Lago for Lunch

I almost never get to enjoy lunch out during the week, but on this rare occasion I decided to treat myself and try the new Lago East Bank.  Lago East Bank begins where  Lago Tremont left off...expect the same great service and amazing food.

My dining companion and I went for lunch.  We ordered two sandwiches and shared.  It was a brilliant idea to try their great menu.  Lago also offers half portions of their pastas and for lunch this provides a right size portion of their amazing pasta.  Before I get in to the food, I want to discuss the service.  Our waiter was someone you would expect to find in a 5 star stuffy white table cloth restaurant.  He was attentive, friendly, answered questions, told us about happy hour and the use of the patio.  It was a cool day for summer but still warm.  We sat in the restaurant near the open doors to the patio.  He brought me a glass of ice because my ice tea ice had melted- I never asked, he just noticed and did it.  My companion would finish his diet coke and have a new one within seconds without asking.  The last time I remember service like this was out with my parents as a child in some fancy super expensive restaurant.  This alone sets Lago apart from anywhere else I have been in Cleveland.

Ok...now the important stuff...the food.  As I said we chose the sandwiches which were served with rosemary chips that were sliced super thin and perfectly fried.  I ordered the Salami Panini that included salami, sopressata, cappicola, sun dried tomato, olive tapenade, provolone cheese served on a thin crusty bread.  It was amazing.  It made me think of my father and how he would love a sandwich like this for lunch, but it was much more refined than he would make.  It as crunchy and salty and just a perfect idea in my mind of a salami Panini.  The hamburger was ordered medium and cooked perfectly.  It was topped with an aioli, grilled onions, cheese, lettuce tomato, and salami.  It also was a perfect combination of flavors, nothing over powered anything else.  The flavors were all distinct but well married together.  Both things ordered sound ordinary, but they are made to be memorable and not like anything served in any other restaurant around.  Out total cost- as we split the bill- was around $17 for the sandwich, drink, and tax.  As the frugally classy girl always looks at quality compared to price...Lago is at the top of my life.  The quality far outweighs the price!

I am excited to try happy hour sometime soon and blog about how it fits in to the frugally classy idea of amazing quality food at an amazing price.