^Yup, I was thinking about places with many TVs, showing at least some out of market games.  I love Little Bar...wish we had more little non- sports/club/western places like that downtown.

 

Thanks, folks for the suggestions.

Flannerys sort of fits that description.

Cleveland Flats project adding restaurants to first phase

 

 

A Cleveland development project called Flats East Bank has announced plans to add a country-music venue and several restaurants, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

 

Those additions will be in the project’s first phase and a second, $120 million phase is being planned, according to the report.

 

The restaurants include Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, a steak and seafood eatery, a burger joint, gourmet taco restaurant and another local eatery that is relocating to the Flats, the paper said.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2012/04/cleveland-flats-project-adding.html

 

Anyone else find it funny they ran (and presumably paid for) a stock photo of a taco for this story? Who is the photo editor of this mag lol.

We already know this but the article gives some new information.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120413/FREE/120419910/0/frontpage

There's really good pho at Tay Do on Snow and Chevrolet and at Minh Anh on Detroit, and a totally awesome variety of noodle soups at Phnom Penh on 25th and on Lorain near 150th. 

 

Min Anh is great. Phnom penh - up and down. I like the Salad Phnom Penh but the food sometimes is a large portion of noodles - not much protein for the price. Always good but cost per portion?

There's really good pho at Tay Do on Snow and Chevrolet and at Minh Anh on Detroit, and a totally awesome variety of noodle soups at Phnom Penh on 25th and on Lorain near 150th. 

 

Min Anh is great. Phnom penh - up and down. I like the Salad Phnom Penh but the food sometimes is a large portion of noodles - not much protein for the price. Always good but cost per portion?

 

Superior Pho on E. 30th is really good. Phnom Penh - I agree, inconsistent.

Also, Nexus Cafe was giving out coffee samples this morning in the old Caddyshack patio; they said the grand opening is Monday.

 

Caddy shack closed?

Duh, the whole concept is blatantly sexist. I have much less of a problem with strip clubs than places like this one and Hooters, who try to claim they are a restaurant or something, but are just an excuse for you to hit on all the servers.

 

Agreed but it does sell -  under the influence straight boys will pay a million$$$ for a burger. :)

Just saw on FB that an Indian restaurant is going into the old Waterstreet Grill space on W 9th.

Duh, the whole concept is blatantly sexist. I have much less of a problem with strip clubs than places like this one and Hooters, who try to claim they are a restaurant or something, but are just an excuse for you to hit on all the servers.

 

Speaking of Indian..., Indian Delight on Detroit. Comments?

 

 

Agreed but it does sell -  under the influence straight boys will pay a million$$$ for a burger. :)

ok, it looks like MTS made a few phone calls, Cleveland will now have kilt dewds. Now I agree with RnR, Barf.

Indian Delight is very solid. I've had better but that was in NYC. They play it pretty safe on the flavors.

 

Not sure if it's already been mentioned; but there's a new place opening in the former Ohio City Blooms Space on W. 25th. Owned/operated by the same people who run Lago [and a couple others that escape my mind]. Concept is going to be an emphasis on local foods and will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 

So this is a 'go' then?

This was the controversial issue on W. 25th, or at least it was before the Marlin Kaplan debacle of DF and Garage.

 

This is "Town Hall" (last I heard what they were calling it). A group headed by Fabio Salerno of Lago and Mr. George --- can't think of his first name. THere was worry that it'd be a nightclub. Doesn't sound like it

 

So this is a 'go' then?

This was the controversial issue on W. 25th, or at least it was before the Marlin Kaplan debacle of DF and Garage.

 

This is "Town Hall" (last I heard what they were calling it). A group headed by Fabio Salerno of Lago and Mr. George --- can't think of his first name. THere was worry that it'd be a nightclub. Doesn't sound like it

 

Well recently there was a rumor that the Barley House guy is now going after the Dragonfly space so maybe this is something else and "Town Hall" will be there?

 

So this is a 'go' then?

This was the controversial issue on W. 25th, or at least it was before the Marlin Kaplan debacle of DF and Garage.

 

This is "Town Hall" (last I heard what they were calling it). A group headed by Fabio Salerno of Lago and Mr. George --- can't think of his first name. THere was worry that it'd be a nightclub. Doesn't sound like it

 

Well recently there was a rumor that the Barley House guy is now going after the Dragonfly space so maybe this is something else and "Town Hall" will be there?

 

Well its all very rumor-y, but I believe that this is still the Town-Hall place (although doesnt sound like what Sam M. was so concerned about). 

