pulled this tidbit off a tweet at bfd>

Lucky’s Café opens July 1 at 12706 Larchmere (the old Limbo)

 

That's great news!

I'll be moving to Cleveland at the end of July, what I'm looking for are..what are some of the best sushi places and what about mexican food?

Everyone's opinion of Mexican is different.  The vast majority of Mexican places (here and elsewhere) are Tex-Mex as opposed to authentic.  I think Luchita's (multiple locations) leans towards authentic and they have a lot of fans.  I personally like tex-mex better and for that I think there's none better than Nuevo Acapulco (N. Olmsted and Berea).  Quick, friendly service and great food at a great price.

Everyone's opinion of Mexican is different. The vast majority of Mexican places (here and elsewhere) are Tex-Mex as opposed to authentic. I think Luchita's (multiple locations) leans towards authentic and they have a lot of fans. I personally like tex-mex better and for that I think there's none better than Nuevo Acapulco (N. Olmsted and Berea). Quick, friendly service and great food at a great price.

 

Thanks :)

 

The husband and I might check one or both out during our pre-move visit in a couple of weeks.

For contemporary Mexican, go to Momocho on Fulton Road in Ohio City.  Excellent guacamole.  I also think it was rated the second best modern mexican restaurant in the country.

try el tango taqueria on madison in lakewood

I agree with R&R that Mexican is very much up to individual taste. I happen to like Mi Pueblo. there is one in University Circle area-it is fine-great sometimes, average others. The other Mi Pueblo location is on a rag tag stretch of Lorain av on the westside of Cleveland. It is very authentic and slightly hole in wallish. You see ingredients such as tongue and tripe on tacos. There are a lot of Mexican customers. El Tango Taqueria is really good, but the owner, manager, now I cannot remember how he identified himself, was such an insufferable d-*&^, I will never go back. I think the food at Momocho is good, but overpriced, and I think the staff has a self important attitude which annoys me to the degree we never want to go. They do a really good job with using chiles and spice. I would still check it out b/c most people love it. 

 

Sushi- I just love Pacific East in Cleveland Heights. it is very casual, but always fresh.

 

Sushi- I just love Pacific East in Cleveland Heights. it is very casual, but always fresh.

 

I also heart Pacific East, also the fun bonus is when you order a lot and you get the happy wooden boat to bring your sushi to you. (yes, I am a five year old)

El Tango Taqueria is really good, but the owner, manager, now I cannot remember how he identified himself, was such an insufferable d-*&^, I will never go back.

 

OMG I have the same feelings about the owner, and so does my Mom, who lives right around the corner from there (we went in on different days).  I thought it was just us because everyone's always raving about the place.  I have no desire to go back.

^^ Agreed, Pacific East on Coventry is pretty awesome (what is it about those wooden boats? I swear they make the food taste better).

 

Ohashi, on Lorain & Columbia in North Olmsted, is decent if you're on the west side and don't feel like making the trek out east.

 

there's another thread on UO that's less about openings & closings and more about reviews... check it out: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,3577.0.html

Kimo's sushi in Ohio City, just off of West 25th. The guy is from Hawaii and does a great job.

 

El Jalapinos on W117 on the Cleveland, Lakewood border. Very good food and excellent service. I can also attest to Mi Pueblo and El Tango, quality food. 

 

I'll be moving to Cleveland at the end of July, what I'm looking for are..what are some of the best sushi places and what about mexican food?

I LOVE El Jalapinos on West 117th. The food is so hot, it set the Wendy's next door on fire!! OK, the fire was caused in the kitchen but... I agree it's a terrific place. The refried beans are awesome.

It looks like Key West Cafe in the Galleria has closed.

It looks like Key West Cafe in the Galleria has closed.

 

I was wondering when that would happen.

is this really a loss? That place was decorated circa 1990-blech.

It looks like Key West Cafe in the Galleria has closed.

 

When did that place first open? It seems that Miami Vice and Florida inspired a lot of cheesy restaurants in the mid to late 80s. I'm surprised we don't have some place called Kokomo's that is about to meet the wrecking ball on the east bank of flats.

It looks like Key West Cafe in the Galleria has closed.

 

When did that place first open? It seems that Miami Vice and Florida inspired a lot of cheesy restaurants in the mid to late 80s. I'm surprised we don't have some place called Kokomo's that is about to meet the wrecking ball on the east bank of flats.

