Peppermint Thai - Lander Circle

Had dinner at Peppermint Thai at Lander Circle. This is the second location for the owners who also own Mint Cafe on Coventry. They have a reputation for good Thai food but I found it a little disappointing. First lets start with the good part, the restaurant is very nicely decorated. The long room is divided up with dark wood pieces which give the room some structure and contrast with the light colored walls. The art on the walls is highlighted with spotlights and the overall feeling is upscale and high class without feeling to formal. The service was also very good, with very friendly and attentive staff and food coming out promptly. This is my second trip to Peppermint, as I had lunch there last summer and both times I found that the food is good, but not very exciting. This may be why, even though this is right around the corner from work, I just don't think of this as an option very often. This time I had the scallop eggplant. The dish was nicely presented and came with a decent portion of good sized scallops and thin eggplant slices in a nice brown sauce accented with some fresh Thai Basil. While the scallops were ok, they would have been much better if they had been seared to give them a little extra flavor. This dish just lacked any real zing or excitement. For the price ($13.95) I thought the portion was adequate, but would have expected more. My opinion of Peppermint Thai is that it is a very nice restaurant that serves fairly tame versions of Thai food in a very nice atmosphere. If you are looking for something just a slight bit exotic, this might be the place, but if you are looking for real adventure or excitement I would try elsewhere.

Babushka's Kitchen - Polish Powerhouse

Having heard wonderful things about Babushka's Kitchen, I have been trying to eat there for quite a while. The fact that Babuska's is closed Sundays and Mondays, is not open till 1:00pm on Saturdays, and closes most days at 7:00pm (Fridays it closes at 8:00pm), have kept me from getting there up till now. But all that changed on St. Patrick's day; with the good weather I took off early from work and rode the motorcycle through the Cuyahoga Valley Park. On the way back, I figured that now was as good a time as any to try Babuska's which is located by the Northern end of the park. Babuska's is located at 9199 Olde Eight Rd, Northfield Center, Ohio. This is just South of Route 82 (East Aurora Road). It is set back a little from the road and has half of a little commercial building. Once inside you find a charming, little restaurant, decorated in bright colors and homey touches, the space feels cheery and welcoming. Adding to the atmosphere are the upbeat polkas; hearing Beer Barrel Polka and Who Stole the Kishka should get you ready for some real Polish food. Babuska's is a bit different then most restaurants, you go to the counter and place your order, they give you a number to put on your table and they bring the food to you. The servers are friendly and helpful to guide you through the menu (see here). With the menu dominated by meats, I figured that I might have the chance to get a fish meal since it is the time of year when fish specials pop up. While Babuska's does have special Lenten fish specials, they are only available on Fridays. So I was left to swallow my macho pride and order "Aunt Clara's Combo", a choice of any two pierogis and 2 side dishes. I chose the mushroom/swiss and the potato/cheddar pierogis and the cabbage & noodles and sauerkraut & dumplings sides. What came out was a heaping plate of some of the best scratch made food I have had in a long time. Lets start with the pierogis. Each of these wonderful pasta pockets were about the size of my fist, pan fried perfectly and topped with sauteed onions and a dollop of sour cream. The pasta itself was outstanding, with a rich taste and great texture. The mushroom/swiss was overloaded with swiss cheese melted perfectly and highlighted with sliced mushrooms. The potato cheddar was even better with the filling perfectly balanced and providing a nice textural counterpoint to the pasta. These were simply the best pierogi's I have had and elevate this food to the next level. The sides were excellent as well. The sauerkraut & dumplings were an interesting contrast to the pierogis, with the cabbage having a nice sour bite that was nicely offset by the slightly sweet homemade dumplings. The cabbage and noodles provided a nice buttery taste and a milder element to the plate. The food was all clearly scratch made and showed a devotion to keeping the standards high and the flavors simple and bright. Babushka's has gotten well deserved shining reviews. With food this good at reasonable prices and a friendly old world atmosphere, this is a place you should make an effort to try. I would especially like to hear what some of my carnivorous friends have to say about the meat dishes. Go and feel the love.

