Quick Bites - Hiroshi's Pub, Koko Bakery, Nate's Deli, and more

I know the reviews have spaced out a bit, sorry, but it's been hard with Labor Day (a great trip to by Mont-Tremblant, Quebec for the Mosaic Outdoor Clubs International Event), the Jewish Holidays and before that I was nursing a twisted ankle which kept me close to home.  The good news is that I should be picking the pace back up; starting with a review of Daddona's in Westlake and then I have a couple of Groupons I have to get used soon, plus I am always on the lookout for new places to try.  Remember suggestions are very welcome.

I did want to give a couple of quick updates on some previous places I have reviewed that I was back at recently.

Hiroshi's Pub (review here) continues to shine and seems to be establishing itself as a Beachwood favorite.  On a recent visit I got to try a couple more items.  The highlight was the Tuna Avocado bruschetta; a wonderfully balanced spicy tuna tartare topped crisp toast with fresh slices of avocado.  Rich and fatty with a perfect level of heat and a nice texture contrast between the crisp toast, lush avocado and firm tuna made for a triumph that I may have to have on every visit.   I had the Caesar Salad with the smoked Salmon, a very nice representation of this classic, good thick dressing and a generous portion of high quality Salmon; if I were going to nitpick, I would have preferred more smoke flavor in the fish, but that is a personal preference.  We also had a Futomaki, which as you would expect was expertly prepared with fresh ingredients, what was surprising was the large portion.  Another great visit and Hiroshi's has seemed to hit its groove very quickly, a high recommendation to give them a try and let me know what you think.

I have stopped by Nate's Deli (review here) a couple of times over the last few weeks and nothing has changed except the kitchen may have gotten even faster.  The food is still great, classic representations of Greek and Deli classics, the prices are low and the portions are generous.  What did strike me as funny was going through the West Side Market right after the Cleveland Man v. Food episode was shown and seeing waiting in line for the Gyro stand in the market for quite a while as the line was out the back door of the market; those same people could have gone a block down to Nate's, sat down and had a gyro and still have gotten back before they would have gotten through the line.  Plus at Nate's you get the pickled radishes and pepperochinis.  If you are in Ohio City pick up some very good food cheap at Nate's.

Finally I stopped by Koko Bakery (review here) on the way back from downtown for some treats.  The place was jumping and the newest treat they are offering is homemade ice cream.  Made in small batches of Taro Root, Red Bean Paste and Green Tea and costing only $2.50 for 2 scoops I couldn't resist.  They are still working the kinks out, as the Red Bean came out with a consistency closer to marshmallow sauce and the Taro was very hard, but the flavors were right on.  I will warn you that you need to be ready for a different texture experience, as the Red Bean had the genuine grainy bean texture and bean skins, while the Taro the starchy potato texture.  I liked these two together quite a bit as the Red Bean was a bit sweeter and softer which gave a nice contrast to the more subdued Taro which was also much firmer.  Your experience may differ, but if you want to try a much different ice cream in Cleveland I would strongly suggest getting to Koko and giving them a try.  If not, still stop by and get some great baked goods, wonderful drinks or even a nice light meal.

Koko Bakery - Asian Delights

If you are looking for a bite, something sweet or just something a little bit different in Asiatown (http://www.asiatowncleveland.com), give Koko Bakery a try. Located in a small plaza at 3710 Payne Avenue, Cleveland, OH right across the street from Seoul Hot Pot, Koko provides a wide variety of choices. Set up more like a coffee shop or cafe there is an attractive little dining area and plenty of choices. Walking in you will notice a large bakery self serve display to your left. Here you can pick from a variety of sweet or savory buns (think similar to donuts or danish) at a very reasonable price ($.90 to $1.25 each). Among my favorites are the chocolate creme stick and the egg custard. These pastries show a nice balance between sweet and flavor and are rich and chewy. If you feel adventurous you can pick up a taro root or bean paste bun. The flavors and textures may be a bit different, but they are delicious and a nice change from what you would expect. For those looking on the savory side there are a number of meat based buns. The bakery cases in the counter show off the fancy pastries that Koko provides. These are some of the nicest looking delights available in the Cleveland area. Carefully prepared and arranged, they resemble the displays I saw in Vienna. Most are garnished with vivid fruit and splashes of color. Koko has a limited menu of Asian sandwiches, rice bowls and steamed buns. On this last trip down, I tried one of the steamed green vegetable buns. The greens inside of the soft bun were nicely spiced and flavorful. Finally, Koko offers a wide variety of beverages, from expresso to fruit smooties. My personal favorite is the Bubble Tea. A very sweet milk tea is flavored with your choice of flavoring, I go for the taro root as it provides a slighly less sweet flavor and a nice purple color. Served over ice with sweet tapioca pearls you get an interesting drink with sweetness, some texture and something to chew on. Give Koko a try it will give you a different perspective.