Pines of Florence...  So I guess its back to the Dupont Italian kitchen, which is owned by middle eastern's and staffed by latin people (but actually not too bad).....  Thank god the food scene has finally been evolving here!

Pines of Florence...  So I guess its back to the Dupont Italian kitchen, which is owned by middle eastern's and staffed by latin people (but actually not too bad).....  Thank god the food scene has finally been evolving here!

Italian Kitchen isn't that over by Annies and (old Food Bar)/Cobalt?

Pines of Florence...  So I guess its back to the Dupont Italian kitchen, which is owned by middle eastern's and staffed by latin people (but actually not too bad).....  Thank god the food scene has finally been evolving here!

Italian Kitchen isn't that over by Annies and (old Food Bar)/Cobalt?

 

Yeah, and near where I live..

Pines of Florence...  So I guess its back to the Dupont Italian kitchen, which is owned by middle eastern's and staffed by latin people (but actually not too bad).....  Thank god the food scene has finally been evolving here!

Italian Kitchen isn't that over by Annies and (old Food Bar)/Cobalt?

 

Yeah, and near where I live..

 

Well that block of restaurants it's know for its food but more for the patios/spaces.  And Annies...Laaaaaaaaaaaaawd don't get me started on that hot mess of a hilarious place!

I'm sure those in the food-know already know, but Sawyer's Noodlecat opened for lunch today. I'm going to give them some time to settle in before I go, in fact, I'm trying Pura Vida for the first time this week as I think they're good and broken in now.

I'm sure those in the food-know already know, but Sawyer's Noodlecat opened for lunch today. I'm going to give them some time to settle in before I go, in fact, I'm trying Pura Vida for the first time this week as I think they're good and broken in now.

 

Do report back about P.V.  I wanted to try when in the other weekend, but not open on weekends!

Interesting menu.

I've been reluctant to go as I want to go with someone else so we can order several things and share/try, but nobody is game.

Booo to RnR's co-workers.  I can't wait to try Noodlecat on my next visit.

they suuuuuck. A good lunch place to them is some place where they can get a big bowl of iceberg lettuce.

they suuuuuck. A good lunch place to them is some place where they can get a big bowl of iceberg lettuce.

 

Haha, that reminds me of a guy at my work who was complaining one time when we got lunch at a place I recommended that his burger had romaine lettuce on it and then going on to tell me how he only likes iceberg lettuce. :roll:

Any opinions on the tick tock tavern in Edgewater?

It's an old folks dump. JMO.

It's an old folks dump. JMO.

 

Thanks, I was thinking about giving it a try but I guess I'll find somewhere else.

Any opinions on the tick tock tavern in Edgewater?

 

It is a dumpy place, but I wouldn't say it's an old folks place. I usually see a pretty good mix of people in there -- different incomes, races, ages, orientations, etc. The food is mostly cheap bar food. I've never had a bad meal there, but if you want to impress a date with your knowledge of fine cuisine, don't go to Tick Tock. But if you want to watch the ballgame, have a beer and eat well for a good price, the Tick Tock is just right.

 

My suggestions:  try the reuben or the hall of fame burger.

Any opinions on the tick tock tavern in Edgewater?

 

It is a dumpy place, but I wouldn't say it's an old folks place. I usually see a pretty good mix of people in there -- different incomes, races, ages, orientations, etc. The food is mostly cheap bar food. I've never had a bad meal there, but if you want to impress a date with your knowledge of fine cuisine, don't go to Tick Tock. But if you want to watch the ballgame, have a beer and eat well for a good price, the Tick Tock is just right.

 

My suggestions:  try the reuben or the hall of fame burger.

 

Thanks alot for the review KJP. I saw the good prices and thought Id give a try. Definitely not looking for fine dining, just some good, cheap food. Good to hear that you have had good experiences there. By dumpy do you mean the building is a dump? Hows the interior?

By dumpy, I mean it's not some place you go to be cool by being seen there. You go to places like the Tick Tock to get full on grub. The interior is worn, and I don't think the decor has been updated in the restaurant since the 1970s -- but to me that's part of its charm. The bar was updated about 2000. To me, the Tick Tock Tavern and Sokolowski's University Inn are cousins when it comes to atmosphere and style. If you want to know what life in Cleveland was like in the 1970s, these two places are the closest I've experienced. They both give me the strongest feelings of 70s nostalgia.

Myxx in cleveland heights opens at 4 today with a ribbon cutting by the mayor at 6.

Myxx in cleveland heights opens at 4 today with a ribbon cutting by the mayor at 6.

 

Wow, I ran by there on Wednesday and it looked nowhere near done.  They must have pulled all nighters the last two nights.

