Looking to try these places - Stone Mad, Reddstone, Cheddars, Latitude 41. I don't know where to start. Any opinions on the food, value or atmosphere?

 

I've been to Latitude 41N.  I love the setting...there are maps everywhere, even on the tables.  In the bathrooms, there are photos of different front doors of houses.  Overall, the place is really nice and comfortable.

 

I didn't care much for the food.  I got a rotisserie chicken salad sandwich, and it was really dry like sand for some reason.  The Latitude 41N fries (as they're called there) were way too greasy.    I'd be willing to give it a shot again, but my first impression beyond the physical space wasn't that favorable. 

 

royal saffron has been closed a while... actually the entire first floor of the euclid 9th building is completely empty.  Though the last couple days i've seen some work going on.  I am hoping they are doing some test spots to see the condition of the original building underneath it's skin.  Beneath that puke brown metal is one of the most beautiful buildings in downtown.

 

That would be awesome (I always wondered what was keeping them from doing this), since currently it is certainly one of the ugliest :-o buildings downtown.

Ill keep my fingers crossed   

The Tremont Tap House got a rave review in the Free Times today.  Has anyone been yet? 

yes. I love it! We have been about 3 times. I think the pizza needs a little work-burgers great...and the beer selection and atmoshere is great. The patio should be great when it warms up. Try the Dragon's Milk micro. mmm

Just got back from the Taphouse myself and it was absolutely excellent.  I had the chicken baguette with the banana pepper jam-- it was seriously one of the best sandwiches I have had in a while.  I believe it was only $7 and came with a huge pile of fries.  My girlfriend had the burger and should second MorningTheft's assessment.  There was already a good crowd in there and no one really knows about it yet-- this place is going to be a winner. 

 

Link to the Free times article: http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/36/dream-house

 

Doesn't look they have a website yet, but here is a MySpace page for them: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=5025848

I went to the Market Cafe (E. 9th & Chester in the AmTrust Bldg.) the other afternoon and was very impressed with the quality of the spaces interiors.  It looks like they gave a great deal of consideration to design and materials.  The layout affords several unique seating areas, from booths to long tables to raised tables and so on.  There are a number of counters where you can grab different types of food, from pizzas to sandwiches to soups and more.  Much of it was under wraps while I was there (4:00-ish) and the place certainly wasn't busy, but the word on the streets is that the place is slammed during lunch hour.  In the evening, it was a cozy place to sit in the window and sip some beer (they have a good wine list and a tapas menu too) with friends.  They stay open 'til 8:00 during the week, so I hope they're getting more customers after work hours.  I left at 5:00, so I don't know.  I recommend you check it out at least once!

^Wow, that sounds reallygood.  I love hearing about new downtown lunch options that aren't 1. in foodcourts (some exceptions apply), 2. expensive/fancy haute places (love'em, but not for lunch every day), 3, boring chains or formats (nothing against Jimmy Johns, but it just doesn't get me so excited)

 

Just got back from the Taphouse myself and it was absolutely excellent.  I had the chicken baguette with the banana pepper jam-- it was seriously one of the best sandwiches I have had in a while.  I believe it was only $7 and came with a huge pile of fries.  My girlfriend had the burger and should second MorningTheft's assessment.  There was already a good crowd in there and no one really knows about it yet-- this place is going to be a winner. 

 

Link to the Free times article: http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/36/dream-house

 

Doesn't look they have a website yet, but here is a MySpace page for them: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=5025848

.

 

And this place sounds great too.  You had me at "banana pepper".  A very subtle appreciation for Cleveland food I've developed over the year is what seems to be a relatively greater use of banana peppers- on pizza, on sandwiches, etc. than I notice elsewhere.  Or maybe I'm just not very observant outside of Cleveland.  Either way I love them.

I have been eating at Market Cafe at least 3 times a week pretty much since they opened.  I gave them the first week to work out their opening kinks as I think that's the worst time to visit a new place, and ever since then I've been going and have been consistently pleased with the place. The food and service are both very good, the employees seem to be very friendly and I love the inside.  If I ever have to work late, I will go there for din.

