Empanadas Latin Street Food

As 2019 winds down, so does my To Dine Challenge for the year. Unfortunately, one of the restaurants selected did not end up opening their doors yet, Half Moon Bakery. I've had their tasty empanadas catered at a meeting, so I was anxious for their restaurant to open on West 25th Street. Fingers crossed it's still in the works!

So I decided that I wouldn't feel satisfied if I didn't replace it with a comparable option. Enter, the new Empanadas Latin Street Food in Parma.

There are a handful of small tables there, but it's mostly a takeout joint. On a Tuesday night, the place was busy with a line of folks waiting for their orders.

We got a side of Fried Plantains (with or without garlic), but they have Ripened Plantains as well. The garlic was potent and a nice addition, but overall they were very dry and needed a sauce. I don't think I'd bother with these again. We've been making them at home and eating them with guacamole. Highly recommend!

Their empanadas range in price from $2 - $4 each, and there's quite a variety. You can get classics like chicken, beef, or four cheese. But they have all kinds of Americanized playful versions like Pizza, Hot Dog and Cheese, Polish, Cheeseburger, Buffalo, and Mac & Cheese.

We ordered the Cheeseburger (my favorite), Meat Lovers (our cashier's favorite and one I'd recommend), and Mac & Cheese (too dry and not worth it).

They are good-sized and reasonably priced. Overall, I'd rate this spot as decent. But there are better empanadas in town. Won't stop us from swinging by there again though.

Parking is difficult. There is a small lot behind the building, but most of the spots belong to another restaurant and they are out there with a watchful eye. Certainly this casual place is kid-friendly, and with the fun fillings that could appeal to little ones, it may be a good chance to introduce them to empanadas.

My last stop on the To Dine Challenge is coming up later this week with a fun group outing to La Plaza Taqueria. If you'd like to join, just message me!

Empanadas Latin Street Food

5543 Ridge Road
Parma, OH 44129
(440) 340-5618

Zero Zest

I've been in Cleveland for over 11 years. That's exactly how long I've been on the hunt for a good soft serve ice cream, and more specifically...a Flavor Burst. It's what I grew up on in NY, and it's been impossible to find in OH.

But then I saw Jill from Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Eats post a photo on Instagram of a Flavor Burst cone. And it wasn't too far from home!

That led to a Memorial Day Weekend stop at Zero Zest in Parma.

Finally, I had one in hand (small Black Cherry pictured).

While it was a far cry from the rich, creamy vanilla base of my favorite stop in NY, it satisfied the craving and brought back a flood of summer memories.

Mr. H had the Chocolate Covered Pretzel Avalanche. The best way to put it, it was lacking any "zest" and was almost flavorless. Much like the weak vanilla base of mine.

I may stop again if the craving really hits, but some of you all have been chiming in on Twitter and Instagram with other local Flavor Burst joints, so we'll be trying those first. For having "zest" in the name, it certainly didn't deliver that.

Zero Zest

6096 State Road
Parma, OH 44134
(440) 886-6473

Cleveland Corned Beef Co.

You know those places that you drive by and something just catches your eye (the name, signage, location), and you think to yourself...I wonder what that spot is like inside.

Well, one of those places for me was the Cleveland Corned Beef Co. on Pearl Road. With a name like that, and Cleveland with a reputation for corned beef...I was curious. But years went by and we never made an effort to stop in. Flash forward to a dinner party conversation with a neighbor that raved about their breakfast a few weeks ago, and you better believe we scooted there the following weekend for a greasy-diner breakfast.

Located in a strip mall along the corner of Pearl Road and Brookpark Road, it's not much to look at from the outside. But the name alone and large images of corned beef stacked high will catch your eye!

Inside, it's just a sliver of a place. Only a handful of counter stools and one or two tables in the back. But there were plenty of to-go orders headed out the door during our meal.

If you settle in for your meal, every seat has a front-row view of the griddle action. The pancakes were about the size of my head!

