A Cleveland Institution- John Q's

We had a gift certificate to Crop Bistro burning a hole in our pockets from the last Cleveland Independent's gift certificate sale, so we had decided to dine there on Friday night after a downtown work function that I was dragging "R" to. Imagine our surprise when we walked up to the door and saw a sign stating "Closed for Private Party". Really?!? A Friday night?!? I don't even want to think about how much it would cost to shut down this downtown hot spot on a Friday night, or who you had to be to make this happen.

It was creeping up on 10:30PM at this point, so our dining options were quickly becoming limited. We began discussing other West 6th Street options, and then we happened to glance across the parking lot to John Q's Steakhouse. "R" hadn't been there in many years, and I had only sampled tastings at local fundraising events. So we headed in their direction with the hopes that they were still serving. Luckily, they were and we stumbled through their door eager to eat. When you enter the restaurant you are guided down a short hall of almost floor-to-ceiling glass trophy cases, all filled with Cleveland sports memorabilia. Then you arrive at the hostess station and are transported to what I would call an "old boys' club" atmosphere. The ornate, carved, dark wood and dim lighting begged for tables full of businessmen puffing on their cigars and discussing the ways of the world. It was quite different than the many other "new" and "trendy" restaurants that have popped up in this neighborhood since the Cleveland restaurant scene has started to bloom. I found it fun, and surprising, to feel almost taken back in time. This restaurant is clearly a Cleveland institution and has a history behind it.

Now, on to the food...we started out that evening thinking that we were dining off of a pre-paid gift certificate. In other words- not spending additional $$. On the walk over, we agreed to just order two entrees- no appetizers or drinks to help keep the cost reasonable. As we started to peruse the menu, "R" suddenly says "Let's order their stuffed mushrooms. I remember them being good.". Then comes "What are you ordering? You can order the filet if you want to." Then the final statement came out of his mouth. "They have a surf n' turf dish, why don't you get that, I know how much you love lobster." Umm, hands off ladies- he's all mine! So our "cheap" date night suddenly turned into a $45 entree, but I wasn't complaining. The cheese-stuffed mushrooms were tasty, and we happily shared the plate of 5 caps. "R" ordered their burger. While it was a good burger, it was so over-stuffed that there was no way he could fit it into his mouth to easily bite into it. He actually had to remove some of the toppings in order to squish the burger enough to handle it. I appreciate generous portions and the impressive presentation of a tower of ingredients, but when any sandwich or burger becomes hard to eat because it is so big then I end up feeling frustrated and dissatisfied with the meal. Luckily his mouth is bigger than mine and he was able to handle it once a few things were removed. I didn't dare try to take a bite of it, but he was pleased with the flavor.

My surf n' turf included a Cesar salad and choice of potato. The salad was fresh and light with plenty for us to share. I opted for the garlic mashed potatoes, and I was glad that I did. The garlic was prominent without overpowering, and the chunks of potato throughout proved that they were house-made. The 8 oz. lobster tail was huge and succulent- some of the best meat that I've had! I ordered the filet prepared medium, which can be hard to achieve on a small 4 oz. steak, but it was perfectly pink and warm throughout. I am a firm believer that a good steak shines on its own and does not need toppings or sauces, so I did not choose to add on any of these items that were offered on the menu. Sadly, I think this dish may have been a little better with something added. The steak was cooked very well, but the flavor was lacking slightly. It was still a good cut of meat, but overall I was not wowed. I think I expected more from a steakhouse. Next time, I would try one of their sauces or extra toppings for a few dollars more. Some of them certainly sounded tasty!

So, it wasn't the night that we were prepared to have, but it ended up being quite fun and interesting to explore such a unique and historic downtown restaurant. The restaurant clearly has a following. One couple at the table next to us refused menus when seated- they knew what they wanted and it sounded like they dined there frequently! It might not have the hype around it like several of the newer and more "fashionable" restaurants in that area, but if you are looking for something different and traditional then I'd recommend stopping in. I can't say that it was so good that we will be running back for more too soon, but I did enjoy the experience and it was nice to support an independent restaurant that has been such an icon in that area.

John Q's Steakhouse
55 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 861-0900

A "Jewel" Of An Evening

"R" and I had the pleasure of attending The Best Cleveland Chefs Cooking to Bring Jewel Home from China on Monday night at the Sight Center to benefit the Jarrett family. Local chef Jeff Jarrett and his family are trying to adopt their second special needs child from China, and the price tag is hefty. Did you know that it can cost over $20,000 to bring an adopted child over from China?

Well for just $25, guests did their part to contribute to this worthy cause. You can help too by making an online donation here.

We dined our way through 19 chef stations and thoroughly enjoyed sampling the dishes from some of our area's best. For photos and descriptions of each, check out my fellow blogger Nancy's post. Our favorites of the evening were Ky-Wai Wong- Lucky's Cafe: Mac & Cheese and Matt Mathlage- Light Bistro: Pork Belly Sandwich. The good news is that the heavenly macaroni and cheese can be found on Lucky's regular menu. This dish seriously made us want to jump in the car and drive there immediately! Also, Nancy discovered that Light Bistro's sandwich is featured on the Happy Hour menu. I know where we are headed next Friday! A close third was Matt Baber from Naya Bistro. Naya was our discovery for the evening. I've never heard of this restaurant, located in Highland Heights, but after trying their jerk pork dish we can't wait to check it out.

Of course the food was fantastic and we really enjoyed almost everything that we tried, but what really struck me about the evening was not necessarily the food. It was so nice to look around the room and see such an eclectic crowd- all there to support the Jarrett family. I saw many of my fellow foodies and bloggers (all tempted by the promise of fabulous samplings), supporters of the Sight Center, and then many extended Jarrett family members and friends. Family members all had on name tags identifying themselves as "Jewel's Aunt", "Jewel's Grandpa", etc. and I thought that it was a sweet touch.

