Internation House of Pancakes, Bedford Heights, Ohio

The International House of Pancakes, or IHoP as it's probably better known, is probably one of my favorite places to get breakfast in Ohio. Indeed, this specific location has been a regular haunt of mine for a few years now, to the extent that I can walk in at about 7am and know the servers and the other regular customers. I rarely need a menu, and when the server says "your usual?" you know it's a good spot.

Not all IHoPs are created equal, of course, and this one is a cut above the rest - at least at this time in the morning, and with the servers and cooks it's currently blessed with. I sometimes pop in a lunch, and the place is incredibly busy, and the same level of service is impossible to get compared to the morning situation, but I'm a regular here for a reason.

So, I like it. I usually get buttermilk pancakes, eggs and some kind of meat, either bacon, ham or sausage, and at the minute they have a weekday special where you get 2 pancakes, 2 eggs and 2 small links or bacon strips and a carafe of coffee (and a paper) for $4.99.

That's a very good deal. It's a 30 minute period of peace and quiet before work starts where I can read the paper or a magazine, and chill out. I catch up with email on my iPhone and chat with the servers (hello, Kim!) or one of the regulars and generally feel like I'm in an old diner somewhere. I like the coffee, and when I get there I know they are already brewing me a fresh carafe.

It's a hell of an experience, and you'd not get it everywhere. This place is a cut above, and when the staff I like eventually move on, and if the same high quality of people aren't quite there after that, I might move on too. It's just the way things go, but that's alright. So far, so good.

Atmosphere: 4/5 (at 7am - quiet and peaceful) Service: 5/5 (Kim and one or two others) 3/5 (the rest of the time) Food: 4/5 (Consistent and good)

DiBella's Old Fashioned Submarines, Solon

A lunchtime staple for my colleagues, DiBella's does subs. Big subs. Don't make the mistake of ordering a large, thinking you're at Subway or something, because you'll have trouble finishing the sandwich. My first encounter with DiBella's was just like this, and the "holy smokes!" experience of a large sandwich is one to remember.

DiBella's sandwiches are big, and tasty. They are prepared to order, either cold or cooked on the grill, and are fantastic. I tend to stick with the hot turkey and ham, but their dagwood is nice, and I know their steak and cheese is very good. You can get a nice variety of chips to go with the sandwich (which comes on three kinds of bread) and the price is perhaps a little high, but I think it's good value. I have never left DiBella's hungry or thinking that I could have satisfied my sandwich urge anywhere else. Now, from time to time, I actually want a Subway melt, but that's different.

The only downside about DiBella's, aside from the price, is how busy it gets around lunchtime. The line is often literally out the door. I get in around 11:30 to get served and find a seat, and by the time I'm done, there are people waiting outside to get food. You can't argue with that.

Food: 4/5 (Really, really good subs.)

Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Avon

After telling my friend at work about a trip to Brown Bag Burgers last week (review to come), he suggested that I try Five Guys Burgers and Fries to contrast and compare. As yesterday was my birthday (yay me!) Sara and I made the drive over and combined some shopping with an interesting birthday dinner.

I was immediately reminded of In and Out Burger as we walked in, though with a Mid-West vibe. Peanuts. What's with the peanuts? Brown Bag does this too, and I don't get the open boxes of peanuts to snack on as you wait for your burger. Huh. It was also a bit bland inside, and some of the empty tables were filthy. It also seemed like a crappy location, in a poorly attended strip mall, and while the staff were pleasant enough, the seating area seemed like an after-thought and wasn't really somewhere I wanted to be.

Anyway, there was certainly more to remind me of Brown Bag and In and Out Burger. The menu was simple, concentrating on burgers and fries (and the red/white color scheme here in particular reminded me of In and Out Burger). I ordered a "famous" cheeseburger (the regular size is a double - the "littles" are singles), and we shared a regular portion of fries.

