"Love the food, love the chef"

When "R" selected Fahrenheit as his restaurant choice for one last birthday celebration with his family, I was thrilled. I am a huge fan of Rocco and his food is typically outstanding. It helps that he is one of the nicest chefs in Cleveland and his outpouring of love for Cleveland and Tremont is infectious.

Fahrenheit is nestled in the heart of Tremont's dining district, within walking distance of several other great bars and restaurants (ex. Treehouse, Flying Monkey, Edison's Pub, Lago, Lolita, and of course the newly opened Dante). I think Fahrenheit's success is due to consistent high quality dishes and the innovation of Chef Whalen. The crowd was varied, which I think is the goal of the restaurant's warm and comfortable atmosphere. The bar was packed and the dining room was bustling. I've had the pleasure of eating Rocco's creations on many occasions, but this was actually only my second time dining from his regular menu.

On our first visit (about a year ago) I ordered the Coffee & Mustard Crusted Pork Tenderloin- Maple Glazed Sweet Potato, Garlic Spinach, Toasted Macadamia Nuts ($24). I remember that this dish was flavored well and the delicate crust of ground coffee and mustard was a surprising combination that danced on your tongue. The dish can still be found on the menu, but its presentation has changed. Last year, the dish was presented as a bed of spinach topped with a pile of mashed sweet potato and sliced pork to top it off. One of our dining companions last night ordered the same dish, but I was a little surprised to see something quite different arrive at the table. The dish is now served in a mini casserole dish- which gives it a slightly more upscale presentation. This just shows that Whalen is constantly challenging himself and his team to deliver the best food possible, even if that means taking a delicious dish and pushing it just a little bit further.

Last night, we started with the Little Meatballs- Roasted Garlic, Tomato Reduction, Basil, Parmesan ($6) and an order of the Fahrenheit Potato Nachos- Goat Cheese Reduction, Crisp Bacon, Chives, Scallions, Sea Salt, Parmesan ($12). The potato nachos were very popular, as we saw at least five orders of them go by as we dined. The house-made chips were good (although Symon's were better last week) but the real gold was at the bottom of the plate. At first I thought that the serving plate was white, but then we realized that the melted goat cheese was drizzled on the plate and we hungrily dipped and scooped the buttery goat cheese onto our chips. I had one perfect bite of rich goat cheese, crushed bacon bits, and fresh scallions. The meatballs on the other hand were nothing special- sorry Rocco. I've had better at a backyard BBQ made from the frozen bulk meatballs you buy at Sam's Club. Moving on...

Our table ordered the Fahrenheit Signature Kobe Beef “Short Ribs”- Teriyaki Lo Mein Noodles, Baby Bok Choy, Roasted Mushroom, Ginger Soy Reduction ($29), Lobster Macaroni & Cheese- Local Goat Cheese, Oven-Dried-Tomato, Cognac Reduction, Poached Lobster & Chives ($ 26), Grilled Beef Tenderloin- Roasted “Ohio City” Fingerling Potato, Roasted Asparagus, Melted Brie, Port Wine-Star Anise Reduction ($30), and I ordered a ravioli special with cremini mushrooms, goat cheese sauce, and large chunks of fresh lobster meat. The short ribs fell apart as "R's" mom slid her fork into the meat, and everyone enjoyed a small bite. The beef tenderloin received rave reviews from both men who ordered it, but each decided to leave the brie behind on their plate- which broke my heart. The only small complaint was that the anise reduction was a little too sweet. The lobster mac & cheese was served with a combination of creamy goat cheese and roasted tomatose as the sauce, which created a flavorful pink cream sauce. It was good, but not the highlight of the meal. My ravioli special was one of our crowd's favorites. It makes me a little sad to think that I can not order it again (hint hint)!

The only down side to this fabulous meal was the service. It wasn't that it was terrible, but all three of the staff members who waited on us were a little off last night. Twice they mixed up who had ordered what dishes, several of the main entrees arrived without the others, and the desserts were served without silverware and we had to sit there as our ice cream and sorbet melted. Also, we ordered three bottles of wine throughout the meal. The first was poured and then placed in an ice bucket with a serving napkin decoratively tied around the neck of the bottle. The napkin disappeared from the second bottle, and the ice bucket disappeared by the third. Not that it made a difference in the quality of our wine, but I thought that it was interesting to observe the level of service as our meal went on.

Overall, it really was a great meal and the quality of food was consistent with Chef Rocco's reputation. We'll be back for sure, and I wish him luck at the national Taste of the NFL event on the eve of the Super Bowl. Cleveland is lucky to have you representing us chef!

Fahrenheit
2417 Professor Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 781-8858

Symon Says

So we've all heard of Cleveland's very own Iron Chef and his fabulous restaurants that are popping up all over our area. I've had the pleasure of dining at Michael Symon's flagship restaurant, Lola, but experienced Bar Symon for the first time the other night.