Also, we all know that our area's chefs are fabulous and give so generously throughout the year at local tasting events and charity benefits. But to see them all rally behind one of their own was inspiring. As we made our way through the room and spoke with almost all of the chefs, they commented on what an honor it was to be there and that they were happy to help this family unite. It truly made me proud to be a Clevelander. It was a "jewel" of an evening, and we wish the family the best of luck at reaching their fundraising goal.

Italian Post On An Irish Day- Oops!

Ok, I feel a little weird writing about an Italian restaurant on the most Irish day of the year- but oh well. I'll drink a green beer later and make up for it! Saturday night, "R" and I headed out for a belated birthday celebration at Ponte Vecchio. The restaurant has been on my list to try for quite a while now- it even made my New Year's Resolution list of 10 Restaurants to try in 2010. I guess that I can cross it off now- one down, nine to go.

When we walked in, I was a little surprised at how warm and casual it was. I was under the impression that it was a little more stuffy and formal than it really is. I was instantly pleased. Light wood accents, interesting granite table tops, comfy booths, large windows, and a partially open kitchen welcomed us. Even though it was a rainy night in Cleveland, the view was still fabulous. The restaurant is nestled on the west bank of the flats at bridge-level, and the windows directly face downtown and several of our gorgeous bridges. At night, with all of the buildings lit up- it was truly special to see.

We started with the Crab-stuffed Artichoke Bottoms with prosecco hollandaise sauce ($11)- suggested by our server. The dish arrived slightly cooler than I would have wanted, but this didn't stop us from awarding this antipasti course as our "favorite" of the meal. An artichoke heart supported a large pile of crab pieces, and the rich sauce was poured on top. The combination of flavors was well-balanced. Then we shared a Poached Pear Salad with hazelnuts and gorgonzola ($8). The salad was good, but nothing special. It could have used a little more cheese and balsamic dressing. Selecting an entree was very difficult! Several options jumped out at us, so we finally settled on two that we both wanted to try. This meant that I would get to have at least a few bites of his, because he'd want mine as well!

"R" ordered the Lobster Cioppinno with scallops, clams, mussels, and lobster ravioli ($28). The dish arrived with a heap of fresh seafood- including a small lobster tail. Under the seafood rested two ravioli, which were good but one or two more would have made for a more substantial dish. It was prepared in a traditional marinara sauce. "R" stated that he loved the dish, but I felt that the marinara dominated the flavor. I am such a seafood freak that I don't like it when it is overpowered. I happily ate my Pan Roasted Jumbo Scallops with lobster mashers, saffron butter, and spinach ($23) instead. Three seared scallops accompanied a generous pile of lobster mashers, which included several large pieces of lobster. The saffron butter sauce is what brought the dish together. It was buttery with just a hint of citrus, and I barely left any on the plate.

As if we weren't full enough, we ordered Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse- both served in a fun martini glass. The tiramisu was interesting and nontraditional, and the mousse included fresh sliced strawberries which was nice. I was so full that I took most of it home with me. The night turned out even better than we had anticipated, and we will certainly be back. The food was very good, but the view alone is worth experiencing at least once. It really makes you realize how beautiful our city truly is...

Ponte Vecchio

2100 Superior Viaduct

Cleveland, OH 44113

(216) 556-8200

Tater Tot Love

I've written about Touch Supper Club before, but we just had brunch there yesterday for the first time and I was really impressed. I've heard that they put on a great brunch, and the menu certainly looked extensive online- but it has taken us two years to get there on a Sunday! I'm glad that we finally did, and I think this may be a new Sunday tradition...

First, their brunch hours are 11AM - 5PM- which I think is fantastic. Many brunches end by 2 or 3PM, but this allows late brunchers (such as ourselves on this occasion) sneak in later than we would have been able to anywhere else that we've been. Second, the prices are really reasonable. Dishes ranged from $5-$10, with most of them falling at $6-$8. Almost all of the dishes come with fresh fruit and tater tots. I recommend asking for the house-made (or at least altered) ketchup with the tots. C'mon, who doesn't LOVE tater tots?! I had a serious flash back to my childhood.

"R" and his family members ordered the Stuffed French Toast with berries foster and cream cheese ($6), Touch Burger grilled-to-order angus, fried egg, crispy copa, and touch secret sauce ($7), and the Veggie Omelet with tomato, green pepper, mushroom, onion, and cheese ($6). "R" and I have had Touch's berries foster as a dessert before, and it was just as tasty and sweet for breakfast! The burger looked well-executed, and his brother slurped it down quickly. Honestly, any time an egg is put on top of a burger- my ears perk up! The omelet was huge, and I do mean HUGE. The vegetables were fresh and the omelet's edges were slightly browned- just right.

I had the Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel with steak, egg, and cheese ($7). The sandwich came on an everything bagel, which added great flavor to the otherwise neutral ingredients. The other thing that brought it all together was the "Touch Secret Sauce", which was generously pooled around the sandwich. I would love to know what was in that sauce! It was creamy and buttery without overpowering the dish. Note- I ordered my egg over-medium instead of the traditional scrambled that it is served with. I will certainly try other menu options when we dine there again, but I'll be back for this sandwich.

P.S. Purse hooks at the bar ladies!

Touch Supper Club
2710 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 631-5200

One Year Ago Today...

Happy Anniversary Blog! It's been one heck of a first year together, and I'm looking forward to many more. Starting tonight...with a belated birthday dinner at Ponte Vecchio! See you tomorrow for Post #1 of Year #2.

*Yours Truly*