Aqua di Luca Opens in Downtown

This post I'm catching up on from July (whoops), but we headed to the newly opened Aqua di Luca in Downtown Cleveland. Normally, we don't head right in when a new spot opens up. We like to give them time to settle in and fix any opening issues. But this was opened by the folks behind one of our very favorite restaurants in the city, Luca (and Luca West). So we made an exception. 

Plus, we wanted to celebrate a successful first month of my small business! That meant delicious cocktails from their bar. 

Sappy moment...this guy has been so supportive, encouraging, and involved in my starting my dream business. I feel pretty lucky to have him by my side, and there's no one else I'd rather celebrate with!

We started with the Sashimi Grade Tuna ($15) with honeycomb and spicy peppers. It's a simple dish, but one that I think is a not-miss if you're dining there. We were inspired to try making this at home.

We split the Cacio e Pepe ($10), but this dish needs some work before I'd recommend it. There was not enough dressing on the plate, and very little flavor to it. Iceberg lettuce needs assistance. 

Mr. H ordered the Salmone con Ravioli ($45) with Jumbo Lump Bluecrab and Lobster Ravioli. 

I had the Filet Mignon and Lobster Gnocchi ($55).

There were definitely some opening growing pains in food execution and service, but I have no doubt it will settle in to be a staple of Downtown Cleveland dining. The space used to be XO Prime Steaks, but you wouldn't recognize it from all of the gorgeous work they've done inside. Outdoor seating available, and a nice long bar for more casual dining.

I'll give it a little more time, but you bet that we'll be back!

Aqua di Luca
500 W St. Clair Avenue
Cleveland, OH

Apparently I've Lost My Mind

Maybe it's a sign that I've been blogging too long, but something happened that has never happened to me before. I forgot that I had previously been to a restaurant. 

And it gets worse...

I named that restaurant to my 2021 To Dine Challenge list of 10 restaurants to dine at this year. *face palm*

As Mr. H and I drove to Han Chinese Kabob & Grill to pick up our takeout order, I got a gut feeling and sure enough...before we even pulled in, I knew I had already been there (in 2014, to be exact, if you'd like to read more about that visit).

The good news? Only one of the five items we ordered was something I'd had before (Lamb Kabob).

We had asked our friends (thanks Joe and Laura!) for recommendations, and got several things from their list: Dry Chili Chicken ($14.95), Fried Chinese Potstickers ($5.95), and Wonton with Chili Oil ($5.95). We had wanted to try the Salt and Pepper Prawns they suggested, but the restaurant was out of them that night.

The last dish we tried was the Spicy Duck Dry Pot ($15.95). This dish was a huge bust for us. Every piece of duck had multiple small shards of bone in it that were impossible to eat around. There's no pulling the meat off the bone on your plate, there's too many small pieces to navigate around in your mouth if you're attempting to chew the meat off and remove the bone...am I missing a logical way to eat this??? Help! 

My favorites were the Wonton and the Chicken (although it's very spicy so beware). 

So, it wasn't my first visit there as I had intended when I added it to the Challenge. Does it count? Do I replace it with another restaurant? I'm stuck. New waters here on this old blog, haha.

Han Chinese Kabob and Grill
3710 Payne Ave #110
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 769-8745

The Sauce Boiling Seafood Express

In the last few years, several seafood boil restaurants have popped up in the Greater Cleveland area. I kept meaning to try one, but hadn't gotten around to it. So when The Sauce Boiling Seafood Express opened their new location in Downtown Cleveland and they invited us in to try the menu, I jumped at the opportunity (thanks, CLEseats!).

While there were a lot of noses popping out of masks, several COVID precautions were in place such as a clearly marked ordering line, hand sanitizer, touchless menu, and a glass divider between customers and the food.

At this fast-causal spot, you order from Sauce Bags, Sauce Bowls, wings and sides. Then they build it right in front of you, ending with your choice of a Signature Sauce.

I was pumped to get home!

I had the new Bunchi Dawg Pound Bag ($51) with a 1/2 lb. Crab, 1/2 lb. Shrimp, (2) 4oz. Lobster Tails, 1/2 lb. Crawfish OR Mussels, 4 Corn, 4 Potatoes, and 7 Sausages. For my sauce, I went with the Sweet Cajun. It had the perfect level of kick to it! Really reminded me of our trip to New Orleans.