Apparently the Garage and Dragonfly spaces were snapped up quickly, but they are denying that it is by the Barley House people.  Im sure whatever is true they are being "careful" since they wont want to raise too many concerns.  I think we will find out very soon though.   

Wait. So the Barley House guy is NOT the one who snapped up the DF/Garage Bar space? And what is that guy's name? I heard that he had acquired that space.

 

Where was Ohio City Blooms? Just trying to picture where all these new spots are going in.

 

And what's the progress on the Greek place by Tommy what's his name who owns Greek Village in Lakewood. Is that proceeding?

Ohio City Blooms is probably 2-3 buildings South of SOHO.  Somewhere between Alaturka and Howard Hanna. 

Thanks, smith.

 

^^^ It seems like Santorini is proceeding but at a slower pace than anybody wanting authentic Greek cuisine would prefer. It's like 'hurry up!'.

Same sentiments I have for Barroco on W. 6th....can't wait for that one either.

 

This from the Scene...

 

New Burger Bar Coming to Warehouse District

Posted by Douglas Trattner on Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 10:50 AM

 

"Fadi Daoud closed his Mediterranean-themed restaurant Zdara in the Warehouse District around New Year's Eve, stating it wasn't the right fit for the neighborhood.

 

He has settled upon another concept that he thinks will succeed: burgers."

 

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/04/12/new-burger-bar-coming-to-warehouse-district

I just learned that my boss at Aladdin's Grandview co-founded Aladdin's with Fadi. Small world!

 

Are you sure that's the same Fadi?  Aladdin's main proprietor was Fadi Chamoun (I worked at the Independence store, and knew many of the family members).  I never heard of the involvement of a Fadi Daoud.

Went to Hodges last night and thoroughly enjoyed.  FYI, on Tuesday nights...they have 2 for $40.  You get an appetizer, two entrees and a bottle of win for $40.  What a steal!  Considering the two entrees we got alone are typically more than $40.  He also gave out courtesy baked potato tots and cornbread.  A great experience, just wish i could have had a brew off the incredible beer list.

Went to Hodges last night and thoroughly enjoyed.  FYI, on Tuesday nights...they have 2 for $40.  You get an appetizer, two entrees and a bottle of win for $40.  What a steal!  Considering the two entrees we got alone are typically more than $40.  He also gave out courtesy baked potato tots and cornbread.  A great experience, just wish i could have had a brew off the incredible beer list.

 

Bottle of win.....priceless.

^Better than a bottle of lose!!!

^Better than a bottle of lose!!!

 

Indeed!

^Anxious to check out Hodges... Drove by when it was closed, Sunday, but saw the chairs and umbrellas out, ready to go.  Can't wait.  Don't know about Hodges' food (hope it is more worth the $$$$ than the old Zinc), but the outdoor plaza - bar,  fireplace pit, tables, couches - is a superior urban space in which to dine & relax... a tribute to K & D for designing it.

You know their chef du cuisine just left, yes? Everyone is saying how this is normal, but it just doesn't seem normal to me. They haven't even been open a month. I also talked to a server there who said she is going to be leaving shortly. I hope they get it together. My 3 lunches there have been few hits and mostly "misses" in terms of service.

You know their chef du cuisine just left, yes? Everyone is saying how this is normal, but it just doesn't seem normal to me. They haven't even been open a month. I also talked to a server there who said she is going to be leaving shortly. I hope they get it together. My 3 lunches there have been few hits and mostly "misses" in terms of service.

I wouldn't say it's "typical", because nobody wants that to happen, but it does a lot. Depends a lot on the chef and management. Chef's can be very vain, and historically come with a temperament/drinking problem. Management can be unskilled in that position, as sometimes they are experienced servers coming from the chef's last establishment.

I usually use the "3 month rule" to pass a firm judgement on a new place.

In this case I think it's more the growing pains of opening their first brick and mortar place.

^Agreed.

 

If keeping every server from leaving a restaurant is the sign of a good restaurant, that is an awfuly high standard to maintain. Virtuallly impossible for any place, be it 3 days old or 3 years or 30 years old

Not happy to hear of Hodges' service issues.  This dogged it's predecessor (Zinc) from the day Zinc openned.  The food just didn't seem to worth the $$ charged either.  I hope Hodges' pulls its act together quickly b/c negative buzz about a place spreads more quickly than positive buzz.

i have nothing but good things to say.  It was packed before the Springstein concert

Not happy to hear of Hodges' service issues.  This dogged it's predecessor (Zinc) from the day Zinc openned.  The food just didn't seem to worth the $$ charged either.  I hope Hodges' pulls its act together quickly b/c negative buzz about a place spreads more quickly than positive buzz.