Note on Websites

A couple of notes on websites: When I have a website for a restaurant that I am reviewing I put the link in the title of the posting; just click on the title and it should take you to the website. Shuhei has launched its own website at: http://www.shuheirestaurant.com/ A couple of really good websites for finding Cleveland restaurants are: www.clevelandindependents.com/ - Independently owned restaurants in the area. Includes links, news and discounted gift certificates. http://www.asiatowncleveland.com/dining.asp - A list of the restaurants in the Asiatown area with menus.

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.

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.

Update, Thank You and Index

I just wanted to thank everyone who stops by and reads my reviews. I hope they are helpful and fun. I have had a really good time on going out eating and writing about the places I like and the ones I find. I plan on keeping this going and as the weather improves the motorcycle will come out and I will be heading out and about to find new places and visit some favorites. With the economy the way it is I plan on spotlighting value where I can.

I especially want to thank anyone who left a comment, they are much appreciated and very welcome. Feel free to let me know if I am right, wrong or you just have a different opinion.

Also just leave a comment or drop me a line if you have a suggestion for a place I should check out, if there is an update to one of the places I have reviewed or if you just want to see your words up on the web.

If you like the site and the reviews let your friends and family know, I love to promote the local places and foods that help make Cleveland what it is, the more people we get away from all the chain restaurants, the better.

I have put together an index to the reviews I have done so far sorted by geographic area to make it easier to find what you are looking for.

REVIEWS INDEX:

Posts marked with * and the color purple are my personal favorites.

East Side:

Alescis (Italian Market) – South Euclid http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/02/alescis-italian-market.html

Caballo Bayo (Mexican) – Chagrin Falls http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/11/caballo-bayo-chagrin-falls-mexican.html

Cowboy Food and Drink (BBQ) – Bainbridge http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/05/cowboy-food-drink-chagrin-falls.html and http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/cowboy-food-update.html

DiBella’s Subs (Sandwiches) – Warrensville Heights & Solon http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/05/dibellas-subs.html

Fat Taco (Mexican) – Bainbridge http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/fat-taco-bainbridge-mexican.html

Grums Subs (Sandwiches) – Cleveland Heights (Coventry and Solon) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/02/grums-sub-shop-solon.html

Jacks Deli (Deli) – South Euclid http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/10/jacks-deli.html

Jerusalem Grill (Kosher Middle Eastern) – South Euclid http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/11/jerusalem-grill-falafel-hot-spot.html

Lopez (Mexican) – Cleveland Heights http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/lopez-mexican-food-hunt-continues.html

* Miles Market (Produce and Prepared Food) – Solon http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/01/miles-market-produce-treasure-trove.html

Rachel’s Caribbean (Caribbean) – South Euclid http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/11/rachels-caribbean-south-euclid-gem.html

** Richie Chans (Chinese) – Cleveland Heights http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/04/richie-chans-hidden-gem.html

Rosatis Custard (Frozen Custard) – Twinsburg http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/rosatis-custard.html

*** Shuhei Restaurant of Japan (Japanese and Sushi) – Beachwood http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/shuhei-best-restaurant-ever.html

West Side:

Agave Tanqueria (Mexican) – Oberlin http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/11/agave-oberlin-tanqueria.html

*** Melt Bar and Grilled (Bar Food) – Lakewood http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/05/melt-lakewoods-best.html and http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/08/melt-update.html

El Tango Tanquira (Mexican) – Lakewood http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/el-tango-tanquira-another-lakewood-find.html

Watami Japanese Buffet (Japanese and Sushi) – Parma http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/watami-and-yellowtail-japanese-buffets.html

Cleveland:

Aladdin Baking Company (Pita and Middle Eastern) – Cleveland (Gateway) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/02/aladdin-baking-company-store.html

