Ok...so I have not blogged in a while. The cold kept me from going out to enjoy the great food of the city. But finally I have broken out and ventured into the cold wintery mix of Cleveland. So Press Wine Bar, great location, great décor and I have been there before for brunch and the amazing Bloody Mary's. But this time it was a catch up session with an old friend over drinks and food for happy hour.
To begin with they have many reasonably priced wines- under $9 a glass- and they have about 8-9 wines available during happy hour for just $5. This is better than most places that have one house red and one house white for happy hour. The cool thing about their choices, you have some. As for the food, to begin with everything is fresh and of good quality. There are only a few items for the $5 happy hour price, but they are a good bargain. On the $5 menu is their shrimp deviled eggs- which I did not have this time but have had before and they are amazing, mussels, two pizzas and the risotto balls.
My dining companion and I opted for a chicken flat bread pizza, risotto balls, and a salad. The flat bread pizza was great, crisp crust, good amount of toppings, great flavor. The risotto balls were crispy with a chunk of fresh mozzarella inside. They were topped with tomatoes and balsamic. It could have used a little bit more salt, but otherwise they were perfect. My dinner companion also ordered a salad that looked great. It had arugula and a poached pear that was perfect.
I would definitely go back. On a Monday night they had a decent crowd, never too busy, but constant., The bar tender was awesome. We were sitting there for over 4 hours catching up and he never made us feel rushed or like we needed to leave because we were not drinking anymore. If you like brunch I recommend their brunch to anyone. It was great when I went with some friends. Reasonably priced and delicious as well!~
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Toast Happy Hour
Toast is a great new place in Gordon Square, right across the street from the Capitol Theater and so great shops. While I have had drinks and appetizers and dinner here before, I had never tried the happy hour. The food and drinks can be pricey, but happy hour is a great way to experience this new gem!
To start with, the drinks are normally $11 each. They are all handcrafted and full of quality ingredients. For happy hour though, they offer discounted beer and a house red/Wine for $5 and this time a mulled cider for $5. These drinks are frugal worthy, the others are for indulgence!
The food...my favorite part of any blog. The food is delicious and sourced locally (another favorite of this frugal lady). We ordered and shared the fun. To start we have the corn dogs- hush puppies with a large slice of kielbasa inside topped with a drizzle of honey. yum! We also had an order of the trio of tapenade. This is $1 less then normal menu price. This time the trio included eggplant, smoked white trout, and beef. The toast were perfectly sliced and toasted and the tapenade was the perfect ratio. Now onto the main course- we had the burger and the grilled cheese. Sounds boring right? WRONG! The burger was made from brisket, served on a home baked brioche roll with egg, cheddar and BBQ sauce. The grilled cheese was beautiful Middlefield cheese and grilled to perfect with a special type of bacon and homemade peach preserves. The food was delicious, fresh and filling. The prices very reasonable for the quality received.
This was a special night out so we did order some specialty cocktails. They were also delicious and well made. I would put some of their hand crafted cocktails at $11 a piece against anything from Velvet Tango room at $20 a piece. These are well worth the money and just as good. To make the atmosphere even better, the bartenders are friendly and accommodating and knowledgeable of what they are serving and the drinks they are crafting.
To start with, the drinks are normally $11 each. They are all handcrafted and full of quality ingredients. For happy hour though, they offer discounted beer and a house red/Wine for $5 and this time a mulled cider for $5. These drinks are frugal worthy, the others are for indulgence!
The food...my favorite part of any blog. The food is delicious and sourced locally (another favorite of this frugal lady). We ordered and shared the fun. To start we have the corn dogs- hush puppies with a large slice of kielbasa inside topped with a drizzle of honey. yum! We also had an order of the trio of tapenade. This is $1 less then normal menu price. This time the trio included eggplant, smoked white trout, and beef. The toast were perfectly sliced and toasted and the tapenade was the perfect ratio. Now onto the main course- we had the burger and the grilled cheese. Sounds boring right? WRONG! The burger was made from brisket, served on a home baked brioche roll with egg, cheddar and BBQ sauce. The grilled cheese was beautiful Middlefield cheese and grilled to perfect with a special type of bacon and homemade peach preserves. The food was delicious, fresh and filling. The prices very reasonable for the quality received.
