^ Yes I love spicy... thanks for the rec!

 

I love spicy foods.  the hotter the better, if my eyes don't water or nose don't run...it aint hot!

The Cadillac Ranch definitely isn't draining people from the Warehouse District.  Friday and Saturday nights are just as crazy as they always have been, and the people who live in the WHD seem to stick around for night life, or go into the neighborhoods like my girlfriend and I do.  We always try and stay away from W.6th street by going to Ohio City, Tremont, or Gordon Square.

 

..Ohio City and tremont are also full of "tourists" on the weekend, so we typically enjoy these neighborhoods on the weekdays. Believe me I am not complaining, it is just a different vibe. 

Bice Ristorante closes in Cleveland

 

By JOHN BOOTH

 

11:06 am, December 31, 2008

 

As the calendar turns, so does the downtown Cleveland restaurant carousel: Bice Ristorante is out, Barley House is on the way in.

 

Less than two years after opening, the upscale Bice closed its Tower City Center doors on Christmas Eve, according to shopping center general manager Lisa Kreiger.

 

More from crainscleveland.com:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20081231/FREE/812319968/1022

Bice was horrible, good riddance.

Oh shit that really disappoints me.  Their lunch special was one of the most fantastic in town.  I probably went there twice a week for lunch and always tried to bring people with me when I could, but once winter came I quit going.  I ate dinner there twice and found the food and service to be excellent.

As far as Akron Restaurants go, I heard Barley House is pretty decent. Just looked at the menu online and looks reasonable. It will be nice to add another inexpensive place to the mix-if of course the food is good.

For some reason, I assume they have a good beer selection. If not, then I am less impressed. 

As far as Akron Restaurants go, I heard Barley House is pretty decent. Just looked at the menu online and looks reasonable. It will be nice to add another inexpensive place to the mix-if of course the food is good.

For some reason, I assume they have a good beer selection. If not, then I am less impressed.

 

I stopped in there briefly one night in Akron, had a pizza that was decent.  I don't recall the beer list too well.  I don't think it was terribly impressive, but it was better than average.

well lets hope they put it together MUCH better than average here in Cleve

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/87/08-dining-balance-sheet

 

Dining Lead

'08 Dining Balance Sheet

Gains And Losses From The Year That Was

By Douglas Trattner

 

 

best ok luck to all these great sounding new places.  I will do my part of course to try them.  :wink:

 

If the Fatheads is anything like the one in Pittsburgh, it si going to give Melt a run for their money-no worries though, I am sure some people will go to Melt more often if they know they could actually get a table in a reasonable amount of time.

4th visit in a row to Melt today when I was told it would be over an hour wait just to get a table, turned around and left.  At 1:30 on a Friday.  I mean, it's RIDIC.  I swear I am never going back there, I'm sick of it.

 

We did go over to buckeye beer engine as I've heard so many good things about it.  It was freezing in there and a guy was caulking the windows so I hope they get that fixed, we ate with our coats on.  I wasn't really impressed with the food - it was "fine" but nothing special, though it was good to have an alternative when we left Melt.  I got the fish sandwich and upgraded 50 cents to get frozen french fries (which makes no sense to me) and mr. rockandroller got the cleveland style cheesesteak with the homemade chips, which were better, but still nothing great.  I hear their burgers are good but I don't eat commercially processed ground beef so I can't comment on that. I'd give them another try if I were in the neighborhood, but IMO the food can't compare to Melt's.  Too bad though, I am done with that place.

I had the same experience when I was home this past week.  My favorite, Melt, had too long of a wait so we opted to try out the Beer Engine and really enjoyed it.  If you like beers you'll love it (they have like 30 on tap and many many more in bottles which apparently changes weekly.  As far as food, nothing too spectacular, they did have many burgers but they also had many German foods on the menu, so I got the Chicken paprikash over spatzel which I thought was good.  Certainly worth going to for the beer, but there may be better places for food.

They had so many interesting beers, but nothing from Great Lakes, so we walked over to the Mars Bar after for some Xmas brew! 