Who said they have service issues? One person said something about some misses and that one of the the Chefs was leaving along with a possible waitress and all of a sudden they have service issues? Good Lord give these places a break. If any of you have been in the restaurant business a Chef/Cook/Waitress leaving is completely normal and just dumbfounded that someone would think otherwise.

I went to Hodge's last week and I have to say I was very surprised how good the food was.  Impressive and am looking forward ot going back when the patio is opened up.

There are always going to be those on this board who overreact to minor details in the beginning stages of downtown's new businesses, times when these entrepenuers (sp) are trying to figure out their first serious business undertakings in a growing community of them.  I for one am tired of it of the unfounded negativity here at times.  These people should be lauded and cultivated, yet certain people here are looking to poo poo their efforts for some unknown reason, then it snowballs to others, then the establishment is perceived to have issues, then some here think it's time to start bringing in the moving vans and shut it down.

I of course will not name names...

Nobody get defensive with this comment:  But none of us work on iron chef and we are not professional food critics.  Its not your job to go to every restaurant and point out minor flaws.  Hodge is about 26 years old and has a great concept.  He will do just fine.  I get it, some take their food experience seriously.  Those of us passionate about food all do.  Dont get crazy about it though.  Stick to the basics when having a food experience and judge off of that...dont make such intense critiques.

I call things like I see them. I'm VERY supportive of new ventures. I drop a shitload of money on my lunches, more than some people do on dinner, and give a lot of good word of mouth to new businesses and bring in coworkers and refer friends to places regularly and constantly; I am the go-to source for my Mom's board when people want to know what restaurant to go to when they are going out, and I am planning progressive dinners for these people in Tremont and Downtown in the coming months. I am a booster of local businesses, particularly restaurants. But service missteps are service missteps. I have been comped a dessert for errors already, had a bartender not be able to find a bottle of liquor I wanted and then later find it somewhere else at the bar after I am done with my drink, had another bartender who couldn't find a bottle opener for my dining companion's beer, and had a server have to go TELL the bartender to please wait on me as I had been sitting and waiting for service for 15 minutes on a 3rd visit. I've had apps ordered that never arrived, entrees that took 40 minutes during weekday lunch, etc. When you go several times and have several things go awry, yes it could be that it's all part of finding their sea legs or whatever other way you want to put a spin on it, but when you look at a bigger picture of disgruntled servers who are leaving, a chef who left almost as soon as the place opened, harried bartenders and slow or missing food at your table, it TO ME speaks to a larger problem. I honestly hope that isn't the case and I hope they get the kinks straightened out and are able to right the ship. But I'm not making up problems in my head and I'm not saying negative things because I don't want them to succeed. I cannot refer people to a place 100% enthusiastically when I have had numerous problems there myself. I will continue to go there periodically and see if things smooth out, but it's not like I'm just here making up bad things to say for no reason.

Believeland, I know what you're saying but it's not like I'm criticizing their choice of flatware or flavor pairings or talking about their plating skills.

 

^^And ,Voila!, an intense critique.

 

I will go all the more frequently here now because it is good. And I will impress upon my friends and family to get their butts in there pronto. I guess to offset the negativity.

Good!

On the Fast Track

SoHo Kitchen celebrates Kentucky Derby Day

by Douglas Trattner

 

If there's a holiday somewhere, chances are that Clevelanders will celebrate it. Take Kentucky Derby Day. At SoHo Kitchen & Bar, plans for the big bash are already under way.

 

"We're hoping to turn Derby Day into an annual thing," says chef-owner Nolan Konkoski. "We want it to be a big deal — a big party with free food, lots of booze, funny outfits, and the horse race."

 

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/on-the-fast-track/Content?oid=2949135

I call things like I see them. I'm VERY supportive of new ventures. I drop a sh!tload of money on my lunches, more than some people do on dinner, and give a lot of good word of mouth to new businesses and bring in coworkers and refer friends to places regularly and constantly; I am the go-to source for my Mom's board when people want to know what restaurant to go to when they are going out, and I am planning progressive dinners for these people in Tremont and Downtown in the coming months. I am a booster of local businesses, particularly restaurants. But service missteps are service missteps. I have been comped a dessert for errors already, had a bartender not be able to find a bottle of liquor I wanted and then later find it somewhere else at the bar after I am done with my drink, had another bartender who couldn't find a bottle opener for my dining companion's beer, and had a server have to go TELL the bartender to please wait on me as I had been sitting and waiting for service for 15 minutes on a 3rd visit. I've had apps ordered that never arrived, entrees that took 40 minutes during weekday lunch, etc. When you go several times and have several things go awry, yes it could be that it's all part of finding their sea legs or whatever other way you want to put a spin on it, but when you look at a bigger picture of disgruntled servers who are leaving, a chef who left almost as soon as the place opened, harried bartenders and slow or missing food at your table, it TO ME speaks to a larger problem. I honestly hope that isn't the case and I hope they get the kinks straightened out and are able to right the ship. But I'm not making up problems in my head and I'm not saying negative things because I don't want them to succeed. I cannot refer people to a place 100% enthusiastically when I have had numerous problems there myself. I will continue to go there periodically and see if things smooth out, but it's not like I'm just here making up bad things to say for no reason.

