Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week

One of my favorite weeks of the year.  I know I am late in reviewing and it is already Wednesday but...my top picks and low picks for the best menus.

My love of restaurant week is not just for the value, but for seeing something different then the restaurant usually has and enjoying a meal that leaves me wanting to come back and pay full price.  Places like Lola, Mallorca and Cowell and Hubbard have been favorites of mine in the past and make me want to find a reason to go there other than restaurant week.  I have been to all of them for just special occasions since my restaurant week experience. 

I have to start by saying it was hard to pick the top menus because so many restaurants had interesting items that made it well worth the value and purpose of restaurant week.  This time the restaurants I picked are all places I have never been for dinner.

Luca Italian Cuisine- located on the via duct (already making it more promising because parking is easier to find) first course is a soup or salad-sort of boring but the rest of the meal sounds AMAZING.  Choice of Vitello Tortellini, Pappardelli Bolognese, Filetto di Manzo, and Fieletto di Salmone.  The salmon is wrapped in prosciutto with a creamy cognac sauce, the pappardelli has ground beef, duck and wild boar.  Definitely interesting items that I am excited to try.  For dessert- Tiramisu or decadent chocolate mouse- this may sound boring but an amazing tiramisu can make any dinner better.  (Yes I am a little biased, many make tiramisu very few have perfected it) 

Hodges- First course choice of Chicken Liven Toast, Canadian Mussels, Caesar Salad or Creamy beer and Tillamook soup- this is a great first course!  Second course- braised beef cheeks, Salmon or fried chicken thighs.  While salmon and fried chicken are not that exciting...you rarely see braised beef cheeks-thanks for going outside of the box Chef Hodson.  Dessert- banana cream pie or chocolate bread pudding- ok this is sort of boring but the rest of the meal sounds amazing that I can let it go this time. 

Ken Stewarts- First course has 8 different choices- the interesting ones: truffle fries, house made ricotta or calamari.  Definitely not your typical soup or salad.  Second course- five choices and the most interesting: wagyu and wild board meatloaf with sweet potato risotto and a roast tomato and soy BBQ sauce or scallops with sweet potato puree Brussels sprouts, crisp gaufrettes and pomegranate molasses.  Each one different and with some personality.  dessert- peanut butter bomb or chocolate tiramisu- why do the restaurants always wuss out on dessert. 

Zocalo- Ok I have heard Zocalo's food has not been up to par lately.  I have never eaten dinner there only went for drinks so I cannot comment on that, but the menu sounds fun.  First course offers bacon wrapped scallops seared in orange glaze with a citrus habanero salsa or baked chili oysters on the half shell.  I do not even like oysters but I want to try it out.  Second course- there are 5 choices but the most interesting:  Zocalo Paella- shrimp, scallops, chicken, oysters, rajas, and chicken stock served over saffron rice.  Mexican Lasagna with chorizo and rajas.  For dessert- lime sorbet or cinnamon tamale soppapillas. 

Ok now for the ones that just really put in no effort at all:

San Souci- Salad, Pasta, dessert- really why bother participating if it is going to be that simple
Tomo Hibachi-you are offering dinner for 2 for $30 but- Edamame and Gyoza, Chicken Hibachi or Sushi, and Cheesecake or Chocolate cake- zero creativity although a good value for 2 people. 

Slight disappointment- Chinato and Cowell and Hubbard- usually Zach Bruell does something really interesting not on his normal menu for restaurant week- while the choice constitutes a good value I just feel like they are not being as creative as normal.  Also disappointing in Lola.  Again great value for the meal but not interesting.  Once of my first times at Lola was for a restaurant week and there was beef heart on the menu.  That to me is fun and interesting and the purpose of restaurant week. 
Maybe for another restaurant week or Cleveland Independents or Zach Bruell restaurant week the menus will be more exciting.  Wow...we have a lot of restaurant weeks in Cleveland- we are a town that loves great food!