Mr. H had the Shrimp Bag ($18) and added Crawfish ($7) with Sweet Hallelujah sauce. There was a lot of sauce left over, and he enjoyed his sauce so much (honey mixed with garlic butter) that he saved it and cooked with it the next day.

Parking can be kind of an issue around West 6th, but we did find a metered street spot one block away on a weeknight evening. The food was still hot in the knotted and double-bagged plastic bag once we got home, and it was a lot of food in each.

Still not dining in at restaurants? You can try them through food delivery services like UberEats, GrubHub, DoorDash and Postmates. 

The Sauce Boiling Seafood Express

13888 Cedar Road

University Heights, OH 44118

1266 W. 6th Street

Cleveland, OH 44113

272 E. Exchange Street (coming soon)

Akron, OH 44304

*Disclosure: I was invited with a guest to try complimentary food in exchange for sharing my experience. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Zanzibar Soul Fusion

With a commitment to support more black-owned businesses in Northeast Ohio, we've been discovering additional restaurants to try and also knocking a few off of the mental list that I carry around. Zanzibar Soul Fusion has been on that "list" and we recently ordered dinner through Uber Eats. 

We started with the Soul Rolls ($9.95) that are egg rolls stuffed with chicken, greens, black beans and roasted corn and a spicy remoulade sauce. It was like a full Southern-style meal packed into a crispy, golden wrapper. We enjoyed the entire dinner, but this dish was my favorite! 

We shared their Shrimp & Grits (both Teaser and Entrée sizes available) with grilled shrimp, onions and peppers marinated in creole sauce and served on a bed of creamy grits. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, and the dish had wonderful flavor without the spice level being too high. 

Lastly, we split their Honey Glazed Fried Chicken ($16.95). A 1/2 chicken deep fried and finished with a sweet honey glaze. It comes with their House Potato, and we added a side of Baked Macaroni & Cheese ($5) because duh.

The House Potato is a winner. As stated on their menu "Thinly sliced potatoes, baked in a savory cream sauce. These are not au gratin!" but...it sure looked and tasted like au gratin to me. Just one of the better versions I've ever had!

While we didn't get to experience dining in, the takeout experience was really darn good and we'll certainly be dining here again. You have two dine-in options (takeout and delivery also available), Downtown Cleveland and Shaker Square. A Euclid location is available for takeout and delivery on Saturdays and Sundays only. This southern cuisine restaurant is owned by the founder of Angie's Soul Café. 

Zanzibar Soul Fusion

627 Prospect Avenue E

Cleveland, OH 44115

(216) 862-5772

13225 Shaker Square

Cleveland, Ohio 44120

(216) 752-1035

Weekend Bites: Anniversary Edition

Well, it's Friday, but I'm still going to fill you in on our past weekend because it was a good one! Mr. H and I celebrated our five-year wedding anniversary, and there was no shortage of celebratory moments.

On Friday evening (our actual anniversary), I surprised him by picking up Salted Caramel cupcakes (our wedding cake) from A Cookie and a Cupcake in Tremont. I topped them with our original cake topper (a joke about how he made me wait almost 8 years before we "finally" married). And I arrived home to a surprise of my own, a floral arrangement made to mimic my wedding bouquet from Urban Orchid. Mr. H is incredibly thoughtful. I'll keep him.

Then we headed out the door to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for their new Wild Winter Lights event.

Not only is the zoo the site of our "first date" in Cleveland the first weekend I visited him from NY...

...but we also got engaged there. So it's a special place for us, and this new event was a perfect way to celebrate. The lights were beautiful, there were a lot of activities, and the weather was great that evening.

However, we were ready to warm up and fill our bellies after walking around outside. So we headed to Urban Farmer Cleveland in downtown. We hosted our rehearsal dinner there five years ago, and that experience is still one of my favorite moments of the wedding weekend.

Any meal at Urban Farmer must start with their signature Cornbread cooked in a tin can. It's some of the best I've had.

