Orale Mexican Kitchen opens its expanded bar, restaurant in Ohio City

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An expansion that nearly doubled its space still means a crowd at Orale Contemporary Mexican Kitchen in Ohio City. Since its quiet soft opening last week, fans have been crowding in.

 

Orale will be even busier in the week ahead. Chef-owner Roberto Rodriguez will celebrate Orale's debut with an official grand opening event from 8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26. The party will include free samples of dishes from the chef's new bar menu as well as a cash bar.

 

That new bar menu focuses on portions of snacks like spicy queso fundito dip, fried tamales, wings, steamed mussels and a couple of pizzas. Prices range from $6 to $10.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2013/11/orale_mexican_kitchen_opens_it.html#incart_river_default

 

Did they take over the vegan/gluten free bakery?

 

^ Yes, they took over the space.

Maybe this belongs in restaurant reviews? ;)

 

"@jimmyfallon: Sokolowski's University Inn - D E L I C I O U S! #Cleveland http://t.co/5qWuW1xqDf

 

Very very cool!!!!

It would seem from a recent filing with the state that Texas de Brazil, the Brazilian Steakhouse chain, will be building in Woodmere - I'm assuming as part of an almost-inevitable Eton expansion (due to popularity and the new Pinecrest opening):

 

http://www2.sos.state.oh.us/pls/bsqry/f?p=100:7:0::NO:7:P7_CHARTER_NUM:2226743

 

Stark's Crocker Park was previously announced as a 2013 Texas de Brazil opening - and that filing is still on record, but curious if two TdBs opening in CLE make sense - or if Woodmere wins out, as two TdBs in one metro (especially this size) is rare.

 

If this opens at Eton, count Flemings, Hyde Park, Red & the soon-to-open XO as its neighbors.

That's a lot of meat-based places in a small area. Interesting.

El Guero on West Ninth St. has bit the dust.

I hate to see a local close but I never heard terribly good things about their food. Still sad. I'm sure Chiptle coming in basically did it for them.

I'm surprised it stayed open as long as it did. Let's see; downtown's largest residential pocket of young professionals, and you can't sell a freakin taco? It has to be really bad for that to happen. And it truly was.

I don't want to speculate, but it appears BRGR9 on W9 has bit the dust as well... Walked by on Friday and it said "closed for kitchen maintenance today Friday Dec 6", and wouldn't you know it - the place is still dark today..

 

When can the bleeding from the WHD stop? :(

I hope soon.  My wife and I tried going into a bar called Martini 6 (I think thats the name) over the summer.  Just wanted a drink.  We literally got frisked by a bouncer.  It was me first, then my wife.  I grabbed my wife and said lets get the hell out of here.  And then the bouncer yelled, I anint f"ing kidding as we walked away.  Whatever that meant, not so sure.

I know that may go on in other Towns, but when your center city has basically has two night life districts, and you get frisked before walking in an establishment in one of them, it worries me.

I had a feeling BRGR9 wasn't doing so well.  After the last Indians regular season home game (so just over two months ago) a friend and I tried to grab a burger there on a Wednesday night at about 10:30.  It said both on their website and their door that they were open until midnight.  As soon as I opened the door and saw the place was completely empty, I heard someone from the back yell "leave us alone!"  A server then came out from behind the bar area and I said "Are you guys open?" and she replied "Uuuummmm, no."  Last time I was gonna go there.

I hope soon.  My wife and I tried going into a bar called Martini 6 (I think thats the name) over the summer.  Just wanted a drink.  We literally got frisked by a bouncer.  It was me first, then my wife.  I grabbed my wife and said lets get the hell out of here.  And then the bouncer yelled, I anint f"ing kidding as we walked away.  Whatever that meant, not so sure.

I know that may go on in other Towns, but when your center city has basically has two night life districts, and you get frisked before walking in an establishment in one of them, it worries me.

 

Bad security management.  Both the practice and the bouncer's attitude scream "this is a place where problems happen!".  That's a self fulfilling prophecy.

 

I thought BRGR 9 did not have good burgers.  As far as WHD and eateries...its just not a well run neighborhood.  East 4th has good leadership and property owner in Maron.  Ohio City and Tremont has good leaders.  I just dont know whats going on in the WHD.  Too many detached business owners, people who arenet invested into the neighborhood.  I think its the culture of the neighborhood that makes it difficult for individual restaurants to succeed.  The Flats East Bank is the WHD best friend now, if the flats are a huge dra for both residents and visitors, the WHD may benefit from that

How are the restaurants in the flat doing? Everytime I pass by they look dead! The waterfront line is usually empty too.  Hopefully phase 2 changes all of this.