The restaurant's atmosphere has a great casual vibe, with just a hint that you're in for something special. The waitstaff all run around in logo T-shirts, and that combined with the extensive bar on one side of the dining area helps make guests feel comfortable and casual. I loved the drop-down tin ceiling panels. The details in the decor were well thought out. There was a nice mix of people- a variety of ages, couples vs. singles, and even a family or two- there when we dined on Saturday evening.

We started with Symon's famous House Chips- three cheese fondue and chives ($6). The chips were nicely done, but I did wish that the cheese fondue had a little more flavor. It was relatively bland, and the dish wasn't a great start to our meal as first-time diners. I ordered the Duck Paprikash- duck confit, dumplings, turnips and paprika ($16). The steaming plate arrived with a bed of dumplings and rich sauce, with two duck thighs perched on top. The skin was perfectly crisp, and the rich meat was so tender that it fell right off the bone. I enjoyed my dish quite a bit. "R's" love for gyros led him to order the Zorba- lamb sausage, tzatziki, pickled onions, grilled romaine and pita ($10). The tzatziki sauce was bursting with flavor and one of the best we've had in Cleveland. Fergie's bar in Parma still holds the title. The only issue with the dish is that it is a little awkward to eat. The overflowing contents don't allow you to pick up the sandwich, but eating the dish with a fork just didn't feel like you were doing it justice. Don't get me wrong- we happily ate away, but it did take a second to figure out how to attack it. We ended the meal with the Turtle Sundae. The vanilla bean ice cream, topped with caramel and chocolate sauces, was a refreshing way to cleanse the palate and finish our dinner.

While Avon Lake isn't an area that we frequent, I think we'll keep Bar Symon in mind when we're in the area. It is worth the trek to try it at least once. Now on to B-Spot!

Bar Symon
32858 Walker Road
Avon Lake, OH 44012
(440) 933-5652

Just a Reminder...

Sokolowski's needs no introduction. Established in 1923, this hearty, stick-to-your-gut, cafeteria-style restaurant is infamous in Cleveland. Locals and tourists alike flock to this Tremont location on Friday and Saturday nights. I'm sure we all wish that they served dinner all week long! At least those in the area can enjoy lunch Monday - Friday.

We popped in there recently, and their delicious mashed yams with melted marshmallows and thick home-made sautéed pierogi reminded me why I love it there (5 for $8.95). The food warms you from the inside out, and you can't help but leave there completed stuffed.

The rustic-looking restaurant is nestled away from the hustle and bustle of other Tremont hot spots. Located off of Abbey Avenue, I think people forget that this gem is hidden over there. So this is just a reminder to head over there some chilly winter day and fill your gut with some of the best "kind of food that grandma used to make" that there is in Cleveland.

Sokolowki's University Inn
1201 University Road
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 771-9236

Happy Hour at Touch Supper Club

Last night, we headed over to Tremont for a quick bite to eat at South Side. As we walked in the door, we were surprised by the packed house and long wait for a table. We quickly turned on our heels and scrambled back to the car. While weighing our options, we decided to pop over to Ohio City and dine at Touch Supper Club instead.

They have been voted "Best Happy Hour" for many reasons. First- they have free sushi on Fridays, and it is actually pretty good. Second- they have several tasty dishes and drinks on their happy hour menu that allow you to dine pretty cheaply. Third- the atmosphere is fun and you can feel the energy in the room. Now the average age of the patrons last night was about 28. I have only ever been there on a Friday night, but I imagine that the crowd is more diverse throughout the week and in particular for their famous Sunday brunch.

We secured two seats at the bar (Ladies- they have purse hooks under the bar as well. I've decided this is my new quest in life- to search out bars and restaurants in Cleveland that have hooks for our "goods"), and placed our drink order. My only complaint is that their wine by the glass options are limited. Thankfully, both the Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio that I've had there have been good selections. We settled on the Loaded Flat Bread - ($10) Grilled flat bread, oven dried tomatoes, herbed lake Erie creamery goat cheese, kalamata olives, and roasted garlic. The combination of these ingredients was magic. The creamy goat cheese blended with the salty olives and whole cloves of roasted garlic left me wanting more. We also tried the Tempura Green Beans. We first experienced a similar dish at Flying Fig (also Ohio City), so we were looking forward to trying this version. The beans were heavily coated in a soft, dense tempura batter, and the dish was served with a spicy mustard aioli. Their version wins!

Touch is a little off the beaten path of Ohio City's trademark restaurants, but it is worth the two-block trip. The crowd is always a little eclectic, and the food is mostly spot-on. Stay away from the lamb ravioli! If you're looking for a different scene, and easily one of the best happy hour spots in Cleveland- check it out.

Touch Supper Club
2710 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 631-5200