Tremont & Ohio City Eats

If you are looking for a night out, Tremont and Ohio City are Cleveland west side neighborhoods directly- or kind of indirectly- bordering downtown.  Both are within a very easy drive.  And if you are staying downtown and want to experience Cleveland's Rapid Transit train system, you can take the Red Line one stop from downtown's Tower City station to West 25th Street, where you can exit and walk across the street to Great Lakes Brewing or McNulty's Bier Markt.

• Tremont Tap House This simple bar/restaurant bills itself as Cleveland's first gastro pub. The food is simple and delicious and the selection of beers- both draft and bottles- is first rate.
  
• Grumpy's Cafe We had lunch at Grumpy's one cold afternoon and fell in love with the place. Simple foods- brunch, burritos, sandwiches and soups, served up in a charming space by friendly wait staff.
  
• Lava LoungeA hip place to be- great for a drink and/or a bite to eat early in the evening and you can stay late when the scene heats up!
  
• Prosperity Social ClubThis swank Tremont spot has a first rate bar and tasty eats from the kitchen.
  
• Lolita The original location of Michael Symon's restaurant, you'll long remember your visit here. The kitchen is in the dining space so you can see the cooks working. Food and wine list is superb. A little on the spendy side, but totally worth it if you want something special.
  
• McNulty's Bier Markt Belgian food and beers in Cleveland! I've enjoyed every visit to Ohio City's Bier Markt. Many Belgian and U.S.-brewed Belgian-style beers on draft. The food is delicious, and yes, you can get Moules-Frite! (The fries here are to die for.)
  
• Great Lakes Brewing Company Making tummies happy since 1989, this brewery/restaurant's menu features local produce and their own fantastic beers, right near the intersection of Lorain and West 25th Street in Ohio City, just across from the West Side Market.
  

Eats in University Circle

If you find yourself in University Circle, there are quite a few places to calm your appetite:

Budget:

If you're with the kids or just need a quick bite, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Botanical Gardens and the Museum of Natural History all have reasonable cafeteria-style food.  The latter two require that you pay admission, so are probably best only if you are already inside!  The Botanical Garden has particularly tasty selections.

There are several quick-eats options near the intersection of Mayfield Road and Euclid Avenue.  Rascal House pizza isn't bad, Qdoba will wrap a burrito for you, and Falafel Cafe has some interesting Middle Eastern fare.

If the weather is fine and you don't mind walking a few blocks (or moving your car), remember that Cleveland's Little Italy is just east of University Circle, up Mayfield Road, and is home to several good eating options.  For a quick bite, our favorite is Presti's, on the north side of Mayfield Road, just past Holy Rosary Church.  They've got excellent sandwiches, pasta, and glass cases filled with sweet temptations.  Even gelato!

A little fancier:

If you want to sit down for a fancier meal, try Sergio's near the intersection of Ford and Bellflower Roads.  Some of you former Clevelanders might not recognize Sergio's as the place that used to be the home of Lick's ice cream parlor!

Just down the street from Sergio's is a place we haven't tried yet, also in a memorable building for long-time Clevelanders.  Zack Bruell's L'Albatros Brasserie is in the old "That Place on Bellflower" building and promises to be a great place for a tasty meal.

Up in Little Italy, try Mama Santa's for pizza, or head just a bit further up Mayfield to Primo Vino.

Date Night - Lola Bistro

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us, so we've got a romantic suggestion for summer in Cleveland.

If you're looking for a night out, Bill and I recommend  Lola Bistro. It's an easy walk from the Hyatt, just exit the Arcade at the Euclid End and stroll down East 4th Street to Michael Symon's justly famous restaurant.  The food is divine and the atmosphere hip, though we were surprised by the lack of neckties and fancy dress (what has happened to date night in this town?!). Our entrees were wonderful, but we're not ashamed to admit that the maple-bacon ice cream (our new answer to the sweet-or-salty conundrum) and the rosemary fries (the secret is the duck fat in which they are fried) were our favorites. You'll probably need reservations for a table (or try eating at the gorgeous bar- see and be seen!), so plan ahead.