The Restaurant Thread

[NorthCoastBias]

Beard Award semifinalists were announced this morning. A bit of a lean showing for Cleveland as they only had two nominations in total:

Outstanding Restauranteur: Brandon Chrostowski, EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute (EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, edwins too, EDWINS Bakery, and others)

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland, OH

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Beard Award semifinalists were announced this morning. A bit of a lean showing for Cleveland as they only had two nominations in total:

Outstanding Restauranteur: Brandon Chrostowski, EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute (EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, edwins too, EDWINS Bakery, and others)

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland, OH

Jeremy and Brandon are absolute treasures. Small number of nominations but two of the very best you could ask for.

 

[GrahamThomas]

Hey there! Glad there is a thread about restaurants! I love trying new places to eat. Shy Cellars sounds great, I've never been there. BTW, have you checked out https://www.riwa-restaurant.de/de/? It's a great place with amazing food and a casual vibe. You can get a wide range of dishes and the portions are generous. Just thought I'd share, could be worth a look if you're ever in the area. Keep sharing those restaurant recs, always on the hunt for new faves!

 

[SalvadoranCavsfan]

I'll be taking the lady friend to the Cavs-Bulls game Feb. 11 and we'll be staying like 2 blocks away from Rocket Mortgage fieldhouse. I think we're just planning to bar hop throughout the day until the game starts. Any recommendations?

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I'll be taking the lady friend to the Cavs-Bulls game Feb. 11 and we'll be staying like a 2 blocks away from Rocket Mortgage fieldhouse. I think we're just planning to bar hop throughout the day until the game starts. Any recommendations?

Best breweries in the city are Masthead and Noble Beast.

City Tap has a great beer selection. The second floor of the rotunda at Heinen's is also a sneaky good spot for beer, wine and snacks.

Society Lounge is probably still the best cocktail spot, but I can't recommend Goma enough, either for dinner or just to stop in for a drink.

If you're looking to have a little nicer atmosphere, and trade that for the quality of beer, Southern Tier is great.

It's very obviously not walkable, but if you wanted to drive over to Tremont, Cloak and Dagger is an exceptional cocktail spot. I'd put them leagues above Velvet Tango Room. Cloak and Dagger, Porco's, and LBM are the best cocktail spots in the city.

 

[bigking777]

I'll be taking the lady friend to the Cavs-Bulls game Feb. 11 and we'll be staying like 2 blocks away from Rocket Mortgage fieldhouse. I think we're just planning to bar hop throughout the day until the game starts. Any recommendations?

Love the LBM recommendation! But that's in Lakewood. Dang, now I want to go there tonight!

Velvet Tango Room is great for an upscale, evening drink. Not gonna get in there during the day. I do think it's gone downhill from pre-Covid.
Maybe hit Hoopples down the hill. Stiff drinks and good chicken fingers.

One of the best burgers in town is Johnny's Little Bar. A couple blocks from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Or grab pizza and drink at Pizza 216.
Or even better, check out Marble Room. See if you can get a spot at the bar for a quick one. Most beautiful interior around.
Both are on Euclid.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Beard Award semifinalists were announced this morning. A bit of a lean showing for Cleveland as they only had two nominations in total:

Outstanding Restauranteur: Brandon Chrostowski, EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute (EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, edwins too, EDWINS Bakery, and others)

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland, OH

Finalists were announced today and Brandon Chrostowski is one in the Outstanding Restauranteur category. Have to imagine the last JBA finalist in any category was Sawyer, so it's been a while.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Finalists were announced today and Brandon Chrostowski is one in the Outstanding Restauranteur category. Have to imagine the last JBA finalist in any category was Sawyer, so it's been a while.

I cant believe Jeremy (Larder) never won. I guess they were just semifinalists

 

[NorthCoastBias]

I cant believe Jeremy (Larder) never won. I guess they were just semifinalists

The Great Lakes region is hard to break out in as a finalist because Chicago falls under the umbrella. Most years, all five finalists are chefs in that city. This year is the first in a while where that isn't the case (three Detroit chefs, two Chicago chefs).

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

The Great Lakes region is hard to break out in as a finalist because Chicago falls under the umbrella. Most years, all five finalists are chefs in that city. This year is the first in a while where that isn't the case (three Detroit chefs, two Chicago chefs).

Yeah, plus the explosion in Cleveland has slowed dramatically.

Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati are all passing us at blistering paces... in seemingly everything (not just food).

 

[SalvadoranCavsfan]

@Out of the Rafters at the Q sorry I didn't respond sooner but Society Lounge kicked all sorts of ass after seeing the Cavs play the Bulls. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[AllforOne]

Hey @NorthCoastBias and @Out of the Rafters at the Q (or anybody else who's been here): have you been to L'Albatros in University Circle, and if so, what did you think?

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Hey @NorthCoastBias and @Out of the Rafters at the Q (or anybody else who's been here): have you been to L'Albatros in University Circle, and if so, what did you think?

I'm not sure I've been to L'Albatros since COVID.

It's Zack Bruell's flagship and one of the best restaurants in the city. Sit outside if the weather is nice.

I don't typically order escargot, but theirs is fantastic.

It's up there with "best fancy nights out in Cleveland" with places like Edwin, Chez Francois, Dante, etc

 

[el_capitan]

I’ll second L’Albatros, great spot. My wife and I usually bounce between there and EDWINS when we want a French fix.

 

[AllforOne]

I'm not sure I've been to L'Albatros since COVID.

It's Zack Bruell's flagship and one of the best restaurants in the city. Sit outside if the weather is nice.

I don't typically order escargot, but theirs is fantastic.

It's up there with "best fancy nights out in Cleveland" with places like Edwin, Chez Francois, Dante, etc

Thanks. Taking my wife there soon for her birthday and am looking forward to it.