Melt closes another of its restaurants Melt Bar & Grilled has closed its Independence location at 6700 Roadside Rd., the second of the company’s doors to shut this year. In January, the Melt in Avon also closed. That followed the closure of restaurants in Canton and Dayton in February 2023. Several economic factors led owner Matt Fish to close Melt Bar & Grilled’s Independence location, a tough decision but one where he says he saw no other options. “Any store closing is rough. I’ve gone through enough the last two years to know they’re not fun,” he said in an interview with Cleveland.com’s Marc Bona. “This one stings a little bit for sure. Probably our second flagship store next to Lakewood.” READ MORE Want to try caviar? Greater Cleveland markets, restaurants offer inspiration, tips Caviar might be considered one of the highest luxury food items of all time, but it’s pretty easy to find in Greater Cleveland markets, restaurants and beyond. Here is a Caviar 101 guide to the types, where to buy it and how to eat it for newbies interested in diving deep into the delicacy. READ MORE West Side Market prepares for management transition After last year’s excitement about a new non-profit – Cleveland Public Market Corp. – managing the West Side Market, things have been quiet around West 25th Street. All of the action is behind the scenes as CPMC crosses t’s and dots i’s in a management agreement with the City of Cleveland, prepares to staff up for market operations and builds vendor relationships. READ MORE Gril Craft BBQ brings fast-casual barbecue and ‘build-your-own’ concepts together in Willoughby The catalyst of barbecue concept Gril Craft BBQ in Willoughby is tapping into the popular “build your own bowl” trends — think Chipotle, Choolaah, Bibibop, Barrio and so on, but with pitboss-style barbecue as a centerpiece. The restaurant is the brainchild of Ziad Achkar, who moved to America from Lebanon to pursue an industrial engineering degree at Cleveland State University. It wasn’t long before he began engineering another career altogether: fast-casual cuisine. He’s taken his love of pitboss-style barbecue and has brought it to the masses. READ MORE DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast If you like food and drink – and who doesn’t -- we’re breaking new ground with our lively new podcast about dining and drinking in Greater Cleveland. Hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus crackle with their fun talk about the latest foodie happenings, joined by the most in-the-know experts in town, Marc Bona, Paris Wolfe and Pete Chakerian. It’s called DineDrink C-L-E and you can find it anywhere you download podcasts. Give it a listen and get your mouth watering. LISTEN HERE |
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2024 fish fry guide: 60+ churches, non-profits offering Lenten dinners We added a few fish frys to our weekly guide, which we update throughout Lent. Our list covers what non-profits like churches, VFW halls and others are doing. More than 60 places are holding fish frys, from Mogadore to Mentor and beyond. Check out our list of who has what and when. READ MORE Best restaurant fish fry specials in Greater Cleveland It’s fish fry time in Northeast Ohio now that the Catholic Lenten season has hit, and Greater Cleveland restaurants are adjusting menus in honor. Cleveland.com gathered a list of more than 50 local restaurants offering fish fry options for Lent, whether its a regular menu staple or a seasonal special. READ MORE Gray days call for bright colors, flavors of Chicken Paprikash One of our favorite Cleveland classic winter meals conjures everything from Scorsese to pierogi. In his latest Classic CLE Eats & Drinks column, our Peter Chakerian goes on the hunt for the perfect bowl of Chicken Paprikash. History teaches us that peasant food is often the best eats. And that certainly is the case here. He finds the deliciousness he’s look for at places like the ClubHouse Restaurant in Parma Heights, Marie’s in Cleveland and Pierogies of Cleveland, a market-cafe in Richfield. READ MORE Twist announces all-day solar eclipse party on April 8 Twist Social Club will be opening early on April 8 for an all-day solar eclipse party. Drink specials, eclipse glasses and an overall lively atmosphere are in store at Twist for the celestial event. The event is only open to those 21 