I remember reading that the casino would have a buffet of Cleveland favorites.  Could this be it?

Casino buffet... Interesting.  Symon refers to new "concept" and new "project" on facebook today, but new  "restaurant" never specifically noted. That could just b development speak or you could be on to something. With that said, re-read some casino press releases etc and international buffet and food court with regional specialties from local operators was ,mentioned.

Innnnnteresting. I can't believe he would make food to sit out on a buffet all day, but stranger things have happened.

Buffet would seem unlikely for Symon, but why didn't he just say "restaurant?"... The liquor license and trademark  search begins...

Symon's facebook today:

 

"i think when u try to do a restaurant that will make everyone happy.. u end up with a vanilla restaurant..which is never good..if u want to be great u have to stretch..i tried to make everyone happy when we did bar symon in avon...epic fail...gotta live & learn & always push the boundries"

Huh, I didnt realize Bar Symon was an epic fail...  I just thought the location was bad. 

The location WAS bad, but he's already gotten smacked online for saying so.

Bar Symon would have raked in Lakewood or Cleveland.  It was an awful idea to put it there

Who was attacking Symon online for saying it was a bad location in Avon...it was a bad location...I guess people from Avon.

Yep

He "officially" announced the restaurant per cleveland.com today, but still isn't disclosing a location. he says it's not nailed down yet but I kind of think that's bunk.

Thats a crazy menu and seems to be a tribute to Clevelands heritage.

 

So he is calling it a "Cleveland Themed" restaurant. 

 

Michael Symon to open new Cleveland-themed restaurant

Published: Thursday, December 29, 2011, 2:23 PM    Updated: Thursday, December 29, 2011, 3:05 PM

By Michael Heaton, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

 

"I was fooling around on Facebook and it kind of went crazy," said celebrity chef Michael Symon of his announcement of a new Cleveland-themed restaurant.

 

Symon asked his followers on the social-media site to share their thoughts on a new concept he'd been pondering, dubbed the S&P Kitchen, Bar and Smokehouse. It quickly gathered more than 400 comments.

http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2011/12/michael_symon_to_open_new_clev.html

 

 

I thought this seemed kind of silly....  Like you would just come up with 2 random initials for no reason.

 

Symon hasn't even nailed down what the S&P in the new restaurant's title stands for.

 

"It can be anything you want," he said. "Salt and pepper, Symon and [business partner Doug] Petkovic, sausage and pierogi. I hadn't really got that far yet."

and I'm guessing he does have a spot... and he does have an opening time frame... and it's casino related so not his place to announce... And, if not, better get working on it - 'cause people have shown they want it

Bar Symon maybe the single worst restaurant location choice Symon could have made. They must have gotten the space for song, as there is no other possible reason that an Iron Chef level name would open in an abandoned strip mall, off the beaten path. Developers off all sorts woudl almost give away a space to get him tyhere.. Image-wise alone, it sent the wrong message. Then when customers went but didn't spend $$$ per visit like they thought, that was it...

While not abandoned, the B-spot in Strongsville is most definitely in a strip mall and doing a fantastic, booming business. Maybe he was told other businesses would be moving in and it would become vibrant and then those didn't pan out.

I bet the Westin would like a signature restaurant as well

well, he called it a restaurant in the story.  For all of you trying to read between the lines

Also today on Symon's FB he was kicking around the idea of a Cleveland-themed restaurant with Cleveland-based brews and music.  Probably will never happen, but I love that thinking!

While not abandoned, the B-spot in Strongsville is most definitely in a strip mall and doing a fantastic, booming business. Maybe he was told other businesses would be moving in and it would become vibrant and then those didn't pan out.

 

I think doing burgers is easier than doing a creative menu like Bar Symon.  I think it takes a certain population to eat what he had going on at Bar Symon.

 

 

Also non-related to the quote.  I think if its not at the casino, it wont be at the Westin or anywhere else downtown.  I cant imagine him putting two top scale restaurants within a few blocks of one another (excluding the casino, which draws a whole different crowd).

Wow, fine dining really does seem to be done in Cleveland (at least in this sense), good thing Cleveland has so many "fine" restaurants.

 

McCormick & Schmick's restaurant in Beachwood is closed

Published: Tuesday, January 03, 2012, 6:20 PM    Updated: Wednesday, January 04, 2012, 6:53 AM

 

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- The McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant at Beachwood Place mall closed abruptly on Tuesday, following the completion of the Portland company's sale to Landry's Inc. for $8.75 per share, or about $131.6 million.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/mccormick_schmicks_restaurant.html

 

Hmm, too bad. I just had dinner there with the family on Christmas; they had a really good buffet that evening for $30 a head. Pretty crowded that night too.

