Staffing is definitely a huge issue everywhere, and the issue isn't going away. Anecdotally I've heard restaurants are often exaggerating the alleged $15/hr baseline (without guaranteed hours, it's not much an incentive), and existing staff are so swamped they aren't getting pre-Covid tips due to, understandably, delayed table service. 

UO Fam - 

 

My wife and I will be doing a "Tour de Greasy Spoon" of Cleveland each Saturday morning. The goal is to find great little diner/breakfast spots. We'd like to stay within 20 minutes of our house (OhIo City) - and I would love your input. Here's what we have so far (Nick's Diner and Big Egg have been excluded due to proximity to our house):

 

1. Gus's Diner - Old Brooklyn 
2. Steve's - Old Brooklyn 
3. Dianna's Deli - Lakewood
4. My Friend's - 117th
5. Kristina's - West Blvd.
6. Mike & Dee's - Downtown
7. Addy's Diner - Downtown
8. Gabe's - Old Brooklyn
9. Steve's Doghouse - Old Brooklyn
10. Daybreak - Brooklyn
11. Canary's - Puritas
12. Rubin's - West Park
13. Dmitri's - West Park
14. Diana's - Clark/Fulton

George's Kitchen - West Park (Trisket and Berea Rd.)

Diner on 55th - St. Clair-Superior

Gotta have Mom’s on Clark and 65th! The greasiest!

I really miss the old diner on Detroit Rd. In western Lakewood. I think Covid killed it. It's now a Mexican place. Nothing against Mexican restaurants (love Mexican food) but there is no shortage of them around here while there is a shortage of great greasy spoon diners. 

1 hour ago, YABO713 said:

UO Fam - 

 

My wife and I will be doing a "Tour de Greasy Spoon" of Cleveland each Saturday morning. The goal is to find great little diner/breakfast spots. We'd like to stay within 20 minutes of our house (OhIo City) - and I would love your input. Here's what we have so far (Nick's Diner and Big Egg have been excluded due to proximity to our house):

 

1. Gus's Diner - Old Brooklyn 
2. Steve's - Old Brooklyn 
3. Dianna's Deli - Lakewood
4. My Friend's - 117th
5. Kristina's - West Blvd.
6. Mike & Dee's - Downtown
7. Addy's Diner - Downtown
8. Gabe's - Old Brooklyn
9. Steve's Doghouse - Old Brooklyn
10. Daybreak - Brooklyn
11. Canary's - Puritas
12. Rubin's - West Park
13. Dmitri's - West Park
14. Diana's - Clark/Fulton

The Place To Be - Lakewood - one of my favorites

Our Friends Restaurant - Cleveland

Red Chimney - Fleet and East 65th

Eat at Joe's - Mayfield and Green

Edited August 9, 20213 yr by freefourur

Thanks!

 

Gabe's - 2044 Broadview Rd

Steve's - 4457 Broadview Rd

 

Edit: only seconding Gabe's/Steve's since I just noticed you already identified them.  Might give Gus' a try at 4377 State Rd, though I can't vouch for it. 

Edited August 9, 20213 yr by grayfields

this a is covid struggles shame — i went in here a few times its a classic joint. i’m sure something else will come along eventually — its in a perfect setting:

 

 

https://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/08/09/larchmere-tavern-is-closing-its-doors-this-week-after-29-years-in-business

23 hours ago, TBideon said:

Staffing is definitely a huge issue everywhere, and the issue isn't going away. Anecdotally I've heard restaurants are often exaggerating the alleged $15/hr baseline (without guaranteed hours, it's not much an incentive), and existing staff are so swamped they aren't getting pre-Covid tips due to, understandably, delayed table service. 

I saw an ad in one of my facebook groups, for Gigi's. They said they're paying $20 an hour for dishwashers, $40 an hour for servers and bartenders... Someone chimed in and said, "I make less than that and I save lives for a living!" 

