Zocalo–E.4th Street Yummy Mexican

E.4th Street downtown has become a culinary destination with some of the best restaurants in Northeast Ohio and a diverse spectrum of culinary styles and cuisines.  Zocalo holds down the Mexican cuisine aspect with well prepared and presented food, a classy décor and an unusual menu. 

Located at 2071 E. 4th Street, Cleveland, Ohio you enter Zocalo through the side door off of a small alley.  Once inside you find a very nicely decorated restaurant with a warm golden glow about it.  The decor is relaxed, but classy with a feeling that someone spent a lot of time and attention to create a welcoming atmosphere.  A circular staircase leads to the lower level, but we were seated in a nice table in the back corner.  The one downside of our location was there were several bachelorette parties near us so the sound level was a bit louder then I would have expected, but it was clear that people were having a good time.

The menu for Zocalo (which you can see here) offers a diverse array of both the familiar Mexican faves as well some more diverse representations of Mexican cuisine that we don’t usually see around here.  Noted Latin Chef Aaron Sanchez was brought in and his influence shows in the menu and how the food is prepared and presented.

We started with some adult beverages and the chips and salsa, which give a good indication of what is to come; the chips are fresh and hot and have a more tortilla like texture, the salsa is nicely balanced and has a bit of complexity with just enough heat to make it interesting.

I ordered the  Shrimp Tacos, which came out beautifully plated on a triangular plate.  Each of the 3 soft taco shells had a beautifully grilled shrimp skewers, sided by Tomatillio and mild Habenero sauces to perfectly compliment the succulent shrimp.  This was one of the best shrimp tacos I have had and definitely the classiest version I have ever encountered.  On the side were portions of a flavorful and moist Mexican rice and wonderful refried beans.  The beans were a bit of a revelation, clearly freshly made and with a deep and almost smoky flavor that makes you realize how wonderful a simple dish can be.

My friend ordered the fish special which was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented  on a black plate which made the bright vegetables pop.  The fish was tender and flakey with subtle seasonings that complimented the mild fish.  Accompanied by sautéed vegetables and  a nice portion of rice, this was a very pretty and satisfying plate of food.

Service was friendly, knowledgeable and good with the food coming out in timely fashion, despite the restaurant being filled. 

Although it may not get all of the critical raves of some of its 4th Street neighbors, Zocalo more then holds its own.  The décor is a significant step above most Mexican Restaurants, the food is excellent and unusual and the service is good.  Zocalo provides a very upscale experience at a reasonable price.  My only reservation was the noise level and it is hard to fault a restaurant for drawing large crowds and people enjoying themselves.  Definitely a place to check out if you have an urge to eat some South of the Border food, also it seems to be a great place for a celebration.

Cabanas–Just OK

I have often written about how I prefer local restaurants over the chains, generally the food is better and the atmosphere has a more genuine feel; then I run across a place like Cabanas in Mentor, a locally owned place that has all of the problems I have with chains.  Recently relocated to 9055 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060,

Cabanas has the potential to be so much more then it is a place with mediocre food and lots of generic Islands decorations. 

Cabanas has recently moved from another location in Mentor, so the restaurant was recently remodeled and as you would expect it has an Islands theme, unfortunately it comes across as a bit cheap and tacky, but not in the good dive place kind of way.  Rather it just feels like they went out and found the least expensive nautical and island decorations and used them. 

The menu (which you can review here) is described as American and Island cuisine and while it is heavy on fish and seafood it seems to be missing any kind of genuine Islands influence, especially since while there is plenty of grouper, shrimp and other seafood on the menu, nothing is at all exotic or unusual.  I would love to see some conch or some Island Chowder, but instead there are the usual Americanized versions of seafood.  

We started with the Coconut Shrimp Appetizer and while the shrimp were plump and nicely deep fried they were a bit sweet, especially if dipped in the orange mango marmalade that accompanied the shrimp.  The portion size was ok, but as I would notice throughout the meal the food was simply presented on the plate with no garnish.

For dinner I ordered the Fish Tacos, which were actually not Tacos at all; rather this was a flour tortilla wrapped around some grouper with a small serving of lettuce and some cheese then cut in half.   The lack of presentation was really bad on this plate as it was just the two halves of the wrap on a plate with nothing else; it looked kind of lonely and sad, with noting to make the plate appealing to the eye.  The fish was cooked alright, but there was nothing to indicate that it had the promised Caribbean spice and it certainly was as far from a fish taco as I have seen.  