and older and there is no cover charge for admission. READ MORE Punch Bowl Social solar eclipse watch party set in Cleveland Punch Bowl Social is holding a watch party for the upcoming solar eclipse. Scheduled for Monday, April 8, the party is on PBS’s rooftop bar and includes music and special viewing glasses. The eclipse is set to bathe Northeast Ohio in darkness for a few minutes in the afternoon. READ MORE Burger King awarding $1 million to whomever creates the next best version of Whopper Burger King is looking for the next “Million Dollar Idea” for a variation on its Whopper sandwich. The winner will receive $1 million for simply submitting their idea through an online artificial intelligence tool. READ MORE I tried the new Dunkin’ breakfast empanada, churro donuts and more: Here’s the scoop Dunkin’ has introduced new limited-time items for spring. The new menu includes breakfast empanadas, churro donuts, and banana chocolate chip bread as well as churro signature latte, cinnamon vanilla coffee and two fruit-flavored Spark’d energy drinks. I tried them. Here’s what I found. READ MORE |
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OPENINGS/CLOSINGS Two new restaurants to open in Hotel Cleveland in April Two new restaurants are coming to Public Square this spring when renovations are complete on the former Renaissance Hotel. The rechristened Hotel Cleveland will be home to Maker, a casual, fine dining room off the main lobby and to Mowrey’s, an early breakfast and lunch space in the former Sans Souci. DETAILS Batter Cake and Dough to open in Van Aken Market Batter Cake and Dough is moving into the Van Aken District Market Hall in Shaker Heights in April. It will take over the space formerly occupied by Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. The new brand was started by Nicole Dauria, founder/owner of three-year-old Pop Culture CLE in Solon. Batter Cake and Dough which takes European street treats and reintroduces them with creativity and flair. DETAILS Mother-daughter duo open Emilie’s Coffee House Emilie's Coffee House, and soon-to-be wine bar, has quickly become a favorite new hangout in Avon Lake. The new cafe at 457 Avon Belden Road opened at the end of 2023, right after Christmas. The mother-daughter duo of Erin and Emilie Stack started the business on a whim only for it to quickly become one of the buzziest spots in town. READ MORE J Pistone Market & Gathering Place to close June 30, owners retiring In June 2000, J Pistone Market & Gathering Place opened at 3245 Warrensville Center Road. Twenty-four years later that journey will end on June 30, 2024. READ MORE Cafe Avaluan gluten-free eatery closing its Cleveland restaurant after 8 years Cafe Avalaun in Warrensville Heights announced it will be closing its doors at the end of March after 8 years in business. The gluten-free restaurant and bakery will continue to serve beloved menu items until its final day on March 25. READ MORE |
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EVENTS/TASTINGS Winter Warmer Fest Winter Warmer Fest, an annual beer fest held at Windows on the River in Cleveland, is coming up Saturday, March 1-2. The fest draws brewers as well as beer enthusiasts while raising money for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. More than 60 breweries are scheduled to have beers at the fest. Tickets start at $50. 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland. There is a Warmer’s Eve event takes place from 7-10 p.m. Friday. The main event is 2-5 p.m. Saturday. READ MORE Mac ‘N’ Cheese Throwdown If you like a good mac and cheese, this 8th annual food fest at The Madison event center is an opportunity to sample 20 of the region’s best combinations. The fun also includes alcoholic beverages, live music and a makers market. Tickets start at $35 and proceeds benefit Working Animals Giving Service for Kids (W.A.G.S. 4 Kids). 