I ordered the Corned Beef, Egg and Cheese Sandwich ($3.99) with my choice of bread. I went with Texas Toast. While the hash browns side was skimpy and under-cooked, the sandwich was hearty and generously-sized.

Mr. H ordered the Everything Omelette ($7.99) which literally had EVERYTHING on it. This thing was HUUUUGE and probably weighed about 2 pounds! Mr. H is a big eater, and even he could barely finish half.

He got a side of Rye Toast with it, and truly all of the bread products coming out of the kitchen looked really fresh and good.

While I think the food quality and certainly atmosphere is better at a few other diners closer to home, this was a fun adventure and one for any corned beef fan.

Cleveland Corned Beef Co.
5164 Pearl Road
Cleveland, OH 44129
(216) 351-0010

Honey Hut

How have I never written a full post about Cleveland's own Honey Hut ice cream?

Started in Cleveland in 1974 (original location right in my neighborhood of Old Brooklyn!), Honey Hut has remained a family-owned business for more than 40 years.

With summer winding down, Mr. H and I made our first stop in this season for some ice cream the other night. The sun was setting, the warm summer air still kissing our skin, and the picnic benches outside the ice cream stand were just packed with customers. We were hanging on to what felt like some of the last bits of summer.

With 13 regular homemade flavors, seasonal flavors, and all kinds of other treats like sundaes and malts, there is something for everyone.

It was unusual for me, but I had a huge craving for something super rich. I headed right to the Hot Brownie Sundae. Topped with homemade vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream, it's a real splurge.

Now, it was so big that I could only eat about half of it. They offer a Regular (pictured) and a Large. But Mr. H didn't mind digging in for several bites after I was done!

For now, I'm going to continue to cling to summer activities and foods. I see some more ice cream in my future. What's your favorite local spot?

Honey Hut Brecksville
7304 Chippewa Road
Brecksville, OH 44141
440.526.0606

Honey Hut Brunswick
922 Pearl Road
Brunswick, OH 44212
330.220.5050

Honey Hut Old Brooklyn
4674 State Road
Cleveland, OH 44109
216.749.7077

Honey Hut Parma
6250 State Road
Cleveland, OH 44134
440.885.5055

Honey Hut Solon
28300 Miles Road
440.394.8388

Gyro Spot

I was sooo excited when Mr. H heard that the former Fergie's in Parma was opening as Gyro Spot. We'd been in mourning since it closed. It was hands-down the BEST gyro in Greater Cleveland.

A co-worker of Mr. H's had stopped in to the new bar, and reported back that the gyro was just as good as he remembered. Sadly, it's not true.

Mr. H and I stopped in there on Saturday. The renovated bar and kitchen space is much improved. Lighter, brighter, open, and more seating.

We perched on some bar stools, right in front of the main event.

I was salivating at this point.

I didn't need a menu...

...bring me a gyro!

Immediately, we could tell that the "original Fergie's recipe" that they were boasting on their website is a lie. The sauce was thicker, chunkier, and didn't come close to the wonderful tang that the original had.

The meat was nicely seasoned, and had a lovely crisp to it from the rotating spits. However, Fergie's was allllllll about the sauce, and this sauce? Not the same. Also, my pita was slightly stale and immediately split when I picked it up (after eating quite a bit of the meat off this plentiful sandwich first).

This gyro may still be a step above others around town, but it's no Fergie's. Maybe they'll tweak the sauce, and it'll improve? One can hope, because I'm still jonesing for an original.

Gyro Spot Bar + Grill
5587 Ridge Road
Parma, OH
440-481-3400

Hot Dog Diner

I can't even tell you how many times I've driven past the Hot Dog Diner and Burger Co. in Parma. And, it always seemed to be closed. Hours are 10:30AM - 7:30PM Tuesday-Saturday, so I guess that we were always driving by on Sundays or Mondays or late in the evening, but it was starting to become a mystery to us.

Until, Mr. H and I decided to grab lunch there last Saturday.

The exterior feels like it was a Taco Bell in a former life.