We also shared their Calamari before Mr. H enjoyed their Trout and I dove into a 21-day dry-aged Filet with tallow butter and blue cheese. It was a really lovely meal.

The celebrating wasn't over, and we jumped in the car the next morning to head to Gervasi Vineyard in Canton. More on that later!

After a wonderful night away, it was great to get back home and have Mr. H back in the kitchen whipping up amazing meals like these Pork Chops from Saucisson and a roasted butternut squash, brussels sprouts, pecans, and dried cherries mix that makes a great side dish for these colder months.

Having an anniversary smack in the middle of holiday season can sometimes feel overwhelming or not ideal, but I always appreciate taking the time to slow down and focus on celebrating with each other. This year was special--- our first big milestone, so we did it up!

New Year's Eve Events in Cleveland

The holidays are rushing in this year, and New Year's Eve will be here before we know it. The end of a decade.

If you're still looking for something to do in the Greater Cleveland area, here are some restaurant events to choose from.

Sawyer's Restaurant (Van Aken District, Shaker Heights)
Six-course ($90) or Eleven-course ($150) Tasting Menu
Featuring celebratory + aphrodisiac classics including wagyu, oysters, lobster, caviar, truffles, + ‘sexy pasta’ (vegan option available). Complimentary champagne sabering at midnight. Reservations starting at 5PM.

Table 45 (Cleveland)
Four-course Prix Fixe Dinner ($75)
Upgrade your experience and stay overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland.

Flying Fig (Ohio City)
Party Like It's 1999 ($150)
Join the Flying Fig to celebrate 20 years of service with an eight-course tasting menu of popular dishes of the past. Live music, champagne toast, and gratuity included.

The Black Pig (Ohio City)
Special à la carte menu offered for that evening only.

100th Bomb Group (Cleveland)
Roaring 20s Party: $80 per person / $90 at the door
To celebrate the holiday, 100th Bomb Group is throwing a Roaring 20s NYE party from 8PM to 1AM featuring: Live DJ Gary Pearl, Hor d’Oeuvres, Grand Dinner Buffet, Open Bar, and Balloon Drop. $300 package includes 2 tickets plus one-night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Lago East Bank (Downtown)
7th Annual New Year's Eve Cirque du Soirée: The Greatest Show ($150 - $300)
Lavish food, drinks, entertainment and dancing including: Dynamic Carving Stations, Show Stopping Antipasti, Mouth Watering Seafood Display, Delicious Hot Buffet, Luscious Dessert Display, Premium Bar, and Champagne Toast at Midnight. Late night admission or VIP Package with hotel stay available.


How will you be ringing in the New Year? You can catch Mr. H and I at The Black Pig, per tradition. If you're aware of other great events happening around town, leave them in the comments.

Don't forget to help me with my blog's "New Year's resolution" of the To Dine Challenge! Submit your restaurant suggestions for places I should dine in 2020, and I'll publish the final list of 10 on January 1st.

Event Preview: Taste of the Browns 2019

The 21st annual Taste of the Browns event to benefit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank will take place on Monday, September 9th in the beautiful 7UP City Club Lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium. This event celebrates our city’s passion for its sports team, our appreciation of Cleveland’s acclaimed culinary cuisine, and the Food Bank's commitment to our community. Guests will mingle with Cleveland Browns celebrities while enjoying delicious tastings prepared by more than 25 restaurants and beverage purveyors.

Last year, more than $309,000 was raised to fight hunger at this event - that's enough to help provide more than 1.2 million meals!

It's always one of my favorite fall food events to attend. You can read some of my event reviews here, here and here. I've only missed one in the 12 years I've lived in Cleveland.

This year, I'm looking forward to trying food from new-to-m spots like Aurelia - Honest Food & Drink, Lindey's Lake House, Balance Grille, and Murano Modern Italian Cuisine. And of course classic favorites like Blue Point Grille, Corleone's, EDWINS, Fahrenheit, Lago, Momocho, Pier W and Zack Bruell Restaurants. This is one event where you really have to pace  yourself and you can't possibly try it all.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online here. Can't attend? You can still bid on fantastic silent auction packages like Browns' experience packages and autographed memorabilia, restaurant gift cards, Cleveland attraction packages and more. Just register to bid, and bidding will open on September 3rd.