Bar Cento (Italian) – Cleveland (Ohio City) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/08/bar-cento-ohio-city-hot-spot.html

Bo Loong (Chinese and Dim Sum) – Cleveland (Asiatown) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/01/bo-loong-asia-town-mainstay.html

* Mama Santa’s (Italian and Pizza) – Cleveland (Little Italy) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/01/mama-santas-heart-of-little-italy.html

Mi Pueblo (Mexican) – Cleveland (University Circle and West Side) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/mi-pueblo-hunt-for-good-inexpensive.html

* Nate’s Deli and Restaurant (Deli and Middle Eastern) – Cleveland (Ohio City) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/02/nates-deli-restaurant-ohio-city.html

** Phnom Penh (Cambodian) – Cleveland (West Side and Ohio City) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/01/phnom-penh-cambodian-treat.htm

*** Seoul Hot Pot (Korean) – Cleveland (Asiatown) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/seoul-hot-pot-can-not-miss.html

Sokolowskis University Inn (Polish and Traditional) – Cleveland (Tremont) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/10/sokolowskis-university-inn-cleveland.html

Westside Market Café (Eclectic) – Cleveland (Ohio City) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/09/westside-market-cafe-great-breakfast.html

Wonton Gourmet BBQ (Chinese) – Cleveland (Asiatown) http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/wonton-gourmet-bbq-asiatown-hidden-gem.html

Lake County and East:

Ballantine (Gastropub) – Willoughby http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/12/ballantine-willoughby-gastropub.html

Burgers-N-Beer- Breakfast (Bar Food and Breakfast) – Willoughby http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/10/burgers-n-beer-breakfast-willoughby.html

Jalapeno Loco (Mexican) – Mentor http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/06/jalapeno-loco-mentor-hunt-continues.html

Kirkland Tavern (Bar Food and Italian) – Kirkland http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/04/great-bar-food-kirtland-city-tavern.html

** Madsen Donuts (Donuts) – Geneva on the Lake http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/08/madsen-donuts-yummy.html

Mama Robertos (Italian) – Mentor http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/08/mama-robertos-mentor-italian-good-food.html

** Piero’s Pasta House (Italian) – Geneva on the Lake http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/pieros-pasta-house-geneva-gem.html

South:

Agaves (Mexican) – Northfield Center http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/agave-very-good-mexican-restaurant.html and http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2009/01/agaves-northfield-center-gone.html (CLOSED)

Los Gallos (Mexican) – Bedford http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/los-gallos-bedford-mexican.html

Noisy Oyster (Seafood and Bar Food) – Akron/Cuyahoga Valley http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/04/noisy-oyster-akron-in-valley.html

Rosatis Custard (Frozen Custard) – Northfield Center http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/rosatis-custard.html

Yellowtail Buffet (Japanese and Sushi Buffet) – Fairlawn http://c-towneats.blogspot.com/2008/07/watami-and-yellowtail-japanese-buffets.html

