Square Scullery

It was a race to the finish, but with 3 days to spare...we completed the 2021 To Dine Challenge list!

This involved a snowy drive down to Akron on a Tuesday night, but just one restaurant left to check off the list...it was a must. We headed to The Square Scullery. With the COVID numbers rising and more and more people that we know with breakthrough cases, we had planned on just getting takeout. The restaurant announced that starting that same day, they were switching back over to carry-out orders only. Wild times out there, folks.

Luckily, you can order on their website and schedule a pick-up in 15-minute increments. It made it so easy for us to schedule and time it right with our drive from Cleveland. 

We tried to select food that would travel back the 36 minutes ok, but a Connecticut-style Lobster Roll ($28) with Old Bay fries didn't sound like it would and it was a must-try for us. So we snacked on it right in the car!

But we saved the rest for home and enjoyed the Pork Belly Bao Buns ($12) with 3 sweet steam buns of house smoked pork belly, pickled daikon radish, hydroponic pea shoots, fermented black bean paste, and gojuchang aioli.

And Crystals Fried Chicken Sandwich ($15) of a crispy fried chicken smothered in New Orleans’s staple Crystal's hot sauce with fresh lettuce, pickles, and buttermilk bleu cheese dressing.

Of course none of it was as good as it would likely be if dining in, but overall we enjoyed the food and would absolutely dine there again if we find ourselves in the area. Nothing was so memorable that we'd do the drive for it again, but I'll happily recommend this place for anyone that lives nearby or is looking for a spot in that area. 

They started in 2015 as a food truck, intended to open a ghost kitchen in the 400sq ft brick-and-mortar, and then took a chance and converted it into the "tiny restaurant" it is today. I love hearing stories like theirs, of a small business growing and making investments in our area. Definitely go check them out for yourself! 

And just like that, another year comes to a close. And another To Dine Challenge completed! 

Square Scullery
783 W Market Street
Akron, OH 44303
(330) 983-9387

Battiste and Dupree Cajun Grill

Two more to go as the year nears an end! I'm racing to complete my 2021 To Dine Challenge list of 10 restaurants that YOU helped select. Next up was Battiste and Dupree Cajun Grill in South Euclid. 

A very small little place, immediately with a lot of character and charm.

We had placed a takeout order in advance (reasonable 60-minute wait on Saturday evening), so Mr. H just picked up our food at the bar and chatted with the owner for a few minutes about supply chain issues and the impact the pandemic continues to have on our local restaurants. He was so nice!

We wanted to try a little bit of a lot, so we did some sharing of a few items.

Shrimp Etouffee ($16.50)

Cajun Fried Shrimp 3/4 lb of fried shrimp served with remoulade ($15.00)

Cajun Fried Perch Dinner with 4 pieces and any 2 sides ($16.25)

Jambalaya

Red Beans & Rice

Mustard Greens

Creole Green Beans

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo 

Everything had such good, classic Cajun flavor. It totally reminded us of our trip to New Orleans. While it has some spice to several of the sauces and seasonings, it isn't heat and you shouldn't shy away. There wasn't a "standout" dish that I'd be dying to get again, but overall, we were just happy with the meal and to support a small business during these challenging times. 

Battiste and Dupree Cajun Grill
1992 Warrensville Center Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
(216) 381-3341

Black Box Fix

The countdown is on. The holidays are here, the end of the year is looming, and it's a race for me to finish my 2021 To Dine Challenge list! With three to go in December, can we get it done? Let's go!

First up, we hit Black Box Fix for a Saturday takeout lunch. Located in Legacy Village (second location in Columbus, OH), it can be a great option as you're shopping or there for services. But the parking around there doesn't make it ideal for a single stop on its own. After some circling, we did manage to time it right to slide into the Pick-up meter spot across the street. 

Since it was just lunch and they really are known for their overstuffed sandwiches, we decided to share one. We never turn down an opportunity to try a cheesesteak, so we ordered the "Best Damn Cheesesteak" ($15) with a half-pound of seasoned grilled steak, onions, Swiss cheese, provolone, and Cajun queso. Added on a side of Garlic Parmesan Fries ($5), but it was hard to choose from the yummy flavors they have available!

While my favorite local cheesesteak is still from Original Steak & Hoagie in Twinsburg (Capo's being number two), this was a very good cheesesteak that I do recommend. I would have preferred that the bun be buttered and toasted, but the queso sauce with just that little bit of spicy heat to it was what set this apart from others. 

Online ordering is available, which really helps speed up the takeout process. 

On to the next!