Also, I went to Dragonfly last night, the little bar on 25th a couple of doors down from Garage Bar. Well-known local chef Marlin Kaplan has put in a kitchen and is serving up some very good food. Last night was a fundraising night towards a cooking challenge/competition he's competing in next month, so I stopped by and had din at the bar. Lots of sushi and sashmi and the rest is an Asian-influenced menu. I don't do sushi so I got the spicy thai wings as an app (very good!) and the pork loin entree - pork belly, pork loin, fried rice, various Chinese veg and topped w/fried egg. Would make a fantastic breakfast. It was all very good and they have a good happy hour menu, with drinks for $5 and a selection of apps. I got my ticket for the challenge dinner next month as well - you had to attend last night's fundraising thing to get a ticket for admission, so that's cool. I'm going with the bartender I met last night, she seemed nice and didn't have anyone to go with either.

^They had the best steaks in town, IMO... then they changed their menu to that Asian influence stuff.  I was pretty disappointed.  The food is still pretty good, but their filet and delmonico were incredible.

Luna across the street from Mxyxx is a damn good bakery/eatery. Croisants packed with ham and cheese are game changer!

Dragonfly has excellent sushi!

Dragonfly has excellent sushi!

 

As far as I know Kimo is still their sushi chef. That guy has mad skills.

 

from July 15:

 

Ponte Vecchio on the viaduct is closing. Last day today-everything 50% off including wine!

 

I have some friends coming to town for dinner tomorrow night and Ponte Vecchio would have been the best place--that I knew of--to take them, given classiness, general vibe, price, quality, location, and view.  Does anyone have any recommendations of a place that is similar?

 

Not with all the qualities PV had....  Without the view, Flying Fig or Dante (even Fahrenheit or Fat Cats)

 

from July 15:

 

Ponte Vecchio on the viaduct is closing. Last day today-everything 50% off including wine!

 

I have some friends coming to town for dinner tomorrow night and Ponte Vecchio would have been the best place--that I knew of--to take them, given classiness, general vibe, price, quality, location, and view.  Does anyone have any recommendations of a place that is similar?

 

TABLE 45!  or anywhere on Shaker Square.

 

from July 15:

 

Ponte Vecchio on the viaduct is closing. Last day today-everything 50% off including wine!

 

I have some friends coming to town for dinner tomorrow night and Ponte Vecchio would have been the best place--that I knew of--to take them, given classiness, general vibe, price, quality, location, and view.  Does anyone have any recommendations of a place that is similar?

 

 

I can think of 20 that had equal if not better vibe/price/quality/location and view.  What specifically are you looking for?  Have you considered Fat Cats in Tremont?

 

from July 15:

 

Ponte Vecchio on the viaduct is closing. Last day today-everything 50% off including wine!

 

I have some friends coming to town for dinner tomorrow night and Ponte Vecchio would have been the best place--that I knew of--to take them, given classiness, general vibe, price, quality, location, and view.  Does anyone have any recommendations of a place that is similar?

 

 

Take them to LI and you can just choose wherever you want to eat.  You can scoot around to one place for apps, another for the main course, and then round out the night at a bakery.  If any kids are tagging along, the playground is always a hit.

 

Another place to do this would be Cedar-Lee, which has a lot of good options for not just food, but an after meal pub (the rear patio at Colony is particularly nice IMO)

 

I also have had some good times with big groups at Zocalo on E4th.

I'm finally going to Palladar tonight. Haven't been yet. I'm psyched. Any suggestions as to what to get?

But do any one those have the view that Ponte Vecchio had? Pier W has the view, but not the location and is very pricey. View is pretty important....  thanks in advance!

Paladar has some damn good coconut rum. But whatever you do, don't get the ceviche - it's godawful

I'm finally going to Palladar tonight. Haven't been yet. I'm psyched. Any suggestions as to what to get?

 

The fish (mahi-mahi) tacos

But do any one those have the view that Ponte Vecchio had? Pier W has the view, but not the location and is very pricey. View is pretty important....  thanks in advance!

 

Fat Cats has a view at times...not like Ponte Vecchio, thats why i suggested that.  In my opinion, i would focus more on taking your group to a vibrant place with alot of people moving around...that may give them a better impression of the city than a good view.

A couple of closures downtown to report...Caddyshack Lounge is gone. Also View nightclub closed too.

I noticed caddyshack last night, that one kind of surprised me

I noticed caddyshack last night, that one kind of surprised me

 

Although I was only there only once, that's a small hit to the downtown scene. On the other hand, there were about 4 other sports bars [panini's, winking lizard, nick's, harry buffalo, and cleats] within a 2-3 block radius of there; but I don't know of anyone else who offers virtual golf..

 

According to their website, they were owned by K&D, who also owns[ed] Ponte Vecchio, and Zinc. Wonder if K&D is restructuring or going out of business ?