4601 Payne Ave., Cleveland 12-3:30 p.m., March 2. DETAILS Cleveland Restaurant Week menus released Menus are out for the locally owned restaurants participating in Cleveland Restaurant Week. Beginning Monday, March 4, more than 40 restaurants in the Cleveland Independents consortium will offer a variety of deals, many prix-fixe options with choices for appetizers, entrees and desserts. READ MORE M Cellars teams with The Spot on LakeShore for dinner M Cellars in Geneva has teamed with The Spot on Lakeshore for a late-winter dinner paired with wines. The five-course dinner includes some intriguing varietals, like Rkatsiteli, a versatile white wine. Dishes include shrimp bisque, seared duck breast and braised lamb shoulder. The dinner is Friday, March 1. READ MORE Culinary treasures sale coming up The Cleveland chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International is holding a culinary treasures sale. Kitchen equipment, gadgets, books and more will be available. In addition to foodies being able to stock their kitchens, the sale raises money for Les Dames, an organization of professional women in the food, drink and hospitality fields. The event is Sunday, March 10, at CLE Urban Winery in Cleveland Heights. READ MORE Vaccaro’s Trattoria to hold all Italian wine dinner Vaccaro’s Trattoria, which is located at Ghent Road and Interstate 77 in Akron, is holding a dinner with dishes paired with Italian wines. Four vintages of assorted, well-culled bottles will be poured and also available for retail sale. Roasted lamb with Amarone anyone? READ MORE Dean Martin’s Lanning’s to hold Bourbon & Burgers tasting Dean Martin Lanning’s - a fine-dining restaurant in Akron – is holding a Bourbon & Burgers tasting – five Bourbons paired with five signature sliders. It’s a Leap Day event – Thursday, Feb. 29. Jack Daniels and Uncle Nearest pours will be paired with some tasty burgers. READ MORE |
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PICKS OF THE WEEK Ken Stewart’s Lodge Ken Stewart’s Lodge is one of the best special occasion restaurants in Northeast Ohio. Think steak and seafood as well as pork and pasta. The décor is Colorado ski lodge, with tables or private booths for an intimate celebration. The menu is distinctly fine dining. Start with oysters, steak tartare or crab cakes. Continue to 30-day dry-aged steaks paired with asparagus, twice-baked potato and more. The sides are sharable size, while the other dishes are generous as well. Even the house wine is superior. The Ken Stewart Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) hails from Napa Valley and is dry, with soft tannins and subtle hints of fruit. Ken Stewart’s Lodge is one of three Akron-area restaurants operated by the Stewart family. The Lodge is at 1911 N Cleveland Massillon Road, Akron. DETAILS Broadview Brewing Co. When Terry and Janice DeLap were getting ready to open Broadview Brewing Co. almost three years ago, they had a lot of folks sauntering in from nearby neighborhoods inquiring about when it would open. Well, many of those people became regulars, and the brewery is doing brisk business. On a recent night out we spotted a dozen beers on draft. If you are not sure what to try, the flight options will help. It’s at 4001-A Towpath Road, Broadview Heights. READ MORE The Cleveland Bagel Co. There truly is no better bagel in Northeast Ohio than the fresh-baked treats coming out of the ovens at Cleveland Bagel Co. Every morning. The bagels themselves are delicious enough to eat with a simple smear of cream cheese or butter, especially the rosemary and sea salt flavor. Breakfast sandwiches just showcase the bagels even more such as a classic lox or bacon, egg and cheese. The Cleveland Bagel Co. Has two locations — 4201 Detroit Avenue and 7501 Carnegie Avenue in Cleveland. READ MORE |
SPOTLIGHT Cheese Shop at West Side Market adds charcuterie to selection of 150-plus cheeses The Cheese Shop at the West Side Market (stands H-8 and H-9) is now The Cheese and Charcuterie Shop. The sign will change soon to reflect the shop’s evolution to serve the needs of today’s epicurean tastes. Owner Dion Tsevdos, who bought the shop in 2007, has been selling crackers, jams, mustards, pickles, honeys, imported butters, nuts and other cheese board accoutrements for years. He recently added a national and international selection of high-quality cured and cooked meats. READ MORE Meet Lauren Fiala, winemaker extraordinare at Baci Winery Spend a few minutes with Lauren Fiala and her expertise about winemaking comes through as clearly as her passion. She just passed her first anniversary at the Madison winery, which recently renovated and expanded. Donniella Winchell, executive director at the Ohio Wine Producers Association, calls Fiala “inspirational.” READ MORE |
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