     

Does Melt do call aheads? I kind of doubt it but thought it worth asking. I've had a similar experience the last couple visits and yes, it is frustrating. A victim of their own success I guess.

Does Melt do call aheads? I kind of doubt it but thought it worth asking. I've had a similar experience the last couple visits and yes, it is frustrating. A victim of their own success I guess.

 

Call aheads?    Is that the same as a reservation?

No, a call ahead is not the same as a reservation.  Many restaurants that don't take reservations do call-ahead seating.  Melt isn't one of them.  You can call and get your name put on the waiting list without having to physically be there, then you can wait your hour or two hours somewhere else, then come in closer to the time your table will be ready, instead of waiting the whole time in the restaurant.  Chains do this a lot.

I've never heard of that.  Who knew?  We'll apparently I didn't.

I've never heard of that. Who knew? We'll apparently I didn't.

 

Yeah, they don't do that at Le Bernardin or Babbo so you probably didn't know about it.  Kidding! :)

wow, nice trattner review post cd -- thanks.

 

anyone know what space dante is taking over in tremont? boy that's big news on a par with symon moving lola downtown. hmm, so now what's going to happen to the old lockkeepers spot?

 

Dante is going into the old bank building, I believe it's catty-corner to Lolita.  The space in Independence is reverting back to Lockkeeper's, at least in name, not sure of ownership.

Lockskeepers is going back in (former owners).  There is a pic of the Dante/tremont spot in the post somewhere (bank looking building). 

 

Edit: look on page 49, post 1442 by Mayday.

 

.....by 3 seconds R@R

:)

New mexican restaurant in Shaker at the end of the Blue Line rapid called Los Habaneros (spelling?).  Its actually in the old Sand's Blue Line Cafe spot.  Reasonably priced, authentic, straightforward mexican menu.  I have been there twice and both meals were solid.  Its comparable to Don Tequilla's, with slightly higher quality and slightly higher price.  Wife and I ate for $30, which included two entrees and beer, so its still pretty cheap.  It was packed on friday night in the middle of the snowstorm so thats a good start for this place.  I don't think Sand's had a packed Friday night in the past 20 years.  Plus this helps w/ the loss of Luchita's at Shaker Square earlier in the year.

New mexican restaurant in Shaker at the end of the Blue Line rapid called Los Habaneros (spelling?).  Its actually in the old Sand's Blue Line Cafe spot.  Reasonably priced, authentic, straightforward mexican menu.  I have been there twice and both meals were solid.  Its comparable to Don Tequilla's, with slightly higher quality and slightly higher price.  Wife and I ate for $30, which included two entrees and beer, so its still pretty cheap.  It was packed on friday night in the middle of the snowstorm so thats a good start for this place.  I don't think Sand's had a packed Friday night in the past 20 years.  Plus this helps w/ the loss of Luchita's at Shaker Square earlier in the year.

 

I thought sands closed 20 years ago!  LOL

 

Luchitas wasn't right for shaker square.  We need a good thai and BBQ joint on SS.  and two or three national retail stores.

New mexican restaurant in Shaker at the end of the Blue Line rapid called Los Habaneros (spelling?). Its actually in the old Sand's Blue Line Cafe spot. Reasonably priced, authentic, straightforward mexican menu. I have been there twice and both meals were solid. Its comparable to Don Tequilla's, with slightly higher quality and slightly higher price. Wife and I ate for $30, which included two entrees and beer, so its still pretty cheap. It was packed on friday night in the middle of the snowstorm so thats a good start for this place. I don't think Sand's had a packed Friday night in the past 20 years. Plus this helps w/ the loss of Luchita's at Shaker Square earlier in the year.

 

I thought sands closed 20 years ago! LOL

 

Luchitas wasn't right for shaker square. We need a good thai and B BQ joint on SS. and two or three national retail stores.

 

MTS, the new place filling luchita's old spot is moroccan correct?

Went to Sand's maybe about 2 years ago when I lived down the street.....  We were the only people in the restaurant.

