|
gotribe
|
Folks I need some help. The anniversary is coming up next week and the wife really wants a good authentic cannoli. We were thinking of heading to Little Italy, but I have never been there (Moved to Cleveland 4 years ago, and live on the west side; I haven't had a chance to get out there and she probably hasn't since she was a teenager). I'm looking for recommendations, we both are pretty adventurous and a good wine list is a must.
I know you want Italian, but Table 45 is a great "special occasion" restaurant.
If the girl want's Italian, she want's Italian end of story. If he listens to you, he'll be eating angel food cake with Reddi Whip alone next year.
|
|
|
|
MyTwoSense
|
Folks I need some help. The anniversary is coming up next week and the wife really wants a good authentic cannoli. We were thinking of heading to Little Italy, but I have never been there (Moved to Cleveland 4 years ago, and live on the west side; I haven't had a chance to get out there and she probably hasn't since she was a teenager). I'm looking for recommendations, we both are pretty adventurous and a good wine list is a must.
I know you want Italian, but Table 45 is a great "special occasion" restaurant.
If the girl want's Italian, she want's Italian end of story. If he listens to you, he'll be eating angel food cake with Reddi Whip alone next year.
(Clutch my pearls & Gasp) How dare you.
|
|
|
|
rockandroller
|
Good wine list: Corleone's in Broadview Heights: corleonescleveland.com Great, great food, very intimate and casual/family style atmosphere: 2 places - Stino Da Napoli in Rocky River ( www.stinodanapoli.com) or La Campagna (no website but http://www.westlake-ohio.com/lacampagna/ is a good overview). La Campagna is great, they do not have a set menu, they make whatever they want for each day. Very tiny, reservations are a must.
|
|
|
|
willyboy
|
Although I totally trust RockandRollers recommendations, little Italy would have more of a special ambiance for a special occasion than anything in “Westlake”,. although Stino's is very good..... MichaelAngelo’s in little Italy is great http://www.mangelos.com/2198 Murray Hill Rd • Cleveland, OH 44106 And of course they have canolli, but you can also, certainly do the window shopping/street walk after word and get Canolli or Italian Ice at one of the bakeries.
|
|
|
|
rockandroller
|
We're kind of quirky, so we find a place like La Campagna to have it's own special ambience, even though it is in the burbs. And the food just can't be beat. 2 sisters own it; one cooks with some other family members, the other waits on the tables with her daughter. Sometimes she'll break into some type of song for a customer. It's odd and very sweet.
|
|
|
|
willyboy
|
OK RandR now I will try La Campagna next time I'm back in town. Fortunately the region has many great italian restaurants.
|
|
|
|
MyTwoSense
|
We're kind of quirky, so we find a place like La Campagna to have it's own special ambience, even though it is in the burbs. And the food just can't be beat. 2 sisters own it; one cooks with some other family members, the other waits on the tables with her daughter. Sometimes she'll break into some type of song for a customer. It's odd and very sweet.
That does sound cute! Very family.
|
|
|
|
rockandroller
|
They are the type of place that you can call up a few days in advance and say hey, I would really love some of your (insert favorite dish here), can you make it for me? And they will.
They don't have a liquor license but have gotten around it in terms of wine by having a "tasting" license. Basically, bottles are willy-nilly all over the small storefront they occupy and you wander around til you find one you want and then you are given small tasting glasses, I think they are a 2 oz pour, which they will refill for you as many times as you want. I forget how it works out, price-wise, but it's comparable to what you'd normally pay.We usually just check out what bottle is open already and have a taste of that to go with our meal.
They also do gift baskets so all around the sides of the tiny dining area are all kinds of stuff you'd put in baskets, from imported italian foods to stuffed animals. Yeah, it's unique. And a trip to the bathroom is not to be missed, as you have to go into the kitchen, which is about as big as a broom closet. I'm always like Jesus, how can they be turning out such great food out of a tiny space. Seriously, it's a kitchen the size of a NY apartment kitchen.
edited to add: one word of caution - it is NOT a speedy meal. With such a small staff, all meals are truly made to order and take awhile to get to the table. We usually reserve 2 hours for a full meal.
|
|
|
|
TMH
|
For the best Italian I strongly recommend Osteria. It is located in the Warehouse District on St. Clair Ave. between W. 6th and W. 4th. It may be difficult to find the first time because you have to walk down a few steps from the sidewalk and they do not have a big sign. It is truly a "Big City" restaurant both in decor and style. They come from a family that also has a great restaurant in Little Italy.
The food is absolutely fantastic, but can be very pricey. For an intimate evening I would avoid Thursdays because they have live entertainment and it can be very loud, especially given that the restaurant is small. It is a great place, check it out. Definitely call for reservations.
|
|
|
|
Hts44121
|
Outside of Little Italy, there are two Italian places that get my recommendation:
1) Geraci's in University Hts on Warrensville Center Rd. Most east siders can attest to their food, especially their pizza.