Disclosure: I was provided two tickets in exchange for assistance in promoting the event. I am a former employee of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Stella's Music Club

We recently headed to East 9th's Stella's Music Club for an influencer event with CLESeats.

This bar was 'built by musicians, for musicians" and the ambience, events, and even some of the names of menu items all reflect that passion and purpose.

They have a full bar, and one bartender in particular that made several of us different "surprise" craft cocktails that did not disappoint.

There are several great small plate Snacks to start with, and we dove right in to the Corn Dogs ($10) that are cornmeal battered bites with a tomato aioli and stadium mustard. It was a generous portion, and a perfect ratio of batter to dog.

Mr. H was feeling like a burger so he ordered The Jam Burger ($14) with Great Lakes yellow cheddar, double-cut bacon, and your choice of a brioche or pretzel bun. Served with a side of fries. I went for the Grilled Chicken Tacos ($13) with queso fresco, valentina aioli, sweet peppers, onions, and cilantro. They could have used a bit more seasoning or something to really impress, but they were a solid choice and apparently a menu favorite.

The team at Stella's were very generous and brought out several Snacks for the group to try, and then three Pizzas as well. I didn't snag a sample of the pizza, but the Chicken Wings and Bavarian Pretzels were both good versions and easy to share. The mountain of Stella's Nachos also looked pretty darn good with a tower of toppings, including pulled pork, but I didn't sample them.

Then the real fun of the night kicked in. A round of Jello shot syringes appeared...

...and Live Band Karaoke started. It was my first time experiencing karaoke with a live band, and man what a difference! Our night's fearless leader, Lauren, slayed it up on the stage.

Opened in 2018, I had not yet discovered Stella's Music Club (across the street from Progressive Field). But this live music venue has a lot to offer with a full bar, menu with food coming from Brickstone next door, events, and more. Maybe not my usual "scene" but a great stop on a future Indians game night. Hopefully, on Live Band Karaoke night again. Such fun!

Stella's Music Club

2217 E 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 202-1002

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a tasting event with a guest where all food and one drink was complimentary. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

LJ Shanghai

I finally got my butt to LJ Shanghai to try these soup dumplings they've been known for since they opened on Superior Avenue in AsiaTown (next to #1 Pho).

A small menu, but filled with pictures to help you decide what to order. I settled on the Shredded Pork and Pickle Noodle Soup ($8). The bowl was huge for the price, the noodles were a perfect texture, but the broth was a little too mild for my taste. So I just kicked it up with some spicy chili oil that was provided on the table. Easy fix!

But, let's be honest...we were there to try the Soup Dumplings ($5 for six).

From what I've read online, there is a trick to eating them properly. They are filled with a piping hot broth, so you poke a hole in the wrapper or bite the top of it off to let the broth out onto the spoon. It's suggested to dip in soy sauce and vinegar prior to opening the dumpling, and both were provided on the table.

Now, maybe we made a mistake by not eating them immediately, but the dumplings we got did not have "broth" inside of them. The meat filling was moist, but certainly no significant juices came out. Is this normal? 

Either way, they were delicious little nuggets, and that vinegar sauce provided was amazing. I could pour that on just about anything. Eating these just wasn't quite the experience I thought we were in for. Was this exactly what it should have been, was this batch just off a bit, or did we do something wrong in how/when we ate them? Educate me if you know more about these famous soup dumplings!

LJ Shanghai
3142 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 400-6936

Macaron Masterclass at Urban Farmer

So the day after Mr. H and I brought home the new pup, we had the exciting opportunity to attend a Macaron Masterclass at Urban Farmer (located in The Westin in Downtown Cleveland).

I put my nerves about leaving a brand new puppy home alone in a crate aside, and I was glad that I did! First, I got to get a sneak peek (and good whiff) of the famous cornbread that Urban Farmer serves in the restaurant. I love that stuff. Some of the best in town.

Our pastry chef-led session then kicked off with Kara showing us how to make macarons like a master.

From start to finish, she made it look effortless.

