Monday, October 20, 2014

Platform Beer Co. Brunch

I'm really a fan of the new(ish) Platform Beer Co. on the corner of Lorain and West 41st. We stopped in for just a beer the first time, but now I've been back for two meals. They just happen to both be brunch.

As I mentioned in my last blog post about the new bar, they are not providing their own food. They have recruited a rotating roster of local restaurants and food trucks to pop in one night a week to provide food for Platform patrons. On Saturday, they have The Grocery.

The menu is simple. Build your own omelet, crepe, or bagel sandwich.
The amount of components being used that are sourced from local vendors is impressive. I spotted: Cleveland Bagel Co., Saucisson, Clark Pope, Randy's Pickles, Brewnuts...just to name a few.

During my first Brewhouse Brunch, I tried a BYO bagel sandwich. You have your choice of bacon or sausage, cheese, and many vegetables and additions to choose from.
I kept it simple, with just bacon, egg, cheddar cheese, and jalapenos. I also requested a side of blackberry jam, which was an amazing addition. It was seriously messy, but oh so delicious.

I also couldn't resist the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar. I'm a sucker for them every time.
You get to pick from a couple of vodka flavors. I selected the Cilantro Jalapeno. They offer a couple of different mixes, several hot sauces, classic additions, and several locally sourced munchables to add. My only complaint? No shakers or stir sticks provided, and I had to stir it all together with my straw, which didn't work very well.

This past Saturday, I met two friends there for a second brunch visit to Platform. I started with a Bloody Mary again, this time going with the Cilantro Lime vodka. Still no shakers or stir sticks, but they did switch up the presentation of meat and cheeses to add, by pre-building skewers for you. Very easy to grab and add to your drink.

For food, I chose the build-your-own Buckwheat Crepe this time.
I had selected sausage, cheddar cheese, chard, and blackberry jam. I'm hooked on that blackberry jam. Other than the fact that it was packed with too much chard, it was enjoyable. Although, a bit more cheese would have helped hold it all together, because it was a tad dry and the pieces and parts kind of fell apart when I cut into it. While good, the bagel sandwich had been better.

Not pictured was a Brewnut donut, soft, glazed, and topped with a raspberry beer frosting and chocolate chips. My first bite of a Brewnut, and I liked it!

Also, we each started a tab by providing a credit card when we arrived. When we were ready to leave, the bartender ran the cards provided, and we were never presented with itemized checks. From the amounts, we were pretty sure that something was incorrect on our bills, but it wasn't worth trying to figure out what had happened. The food and drink prices are reasonable, and our checks weren't high, considering the fact that we had sat there drinking and eating for over two hours. But, I hope that this was a fluke, and that itemized checks are presented to patrons. Our bartender was less than stellar on Saturday, in general, so it wasn't surprising.

All brunch options are $7.99. The Brewhouse Brunch is offered every Saturday from 10AM - 2PM.

I was also thrilled to see Founder's Breakfast Stout on tap during this trip! Never a bad way to kick off a boozey brunch.

Platform is doing alright, in my book. We'll keep stopping in. Have you been to Platform yet?

Platform Beer Co.
4125 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-202-1386

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