 

It opened in 1999 believe it or not.  It looks straight out of 1991... and no, i don't consider it a loss.  But at what point does the galleria kick out the few remaining "stores" it has and just acknowledge that it is america's first office park inside a mall that just happened to keep it's food court.  What a weird place that has become.

^To be honest, the Frame Center Gallery has been there since the Galleria was built and they do a good business. They maintain the retail space for new customers but their bread and butter is corporate accounts. And I highly recommend them :-)

 

But other than that, it's really bizarre to walk through there at lunch (and see how busy it is) and then at 3pm (tumbleweeds).

Is Lucarelli's place still there, or is it long gone (Cafe Sausalito). 

Last time I was there was for a Cool Cleveland party a few years ago, when I came in for the first Ingenuity festival.

I was just in the Galleria 2 weeks ago and Cafe Sausalito was open and very busy for lunch.

Isnt there a Key West Cafe somewhere out in the burbs or am i thinking of another restaurant?

^Key West Cafe opened a spot in Westlake in the former Tony Roma's space.

 

Sausalito is still at the Galleria - they can't close, they have one of my absolute favorite girly-salads!!

 

Sausalito Chicken and Spinach

Tossed with red onions, sliced strawberries, caramelized walnuts, blue cheese and poppy seed-raspberry vinaigrette

 

(nix the onions of course)

I was just in the Galleria 2 weeks ago and Cafe Sausalito was open and very busy for lunch.

Isnt there a Key West Cafe somewhere out in the burbs or am i thinking of another restaurant?

Westlake.  They are linked.  Galleria was the "original".

Kimo's sushi in Ohio City, just off of West 25th. The guy is from Hawaii and does a great job.

 

El Jalapinos on W117 on the Cleveland, Lakewood border. Very good food and excellent service. I can also attest to Mi Pueblo and El Tango, quality food.

 

I'll be moving to Cleveland at the end of July, what I'm looking for are..what are some of the best sushi places and what about mexican food?

I think Kimo closed or changed to something else.

We drove past it on the way to cedar point last month and couldnt remember ever seeing it there before.

 

I might have to walk down to cafe sausalito for lunch on friday now

I'll be moving to Cleveland at the end of July, what I'm looking for are..what are some of the best sushi places and what about mexican food?

 

Sorry I missed this - your best sushi spots will be:

 

Ginza - East 9th @ Carnegie

Sushi 86 - Ontario at Public Square (lunch only)

Pacific East (Cleveland Heights) - Coventry at Mayfield

maaaaybe Sapporo on East 6th at Vincent.

 

As far as "good" Mexican, there's really not super-great places in Cleveland, though that may be changing when Zocalo on East 4th gets their new menu. 

momocho in OC is probably the best mexican you're going to get. on the pricey side though.

^I always forget about them, but I think it's because they're more "Mexican fusion" than traditional Mexican. Great recommendation, though.

I've never been real pleased with Kimo's, even when they were in Market 55.  Ginza's a real diamond in the rough, and a fave-rave of mine.

 

Please, whatever you do, avoid Sushi Rock.  Hell, even Constantino's sushi is better.

I would also add the el rodeo local chain for what I call good "greasy spoon" mexican. order by number, comes out in 5 min. reminds me of the el vaquero chain in columbus

^Oh god, Sushi Rock is the worst - the sushi is okay at best but my god the people who work there either need more fiber in their diet or a little whoopee on the weekends. Easily the p!ssiest service workers I've ever encountered.

^Oh god, Sushi Rock is the worst - the sushi is okay at best but my god the people who work there either need more fiber in their diet or a little whoopee on the weekends. Easily the p!ssiest service workers I've ever encountered.

 

I thought they were angry "on purpose".  I thought it was part of the "experience".

^Oh god, Sushi Rock is the worst - the sushi is okay at best but my god the people who work there either need more fiber in their diet or a little whoopee on the weekends. Easily the p!ssiest service workers I've ever encountered.

 

I thought they were angry "on purpose".  I thought it was part of the "experience".

 

what is this, dick's last resort? No its supposed to be a classy (?) upscale sushi experience.

My faves,  sorry for the weight towards the east side.  Thats where I do a lot of eating......