Service was ok, but nothing exceptional and our server seemed to be learning the menu as she was going along.  The noise level was pretty high as the place was busy. 

My overall impression of Cabanas was that they have what I call PAF – perfectly acceptable food, but I look for more then that in a place I want to frequent.  There seems to be a lack of passion, like they are trying to create an atmosphere where as long as the food is OK, people will come for the excitement.  A few tweaks here and there, especially in how the food is prepared and presented and they could present a much better experience then they currently do.  Of course your mileage may vary.

The Flat Iron Café–Heart of the Flats

Over the years, Cleveland’s flats have gone through a lot of changes: t

he East Side is hot, then empty; the West Side gets the Powerhouse and Shooters; condos are built and filled; heck even the famous Cuyahoga River fire, but through it all the Flat Iron Café just keeps going, dishing out welcoming food and drink in a warm atmosphere.  It had been a while since I had checked the Flat Iron out, so when a Groupon (Groupon Site is here) came up for it, I grabbed it and have been waiting to use it for a while. 
The Flat Iron is located at 1114 Center Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 right across the street from the Center Street Bridge (the swing bridge) and underneath the Detroit Superior Bridge.  The nicely kept triangle shaped brick building is a perfect reflection of the comfortable Irish tavern inside.  Once inside you find a comfortable bar and restaurant with lots of dark wood, plenty of green highlights and just enough decoration to feel welcomed without being overwhelmed.  As opposed to some of bars around town which feel a need to show how Irish they are, the Flat Iron is comfortable in its own skin.  The bar along one wall provides a nice place to grab a beer and just relax.  The two slightly raised dining areas along the windows are comfortable, with plain wooden chairs and tables.  
Service is friendly and attentive, without being overly familiar.  My waitress was helpful and seemed to know just the right level of attention to give her customers.  The menu quickly arrived (you can see the menu here), and is filled with the items you expect at an Irish Pub, done very well.  With $20 to spend on my Groupon, I figured on getting the Perch Sandwich (especially with my waitress recommending the Perch), a side of the Pierogies, and from the special board a cup of the Seafood Jambalaya. 
If you have been reading C-Town Eats, you might have noticed that I like my soups, they are a chance for a place to really hit you with some nice flavors or a bit of a different twist.  After checking that it didn’t contain any sausage or other meat, I was very happy to order the Seafood Jambalaya which was one of the highpoints of my meal at the Flat Iron. First I have to say that the portion size (I ordered a cup rather then a bowl) was extremely generous; with a nice sized crock stuffed full of a thick and spicy goodness.  The Jambalaya had nice portions of fish and shrimp and an overabundance of bay scallops, all of which were tender and flavorful.  With some nice bits of vegetables for contrast and the perfect level of spiciness, this was a great way to start my lunch. 
Next up was the Fried Perch Sandwich, with a side of pasta salad.  Once again the portion size is very generous, with 5-6 fillets of perch served up a couple of slices of rye bread and a large heaping of pasta salad.  The perch were wonderful, with the mild white fish lightly breaded and perfectly fried, set off with a very nice tarter sauce and a squeeze of lemon, this is one of the better fish sandwiches in town.  The pasta salad is surprisingly good, nothing unique, but the flavors are nicely balanced and there is enough acidity to add a bit of brightness.
Finally we come to the Pierogies, which the menu describes as the best in Cleveland according to AOL Guide in 2004 (which may say something about online guides as much as anything); while the Pierogies are good, they come nowhere near those at Babushka’s Kitchen (http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/03/babushkas-kitchen-polish-powerhouse.html) or Sokolowski’s (http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/10/sokolowskis-university-inn-cleveland.html).  What I did get was four nice sized hand made pierogies topped with grilled onions and cheese with sour crème on the side.  The dough for the pierogies, was good and tender with a nice potato and cheese filling that was a flavorful, but a bit dense.  My personal preference would have been to leave the onions in longer strips rather then the fine chop that the Flat Iron used, as they tend to stay a bit moister and add a better texture to the dish.  While I wouldn’t rate these Pierogies as tops in the city, they are certainly better then most and they will fill you up without a doubt.
I left the Flat Iron very satisfied and very well fed; this is a place that is doing standard food, but doing it with care and some obvious culinary skill.  The portions are large and the flavors are bold and well balanced.  The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly, there is not much more you can ask for.  Billed as the oldest Irish Pub in the flats, the Flat Iron should continue to be a long running Cleveland success.  Rather then trying to ride some trend or fad, the Flat Iron provides a perfect example of what an Irish Pub should be.  This is an easy and strong recommendation to give the Flat Iron a try.

