O h i o T r a v e l e r
. c o m
Dining Guide to Unique
Cleveland and Northeast
Ohio
Restaurants & Eateries
|
|
O h i o T r a v e l e r
. c o m
|
|
|
Free Magazine l All Attractions l Regional Fun l Festivals & Events l Videos l Advertising |
Featuring unusual dining in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Welcome to Greater Cleveland Ohio's unique eateries and guide to Northeast Ohio eateries, restaurants and dining.
Your Guide to unique Northeast Ohio restaurants and eateries
Don't forget to read our free
monthly magazine
Click here to sign-up for your free
subscription
Amish
Door Restaurant & Village
Location: 1210 Winesburg Street, Wilmot, OH 44689
Phone: 330-359-5464
This restaurant is set in an oversized Amish style home that has a seating
capacity of 450. Patrons can choose from an extensive menu that has everything
from breakfast to dessert. All food is Amish style and guests can come for all
meals of the day to enjoy the coziness of an Amish home with an Amish meal. If
guests prefer they can also choose to have a full family sized Amish style meal
prepared instead of each person ordering for themselves. There is also a take
home menu featuring things such as bread prepared in the restaurant.
TEMPORARILY CLOSED. CALL BEFORE VISITING.
Luncheon menu served Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Located at 190 Alamo Road in Carrollton, Ohio
Phone 330-627-7980 for reservations
Bluebird Farm is nestled
in the rolling hills of Carroll County, Ohio. The restaurant is set in a
charming, century old farmhouse and specializes in delicious home cooked meals
and homemade desserts. Dining areas include a two-story glassed-in porch
providing a scenic view of the farm's picturesque surroundings and an outdoor
deck complete with a view of a waterfall cascading down the adjoining hillside.
English tea is served on Wednesdays from
After lunch, guests can stroll over to the gift shop housed in a restored pre-Civil War era barn, visit Susie's Museum of Childhood or walk the Nature Trail to see the covered bridge. After shopping and visiting the Museum, explore the 55 acres of natural beauty that make up Bluebird Farm. There are beautiful English gardens, an old-English gazebo, and a bubbling, relaxing waterfall located close to the restaurant and gift shop. In addition, there is an Indoor Garden Room that accommodates private parties and Attic Party Room above the museum that accommodates coaches.
CLOSE QUARTERS
Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler
It's all in a name. Close Quarters on Lake Road in Avon Lake, Ohio has been said to be the world's smallest bar, second smallest bar, one of the world's ten smallest bars by MSNBC, Budget Travel and others.
That said, for anyone who's squeezed into the bar, they are better known for their delicious wings and burgers. The fries are pretty tasty too. Oh, and spirits. All of which may be considered some of the best kept secrets in Ohio travel. And for regulars, they'd like to keep it that way. After all, there are only so many seats to go around. No worries, every newcomer is received with open arms. If you do stop in, expect a very friendly atmosphere and be ready to join in the conversation and laughter. The quarters are too close not to. Consider it a private party and you've been invited to pull up one of 11 bar stools or 12 seats along the wall where you're bound to knock knees with those turning out from the bar. Don't be shocked if your picture is taken and put on the wall of fame.
The space or lack thereof is used well. Walls, ceiling, you name it, has interesting memorabilia and collectibles that can occupy your attention all night. Every nook and cranny of the joint has a surprise and a laugh waiting for your gaze. The bar takes up most of the room but it leaves a little corner for the kitchen and rest rooms are just one skip down the hall.
Don't be shy, be sure to select an interesting tune from the jukebox and enjoy your time in the neighborhood where if everyone didn't know your name upon entry, they will all holler it on your way out because you have just become a friend of Close Quarters.
Close Quarters is located at 31953 Lake Road in Avon Lake, Ohio. Be sure to confirm their hours by calling 440-933-5217 just to make sure you're not greeted by a sign on the door that reads, "Gone Fishin'!"
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
Open: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Location: 4861 N. Ridge Road W (U.S. 20) or 4861 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula, OH 44004
Phone: 440-969-1000 or 440-224-2252
The kid-friendly pizza parlors are nestled among the historic Ashtabula covered bridges. Ashtabula County is known as the Covered Bridge capital of Ohio. The spanning bridges offer an ambience to the pizza parlor and a nice back-drop for the Classic Car Cruise-Ins held on Thursdays throughout the summer months.
Elm Farm’s Once Upon A Sundae And America’s Dairy And Ice Cream Museum
Open
Location: 1050 W. Lafayette Road (500 ft. from corner of Rt. 42 and Lake Road), Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-722-3839
This is a place to enjoy America’s favorite treat at its finest. Savor an ice cream delicacy while learning about Ohio history. Elm Farm began in 1927 when Henry Abell purchased 100 acres of land in Medina. It was run as a dairy until 1950 when the family began its ice cream production... The Abell family still personally welcome visitors to the museum and the Victorian ice cream parlor, which features Elm Farm super premium ice cream made on the premises. The museum shows the evolution of ice cream from its beginning in Pre-Roman times to the present. On display is one of the largest collections of ice cream memorabilia, such as the one-of-a-kind prototype scooper and a complete 1905 soda fountain. Dairy trucks and other items from the Elm Farm and dairy are displayed and there’s an interactive area for children as well.