2) Alfredo's in Mayfield on Beta Dr. Not a lot of people know about this one. It is on the ground floor of the Holiday Inn off of Wilson Mills just east of I-271. Great food. A nice wrap around patio that overlooks the hotel's courtyard.
|
|
|
|
MayDay
|
"(Clutch my pearls & Gasp) How dare you."Easily. Have you ever heard the phrase "Happy wife, happy life."? The lady wants Italian, she gets Italian - otherwise the guy wants something, but he won't get "something" - capiche? So try to break out of your Shady Square/Table 45 hoity-toity bubble once in a while  Anyhoo, stopped by El Jalapeño on West 117th (just south of Clifton) - it's not "purist" Mexican (for those who scoff at Nuevo Acapulco, etc.), but I'd put it among the better Mexican restaurants in Cleveland. I had the molé poblano and it was fantastic; the guac wasn't as good as my recipe but it was perfectly fine. The server was very accommodating when I said "por favor, necesito practicar mi español?" 
|
|
|
|
MyTwoSense
|
"(Clutch my pearls & Gasp) How dare you."
Easily. Have you ever heard the phrase "Happy wife, happy life."? The lady wants Italian, she gets Italian - otherwise the guy wants something, but he won't get "something" - capiche? So try to break out of your Shady Square/Table 45 hoity-toity bubble once in a while
Anyhoo, stopped by El Jalapeño on West 117th (just south of Clifton) - it's not "purist" Mexican (for those who scoff at Nuevo Acapulco, etc.), but I'd put it among the better Mexican restaurants in Cleveland. I had the molé poblano and it was fantastic; the guac wasn't as good as my recipe but it was perfectly fine. The server was very accommodating when I said "por favor, necesito practicar mi español?"
Shady Square?! Oh honey, you're simple...you're shallow...and a common whore! That's why I love ya. Of couse I've heard the "happy wife, happy life" quote. I have parents! Sheesh.
|
|
|
|
tedders55
|
So instead of actually going to dinner in Little Italy, we were going to go today, we realized that Feast is going on and are just going to wander around and enjoy it. After all she really just wanted cannoli. So I think sometime in the near future we need to make it out to some of the places that were recommended.
BTW I have never been to the Feast so I'm really not sure what to expect.
|
|
|
|
jam40jeff
|
If you go on a Friday night, expect quite a crowd (actually almost too much of a crowd, I'm one of the people who has fun at the Feast, but likes Little Italy 100 times more when the Feast ISN'T going on).
|
|
|
|
willyboy
|
You can also check out some of the establishments while you are there. There are the old time traditional Italian places and the new "modern" versions.
Michael Angelo’s, is tucked away down Murray Hill and has a wine bar if you just want to check it out. Its very charming!
|
|
|
|
tedders55
|
If you go on a Friday night, expect quite a crowd (actually almost too much of a crowd, I'm one of the people who has fun at the Feast, but likes Little Italy 100 times more when the Feast ISN'T going on).
We are expecting the crowd, I recall driving around it to get to covnetry once. And I do want to come back once the Feast is over so that we can kinda do our own thing. But I do really enjoy a good Party
|
|
|
|
Hts44121
|
 |
« Reply #256 on: September 30, 2009, 10:02:43 PM » |
|
Anybody ever been to Via Van Aken? Any good?
|
|
|
|
Hts44121
|
Anybody ever been to Via Van Aken? Any good?
Fine.... I'll do my own review then. We went on Saturday night. It is in that shopping plaza on the northwest corner of the Van Aken/Chagrin/Warrensville/Northfield intersection. Right about where the Record Exchange used to be. Nice atmosphere. Small but comfortable. Casual dress, but you would not feel out of place dressed up. The type of place that gives you oils and herbs instead of butter with your bread. The wife has a shellfish meal and scarfed it down. My sister had the pizza and said it was great. I went with a maple glazed atlantic salmon which had a real sweet taste to it. Good place. Very affordable. Nice option for a date night. Here is their website - http://www.viavanaken.com/BTW, we went to see GLTC put on The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Hanna after eating. Very good performance by the cast even if it really was not my type of show.... too much singing and too heavy accents made it somewhat hard to follow. Also, if you are familiar with the background, the plot is unclear. Seems like more of a show for literary experts and Dickens fans. The girls loved it. It will be playing at the Hanna all month I believe. We had first row balcony seats for $25 a piece.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MuRrAy HiLL
|
Nice little piece from Channel 3: http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=123109&catid=3Cleveland: Local chefs getting national press Michael O'Mara Updated: 10/9/2009 5:41:22 AM Posted: 10/8/2009 11:32:46 PM Read Comments (5)Recommend (1)Print Article Email Article Larger Smaller CLEVELAND -- From the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune to Esquire Magazine, Cleveland-area chefs are getting high praise and attention. Many food critics believe that when Tremont's own Michael Symon became an international celebrity as the "Iron Chef," his fame helped pump up the food scene for all of Cleveland. Many talented local chefs decided to move home and open their own restaurants. Today, from Tremont to East 4th Street and across town to Shaker Square and Little Italy, there are major pockets of culinary excellence all across the city.
|
|
|
|
cardsnxtyr
|
Did anyone see the single prop plane circling downtown this morning with a banner on the back advertising Chocolate Covered Bacon at Malleys?
|
|
|
|
MyTwoSense
|
Did anyone see the single prop plane circling downtown this morning with a banner on the back advertising Chocolate Covered Bacon at Malleys?
ummmmmmmmmm
|
|
|
|
Clueless,Ohio
|
^^ You know you're asking for trouble from EC with that... don't you?  Hi EC
|
|
|
|
gotribe
|
^^ You know you're asking for trouble from EC with that... don't you?
Hi EC
Why's that? It's not healthy one bit, but worth a try.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CTownsFinest216
|
are there any places that use organic/gluten free ingredients?
|
|
|
|