I noticed caddyshack last night, that one kind of surprised me

 

Although I was only there only once, that's a small hit to the downtown scene. On the other hand, there were about 4 other sports bars [panini's, winking lizard, nick's, harry buffalo, and cleats] within a 2-3 block radius of there; but I don't know of anyone else who offers virtual golf..

 

According to their website, they were owned by K&D, who also owns[ed] Ponte Vecchio, and Zinc. Wonder if K&D is restructuring or going out of business ?

 

FYI Cleats changed to High Street grill, pretty sure its still the same sports bar type of place though. 

 

Caddyshack was an interesting concept, but I don't think the residential population DT was strong enough to support a simulated golf/bar/restaurant.  Especially with all the other sports bars that are in the area.

 

Very interesting that K&D got into the restaurant business.  As an actual Restaurant Management enterprise, I would not have been surprised to see them do more of the property management as that is what they do.  Hopefully they don't put the same kibosh on Zinc as that place has wonderful cocktails and an amazing patio.  The food is pretty good too.

K&D isn't  going out of business, maybe they're just getting out of the restaurant business

Or the money losing business.  I believe both of those places were losing money.

Argh, I was just messing around on the web and looks like the Cambodian sandwich place in the Colonial Arcade closed:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/num-pang-pate-cleveland

 

Are Pho Hoa (aka Superior Pho) and Bac the only places in town serving southeast asian sandwiches?

I thought I wrote a review...oh well, maybe not.

 

I went to the Luna Bakery Cafe last week with my pop. It's definitely a quaint place. Small on the inside; relatively small patio outside. The ham and cheese in a croissant was amazing, the Americano was good, and the cappuccino was average. We also got a couple of cookies, both of which were really good.

 

It's nice seeing another bakery in that area. I heard the opening for Myxx went well too last Friday, very busy.

 

 

I have also heard that Luna has very good crepes.

Argh, I was just messing around on the web and looks like the Cambodian sandwich place in the Colonial Arcade closed:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/num-pang-pate-cleveland

 

Are Pho Hoa (aka Superior Pho) and Bac the only places in town serving southeast asian sandwiches?

 

Saigon Grille, the new Vietnamese place next to Number One Pho, also serves Bahn Mi. I don't believe the new place in Asian Town Center, Pho99, does. And I'm not sure about East 30th Street Cafe, which is the only other place I can think to check.

^Thanks.  Good to know there are still a few options out there, but I'd be a very unhappy guy if I worked downtown :(  I'm actually surprised Saigan on East 4th doesn't serve Banh Mi; seems like it would be a great take-out item for office workers.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20110725/BLOGS02/110729904

 

Mitchells ice cream is looking for a large kitchen space In ohc, tremont, Gordon sq and other cle neighborhoods.  Sounds like it will be an open kitchen production facility/retail store, though the article is vague about that.

^ Wow.  Didnt know they were growing that much.  Glad they are looking for the neighborhoods...would be a great factory/place to visit in any one of these neighborhoods. 

 

With Menchies coming in and Mitchells, East Coast and Malleys doing what they do, i think you can kiss all the coldstones goodbye...probably most of the mom and pop places too.

I still wonder why Jenni's Ice Cream in Columbus picked Chagrin Falls for their NEO location.  No offense to that space, put their two spots Short North/Grandview would make Tremont/Lakewood the comparable spot.  Oh well, random thoughts, good for Mitchells!

^ Wow.  Didnt know they were growing that much.  Glad they are looking for the neighborhoods...would be a great factory/place to visit in any one of these neighborhoods. 

 

With Menchies coming in and Mitchells, East Coast and Malleys doing what they do, i think you can kiss all the coldstones goodbye...probably most of the mom and pop places too.

 

I agree on ColdStone, they don't really have a niche that works here, IMO. I still see the mom and pops serving a market. Truthfully, if I'm taking my kids out, sometimes I'm not looking for a 'premium ice cream experience', I just want to take them to get a twist on a cone, and let them run around outside.

The thing about those frozen yogurt places is the yogurt itself HAS NO TASTE. The toppings are pretty yummy, but the yogurt itself...it's beyond bland, and I've sampled quite a bit at Menchies and the Legacy place, spent a lot more than I would like too.

 

I think people are going there with the illusion that they're somewhat less unhealthy than a ice cream or custard place, but once you start adding all the cherries and syrups and candies (the stuff is just tasteless without, and no one is just doing it plain- you might as well be sucking an ice cube), then the calories really start counting up, not to mention the bill can run pretty damn high.

Any word on what the owner or chef of P.V. is going to do?  I believe he came from Italy...  It would be a shame to lose him as well as P.V.. 

*I was reminded again by how fortunate Cleveland is with the amazing Italian everywhere, after coming back to D.C. and having horrible Italian at one of the few places we have (and an old standby). 

 

Scene had a little more info about the plans for the Ponte Vecchio space:

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/bites/Content?category=1520384