Dinner Club at District

Last night, the monthly outing of the @CLEDinnerClub took us to the newly opened District in Downtown Cleveland. In the heart of the theater district, it's trying to appeal to not only the diners out to catch a bite before a show, but to drawn in diners with their Contemporary American cuisine with a Mediterranean soul, European influence, and local focus. Their dinner menu features a small section of soups, salads, and appetizers, and then a selection of about a dozen entrees. They are also open for lunch.

Unfortunately, the dishes that we had last night aren't on the regular menu. Sous Chef Jessica Ernande had crafted a special menu for our group, but I can confidently say that their approach to food and her execution will bring me back for a return visit. Everything was quite good, and one of the better @CLEDinnerClub events that I've been to.

First course: Bread Pudding with heirloom tomatoes, boursin cheese, and mixed field greens.

I don't see this dish listed on their lunch or dinner menus featured online right now, but apparently this is a dish that they are becoming known for. The bread pudding was delicious, and I also really loved the punchy citrus dressing on the greens.

Intermezzo: A small bite of tomato, basil, mozzarella, and balsamic. Such a perfect summer bite, and one of my favorite salads in the warmer months.

Second Course: Risotto with Parmesan Reggiano, red wine, butter, and local mushrooms.

This dish was rich and heavy, and probably my least favorite of the evening. Maybe only because it was so rich, and there was a sizable portion of it? However, it was a good risotto and a favorite of many others in the group.

Third Course: Cape Cod-North Shore Scallops that were pan-seared with a roasted garlic beurre blanc, and served with rice pilaf.

Now, this was probably my favorite course. That beurre blanc sauce was insanely good, and it should make its way onto the menu immediately.

Fourth Course: Panna Cotta that was whipped with vanilla and served with glazed nectarines.

It was a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. The vanilla was faint, so the dessert wasn't overly sweet, and the caramel and grilled nectarines were fantastic.

From start (greeting us with a glass of red wine) to finish, this dining experience was special. As usual, the dinner club rate was $40 for all of this fantastic food. Service was outstanding throughout the meal (thank you, TJ!). I'm not in love with the space. It needs more character and some artwork on the walls, and parking can be tricky in that area, but food and service speak for themselves and I can't wait to go back. Luckily, I already had a girls' night planned for September there. See you soon, District!

District
1350 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 858-1000