonable prices. A quick look at the daytime menu shows a number of items I will need to get back and try. Definately worth checking out.