2 hours ago, YABO713 said:

UO Fam - 

 

My wife and I will be doing a "Tour de Greasy Spoon" of Cleveland each Saturday morning. The goal is to find great little diner/breakfast spots. We'd like to stay within 20 minutes of our house (OhIo City) - and I would love your input. Here's what we have so far (Nick's Diner and Big Egg have been excluded due to proximity to our house):

 

1. Gus's Diner - Old Brooklyn 
2. Steve's - Old Brooklyn 
3. Dianna's Deli - Lakewood
4. My Friend's - 117th
5. Kristina's - West Blvd.
6. Mike & Dee's - Downtown
7. Addy's Diner - Downtown
8. Gabe's - Old Brooklyn
9. Steve's Doghouse - Old Brooklyn
10. Daybreak - Brooklyn
11. Canary's - Puritas
12. Rubin's - West Park
13. Dmitri's - West Park
14. Diana's - Clark/Fulton

 

Sorry to butt in, but Old Brooklynite here-

 

-Ben Franklin Community Garden is right around the garden from Steve's/Gabe's, stop by to see some veggies post grease lol

-Old Brooklyn Farmers Market on Saturday Mornings- not as great as some others but still a nice little gathering of OB folks

-Metropolitan Coffee is a good stop too if you need a coffee fix pre-food coma-nap

-Old Brooklyn Cheese are good people, grab some mustard and cheese before heading back

 

Or do these things when you aren't ready for a nap, either way, it's not as exciting as your neck of the woods but we've got some good culinary things going on! lol

@YABO713I've heard Mom's is great, but have never been. I don't know if it would be considered a greasy spoon, but Gene's Place is one of my favorite restaurants in town. If you've never been, then you must go. Right now. 

4 hours ago, YABO713 said:

UO Fam - 

 

My wife and I will be doing a "Tour de Greasy Spoon" of Cleveland each Saturday morning. The goal is to find great little diner/breakfast spots. We'd like to stay within 20 minutes of our house (OhIo City) - and I would love your input. Here's what we have so far (Nick's Diner and Big Egg have been excluded due to proximity to our house):

 

1. Gus's Diner - Old Brooklyn 
2. Steve's - Old Brooklyn 
3. Dianna's Deli - Lakewood
4. My Friend's - 117th
5. Kristina's - West Blvd.
6. Mike & Dee's - Downtown
7. Addy's Diner - Downtown
8. Gabe's - Old Brooklyn
9. Steve's Doghouse - Old Brooklyn
10. Daybreak - Brooklyn
11. Canary's - Puritas
12. Rubin's - West Park
13. Dmitri's - West Park
14. Diana's - Clark/Fulton

 

No Grumpy's on W 14th in Tremont?   A must for good brekkie! 

 

20 minutes ago, Cleburger said:

 

No Grumpy's on W 14th in Tremont?   A must for good brekkie! 

 

 

Agreed - but honestly too high brow for this list! lol

Frank's Falafel House is right by you. Also I didn't see Superior Restaurant yet.

Westside Market Cafe?

45 minutes ago, Clefan98 said:

Westside Market Cafe?

Main Gate. It's under a food distribution center off of Woodland and East 42nd street. Doesn't get any more old school weird Cleveland than that. 

Also it would be on the high fringe of 20 minutes (maybe pushing 30 from OC), but I would recommend Kleifeld's in downtown Willoughby.   It's been there for nearly 100 years and is a true small town greasy diner experience.  

 

https://kleifelds.com

37 minutes ago, Cleburger said:

Also it would be on the high fringe of 20 minutes (maybe pushing 30 from OC), but I would recommend Kleifeld's in downtown Willoughby.   It's been there for nearly 100 years and is a true small town greasy diner experience.  

 

https://kleifelds.com

 

I've heard very good things about Kleifeld's as well.

If we're getting out beyond the county line, Pat Dee's on Olde 8 in Northfield Center is very well known for its breakfasts.   It has tables as well as the bar, because the latter is pretty much what it is.

 

Peggy's in Northfield Village on "regular" SR8 is famous for its sausage gravy.

44 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

I've heard very good things about Kleifeld's as well.

If we're getting out beyond the county line, Pat Dee's on Olde 8 in Northfield Center is very well known for its breakfasts.   It has tables as well as the bar, because the latter is pretty much what it is.

