Hook and Hoof

Hook and Hoof in Downtown Willoughby became our dinner destination when Mr. H and I found ourselves headed out to Willoughby Brewing Co. to finally get my hands on their famous Nut Smasher Imperial Stout (yes, it lived up to the hype). I'm not overly familiar with the area, so I knew that I needed to head to Twitter and ask Jen of Why CLE? for a restaurant recommendation.

She didn't steer me wrong, and we ended up with a reservation at the Chef's Counter, with great views of the action happening in the kitchen!

This "New American" kitchen is also known for their craft cocktails, and they did not disappoint.

A lot of the menu sounded right up our alley, so we had to start with splitting a couple of small plates. Including the Cold Smoked Salmon ($14) with roasted garlic horseradish crema, rye crostini, chow chow and citrus oil. A fancy "bagel and lox" that was light and full of great flavor and textures!

We also shared the Bone Marrow and Arugula Salad ($14) that came out with two huge bones and wonderful grilled bread.

Mr. H went with the Double Bone-in Elk Chop ($32) with rosemary polenta (to die for texture and flavor), cider roasted root vegetables, and chow chow. Because how often do you see elk on a menu?

I ordered the Pan-seared Mahi Mahi ($27) with butternut squash and mushroom risotto and a pomegranate-apple gastrique. Another winner.

Really, this meal was delicious and beautiful from start to finish, and we loved our seats at the Chef's Counter. It's a small place, so I'd suggest making a reservation. We don't find ourselves in Willoughby too often, but this spot will be on our re-visit list!

Hook and Hoof
4125 Erie Street
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 571-5312

Weekend Bites

This was one of those weekends that I was soooo ready for. Our puppy was sick last week, so I had worked from home the last couple of days. By Friday, I was ITCHING to get out of the house. Well, we more than made up for it. We had some fun food adventures that I'll be sharing with you later this week, but for now I'll share the other weekend highlights.

Saturday brought the Grand Opening of the new Lilly Chocolates and Confections location in Old Brooklyn, so we swung through for some sweet treats.

But it also gave us a perfect opportunity to check out their new neighbor as well, the 2020 Schaaf Gallery + Studio. Featuring Cleveland-themed original and print artwork, as well as all kinds of crafting and art workshops and events. It's an adorable and warm space, with artistic activities for all ages being offered and artwork at very reasonable prices. Check them out!

What would any good weekend be without a stop at Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.? In addition to picking up a couple of delicious cheeses, I also learned an important piece of holiday news. They will be offering a CHEESE ADVENT CALENDAR, available to order next month. You may have heard the buzz about this year's new Cheese Advent Calendar offered by Target. Screw that! Get me the local and gourmet version from Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. Just take my money now. All of it. I'm in holiday cheese heaven with this news.

Saturday night, we headed out of our comfort zone and scooted out to Willoughby. Mainly so that I could finally get my hands on the Nut Smasher at Willoughby Brewing Company. It lived up to the beer hype.

After a fun (and boozey) Saturday night out, we needed a Sunday cure. So we headed to Touch Supper Club for brunch. We hadn't been since they reopened after a long process of renovations quite a while ago. I didn't see much change inside, and the menu was almost identical, but it was like saying hello to a long-lost friend.

After brunch, we headed down Lorain for some vintage shopping. Please, please someone go buy this adorable brass Chinese dumpling cart (pictured below) from Helm Collective! What a conversation piece. And you could style it in so many ways, plant stand, bar cart...I wish I had room for it.

As the rain kicked in, we headed home and curled up for the evening. Being so busy made the weekend fly by, but it was exactly what I needed after being cooped up. Thanks for a great weekend, Cleveland. I love you.

A Crabby Night at Lure Bistro

Last Thursday brought us a fun dining excursion...all-you-can-eat crab legs at Lure Bistro in Willoughby.

Known for their sushi (half-off on Tuesdays), they are running this Thursday special right now and we couldn't wait to dive into some crab legs. For just $28.50, it's one of the best deals that I've seen on AYCE crab.

The meal also included a side salad, which was doused a little too much in the dressing for my taste-- but otherwise very good.

Fresh bread arrived with the salads, and it included a mango butter. I was quickly distracted by the crab when it arrived shortly after, but I didn't taste the mango flavor in it.

With the main event, french fries and coleslaw are served. But those were easily ignored for the most part. Bring on more crab! They were flavorful, easy to crack, and had large pieces of meat in them. Very much worth the work, and the coating of crab smell on our skin at the end of the night.

I do want to head back to Lure for sushi some night. The menu is lengthy, and so many of them were unusual and tempting. I have heard that the quality of the sushi isn't as good as it was a few years ago. The chef left to open his own place. But I still want to try it for myself. Several of the starters also sounded great, like Tuna Nachos, Shrimp Ceviche Tacos, and Seared Ahi Tuna. Our server did tell us that the nachos are his favorite thing on the menu.

We were seated on the spacious patio/outdoor bar area, and it was very casual and almost tropical feeling. Inside, it was a little more formal and had a gorgeous fish tank behind the bar. I do have to note that our server was fantastic, and kept the crab legs coming for us. But I did overhear a manager instructing another server to "get them their check and get 'em out of here", and we were told that we only had our table for a limited window because of other reservations for crab night. They are certainly in the business of getting you in and out on Thursdays. Which I can see why, because they were packed by the time we left at 7:00. You should definitely call for a reservation. Free valet service is provided out front, which was appreciated because street parking can be difficult in downtown Willoughby.

So, there you have it folks. A fun night out cracking some crab. I suggest getting out there yourselves!

Lure Bistro and Sushi Bar
38040 Third Street
Willoughby, OH 44094
440-951-TUNA