Wicked Lobstah and Blue Monkey Brewing Co.

Blue Monkey Brewing Company opened in North Royalton just over a year ago. I had heard about it from friends that know the owners. We don't find ourselves out in that area much, but all it took was a Facebook post about a certain food truck scheduled to be there.

First, we settled in on their small patio with a Colobus PBP (Peanut Butter Porter) and Salted Caramel (Blonde Stout). They were already speaking my language! Both were pretty good, but I enjoyed the porter more. 

Then it was time for dinner at the Wicked Lobstah that was in from Columbus for a few days around Greater Cleveland.

There just aren't enough good lobster rolls around Cleveland, and I couldn't wait to dig in. We had to try The Plain Ass Roll ($18) with warm buttery lobster on a toasted bun.

But they have a list of specialty lobster rolls with everything from guacamole, smoked salmon, blue crab, and sriracha. We ordered The High Society Roll ($20) with black and white truffle mayo. 

Both were quite tasty and brought me back to our Maine trips. I'm not a huge potato chip person (unless they are Lay's Salt & Vinegar), but the seasoned chips with these were good too.

I'm glad that we caught the food truck while it was in town, and it was fun to check out the brewery. You can tell they have a loyal bunch of regulars. While I won't be going out of my way to head there again, it's a nice option if in the area. They rotate food trucks or you can bring in your own food. There's often live music, and plenty of parking since it is tucked on the side of Discount Drug Mart.

Blue Monkey Brewing Co.
5540 Wallings Road
North Royalton, OH 44133
(440) 628-9152

The Best Things I Ate in 2019

I thought it would be fun to do a look back through the year, at my favorite bites and some newly discovered places of 2019. Here we go...

Cheesy Brisket Crunches from Service Bar in Columbus

Shish Tawook with garlic sauce from Joe's Deli

Arancini from Molto Bene Italian Eatery

Scallops St. Jacques from Blu the Restaurant

Our entire meal at Central Provisions in Portland, ME

Grilled Octopus with white bean shishito ragu and breadcrumbs from Sotto in Cincinnati

Spaghetti from Bluebeard in Indianapolis

Spinach and Meatball Dip from Polpetta

Diavolo Pie (Pro Tip: add Hot Honey) from Il Rione

Well, I guess it was a good one then!

How about you...favorite bites or new restaurant you tried this year? 

Columbus Eats: Service Bar

A recent work trip took me to Columbus, so Mr. H traveled with me to make it a fun overnight getaway. We decided on dinner at Service Bar in Middle West Spirits.

Known for their craft cocktails...

...and small plates intended for sharing, it was right up our alley.

We started with the Lamb Dumplings ($16) with Tianjin Chili Oil, Crushed Garlic, and Ginger Soy.

Crispy Ribs ($18) with Pickled Broccoli Stem, Fried Florets, Commander Tso’s, Lotus, and Radish.

Then we also shared two of their slightly larger dishes, both from the Secret Kitchen Menu (find on Instagram) that changes daily. The first included a foie gras sausage on a heavenly bun.

Our favorite dish was apparently a crowd-favorite as well, the Cheesy Brisket Crunches. These tacos with house-made tortilla shells were phenomenal.

The food was so darn good, and the décor is stunning. Copper tabletops, bronze lighting fixtures, vintage tile, and a speakeasy feel to it. My only complaint was that the dishes weren't paced well and it all arrived too quickly. Highly recommend if you're in the Columbus area. 

Service Bar

1230 Courtland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 947-1231

Columbus Eats + AC2 Live

Mr. H and I headed to Columbus a couple of weeks ago for a quick overnight stay. This Bravo-holic had VIP tickets to Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper's AC2 Live. More on that later. We used the opportunity to explore the city, and enjoy some delicious eats while we were in town.

Before the show, we headed to The Pearl in Short North. Their upscale tavern food did not disappoint. It reminded me of Cleveland's own Toast or Spice Bar + Kitchen. We shared the Tuna Crudo ($16) and the Beet Salad ($10). With apple, egg, avocado, candied cashews, blue cheese, and a buttermilk dressing, that beet salad was one of the best one that I've had. For my entree, I chose the fish special, which was full of wonderful Indian flavors and heat that evening. 

We left full, and happy, and I would certainly recommend The Pearl to anyone visiting Columbus.

I would have stayed and enjoyed another one of their craft cocktails, but it was time to go see Andy and Anderson!

Our second row seats did not disappoint, and I'm pretty sure that I had a permanent grin on my face for two and a half hours. 

Our VIP passes gained us access to a meet-and-greet after the show. We snapped some photos with them, got a Watch What Happens Live coffee mug signed by Andy, and walked away with autographed copies of their books. 

Mr. H was a good sport, and this night will forever be a highlight for me. 

The next morning came quickly, but that was okay, because we had brunch plans at Wolf's Ridge Brewing. I couldn't resist starting with a Bloody Maria. 

Mr. H ordered the Biscuits & Gravy ($15) with pork sausage gravy, cream cheese biscuit, fennel, onions, thyme, and sunny side up eggs. It was really good! 

However, my dish was even better. I ordered the Cuban Benedict ($13) with an English muffin, carnitas, gruyère cheese, poached eggs, pickles, and a mustard hollandaise. Wow. I love a good benedict, and this version was one of the most interesting and flavorful ones that I've ever had. I'd have a hard time not ordering it again.

Completely stuffed and quite happy with our overnight trip to Columbus, we headed back home to Cleveland. I have a feeling that this won't be the last time that we visit Columbus for a weekend getaway, and I also bet that we'll find ourselves at Wolf's Ridge Brewing again.

The Pearl
641 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Wolf's Ridge Brewing
215 N 4th Street
Columbus, OH 43215