 

Peggy's in Northfield Village on "regular" SR8 is famous for its sausage gravy.

 

While we're in suburban territory, Jim's Open Kitchen in Solon is pretty good for a greasy spoon old school diner as well (although I still definitely recommend Kleifeld's if you only want to make one trip out to the burbs.)  Also, Kleifeld's is only 23 minutes from Ohio City, which is actually about 5 minutes closer than Solon, and downtown Willoughby is much more interesting than "downtown Solon".

 

There used to be a place right in the heart of Chagrin Falls, but I don't believe it survived the influx of upscale establishments.

 

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Bob-N-Sheri's FortyNiner.

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/bob-and-shers-49er-cleveland

Edited August 9, 20213 yr by jam40jeff

gee, if we're going further and further beyond the original zone, I might as well recommend Painesville's Sidewalk Cafe and FATS-Flavors Around the Square (which seems to have pretentions that go beyond the basic greasy spoon category). Sidewalk is located in a space that was originally a pharmacy going back a hundred years, and has retained much of that look. (There's also a branch in Euclid, but it looks like it's on a stretch of Euclid Av that's the middle of nowhere!)

 

 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g50819-d4522677-r555709345-Sidewalk_Cafe_Painesville-Painesville_Lake_County_Ohio.html

 

 

FATS

https://www.fatspainesville.com/

Just now, eastvillagedon said:

gee, if we're going further and further beyond the original zone, I might as well recommend Painesville's Sidewalk Cafe and FATS-Flavors Around the Square (which seems to have pretentions that go beyond the basic greasy spoon category). Sidewalk is located in a space that was originally a pharmacy going back a hundred years, and has retained much of that look. (There's also a branch in Euclid, but it looks like it's on a stretch of Euclid Av that's the middle of nowhere!)

 

 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g50819-d4522677-r555709345-Sidewalk_Cafe_Painesville-Painesville_Lake_County_Ohio.html

 

 

FATS

https://www.fatspainesville.com/

 

I'll have to make two separate lists with two different radiuses lol

7 minutes ago, YABO713 said:

 

I'll have to make two separate lists with two different radiuses lol

I'm sensing a tasty Venn diagram incoming...

well in that case if you want to head west and you are up for handling a hard core old diner than three star diner in south lorain it is. its definitely got the bonafides, its an old steel worker classic and as i recall not bad at all. if you go make sure to hit up rainbow around the corner for pr bakery treets and food to go like alcapurrias, pernil and your rice&beans. wepaaa!!

 

the only other old classic diner i can think of in eastern-ish lorain county is the midway oh boy in northern elyria. that one is ancient.

23 hours ago, KFM44107 said:

Main Gate. It's under a food distribution center off of Woodland and East 42nd street. Doesn't get any more old school weird Cleveland than that. 

 

This thread is great lol @YABO713 look what you've started!

Big Al's Diner on Larchmere (12600 Larchmere Blvd) -- go check out all the new construction!

On 8/9/2021 at 11:48 AM, Ineffable_Matt said:

@YABO713I've heard Mom's is great, but have never been. I don't know if it would be considered a greasy spoon, but Gene's Place is one of my favorite restaurants in town. If you've never been, then you must go. Right now. 

 

Checked Mom's on Clark off the list this morning. It was great but it's other location in North Royalton is a little better imo

Maybe I'll start a diner review and score as I go (breakfast only):

 

Mom's (Clark Ave) - 6.4/10

Great article from my old friend Vince on the importance of offering non alcoholic beers and cocktails on the menu, and how many local places are doing a good job on this. 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, YABO713 said:

Maybe I'll start a diner review and score as I go (breakfast only):

 

Mom's (Clark Ave) - 6.4/10

 

Is the 0.4 for the eggs?

Knocked off Gabe's at 2044 Broadview Rd in Old Brooklyn this morning. 

 

7.3/10 - Very good breakfast!

3 hours ago, YABO713 said:

Knocked off Gabe's at 2044 Broadview Rd in Old Brooklyn this morning. 