Kirtland’s Olde Towne–More then meets the eye

After a brisk day of cross-country skiing at Chapin Forest in Kirtland we decided to give the Olde Towne a try since it was the closest place and the people at the ski

center said it was good.   Located at 7592 Euclid Chardon Road, kirtland, OH, about 1 mile West of the intersection of Routes 306 and 6, Olde Towne looks like an old time roadhouse, a bit rundown and dreary.  However once you walk in you get a completely different impression.  The interior is done up in Western Mountain Chic, with large field stones, lots of wood, some antler chandeliers and a roaring fire place.  Its upscale rustic, but comfortable; it just doesn’t quite connect with the outside or the name..
Seated comfortably by the fire with the TV over the mantel tuned to football, we settled in to peruse the menu (which you can see here) which has a nice selection of American classics.  I settled on the fried fish with a side of the jalpeno mac and cheese.  Others at the table, had sandwiches or entrees from various parts of the menu.
The food took a while, even though the place was pretty quiet, but when it came out the food was nicely prepared and well presented, but the flavors were nice without being exceptional.  My fish was nicely prepared and a decent size, but nothing that will stick with me.  The jalapeno mac and cheese had a little bit of a bite, but not enough to really excite me.  I think what was lacking was a certain depth or variety to the flavor profiles; part of this is the menu description which seem to over promise and food that doesn’t quite match the anticipation that is raised.
I have no big quibbles with Olde Towne, but I think it needs to work on finding its niche.  To me the food was ok, but not anything I have a need to come back for.  The value isn’t there as the prices aren’t bad, but there are plenty of places around that I can find much bigger portions for a similar price.   There seems to be a disconnect between different parts of the restaurant, the décor, menu and presentation feel as if they are going for upscale, yet the location, the volleyball courts and the overall food doesn’t quite make it to that level. 
Olde Towne ends up being a thumbs in the middle for me, neither good enough to give a high recommendation, nor bad enough to advise you to avoid.   Of course your experience may differ.

Chester’s Legacy Tavern – Painesville Tavern

Just like Hannibal from the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together.  I have been sitting on a Groupon (Groupon Site is here) for Chester’s and with fall having come it was Clambake time.  So I was very pleased when on visiting Chester’s  website  I noticed that they were doing Clambakes on the weekends in October.   Sounded like a good way to spend a Friday night, chowing down on some tasty bivalves. 

Chester’s is easy enough to get to, located at 11 Chester Street, Painesville, Ohio 44077 just a stones throw from the Painesville exit of Route 2, the location is convenient, if nothing else.  The outside is a fairly nondescript building, but there is a decent sized parking lot and a small patio on one side.  Walking in I was quickly greeted and then seated at a high two top next to the windows and right at the transition between the bar area and the dining room.  The decor is clean and comfortable, heavy on wood and earthtones, but looking very well kept and timeless.  This is the kind of place you would think of as nice, but probably wouldn’t be able to remember anything specific.  A long bar with a lowered ceiling presents a comfortable area to grab a drink and settle in.

Chester’s menu (go here to check it out) is a nice selection of American and Tavern classics, with an emphasis on fish and seafood, a good sign for me since that is my wheelhouse. Also included was the specials with several variations on the Clam Bake (Clams, Clams & Chicken & Clams & Steak). I settled on the Clams & Clams which included 2 dozen clams, chowder and sides.  I also ordered the Shrimp Chester appetizer.

First up was a cup of the New England Clam Chowder.  This was a very nice rendition of the classic recipe, thick, but not over loaded with cream, the mild soup was stocked with chunks of potatoes and plenty of tender fresh clams.  Very satisfying and a good way to get my seafood taste buds going.