New mexican restaurant in Shaker at the end of the Blue Line rapid called Los Habaneros (spelling?).  Its actually in the old Sand's Blue Line Cafe spot.  Reasonably priced, authentic, straightforward mexican menu.  I have been there twice and both meals were solid.  Its comparable to Don Tequilla's, with slightly higher quality and slightly higher price.  Wife and I ate for $30, which included two entrees and beer, so its still pretty cheap.  It was packed on friday night in the middle of the snowstorm so thats a good start for this place.  I don't think Sand's had a packed Friday night in the past 20 years.  Plus this helps w/ the loss of Luchita's at Shaker Square earlier in the year.

 

I thought sands closed 20 years ago!  LOL

 

Luchitas wasn't right for shaker square.  We need a good thai and B BQ joint on SS.  and two or three national retail stores.

 

MTS, the new place filling luchita's old spot is moroccan correct?

 

Yeah but they have weird hours.  My cousin said they don't serve alcohol.

New mexican restaurant in Shaker at the end of the Blue Line rapid called Los Habaneros (spelling?).  Its actually in the old Sand's Blue Line Cafe spot.  Reasonably priced, authentic, straightforward mexican menu.  I have been there twice and both meals were solid.  Its comparable to Don Tequilla's, with slightly higher quality and slightly higher price.  Wife and I ate for $30, which included two entrees and beer, so its still pretty cheap.  It was packed on friday night in the middle of the snowstorm so thats a good start for this place.  I don't think Sand's had a packed Friday night in the past 20 years.  Plus this helps w/ the loss of Luchita's at Shaker Square earlier in the year.

 

I thought sands closed 20 years ago!  LOL

 

Luchitas wasn't right for shaker square.  We need a good thai and B BQ joint on SS.  and two or three national retail stores.

 

MTS, the new place filling luchita's old spot is moroccan correct?

 

Yeah but they have weird hours.  My cousin said they don't serve alcohol.

Wha?  OK, so maybe a Thai restaurant can fill their spot when they close in 2 months.  No alcohol, that's brilliant.

Wha?  OK, so maybe a Thai restaurant can fill their spot when they close in 2 months.  No alcohol, that's brilliant.

 

Thats what my cousin said. People like to drink over here because they can walk home or, in good weather, just chill on the seating around the square as their buzz wears down.

 

We need a "melt", a thai joint, a "grums" and some light casual dining.

 

Although, if Table 45 moved to Shaker Square I'd never buy groceries again!

^My cousin was in town this past week with Rent on tour at Playhouse Square, and apparently the New York-based cast ate the hell out of Table 45 during their 2 weeks in Cleveland (first week was all rehearsals as this was the first stop on tour).  I met him downtown between performances on Sunday and we had a very good meal at Bricco in the Hanna Bldg.  It was another frequent stop for the crew/cast, and the place was hopping while we were there.  Excellent pizzas - we had a spinach, feta, kalamata olive pizza, a calamari app, and a shrimp/scallop risotto.

 

Table 45 is a great experience!

I loved Sands when I was a highschooler back in the day, and there was a steady crowd back then, including some great eccentric locals who I believe dined almost every night.

 

What's the name of the Moroccan place on Shaker Square?  Didn't know about that.  According to its web site (http://www.grottoshakersquare.com/), Grotto is set to open in a couple days- so someone check it out and report back!

 

And yes, MTS, I agree that SS needs a Thai place.  So do downtown, Ohio City and University Circle (Asia Town is not downtown, Coventry is not University Circle and Tremont is not Ohio City).  More Indian places would be a nice plus too.  We're talking staples of the educated workforce here.

Is there any Indian downtown that's open for nights/weekends?  I think that Royal Saffron place on E. 9th is only open for weekday lunch.  Grrrrrrr.

Royal Saffron on 9th closed years ago.

^^I don't think so.  Downtown actually seems like it's the center of a huge full-service Indian restaurant desert.  Hopefully continued residential development Downtown and in Ohio City and Tremont can open the doors for some more choices.  Maybe we'll see some more food options, including Indian, in the Collegetown retail spots near CSU, given the large student population (including lots of south Asian students, no?).

