Bull Dog Ice Cream

As the last few days of summer were winding down, we were still trying to squeeze in some warm weather treats. After seeing countless images on Instagram of the branded mug with towering shakes, I knew we should check out the recently opened Bull Dog Ice Cream on Memphis Avenue in Brooklyn.

It looks like they've had an ice cream truck for years, but this brick-and-mortar now has Specialty Shakes, Sundaes, Hurricanes, Splits, Floats, Cones and a few snacks like hot dogs, a Poor Boy, wings, fries, a gyro, and even a Walking Taco. 

But we were there for two reasons...a Strawberry Cheesecake Specialty Shake ($12, mug included) with a whole slice of cheesecake in it...

...and the Cookie Dough Sundae ($6.50) with two huge scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough.

I'll say, the ice cream itself is certainly fine, but it's nothing noteworthy. You come for the over-the-top presentation and add-ons. Kids will love it!

It was lunchtime, so we also decided on a Hot Dog with Cheese ($3.25). 

And Fries with Cheese ($3.75). Both came with shredded, melted cheese and spicy nacho cheese sauce. There was way too much cheese (Did I just say that?), and just the shredded would have been preferred. 

I'd give the Walking Taco a try, and Mr. H is always up for trying a gyro. Otherwise, I'd probably skip the savory food and just get ice cream. The portions are very large.

They have a parking lot and outdoor picnic tables. There is no seating inside. Masks were being worn and hand sanitizer was available. 

There's much better ice cream in Northeast Ohio, but this has a fun novelty to it. 

Bull Dog Ice Cream

7467 Memphis Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44144

(216) 215-2932

Mom's Pierogies

When I think of what foods Cleveland is known for, certainly Pierogi is right at the top of the list. So when Mr. H's long-time hairdresser decided to take her home-based pierogi business to a brick-and-mortar spot (and not far from our neighborhood), we were excited to patronize it.

She offers takeout and catering for around 20 different types of pierogi daily, with frozen options and hot meal specials.

Including a Fish Fry on Fridays during Lent!

For $10, it includes two beer-battered pieces of cod, two Potato Cheddar pierogi, and coleslaw. Comes with tartar sauce and sour cream. For the sour cream, you can choose from plain or their housemade Garlic. If you're a garlic-lover, this version is a must-try!

We took the meals home (with a side of applesauce as well), and the fish was still super crispy and everything hot by the time we ate.

We also snagged some Breakfast and Potato Cheddar Jalapeno pierogi for the freezer. Check them out on Memphis Avenue for hot meal takeout, catering, and your Cleveland pierogi fix.

Mom's Pierogies
8467 Memphis Avenue
Brooklyn, OH 44144
(216) 309-1570

Aldo's Restaurant

Mr. H and I are always up for a new adventure to try a place that we haven't been to before. We do our research, rely on word of mouth, and most of the time have great dining experiences. Sometimes, though, a recommendation falls flat. This time, it did.

We headed to Aldo's in Brooklyn, expecting a unassuming exterior with an authentic Italian meal worthy of the praise we've heard. This restaurant is certainly one that you could easily drive by and not notice...

...but inside, it does have an old-world charm and is filled with what I assume are photographs from family travels to Italy. The dining room is small, seating around 40 diners, and the kitchen is what faces the only windows in the space, which is unusual.

For a Tuesday night, the place was packed! This was a good sign. Right? 

We had wonderful service throughout the meal, and there was a certain charm to the whole place. But, the food fell flat for us.

We started with the Stuffed Mushrooms, filled with sausage, spinach, and cheese in a marinara sauce. They came out piping hot, and ended up being the best dish we ordered. But still not memorable. The bread service also came at this time, and it was fresh out of the oven. It was really great bread!

Then the meal went downhill for us. The entrees all come with a salad. No dressing options were offered, and a sad little salad with tough greens, too much cabbage, and a house dressing that didn't light my fire arrived. I left most of it on the plate.

Mr. H ordered the Lasagna, which was certainly fine, but not noteworthy and the portion was on the small side.

I've been craving linguini and clams for quite some time now, so I was immediately drawn to the Sauteed Scampies Pasta over Seashells in a White Clam Sauce dish. I guess I didn't understand the "over seashells" description meant shell pasta. I had thought it was referencing the clam shells for some reason, so I was surprised to see the dish arrive. Immediately, a fork wasn't cutting it so I had to ask for a large spoon to corral the pasta and seafood. The sauce ended up tasting like bland, thickened chicken stock to me, but at least the clams were plentiful. The most off-putting thing about the dish was the texture of the scampies. They were complete MUSH. I've never had any form of the shrimp family take on that texture before. Perhaps they were butter-poached? We weren't quite sure what was going on, but it wasn't pleasurable to eat. Again, I left quite a bit behind and took no interest in bringing it home.