Next up was the Shrimp Chester ($10), good sized fresh shrimp smothered in a wonderful garlic sauce and cheese and baked to perfection.  Sided with garlic bread, this was a cannot miss treat.  Simply presented, the aroma got me as soon as this was set in front of me.   The shrimp were perfectly cooked, tender and firm and wonderfully complimented by the garlicky cheesy goodness, that managed to get even better as it cooled and set up.  With the bread there to soak up the extra sauce, this was a very well thought out and executed dish.

Next up was the main course and the reason I made the trip East.  The two dozen clams came out in the classic fiber bowl with melted butter and extra clam broth for dipping.  Sides were the ear of corn and I substituted sweet potato fries for the regular sweet potato.  Portions were large, with the clams generally coming in about half dollar sized and steamed in their shells.  The clams were mild and tender, each a mouthful of the goodness of the sea perfectly complimented by the drawn butter.  Out of the 2 dozen clams, I had 3 that didn’t open (and you should always leave these be), but I had more then enough to satisfy my hunger.  The corn was sweet and fresh and the sweet potato waffle fries were crispy on the outside and sweet and delicious on the inside.  At $26 for the Clams and Clams bake, not cheap, but considering the amount of food and the quality, I think they give you what you expect.

Service was good and friendly, although there seemed to be a bit of a lag on the time for food to come out of the kitchen, it might be that I was there early and they hadn’t hit there groove yet, but I would hope they would be more on top of things when most of the tables were empty.

Chester’s is a place worth checking out, especially if you are in the area.  The food is good, well prepared and presented nicely.  There is not a lot of flourish or trendiness here, but that can be a very good thing.  The biggest thing working against Chester’s is location, if they were located a couple miles North in Fairport Harbor or Grand River I think that they would be more well known, but as it is this a great place to get some good solid food.  Chester’s is trying to push their presence with some of the Groupon and radio and TV station offers, so if you look around you might be able to get a deal.  Check them out.

The Lancer Steakhouse - Cleveland Institution Returns

The Lancer Steakhouse has been through a lot, but continues to serve up good food at affordable prices.   For those unfamiliar with Lancer, it has been a Cleveland institution for over 50 years.  Located on Carnegie between E.77th and E.78th it has been the center of one of the only real areas of activity between Downtown and the Cleveland Clinic for as long as I can remember.  Lancer is one of the favorites of many of Cleveland's professional athletes and the African-American community.  I have personal history with Lancer, as when I was a young kid, my father had his office in the small strip of shops across the street, so when I would come down to put together catalogs for him, Lancer's was there and already well established.

Recently Lancer's burned down and even worse, due to tight money, the owner had let the insurance lapse, so what came next was up in the air.  I am happy to say that Lancer's has reopened across the street from its former location (the space that had Angie's Soul Cafe) and they have plans to rebuild on the original sight with a new and bigger restaurant.   So I figured I would check them out in their temporary quarters at 7804 Carnegie Ave.
(map is here). 

The outside is nothing special, a plain brick building with some nice front windows, a small lot sits next to the entrance.   Once inside you see that the space is relatively small, but clean and neat with a slightly upscale feel from the red tableclothes covered with white.  During the day, the windows let in lots of light, making the place feel inviting.  While I was there the flat screen over the bar area was showing college basketball.

Lancer's menu (which can be seen here) is pretty straightforward with meat and seafood well represented.  I choose to go with one of the $5 lunch specials, the perch sandwich; you can also get a burger, chicken or catfish sandwich for the same price.

As you can see, what I got was two very nice pieces of ocean perch, lightly floured and perfectly fried with coleslaw and french fries.  While there was a single piece of wheat bread underneath, this is not so much a sandwich as it is a great lunch.  The fish was excellent with some spiciness in the coating and then expertly cooked; it was tasty and really well prepared.  The coleslaw and french fries were both good and everything came out fresh and flavorful. 

Lancer's is a great place to get good wholesome food at reasonable prices.  It will be interesting to see what will come next with the new building, keep an eye out and consider stopping by the next time you are passing by.  Lancer's has a webpage at www.thelancersteakhouse.com and a facebook page at this link.