Cross post from the Chinatown thread.

 

An adventurous diner can always eat better and cheaper in Chinatown. And thanks to Wonton Gourmet Noodles & BBQ (3211 Payne Ave., 216.875.7000), the selection of places to enjoy just increased by one. Freshly minted, Wonton takes the place of New Wong's Chinese Restaurant, which packed up and moved its ops out to Wickliffe. Gone are the honey-color roast ducks hanging in the window, replaced by a brighter, sharper and more modern dining room. As the name implies, the restaurant specializes in Hong Kong-style wonton and noodle soups. Some 20 varieties are offered, the most basic being a large bowl of thin noodles, plump shrimp and pork dumplings, and fresh greens topped with hot broth and garnished with scallions ($4.50). Other variations include beef brisket, roast pork, beef ball and tripe. Wonton also serves a wide selection of congee, a rice porridge topped with anything from minced beef to frog. For those looking for more familiar Chinese dishes, Wonton offers the usual roundup of lo mein, chow fun, egg foo yung and fried rice.

I wanted to put a quick note in again about the Tremont Tap House...I have now been 4 times since opening (late oct ?) and it has been great. The first time they did not have the kitchen open-the next couple times, a limited menu, and now the full menu is available. First the bad news- we have had the pizza two times and while the toppings are great the crust isn't. These days, it is kind of an expectation of a "gastro" pub-esp when you have competition like Lolita or Bar Centro. Anyway...the mac and cheese-something I never order was great-it had brie, rosemary and figs in it. The short rib sliders are ridiculously good. Anyway...this is ANOTHER great recent add to the area. I hope they do well. It has never been too busy when we have been, but then it has been early Sundays evening too, so that may be why. The patio is going to be nuts in the summer. OK hopefully not too nuts b/c the neighbors already rioted

^ does the tremont tap house have any sort of protected patio, either for cold weather use  or for smokers?  that's one thing i wish we had more (any) of here in NEO, patios designed for sitting outside in the winter......complete with a gentle snow fall.

^Wow, that sounds reallygood.  I love hearing about new downtown lunch options that aren't 1. in foodcourts (some exceptions apply), 2. expensive/fancy haute places (love'em, but not for lunch every day), 3, boring chains or formats (nothing against Jimmy Johns, but it just doesn't get me so excited)

 

Just got back from the Taphouse myself and it was absolutely excellent.  I had the chicken baguette with the banana pepper jam-- it was seriously one of the best sandwiches I have had in a while.  I believe it was only $7 and came with a huge pile of fries.  My girlfriend had the burger and should second MorningTheft's assessment.  There was already a good crowd in there and no one really knows about it yet-- this place is going to be a winner. 

 

Link to the Free times article: http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/36/dream-house

 

Doesn't look they have a website yet, but here is a MySpace page for them: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=5025848

.

 

And this place sounds great too.  You had me at "banana pepper".  A very subtle appreciation for Cleveland food I've developed over the year is what seems to be a relatively greater use of banana peppers- on pizza, on sandwiches, etc. than I notice elsewhere.  Or maybe I'm just not very observant outside of Cleveland.  Either way I love them.

 

strap you are correct in your observation about banana peppers being popular around the cleve and i think i can tell ya why....it's historically a favored hungarian food item.

 

chalk up yet another cool local quirk!

 

^ does the tremont tap house have any sort of protected patio, either for cold weather use  or for smokers?   that's one thing i wish we had more (any) of here in NEO, patios designed for sitting outside in the winter......complete with a gentle snow fall.

I was in NYC last week and someone took us to this beautiful rooftop patio martini bar which was amazingly in use in January because it was so warm last week.  The simplest and most elegant thing they did that I thought some Cleveland bars should steal is that they had blankets and plush robes that you could wear for extra warmth.  What a great way to be able to keep your patio in use throughout the year.

^My friends just got back from Krakow and said they have out door fireplaces roaring, blankets and mulled wine everywhere, and the temps are sub freezing.I did not see an enclosed patio at the tap house. My little gripe around here is wondering why places put away the patio chairs come labor day. It is as if they want to be cold and miserable. I say bring it on.

