Tommy's Restaurant

There are a handful of restaurants in Greater Cleveland that if you tell people you haven't been there, they will gasp and shame you. Tommy's Restaurant in Coventry became one of those in my life. 

So, I had to remedy that by adding them to my 2021 To Dine Challenge list, and we recently grabbed our east side buddies to dine there for dinner on a weeknight.

The menu is hefty. So I had taken to Twitter a few days in advance to ask for everyone's favorite menu item.

One rose to the top, the Donovan ($8.99) with falafel, veggies, sesame sauce, cheese, mushrooms and baba. While the flavors were all satisfying, I have to say that feeling overwhelmed on how to properly eat this took away from my enjoyment. I did not see a way to pick it up safely, so I knife and forked it.

But who are we kidding, we were really there for the famous French Fries ($4.99). They are purposefully not seasoned, and a neighbor gave us the hot tip to order a side of the Loui sauce (thinner version of Thousand Islands dressing) to dip them in.

To get a taste of several items, Mr. H tried the Wellson ($11.89) sampler platter with 2 falafel balls, mini spinach pie, 1 scoop of hummus, 1 scoop of baba, a side of sesame tahini and pita. The spinach pie was our favorite. 

No trip to Tommy's is complete without a milkshake. I love a simple, classic Vanilla, but they have more than 15 flavors to choose from if you're more adventuresome. 

Look, this stop is all about a piece of culinary history in our area. It's right on Coventry, within steps of other great restaurants and shops, and full of tradition in the family-owned and operated business. Was it the best Mediterranean influenced meal I've had? No. Best diner food I've had? No. But it was a fun excursion, and one that I'm happy to now say that I've done. 

Tommy's Restaurant

1824 Coventry Road

Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

(216) 321-7757

Marchant Manor Cheese Shop

We first discovered locally-made Marchant Manor cheeses at Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. and Ohio City Provisions. Instantly, we were hooked. 

So we were over-the-moon when we heard that the maker, Kandice Marchant, was opening a cheese retail shop on the east side in 2021. We made it over to Lee Road this past weekend, and it was everything I had hoped for.

The inside is just charming (I mean don't those walls just look like creamy, decadent butter?!)...

...and FULL of all kinds of locally-produced goodies that complement cheese. We spotted some of our favorite crackers, rillettes, kimchi, and jams, just to name a few. Don't miss the curated snack plates of cheese that you can easily grab-and-go just inside the door. 

In addition to all kinds of treats to accompany your cheese, there's also a large cooler of other fine cheeses to select from. We spotted several of our favorite brands. 

But you are greeted by a cooler of Marchant Manor's cheeses first. Some of which we have grown to know and love, but there were several new ones for us to try as well. We picked up the Paneer, Thames Herb, High Heaven Applejack-Washed, and Petersham Pollen Goat Cheese.

This isn't just a fantastic shop to pop into for your cheese board, date night platter, or girls' night in goodies. Check out some of the cheese-themed gifts for any hostess, birthday or holiday gift, or just to express your love of cheese in your home with quirky and practical items like boards, aprons, cookbooks, knives, and more. 

I fell madly in love with this shop, and while it's well worth the trip across town, I'm actually glad there's a bit of distance between us. Can I move in?

Run, don't walk to check this place out! The "Cheese Doctor" is in, and I need a prescription (read about her fascinating story here). 

Marchant Manor Cheese Shop

2211 Lee Road

Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

(216) 860-1862

Zhug Knocks My Socks Off

My mom was in town last weekend, and it was the perfect opportunity for a girls' night out along with one of my besties for the three of us to check out the brand new Zhug by Doug Katz (of Shaker Square's fire food and drink).

In Cleveland Heights, near Nighttown on Cedar Road, the restaurant is serving up Middle Eastern Mezze (or "small dishes"). Lucky for us, my friend had already dined there, so she helped guide us on how many and what to order.

Top of her list was the Harissa Peanut Hummus ($10) served with fresh pita. They have three different versions of hummus on the menu.