The burgers were delicious. They were moist, greasy and heavy, and certainly a cut above the average fast food burger. They were different from Brown Bag's fare, but I will go back and try that place again very soon to make a better comparison. The fries were very nice, and reminded me of Penn Station's fries - cooked in their skins, fresh-cut and high quality.

It wasn't cheap, but it was good value. I'd be pleased to have one locally, though I'd be satisfied with the "little" burger, I think. This was a good burger experience.

Atmosphere: 2/5 (a bit sterile, the peanuts weird me out. The tables needed cleaned.) Service: Not really applicable. Food: 3/5 (Burger was tasty) 3/5 (Fries were good)

Legend's Bar and Grill, Medina

It's been a while since I posted, oops. I do have a couple of reviews to post, and some random comments about stuff - and things - so let's get started with a return visit to my very first Cleveland Eats review on the blog.

I recently returned (as foretold in prophecy) to Legends for a second visit. I think I'm responsible for a lot of traffic to their website, and my last review is ranking very high on Google for them, so perhaps the next time I go back, I'll get a "Cleveland Eats" t-shirt printed, and maybe I'll get some free food. I certainly deserve something. Side note - should I be monitizing these reviews?

Maybe not.

Anyway, this time I had fish and chips. When the food arrived, I was a little dismayed by the portion size. The fish was in two breaded portions, not much bigger than fish-sticks (or fish fingers as I know them, from back home in the UK.) The fries were a little on the meagre side as well.

However, once I got some vinegar and started eating, I was happy with the quality of the food, and I think it was decent value for money. The fries were still good, and the fish, although small in size, was good on taste. The coleslaw that came with it was nice, but I'm not a big fan of coleslaw in general. The very cute girl who brought us our food (and who was very attentive to refills on our drinks) asked if it I'd liked it, as she noticed I'd not really eaten much of it. That was a nice thing of her to do, which impressed me somewhat. I assured her that the 'slaw had been fine.

My companions (Jamie and Matt, the other two thirds of Greymalkin Designs) enjoyed their food as well, though I think Matt wasn't super impressed with his roast beef sandwich, which he termed as "Steak'um" quality. When he starts his threatened "Greater Cleveland Eats" website, maybe you'll get to hear about that.

So, overall, a good experience at Legends in Medina.

Atmosphere: 3/5 Service: 3/5 (improved) Food: 3/5 (Fish, small serving but tasty) 3/5 (Fries)

Please let me know what you think of Legends, and always remember that I take recommendations for other places to review!

Las Vegas Eats - A Cleveland Eats Special Report

A couple of months ago, my wife and my best friend and I spent five days in Las Vegas. We gambled, did some site-seeing, and generally had a great time. I won more than I lost (enough to pay for all the Star Trek crap I bought at the "Star Trek Experience" at the Hilton and all my other touristy tat) and we ate at some nice places, including a couple of buffets and some fast food restaurants. Here are a couple of capsule reviews of the more impressive spots.

The Little A'Le'Inn - Rachel, Nevada
Only the hardcore UFO and conspiracy nut would make the six-hour round trip from Vegas all the way out to Rachel, Nevada to visit There's more of us around than you might thing. Poised on the Extraterrestrial Highway (Route 375), it's right on the edge of the infamous Area 51 where the US Government has been alledgedly testing UFOs for many years, and actually did used to test experimental aircraft like the Blackbird and captured foreign planes. It's a beautiful journey out there, and being so close to that spooky hallowed ground was a big thrill. I'd have been terrified to do it at night. The Inn itself is a small diner selling UFO themed tourist stuff, and they sell burgers, fries and related food. Sara has commented to me that she LOVED the burger she had there a lot - I liked mine too, but obviously I was overwhelmed by the thrill of the whole thing.