The interior is cheery, and diners are greeted with chalkboard menus and silly quotes lining the walls. But, it does still feel like a chain fast food restaurant in there.

Mr. H zeroed right in on the Classic Gyro with meat shaved off the cone.

In my opinion, it looked like a sad sandwich. I don't think it was anything to write home about. We're both still heartbroken over Fergie's closing in Parma. The BEST gyro ever.

I had to stick with the traditional hot dog section of the menu, since we were in a place called the HOT DOG Diner.

I ordered the Slaw Dog with cole slaw, mustard and onions ($2.44 - Dining Deals Alert).

And the Windy City with neon relish, mustard, onions, sport peppers and celery salt ($2.54).

It looks like there is no hot dog in there, but trust me, there was. There was just quite a lot of toppings on each, which made them messy to eat but tasty. Beware, the Windy City toppings were really spicy hot and I had to pick a few of the peppers off. I love spicy foods, so you know that's saying something.

While places like Happy Dog and River Dog will reign supreme on their gourmet toppings, the fabulous dipping sauces for the tots, and atmosphere, when I want a hot dog...I want a hot dog. I actually don't care for the dogs themselves at Happy Dog at all. So, this lunch satisfied a craving for a true American hot dog, and I finally got to step inside the elusive Hot Dog Diner.

Hot Dog Diner
5495 Pearl Road
Parma, OH

Blue Ginger Asian Bistro

Mr. H and I are both big sushi fans, and can often be found at Mizu Sushi in Parma and Pacific East, if we happen to be on the east side. So, I'm always up for trying a new-to-me sushi restaurant. A couple of people had raved about Blue Ginger Asian Bistro on Pleasant Valley Road in Parma. It's in the general vicinity of where we'll frequently run errands, so recently we decided to pop in there for dinner.

It's certainly a popular spot, because there was a line and quite a wait for a table. As we sat near the hostess stand, I took in my surroundings. It felt very Americanized and chain-y to me.

Once we were seated, we placed our order for some rolls and sashimi. The menu is heavy on rolls with cream cheese, cooked proteins, and lots of tempura fried items. A lot of the rolls also had spicy tuna included, which everyone knows is the "scraps" of fish that wasn't used. I prefer the larger pieces of fish to be used in rolls that have tuna in them.

I got the Firecracker Roll ($13) with spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, avocado & jalapeno inside, tuna, salmon, mango & crispy onion on the top, served with special sauce.

It was colorful, but overall not very good. The fish itself didn't taste very fresh, and the crispy onion straws on top were not pleasurable. I scraped most of them off. 

Mr. H and I got the Unbelievable Roll ($11) with shrimp, cream cheese and chef special sauce, with red snapper tempura on top.

You couldn't detect the snapper on top, and the roll was just bland and mushy. 

Lastly, the order of Sashimi Regular (includes salad and miso soup) for $16 arrived, with 15 pieces of assorted raw fish. 

First, our server dropped it and didn't explain what types of fish were included. I've never had that happen before.

Second, the fish was glowing. Literally. This was lodged in a martini glass display of the raw fish...

Completely unnecessary, and it kind of grossed me out. I don't need a disco party with my sushi. Just give me fresh, delicious raw fish and call it a day.

It's safe to say that we won't be returning to Blue Ginger. The atmosphere, quality of fish, and presentation just aren't what I'm looking for in a sushi restaurant. If you're in the Parma area, just head on over to Mizu.

Blue Ginger Asian Bistro
1061 W Pleasant Valley Road
Parma, OH 44134
440-842-8880

Parma's Seoul Garden

Thank you, to whomever submitted Seoul Garden for my 2014 To Dine challenge! We finally made it there, with friends, on Saturday evening. Obviously, it was already on my "to-do" list, but the recent Scene article had peaked my interest even more. I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint.

This was only my second time eating Korean food (my first experience was through my 2013 To Dine challenge), so I am by no means an expert on this cuisine. However, I can safely say that this experience trumped my first, and we've found a new spot to frequent in Parma. Apparently, it's not a secret spot, because the restaurant was hopping on Saturday at 7:00pm.