This was a special night out so we did order some specialty cocktails. They were also delicious and well made. I would put some of their hand crafted cocktails at $11 a piece against anything from Velvet Tango room at $20 a piece. These are well worth the money and just as good. To make the atmosphere even better, the bartenders are friendly and accommodating and knowledgeable of what they are serving and the drinks they are crafting.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Don's Lighthouse- Fabulous Happy Hours and specials
Don's Lighthouse is right down the street. For years I have enjoyed a meal there and a few times I have been there for restaurant week. But for some reason I never went to happy hour- my mistake! To begin with Skyy Vodka martini's are only $5. The choices for happy hour are extensive and cheap! Definitely go with a friends.
I was on my own this night so I ordered the sampler- one crab cake, 2 shrimp, 3 bruschetta all for 6.50. The crab cake was all crab to the point where it sort of fell apart. It was topped with corn and a fresh cream sauce- very tasty. The shrimp were jump plain shrimp cocktail with delicious cocktail sauce with horseradish. The bruschetta were long thin pieces of bread grilled and topped with tomato and balsamic. I did see a neighbor at the bar who ordered the mussels ($5) and the mini burgers (4.50). Both were large. The mussels were served with a wine and tomato broth, the mini burgers were four nice size burgers on beautiful fluffy rolls. IF you are with a group also order the artichoke/spinach dip at $3.88 it is well worth it and perfect to share. Also on the menu escargot ($4.50) and order of Bruschetta ($6.75) and Crab cakes.
There are also great specials almost every night. Tuesday night is $15 lobster tail served over mashed potatoes with drawn butter. Sunday is $10 off steak and lobster dinner. One night is burger night as well.
The crowd is a bit older, but the food is really good. Young foodies definitely should tyr this place out.
I was on my own this night so I ordered the sampler- one crab cake, 2 shrimp, 3 bruschetta all for 6.50. The crab cake was all crab to the point where it sort of fell apart. It was topped with corn and a fresh cream sauce- very tasty. The shrimp were jump plain shrimp cocktail with delicious cocktail sauce with horseradish. The bruschetta were long thin pieces of bread grilled and topped with tomato and balsamic. I did see a neighbor at the bar who ordered the mussels ($5) and the mini burgers (4.50). Both were large. The mussels were served with a wine and tomato broth, the mini burgers were four nice size burgers on beautiful fluffy rolls. IF you are with a group also order the artichoke/spinach dip at $3.88 it is well worth it and perfect to share. Also on the menu escargot ($4.50) and order of Bruschetta ($6.75) and Crab cakes.
There are also great specials almost every night. Tuesday night is $15 lobster tail served over mashed potatoes with drawn butter. Sunday is $10 off steak and lobster dinner. One night is burger night as well.
The crowd is a bit older, but the food is really good. Young foodies definitely should tyr this place out.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Cleveland independent restaurant week
So it is restaurant week and this is my favorite time of the year. While most places are awesome, I want to point out the most interesting.
A few offer pairings with wine. My two favorites are tartine bistro and pier w. Pier w always has the best food offerings. This year is the same. The most interesting choices include the braised baby root vegetables in coconut milk, sweet basil, and Thai chili's; blackened gulf shrimp with chorizo, cornbread stuffing, and tomato and baby squash fondue; Bavarian chocolate smore baked Alaska. All $30 and can add wine pairing for an extra $15.
Tartine offers the meal for $33 with a glass of wine. The choices include any salad, coq au vin, and tarte tatin.
Bac offers a "fourth" course of either dessert or a drink. Most interesting choices green papaya salad, coconut milk crepe, and any of their big plates.
A new restaurant to Cleveland independents is Toast in Gordon Square. There most interesting items include beef tartar, pumpkin oats with sage, risotto, walnut, farm egg, and pumpkin; chocolate Bavarian with black tea, plum and almond.
On the east side and where I am hoping to go...Paladar. best choices tilapia and avocado crevice; jalapeno spiced lamb stew; pineapple rum,upside down cake.
And a few oldies but goodies....
Dons Lighthouse with mussels, lobster tail, creme brulee. GREAT value. Players include grilled portabelli with caramelized onions, Sun dried tomato, chevre, spinach and calamita; Mediterranean salad, mustard seed glazed Berkshire pork chop with butternut squash pierogies, apple's sage and walnuts.