In and Out Burger - Not in Ohio, sadly.
I'd heard a lot about In and Out Burger and the food there, and the way of ordering it so that you can get exactly what you want. It's arcane and delightful, and I was excited to try a new burger from a place so highly rated. In the end, we stopped by one a couple of times during our week there (to be precise, it was the one on S. Maryland Parkway, just off Tropicana Ave) and while I wasn't disappointed with the burgers, it wasn't the be-all and end-all experience I'd heard about. In fairness, I probably didn't order my burger right. I should have just ordered one "as standard" instead of having it with just "onions and spread" - spread being their in-house sauce, which was pretty good. I liked the burgers. If there was an In and Out in Cleveland, I'd eat there. A lot, probably. The fries were just not for me, unless there's another way to get them cooked, but I really disliked them. The first double-burger I had was really good, the second time we went, I wasn't quite as inspired.

So, something of an anti-climax, but not really. I liked it well enough, and it's certainly a cut above other fast food places without a doubt. I admire the simplicity of their menu and the dedication to getting the hamburger right. It's a desert/West Coast experience, and next time I'm in Vegas, I'll be back.

The Carnival World Buffet, The Rio, Las Vegas
I was very excited to go see Penn and Teller's show at the Rio, and we arrived early to gamble and eat. We'd heard a lot of good things about the buffet at the Rio, and we weren't disappointed. Lots to choose from, and the quality was very high. We were stuffed, and grateful for the hour or so wait before seating for the show to let us gamble and recover. Nothing leaps to mind especially about this experience aside from the sheer variety of food on offer. Sara and Boon both enjoyed the pizza, as I recall, though I admit that I probably had a slightly nicer buffet meal at the Luxor, when they seemed to have everything needed for a Thanksgiving meal on offer one night.

No scores for the any of the above, since this isn't really a normal part of the Cleveland Eats series of reviews. We ate at a bunch of other places while we were there, but mostly it was a blur and very little remains in my mind as being especially amazing, aside from Jack-in-the-Box for breakfast and how much fun Blackjack is to play on $5 tables at casinos on Fremont Street.

Steak N Shake, Garfield Heights

I'll keep this brief. Sara and I went there for breakfast on Saturday morning, prior to a day of softball on behalf of my employer (for the Cleveland Corporate Challenge). Needless to say, you probably don't think of Steak 'n Shake and breakfast together in the same thought, and for good reason.

Our server was good, in the face of her restaurant having run out of hash browns and regular bacon, and the fact that the cook didn't know how to cook eggs over-hard (despite trying twice. I'll say this, they make really good eggs over-medium). She even took some money off the bill given the situation. Out of all of this, she came out looking professional and level-headed. However, one of the very bored staff spoke loudly about the "ineptitude of management" regarding the lack of bacon and hash browns, which isn't cool. Not in front of the four customers in the place, sweetheart. All I'll remember is the rudeness of the drive-through girl who was so bored she was eating her breakfast out front and being unpleasant about her bosses, and the cook who made really good eggs over-medium, not matter what.

Atmosphere: 1/5 (-1 for the inappropriate comments) Service: 3/5 (+1 for grace under pressure) Food: 2/5 (It's not really a breakfast place)

Famous Gyro George, Bedford (or Maple Heights)

So, apparently this is in Maple Heights, but I always think of it as being more Bedfordy than Mapley. Anyway, Famous Gyro George is probably fairly well known if you live in the Cleveland area, so it hardly needs much of an introduction. If you don't know of it, it's kind of tricky to explain. It does breakfasts, the one I'm reviewing is open 24/7, and yes, it does gyros too. And you'll leave smelling of the food you've eaten, so if that bothers you, don't go. However, I quite like the food, so smelling like tasty greasy food is a risk worth taking.

The breakfasts are cheap and cheerful, and the array of deals on the vast board over the counter are bewildering at first. Typical breakfast fare, but the price is good, and it's hearty stuff.

The lunch/dinner menu is similiarly basic, though I must admit that I'm a big fan of their burgers - I find them redolent of the ones back home, and that makes me happy. Their fries are good too, and the place, in general, makes me happy. They have vinegar for their fries, which as you'll recall, is a good thing in my book. I don't eat gyros, so I'll not be reviewing them here, but I assume that, as George is famous for 'em, they must be good.

