Thyme X Table

After buying a gift certificate for ourselves when we purchase one for my in-laws in December 2019, we finally made it in to Thyme Table Restaurant and Bar in Bay Village. The pandemic really delayed us getting there, but this certainly won't be our last visit there!

We immediately loved the cozy and chic atmosphere. It kind of reminded us of our favorite place that closed, The Black Pig. A great craft cocktail, beer, and wine list also won us over easily. 

We let our server select our appetizer from the couple that we had narrowed it down to. I could have made a meal from them alone! But he picked the Arancini with Blackberry Compote, Brûléed Cheese, and Marcona Almonds. Very nice dish, but no longer available on the winter menu. We were there just before the menu changed for the season.

Which leads to me to the next dish. I should have known better, because half of the components were out of season. But it just sounded good! Striped Bass with Creamy Polenta, Sweet Corn, Peaches, and Pea Shoots. It didn't arrive very warm, so that hurt the texture and flavor of the fish and polenta, but overall there was very little flavor and the fish was overcooked and dry. The whole thing ate pretty bland and it was disappointing. I did bring it up with our serve once he returned. 

Lucky for me, we were doing a bit of sharing and Mr. H had ordered the Roasted Vegetables and Risotto ($19) with wild mushrooms, asparagus, caramelized onions, creamy garlic risotto, and basil pesto with lightly dressed greens. It was fantastic, and we'll be recreating this dish at home soon! They changed the vegetables slightly, but you can still enjoy this dish on the new menu. 

Aside from the one disappointing dish, we really enjoyed our meal and the vibe of the restaurant. Service was good, despite it being very busy. They have a dedicated parking lot right next to the building. Highly recommend checking them out if you haven't already.

Thyme Table Restaurant and Bar
583 Dover Center Road
Bay Village, OH 44140
(440) 617-6964

Vento la Trattoria

EDITED: Well, this is now a very sad post to share with you, because I had already written and scheduled it before the news broke that Vento la Trattoria has permanently closed. Another casualty of the pandemic. I know this restaurant will be missed by the community, but the good news is that Matt Harlan has announced that he'll be opening Chatty's Pizzeria in that location in about two months. Read more here at Cleveland Scene, and with his history with the Michael Symon Restaurant Group this is sure to be a winner.

The last restaurant on my 2020 To Dine Challenge list was Vento la Trattoria in Bay Village. Tucked in between Huntington Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks and Bay Arts, the restaurant is known for their charming patio and views of Lake Erie in the distance. 

I had held out on this one, hoping that we'd be able to experience a patio night out. However, we just never felt comfortable during this pandemic to dine out while the weather was nice...so takeout it had to be.

We started with a perfect classic Caesar ($9) salad.

I had the Pescatore ($22) with homemade linguine, white wine, olive oil, and garlic topped with Chef’s selection of daily seafood. As you can see, it was a nice mix of clams, mussels, and shrimp.

Mr. H ordered the Matriciana with Meatballs ($24) which is their famous Matriciana pasta dish served with homemade linguini, pan-fried pancetta, onions, aurora sauce, and topped with two large meatballs.

Both dishes were simply prepared and quite good. The texture of the pasta was *chef's kiss*, and it all traveled home pretty well. The Matriciana was a bit bolder in flavor, so we did agree it was our favorite of the two pasta dishes. 

We also snagged a wonderful bottle of wine to-go. 

It is absolutely adorable inside. There is plenty of free parking in the large lot connecting the park and the businesses tucked in there.

That's a wrap on this year's To Dine Challenge. What a strange trip it's been, but I feel particularly accomplished considering that it was completed and with time to spare! Funny what can happen when you slow down...

EDITED: I consider this a lesson for us all. Let's get out there and support our independent restaurants through the rest of the pandemic. I know it's the reality for many of our beloved restaurants that they may not make it through this. Dine-in if you are comfortable, order takeout, buy retail wine or cocktails to-go, purchase a gift certificate for later use or a holiday gift, and tip generously.

Vento la Trattoria (now closed)

28611 Lake Road

Bay Village, OH 44140

(440) 835-4530

Bite Buff Turns Five!

Today this little old blog turns five. FIVE. Happy Blogiversary to me!

Where did the time go? Well, at least I have a published record of where it went, but it sure did fly by. I'm still enjoying the ride, so I'll keep on blogging. Thank you for being with me along the way!

People typically celebrate with cake, ice cream, cookies, and other sweet treats. So, I'll share one with you today.

I'm a dummy. I had no idea that Malley's Chocolates had ice cream parlors in some of their locations (four to be exact). I've stated over and over that sweets aren't really my thing, but shame on me for missing this one.

One of these old-fashioned parlors is located in Lakewood, and they have late-night hours for a perfect after-dinner treat. Out with friends last weekend, we stopped by around 9PM for sundaes.

I was still full from dinner at the Buckeye Beer Engine, but that didn't stop me from stealing bites of "R's" brownie sundae.

That thing was massive, and decadently delicious.

The best part about the Malley's Ice Cream Parlors? If you order a sundae or hot fudge for your ice cream, you receive your own cup of hot fudge to pour as you wish. Not only does that add to the "fun" factor, it ensures that you can still enjoy fudge until the last bite. 

It was such a great discovery! Have you ever been? They are also in Bay Village, Mentor, and North Olmsted. 

Malley's

Chocolate Shoppe & Ice Cream Parlor

14822 Madison Avenue

Lakewood, OH 44107