 

7.3/10 - Very good breakfast!

while obviously food is the main focus of any restaurant experience, there are also other factors, like service, cleanliness, ambience, etc. Will you be including those in future reviews? For instance, the waitstaff of a greasy spoon should not be too friendly or solicitous, and certainly not try to engage in making a personal connection with a customer: e.g. "Hello, my is blank and I'll be your server today."  This would be crossing the line of accepted greasy spoon propriety. Also, I remember one time in a New York Times review a particular restaurant was given a slightly lower rating than it might have gotten due to a radiator "hissing" too loudly for the reviewer's taste. Something to consider 🙂

Just now, eastvillagedon said:

while obviously food is the main focus of any restaurant experience, there are also other factors, like service, cleanliness, ambience, etc. Will you be including those in future reviews? For instance, the waitstaff of a greasy spoon should not be too friendly or solicitous, and certainly not try to engage in making a personal connection with a customer: e.g. "Hello, my is blank and I'll be your server today."  This would be crossing the line of accepted greasy spoon propriety. Also, I remember one time in a New York Times review a particular restaurant was given a slightly lower rating than it might have gotten due to a radiator "hissing" too loudly for the reviewer's taste. Something to consider 🙂

 

Lol - good point. If everyone doesn't mind my commandeering this thread once or twice a week, I'll give a score and a brief synopsis. 

 

For Gabe's:

 

The atmosphere was exactly what you'd expect from a "Family Restaurant", and they have an Old Brooklyn flag flying from their drop ceiling, which was cool. I went early and got a meat lover's omelette with a side of pancakes - both were good, but the cheese was kind of thrown on top of the omelette and not melted all the way, which was my only major complaint. The pancakes were above average but not great, a little dry on the inside - but I was still happy to have them lol. 

 

Service was awesome and my food was out in less than 10 mins. 

Heard from a retailer  who is opening a storefront in the area of 117/Lorain that the old Variety Theater will become a Town Hall Restaurant/Bar.  Said he heard it from the landlord.

Edited August 13, 20213 yr by freethink

On 8/9/2021 at 11:09 AM, mrnyc said:

this a is covid struggles shame — i went in here a few times its a classic joint. i’m sure something else will come along eventually — its in a perfect setting:

 

 

https://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/08/09/larchmere-tavern-is-closing-its-doors-this-week-after-29-years-in-business

 

Huge bummer that they weren't able to make it, I really loved their pizza. I feel like they had a particularly hard time adapting to the changes brought on by the pandemic - they never really had great social media presence and attracted an older demo that was most at risk. I feel like if they pivoted a bit to highlight their takeout options (especially Fredo's Pizza) they would have weathered the storm better.

 

It really is an awesome space though so I hope it doesn't stay vacant for very long 

On 8/12/2021 at 8:10 PM, freethink said:

Heard from a retailer  who is opening a storefront in the area of 117/Lorain that the old Variety Theater will become a Town Hall Restaurant/Bar.  Said he heard it from the landlord.

 

 

boy that really gives me mixed emotions. while its great to rehab and reopen the variety, where some of us have great memories, i always hoped for it to be reno’d and reopened as a theater again. its unfortunate that could never be made to work out. maybe the restaurant folks will keep the stage and have music sometimes? that would be a good compromise.

 

also, i imagine its landmarked? or is it?

5 minutes ago, mrnyc said:

 

 

boy that really gives me mixed emotions. while its great to rehab and reopen the variety, where some of us have great memories, i always hoped for it to be reno’d and reopened as a theater again. its unfortunate that could never be made to work out. maybe the restaurant folks will keep the stage and have music sometimes? that would be a good compromise.

 

also, i imagine its landmarked? or is it?

It just doesn't seem like a location that makes sense for a Town Hall.   I'm still suspect of this rumour.  

Fahrenheit moving to 55 Public Sq

 

 

^Indeed.

 

Rocco Whalen to move Fahrenheit to downtown Cleveland

 

When Rocco Whalen was a boy, he dreamed of owning a restaurant in downtown Cleveland. That dream is coming true.