Our group of six settled into a table after a brief wait, and began to look over the menu. One dish did give me quite a chuckle...

I love a good misprint.

I went straight for the Bibimbop ($10.95), a "gateway" to Korean food, for those of us that aren't familiar. It is steamed rice, topped with shredded vegetables, ground beef, and a raw egg yolk. It is served in a piping hot clay pot, and it literally cooks right in front of you. The idea is to slowly stir the pot, crisping the rice, cooking the egg, and blending in some hot sauce.

This version easily was better than the first one that I had tried at Miega, and I hadn't thought that one was bad. There was just something about the flavors and textures in this one that had me digging in for more.

We also shared some Fried Dumplings (you can order 8 or 16).

They were actually stuffed with beef, instead of pork. They were okay, but not the highlight of the meal.

Now, one thing that is wonderful (and a tad overwhelming) about a Korean dining experience are all of the little side dishes that arrive at your table with every meal. Plate upon plate is placed in front of you, all little dishes of different pickled, spiced, raw, or unusual items to try. Your table suddenly becomes quite full!

Some highlights included the spicy kimchee, pickled radish, gelatin herb "noodles", and crispy tofu. We probably had at least eight different ones to try.

A couple of our friends ordered the Bulgogi, and seemed pleased with the marinated beef. "R" went for the traditional Pajeon (pancake).

It's usually a popular Korean appetizer, stuffed with scallions and in this case, a variety of seafood. Miega's version was a lot smaller, and this dish was clearly intended for a table of diners to share. It was HUGE.

The price tag on many of the dishes may seem high when you're browsing their menu, but if you look closely, they are intended for 2-3 diners to share. They have a few Barbeque dishes, where diners can cook their own food at the table, and a selection of Jungol (stews/casseroles). I'd love to try the spicy chicken that we spotted at the table next to us.

The restaurant itself is nothing to look at from the outside, and it's not much better on the inside. Dated decor, old carpet, wobbly tables, bright overhead lighting. But, the food wins you over. My only complaint? Several times we could smell the most offensive fishy aroma that I've ever smelled in my life that was wafting over from other tables. I almost gagged.

Another restaurant was checked off of the 2014 list, and this one will remain in rotation for us. We had a great evening, with good food, good friends, and some good stiff cocktails at Drink. Bar + Grill down the street afterwards.

Seoul Garden
5270 Pearl Road
Parma, OH
216-661-5990

Local Tavern Opens in Parma

The east-side chain of Local Tavern has moved to Parma. They've taken over the large bar/restaurant space that recently housed Brew Co. and the Blue Moose prior to that.

The restaurant offers a large outdoor dining area and expansive covered bar, which has always been appealing. Located on Pearl Road, it's high-traffic area of Parma, and there is plenty of parking in the huge lot in front of the restaurant. In theory, a place should do well in this location.

The menu isn't huge, offering a few "Plate Lickers" a.k.a. entrees, but the menu is heavy with burgers, "handwiches" and stuffed burgers. For the smaller appetites, they do have salads and "happy beginnings" a.k.a appetizers. What's with the weird category names? 

First disappointment of the meal was the beer list. Only a handful of craft beer options, and very heavy on your domestic basics. Certainly not the extensive craft beer list that the location's previous tenant offered. I stuck with water.

"R" was drawn to their list of three Signature Stuffed Burgers, and decided on the Beast ($13.99) with short rib, horseradish, mushroom aioli, and Swiss cheese.

They must have to cook them to one temperature only, due to the "stuffing" because he wasn't asked. The bun was soft and fresh, patty quite large and juicy, but overall it really lacked flavor. The mushroom aioli just blended in with the taste of beef, and there was absolutely no hint of the promised horseradish. "R" had to kick this up a notch with ketchup. It was also almost entirely a "brown" burger, which isn't very appetizing to look at.