But, once it was our turn, I can tell you that it was indeed not. However, Kara and two additional staff aided the class of 12 every step of the way.

She instilled confidence in us, and we tackled making them from start to finish in small groups of 2-3. Look at Mr. H piping!

We walked away feeling accomplished, and with a box full of macarons, recipes, pastry bags, and tips.

Urban Farmer hosts pastry classes, in addition to bread making and even butchery classes, every few months. They are totally worth keeping an eye out for! You can follow their class availability on the website here, or on Facebook. Space is always very limited, so act quickly. I can see why, because it was such a fun hands-on and educational experience.

Did you know that macarons are best when aged? You actually age them in the freezer or refrigerator, and they get softer and MUCH better with some time. We got to sample them at different stages in the aging process, and you truly could tell the difference. Who knew?

Disclosure: I was provided with one media pass to attend the class, and we purchased one ticket. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Urban Farmer Cleveland
1325 East 6th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114

Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar

Since Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar opened their doors just a short time ago, I've seen nothing but stunning photographs posted all over social media of their renovated bank building space.

But, I've also heard varying reviews of both food quality and service. So, Mr. H and I held out for "something special" before rushing in to try it for ourselves. We celebrated our wedding anniversary on the 13th, and had decided that Marble Room was going to be our big night out.

Immediately, any diner is impressed with the architecture and grand scale of everything in the room, including the raw bar on your right as you enter the main dining room.

We settled into a comfortable table...and I mean COMFORTABLE. You look around, and all of the chairs and booths look like you could sink in and spend some time. So, we did.

We had to start with some raw bar options. A dozen Oysters quickly hit the table ($27). I do have to say that I found it odd that they only had one type of oyster available. That's unusual, right? Particularly for a restaurant with "Raw Bar" in their name too, right? Anywho...they were plump and delicious, so I wasn't complaining.

We also ordered the Yuzu Miso Salmon Roll ($16) with avocado, cucumber, and pineapple salsa.

Our server had really talked this sushi roll up, but honestly I found it too plain and bland. I'll just head to Mizu Sushi for a specialty roll next time I want one, and for a cheaper price point and larger size.

Mr. H and I decided to both order steaks, because, well, we were at a steakhouse. You feel a sense of obligation to try one when it's your first time there. So, we decided to share two side dishes to accompany the steaks.

We ordered the Creamed Spinach ($10).

Also, the "Marble Room Specialty" Crispy Potato Cake ($11) with roasted poblano and guajillo, cojita cheese, and scallions.

The creamed spinach was certainly fine, but we had just had some outstanding creamed spinach at a steakhouse in NYC the week before (Quality Meats), so it didn't leave me digging in for more. The potato cake was unique, and ate like a fancy fried hash brown with Mexican flavors. Personally, I'd probably stick with more traditional potato or pasta side dishes with a steak next time.

Mr. H ordered the Dry-aged Delmonico ($68), and really didn't think the steak was very good. But, we've become steak snobs over the years, because he makes fantastic steak at home and the more recent dry-aged versions we've had at home have been wonderful. I went for the 6 oz. Filet ($38) and added a lobster tail. My steak was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. It was so tender that it literally melted like butter in my mouth. I was happy!

We were completely full at this point and turned down the dessert menu, but they knew it was our anniversary and a complimentary dessert arrived at the table as we wrapped up the meal. I won't say no to a bite of rich, dark chocolate that appears in front of me! The gesture was appreciated.

I know a lot of people have complained about service so far at this restaurant, but we had no issues at all. We were pleasantly greeted at the hostess stand (even though we were 20 minutes late thanks to Cavs' traffic and Uber), and our server was attentive, funny, and knowledgeable about the food and wine.

The atmosphere can't be beat right now for elegance and size, there were very talent musicians wandering throughout the main dining room (but yet piped into the sound system so it filled the space) that truly made the experience feel special, and we had no issues with service. But, I think the food wasn't quite as good as some other local steakhouses at this time, so I see some "newly opened" kinks that they still need to work out. For what we spent on that meal, I was glad we tried it, but I would have preferred to spend the money somewhere else that was a home-run for such a special occasion.

Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar
623 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 523-7000