A Taste of Cleveland

Through this action packed weekend of Halloween, basketball scrimmages, and touring Cleveland, Jeff and I found an escape through our dining experiences. The combination of delicious food and good company is unbeatable.

We started of our dining weekend with a trip to The Winking Lizard. The Winking Lizard is an local Ohio chain that is definitely a must if you are within a reasonable vicinity. Good, American food in a comfortable sports bar atmosphere. The menu has a wide array of choices, the service is quick, and the food is good.

Besides all of that, the restaurant, well all of The Winking Lizard restaurants, house actual lizards. But don't worry, they are kept in a big, indestructible glass cage, and fed plenty of flies. Not necessarily my idea of cute, but to each his own.

Halloween night, after an exciting two hours of trick-or-treating with a one-year old monkey (we made it to two houses) and passing out candy, we headed to the westside of Cleveland. If you saw what it looked like over on the westside, you may think this was a mistake. It certainly was not! We went to a little place called Parkview Nite Club. When we pulled up, I was a little upset we were going to a nite club. I was tired and didn't really feel like dancing or having to break out my I.D. to prove that I am over 18 years old. However, this place was not a nite club. It is what some people, including Guy Fieri of the Food Network, would call a Dive. Yes, the same Parkview Nite Club that got it's moment of fame on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

Between Jeff and I, and our friend Sean and Angie, we ordered everything that was featured on the show and some more. It was unbelievably delicious. Talking to the waitress, she told us how business has doubled since their appearance on the Food Network. The thing that concerned us was the total of ten people in the place. That means on a typical night before triple D, five people filled the place. Luckily, by the time we left, the place was filling up. With food like that, there should be a line around the corner.

That brings us to tonight. While down in the westside last night, we sought out opinions for a good Italian place. We were told about a hole in the wall place called Bruno's. Now, I say hole in the wall, not as an insult. I say it knowing darn well that the best places to get Italian are usually hole in the wall places. I have never been to a hole in the wall place and not been pleased. In fact, I judge Italian places by their exterior look. These are the kind of places I want to go because the food is authentic. And believe me when I say, it was! From the fresh Italian bread you are served when you are seated, to the heaping plate of whatever entree you chose. Jeff got the gnocchi and me, I got the chicken cacciatore. Never had better.

Bruno's definitely gets the A-plus in our book! The only thing that was weird was when we arrived. We were asked if we had a reservation. We didn't. We had gone on a whim. At the time, the restaurant was completely empty and we were told that there were no seats available for us. We bargained with them, promising to eat quickly, as I had a plane to catch. By the time we had left, there were only two other people in the place. I guess they aren't used to people eating and running like Jeff and I did. Most people probably sit and savor the taste of their delectable dishes for hours. We would have if we could have.

Before I sign off for the night, I want to congratulate my brother-in-law, Jonathan, for completing the New York City Marathon today. Here's to hoping you can walk tomorrow big guy!