Nauti Mermaid - Warehouse District Dive

I've been meaning to check out the Nauti Mermaid in the Warehouse District for a while and luckily I was downtown on Thursday so I figured I would see what is up. Well I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Usually I get an idea of the place from what I hear and the website, somehow I got the idea that the Mermaid was a nice little fish place, fortunately I was wrong. Located at 1378 W. 6th Street, Cleveland, Ohio (see map here), the Mermaid is a great little dive bar that serves up some good affordable seafood. Only one storefront wide the Mermaid has a shotgun feel with a bar on one side and a row of booths on the other. A couple more table sit in front of the small kitchen. The whole place is decorated in authentic sea stuff, with lobster traps, life preservers and even a pretty good sized boat over the bar. A bit dark and old, it feels like one of those authentic seafood shacks you only hope to find. Much more of a bar that serves food than anything else. I really like the feel and decor, but of course you mileage may vary. Since it was Thursday I was lucky enough to get the $1.50 fish taco special; you have to order a minimum of 3, but at that price you cannot beat them in this area. Also it being happy hour, I had them add a crab cake for $1. The fish tacos were excellent with fresh fried corn tortillas filled with grilled Mahi Mahi, with some tomatoes and a little lettuce and then topped with a wonderful chipolte sour cream. The fish was well cooked and flavorful enough to hold up to the toppings, with the sauce being especially good, just the right amount of heat to balance everything. While a bit messy, that is what you expect from fish tacos. The crab cake was nice and thick with good flavor and balance, if a little light in crab, but for the price one of the better ones I have had recently in this area. I should note that the remoulade sauce that came with it was really very good and complimented the crab cake nicely. Not necessarily an item that I would order off the menu, but certainly worth getting during happy hour. Service was very good by the bartender. Food came out within a reasonable time, although the Mermaid was pretty quiet, so during busy times it could take a bit longer. I was able to watch the food being prepared and it was nice to see things like the tortillas being fried fresh to order. The menu is pretty extensive, although I was told that they are changing it soon; you can check it out here on their website. I would strongly recommend the Nauti Mermaid if you are looking for a place to grab some good seafood at an affordable price or if you are looking for a place to grab some cheap drinks downtown. You should check out the daily specials and happy hour specials as they are great deals. I especially want to compliment the Mermaid on feeling authentic as a dive, they aren't looking to go upscale, they have found their niche and are fitting in it quite nicely.

Angie's Soul Cafe - Soul Food Nirvana

So Thursday night proved that sometimes you can really turn it around when things start heading way downhill. I headed down to Case Western Reserve University for a lecture that I wanted to hear; unfortunately I looked at the wrong thing on my Calendar and got to CWRU just before 5:00 for a 6:30 lecture. My first thought was to head over to the Art Museum and check out the new building; I have been meaning to get there since they reopened and this seemed like a good time. Of course, my luck held true as the Museum closes at 5:00 on Thursdays. So its now on to the next plan, luckily I remember that I have a gift certificate for La Dolce Via in Little Italy. I manage to wend my way through rush hour traffic to Little Italy and find a spot not too far from the restaurant. Of course it can't be that easy, I get to the restaurant a little after 5:00 to find out that La Dolce Via doesn't open until 5:30. I just don't feel like waiting and don't want to rush through dinner to make the 6:30 lecture, so its time for a new plan yet again. Feeling foolish, frustrated and a bit tense I am almost ready to just head home and call it a day. I've manged to find two different parking spaces in University Circle and Little Italy, no easy task even with the motorcycle; at this point I want a sure thing, something easy, quick and good. Then I remember that I've been heard some very good things about Angie's Soul Cafe and I have been wanting to give it a try for a while. Despite rush hour traffic I manage to make it to 7804 Carnegie (map here) with no major problems and that is when everything started going really right. Angie's has been around for a while and received some very good reviews. Fairly recently they moved from on Cedar to a nice storefront on Carnegie near East 79th Street. For me this is almost like a homecoming as my Father used to have his office a couple of doors down this very block. Its probably been more then 40 years, but the block has not changed that much, the buildings are still the same and Lancer's is still right across the street. So its with a nice little feeling of nostalgia that I pull into the little lot next to Angie's. Angie's is a nice clean place with a couple of big windows looking out at street. There is a small steam table and counter where you order. The menu is straightforward and reasonable (go here to view it). Looking at the menu, I wish I was there on a Friday or Saturday for the Fish and Waffle special (and I will be heading back to try that), instead I decide on the Catfish Dinner which comes with 2 sides ($10.50). I choose mac and cheese and collard greens and settle into to my table for the short wait while they make my fish. What comes to my table is one of the best plates of food I have had in quite a while. The catfish is two large fillets, cornmeal breaded and perfectly fried. The fish is exceptionally good, with a nice crisp exterior that doesn't overpower the moist slightly sweet fish inside. I don't think that Catfish could be fried any better than this. I have been trying fish at a couple of the soul food places around town (The Seafood Place Plus and CJ's Carryout on Noble Road) and this is the kind of fish I have been dreaming of. The Mac and Cheese was just what I wanted a classic prepared in the traditional way. Tender elbow macaroni is blanketed in a nicely balanced cheese sauce and baked so that the middle is still soft while the outside is crispy. The cheese sauce was excellent, with a clear taste of natural cheese balanced to not be too heavy. I have never had Collard Greens before, luckily they were made without any meat in them (I checked) and were a great compliment to the other items on the plate. The greens were cooked low and slow, resulting in a deep mellow taste with just a hint of bitterness, yet still retaining much of their texture. A really nice contrast to the fish and the mac and cheese, I finished my nice sized portion of greens. Also on the plate were two very nice corn muffins. I passed on the desserts which are displayed by where you order, but they looked homemade and very good. Maybe next time. Service was friendly and efficient, the room is simple and clean, the food is outstanding. Not at all a fancy place, but they make you feel welcome. Angie's is not just a easy place to recommend, but exactly the kind of place that inspired this blog in the first place. I know a lot of people might have second thoughts about going to eat at 79th and Carnegie, but the neighborhood is not that bad and Angie's is well worth it. You really should consider giving Angie's a try. They also have a second location located in the Plaza at the intersection of Lee and Harvard Roads. Try something different and homey you will enjoy it.