 

 

i think in this particular case...the restaurant did not HAVE to close...but it sounds like they are realigning their strategy and their future growth does not include this location. 

Sounds like the same people are trying to buy Morton's.  Hope the samew thing doesnt happen to that downtown.  (Normally, I wouldnt care since they are a chain, but in these cases its a bit different)

Never mind, I'm slow sometimes.

McCormick & Schmick's Beachwood recently went to no Sat/Sun lunch and were open something like 3-7 on Sunday in recent months... so was clear they were in distress. Also, the closings yesterday weren't just in CLE - did also close 2 in Phoenix, 2 in Los Angeles, Austin, Birmingham, etc... Earlier in 2011 closed DC, Miami and Chicago area locations, too... so they had issues elsewhere. After a year or so, the one there was rarely more than 25% full in too-big space.

 

What's next in that 8,000 sq ft space? If restaurants, then a upscale chain woudl be the focus. Texas de Brazil - the great steak/buffet concept - is opening several 2012 locations in midwest in the 7000-8000 sq foot size including Pittsburgh, Columbus and recently opened Detroit and would seem a possibility. I know one or two national brew pub chains are looking at area... the growing Seasons 52 chain would seem a good fit and draw - though the fine dining angle didn't work with M&S. Bonefish Grill has no east side location and would probably do well there.  Houlihan's packs 'em in at SouthPark and their new restaurants are a dramatic change from the old - and perhaps they'd reconsider east side (recently vacated the now Phil the Fire space...)

 

If retail will fill space - then I guess that can be discussed on Retail News forum...

Capital Grille is another major upscale national chain, often in malls like Beachwood Place, without a Clevleand or east side presence - and would be only Cedar Rd - area steakhouse... Could do well... Great lunch, too...

So it seems Bar Symon wasnt such a disasterous concept after all, but Pittsburgh?  OK, Mr. Symon is just taking advantage while the gridle is hot like other Iron Chefs.  At least it isnt a branch of Lola or Lolita.       

 

Iron Chef Michael Symon is opening first Bar Symon at Pittsburgh airport

Published: Wednesday, January 04, 2012, 2:30 PM    Updated: Wednesday, January 04, 2012, 3:01 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland celebrity chef Michael Symon is partnering with the family that used to own BanJoe's Cafe at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to open what they hope will be a series of Bar Symon restaurants and tap houses in airports nationwide.

 

The first Bar Symon will open this spring at Pittsburgh International Airport.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/iron_chef_michael_symon_is_ope.html

 

Two things in this one.

 

Root for Greenhouse Tavern's Jonathon Sawyer on 'Iron Chef America': Restaurant Row

Published: Wednesday, January 04, 2012  By Joe Crea, The Plain Dealer

 

"Greenhouse Tavern wants to Tweet up a little love the night Jonathon Sawyer steps up as a challenger on Food Network's "Iron Chef America."

On Sunday, Jan. 22, Sawyer will compete against recent winner Geoffrey Zakarian. Sawyer's East Fourth Street restaurant invites the public to use the hashtag #teamsawyer with Tweets supporting Sawyer.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...Who says you can't declare your own Restaurant Week? Zack Bruell has done just that. From Sunday, Jan. 15, through Saturday, Jan. 28, each of his four restaurants (Parallax, Table 45, L'Albatros and Chinato, all in Cleveland) will feature a unique three-course meal priced at $30 per guest"

 

 

story at: http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2012/01/root_for_jonathon_sawyer_on_ir.html

 

Two things in this one.

 

Root for Greenhouse Tavern's Jonathon Sawyer on 'Iron Chef America': Restaurant Row

Published: Wednesday, January 04, 2012  By Joe Crea, The Plain Dealer

 

"Greenhouse Tavern wants to Tweet up a little love the night Jonathon Sawyer steps up as a challenger on Food Network's "Iron Chef America."

On Sunday, Jan. 22, Sawyer will compete against recent winner Geoffrey Zakarian. Sawyer's East Fourth Street restaurant invites the public to use the hashtag #teamsawyer with Tweets supporting Sawyer.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...Who says you can't declare your own Restaurant Week? Zack Bruell has done just that. From Sunday, Jan. 15, through Saturday, Jan. 28, each of his four restaurants (Parallax, Table 45, L'Albatros and Chinato, all in Cleveland) will feature a unique three-course meal priced at $30 per guest"

 

 

story at: http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2012/01/root_for_jonathon_sawyer_on_ir.html

 

 

Ohhhhhhh...Yes!