I ordered the Island Pork Sandwich ($9.99) with sriracha-marinated pineapple, thin-sliced pork, cabbage slaw and a lime-cilantro aioli.

The "thin-sliced pork" had the mouth-feel of deli meat (not pleasant), but the flavors of sweet and mildly spicy were good overall. It just probably wasn't good enough that I'd order it again. Each handheld or burger comes with a side of fries (pretty good), salad (very good), or tomato bisque (we didn't try).

Our server, Rachel, was only average, and was clearly outshone by the server that was waiting on the table behind us. We watched as the other server checked in on, and helped, our server's tables while we were dining. I also had to wait an oddly long amount of time for a bottled beer, once I decided to order a Corona. She came to our table twice during this time period, stating that she was "waiting for someone to get it" for her. The restaurant wasn't busy at all, and both inside and outside bars were fully staffed. Hmmm...

So, long story short, I was disappointed with this new addition to Parma, and we probably won't waste our time returning. Not sure if this restaurant will make it in this location either. Maybe it's cursed?

Local Tavern
5513 Pearl Road
Parma, OH 44129

Two other locations in Mentor and Willoughby Hills.

Das Schnitzel Haus

We have driven by Das Schnitzel Haus so many times that it's impossible to count. Parma is an errand destination for us often, so I've always been curious as we passed the restaurant.

Fridays in Cleveland mean one thing...Fish Fry. We had tried to get in to Wexler's, close to home, but the line was out the door at 6:00pm. So, that left us driving around, looking for food. "R" still had his heart set on a fish fry. Das Schnitzel Haus killed two birds with one stone. We finally tried the restaurant, and "R" still got his classic fish fry ($10.95).

They were offering cod or perch, and he went with the cod. I'm a perch girl, myself! He chose Cabbage and Noodles as his side dish, and we both liked it. The fish was heavy on the breading, but it had great crunch to it without over-drying the fish inside.

When I started looking at the menu, I was drawn to the standard German dishes featured.

One of my favorite dishes that my mom makes is her Wiener Schnitzel, so I had to give theirs a try.

For $16.95, it comes with two sides of your choice. I had a hard time selecting, because there were a lot of "carb" options, but not one vegetable side dish available. I guess you can count Red Cabbage or Cooked Kraut, but come on. I ended up with the Cooked Kraut and Mashed and Gravy. The kraut was what you'd expect. The mashed potatoes had the texture of boxed potato flakes, but the gravy saved this side. It was one of the richest, most flavorful gravies that I've ever had. A squeeze of lemon over the schnitzel, and I dug in. While it wasn't as good as mom's, it was a darn good, classic schnitzel.

I think Sterle's still stands out in my mind for this type of cuisine, but this was a fun experience and I'd go back to sit in their heated Beer Garden. I hear that they have a good brunch too! They have a mid-sized parking lot adjacent to the building, and the atmosphere inside is very predictable. Vinyl booths, dark wood, red and green decor, and lots of German knickknacks. It is family-friendly, with a Kids Menu and wipe-able surfaces at the table. The portions are big for the price, and you won't walk away hungry.

Who has your favorite German food in the Cleveland area? 

Das Schnitzel Haus
5728 Pearl Road
Parma, OH

Craft Beer in Parma?

Has anyone else been to Brew Co Parma yet?

Located on Pearl Road, it's taken over a spot that has already been many bars/restaurants since I moved to Cleveland six years ago. It's a pretty large space, has a great big patio with an outdoor bar, and free parking in a large lot. Just no one seems to do well here, and the type of crowd that this location has drawn in the past has resulted in a scene that I wasn't in for. Will this new establishment change that?

It offers a menu of fresh, never frozen items like burgers, cheese melts, pizzas, classic pub appetizers and more. But, it's the beer that drew us in the other night. They have 20 taps, where they are featuring JUST craft beer from Ohio breweries. Support local!

All I focused in on was the Willoughby Brewing Company's Peanut Butter Porter. I was in heaven. It's one of my top three favorite beers, and I don't get to have it very often.