Black Box Fix
25359 Cedar Rd.
Lyndhurst, OH 44124

Istanbul Grill

 Well, that was an unexpected two-month hiatus from the blog. But not surprising. I have NEWS! I started my own small business, selling vintage housewares on Etsy and Instagram. It's called Evy Lena Vintage, after my grandmother and great-grandmother, and it's been an "if money was no object, what would your dream job be" for a while. This pandemic and other recent big life events really put things into perspective for me, and I decided to stop holding myself back from chasing that dream. But it leaves very little time, energy, and interest for this space of the internet. So the posts will be fewer and far between as I navigate this new phase of my life. Thanks for coming along with me all these years.

In an effort to still complete the 2021 To Dine Challenge, Mr. H and I swung by Istanbul Grill in Avon the other night (I had some estate sale auction winnings to pick up, so win-win!).

This one had made it to the list because there used to be an Istanbul Grill (no relation) in Tremont that made this particular dish I loved, and this restaurant also had that dish on their menu.

We were greeted with seasoned bread and two dips, a cool yogurt-based one and a slightly spicy almost marinara-like one. A mix was Mr. H's favorite!

He ordered the Sultan's Delight "Hunkar Begendi" ($19.99) with tender cubes of lamb, red and green bell peppers in a tomato sauce, served over a creamy bed of pureed eggplant and cheese. The portion was huge, piping hot, and quite tasty. 

I was there for the Iskender Kebab with Yogurt ($19.99) of fresh Doner "Gyro" served with croutons and topped with a tomato butter sauce and a side of yogurt.

I remember liking the Tremont version a bit better (flavor of sauce, texture of pita), but this was very good too and I'd happily order it again.

We don't find ourselves out that way very often, but I'd pop in here again in a heartbeat. Open for lunch and dinner, has a kids menu, plenty of free parking, and lots of vegetarian options. 

Istanbul Grill

35840 Chester Road

Avon, OH 44011

(440) 937-0733

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

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

Dang Good Foods

These are not my favorite posts to write. When I have a disappointing experience at a restaurant, I drag my feet in sharing that with you. But, it's important to be authentic and real over here, and sometimes a spot just misses the mark for us. 

In the quest to complete my 2021 To Dine Challenge list, we headed to Dang Good Foods in Lakewood next. You can pre-order online (a huge bonus in these pandemic times), but can't schedule for a later pick-up (would be great!). So we ended up with a late lunch around 2:00PM one Saturday, because we were nervous about missing out on a featured item with limited quantity available.

We started with an order of the Steamed Buns (Set of 3, $10) with Pork.

Then split two dishes, the Lor Bak Png (Braised Pork Belly Rice) ($15)...

...and Wonton Mee (Dumpling Noodles, choice of Wet or Dry). Dry pictured. This is the dish that cannot always be found on the menu. Dry comes with the soup on the side, and Wet comes with everything in the broth.

We felt the same about all three dishes. They were all totally fine, but just fine. It wasn't a takeout issue, I assure you. I take that into account, and know that textures and quality of the food will decline in the trip home. Overall, they just lacked the bolder flavors that I was expecting. It was all prepared well, but fell bland for us. 

This is my first (I think?) experience with dishes from Singapore. So maybe the seasonings and sauces are intended to be more delicate than other Asian cuisines I've grown to love? I'd love for you to share your experience or insight.

But this meal did not leave us wanting more, sadly. Super cute little restaurant with a sweet story of how the owner started this business, so check it out for yourself. 

Dang Good Foods
13735 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 785-9321

Parilya Food Truck

Filipino food is hard to come by in Northeast Ohio. Ever since I was introduced to lumpia years ago at the Night Market Cleveland, I was hooked.

So, when I learned of the Parilya food truck in 2020, I knew it needed to make my 2021 To Dine Challenge list. You can follow them on Facebook (linked above) or Instagram to track their upcoming locations. They are routinely at the Lakewood Truck Park, so we hunted them down there for a chilly outdoor picnic.

Of course, there had to be an order of Veggie Lumpia (4 for $6). A little thicker than the version I remember from Night Market, but just as tasty! Don't skip them. Beef version available too.

We shared an order of the Pancit ($5)...

...and Chicken Tocino ($10) with Fried Rice. They suggested adding on an egg, and I see why. Do it!

Overall, I thought the food was really good, and totally worth the outdoor picnic in 25 degree weather. Hey, the sun was out, that's all I need! 

For those of you comfortable dining indoors, Lakewood Truck Park also has indoor seating and bar available. 

We were so happy to get out for some Filipino food, and were rewarded by it living up to expectations. This is one food truck we'll keep tracking!