Smart.  He's reintroducing people to his food and style before opening his next place.

Winking Lizard planning Ohio-focused bar

 

By Rick Armon

Beacon Journal staff writer

 

The Winking Lizard Tavern chain plans to open a new Ohio-themed bar and restaurant in the Galleria at Erieview in downtown Cleveland in late spring or early summer.

 

The bar — called Lizardville Local Bar Local Grille — will focus on Ohio-made beer, liquor and wines, and food when possible.

 

http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/winking-lizard-planning-ohio-focused-bar-1.253356

Hmm actually sounds pretty cool, and in the Galleria no less! Always good to get some more life near that part of town

^ the guys at WKNR are going to DIG THIS!!!  And I imagine so will the Browns fans before/after home games.

Winking Lizard planning Ohio-focused bar

 

By Rick Armon

Beacon Journal staff writer

 

The Winking Lizard Tavern chain plans to open a new Ohio-themed bar and restaurant in the Galleria at Erieview in downtown Cleveland in late spring or early summer.

 

The bar — called Lizardville Local Bar Local Grille — will focus on Ohio-made beer, liquor and wines, and food when possible.

 

http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/winking-lizard-planning-ohio-focused-bar-1.253356

 

Like the concept.  And that area is really devoid of restaurant options, besides the Gallaria food court.  Speaking of the food court, they mention an outdoor patio and the only one I'm aware of is the one right in front of the food court.  Granted it is a pretty damn big patio and they could likely partition it, I'm just not sure where else it is accessible from besides the food court.

 

Also, until the Westin is complete and the MM/CC is up and running this place would be very hit and miss in the evenings.  The 1717 building really should be turned into apartments.

^ Good point on the "hit or miss" aspect re: future Westin and MM/CC. But really, this district could be the next restaurant/retail mecca.

 

It's easy to envision that area becoming a vibrant and grand "entrance to the Lakefront" in the future.

 

Just look at the imagery from the Great Lakes Exposition for a visual in how we can help make the connection.

 

 

This isn't E 9th (like I always thought) but it would sure do the trick.

 

 

^ Somtheing like that really does need to be done to the E9th st bridge.  For the most part it is the gateway to the water front already, but there is nothing to indicate that this is the case. 

 

Ideally the best way to make E9th a better entrance would be to make the shoreway a boulevard completly, with just the Main Ave bridge from W6th to W25th being left highway like.  However, seeing as it is impossible to do that in a reasonable fashion on the west side of the bridge I think the only chance would be when the road just falls apart in 50 years.

 

 

Good review of Soho:

http://clevelandmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/01/something-southern-on-west-side.html

 

Here is a pic I took.  Click on my blog for more:

http://borncirca1979.blogspot.com/2012/01/evening-at-soho-kitchen-bar.html

 

OC_068 by KP SMITH, on Flickr

^ I also like Soho.

Me three on SOHO.  Great food and the service was fantastic!

Me four.  The food was good and the service even better.

Sounds like a winner Smith.  Sorry I missed it over the holidays, but will definately try next time in town. 

 

Great food photos by the way!

making my SoHo reservation about....... NOW (though get on OpenTable SoHo - who calls for ressies any more?0

We are going to Soho tomorrow. So excited!

I don't see SoHo on Open Table?

^ it sounds like dwirth was telling Soho to get on opentable...because nobody calls for rezzies anymore.  Last time i checked they were NOT on there.

Ah. I just called them and made it the old fashioned way.

Ah. I just called them and made it the old fashioned way.

 

Were they like, what..?  Please report back. 

LOL

OpenTable - though more than 100 restaurants are currently in the CLE/CAK OpenTable listings - CLE is still way behind other cities of similar size in # of restaurants listed.  I exclusivly use OpenTable when I travel for biz - it's easy and fast and tells you all you need to know - and locally tend to frequent restaurants I know I can drop by and at least get a bar table if I'm there at the right time (Momocho) OR ones I can book via OpenTable (plenty of others - though NOT Momocho).  Hey Lolita - I know you don't NEED my business - but since getting a stool at your tiny bar is tough, since booking tables 3 weeks ahead of time by phone is a pain (and you LAUGH at folks trying to get tables when there are none) and since OpenTable would probably give you the whole shebang for a song to have another Symon restaurant online - would it kill you to held a guy out by joining?