We didn't have any food, but it looked good coming out of the kitchen. The staff was helpful and pleasant, and we were served quickly. Overall, I was interested in coming back.

They also have some decent food specials, like $5 one-topping pizza on Mondays, $3 pound of wings on Tuesdays, $2.99 burger on Wednesdays, and $2 taco on Thursdays.

So, has anyone else been yet? You may snub your nose at Parma, but I don't care where I dine/drink as long as it has good food and good craft beer. Will this place last?

Brew Co Parma
5513 Pearl Road
Parma, OH 44129
440-882-3365

Kumo Buffet in Parma

Sorry for the hiatus, readers. With the holiday, long weekend, and the terrible head cold that "R" and I have been fighting for two weeks...I just haven't felt like writing. I hope that you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with family, friends, fun, and of course--good food.

Speaking of good food, I wish that today's post was about that--but it's not. "R" and I were recently out running errands and needed to grab an impromptu quick bite to eat in the Parma area. In the mood to try something new, I suggested heading to Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet. After reading another blogger's rave review, and seeing photographs of the extensive sushi buffet and other offerings, I was intrigued.

Sadly, the buffet was really disappointing. Not that one should ever have high expectations for a buffet, but it still didn't even meet the low bar that I had set in my mind. It did offer a HUGE selection of sushi and hand rolls, traditional Japanese and Chinese dishes, and even a few "American" options for the less adventuresome.

While we certainly didn't try everything, what we did have was lackluster and most of the sushi was just plain scary looking. The fish looked dry and some have even started to brown around the edges, and the vegetables were wilted and unappetizing to look at. I found a couple of pieces that didn't scream "food poisoning", and even those were bland and certainly not fresh.

Items like the lo mien, fried rice, steamed dumplings, and edamame were all perfectly standard and acceptable. But I've had better. Spicy octopus was gummy and impossible to bite through, mussels were dried out and smelled fishy, and even the crab legs were disappointing.

Overall, it was a pretty bad buffet experience and I wouldn't set foot in there again. My expectations were low, but geez. The only thing that I regret not trying was the hibachi. You create your own bowl of goodies, and then staff cook it right there for you. For $14.99, the dinner buffet is a deal, but to me that's not worth compromising quality. Plenty of cheap food out there that is way better!

Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet
1975 Snow Road
Parma, OH 44134
216-741-3038

Priya in Parma

Yesterday began, what I hope, will become a new tradition of meeting old friends, new friends, and some that I was meeting for the first time for a meal of Indian food. Most of us at the table have a shared love for the cuisine, and almost all of us had never been to Priya in Parma before.

Crystal had arranged the group, and we selected a Wednesday because they serve an affordable dinner buffet. You know how I have been on the hunt for an Indian dinner buffet! While it was full of delicious and unusual items, it didn't have the curries that I was looking for. So about half of us decided to order off the regular menu. "R" was getting the buffet, so I knew that I could pick off his plate. The Wednesday Night Chat Buffet ($12.99) features Chat items and Indo Chinese items. It reminded us more of traditional street food, which wasn't quite what I was looking for.

I went with my standard Chicken Tikka Masala ($12.99), but when I asked about spice levels the server informed me that they can't alter the heat in this dish because it is a cream-based sauce. Umm...then why can I order different spice levels at other places with this dish? Ultimately, it did affect my opinion of the dish because I personally prefer more heat.

The presentation was great, but the sauce was dangerously close the edge of the angled round bowl. I can't be trusted. Michelle and I shared our dishes, so I also got to try the Lamb Gosh (sometimes called Saag) in a spiced spinach gravy ($12.99). An order of Garlic Naan rounded out the meal.

Overall, the food was good but not great. I certainly enjoyed my meal, but I've had much better Indian food locally. Also, the guy that ended up serving us was very odd and it was difficult to communicate through his awkwardness. The space is huge, with plenty of seating in booths or tables. It easily fit our large group.