La Casita Market and Taqueria

It's month one of the new year, and I was itching to kick off our adventures with the 2021 To Dine Challenge. First up, a 40-minute drive east to Painesville to check out La Casita Market and Tacqueria. It was hopping on a Sunday afternoon! But everyone was very respectful of keeping their distance (store had spacing signage in every aisle) and wearing masks in the market.

We headed into the Market first, and it was full of fresh produce...

...prepared foods, meats, dairy items...

...ALL kinds of snack foods...

..and plenty more. We picked up three kinds of flavored chips, two spicy instant soups, fresh pico de gallo, three types of cheese, a fresh roasted red pepper sauce, one bottle of hot sauce, eight poblano peppers, and one package of tostadas.

But we had really made the drive to check out the adjacent Taqueria.

I was expecting more of a casual takeout-focused place, similar to the west side's La Plaza. However, this is a really pretty, full sit-down restaurant with table service...

...and a big bar.

We're not comfortable dining in quite yet, so we place our takeout order and waited the 15 minutes in the car before heading to a nearby park we had identified in advance. A 40 degree, sunny day in January? I'm down for a taco picnic (Chorizo Taco on flour tortilla ($3.10) pictured)!

I also had the Alpastor Taco (our favorite of the meats we tried) on a housemade corn tortilla ($3.60).

Mr. H ordered Alpastor and Costilla Sopes ($4 each).

And we took home a Chile Rellenos ($9.99) to reheat in our toaster oven, because an outdoor picnic this time of year does tend to cool down your food faster and we knew this one would be worth the wait.

This taqueria is most comparable to La Plaza, so how did it stack up? While the tacos were pretty darn close, I do prefer them at La Plaza. The build-your-own toppings bar certainly pushes it higher on that point alone, but some of the meats at La Casita were just a bit dry. Flavorful and still enjoyable, but too dry. However, we felt the other dishes here at La Casita were better than ones we tried at La Plaza. That Chile Rellenos is one of the best I've had in Northeast Ohio (I did add some of the fresh roasted red pepper sauce we had purchased). I'd love to try it fresh and hot at the restaurant to see if it knocks Cozumel's version from my #1 spot.

Bottom line, this was a GREAT find and a wonderful way to kick off the year's dining excursions. I'd absolutely stop here again or shop the market, but realistically only if we were already that far east because La Plaza is about half the distance. 

La Casita Market and Taqueria

452 Storrs Street

Painesville, OH 44077

(440) 357-1109

2021 To Dine Challenge

 Happy New Year!

We're here. We did it. 

I will try and focus on the positives of the past year, because there were valuable lessons learned, quality time with people that matter the most, moments worthy of celebration, and still plenty of good food experienced. I even got more comfortable in the kitchen and took on cooking dinner 1-2 nights a week! See, miracles did happen in 2020.

As I look forward to the year ahead, I know there will still be some challenges, but I choose to believe that brighter days are right on the horizon. At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to still do my annual To Dine Challenge. However, our independent restaurants continue to need us all more than ever, and there are still ways to have some fun dining adventures.

You'll see that this year's list of 10 restaurants that I'm challenging myself to dine at over the next 12 months include quite a few that are focused on takeout or roaming pop-ups. I kept in mind that Mr. H and I will likely still not be dining in for several months as we wait for our COVID-19 vaccination. Also, I wanted a good number of them to be black-owned (and other minorities) to continue my commitment of support. So, here it is...

2021 To Dine Challenge:

La Casita Taqueria
Battiste & Dupree Cajun Grill
The Square Scullery
Parilya
Squash the Beef Catering
Dang Good Foods
Black Box Fix
Istanbul Mediterranean Grill
Tommy's Restaurant
Han Chinese Kebob & Grill

I asked, and you delivered. Over the last month, you sent in an impressive list of restaurants to select from. I had a hard time narrowing it down, but I hope you're pleased with the final list. We sure are! Tell me in the comments which one you want to see first.

Again, happy new year to you and THANK YOU for contributing to the To Dine Challenge and staying tuned as we take on dining at these restaurants in 2021. 

Vento la Trattoria

EDITED: Well, this is now a very sad post to share with you, because I had already written and scheduled it before the news broke that Vento la Trattoria has permanently closed. Another casualty of the pandemic. I know this restaurant will be missed by the community, but the good news is that Matt Harlan has announced that he'll be opening Chatty's Pizzeria in that location in about two months. Read more here at Cleveland Scene, and with his history with the Michael Symon Restaurant Group this is sure to be a winner.

The last restaurant on my 2020 To Dine Challenge list was Vento la Trattoria in Bay Village. Tucked in between Huntington Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks and Bay Arts, the restaurant is known for their charming patio and views of Lake Erie in the distance. 