Located in Avon Lake, Ohio between Cleveland and the Lake Erie Islands, Herb’s On Lake has become favorite eatery and tavern for fishermen and travelers along Route 6, known locally as Lake Road.
This stretch of road was once the main thoroughfare connecting Northeast Ohio to Northwest Ohio before I-90 was introduced, but still serves many today – especially fishermen and those looking for a beautiful scenic drive along the “old shore way.”
It's a rustic old roadside diner and tavern, beholds an atmosphere fitting for its lakeside location (although the view of the lake is obstructed by the homes built along the north-side of the road). The menu features American favorites and the delicious burgers, cooked medium-rare – half pound with mushrooms and grilled onions.
The building was formerly a Victorian farmhouse, a grocery and various taverns.
If you have the opportunity to travel along Route 6 or can afford a quick three-mile detour off I-90 at the Avon Lake exit, stop in at Herb’s On Lake for a taste of North Coast dining. For hours, directions and further information, call 440.933.9730.
Guggisberg Swiss Inn
Location: State Route 557 in Charm, Ohio 44617
Phone: 330-893-3600
The bed and breakfast is a family owned business opened in 1993. It is located
in Amish country and sits on top of a hill surrounded by Amish farms. Though
the inn is in the country it is still only minutes away from all the Holmes
County has to offer. The inn is excellent at capturing the essence of Amish
living as it is just two miles north of Charm which is said to have more buggy
traffic than anywhere in the world. The inn offers many picnicking and hiking
areas as well as a wonderful view of a large duck pond. The inn also offers a
complementary breakfast and evening snack.
Open: Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sundays Closed
Location: 4128 Erie Street, Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Phone: 440-269-8380; fax # 440-269-8390
Lady Charlton’s Tea Parlour, decorated in fine Victorian style, is located in the heart of historic downtown Willoughby. Surrounded by antique shops, gift boutiques, pubs, and coffee bars, it provides a perfect place for shoppers and local business folks of both genders and all ages to relax for a few minutes with a soothing cup of tea or a bite to eat before charging back into the fray. They serve light lunches as well as an afternoon tea, and tea lovers can choose their favorite from a long list of offerings.
At the front of the shop a small gift shop offers dainty gifts, jewelry, books and magazines, stationery, china tea ware, tea paraphernalia, and 45 varieties of bulk tea, all arranged in attractive display cases. Stop in and say hi to co-owners Carol Clark and Janet Dell and have some tea. You’ll be glad you did!
LITTLE ITALY'S
Mama Santa's Restaurant
Presti's Bakery
Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler
Having explored
Ohio for years covering the roads less traveled, I get hungry. Any road
warrior knows that discovering something mm-mmm good is a big part of the
traveling experience.
I’ve also spent a few years in Europe and traveled Italy from top to bottom, big cities, small villages and an island. To boot, my surname is Sicilian. That said, I’d say I’m somewhat qualified to identify a good a pizza pie and cannoli.
I grew up in the Cleveland area and my grandparents' houses were near downtown. Over the years, I have made more than a few trips to Murray Hill known as Cleveland’s Little Italy. Although festivals there are wonderful I enjoy the laid back days when the pavement is cooler and the crowds are thin enough not to get bumped from the sidewalks.
Much like overseas in the old country, parking is not easily found. You will have to walk. Trust me. That’s a blessing. Many people refer to Little Italy and other ethnic neighborhoods as a cultural experience. Not me. A real neighborhood has its own personality!
I love the food, the art, the shops and the people around Murray Hill. The conversation is lively and the laughter is hearty. The stroll by foot from shop to shop is full of sights that make you feel a part of something outside your normal world.
But at some point, you need a bite to eat. And if you like pizza, try Mama Santa’s Restaurant for the best darn pizza in Ohio. For dessert, walk down the street to Presti’s Bakery for the best darn cannoli in Ohio. I’ll even go a step further and say that these two are even better than anything I had in the mother country.
Mama Santa’s reminds me of the little eateries I’d grab a bite at off the beaten path in Italy. It’s cozy. Nobody is in a hurry. Relax. Stay a while and engage in conversation over some soft drinks or beer and a tangy pizza that is chewy and crisp at the same time. Oh, and the price is shockingly economical and may not seem fair …to the merchant… considering your taste buds will continue to explode with flavor with each lick of the corners of your mouth after the pie is gone.
If you have fancy-schmancy tastes, go elsewhere. Mama Santa’s is reserved for the people who enjoy the little things in life. If you haven’t been there in umpteen years, no worries, it’s probably exactly as you remember it, right down to the music serenading off the walls.
After a bite like that, you need to walk it off. And there’s plenty to see, do and buy on Mayfield Road and Murray Hill. Browse through the art galleries and specialty shops for Italian pottery, jewelry, designer clothes or dresses.