Swensons Driveins - The update

I know that I just posted my review of Swensons Driveins a week ago, but after going back on Sunday after another hike at the Gorge Park, I tried and saw a lot more of the menu, and I am even more impressed. After yet another very nice hike in the Gorge, we headed over to Swensons with 4 people and 3 vehicles (2 cars & 1 motorcycle). Thanks to this we ended up with a much wider variety of food. Let me comment on what we had. I had the shrimp sampler, which was a very nice sized portion of fried shrimp. The shrimp were nicely breaded and well fried, they were hot and tasty. An interesting thing to note is that while most places, the fried shrimp is fairly uniform, here the shrimp had a bit of variety to them almost as if Swensons is doing their own shrimp rather then using a large commercial product. Good popcorn type of shrimp and a filling portion. I also had the Mint Whip drink, which is a combination of phospate water, mint syrup and ice cream then blended. The result is lighter then a regular milkshake and had a frothy texture with a refreshing minty flavor. A real winner. The steak salad was another winner. A large green salad came in a large bowl, topped with tomatoes, eggs, cheese and chopped steak. Of special note was the peppermill brought carside for fresh ground pepper, a very nice touch and not something I have seen at any other fast food place. Swensons seems to take their salads seriously, making them fresh to order and serving a very nice salad. Among the other items we had was a very nice looking sloppy joe and Watermellon and Key Lime milkshakes. I got to taste the Watermellon and it reminded me of the watermellon Jolly Rancher. Mindy, thought it was a different watermellon flavor and said that while she was not impressed at first, the flavor of it grew on her the more she drank. The shakes were clearly hand made, no soft serve machine here. I saved the best for last; the fried zuchini were exceptionally good. Strips of zuchini were breaded with Italian seasoning and then fried. The results were excellent, with the Italian seasonings perfectly setting off the delicate flavor of the zuchini. Mindy liked it with the ranch dressing, I thought that while the ranch was very good, it overpowered the delicate flavor combination that had been created. I will definately get more of the zuchini in the future and look forward to trying the mushrooms. After another visit to Swensons I am even more impressed. The menu offers alot of choices and the food is made fresh to order. Add to that a place that isn't afraid of adding flavors and spices to its food and you have a winning combination. Once again the young and friendly staff make the visit enjoyable. What more could you ask for from a fast food restaurant?