I had held out on this one, hoping that we'd be able to experience a patio night out. However, we just never felt comfortable during this pandemic to dine out while the weather was nice...so takeout it had to be.

We started with a perfect classic Caesar ($9) salad.

I had the Pescatore ($22) with homemade linguine, white wine, olive oil, and garlic topped with Chef’s selection of daily seafood. As you can see, it was a nice mix of clams, mussels, and shrimp.

Mr. H ordered the Matriciana with Meatballs ($24) which is their famous Matriciana pasta dish served with homemade linguini, pan-fried pancetta, onions, aurora sauce, and topped with two large meatballs.

Both dishes were simply prepared and quite good. The texture of the pasta was *chef's kiss*, and it all traveled home pretty well. The Matriciana was a bit bolder in flavor, so we did agree it was our favorite of the two pasta dishes. 

We also snagged a wonderful bottle of wine to-go. 

It is absolutely adorable inside. There is plenty of free parking in the large lot connecting the park and the businesses tucked in there.

That's a wrap on this year's To Dine Challenge. What a strange trip it's been, but I feel particularly accomplished considering that it was completed and with time to spare! Funny what can happen when you slow down...

EDITED: I consider this a lesson for us all. Let's get out there and support our independent restaurants through the rest of the pandemic. I know it's the reality for many of our beloved restaurants that they may not make it through this. Dine-in if you are comfortable, order takeout, buy retail wine or cocktails to-go, purchase a gift certificate for later use or a holiday gift, and tip generously.

Vento la Trattoria (now closed)

28611 Lake Road

Bay Village, OH 44140

(440) 835-4530

Batuqui

2020 is winding down (aren't we all ready to put it in the rearview mirror?!) and so is my To Dine Challenge list. I scheduled an open-air evening with friends from the east side, and they picked up Batuqui Brazilian Restaurant for us all. We kicked off our dinner with a Caipirinha ($10). This traditional Brazilian cocktail is made with Cachaça, muddled lime, and sugar. Mr. H makes a pretty mean one too!

Mr. H and I shared the Moqueca Baiana ($29 with shrimp), which is a traditional Brazilian stew from Bahia with tomato, onions, cilantro, organic coconut milk and dende oil, served with Brazilian rice.

We also split the Costela do Norte ($29) with short ribs in a very rich homemade sauce with tomatoes, onions, and peppers and served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Both dishes were excellent, but my favorite was the Moqueca Baiana.

Trying to sample more traditional Brazilian dishes, we also shared a side of Vatapá ($9). This dish from the North of Brazil is made from bread, shrimp, coconut milk, finely ground peanuts, and palm oil, then mashed into a creamy paste. It sounded too unusual to not try! While it was certainly fine, it didn't wow me in texture or flavor so I'd skip it next time.

Our friends also generously shared their Pao De Queijo ($9) appetizer. These little doughy nuggets of Brazilian cheese bread are definitely worth ordering!

This meal was a highlight from the 2020 To Dine Challenge list, and one we won't be caught sleeping on again. Stay tuned for the final stop at the 10 restaurants I was challenged to dine at this year!

Batuqui Brazilian Restaurant
12706 Larchmere Blvd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44120
(216) 801-0227

2021 To Dine Challenge Submissions

Well, what a wild and unusual time 2020 was. But, I still completed my annual To Dine Challenge, and it's almost time to kick off a new list.

For those of you newer around these parts, every December I ask my readers to submit restaurants to be considered for my version of a New Year's Resolution. Then, on January 1st I announce a new list of 10 local, independently-owned restaurants that I challenge myself to dine at over the next 12 months and share here. 

So, hit me with those restaurant suggestions in the blog comments or on social media (@BiteBuff)! 

I want to focus the 2021 list on minority-owned restaurants, restaurants that may be particularly struggling with the effects of the pandemic, and restaurants that will continue to offer carry-out or delivery. 

For us, I don't think we'll feel comfortable dining in until a vaccine is widely distributed. So at least through the winter and early spring we'll likely be sticking to takeout. 

- What is your favorite hidden gem in your neighborhood?
- Did you discover any new-to-you cuisines in 2020 at a local spot we should check out?
- Is a business you love hurting from the economic crisis and COVID precautions in place that could use some extra love?
- Is there a black-owned restaurant that you'd like to see highlighted here?

Our restaurants are hurting, and I want to continue to shine a light on the experiences we have around Northeast Ohio. I encourage you to continue to support your favorite restaurants in a responsible way. Order takeout, purchase a gift card to use in the future or as a gift, and tip generously. 