^ I really really like the outdoor fireplace idea as it's about as primal as a connection as a human can have, BUT the problem with fires in the near and maybe long term future in NEO will be air quality as open-burns and indoor (traditional) fireplaces have a big impact on fine particle pollution (PM 2.5), a criteria pollutant for which NEO is in non-compliance with the Federal EPA.  Not that solutions do not exist. The EPA publishes a list of compliant  wood burning stoves.  Just an additional hurdle I suppose.  I'd be enthused to hear more about Krakow though!

Personally, I just want to sit outside, on a snowy night, with fire blazing and Guinness/IPA in hand.  In the near term, both ReddStone and StoneMadd will likely offer this.....  A few pubs in Minneapolis offered that scenario.

http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/

 

^ that sir is what they call a "buzz kill" post.

^My friends just got back from Krakow and said they have out door fireplaces roaring, blankets and mulled wine everywhere, and the temps are sub freezing.I did not see an enclosed patio at the tap house. My little gripe around here is wondering why places put away the patio chairs come labor day. It is as if they want to be cold and miserable. I say bring it on.

 

the problem locally, at least downtown, is the city ordinance that allows for outdoor patios.  the fences, tables and chairs must be removed by nov 1 and can't return until april 1 (iirc), and each year the restaurant/bar owner must apply and pay for a permit to occupy the ROW.

 

thie obviously doesn't stop rooftops or other established patio areas from continuing to stay open. 

I would think one of the bigger problems would be getting people to work on the patio.  It's one thing if you're snuggled up under a blanket next to a fire, and completely another if you have to come in and out all night in your regular work clothes and wait on people, clean the tables, etc.  It would probably be difficult to find people who want to work under these conditions.  I know I wouldn't want to serve on a freezing cold patio and go back and forth from inside where it's warm to the freezing, snowing, sleeting outside all night long. 

 

But I do understand the appeal. They used to have a big roaring fireplace at Crocker Park in the winter but they seem to have discontinued it.  I wish there was a place for people who don't have fireplaces to go and "visit" outdoor fires for warmth and coziness.

If there's money to be made by servicing these tables, there will be servers willing to brave the cold to do so.  But my guess is that there just isn't the demand for people to be sitting out in cold weather.  I can tell you the patios were abandoned on East 4th St. well before snow came, and well before they came down.  People only want to sit outside when it is 70-80 degrees, more or less and they want climate control.

^People in Cleveland, anyway.

 

I think the concept could still work if the conditions were perfect- maybe a windless, semi-enclosed space with external heaters provided.  Much to my disappointment, at present, Cleveland isn't a very good tables-out-front dining/drinking town, be it because of regulations, culture, view or weather :(.

what you guys are talking of is essentially what you might see over many parts of Ontario (smoking ban led this).

 

I'm trying to think of a good example in Cleveland. I don't know about now considering that temps have dropped to sub-freezing, but swing by Brenan's Colony on Lee Road, they have a fairly robust patio which was open well through November.

^People in Cleveland, anyway.

 

I think the concept could still work if the conditions were perfect- maybe a windless, semi-enclosed space with external heaters provided.  Much to my disappointment, at present, Cleveland isn't a very good tables-out-front dining/drinking town, be it because of regulations, culture, view or weather :(.

 

Depends what you mean by that.  Almost all of the Downtown eateries and bars with frontage have outdoor patio space now and I am seeing more of it in the neighborhoods.  But I agree that people don't make as good use of them as possible.

^People in Cleveland, anyway.

 

I think the concept could still work if the conditions were perfect- maybe a windless, semi-enclosed space with external heaters provided.  Much to my disappointment, at present, Cleveland isn't a very good tables-out-front dining/drinking town, be it because of regulations, culture, view or weather :(.

 

i think your assesment of Cleveland dinner is off base.  There are plenty of areas where people ENJOY and embrace eating outdoors.  I think it's harder downtown because of the detailed outdoor dining "season".  However, come past Shaker Square or some other area and I think you see outdoor dining earlier or later in the season.

