Sokolowski’s University Inn

Posted on by clevelandchow

Sadly, there are people out there who don’t know the joy that is a pierogi.  If you are one of those people, odds are you are not from Cleveland.  Bless your heart. *Tsk.*

If you are a native Clevelander, you know — and need — good Polish food.  Enter Sokolowski’s University Inn, a legendary establishment serving up Eastern European cuisine in Cleveland’s historic Tremont neighborhood since 1923.

Food lovers, this place!  With décor reminiscent of your grandpa’s den, Sokolowski’s is more comfortable than a favorite cardigan.  While you wait in line for the cafeteria-style food service (yes, there will be a line, and yes, it’s worth it), you can pass the time browsing the countless baseball photos, bobbleheads, and other artifacts that adorn the restaurant walls.  A picture window — papered with the day’s photo-copied menus — frames Progressive Field in the distance.  Don’t feel like braving the line just yet?  Belly up to the full-service bar, and you’ll feel as welcome as Norm at Cheers.

Once you make your way to the counter, grab a tray and brace yourself for the food-filled awesomeness that is to come.  The cafeteria line (brilliantly!) begins with dessert, where you get your pick of a broad array of home-style pies and cakes by the slice.  Next up, grab a drink from the self-serve soda fountain, or wax nostalgic over an iced bucket of bottled pop that takes you back to your elementary school days.  Move further down the line, and there they are: the entrées.

You thought you knew what you wanted to eat before you arrived at this spot.  You were wrong.  One look at the feast that lays behind the glass, and you will most certainly experience simultaneous salivation and horrific indecision, because Everything. Looks. So. Good.  Do not panic.  Promise yourself you will come back again.  And whatever you do, do not forget to order pierogi.

The potato and cheese pierogi, a Sokolowski’s menu standard, is Polish perfection seasoned with heavy doses of garlic, butter, and outright love.  Order a dozen (a dozen pierogi!) as an entrée, or choose three as a side dish — either way, they will be the best pierogi you have ever eaten.  The gigantic stuffed cabbage is home-cooked heaven on a plate, simmered to tender, meaty magnificence and topped with a classic tomato sauce.  The chicken paprikash, featuring a generous baked chicken breast paired with dumplings and a rich gravy, is sure to please.  And you can’t go wrong with the traditional Polish kielbasa and a side of sauerkraut. Smacznego!

Collect your food and your tray and make your way to the cashier.  Once you’ve settled your bill, the last thing standing between you and your meal is finding a seat in the busy dining area, but don’t worry — the friendly and fast wait staff have you covered.  In a pinch, they’ll even seat you at the table marked “reserved” for pianist Tom Ballog’s friends (Tom frequently plays tunes like “Moon River” and other Sinatra-era classics for hours at the restaurant’s love-worn piano).  Rest assured: even if you are a stranger to Tom — or any of the staff at Sokolowski’s — you will leave as a friend.

The verdict?  Mikey likes it!

#CLEchow rating: 4.25/5.00

Sokolowski’s University Inn / 1201 University Road / Cleveland, OH 44113 / (216) 771-9236 / sokolowskis.com
Nearby: Tremont, Lincoln Park, West Side Market, West 25th Street, The Flats, Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge

Posted on by clevelandchow

First, we at Cleveland Chow would like to acknowledge that it’s been a hot minute since we’ve blogged.  For that, we apologize.  But after taking a break for the holidays, we are excited to dive back in to the Cleveland food scene in 2018.

And we are absolutely loving Luxe.

We’ve promised a review of Luxe for some time now, and since then we’ve taken in all that this treasure of a restaurant has to offer (three times, to be exact!).  We simply can’t stay away from this place.  The Mediterranean-Italian bistro, situated in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts district, offers outstanding food paired with a welcoming, enthusiastic, and down-to-earth vibe.  Luxe is popular with Clevelanders for a reason: it is something special.

What makes it so special?  My goodness, the food.  Luxe offers a wide variety of options for all tastes and desires, including traditional, seafood, and vegan cuisines.  For an appetizer, we highly recommend the roasted cauliflower gratin; its perfectly al dente cauliflower florets baked in a garlic- and bacon-infused parmesean cheese sauce are certain to light up your taste buds.  Recurring menu favorites like the ricotta gnocci — which features melt-in-your-mouth beef short ribs atop delicate, handmade gnocci in a creamy and well-balanced gorgonzola and mushroom sauce — will keep food lovers coming back for more.  The smoked gouda mac and cheese, topped with buttermilk-fried boneless chicken, is comfort food at its finest.  And if you’re craving a burger, the bison is sure to please; served on a warm brioche bun and topped with cappicola, smoked cheddar, garlic aioli, and a fried egg, this burger is nothing short of perfection.

But the biggest draw for food lovers is the rotating, seasonal menu.  Every visit brought us new options from Luxe’s hand-chalked “specials” board, including a beautiful bone-in pork chop with apple chutney and roasted peaches (pictured) and a generous portion of perfectly-cooked scallops over creamy corn polenta.  Even my dad — a staunch meat and potatoes man — was right at home with a seasonal special: an enormous ribeye steak with apple slaw, served over smashed garlic potatoes and roasted carrots.

For Luxe, quality food and outstanding service are clearly the focus.  The friendly and enthusiastic staffers outright hustle for their patrons — from the hostess to the table bussers and everyone in between, the team has only their diners’ best experience in mind.  Food lovers will also enjoy the eclectic, casual, and unpretentious sensibility that Luxe has to offer.  From its mismatched, flea market flatware and vintage sevice items to the  building’s original tin ceilings and bank-vault-made-wine-storage, Luxe proudly displays its shabby chic spirit of recycle-reuse-repurpose.  What’s not to love?