 

Whalen is moving Fahrenheit, his restaurant in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, to the ground floor of the 55 Public Square complex and next to the Old Stone Church. He is moving into the space once occupied by John Q’s Steakhouse.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cleveland/news/2021/08/30/restaurateur-to-move-fahrenheit-to-downtown.html

 

Do these closures (specifically the most recent ones - Daves CS and Souper Mkt.) have anything to do with new building owners(?, sorry if I'm making that up..)

 

 

12 minutes ago, GISguy said:

Do these closures (specifically the most recent ones - Daves CS and Souper Mkt.) have anything to do with new building owners(?, sorry if I'm making that up..)

 

 

I think @KJPmentioned something about the owners renovating the storefronts (maybe the whole building), but i could just be making that up. Does anyone know if/where Dave's reopened downtown?

5 minutes ago, Ineffable_Matt said:

I think @KJPmentioned something about the owners renovating the storefronts (maybe the whole building), but i could just be making that up. Does anyone know if/where Dave's reopened downtown?

 

See, I'm not crazy haha. 

 

I believe Daves and (according to the twitter thread) Souper are both going to the Standard storefronts.

Yes, they had to move because of the upcoming renovations. But what's weird is that no renovations are imminent. No building permit applications have been submitted for the Baker Building (nee Fidelity Mortgage Building).

I don't recall the renovation project (into a hotel) having even been before the planning commission.

On 9/1/2021 at 7:57 AM, Ineffable_Matt said:

I think @KJPmentioned something about the owners renovating the storefronts (maybe the whole building), but i could just be making that up. Does anyone know if/where Dave's reopened downtown?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTVHgbGra1T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Dave's and Souper Market will be reopening this fall at 101 W St. Clair Avenue. A better location for both of these types of retail IMO.

Edited September 2, 20213 yr by downtownjoe

wait, what? 🤯

 

Kyler Smith's new restaurants to open in the Warehouse District

 

New restaurants are preparing to open in Cleveland's Warehouse District this fall, according to Landmark Management Company, a residential and commercial real estate company also based in Cleveland.

...

Filter, a restaurant located in the former Take 5 Rhythm and Jazz space at Perry Payne, will be opening in November, several months later than its projected finish date.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cleveland/news/2021/09/20/kyler-smith-to-open-new-restaurants.html

 

Indie, a music-themed diner on East 4th Street, almost ready to open

 

A new restaurant is getting very close to opening its doors on Cleveland’s East 4th Street.

 

Indie, a music-themed diner that will be in the former Greenhouse Tavern space at 2038 E. 4th St., will be finishing up construction next week, which will bring three floors of entertainment, music, and food to one of the most iconic streets in Cleveland. 

 

A patio bar is being renovated on the third floor, which is also planned to have a different menu from the first and second floors.  

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cleveland/news/2021/09/23/indie-cleveland-923.html

 

Red Restaurant Group Is the New Owner-Operator of Nighttown in Cleveland Heights

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/09/23/red-restaurant-group-is-the-new-owner-operator-of-nighttown-in-cleveland-heights

 

Nighttown, the iconic jazz club and restaurant in Cleveland Heights, has been closed since March of 2020, when owner Brendan Ring shuttered it as a “moral obligation” to help slow the spread of Covid. In early January, he sold the 55-year-old business and property to an ownership group with assurances that “the essence of Nighttown” would remain when the club reopened in July of 2021. 
…
Now we know what’s coming next for the storied business. Red Restaurant Group managing partner Gregg Levy has announced that his company has leased the space and will reopen it as Nighttown. Extensive design and planning already have begun and the restaurant is expected to re-open sometime in 2022. 

“This is not going to Red the Steakhouse, this is going to be Nighttown,” Levy says. “We wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t going to be Nighttown. Nighttown and Brendan Ring have been a beloved part of the Cleveland hospitality scene for decades, and we wanted to ensure we could preserve that and put our Red stamp on this project. We have and will continue to consult with Brendan in this regard; make no mistake, this will remain Nighttown!”