^ and ^^Y eah,I hear ya, and it's definitely improving.  It just seems that (a) as you pointed out, people disappear from the patio and its chilly, even if not cold- which is not true everywhere, and (b) outside of downtown, so much of Cleveland's outdoor patio space is stuck in fenced-in back and side patios where it doesn't add much to street life or provide very much people watching opportunities.

 

However, come past Shaker Square or some other area and I think you see outdoor dining earlier or later in the season.

 

This I totally agree with- Shaker Square is a glaring exception- probably the best front dining scene in the region.

^ and ^^Y eah,I hear ya, and it's definitely improving.  It just seems that (a) as you pointed out, people disappear from the patio and its chilly, even if not cold- which is not true everywhere, and (b) outside of downtown, so much of Cleveland's outdoor patio space is stuck in fenced-in back and side patios where it doesn't add much to street life or provide very much people watching opportunities.

 

However, come past Shaker Square or some other area and I think you see outdoor dining earlier or later in the season.

 

This I totally agree with- Shaker Square is a glaring exception- probably the best front dining scene in the region.

 

I don't see people eating out in DC; New York; Phily(although we have more outdoor space than they do); Baltimore; Chicago; Indi; St. Louis etc. eating out after Halloween.  How does this vary from NE Ohio???????????????

 

Orlando, San Diego, S. Florida and year round locales, yeah I can see it going 24/7/365 but what "Places" are you seeing people eat on a patio in the dead of winter, particularly January and February?

I don't see people eating out in...New York...eating out after Halloween.  How does this vary from NE Ohio???????????????

 

You need to come downtown more often ;)

 

I'm not talking 25 degrees or pouring rain, but you very definitely see people eating/drinking outside in 50+ degree weather in many cities of the world.  I'm not trying to rag on Cleveland- it's hardly unique in this way.  And I fault proprietors as much as the patrons for not making it a real possibility.  Though you obviously need a critical mass of hardy folks to make it feasible for the proprietor so I guess it's all chicken and egg.

 

For Cleveland, I'd looove to see some more climate-driven design.  That's worth a whole new thread, but there are definitely ways of blending interior and exterior to allow longer outdoor and outdoor-like usage.  Would be a whole lot more fun than our distinct 4 months good weather behavior, 8 months hibernation.

The patios on East 4th were out till well after the first snow.  People had stopped eating out on them well before that, even though most offered heat lamps.  They don't work well in any sort of breezy condition, though.

A very complimentary article about Cleveland's dining scene from the Chicago Tribune:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-0116clevelandfoodjan16,0,2214772,print.story

that is very nice. 

 

Cleveland has a wonderful dining collection.  I love that they are independent from Hotels and/or luxury condos although with the amount of development downtown, that is soon to change.  Then the "celebrity" chefs will come a'callin'. 

 

My intel, has informed me a couple of "hot shot" chefs from LA, Montreal and New Orleans have been looking around Downtown.

Awesome article. 

 

Wait isn't it cloudy in Chicago November-March and snowy and cold?!

 

Cleveland isn't the only city out there where it isn't 75 and sunny 365?! :-o

 

Oh, and I think that we have at least 6 months of tolerable weather...Come on!  Let's get over ourselves and move forward instead of blaming the snow for everything.

 

I was walking along Prospect yesterday and some guys were explaing to a guest how yesterday was the only sunny day in Cleveland for the next 3 months... :roll:  Now, I can't take things like this too personally but by the looks of these guys, I'm sure they bring this up 4x/day and still b*tch about winter in July.  Oh, and bet me that their guest was from Milwaukee or some other gray city. 

 

Wear bright scarves if it's too gray outside!

 

 

A very complimentary article about Cleveland's dining scene from the Chicago Tribune:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-0116clevelandfoodjan16,0,2214772,print.story

 

I think Ruhlman and Michael Symon ought to be named "food ambassadors" of Cleveland or something.  They have both done so much to help this town's food scene get exposure, it's fantastic.

Feagler can put that in his pipe and smoke it.  Great article.