FYI - BRGR 9 to reopen:

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2013/12/09/brgr-9-to-reopen-this-week-following-flood

Glad Brgr 9 is re-opening. The woman and I went there a few weeks ago and had a decent experience. The burger was good, but not great. The bartender was friendly. It didn't rock my world, but it didn't need to.

^ I walked in there for a lunch a few weeks ago. Horrible, overpowering smell of cleaning fluid filled the air. I walked out. Other people were in there though, so perhaps they didn't mind...  Assuming that was an off-day, I'm glad they're there too as we need burger joints and other inexpensive non-chain food Downtown---can't only have fancy expensive places.....

The one time I was there before they rudely denied me, I thought it was pretty good.  I believe it's the same owner as Heck's.  It does seem to be a step down from Heck's, but it's still good.

The one time I was there before they rudely denied me, I thought it was pretty good.  I believe it's the same owner as Heck's.  It does seem to be a step down from Heck's, but it's still good.

 

I agree. Their food is good, service is lacking. Glad they're still open though... Last thing we need is another empty storefront on W9.

I had good food and service when I was there.  Glad it is reopening.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's reopening, too.  I just was very disappointed in the way they treated us when we tried to eat there the last time.  The time before that when we did actually eat there, both the food and service were good.

 

It's bad enough when a restaurant doesn't follow their posted hours, but it takes a lot fo nerve for them to be rude to you for just asking if they're still open during those hours.

OpenTable Restaurant Reviews Reveal Top 100 American Fare Restaurants

Twenty-Nine States and Washington, D.C., Claim Winning Restaurants with Ohio, Texas, and South Carolina Boasting the Greatest Number of Honorees

 

 

Cleveland has five on the list:  Americano, Dante, Fire, Lola, and Pura Vida

 

http://press.opentable.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=808613

I heard from someone in the know that El Guero is closed temporarily. They plan on re-opening with a different menu and a liquor license.

Hotspot Café Returns Quality Diner Fare to Carnegie

 

Today is Day 3 for Hotspot Café (1332 Carnegie Ave., 216-239-1141, hotspotcafecleveland.com), a new breakfast and lunch spot that took the place of Carnegie Kitchen, which closed earlier this year. Previous operations at this address include Verve and Juniper Grille.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2013/12/11/hotspot-caf-returns-quality-diner-fare-to-carnegie

That's good to hear. There really aren't a lot of sit down breakfast places in the CBD. Whenever I had breakfast meetings downtown in the past, I always tried to go to Juniper Grille. It was either that or meet out in the burbs someplace.

Hotspot Café Returns Quality Diner Fare to Carnegie

 

Today is Day 3 for Hotspot Café (1332 Carnegie Ave., 216-239-1141, hotspotcafecleveland.com), a new breakfast and lunch spot that took the place of Carnegie Kitchen, which closed earlier this year. Previous operations at this address include Verve and Juniper Grille.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2013/12/11/hotspot-caf-returns-quality-diner-fare-to-carnegie

 

 

I'm not sold on that particular parcel for any sort of food service. This will be the 4th or 5th operation in that place in the past 5 years.  I wonder why nothing works out there. It has the advantage of free parking, too.

^There have been a couple of good restaurants in that spot.  I guess my theory is that it just kinda feels isolated and that might turn people off even with the free parking.

^No doubt about the food served there - I've had some tasty dishes myself. It is definitely the location.

Hotspot Café Returns Quality Diner Fare to Carnegie

 

Today is Day 3 for Hotspot Café (1332 Carnegie Ave., 216-239-1141, hotspotcafecleveland.com), a new breakfast and lunch spot that took the place of Carnegie Kitchen, which closed earlier this year. Previous operations at this address include Verve and Juniper Grille.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2013/12/11/hotspot-caf-returns-quality-diner-fare-to-carnegie

 

 

I'm not sold on that particular parcel for any sort of food service. This will be the 4th or 5th operation in that place in the past 5 years.  I wonder why nothing works out there. It has the advantage of free parking, too.

 

Everyone either going to or coming from Downtown is paying for parking already if they drove, so free parking isn't much of an advantage.  Walkability to where people are or where they are going is the advantage in those circumstances.

I didn't even know it was there. But then again I don't look over there for places to eat downtown. I tend to look amongst the big buildings....

juniper was good - good luck to them.

Jonathon Sawyer has been Tweeting today with "#trentina" and discussing Trentina preview dinner tonight (that's the name of the long-promised Italian restaurant he was to open in Uptown originally).. Further explored and found that he and wife are filming a Kickstarter vid for Trentina... So appears back on the table, but with some of his prior backers apparently leaving his other businesses recently (there was a comment about having to buy people out recently, I believe0 - appears this is the route he is going..(???)