You stand in line, order your food and pay for it, then go sit down with your drinks and a number. They bring your food out, and you eat it. Simple. It reminds me of so many chippies where I used to eat growing up, that I feel very at home here. The only thing missing from that experience is the tea maker hissing away and Radio 1 blaring out Ultravox.

Check this place out. Don't let anything or anyone tell you differently, it's worth a visit. It's Famous for a reason.

Atmosphere: 3/5 (basic and cheerful - feels like home, to me at least) Service: 3/5 (for what it is) Food: 3/5 (Fries 4/5) (Breakfast 3/5) (Burgers 3/5)

LA Pete's (Formally La Peep's), Independence

Tucked away on Route 21 in Independence, slightly north of Rockside Road, L.A. Pete's recently changed it's name from Le Peeps as it left a larger chain to make its own way in the world. However, only the front signage changed - everything remains the same within, including the tasty breakfast food and the almost always pleasant (if harried and rushed!) staff.

Sara and I first discovered the spot a couple of years ago. We'd driven past it a few times, noticing that it was closed - L.A. Pete's only opens for breakfast and lunch. This kind of dedication to the best meal of the day is something that gets my attention, so we stopped by. (I'll be reviewing another breakfast favorite soon, The Original Pancake House, which follows a similar trend of closing once they're done with lunch).

The food is good breakfast fare. The bacon is above average, and their sausages are excellent, though a full side is a little too rich. The pancakes are good, the coffee is great, and the menu is varied and dependable. Service is usually pretty good, though on the weekends you can expect a long wait - the place is very popular. They often have large parties there, and sometimes the staff is run a little ragged, but they are good at what they do, and I've rarely left feeling let down by the service.

The signature potatoes leave me a bit cold (as they also go, quite quickly), but I recently discovered that "deep fried" is an option that makes them much more palatable, if frighteningly bad for you. I almost never finish the potato side of my breakfast there, but that doesn't make them bad, just not my particular favorite, either in style or delivery.

Bizarrely, the restrooms are incredibly nice. I'm not sure what the place used to be, I think maybe a party center, but the design in the place is almost weird. The one negative in this regard are the horrific clown paintings around the lobby. Don't bring childhood fears of painted entertainers.

A good spot for breakfast. Busy at weekends, but worth the visit.

Atmosphere: 3/5 (they get a -1 for the clown paintings) Service: 3/5 Food: 3/5 (Potatoes 2/5, deep fried 3/5) (Bacon 3/5) (sausage 4/5) (pancakes 3/5)

El Rodeo, Middleburg Heights

This restaurant used to be a steak place (the name escapes me for now) near Gamer's Haven, one of my favorite gaming stores (hi, Wally!) so I've been driving past it for years. Many years. For a long time the building sat empty, then it was rebuilt and sat empty, and then FINALLY it reopened as El Rodeo.

Sara and I have been here a couple of times. Sometimes, I really crave mexican food. Sara is always a fan. I have to be in the mood, really. We've eaten at several mexican places in the area (and we'll get to them all eventually here) but last night I had a book or two to pick up at Gamer's Haven, so it made sense to stop by here afterwards.

So - quite a nice place! The food is tasty, the service is quick, and the menu is fairly comprehensive. You get quite a bit for your money, and while I want to say it's all fairly standard fare, I don't want that to sound like a bad thing. I don't love mexican food the way Sara does, but I do like this place more than many others.

We both had the chicken chimichanga, and they split beans and rice as sides for me as a suggestion when I asked if it came with rice (which I couldn't remember). I liked that. Last night I seemed to notice how they'd deep fried the chimichanga and it was particularly tasty. I think I'd not killed my taste buds with chips and salsa as much as usual, maybe that's why. The chips were distinctly "eh" and the salsa fairly standard.