Yeah but they have weird hours. My cousin said they don't serve alcohol.

 

Looks like they may have received their liquor license now: http://www.shakersquare.net/ssm/darna.htm

^I don't think so.  Downtown actually seems like it's the center of a huge full-service Indian restaurant desert.  Hopefully continued residential development Downtown and in Ohio City and Tremont can open the doors for some more choices.  Maybe we'll see some more food options, including Indian, in the Collegetown retail spots near CSU, given the large student population (including lots of south Asian students, no?).

 

Believe me, I've asked the good folks at Indies (Colonial Marketplace, 530 Euclid) to please please please PLEASE open a small full-service spot. It doesn't need to be as expansive as Indigo was, just a dinky place with a dozen tables or so.

^I don't think so. Downtown actually seems like it's the center of a huge full-service Indian restaurant desert. Hopefully continued residential development Downtown and in Ohio City and Tremont can open the doors for some more choices. Maybe we'll see some more food options, including Indian, in the Collegetown retail spots near CSU, given the large student population (including lots of south Asian students, no?).

 

This could be because so many Indians live in the suburbs now and not very many downtown.  I know in N.O. and also where I live now (Middleburg Heights) we have a huge Indian population.  The apt complex where we live has websites that Indians have set up to lure other Indians there and I would say the whole complex is at least 70% Indian if not more.  We have a lot of Indian groceries in our neighborhood and the regular grocery stores stock a lot of Indian products because of the demand.

 

I am not a big lover of Indian food so I can't refer you to any restaurants, unfortunately, but I bet we have a lot of them on the W/SW side as well.

Yeah but they have weird hours.  My cousin said they don't serve alcohol.

 

Looks like they may have received their liquor license now: http://www.shakersquare.net/ssm/darna.htm

 

Oh maybe they had a "soft opening".  Humm.  Oh well. I wont be dining there.

I loved Sands when I was a highschooler back in the day, and there was a steady crowd back then, including some great eccentric locals who I believe dined almost every night.

 

What's the name of the Moroccan place on Shaker Square?  Didn't know about that.  According to its web site (http://www.grottoshakersquare.com/), Grotto is set to open in a couple days- so someone check it out and report back!

 

And yes, MTS, I agree that SS needs a Thai place.  So do downtown, Ohio City and University Circle (Asia Town is not downtown, Coventry is not University Circle and Tremont is not Ohio City).  More Indian places would be a nice plus too.  We're talking staples of the educated workforce here.

 

Yes some indian food would be great.  SS needs A casual loungie/dinner would be great.  Something along the lines of the Marathon Grill, Pod, Bump or The Continental in Philly.  I love the continental.

^^I hear ya, but I'm surprised there isn't enough demand from non-south Asian diners to make up for the small number of south Asians downtown and on the near west side.  I've never been, but I'd bet that a large majority of Saigan's business on E 4th is non-Vietnamese.  Same with the southeast Asian places in OC and Tremont.  I'd think an Indian place would do fine with the near west/downtown yuppie crowd if it weren't overpriced and oversized (my impression of Indigo).

^I don't think so. Downtown actually seems like it's the center of a huge full-service Indian restaurant desert. Hopefully continued residential development Downtown and in Ohio City and Tremont can open the doors for some more choices. Maybe we'll see some more food options, including Indian, in the Collegetown retail spots near CSU, given the large student population (including lots of south Asian students, no?).

 

This could be because so many Indians live in the suburbs now and not very many downtown. I know in N.O. and also where I live now (Middleburg Heights) we have a huge Indian population. The apt complex where we live has websites that Indians have set up to lure other Indians there and I would say the whole complex is at least 70% Indian if not more. We have a lot of Indian groceries in our neighborhood and the regular grocery stores stock a lot of Indian products because of the demand.

 

I am not a big lover of Indian food so I can't refer you to any restaurants, unfortunately, but I bet we have a lot of them on the W/SW side as well.

 

Not sure if this is a main reason or not, but a friend of mine who I work with is from India.  When she and her husband were looking for apts, they were limited because they had to find a place that would allow them to have a satellite dish on the outside of the apt so they could get tv channels from India.  I would imagine that would eliminate most of the downtown apts and limit them to more suburban ones (they ended up in Strongsville).

