Medina's Thyme2

It made the To Dine Challenge List years ago, but I never did make it to Thyme2 in Medina that year, and it took until this past weekend for us to finally dine there. The 36-minute drive from the city just wasn't that appealing. But, I made sure that it made its way back on to the 2017 To Dine list.

Diners have two options--- the fine dining upstairs, or the more casual pub atmosphere (and menu) downstairs.

We were there for the fine dining, but the pub below seemed lively and they had a great view of the open kitchen.

We started with some craft cocktails, and I really enjoyed my Tropical Kick Martini with fresh lime juice, tequila, triple sec, simple syrup, fresh jalapeno, and pineapple juice. It left me searching Pinterest for a recipe.

Mr. H and I shared the Beef Carpaccio appetizer special.

The egg was cooked perfectly. We enjoyed this dish quite a bit, but I do think a pinch of salt would have made it even better.

Mr. H ordered the Roasted Rack of Lamb ($30) with a white bean and sausage cassoulet, green bean salad, and herbes de provence oil.

It was taking a very long time in between our appetizer and entrees. Turns out, the kitchen had overcooked his lamb, and the chef had them re-fire it. The chef, John Kolar, personally came to our table to explain and apologize, which was much appreciated. All it ever takes is communication, and a well prepared dish is worth waiting for.

I had the Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper ($30) with black Chinese rice, vegetable spring roll, pineapple beurre blanc, and pineapple salsa.

I also enjoyed this dish a lot. The fish and rice were cooked well, the spring roll was crisp but not greasy, and the sauce was great. I just wanted a little more of the salsa and beurre blanc on the plate.

Service was attentive and pleasant, always refilling water quickly and checking in on us without being intrusive. I would say that the food and service at Thyme2 is on par with some of the better restaurants in the city of Cleveland. Nice to have a dining option like this outside of the city, because we're fortunate to have so many options at our doorstep. That's not always the case. So, if you live out that way or are passing through, do yourself a favor and stop in.

Thyme2
113 West Smith Road
Medina, OH 44256
330-764-4114

Old Brooklyn Restaurant Month

We're coming off of Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week, and are currently in the Cleveland Independents' Restaurant Week, but...me? I'm focusing on my own neighborhood, and supporting the Old Brooklyn Restaurant Month that the Old Brooklyn Families Group is coordinating for March.

Each week selects a different street in our neighborhood, and diners are encouraged to eat at participating restaurants on that particular street. When you're done dining, you leave a copy of your receipt with your contact information on the back in the designated ballot boxes, and you're entered for a chance to win raffle prizes.

The first week is highlighting establishments on Memphis Avenue. For a list of participating restaurants and bars, visit here. Mr. H and I headed to Dina's Pizza and Pub.

This sports bar is known for their wings, pizza, and happy hour. It is just solid American bar food in a casual setting with an expansive bar (bonus points for padded, comfortable bar chairs!), Trivia night, daily specials, and more.

This was my third visit there (and we've ordered delivery countless times), and I haven't had a bad meal. But, this visit was my favorite. I had the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($8.99), and it was darn good.

The chicken was extra crispy, not overly sauced so it wasn't running down my arm and all over my plate, and the bun held up well. The mild sauce had a nice zing to it, but provided the good sweet heat I was craving. The fries were also awesome-- extra crispy! That, paired with a cold beer in a chilled glass, all went down very easily.

I love that this restaurant promotion is going on in our neighborhood, and I look forward to visiting others this month. We still have Pearl, State, and Broadview.

Dina's Pizza and Pub
5701 Memphis Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44144
216-351-FOOD

34 Isn't That Bad...

This past weekend, I turned 34. I have to admit, I wasn't too thrilled with that number looming. I loved turning 30. I think this decade is going to be full of good things for me (so far, so good), but I'm now moving into that true "mid" 30's range. Often having to check a new box on forms. Meh.

But, Mr. H did a wonderful job distracting me and spoiling me rotten all weekend long. I was getting over a terrible head cold that lingered for over a week, so luckily I was able to enjoy our Saturday festivities.