Eventually, your nose will take over your internal GPS system and lead you to Presti’s Bakery. They have just about any Italian dessert under the sun and coffee to chase it. They also serve deli sandwiches and breads. But the creamy ricotta-filled cannoli is as they say, “to die for.” And it’s been that way for more than 100 years.
Inside, it is always hopping with people that just can’t get enough. Take-out boxes are hanging over table edges with all walks of life chatting and laughing while they sample their purchases. The large glass front window allows light to pour over the blond wood floors.
After an enjoyable, slow paced, conversation rich, appetizing afternoon in Cleveland’s Little Italy atop Murray Hill, it’s time to find that precious parking spot a casual walk away and reenter the modern world and its hustle and bustle – all the while, yearning for a return before even leaving.
For more information to plan a visit to Murray Hill, visit www.littleitalycleveland.com. Mama Santa’s Restaurant is located at 12305 Mayfield Road in Cleveland, OH 44106. Call (216) 421-2159. Presti’s Bakery & Café is located at 12101 Mayfield Road in Cleveland, OH 44106. Phone (216) 421-3060.
By the taste buds of Frank R. Satullo, the OhioTraveler
Printout: Murray Hill - Cleveland's Little Italy
Mapleside Farms
Location: 294 Pearl Rd in Brunswick, Ohio
Phone: 330-225-5577
Featuring a Farm Market & Bakery, Restaurant & Banquet Facilities, Gift Shop, The Butcher Block and Ice Cream Parlor, this is a unique shopping and dining destination. The rustic multi-leveled restaurant overlooks the 100 acre apple farm. Over 20 varieties of fresh picked apples can be purchased in the Farm Market & Bakery along with pies, strudel, pastries, apple cider and more. The Butcher Shop features over 300 kinds of homemade sausage, hand cut steaks, chicken, and pork. In the Gift Shop you'll find unique home decor and gift items. The Ice Cream Parlor is open April through October and offers 20 flavors of home made ice cream and 14 delicious flavors of frozen yogurt. In the Fall you can experience fun on the farm with a 3 acre corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, pick your own apples and horse drawn wagon rides through the orchards. Open year round. Closed Mondays.
Voted best brunch in Medina County by Medina Gazette Readers Choice Award, this restaurant is a renovated farmhouse rich with history dating back eighty years. It offers casual dinning in a warm country setting, including outside on the deck during the summer. Some of their more popular dishes are Chicken Marsala, Herb Crusted Talipia, and and Rack of Lamb. Whether you are having a burger or salad for lunch or enjoying a leisurely evening, they strive to make you feel comfortable while satisfying your palette. They also offer a full service bar. Call ahead for special events schedule, including live entertainment, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and more. Private rooms are available for rehearsals, birthdays, business meetings. Reservations are recommended on the weekends and holidays.
Open Friday and Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are highly recommended.
Location: 1591 State Route 45, Austinburg, Ohio 44010
Phone: 440-275-5022
Web Site: www.coffeecreekestate.com
Coffee Creek Estate is located in the heart of the Grand River Valley wine region of Northeastern Ohio. The Estate was constructed in 1840 by two gentleman returning from the California gold rush. The Estate took almost ten years to construct using hand carved beams, railroad track and tons of stone from the creek bed, which is the Estate's namesake. Over the years the Estate has been home to prospectors, gentlemen farmers, steam engine builders, a safe haven for the underground railroad, an antique auctioneer, hosted location for the Betty Davis movie "The Dark Secrets of Harvest Home" and now chef Nicholas Kustala and somellier Giovanna Kustala are bringing yet a new chapter into the Estates long history with passion for great food and wine.
West Side Market in
Cleveland
Featuring Johnny Hot Dog
The West Side Market in Cleveland provides an old-world shopping experience featuring an indoor and outdoor marketplace that spans the cultural diversities of the world’s ethnic foods.
Resting on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River overlooking downtown Cleveland, this 1912 multicultural landmark features more than 100 stands selling some of the best, and in many cases – rare, delicacies around. Patrons will find wide varieties of fresh seafood, meat, vegetables, fruit, bakery items, herbs, pastas and a whole lot more. From a tourist’s viewpoint, it’s like traveling the world within a city block.
Upon arriving, the historic complex can’t be missed in all its grandeur – from the clock tower to the Neo-Classical/Byzantine style architecture. Inside, it’s a meeting of the nations’ old-world commerce – conversations mixed with transactions and always bustling with crowds of people spanning the spectrum of humanity. Newcomers may want to grab a gourmet coffee and pastry and ascend to the balcony overlooking the cavernous building to observe the activity below or take in the beautiful décor of the ornate interior design. Navigating the isles, kids are sure to notice the boars’ heads, pigs feat and other oddities presented as entrees.
Outside, stroll along the extended open-air marketplace where just about every fresh produce grown under the sun is laid out in a striking medley of color. Steering through the sea of people is an experience itself. Whether coming to people-watch, join in the social mixture, or do some exotic grocery shopping, don’t leave before trying a hot dog or sausage sandwich at Johnny Hot Dog, Cleveland’s oldest hot dog stand.
For more information, call (216) 664-3390 to plan to see the West Side Market.
OhioTraveler Site Map and Links