Next we tried something she hadn't had during her other two visits, the Leeks and Feta ($8) with ramp-pistachio pistou, toasted shallot, and dijon vin.

Then came another dish she recommended, the Warm White Beans ($7) with local tomato and a basil aioli.

Followed by the Duck Fat Fried Parsnip Pancakes ($9) with apples and sage.

The only savory dish that didn't wow me and I'd suggest skipping over was the Butter Roasted Shrimp ($14) with garlic and pil biber chili. It was certainly fine, but not unique or full of the interesting flavors and textures the other dishes had.

On the heartier side of the small plates are dishes like the Miller Grass Fed Beef Kofte ($15) with smoked feta, shaved fennel, and radish...

...and Yemenite Curry Fried Chicken ($14) with harissa honey.

My friend had raved about the Tahini Ice Cream Sundae, and in hindsight I wish we had just gotten that because the Lemon Cake was only ok. We all shared it, and still left a good piece of it behind.

Other than the long line of diners waiting to get in and the hour and a half we waited for a table, you'd never know that the restaurant just opened. There were no service issues, and the quality and pacing of the food was top notch. But word is spreading fast, and they don't currently take reservations, so be prepared to wait if you're trying to dine on a popular night or time. No fear, there are good drinks just down the street at Parnell's Pub or Fairmount. My only "complaint" is that a few areas of the dining room are communal seating, which I personally don't care for.

I walked away thinking that this was one of the best meals I've had in Cleveland in a while, and that says a lot because you all know that we eat good around here! I purposefully didn't order a few small plates that I knew Mr. H would love to try, so we'll be going back soon.

Zhug
12413 Cedar Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 862-2508

Quintana's Barber Speakeasy

Ever since I heard about the "secret" speakeasy above Quintana's Barber and Dream Spa in Cleveland Heights, I've been wanting to go. Craft cocktails, a secret back door buzzer, and a bookcase passage? I'm in!

Some of the spa services have moved to the building next door as the business has expanded, so two floors above the barber shop have been converted into a swanky speakeasy bar that seats about 20-25 guests.

Lucky for newbies like us, there's a small sign at the front door that provides you with directions on how to enter the speakeasy.

Once we were inside, it was a little harder to find, but someone took pity on us and cracked open the bookcase door after we all fumbled around a bit.

We were greeted with a small swanky bar, low lighting, comfortable seating, and a great list of craft cocktails (and other adult beverages). Even some mocktails. They also serve a handful of Small Plates for those that need a nibble.

They have some cool events hosted there too, such as Tarot Card Readings, Hands-on Craft Cocktail Classes, and live music nights.

This may have been my first visit, but certainly won't be my last. 

Quintana's Barber and Dream Spa (and Speakeasy)

2200 S Taylor Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 321-7889

CLE Urban Winery

I stopped out to CLE Urban Winery last week on Lee Road. They've been open a year now, bringing the area a modern, boutique winery that celebrates all things Cleveland.

From the custom wall art...

...to their Cleveland-themed wine names and labels, it's all things Northeast Ohio here.

The space was much larger than it had appeared in pictures on social media. There's a couple of intimate soft-seating areas near the front, a very large bar, bar seating looking into the production room, and additional options scattered throughout the converted garage. I settled in at the main bar for a Flight ($7) of five 1 oz. pours.

I tried the Murray Hill Pinot Grigio, Shoreway Viognier, Lake Erie Riesling, Cedar-Lee Chardonnay, and Hometown Heroes Peach Chardonnay. The two that stood out for me were the Pinot Grigio, bright and dry, and the Peach Chardonnay. It was sweeter than I'd usually purchase, but the bold peach flavor was unique and I can picture drinking a chilled glass on these last summer days. I took home a bottle of each.

I didn't care for a couple of them as much, but all of them were better than many other local wines, in my opinion. With 12 - 15 different styles, there is something for everyone. Most of their grapes are coming from California, Oregon, Washington, and NY, with some Ohio in there as well.

