Cleveland Independents is one of my favorite organizations and they are having a spring Restaurant Week from April 2-14th. As per my usual obsessive compulsive self towards getting a bargain, I have examined all of the restaurants menu and come up with the best bang for your buck. For $33 per person some of the restaurants have the choice of salad, pasta and ice cream for dessert while others have....well...check these places out!
Flour Rustic Italian Kitchen has an amazing menu for the week. My choices from the menu would be the following: Chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in pancetta with a roasted red pepper sauce; Intermezzo-chef's inspiration; third course- Vitello tonnato ravioli with veal, tuna tomato sauce and pickled garlic with arugula; for dessert- Nutella and chocolate molten cake. The selections sound amazing and it is well worth the $33 per person. Plus, I have never been here so this is one of my top choice for the week.
Another long time favorite of mine is The Grovewood Tavern and its menu does not disappoint either. My choices for the special menu would include some of the tastiest items on the menu that are unique and always well prepared. First course- grilled smoked Gouda is pan-seared and served with a fig/shallot/port wine jam and crostini. I have had similar dishes to this at Grovewood and it is amazing. The second course choice would be the Maple-Adobo Pork shank which is raised in Guiness with adobo peppers, heared spaetzle, and fresh vegetales in a Chardon maple syrup adobo glaze. The other items sound flavorful as well but this one sounds the most unique and inventive of all of the choices. For dessert the choice would clearly be the caramel pecan cake...it is caramel, pecans and cake what else could be better. Grovewood a better deal then the $33 dinner by including a special selected wine pairing with each course and dish for only $13 more. If you miss Grovewood for the week...I highly encourage you to stop e another time for a truly delicious meal.
My second choice for the week, based mainly on the fact that I have never been to this place for dinner before is Players on Madison. It is hard to make a choice at this place but I will do my best. They also have a slightly different option in that the three course do not include a dessert course. The first course offers Roasted chicken, corn, spinach spring rolls with asian slaw and siracha-soy dipping sauce. The second course- a salad course- my choice would e the mista salad with sun dried strawberries, onion, gorgonzola and a balsamic vinaigrette. While this is not the most exciting group of choices, a well made salad can be amazing no matter how common it might be to the palate. The main course choice for me would clearly be the Proscuitto and Gouda stuffed pork chop served with polenta, corn salsa and smoked ancho-tomato sauce. I love things that are spicy and this sounds like an interesting combination.
My last choice, only due to the number of times I have eaten here, is hype park in Westlake. This menu may be the best one in terms of value. First course the clear choice is the half Hyde Park Wedge. While the other choice is Loster Bisque, trust me this Wedge salad is amazing and so perfect. The dinner choice for me would be the Jumbo Shrimp Saute with tomatoes, mushrooms, scallion on lemon pepper angel hair pasta with a spicy lobster butter sauce. My second choice would e the bacon wrapped twin fillet with caramelized onion, truffle aioli and garlic whipped potatoes. This is a steak house and their steaks are melt in your mouth fantastic. The dessert would be the two layer double chocolate cake. I could easily go to Hyde Park for this $33 dinner three time if money were no object.
So there are my choices for Cleveland Independent Restaurant Week! I am looking for dining guests this week. I am willing to go to at 2 dinners...so let me know if you are interested! :-) Have a Happy Easter everyone!