Most interesting dessert...Flour. for dinner try fried olives with goat cheese, calabrian salmon with salsa Verde and polenta croutons and dessert...nutella and popcorn ice cream bar.
Now these are just my suggestions and a few of them direct you to the restaurant website for the menu. Check out Grovewood and new this year Townhall on their site.
Happy eating!
A few offer pairings with wine. My two favorites are tartine bistro and pier w. Pier w always has the best food offerings. This year is the same. The most interesting choices include the braised baby root vegetables in coconut milk, sweet basil, and Thai chili's; blackened gulf shrimp with chorizo, cornbread stuffing, and tomato and baby squash fondue; Bavarian chocolate smore baked Alaska. All $30 and can add wine pairing for an extra $15.
Tartine offers the meal for $33 with a glass of wine. The choices include any salad, coq au vin, and tarte tatin.
Bac offers a "fourth" course of either dessert or a drink. Most interesting choices green papaya salad, coconut milk crepe, and any of their big plates.
A new restaurant to Cleveland independents is Toast in Gordon Square. There most interesting items include beef tartar, pumpkin oats with sage, risotto, walnut, farm egg, and pumpkin; chocolate Bavarian with black tea, plum and almond.
On the east side and where I am hoping to go...Paladar. best choices tilapia and avocado crevice; jalapeno spiced lamb stew; pineapple rum,upside down cake.
And a few oldies but goodies....
Dons Lighthouse with mussels, lobster tail, creme brulee. GREAT value. Players include grilled portabelli with caramelized onions, Sun dried tomato, chevre, spinach and calamita; Mediterranean salad, mustard seed glazed Berkshire pork chop with butternut squash pierogies, apple's sage and walnuts.
Most interesting dessert...Flour. for dinner try fried olives with goat cheese, calabrian salmon with salsa Verde and polenta croutons and dessert...nutella and popcorn ice cream bar.
Now these are just my suggestions and a few of them direct you to the restaurant website for the menu. Check out Grovewood and new this year Townhall on their site.
Happy eating!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sweet Melissa's Sweet Happy Hour
I have found a cheaper happy hour than Fat Cats and it is not as crowded. I actually take concern in writing this blog for fear of this place becoming over crowded for that wonderful happy hour. Happy hour prices are only good at the bar of the two tables in the bar area. Sit anywhere else and no such luck on pricing. Trust me, sit in the bar area!!!!!!
To start with there are select beers for $3 and wines for $5. But then we get to the food. Order any two items and it makes a dinner. Most items are only $3. The $5 items are crab cakes and burger. Feel free to pass, these are boring items compared to the $3 menu. So at our table we ordered a fish taco which had a large piece of fish and was packed with Mexican goodness including beans, sprouts, and avocado. Another member of the table ordered the mussel that were sitting in a chili lemongrass broth that you could eat like a soup. It came with about a dozen mussels for $3. Personally I had the chicken taco. It was perfectly cooked chicken, black beans, cheese, avocado, sprouts, and deliciousness in a flour tortilla. On the side we split the orders between fried brussel sprouts and fried green tomatoes that were topped with a crisp apple compote. The green tomatoes needed some salt, but other than that they were fried perfectly and tasted delicious. You received 4 in an order...again for $3.
I have seen many reviews on line regarding Sweet Melissa's most stating how bad the service is there or panning the food. While I can understand some people may not like the slower service, the food has never disappointed. I have gone for years for lunch, dinner, brunch and now happy hour. The food quality is well worth the price- especially when you are paying $3 for a plate of mussels. And for those who are Gluten Free they do offer some options!
My friends an I enjoyed the experience and look forward to returning soon to try some of the other items on the menu. They also serve calamari and house cut fries for $3 each. It is a great meal for a glass of wine, 2 plates, tax and tip is $15 out the door! Now shhh...keep this little secret between us!
To start with there are select beers for $3 and wines for $5. But then we get to the food. Order any two items and it makes a dinner. Most items are only $3. The $5 items are crab cakes and burger. Feel free to pass, these are boring items compared to the $3 menu. So at our table we ordered a fish taco which had a large piece of fish and was packed with Mexican goodness including beans, sprouts, and avocado. Another member of the table ordered the mussel that were sitting in a chili lemongrass broth that you could eat like a soup. It came with about a dozen mussels for $3. Personally I had the chicken taco. It was perfectly cooked chicken, black beans, cheese, avocado, sprouts, and deliciousness in a flour tortilla. On the side we split the orders between fried brussel sprouts and fried green tomatoes that were topped with a crisp apple compote. The green tomatoes needed some salt, but other than that they were fried perfectly and tasted delicious. You received 4 in an order...again for $3.