They also have a great space for events. You can bring in your own food, create different seating arrangements, and the rental fee is only $25. Or, you can come in and make your own wine label as a private group with the winemaker himself!

I don't find myself in that area often, but this will stay on my radar as a spot to grab a drink before or after dinner. You can also find the wines in several wine retail and local grocery store chains now.

CLE Urban Winery
2180 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Inn on Coventry

While we're not east-siders, I'm still surprised that it took us this long to dine at the Inn on Coventry.

Their Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are famous.

Even this non-pancake lover can see why. I stole two bites of Mr. H's pancake.

They have many other flavors of pancakes, and a wide selection of omelets, egg specialties, south of the border-inspired dishes, and inn specialties. The restaurant also features daily specials. That's just the breakfast portion of the menu!

The Corned Beef Hash was a common order at our table of six diners, but it was determined that Big Al's is still better.

I went with the Turkey Benedict, with turkey sausage patties, grilled English muffin, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce ($8.49).

The eggs were cooked perfectly, with just enough runny, golden yolk without any under-cooked egg white. I hate that. The sausage was flavorful, and while hearty, it was quite good.

The place is very popular, and people were packed in on a Sunday morning. We had to wait a bit for a table, so plan accordingly.

Inn on Coventry
2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106

Gigi's on Fairmount

Only two things could have dragged me out in last Wednesday's snow storm...really good friends, and the possibility of a good meal at a new-to-me restaurant. With the intention of knocking another restaurant off of the 2015 To Dine challenge, I ventured to the east side in one of the worst snow storms of this winter. It took me just over an hour to go the 11.5 miles there, but luckily, it was worth it.

I still have no frame of reference for exactly where I was in Cleveland Heights, because it was a giant white snow globe of an evening, but my trusty GPS landed me in front of the restaurant. There is some street parking available on the one-way street, and parking lots behind the buildings. I trudged through the snow and wind, and was instantly comforted upon walking through Gigi's on Fairmount's door. The place is intimate, cozy, and dark, in all of the right ways.

Any place where I can sit under a glittering chandelier gets points in my book!

The restaurant offers a couple of homemade soup options each day. My two friends each started with a bowl of soup, which was pretty tempting on that snowy night. Instead, I ordered the Fromage from the Small Bites section for us to share.

It had a nice variety of cheeses, some toasted bread, fresh greens, preserves, dried fruit, honey, and nuts ($16). The Small Bites are all very easy to share, and you can also opt for the "All of the Above" for $24, if you want to try a little bit of everything.

They have several Salads and Panini sandwiches on the menu, along with daily entree specials, but Gigi's is really known for their Signature Bruschetta Boards. For $17, you select four (out of 15) options for your board.

I went with the (right to left) Mushroom, Caramelized Onion, and Chevre bruschetta, the White Bean and Kalamative Olive Tapenade bruschetta, the Duck, Brie, and Cherry Gastrique bruschetta, and the Lardon Bacon, Micro Greens, Tomato, and House Truffle Aioli bruschetta.

I loved the earthy mushroom bruschetta, and was completely shocked by how good the white bean bruschetta was. They quickly became my two favorites. The bacon and tomato bruschetta was fine, but nothing special. I'd try several others before ordering that one again. The only one that I didn't care for was the duck. It was very one-note in flavor, and I didn't like the flavor. It needed more cherry, and the brie was almost non-existent. I wouldn't order that particular one again.

The boards come with a small side of dressed greens. Overall, it was wonderful, and really unique. A great way to share items, since they are each cut into four pieces, or you can build your own board and keep it yourself.

Gigi's on Fairmount is a small place, but they have a lounge area that is connected to the main dining room. With a long bar and some additional seating, you can settle in there, or hang out with a cocktail while you wait for a table. Do note that they don't accept reservations. 

The menu is limited, but unique, and perfect for a date night out or a gathering with your friends. Mr. H would like the bruschetta, and the wine list, so I think that I'll have to take him there soon. It was well worth the drive over to the east side, even in that terrible snow storm. Which really says something!