 

Sushi:

Pacific East: Cleve Hts or Woodmere

Shuhei: Beachwood

SasaMatsu: Shaker Square (liked it as Matsu better though)

 

Mexican:

Momocho: OC

Lopez: Cleve Hts

Don Tequilla: Univ Hts (cheap/good)

 

While I am at it

 

Middle Eastern:

Anatolia Cafe: Cleve Hts

Aladdin's: Cleve Hts

Mad Greek: Cleve Hts

 

 

You might wanna blame Sushi Rock management. About a year ago the owners hired a guy to manage their restaurants. I wont name the guy but he has basically run the place into the ground. They just cut all their managers health care three weeks ago as well as performance bonuses. As you can imagine morale might drop. Dont be surprised if Sushi Rock closes its doors within the next year, and its not because of lack of business.

Interesting - if someone had told me this back in the mid-90s I never would have believed them. Spy Bar went downhill but before it did, it was a really cool place and I have a lot of good memories:

 

From cleveland.com:

 

Irish pub to replace notorious Spy Bar in Warehouse District

Posted by Michelle Jarboe June 13, 2008 17:12PM

 

A businessman plans to bring an Irish pub to the Warehouse District, replacing the notorious Spy Bar club on West Sixth Street. Bobby George, president of the George Group of Lakewood, has a contract to buy the downtown Cort Shoe Building that housed the controversial nightspot. He hopes to lease part of a nearby parking lot and the back of the Bolton Pratt building on West Fourth Street to make enough room for a new tenant: the Barley House pub and restaurant. The restaurant, with outdoor seating and a basement lounge, will be modeled on Akron's popular Barley House, one of many eateries launched or owned by George's family. His father, Tony, is a prominent businessman who helped create sports bar chain Slam Jams and the Harry Buffalo bars, which serve buffalo meat.

 

More at cleveland.com

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/06/michelle_jarboe_a_businessman.html

 

"The 27-year-old developer is pursuing the Liberty Textile Building, a rare vacant entertainment district property owned by James Kassouf."

 

Does anybody know which building this is.  Im guessing if it is owned by Kassouf that it is in sad shape. 

"The 27-year-old developer is pursuing the Liberty Textile Building, a rare vacant entertainment district property owned by James Kassouf."

 

Does anybody know which building this is.  Im guessing if it is owned by Kassouf that it is in sad shape. 

 

My guess is that it's the building that Wish used to be in. Down the alley behind Pinnacle and the Cloak factory. That's one of the only buildings i can think of that havnt been rehabbed down there.

It would be good to see that one fixed up, and that alley turned into something unique.

^^Not quite - there's the building just south of Spy (south of the newer infill building), though I question its structural soundness, and there's also the smaller building behind (east of) Spy which fronts West 4th catty-corner to the Erie Lofts building.

^^Not quite - there's the building just south of Spy (south of the newer infill building), though I question its structural soundness, and there's also the smaller building behind (east of) Spy which fronts West 4th catty-corner to the Erie Lofts building.

Isn't there a Liberty Textile Building located on Detroit next to The Harp?

^I think that's Liberty "Title"

 

Is Wish closed?  Sorry, I haven't been to a club in the WHD since probably 2000

^I think that's Liberty "Title"

 

Is Wish closed? Sorry, I haven't been to a club in the WHD since probably 2000

You are correct -- I am not ---- AND I need new glasses.  Attention All Drivers -- stay away from me!

Has anyone heard that there's a vegan pizza place in Lakewood?  Someone was telling me about it, but didn't mention the name or location. 

There is a vegetarian, maybe vegan pizzeria on Madison, a few blocks west of W. 117th.  That is probably it.

We tried Flannery's Pub last night.. LOVED the portions, loved the food.. loved everything about it.

 

We're going to try Mocalo's (I think that's the name of it) one night this week while we're visiting

Zocalo's (maybe you were mixed Momocho's with Zocalo's).

Fish & chips with about 4 or 5 Newcastles is my order everytime i go into Flannery's...the only way it gets better is if theres a football game on tv at the time.

Zocalo's (maybe you were mixed Momocho's with Zocalo's).

 

LOL maybe.. all I know is it's on the right hand side of the street or across from the restaurant entrance to House of Blues...

I hope your experience at Zocalo is better than average.  I have heard a lot of negative things about it, even after the "new and improved" menu.