Where should we head next? Udupi Cafe, India Garden, Indian Delight? We do have lots of options.

Priya Indian Cuisine
5747 Chevrolet Boulevard
Parma, OH
440-345-5599

Taco Tuesday- Grillers Pub

Today is Tuesday, so I bring you another installment in my Taco Tuesday series. I've been having fun with this ongoing series, and I hope that you are enjoying them. There are just so many Taco Tuesday options around the city!

Last week, our hunt brought us to Grillers Pub in Parma. Located on State Road, just a quick drive up the street from the 480 exit, the building is nothing to look at. It's just your typical Parma dive bar, but with plenty of parking in their own lot and a nice big sign so you can't miss the place.

There are only a small handful of booths and tables in the bar, so saddling up on a stool at the bar is really your best option. It provided us with great eavesdropping opportunities, and easy access to the bartender for drinks and food orders.

"R" and I wanted to try something off of their regular menu, so we shared an order of the Fried Reuben Balls ($5.50). Made fresh in-house with their own corned beef and sauerkraut, and served with Thousand Islands dressing.

Five balls were included with the order. It would have been hard to eat an order by myself, because they were a tad salty. But, if you like Reubens then give them a try. It certainly packed traditional Reuben flavor into fried goodness.

Now, on to the tacos. They had two options that evening. The special of the night was Ground Beef Tacos with a Black Bean Corn Salsa (3 for $6). Dining Deals Alert!

The meat was a little greasy, so the juices and grease quickly started to make the tortillas soggy and messy to pick up. The meat was seasoned well, and the taco had nice flavor to it. Chef- just drain some of the grease out before serving, and we'll be all set.

The standard taco that is served every Tuesday was a Pork Carnitas ($2 each, minimum of two).

These were very manageable, and overflowing with meat and toppings. If the pork itself had been seasoned a bit more, I think that I personally would have liked it better than Deagan's Pork Carnitas taco the week before. But for flavor with this particular taco, Deagan's still reigns supreme.

Other than some missteps from the bartender, and our friend never being able to place an order for food, we enjoyed our excursion to Griller's. According to the bartender, they also have great burgers. I do have to note that by the time we left, we were the only ones in the bar. The handful of other patrons had left far before us, and it was only around 8:00PM. I guess that means no wait on seating or your food, right?

Where to next? I've hit almost all of the Taco Tuesday spots that were originally suggested. Where is your favorite place that I haven't been to yet?

Grillers Pub
5455 State Road
Parma, OH
216-741-7200

In Search of...

Since moving to Cleveland almost four years ago, I've been in search of two things...

1. A good Indian restaurant that offers a buffet dinner.
2. Affordable sushi that delivers to our home.

The first, I haven't explored as much. Any suggestions are welcome! "R" had never had Indian before he met me, and I'd like to expose him to more than just what I order for us when we dine in or get takeout. A buffet is a must!

The second, I've tried a little harder to find. Living within the city limits, it continues to boggle my mind that we can't find a sushi place to deliver. When I lived in Syracuse, we had about five spots in our area that would. Of course, there is Delivermefood.com and Food Fetchers. But, we've tried the sushi through these services and it just doesn't measure up. Also, we end up spending about $50 to get it here.

Well last night we were out running errands not too far from home, and I remembered that Alicia had written about a sushi restaurant that wasn't too far from us as well. With a quick tweet, we were on our way. Thanks again, PIP!

Mizu Sushi is tucked away in a small strip of storefronts, across from Sam's Club off of Tiedeman in Parma. We shop in the area frequently, and I've never even glanced in that plaza. If it hadn't been for the recommendation, I wouldn't even know that it existed. But, I'm sure glad that I know now! Turns out that it is the best authentic, "cheap" sushi that we've had on this side of town.