Gigi's on Fairmount
3477 Fairmount Boulevard
Cleveland Heights, OH
216-291-7237

Lopez on Lee

Is everyone enjoying Cleveland Beer Week? "R" and I popped in to Society Lounge on East 4th last night after dinner, and they have some delicious beer cocktails cooked up there. The Dreadnought is like an adult chocolate milk.

I kicked off Beer Week on Friday by traveling over to the east side for the Collaboration Kickoff at Cedar/Lee. Michelle and I decided that we needed some food in our bellies before we started our progressive beer tasting, so we selected Lopez Southwest Kitchen and Tequila Saloon. Often referred to as "Lopez on Lee", it is located right in the heart of the Cedar/Lee restaurants and businesses. They have a small parking lot next to the restaurant, with valet service.

We decided to start with some of the Iron Chef Guacamole with bleu cheese, house bacon, and sage ($9.50). A "Food Network favorite", this guacamole reminded me of Momocho's.

I liked how it was served with pickled vegetables. My only complaint? The special ingredients were used only as a topping, so they weren't mixed in and the flavors were isolated to just a few bites. Momocho does do a better job of infusing the unique ingredients into the guacamole. I also started off our meal with a cucumber margarita ($9). Again, Momocho's version is much better. This was a good margarita, but it just tasted like a classic version. I should have tried one of the more unusual types available. Our server suggested the blood orange.

The menu was very tempting, and as soon as I felt like I had settled on something, then another item would jump out at me. I finally went with my gut and ordered two tacos. I ordered the Butter Poached Lobster with guacamole, smoked tomato, and house bacon ($10), and the Mole Dusted Rare Seared Tuna taco with mango habanero salsa, radish, and crema ($7.50).

Look at all of that lobster!

My only complaint of the two? The smoked tomato in the lobster taco were actually whole cherry tomatoes. That was unappealing to me, so I picked them out. Otherwise, both tacos were fabulous! I'd order them both again. Then again, maybe not, because so many others sounded just as appetizing. I also loved how Michelle's burrito was grilled, and I'd like to try one. Or an enchilada, or...you get the point.

The food can feel a bit overpriced for "Mexican", but overall it was very good and felt like they were using quality ingredients. I walked away full, and satisfied with my meal.

Then we headed out for a progressive beer tasting around several bars in the Cedar/Lee area. I was a bit letdown with the collaboration beers overall. Many of them just weren't my style, but the Pancake Porter was my biggest disappointment. I really didn't pick up any of the "maple, coffee, etc." listed in the description. I had expected it to be bolder and sweeter than it was. Ah, oh well. We had a great time walking around on a nice chilly evening. The neighborhood was packed, and the excitement for the start of Beer Week was intoxicating. Oh, wait, was that the beer? Ha.

What have you been doing during Beer Week?

Lopez Southwest Kitchen and Tequila Saloon
2196 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-932-9000

Luna Bakery and Cafe

As Michelle and I prepared for our trip to Chicago to attend BlogHer'13, we met for lunch at Luna Bakery and Café to talk through our travel plans and the conference sessions and tips.

I didn't realize that it was so close to Mad Greek, and that I had been right by it so many times. Since it's tucked just around a bend in the street, it can be hard to miss if you're not looking for it. But it has a great little patio dining area out front, and signage that was hard to miss once I knew to be looking for it. Parking was free in the lot behind the strip of buildings. When you enter the restaurant, you're met with a counter full of sweet and savory treats...like these s'mores bars that was teasing us from the moment we laid eyes on them.

The menu may not be large, but it features enough appetizing panini sandwiches, salads, soup, and crepes. I was thrilled to see their combo options, and decided to do a half sandwich/half soup combo so that I could sample two dishes on my first visit.

Since it was a hot summer day, the fresh mozzarella sandwich with tomato and basil pesto sounded good to me. I paired it with the soup of the day, a strawberry concoction with mint and yogurt.