Swensons Drive Ins - Akron Classic

So I was out in Cuyahoga Falls to take a hike in the Gorge Metropark, which by the way is a really nice park and well worth checking out (see the website here) and I was looking for a place to eat nearby. Well with Chapel Hill Mall and the other shopping centers nearby I figured it should be no problem; but I try to stay away from the usual chains. Luckily I noticed that there is a Swensons right by the entrance to the park, so since it had been a while I thought give them a try. For those who don't know Swenson's is a small Akron based chain of drive-ins that have been around since 1934. Swensons is a true drive-in; you park the car, or in my case motorcycle, a server brings you the menu takes your order and brings you the meal on a tray. That's right curbside service and eating in you vehicle still lives and thrives. Not only that but Swenson's actually has a fairly diverse menu (go here to see it) with burgers, other sandwiches, salads, fries, onion rings and lots of drinks, including some very unique ones. The menu and the place has a 50's feel, but they have added more modern things as well. I ended up getting a fish sandwich and an order of onion rings. For under $5 it was a nice meal. The fish was an actual filet nicely fried and served on a standard bun, overall freshly cooked and tasty. The onion rings were nice sized rings with a medium breading; tasty without being overly oily; a very good old fashion onion ring. I will be heading back when I am in the area to try the shrimp basket and some of the other sides like fried mushrooms or zucchini. I also want to try some of the different drinks; with 17 flavors of milkshakes, smoth-eees, phosphates and even drinks called California and Florida, it could take me a while to get through this menu. Some how the Mint Whip seems like it might be first on my list. The servers at Swensons are friendly and seem to be having fun, despite having to run alot to keep up. If you want to get away from the usual chains, or you want to get something a bit different, or heck you just feel like reliving Happy Days, give one of the Swensons locations a try (list of locations is here).

La Brasa Restaurant - Authentic Central American Food

La Brasa Restaurant has received write-ups in the Plain Dealer and Scene magazine for offering genuine Central American food; sounds like a place right up my alley, so I headed to the Stockyards area of the West Side to check it out. Located in a storefront at 6110 Denison Avenue, Cleveland Ohio (see map here) 44102, La Brasa is a clean but fairly unadorned spot. As you enter one side has 5 booth type tables and the other has the counter and kitchen. The menu is pictures above the counter with both Spanish and English descriptions, no prices are posted. Although they have worked to make the place clean, it has little actual character other than the American and El Salavordian flags in the front window. The menu is weighted towards chicken so my choices were few, either a cheese empanada or the fish dinner; I ordered the fish. Only later when I asked for a takeout menu did I learn that there were several vegetarian dinner options. For $9 I got 2 large fillets of tilapia pan fried with a large helping of yellow rice and a serving of salad/salsa. The fish was well prepared with a very mild yellow crust, what was lacking was a bit of seasoning, even a little salt and pepper prior to the cooking would have helped; especially with a mild fish like tilapia. The rice was good with a mild taste and the pigeon peas providing a bit of contrast. The highlight was the salad/salsa, which was a fine dice of tomatoes, onions and peppers; rather than a regular green pepper, these had some bite to them and gave the full meal some needed spice. The meal was sided with a caddy holding jalapenos, green and red salsas. The red salsa was very thin and had no heat at all, the green salsa which I was warned was hot had a fairly low heat factor but added much needed flavor to the meal. Overall the meal was good, but not exceptional, not a surprise for a restaurant that has made its reputation around a single item, at La Brasa its roasting chicken over charcoal; if you order something else it is a crap shoot. The decor is dive although the lady behind the counter was nice and friendly. If I ate chicken, I think La Brasa would be a strong recommendation, as it is, it is probably worth checking out as it is fairly unique in this area; we don't see many genuine Central American restaurants, and a good dive is always worth supporting.

The Seafood Place Plus - Cleveland Heights

Just a quick review on the Seafood Place Plus. I stopped in the other night for a quick takeout. Located at 13439 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, Ohio, right around the corner from Taylor Road, the Seafood Place is a nice upgrade from their former location on Lee Road. The new place is decorated with a very nice nautical theme and is fresh and clean. You have the choice of eating at the attractive tables there or doing takeout, which appeared to be what most people were doing. I had the fried Perch Sandwich with french fries. First the good, the fish was delicious, with two small, but plump pieces of perch lightly breaded and nicely fried. They were fresh tasting and well cooked. The sandwich part consisted of two wonder bread like slices; no real character or substance. The french fries were also a bit bland, lacking any crispness. Combined with packages of tarter sauce, the overall impression was that they need to bring the rest of the food up to the level of the fish. I will think about giving the Seafood Place another try, the side dishes sound like they could be good (look here). With a nice place and well prepared fish, you would hope that they can raise the rest of the food to that level.

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.