Here's the scores:

Atmosphere: 3/5 (Bright, colorful, clean) Service: 3/5 (fast and efficient, appreciated the half/half suggestion for the beans and rice)
Food: 3/5 (Chicken chimichanga) 2/5 (chips)

Rusty Bucket, Solon

It's recently turned into something of a work hang-out, with a few lunch-time and Friday afternoon get-togethers taking place here. It's a couple of miles from the office, in a large plaza which includes a decent Borders that I like to visit regularly.

Tucked away in a corner, the Solon establishment (part of the Rusty Bucket chain) is a tidy, if slightly cramped for that location, bar and restaurant. It's nice and dark inside, with a small outside area for eatin' and drinkin' and all-in-all, it's very nice.

The staff are great, though typically rare on the ground when the place is busy - but they are really good, so I can totally forgive that.

The staff are also very smart, and funny. The girl that served us today announced that my compatriot's "loaf of meat" had arrived, a turn of phrase my wife and I use often, and I actually tipped the girl a little more for being so cool. She brought us drinks and cleverly worked out a way of getting me a couple more chicken tenders added to my lunch for just a couple of dollars. Smart.

I've really only had a few meals here - the chicken tenders are amazing, maybe the nicest I've had, and the fries are functional, made better by the inclusion of malt vinegar on every table.

The fish and chips are just as good, and yes - it's bar food - but really good bar food. My friend said his meatloaf was excellent as well, and I had no cause to doubt him.

So, in summary, the Rusty Bucket is an excellent spot, with tasty food (at least, what I've eaten has been great) and good service. It's just a bit cramped (especially the entrance - it's very tough to move around and line up for seating) but that's more of a function of the spot available, I think.

Atmosphere: 3/5 (not really critical here though) Service: 3/5 Food: 4/5 (Chicken tenders) 3/5 (fries) 3/5 (Fish and Chips)

Legends Bar and Grill, Medina

My friends and I had some cause to celebrate last night, so it was suggested that we head to Legends in Medina for some food and some beer.

I'm not really a drinker, but I was game to try out a new place. We arrived, and my first impression was of a slightly upmarket bar, lots of light coming in from the two walls of windows, and generally a fairly decent atmosphere. It wasn't busy at all, but it was a Monday night. The music was a bit loud, however, and a few patrons came in later and kept the same few songs on repeat for most of the time we were there.

Legends is famous, apparently, for a few menu items, including their giant "lucky dog" hot-dog (which I sampled) and some of their po-boy sandwiches.

We also had some onion rings and chicken tenders as appetizers.

The onion rings were pretty good, the tenders were pretty bad. They were chewy, which is about all I need to say about that, I think.

The hot-dog itself was comically huge, and I think fairly good value. I was unable to finish it, only in part because it was too much to eat, but also because it was actually just a giant hot-dog and if you're not quite in the mood for one, you tend to get a bit sick of a dog in a hurry. Had it been a giant bratwurst, I'd have enjoyed it a lot more, but pink watery meat isn't my thing, in the end.

The fries were not bad.

The service was very slow. We had to wait quite a long time for our food, and our refills, and as the place was nearly empty, there really didn't seem to be a good reason for this. The hot chicks at the bar (customers, not staff) kept the same crappy songs playing over and over again and it was difficult to talk over the music sometimes. That said, there was some bull-riding on the TV, which kept the guys amused - but I was seated looking the other way, and only had sunny Medina to look at.

One of my friends speaks highly of Legends, and he's a self-confessed fan of bar food. I think the food was okay and I'd probably eat there again, to try something else out. I'd steer clear of their chicken next time, since they didn't really treat their tenders very well.

I've not really decided whether or not I'm going to give scores in my reviews, but hell, why not.

Atmosphere: 3/5 Service: 2/5 Food: 2/5 (Hot dog) 1/5 (tenders) 3/5 (Onion Rings) 3/5 (Fries)