^I don't think so. Downtown actually seems like it's the center of a huge full-service Indian restaurant desert. Hopefully continued residential development Downtown and in Ohio City and Tremont can open the doors for some more choices. Maybe we'll see some more food options, including Indian, in the Collegetown retail spots near CSU, given the large student population (including lots of south Asian students, no?).

 

This could be because so many Indians live in the suburbs now and not very many downtown. I know in N.O. and also where I live now (Middleburg Heights) we have a huge Indian population. The apt complex where we live has websites that Indians have set up to lure other Indians there and I would say the whole complex is at least 70% Indian if not more. We have a lot of Indian groceries in our neighborhood and the regular grocery stores stock a lot of Indian products because of the demand.

 

I am not a big lover of Indian food so I can't refer you to any restaurants, unfortunately, but I bet we have a lot of them on the W/SW side as well.

 

Not sure if this is a main reason or not, but a friend of mine who I work with is from India. When she and her husband were looking for apts, they were limited because they had to find a place that would allow them to have a satellite dish on the outside of the apt so they could get tv channels from India. I would imagine that would eliminate most of the downtown apts and limit them to more suburban ones (they ended up in Strongsville).

 

I am so glad you posted this.  I have wondered forever why everyone in my complex has a satellite dish on their apt, I never even put the 2 together!  What a dope.

 

"Yes some indian food would be great.  SS needs A casual loungie/dinner would be great.  Something along the lines of the Marathon Grill, Pod, Bump or The Continental in Philly.  I love the continental."

 

 

Yes, a Continental type place would be great (I also love the Continental!) or something like Flo that was in the Warehouse district, which I thought was a great concept, but it didnt make it (didnt know what it wanted to be.) 

yeah the pearl road corridor in the burbs seems to have lots of indian establishments

 

"Yes some indian food would be great.  SS needs A casual loungie/dinner would be great.  Something along the lines of the Marathon Grill, Pod, Bump or The Continental in Philly.  I love the continental."

 

 

Yes, a Continental type place would be great (I also love the Continental! ) or something like Flo that was in the Warehouse district, which I thought was a great concept, but it didnt make it (didnt know what it wanted to be.) 

 

Yeah!

 

I wouldn't mind a place like the diner on 18 Street, granted that would hurt the shack on the tracks business.

 

And because I'm nostalgic  :P  and love Pier East, I would love to see a place like Georgia Browns in DC on the Square.  That place is awesome!

Believe me, I've asked the good folks at Indies (Colonial Marketplace, 530 Euclid) to please please please PLEASE open a small full-service spot.

 

Hah, I periodically ask as well. She always tells me to just buy more and save it in my fridge because it heats up nicely.

 

 

So the downtown Boneyard location on Prospect & Huron has been bought.  On February 20 will be the grand opening of "Forti's" (named after the new owner).  All in all I think this is going to be a very positive move.  Forti's tagline is "Bourbon, Beer, & Eatery".  They will have 20 different types of premium bourbons on the menu.  Also in addition to the 40 beers currently on tap at the boneyard they will add some "premium" beers all of which are 10% alcohol or greater.  They are also going to expand their menu and be open for lunch... Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Cool.

Very cool.  Every town should have a 20 bourbons place.

You say they're "expanding on" the Boneyard's beer selection.  Will it remain a Boneyard or is it going to be Forti's and a completely different place? 

 

Let us know when you get an idea of the lunch menu and when they'll be open for lunch, I'll def. go check it out.

It is going to be a completely different place named Forti's.  He actually purchased it awhile ago and had a certain amount of time he could operate under the boneyard name while he worked out the details.  They are renovating the inside, though I'm not sure to what extent.  They are keeping all 40 tap lines currently in place, and adding some additional "premium" beers.  I would imagine the lunch service will start with the "grand opening" and official change over to Forti's on 2/20.  But I didn't ask.  you may want to call to make sure they have begun lunch service before treking over.