The panini was served hot, and the cheese had melted into a delicious gooey treat. This would be so easy to recreate at home. Now, the chilled strawberry soup was just too sweet for me to enjoy. It tasted like eating a melted popsicle. The mint and yogurt could have been kicked up a notch to help balance the sweetness of the strawberries. After about a quarter of the bowl, I had to quit.

The sweets were just too tempting to deny, so I sampled a Salty Caramel Macaroon during my meal. It was a good macaroon, but I got very little "salty" or "caramel" flavor from it. I also took home a Crepe Cake with layers of crepe and rich, dark chocolate for "R" to enjoy later. I may or may not have stolen some bites, and it was simply heavenly. I hear that the red velvet cupcakes and croissants are not to be missed.

I was also surprised at how much seating the restaurant had, with a separate room providing plenty of space in addition to the patio and main café area.

Have you been to Luna Bakery and Café? It was a great little find in the Cedar-Fairmount area.

Luna Bakery and Café
2482 Fairmount Boulevard
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
216-231-8585

Tavern Company

The first restaurant has been conquered on my 2013 "To Dine" list. Saturday night, "R" and I had plans to attend a wine tasting at Cedar Green Wine and Cheese (just $10, and they hosts these events often--check it out). It was a great opportunity to knock an east side restaurant off of the list-- The Tavern Company.

Located in the heart of the Cedar/Lee area, it's a great family-friendly bar serving some delicious pub food. Parking kind of stinks in that area, but we found a metered spot in one of the lots close by and hoofed it over to the restaurant. We were dining a little early (6:00PM) because of the wine tasting, so the four of us had no trouble getting a table. I did notice that we were in the more "family"-oriented section on the other side of the bar area, since there seemed to be several kids. They were noticeably absent from the other side of the restaurant. I could have done without the screaming infant next to our table, so it's worth noting.

I quickly zeroed in on the Smokey Apple sandwich with prosciutto, sliced apple, smoked mozzarella, and brie ($9).

All sandwiches and burgers are served with Tavern Fries. I requested a side of the Malt Vinegar Aioli that is served with the fries on the Side Dish section of the menu, and that was so worth it. The dipping sauce was delicious! Highly recommend.

I was drawn to the sandwich because Light Bistro has a similar one on their Lunch menu that I love. This version had the addition of crispy prosciutto, which gave it great flavor and texture. The cheese was all gooey and melty, and the bread wasn't too greasy. However, I think it could have used a few more slices of the apple. Many bites just didn't have enough apple flavor to it. Overall, I really liked it and would order it again. I think I may prefer Light Bistro's just a hair over Tavern Company's though.

Also around the table were two flatbreads, which looked fantastic, and "R" got the Pulled Short Ribs sandwich with horseradish and crispy onions ($13). The meat was very flavorful, and the bite that I had was tasty with the horseradish and onion straws. However, the sandwich was so greasy that the bottom bun was completely soggy and dripping grease all over the plate. It was unappetizing to look at, but that didn't stop "R".

I stuck to water and "R" had two beers, but the bill only came to just over $35. A cheap, and delicious, pub meal. Now, if they could only improve the beer list...

The Tavern Company
2260 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-321-6001

The Rib Cage Bar and Grill

With Fat Casual in Macedonia closing its doors (don't worry, they will still be doing catering jobs and focusing on their food truck), we needed to find a good BBQ restaurant. Was the newly opened The Rib Cage Bar & Grill in Cleveland Heights the answer? I'm still not sure, but there were elements of our meal that were darn good.

I decided to go for the Pulled Pork dinner, which included two sides and a corn muffin ($14).

As you can see, the "pulled" pork is actually thinly sliced (which I knew before ordering). You have your choice of sauce, but I stuck with the recommended Carolina Mustard Vinegar. Their meats are marinated, smoked, seasoned with a dry rub, and then sauced to-order. Personally, the pork was a little fatty for my taste. More bark would have added enough contrast in texture for me. But the sauce was quite wonderful with its acidic kick from the vinegar.