 

You probably already know this, especially if you've been in the restaurant biz before, but Lunches are the red headed step child of dining.  Especially as you move higher up on the restaurant food chain.  It's where you place your new staff for them to get their feet wet before bringing them into the "Big Show".  Also, most servers (at least I know I did when I worked them) don't treat them with a lot of focus either.  Lunch is always a hit or miss proposition in my book.

I do know that, and try to allow for that for sure. Never did I say it's a terrible place and I won't be going back. My goodness. I really want them to succeed. Some of the food I've had there has been really excellent.

 

Best restaurant review ever, is the one that you do yourself. I never (and I can actually use that strong of a word here) take restaurant advice from others. Of course Im interested to hear what somebody has to say but it stops about there.

 

Check this guy out from last July 1 (2011). He's from the Clevleand Leader. At the end, he's actually predicting Market Garden Brewery would be closed before being a year old. And he bases this all on his visit to a 3- or 4-week old establishment. MGB ,of course, had issues with the onslaught of business at their debut but this is riduculous...

 

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/17103

"fresh on my taste pallet..."  As MTS says, LAWD.

 

OMG. Then I got to this: "...to quote Dickins." 

 

I can't read any more.

R@R, theres nothing wrong with having high standards, and having certain expectations as a paying customer, so I do enjoy reading your reviews (and know how to take them).

I guess I also know that you do tend to support the indy establishments and that you want them to maintain their "better" reputation than the chain places, which I would think Clevelanders have come to expect.  I know that a new place will likely always have kinks to work out, but also that for a place to be great it often needs to be reminded where its strengths and weaknesses are. 

 

With that I never heard what you thought of SOHO, if you made it there.   

Was on E 4th last night with out of towners and there was a good/lively vibe before, during and after Cavs game.  Nice to look down Prospect and see that casino garage is surprisingly good looking and a decent-sized, but graceful enough structure. Titlted Kilt had activity inside - adding to corner activity on Prospect. (wonde what will go in bottom corner of parking garage... Should have been the B Spot slated for inside casino...). And amber-lighted windows of casino glowed beautifully. Can't wait until mid-May.

R@R, theres nothing wrong with having high standards, and having certain expectations as a paying customer, so I do enjoy reading your reviews (and know how to take them).

I guess I also know that you do tend to support the indy establishments and that you want them to maintain their "better" reputation than the chain places, which I would think Clevelanders have come to expect.  I know that a new place will likely always have kinks to work out, but also that for a place to be great it often needs to be reminded where its strengths and weaknesses are. 

 

With that I never heard what you thought of SOHO, if you made it there.   

 

Have been to SOHO twice and LOVE IT. The New Orleans is probably my favorite cocktail in town right now, and they have on their charcuterie board a specific type of ham I have been wanting to try for several years now, it's a US-version of serrano type ham and produced on a farm in virginia, I saw a show about the farm where Eric Ripert visited them and have been wanting to try it ever since then. It is seriously melt in your mouth good. Service has been very good both visits and all the food I've had has been really very good. It's one of my favorite places in town right now and I really love the space as well.

 

smith, is it looking like the patio will be open be early May?

 

 

On the Fast Track

SoHo Kitchen celebrates Kentucky Derby Day

by Douglas Trattner

 

If there's a holiday somewhere, chances are that Clevelanders will celebrate it. Take Kentucky Derby Day. At SoHo Kitchen & Bar, plans for the big bash are already under way.

 

"We're hoping to turn Derby Day into an annual thing," says chef-owner Nolan Konkoski. "We want it to be a big deal a big party with free food, lots of booze, funny outfits, and the horse race."

 

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/on-the-fast-track/Content?oid=2949135

^ Yes, I think the plan is to have it in place by 5/5.

 

Nice. SoHo livens up that side of the street right now and a patio will turn it up a notch.

It's sort of like 'back to 1998' with the Rialto block and the Heil block sitting empty. Will be much better when you have neighbors again!