If you'd like to check out some past To Dine Challenge lists, here are the most recent:
2020
2019
2017

Thank you for sending me your submissions! You all always come up with such excellent suggestions, and I look forward to narrowing down this list every year to the 10 I'll challenge myself to. 

Warren's Spirited Kitchen

As we head into the last couple of months of the year and I scurry to try and complete my 2020 To Dine Challenge list by December 31st, we have to take a brief trip back in time. Pre-COVID. It feels like a lifetime ago. But right before Mr. H and I headed out of the country with my family (and returned on March 13th to a very different world in the United States than when we left), he had taken me out for a birthday celebration at Warren's Spirited Kitchen in Burton.

I've had difficulty writing this post, because of course for a long time life was put on hold and everything was so heavy. Some days, it feels like not much has changed since March. But, this was a positive dining experience that I felt was worth shining a light on in these crazy times. 

It was a freezing cold night at the end of February, but we cozied up by the fireplace and settled in with excitement in trying a new place.

We relied on our server to suggest popular menu items. First up was an order of the Confit Chicken Wings ($13) with 24-hour cured and 12-hour confit slow cooked wings with a choice of maple BBQ, lemon garlic, hot, habanero, Thai ginger, house kc style BBQ or chipotle lime dry rub (our choice). They fell right off the bone, just like the famous ones from The Greenhouse Tavern.

I had their Fish Special with Poblano lime hollandaise, asparagus, and potatoes. Simple, but prepared well. 

Mr. H went for their famous Nashville Hot Chicken & Funnel Cake ($16) that was a brined and breaded boneless thigh, signature hot sauce, marinated kale salad, funnel cake, maple syrup and powdered sugar. Too sweet for my taste, but he enjoyed it and it's a fun play on Chicken & Waffles.

Overall, the food exceeded my expectations and the atmosphere was casual but really pleasant with live music, fresh flowers, and a fireplace. While you'll find higher quality food and service in many of Cleveland's restaurants, this charming spot could definitely hang and it's a real gem in this rural area. 

Thanks for letting me flash back to a simpler time in 2020. I felt it was finally time to go back and give this restaurant the credit it deserves. 

Warren's Spirited Kitchen

14614 E. Park Street

Burton, OH 44021

(440) 273-8100

Lock 15 Brewing Co.

Even though Mr. H and I are still choosing to not dine in at restaurants, we're supporting through takeout and discovering some fantastic new spots for picnics. This led us to a "pandemic date night" in Akron with a walk at the Cascade Valley Metro Park...

...on Overlook Trail (just .5 miles and ADA accessible)...

...with stunning views of the Cuyahoga River (125 feet below, yikes!)...

...and dinner from Lock 15 Brewing Co. in another area of the park that was literally right next to the brewery. The restaurant is on my 2020 To Dine Challenge list, and we'd really been looking forward to trying it.

Overall, even as takeout, it did not disappoint! We had to start with the Bahn Mi ($13) with Pulled Pork, Salsa Verde, Mango Corn Salsa, and Cilantro on Steamed Buns (4 buns included). Mr. H can never resist a steamed bun, and we both love a traditional bahn mi. These were our favorite.

We split the Lock 15 Burger ($13) on a Brioche Roll with Lettuce, Onion, House Pickles, Smoked Cheddar and Horseradish Aioli. All sandwiches are served with house kettle chips. Substitute side salad or french fries for $2. Substitute jalapeno corn grits or snap peas for $3. Gluten free roll available.

The only disappointing item we tried was the Peach Burrata ($9) with Peach Jam and Warmed Grain Bread. The peach jam didn't have a whole lot of flavor and burrata is very mild, so it just wasn't very interesting. Also, if the bread was grilled I think it would have improved it. This one I'd skip. But there are plenty of other tempting dishes to try! Kids menu available, and this brewery felt family-friendly.

Parking and the brewery/restaurant entrance are on the back side of the building, which is a cool renovated tire factory. The place was very busy both inside and out. There was an attempt to have some pandemic precautions in place but this isn't one I'd recommend dining in at right now if you're leery. However, it was just steps away from the park and the canal, and we quite enjoyed the quiet views there at our picnic table. Shhhh, we snuck in a Crowler ($10) of their Swinehart Stout. I'm anxious to get back to try their Pretty Boy Peanut Butter Porter. 

This one's worth the drive from to Akron from Cleveland with solid food and beers just steps away from a fabulous park system that I hadn't been to before. It won't be our last trip for this combo. 

Lock 15 Brewing Co.

21 W North Street

Akron, OH 44304

(234) 900-8277