I took our server's suggestions on the side dishes. I went with the Three Bean Bourbon Baked Beans with red and black beans with Maker's Mark bourbon and house BBQ sauce, and the Greens. The greens are a mix of Collards, fresh garlic onion, and smoked turkey in a lightly spiced broth. The beans were not as good as Fat Casual's beans, but they were still very good. I also enjoyed the greens, and they reminded me of our trip to New Orleans.

The only real clunker of the meal? The corn muffin! It was absolutely awful. Dry, dry, dry, and very little flavor. We told our server about this at the end of the meal. Apparently later that week, they were still atrocious. Our same friends that we were dining with stopped in again for dinner, and the corn muffin was still the same. Epic fail.

Now, we were dining a little late that night (9:30PM), but that doesn't totally excuse the very slow service that we received. There were only a couple of other diners at the bar, and our food took forever to make its way out to our table. Getting the check was even worse. But I do appreciate that they are serving food until 1AM, making it a great late-night stop if you are in need of grub.

Overall, there were some winners in this meal, but I can't say that I am dying to go back. I'll still continue my hunt for good BBQ. I never did get that famous Fat Casual prime rib...sigh.

The Rib Cage Bar & Grill
2214 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH
216-321-7427

Marotta's

I knocked another restaurant off of my 2012 "To Dine" list-- Marotta's in Cleveland Heights. Located on Lee Road, it's funny--because I've dined at restaurants on either side of this small Italian place without ever realizing that it was there.

When you walk in, you're immediately wrapped in a dark, cozy, and warm atmosphere. Very romantic, or a great spot to be able to catch up over intimate conversation with friends. However, it did make it difficult to read the menu or take pictures of our meal.

The menu isn't very large, but they have a nice assortment of appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees, and their famous pizza. Be warned-- the menu online isn't accurate. I had my heart set on a pasta dish packed with veggies in a lemon cream sauce, but sadly it is no longer offered.

My lovely dining companion, Crystal, and I both decided on the pasta special of the night-- Butternut Squash Ravioli with seasonal vegetables in a Prosecco and brown butter sauce.

It was a sizable portion, and I took some home for lunch the next day. It included a house salad with my choice of dressing (I went with Creamy Garlic), and crusty Italian bread. The salad was just your average boring salad, but the bread was very good. Overall, I liked the ravioli dish but I didn't love it. It was missing "something" that I couldn't put my finger on. I also took a Tiramisu to-go for "R" (it's one of his favorites), and was disappointed in the size of the portion when I got home and he opened it up. For two glasses of wine, two entrees, and one dessert-- the bill came to $105. I felt that was a little pricey, but we've experienced similar over-pricing in that area.

I do have to say that the staff was amazing. They were always attentive, the timing of our food was perfect, and they really didn't seem to care when we sat there chatting for over three hours ("R" thought that I had been kidnapped). It is worth noting that they don't accept reservations.

I hear that their pizza is quite good, but I just wasn't in the mood for pizza that night. So, if you do decide to go, then maybe give that a try. For this west-sider, I don't think that I'll make the drive back over there for Marotta's. But it was fun to check it out, and to knock another restaurant off the list that my readers selected for me this year.

Want to help me choose the 2013 list of ten restaurants to dine at? Head on over to this blog post, and leave me a comment with your suggestions. I'll pick ten, and announce them in January!

Marotta's
2289 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-932-9264

Lunch at Tree Country Bistro

It was time to tick another restaurant off the 2012 "To Dine" list. I'm really not doing that well, considering how quickly fall will fly by. It will be January before I know it, and time for a new list.

2012 "To Dine" Challenge:
Stonehouse Grill
Lure Bistro & Sushi Bar--- DONE
Marotta's
The Fairview Tavern
Beach Club Bistro
Bistro 185--- DONE
Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant--- Closed
Tree Country Bistro--- DONE
Sun Luck Garden Restaurant--- DONE
Bruno's Ristorante & Catering--- DONE

I still have four left! It would have been five (ugh, half of the list), but Sullivan's closed its doors. I am destined to never complete my full list. But, you can help me finish off the last four. Who's in?