I have seen many reviews on line regarding Sweet Melissa's most stating how bad the service is there or panning the food. While I can understand some people may not like the slower service, the food has never disappointed. I have gone for years for lunch, dinner, brunch and now happy hour. The food quality is well worth the price- especially when you are paying $3 for a plate of mussels. And for those who are Gluten Free they do offer some options!
My friends an I enjoyed the experience and look forward to returning soon to try some of the other items on the menu. They also serve calamari and house cut fries for $3 each. It is a great meal for a glass of wine, 2 plates, tax and tip is $15 out the door! Now shhh...keep this little secret between us!
Weekend Brunch Johnny Mangos
A few weeks ago, after an early morning game of touch football, several members of the team were looking for somewhere to have breakfast. We decided to go to Johnny Manos. While we had all been there before for lunch or dinner, brunch was a new experience for us and it did not disappoint.
To start with I ordered the margarita of the day- jalapeno and cucumber. It was delicious! One of my other companions orders a mimosa- this was not a one glass of champagne mimosa it was a full pint size glass. But we were there for breakfast so let's move on. We had a young child with us and he was happy with his happy beans and snagging some corn bread and other items from the rest of us. I indulged in the smoked salmon scramble with the side of corn bread and home fries. I loaded all of it with the green hot sauce, my favorite, and for under $8 it was a healthy and satisfying breakfast. They have old staples live Huevos Rancheros and eggs and cornbread as well as various types of whole wheat waffles. For those slightly more daring for breakfast they have a Vietnamese Rice Crepe folded over shrimp, mushrooms & sprouts; sweet and sour dipping sauce. And as always they have their regular menu available during brunch.
Johnny Mango's never disappoints. They have great food, great prices, and the quantity matches the quality. It is always changing and unique, yet you could order the same thing each time and be completely satisfied. I actually want to go back and try a different flavor margarita and maybe some pineapple granola whole wheat waffles.
I have some Gluten Free friends and this is a Gluten Free Friendly Restaurant.
To start with I ordered the margarita of the day- jalapeno and cucumber. It was delicious! One of my other companions orders a mimosa- this was not a one glass of champagne mimosa it was a full pint size glass. But we were there for breakfast so let's move on. We had a young child with us and he was happy with his happy beans and snagging some corn bread and other items from the rest of us. I indulged in the smoked salmon scramble with the side of corn bread and home fries. I loaded all of it with the green hot sauce, my favorite, and for under $8 it was a healthy and satisfying breakfast. They have old staples live Huevos Rancheros and eggs and cornbread as well as various types of whole wheat waffles. For those slightly more daring for breakfast they have a Vietnamese Rice Crepe folded over shrimp, mushrooms & sprouts; sweet and sour dipping sauce. And as always they have their regular menu available during brunch.
Johnny Mango's never disappoints. They have great food, great prices, and the quantity matches the quality. It is always changing and unique, yet you could order the same thing each time and be completely satisfied. I actually want to go back and try a different flavor margarita and maybe some pineapple granola whole wheat waffles.
I have some Gluten Free friends and this is a Gluten Free Friendly Restaurant.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Lava Lounge
So another adventure in Tremont. I love Fat Cats happy hour so decided to check out their sister restaurant on the other side if Tremont, Lava Lounge. The happy hour is not as good but there are still some solid deals.
They have multiple items for $3-7 each. I was with a friend and we ordered the wings, burger and goat cheese. The wings had 5 in an order and with a spicy Asian inspired sauce. They were a good size and cooked well. The burger was just ok. We ordered it medium and it was well done and not juicy. The meat tasted a little old as well. I would not order it again. The goat cheese was delicious. Nice herbs and crust with a spicy chopped tomato garnish and perfect crostini. I would order 3 of these next time.
The drinks were ok. Creative but nothing special. The bartender was friendly and attentive. For two drinks each and enough to call it dinner our bill was about $25 each including tax and tip. It was an affordable enjoyable night.
The last plus is their happy hour goes until 8 so no need to rush out of work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)