^ wow, now thats what i call an insider update.

 

thats very cool, he will get investors who are as commited as he is that way.

Jonathon Sawyer has been Tweeting today with "#trentina" and discussing Trentina preview dinner tonight (that's the name of the long-promised Italian restaurant he was to open in Uptown originally).. Further explored and found that he and wife are filming a Kickstarter vid for Trentina... So appears back on the table, but with some of his prior backers apparently leaving his other businesses recently (there was a comment about having to buy people out recently, I believe0 - appears this is the route he is going..(???)

 

So strange. I was just telling my girlfriend today that I hope he still ends up opening this restaurant. I hope the location didn't change!

Last word on street was that Uptown was out for Trentina, I thought... Somewhere on east side was last rumor - but things may have changed

Last word on street was that Uptown was out for Trentina, I thought... Somewhere on east side was last rumor - but things may have changed

 

I can imagine Coventry or Cedar Fairmount if its not Uptown. Those would be the only two locations that would make sense other than Little Italy maybe. He lives in Cleveland Heights and loves it over there.

 

New pub on Huron at the Radisson.

 

"A 120-seat restaurant and bar is in the works in one-time office space in the hotel that has its own storefront entrance on Huron, according to Scott Schmelzer, general manager of the hotel for Marshall Hotels & Resorts Inc. of Salisbury, Md. The operation will open Jan. 20 and will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, he said. It will stay open as late as 2 a.m."

 

(Source: Crain's Cleveland)

 

 

Menu for just opened Jack Flaps breakfast joint from Morocco's Eric Williams - in Ohio City. Looks tasty, but Interesting, not a single egg/omelet type dish other than egg side, which I would say is unusual for a breakfast spot. We carb watchers will have to save for special occasions...!!

 

 

http://jack-flaps.com/menu.html

Menu for just opened Jack Flaps breakfast joint from Morocco's Eric Williams - in Ohio City. Looks tasty, but Interesting, not a single egg/omelet type dish other than egg side, which I would say is unusual for a breakfast spot. We carb watchers will have to save for special occasions...!!

 

 

http://jack-flaps.com/menu.html

 

We may be going for a visit Saturday morning - can't wait to try it all out

Speaking of breakfast, I had breakfast at Stonetown the other weekend. It was excellent---both the quiche and the pancakes. Had gator sausage too. We don't have many downtown breakfast places so was happy to find it and I highly recommend it.  Its on Prospect between 4th and 8th.

I'm not familiar with Stonetown. I will check it out.

Speaking of breakfast, I had breakfast at Stonetown the other weekend. It was excellent---both the quiche and the pancakes. Had gator sausage too. We don't have many downtown breakfast places so was happy to find it and I highly recommend it.  Its on Prospect between 4th and 8th.

 

Gator Sausage?

 

I may have to find an excuse....

 

By the way, the best barbecue spot in the south suburbs. Fat Casual, had to close due to its location and road destruction in the vicinity.  I just found out they are now in the Tavern of Solon.

I'm not sure that's true, as I believe Walter Hyde (Fat Casual chef) left town for a chef job in another state?

I'm not sure that's true, as I believe Walter Hyde (Fat Casual chef) left town for a chef job in another state?

 

The owners of FC now own the Tavern, IIRC,,,

ah. ok.

Some very nice recognition for Red the Steakhouse Group and Greenhouse Tavern.

 

15 Most Memorable Restaurant Meals of 2013

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2013/12/17/15-most-memorable-restaurant-meals-of-2013/2/

Menu for just opened Jack Flaps breakfast joint from Morocco's Eric Williams - in Ohio City. Looks tasty, but Interesting, not a single egg/omelet type dish other than egg side, which I would say is unusual for a breakfast spot. We carb watchers will have to save for special occasions...!!

 

 

http://jack-flaps.com/menu.html

 

We may be going for a visit Saturday morning - can't wait to try it all out

 

 

Jack Flaps!!!!!

Oh my goodness. Incredible experience. As my fiancee eloquently put it, the Candied Jalapeño flapjacks will ruin all other pancakes for you for life. They are that amazing.

I had the Crab Cake Benedict - super amazing. Huge Crab Cakes (made with very little filler, too).

 

You mouth will thank you

^ wow that is probably the most mouth-watering and unusual breakfast joint menu ive seen. it all looks real good. what a great idea they ran with.

 

edit: ermagerhd! they have a pancake happy hour from 1-3pm -- brilliant!

Jack flaps is very good. I've been waiting for a spot with an off-the-wall menu like this. I recommend going in the near future. The place is small and once it catches on I'm sure there will b significant waits

^ will definately do next visit. in fact, ima get the family on it right away during christmas calls lol!