Very flattering article.  It is really cool how the high end dining scene has evolved so well to complement the funkier old school ethnic side.  While dining has helped OC and Tremont, I'd argue that it's worked the other way too- having cool nabes must make high end dining more viable too.  And it seems like more good stuff is always arriving.

It's the chicken and the egg! 

anyone heard any news about when moulton brewing company will began shipping their 'healthy' beer??

 

I'm gonna repeat guv's question from several months back.  I saw an article a few weeks back in Free Times or Scene discussing Moulton's rollout, but is this stuff available yet or what?  The website's not a lot of help.

 

I'm gonna repeat my repeating of guv's question.  Another forumer mentioned to me off line in December that he had heard the Moulton folks were in over their heads and were going to scuttle the business.  Has anyone heard this or heard anything different?  The website for this place is useless.  Weird that they would build out operations, develop a beer, go so far as to offer it to the press for sampling in the late summer (that free times article), and then just give up, but who knows.  Any updates out there?

Not any weirder than certain locally-owned/run clothing stores *cough*West 9th*cough* that can't manage to stick to their posted hours and thus lose out on my business - again. You know what "good intentions" are good for, right? ;-)

Not any weirder than certain locally-owned/run clothing stores *cough*West 9th*cough* that can't manage to stick to their posted hours and thus lose out on my business - again. You know what "good intentions" are good for, right? ;-)

 

style denim lounge?

Naming names isn't necessary. :-)

i'm gonna answer to the repeating of said questions, though it's purely speculation from this avid beer drinker.

 

First off, it should be stated that Moulton was attempting to brew the Holy Grail of beers.

As i understood it, the Moulton folks had financial backing from a maryland family, who revealed only that they chose cleveland b/c of the reputation of GLBC.  there must have been some more reasons.  maybe the massive population of binge budweiser drinkers?  a few of which who might be persuaded to try a slightly more complex alternative, say one that doesn't leave you with a nasty hangover after a night of binging?

I believe the cause of Moulton's failure to open thus far is execution of the recipe on a mass scale.  Beer brewing on a mass scale is complex enough, but adding in the precision measurement systems to consistently produce a 'hang-over-less' beer seems darn near impossible!

 

I wish Unibroue would open up a U.S. brewery in Cleveland! 

The world's best beer by far!

La Fin de Monde somehow doesn't give me hangovers even though it's 9%.  Also the best tasting beer on earth.

I walked by CVS on Euclid/E.9th yesterday and saw that a Strickland's custard is going in the City Club Bldg.

 

Nothing exciting but new nonetheless.

^That's cool!  (shameless pun)

Try this one on for size:

 

The Euclid Tavern is opened for business!

 

They opened yesterday and will have an official opening on Friday, January 25th. 

 

They are opened everyday at 11 AM and have a lunch & dinner menu. 

 

Near-term plans include a wine & martini bar, a roof top patio and a street level patio as well. 

 

Beginning in June, they will also be opened for breakfast.

 

 

breakfast? Interesting.

 

This isn't your Pope's Euclid Tavern.

breakfast? Interesting.

 

This isn't your Pope's Euclid Tavern.

 

Yeah, based on MayBoy's description, I will go once, and never go back again.

as long as you go once.  give 'em a chance!

as long as you go once.  give 'em a chance!

 

without even stepping foot in there I have to say:

 

If you're going to assume the Euc name, don't even think about maritinis and wine and what not. Those are some pretty big shoes to be assuming.

 

it would about the equivalent of me calling my apartment the playboy mansion.

oh for god sakes. no way. the euc is still dead to me. the nerve.

 

i am glad there is a new tavern there, but that's what it is, a new tavern. they should rename it.

 

somebody go take an upper decker in the gentleman's room for me.

I give them instant credit for being a collaboration between a new and former owner.  The one guy used to live upstairs, for pete's sake!  Give him a chance!  I know a lot of people felt this way about the old v. new Grog Shop and I think that turned out to be perfect.  You still got the great bands, the great vibe, the surly service and even dirty azz bathrooms, but the place stayed alive and became (presumably) more financially viabile.  The Euc is obviously a different scenario, but I'm still hopeful!