The afternoon started with a shopping trip to Fount in Gordon Square. Mr. H had seen me eyeballing the Atlas handbag for months, and surprised me with it for my birthday!

Hello, gorgeous. 

That evening, we headed to Nora in Little Italy for dinner. A 2017 To Dine Challenge restaurant, so we killed two birds with one stone! In the former Il Bacio space, across the street from Washington Place Bistro and Inn, it's still a cozy, classic Italian restaurant.

It was creepily silent when we first sat down, and everyone was speaking in very hushed tones, but it picked up as the meal wore on.

Overall, we enjoyed the food quite a bit. We ordered a Chicken Liver Bruschetta, small portion of the house made Fettuccini, and Mr. H got the Veal Osso Bucco. I had the fish special of the evening, a crusted and seared ahi tuna steak with forbidden rice, spinach, and a basil aioli. The dishes were beautifully plated, flavorful, and the pasta in particular was very good. Only a few tiny things negative to note. For the price point, the bruschetta was a very small portion (about four bites total), and my tuna was cooked almost all the way through. Searing it was necessary to get the crust good and crunchy, but it was just overdone for my personal taste. Lastly, our server was an odd guy, and his unnatural communication skills impacted our experience poorly a bit. Our interactions were awkward, but at least he was very professional and was certainly attentive. I did walk away happy with our meal, and knowing that I'd recommend the restaurant. It was probably one of our better experiences in Little Italy.

Then, we headed to Severance Hall for a performance from the Cleveland Orchestra. It was my first! Something that I've been wanting to do for a while now.

Mr. H outdid himself this year, and it was a fun and celebratory day. Maybe 34 isn't that bad...

Nora
2181 Murray Hill Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-231-5977

Yuzu

The recent CLE Dinner Club event brought us to Yuzu in Lakewood. Only open about 8 months, they are putting a Japanese twist on a neighborhood dive bar. They want it to be casual and affordable, but utilize local ingredients when possible and elevate your bar experience with craft cocktails and daily specials.

They really gave our group a sampling of most of the menu. Some of it was served family-style, and some of the courses were plated. Each course had a beverage pairing as well.

We started with some Yuzu Fries, Carrot Parsnip Fries, and Edamame.

The Carrot Parsnip Fries seemed to be the favorite at the table for this course.

Several of their skewered meats came out (you know I love meat on a stick!) before we were served their ramen. Some were better than others, but overall I'd order them.

The ramen was a bit too salty for most of us, but it's made with Ohio City Pasta ramen noodles, and the egg was cooked perfectly.

Then it was time to try samples of the meats served in their rice bowls.

The bulgogi beef was my favorite of the bunch.

While there were some "misses" at this meal, overall I enjoyed trying it and would consider going in again. The price point is very affordable, they have a kids menu, and a dog-friendly patio with special treats for your pup. Make sure you also check out their happy hour deals and daily specials.

Yuzu
13603 Madison Ave
Lakewood, OH  44107
440-799-8343

Homer Housewarming

After I returned from New York, it was time for Mr. H and I to throw our housewarming party! In September, we purchased a live auction package at an American Cancer Society fundraiser for dinner in your home with chefs Jeff Jarrett (US Foods) and John Selick (Ahuja Medical Center). Two of my favorite Cleveland chefs! As the bidding went on, chef Scott Burgun (Ahuja Medical Center) also jumped in to add a course. So, we ended up with a package perfect for our first time entertaining in the new home. That's exactly what we did on Saturday night...

We had quite a bit of fun watching them take over our kitchen.

And, the food, of course, was incredible.

If you're looking for a unique experience, and a way to entertain without killing yourself cooking all day, consider bringing in a local chef for your next dinner party. You'd be surprised at how comparable the cost is to eating out at a nice restaurant, and it's all in the comfort of your home. At the end of the night, our bellies were full, we had no stress while hosting our guests, and our kitchen was spotless when they left. It was a perfect way to break in the new house, and exactly what we intended when we bought it this fall. This was just the first of many!