Van Aken Market Hall

The Van Aken District is just exploding on the east side. Local business favorites like Cleveland Clothing Co., Mitchell's Ice Cream, and Room Service have opened locations, and shoppers can also enjoy additional boutiques like Whiskey Grade and Luster. The restaurants have also flocked, and I personally look forward to trying Michael's Genuine Food & Drink (now open) and the soon-to-open Jonathon Sawyer spot.

In the heart of it all is the Van Aken Market Hall.

In addition to the sit-down restaurants, the area now offers a 21,000-square foot food hall. It's a great place to gather, with a little something for everyone. We recently met our friends and their two young children there for dinner on a Friday. There is plenty of room for the kids to run around, a couple of food stands to choose from, and Craft Collective where the adults can grab an alcoholic beverage.

We sample a bit of everything, including the Mac and Cheese with Focaccia Bread Crumbs ($8) from Scorpacciata Pasta Co. (one of my little friends' personally favorites)...

...and their Carbonara ($14) with black pepper fettuccine, Ohio pancetta, yolks, and arugula.

We've always enjoyed the poutine and cased meats from Banter on the west side, so we just had to dig in to a couple of the Sliders, which you order individually.

They did not disappoint. That's a jalapeño popper on top of that beef slider pictured above! An order of poutine graced the table too.

A couple of takeaways from our experience...

1.  I am falling in love with a Food Hall concept. It's great for groups or families, because everyone gets to choose what they want or you can mix-and-match a couple of small things from more than one place to make a meal.
2.  When the garage doors on the Van Aken Market Hall can be open in the warmer months, the flow and vibe will be really cool.
3.  Ohio City Galley has the logistics and atmosphere figured out much better. First, the positioning of the restaurant stands and designated seating areas are more clear and cohesive. Second, their liquor license includes the entire space so you're not limited to where you can enjoy an adult beverage (Craft Collective space only here).
4. The food was all solid and no real complaints, but the food quality and flavor are better at Ohio City Galley. 
5. Timing. The food flies out at Ohio City Galley, but the waits were around 45 minutes at Van Aken Market Hall (after you waited in line for quite a bit) on what seemed like a steady but not slammed night. 
6. Mitchell's Ice Cream is right across the street, and made for a perfect end-of-the-meal treat!

What are your thoughts on food halls? If you've been to both, which do you prefer?

Van Aken Market Hall

3441 Tuttle Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
(216) 491-8800

Banter

The first restaurant of the 2016 To Dine Challenge is complete! Mr. H and I popped in to the new Banter on Detroit Road in the Gordon Square Arts District the other night, after I saw them post a picture on Instagram of my favorite bottled beer.

Banter brings us a unique food and beverage experience. It is a curated beer and wine store (each with their own separate room) that is also satisfying shoppers with house-made sausages and poutine.

After grabbing a spot at one of the few tables in the main bar, we wander over the room next door to check out the wine selection.

Then, on to the beer.

Which is where I found my favorite bottled beer, Epic Brewing's Big Bad Baptist.

Banter allows you to crack open your purchase right there at the store (for a small corkage fee) to enjoy with their tempting, but limited, menu. 

The bar area was busy for a Thursday evening. It did get quite loud in that room. If you're looking for a quieter space and something other than bar seating or high-top tables, there is a handful of standard tables in the wine room as well. 

People had been raving about the Corndog ($7), but honestly it was our least favorite item. Maybe we had an "off" one, but it was really soggy. 

Things perked up as we tried the Breakfast ($9) with Ohio maple and sorghum bratwurst, pain perdu, blueberry mustard, bourbon bacon, fried egg, and shaved maple. It was on the sweeter side, so I was imagining it paired with a spicy Bloody Mary at brunch! 

Mr. H let me have a bite of his Fried Chicken ($9) with crispy fried chicken sausage, braised greens, sweet corn mustard, and hot sauce. I really liked that one as well. 

But, hands-down my favorite thing that we tried was the Foie Gras poutine ($19) with seared fois gras, frites, duck gravy, apple gastrique, and duck confit. 

It was rich, decadent deliciousness. I could only eat about a third of it. 

Everything is priced reasonably for the quality of product that they are producing, and it was a hearty meal. It's casual, fun, and a great way to stock up on craft beers and wine while you're out for a bite. I think it's a nice addition to the area, and we'll be repeat customers. Open until midnight on the weeknights, and 1AM on Fridays and Saturday.

Banter
7320 Detroit Road
Cleveland, OH 44102
216-801-0305