Now, Pacific East has still been my favorite in the Cleveland area. And, of course, Parallax and the newly opened Ginko are surely in a whole different category. But it was nice to find this little spot so close to home. All four rolls (some classic favorites and a House Specialty) and the steamed shrimp dumplings that we ordered were fresh and flavorful, with the bill totaling just $36 with tax and tip (including one soda). This is the first Spicy Sauce that has actually had some heat to it, other than Pacific East. Did I mention that it is a BYOB joint? Grab your favorite beer or bottle of wine, and enjoy. I'll be back, and soon.

Now if I could just get them to deliver...

Mizu Japanese Sushi
10219 Brookpark Road
Parma, OH 44130
216-898-0098

My Hero- the Gyro

I am going to let you in on a little secret. I have referenced it before, but it's time for a full disclosure...The best gyro in Cleveland can be found at Fergie's bar on Ridge Road in Parma. This hole-in-the-wall dive bar is producing the best gyro in our area, and very few people are aware of this hidden gem. I have learned over the past two years that Clevelanders take their gyros very seriously, and "R" has even attempted to seek out one better than Fergie's. His search took him to many stops, but each was a failure in his quest. My personal opinion is that it is all in the sauce. Their homemade tzatziki sauce is amazing, and blows others out of the water.

Don't be put off by the location, size, or (lack of) atmosphere of the bar, this gyro is worth it!

Dining Deals Alert- A gyro is under the $10 price point.

Fergie's
5587 Ridge Road
Cleveland, OH 44129
(440) 886-6040

Toto, Are We In A Strip Mall?

Since moving to Cleveland two years ago, I've been meaning to try Corleone's Ristorante & Bar in Parma. Our grocery store is nearby, our gym is nearby, the dry cleaner is down the street- I find myself driving past it on a frequent basis and I have always wondered what was inside. From the outside it is nothing special. Located in a strip mall with Pat Catan's, you certainly wouldn't expect what you find inside.

Upon walking in we discovered a warm, cozy yet modern bar area with beautiful wine racks and a door to an enclosed patio. I could easily picture "R" and I perched at the bar sipping a good glass of wine or tasty martini. I'll be back with the boyfriend in tow!

My group and I settled in out in the dimly lit main dining room. It certainly makes for a romantic spot, but it was a little hard to read the menu. One thing that I instantly loved about the restaurant is that it offers an Early Dinner Menu from 3-6 PM. The lengthy list of entrees is taken from the full Evening Dinner Menu but comes with soup, salad, bread, and a soft beverage for only $12 (veal dishes are $14). I thought that this would mean smaller portions of the traditional dishes and a cup of soup, but I was wrong!

We started with the Artichoke Sorrentino- lightly floured artichokes served golden brown with a side of cream cheese sauce ($9). This antipasti is from the main Evening Dinner Menu, but I don't suggest ordering this dish. The artichoke hearts were thickly breaded and deep fried, and all of the wonderful artichoke flavor was lost. Large steaming bowls of soup arrived next- wedding soup for one and vegetable beef for the rest of us. Both soups were flavored appropriately, but the slightly sweet wedding soup was the winner of the two. House salads arrived next- very standard and not worth describing. Two of my dining companions ordered the Liza- sautéed chicken encrusted with pine nuts and asiago cheese in a Romano chardonnay cream sauce. The only one of us that had dined there before swears by this dish, but I didn't have the chance to try a bite. I ordered the Gnocchi Capone- potato dumplings sautéed with mushrooms, onions and bacon in a spicy marinara cream sauce. The mushrooms, diced onions, and crumbled bacon were a nice combination of texture and flavor, and the sauce had a subtle heat to it. I was very happy with the dish.

We all know that some of the best hidden gems in our community (hell any community) are the ones that from the outside you wouldn't look at twice. So next time you are in Parma, turn in to the Pat Catan's strip mall and settle in for a glass of wine and a plate of tasty pasta. Just make sure that you take advantage of the Early Dinner Menu, because the prices seemed a little high for the Evening Menu. It's $12 good, but not $15-$39 good (prices of the Evening Menu only include entree).

Corleone's Ristorante & Bar
5669 Broadview Road
Cleveland, OH 44134
(216) 741-0220