Dinner with the ‘rents, date night, or a larger party?  Luxe fits the bill.  Primarly a walk-in restaurant, Luxe only accepts reservations for parties of six or more, so expect a reasonable wait for a table on a busy weekend night.  But no worries — they’ll call you when your table is ready.  In the meantime, take full advantage of the neighborhood and explore the unique boutiques and shops along Detroit, or test your skills at Superelectric Pinball Parlor up the block while you wait.

The verdict?  Mikey likes it!

#CLEchow rating:  4.75/5.00

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge / 6605 Detroit Avenue / Cleveland, OH 44102 / (216) 920-0600 / luxecleveland.com
Nearby: Gordon Square Arts District, Cleveland Public Theatre, Capitol Theatre, Near West Theatre, Blank Canvas Theatre, 78th Street Studios, Superelectric Pinball Parlor

Graffiti: A Social Kitchen

Posted on by clevelandchow

Cleveland Chow update: sadly, Graffiti closed its doors on Sunday, October 15, 2017, but diners can snag similar fare at the owners’ suburban restaurant, Cork & Cleaver, located in Broadview Heights.

You might know what to expect when you order a Monte Cristo.  For most food lovers, the thought of Monte Cristo evokes a classic, fried ham-and-cheese sandwich on French toast.  Simple enough, right?

You are woefully wrong.

Graffiti’s Monte Cristo is unlike any you have eaten before.  Its beautifully-deconstructed presentation features maple-brined pork tenderloin, cooked medium-rare and paired with an inches-thick slice of melt-in-your-mouth French toast.  The dish is brought to life with the delightfully sweet, tart taste of a fresh raspberry mostada topping.  This sweetness is balanced with a generous spread of mornay crema — a paradox of weightlessly-light, heavenly cream that reveals its blend of aged cheeses with a lingering finish.  Every bite of this surprising twist on the classic dish is absolute perfection.

This surprise factor seems to permeate the entire dining experience at at Graffiti, a casual-elegant restaurant nestled in Cleveland’s Battery Park neighborhood.  Graffiti’s menu spins fine-dining flair for just about every “comfort food” that a heart could desire.

The onion ring starter is a generous portion of huge, hand-battered onions, fried to a fluffy crunch and topped with bacon, scallion, and a zesty ranch sauce.  The shepherd’s pie (not a pie at all) boasts a generous cut of braised lamb and includes parsnips in its mix of traditional vegetables; savory lamb gravy and colorful carrot sauce finish the dish.  The Graffiti burger is a juicy, certified angus beef monster topped with goat cheese (!), fried green tomato (!!), and banana catsup (!!!), a delicious sauce spun from fresh banana peppers.

Food lovers, if you have a sweet tooth, do not pass up Graffiti’s Fat Kid 2.5.  This must-eat treat features a log of country-fried, black forest cookie dough (let me say that again: country-fried cookie dough) tucked into a sundae boat with ice cream and caramel.  If that isn’t enough to please, unexpected bursts of fruit flavor (there’s a sprinkling of Nerds candy atop the whipped cream!) will be sure to bring a smile to your inner fat kid’s face.

Graffiti’s unassuming restaurant frontage blends seamlessly with nearby residential properties (use your GPS, or you could miss it!), but once inside food lovers are offered a variety of dining experiences.  The bar in the historic west-side building pays homage to its old speakeasy days, boasting exposed brick and dark, carved wood.  The upstairs dining room can accommodate either intimate, candlelit dinners for two or large parties (reservations recommended). And the pet-friendly patio, lush with trees and vining plants, offers a beautiful view with a backyard party vibe.  Wear what makes you comfortable — cat sweatshirt or suit jacket, everyone is welcome here! — but make sure to bring your appetite.  You won’t be disappointed.

The verdict: Mikey likes it!

#CLEchow rating: 4.75/5.00

Graffiti: A Social Kitchen / 1261 W. 76th Street / Cleveland, OH 44102 / (216) 651-6969 / www.graffitisocialkitchen.com
Nearby: Gordon Square Arts District, Cleveland Public Theatre, Capitol Theatre, Near West Theatre, Blank Canvas Theatre, 78th Street Studios

Tinkers Creek Tavern

Posted on by clevelandchow

Check out that side of mac and cheese.  Yes, I said side.  If the generous portion isn’t enough to entice you, then this should do the trick: it’s laced with bacon.

Tinkers Creek Tavern serves up flavorful American fare in an easy-going, casual setting that is off the beaten path.  Every delicious dish is served with upscale flair, yet diners can feel right at home in flip-flops and T-shirts — a perfect combination for a relaxing summer evening.

Folks, the food at Tinkers Creek Tavern is fantastic.  The Reuben (pictured) is a fistful of melt-in-your-mouth joy.  The Tavern’s “build a burger” feature lets diners customize their juicy, grilled-to-order Angus patties.  The mahi-mahi sandwich packs some punch with its mango habanero aioli.  And everything from the Tavern’s on-site smokehouse — including pulled pork, brisket, and ribs — is divine.

If you dine in, you’ve got pretty good odds of being seated near the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer views of (you guessed it!) Tinkers Creek, a babbling brook that winds through the lush, woodsy outdoors.  The cobbled stone patio, popular in summer and fall, features seating overlooking the creek and a cozy fire pit for chilly evenings.

The full bar features standard suds and specialty drinks, and the service at this family-owned restaurant is friendly and fast.

The verdict?  Mikey likes it!

#CLEchow Rating: 4.00/5.00

Tinkers Creek Tavern / 14000 Tinkers Creek Road / Walton Hills, OH 44146 / (216) 642-3900 / http://tinkerstavern.com/
Nearby: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Hard Rock Rocksino