Nate's Deli & Restaurant - Ohio City Institution

Most restaurants today want to be cutting edge and trendy, but there is a place for restaurants that buck that trend, places that have not changed over the years and go about their business serving good food simply and at reasonable prices; Nate's Deli & Restaurant is a a local favorite for just these reasons. This is a place that serves good basic well prepared food. When I need some good Middle-Eastern food cheap it tops the list. Nestled just down the street from the West Side Market at 1932 West 25th Street, Nate's is underwhelming from the outside looking a bit run down from the front. If you park in the parking lot in back and enter through the kitchen you get a chance to see how clean they keep things. Once inside you have a shotgun of a restaurant with booths on one side and tables closely spaced together on the other, there are a couple of small tables in the front display windows. While very clean and attempts have been made to warm up Nate's it still feels a bit crowded and dull, especially because the few colors that have been used are a very muted. But going to Nate's is not about decor its about food. Although the menu features a full deli side, I go to Nate's for the Middle-Eastern side of the menu, most times getting the same thing, a falafel roll sandwich and a half order of baba ganoush. The falafel is a bit simpler than most, just falafel balls rolled with lettuce, tomato and tahini in a pita. What makes it work is that the falafel are excellent, well spiced and lightly fried and then well balanced with the other ingredients. By using a large pita and rolling the sandwich, you don't have the problem of some falafels were the pita gets soggy and overstuffed. The baba ganoush is also very good, with a smooth texture and a nice balance between the roasted eggplant, the tahinin and the lemon. Served simply with a topping of olive oil, parsley and a little paprika and two large pitas to scoop into it, you couldn't ask for much more. But of course at Nate's there is more, since you get a side dish of pepperocininis and pickled radishes to munch along with your food. The pickled radishes are the real treat, with their bright pink color, mild flavor and just the right amount of crunch. Nate's service is very fast and the food is consistently good, with prices for the falafel at $3.00 and the half order of Baba at $2.95 this is very affordable. A couple other things to know about Nate's, they are only open till 5:30pm on weekdays, 4:30pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays. Cash only, so no charge cards. Also take note of the little number on your table, when you are done you go to the register and give them the number and they will have the check. Nate's has been there seemingly forever, with good reason, they serve very good Middle-Eastern food at low prices and you can get in and out very quickly.

Alesci's Italian Market

Located at 4333 Mayfield Road in South Euclid, Alesci's has been an oasis of good Italian food for decades. One of a number of family owned stores scattered about the area; I know that there are separate stores in Solon and Euclid; the South Euclid store is the flagship with a large selection and good food. Alesci's has a deli and cheese counter that runs the full length of the store, if you cannot find something to like here, you are just not looking. In the back of the store is the hot food section, with pizza slices and other Italian specialties for you to select. The bakery section is on the other wall of the store, with good bread and some decent pastries. The middle of the store has the pastas, sauces, spices and other Italian goodies. My main reason for hitting Alesci's on a regular basis is the fresh pizza dough in the back cooler. Usually priced at 3 or 4 for $1.00, this is the basis of great homemade pizzas. Pick up a small can of pizza sauce at about $.60 which is enough for two pizzas and add some cheese and toppings and you have a great, inexpensive meal to make at home. When working with the dough, it is best if you can leave it at room temperature for a while to let it rise. Then a light dusting of flour and you can toss and spread the dough to the size you want. I use about half of the small can of sauce and add some garlic and basil, top with some cheese and bake for about 20 minutes in a 425 degree oven and the biggest problem is not eating the whole pizza in a single sitting. If you want to go the white pizza method, spread some good olive oil on the dough, add some garlic and herbs and top with the cheese.

Aladdin Baking Company Store

Aladdin Bakery's store may not contain 1001 thieves, but there is some treasure to be found here. Most of the the outlet and factory stores around now are just marketing tools, I long for the days when such stores were located at the factory; well Aladdin Bakery Company at 1301 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland Ohio provides exactly that. Located between Progressive Field and the Wolstein Center, Aladdin has been there a lot longer. When I am in the area, I will stop by and stock up on pitas, and the selection here is staggering. You will find pitas in different sizes, styles and flavors. The best deal is usually stacked up and when I was down last week, these were bags of large pitas for $1.20 each. In addition to the pitas, the store offers a wide variety of middle east foods and spices. You can stock up on anything you need for your middle eastern feast. Finally, Aladdin offers a very nice menu of middle eastern foods at incredibly reasonable prices, with stuffed pies, such as spinach, cheese or meat; pita pizzas; stuffed sandwiches including a very good falafel, gyros and chicken shwarma; and salads such as humus and baba ganoush. You can finish it off with a desert from the bakery selection which includes a variety of baklava and cookies. The atmosphere is a bit grubby and there is no place to eat, but if you want to pick up something fast, tasty and affordable, Aladdin is a great stop downtown or on your way to a game.