For us, this restaurant was a fail.

We had been torn between that and Bruno's, which isn't far away. So, next time we're looking for Italian food not too far from home, we'll be heading to Bruno's instead.

Aldo's Restaurant
8459 Memphis Avenue
Brooklyn, OH 44144
(216) 749-7060

Kintaro Sushi and Hot Pot

Kintaro Sushi and Hot Pot opened in Ridge Park Square in Brooklyn, and I admit...I judged a book by its cover. The dining options in that area are almost all chain restaurants, and this joint did not look like something I'd enjoy from the outside. But, I started to hear and read some good things online and through social media from other Cleveland "foodie" folks, so it suddenly was on my radar since we live nearby.

Now, the inside is exactly what I expected.

But, the menu offers an all-you-can-eat option ($25.99) for their sushi, appetizers, hibachi, tempura, noodle soup, fried rice, and teriyaki. You simply check next to the items as you go (or by numbers if you want more than one order of something), and the server brings back the same menu if you order other rounds of food. You never lose track of what you ordered, which sometimes can be a problem for me when trying new sushi rolls. What was in that again?

I ordered the Mercedes-Benz (left) and the Acura (yes, they all have car names in the Special Rolls section). I also just ordered some salmon, tuna, and red snapper sushi pieces.

I didn't care for the Acura roll very much, but the Mercedes-Benz roll was enjoyable. What was great was that if you didn't like something, you could leave it and order something else with the all-you-can-eat. Just be careful to not be too wasteful, because they will tack on a fee.

Mr. H just ordered a hodge podge of appetizers, sushi, and one roll. He even ordered the Chicken Nuggets to see what they were like. Just what you expected, classic frozen nuggets. I can't take this guy anywhere.

There was a bit of confusion over whether or not you have to order the all-you-can-eat. You don't, but the menu is the same and you just pay per item. The hot pot seemed to be very separate from the sushi section of the restaurant, and we weren't even asked if we wanted to do hot pot. I'm not even clear on if it's offered all the time or not.

While in some ways it was better than the low expectations I had set, the sushi rolls still do not compare to the quality at Mizu Sushi. Which is just minutes away. I felt dirty cheating on my favorite spot, haha. But, for the price point, you can certainly get a lot of food and a wide variety of items. Our server was also beyond adorable and helpful.

Kintaro Sushi and Hot Pot
7325 Northcliff Avenue
Brooklyn, OH 44144
(216) 459-8862

El Tolteca Mexican Grill

I feel very loyal to my favorite local Mexican restaurant. After trying a few others, I've determined that Cozumel in Independence is where I want to eat if I'm craving Mexican food. That doesn't mean that I won't try other restaurants...which led "R" and I to trying El Tolteca Mexican Grill in Brooklyn recently.

It's conveniently located in the same plaza as one of the Giant Eagle stores that we shop at, and it's just a short drive down the street from the Ridge Park Square shopping plaza. We're in that area running errands often, so a good non-chain restaurant option would be perfect for us. Unfortunately, this was my first, and last, visit to this restaurant.

The atmosphere is like any other American-Mexican restaurant around. Plenty of booth and table seating, bright colors, and cheesy decorations. We were seated and waited upon right away, and service was always attentive and speedy. It really just came down to the food, which was some of the worst Mexican that I've had around here.

I ordered the NO. 7 Combination Platter ($6.25) with one enchilada, chile relleno, Mexican rice and fried beans.

The ground beef in the enchilada was dry and bland, and the sauce was pretty standard. The rice and beans were fine, but should they be the best thing on the plate? No. The real kicker was the chili relleno, which is a dish that I typically love. This version was a tiny slab of undercooked green pepper, the same bland and dry ground beef, and it was just a huge disappointment. Where is my roasted pepper that is stuffed with delicious meat and cheese before being battered in egg and deep fried? This was a far cry from what a traditional chili relleno is supposed to be, and a terrible version at that. That poor excuse for a pepper is reason alone for me not to return.

So, I've been to Cozumel, Jalapenos, and Don Ramon's (gave me food poisoning). This list does not include burrito restaurants like Chili Peppers and Ohio City Burrito. Any other Mexican restaurants that I should try locally?

El Tolteca Mexican Grill

7106 Biddulph Road

Brooklyn, OH 44144