Luckily, my good friend Michelle wanted to help and suggested meeting up for lunch yesterday at Tree Country Bistro in Coventry. I took a peek at the menu online, and was instantly overwhelmed. The restaurant offers a wide variety of Japanese, Korean, and Thai dishes, including all of your traditional curries, sushi, and so much more. How was I going to choose?

I was in luck. For lunch, they offer a Japanese Box or a Thai Box. The Thai gave you the option of soup, salad, and then one selection from the list of curries, Pad Thai, fried rice, etc.

Michelle and I both went for the Japanese Box ($9.95, Dining Deals Alert!). It included a Miso Soup...

...salad, choice of sushi roll from a limited list, and your choice of fried rice or Pad Thai.

It was a lot of food for just ten bucks. The soup was mild and forgettable, and the rice on my sushi roll was a bit overcooked and mushy. I forgave this, because I loved that the spicy tuna roll included whole tuna cuts, instead of minced fish, and the spicy mayo was drizzled on top. Overall, I did enjoy the meal despite a few small missteps. I haven't had a bento box in forever. Since the restaurant's menu was lengthy and intimidating for a first-time diner, this gave me a way to try multiple items for a low cost.

Now, with Pacific East just down the street--I would never choose Tree Country Bistro for sushi alone. But, for someone looking for a diverse menu--this is the way to go in Coventry. Service was fine, parking was available in the metered parking garage just down the block, and we were in-and-out in one hour at prime lunch time.

What's your favorite spot in Coventry?

Tree Country Bistro
1803 Coventry Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-321-0644

Sun Luck Garden

Chef Annie Chiu's Sun Luck Garden has been on my radar for a while now, but I never seemed to make it over to Cleveland Heights to taste what some claim is the "best Chinese food" in the city. So, this year, I made it one of my Top 10 To Dine restaurants for 2012. That would be some motivation to finally make the trip east. Recently, I did just that.

It is nothing to look at from the outside, but there is plenty of free parking in the lot connected to the small strip mall off Taylor Road. There was only a handful of other diners there during our meal, so service was attentive and the atmosphere was quiet and easy for conversation. We all started with an Egg Roll ($1.75) and Wonton Soup.

Their Wonton Soup ($1.75) had a sweetness to it, unlike many others. It was still light in flavor, and the dumplings were delicious and easy to cut into. "R" and I split both of these items, and wanted to share our main course as well. For variety, we went with the Mu Shu Pork with shredded pork sauteed with traditional Chinese vegetables served with four Mandarin thin pancakes with Hoisin sauce ($11.95).

Looks good, right? But, what the heck...

They were served with...tortillas. This was not quite the "Mandarin thin pancakes" that I was expecting. I thought it would be more of a crepe, or thin steam bun texture. Overall, the flavor was only okay and the portion of pork in the dish was minimal. I didn't like it paired with the tortilla, and enjoyed the small serving that I took without one a little bit more.

Per Michelle's suggestion, our other main dish was the Fresh Pineapple Stirfry special. We selected beef as our protein, and it comes with fresh pineapple in a ginger sauce with Adobo pepper. The Adobo and ginger gave this dish a little kick, even at the Medium level that we ordered it at.

I would order this dish again, but at a higher heat level for my personal taste. We scraped this dish clean.

Even though Annie is known for her delicious desserts as well, we were stuffed and had to pass.
 
Best Chinese in town? I'm not sure. Chinese cuisine is not my favorite, so I can't be the judge, but we did enjoy our meal overall and I'd go back. She is offering a nice variety of dishes, and some of them are quite unusual that you won't find in other restaurants. The prices are also very reasonable for what you receive in portions and quality.
 
So, I can cross another one off my list! I'm slowly getting there, but I have a lot of ground to cover before January 1st.
 
Sun Luck Garden
1901 South Taylor Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-397-7676