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Yours Truly, Mentor |
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Lake County business people let their taste buds do the voting and the results are in for the second annual Favorite Restaurant survey. Many of them weighed in on why exactly they selected their favorite.
Randy Horst, vice president of corporate banking at Dollar Bank and a Mentor resident, picks up lunch at Imperial Dragon and brings it to a friend’s house who has a medical condition that keeps him from leaving his house.
“The food is always good; many of our friends also enjoy it,” Horst said. “The service is very friendly, they are in a convenient location and they offer coupons.”
Carrie L. Dotson, executive director of Lifeline Inc., chose Chester’s Legacy Tavern in Painesville as her favorite place for a business lunch.
“I just think it has a great atmosphere and the food is always very good,” Dotson said. “I’ve never had something there to eat that I didn’t like.”
Jessica Peterson, director of marketing and communications at United Way of Lake County, said Don Tequila in Mentor has three things she loves.
“They have fast service, great food and the best guacamole in Lake County,” Peterson said. “They are simply the best Mexican food in town.”
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Fuji Japan Steakhouse, Mentor |
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Jessie Baginski, director of communications at Laketran, likes Molinari’s desserts so much she remembers the day she ate them last.
“On July 31, he (Randal Johnson, chef/owner) had two cannolis that were the special of the day and exceptional – one was a regular cannoli and the other was a chocolate-coated cannoli with cherry cream filling,” she remembers. “I also love his crème brûlée – ultra creamy and perfectly glazed on top so that the sugary taste is crispy against the smoothness of the crème. It’s a simple dessert, but if it’s not done well it can be quite ordinary.”
Another dessert mentioned in one of the completed surveys sounded so good I had to get more info, straight from the horse’s mouth. I spoke to Jeff Shibley at Yours Truly about his Berry Blast.
“The Berry Blast is a perfect contrast of temperatures, textures and made with highest quality ingredients,” Shibley said. “The ice cream is Pierre’s French Vanilla and the pie is fresh-baked daily and consists of true tastes of blueberry, blackberry, strawberry and raspberry. Also the goblet it is served in allows you to enjoy every bite.”
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Burgers & Beer & Breakfast, Willoughby |
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Mary McGuiness, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Hunter Realty in Concord Township, was happy to tell me why she chose Yours Truly as her favorite place to eat breakfast.
“First of all the service is fantastic,” McGuiness said. “I absolutely love the fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. It is sweet and tastes amazing. I usually order poached eggs on rye with a side of bacon. The eggs are poached perfectly. The coffee is always fresh and Fiona (her daughter) is crazy for the hash browns and pink lemonade. When I want something other than poached eggs the menu has a wide variety. I’ve never had a bad meal there... oh yeah, and the service is fantastic!”
As those who read my restaurant columns regularly may know, I am not a fan of national chains. That’s not to say that I don’t like the soup and salad at Olive Garden, or enjoy an occasional Bloomin’ Onion at Outback or calamari at Bravos. However, why anyone would go to Kalamazoo, Mich., or Sheboygan, Wisc., and eat at Applebee’s when they could eat at a locally owned and operated, all original restaurant – something different than what you find at home – is beyond me. Even at home I tend to frequent the independently owned establishments more often.
That said, I was surprised to see the results in the Favorite Steak category – very few voted for local restaurants. Maybe I’m missing out on something by not frequenting these establishments more often. However, I feel compelled to name those locally owned restaurants that didn’t place among the top three: Noosa, Bistro 70, CK’s Steakhouse at Quail Hollow (where I had the best sirloin tips I’ve ever tasted), Chops in Geneva, Silvestro’s, Gavi’s, Molinari’s, Capps, Spats and The Cabin. If you want to try them all, you better sharpen your knife.
Speaking of chains, Bravos came in ahead of all the others for Favorite National Chain. Tied for second place were Fridays, Longhorn and Wendy’s. Applebees, Chipotle and Quaker Steak & Lube also received the same number of votes. Since Quaker Steak isn’t even open in Lake County yet, I’m not sure it qualifies. Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesday were among other favorites.
In the Favorite Local Chain category, Yours Truly won by a mile, with Longo’s and Winking Lizard not too far behind.
Topping the list of favorite places to take a visitor were Brennan’s and Pickle Bill’s, not surprising as the restaurants and Grand River itself embody Lake County and all it has to offer.
Independent Lake County photographer Kolman Rosenberg says with its eclectic atmosphere and view of the boat traffic on the Grand River, Pickle Bill’s is an entertaining place to meet, converse, eat and drink.
“Pickle Bill’s is a surprise to people who are not familiar with Lake County,” Rosenberg said. “It also gives us a glimpse of the future possibilities for the development of the banks of the Grand River on both the Fairport Harbor and the Grand River sides of the river. An entertainment and restaurant district could be developed here that could exceed the former popularity of Cleveland’s Flats District.”
Among other favorite places mentioned to take visitors were Pranzo’s, Corks and Willoughby Brewing Company in Willoughby, and Potpourri Fondue Gallery, Scooter’s and Luchita’s in Mentor.
When asked what type of cuisine or restaurant they would like to see come to Lake County, suggestions ranged widely from organic and vegetarian food to specific fast foods like Sonic and Bojangle’s.
Other ideas varied from a true Irish pub to national chains such as Carabba’s and PF Changs, and made the world tour of ethnic foods from Lebanese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese to Greek, Mediterranean, Spanish and Indian.
Mike’s Kitchen Catering won the Favorite Carryout category by a landslide. If you don’t receive them already, e-mail Chef Mike Trivisonno at chef@mikeskitchencatering.com and ask him to add you to his e-mail list. He sends out his menu for Friday in the middle of each week so you can drool for a few days in anticipation of what you’ll be eating for lunch on Friday.
And speaking of Italian food, Painesville resident Jed Popely, a senior sales representative with Sepracor, a pharmaceutical company based in Marlboro, Mass., was one of the many who helped TJ’s on the Avenue become Lake County’s favorite restaurant for the second year.
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TJ's on the Avenue, Mentor |
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“TJ’s has a great menu with a variety of choices from traditional Italian dishes to unique creations ... always fresh, always delicious and always easy on the wallet,” Popely said. “But most of all, TJ’s caters to family. There is something for everyone regardless of age. There is no better sign than a full dining room with people willing to wait for their chance to dine in a privately-owned restaurant during a challenging economy.”
Restaurants in the communities surrounding Lake County were not eligible though many were named, notably Muldoon’s in Cleveland and Marbella’s in Woodmere Village.
Completed surveys were entered into a drawing for a gift certificate to Yours Truly restaurants. All entries receive a free, one-year subscription to the Tri County Business Journal.
Keep dining out, Lake County. Help keep these favorites and other area restaurants in business and always remember to tip your servers well.
Laura Freeman is editor of the Tri County Business Journal.
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Favorite Chinese
1. Imperial Dragon, Mentor
2. Jade Tree, Mentor
3. Hunan East/China House, Mentor
Favorite Italian
1. TJ’s on the Avenue, Mentor
2. Mike’s Kitchen
Catering, Mentor
3. Gavi’s, Willoughby/
Davitino’s, Mentor
Favorite Japanese
1. Fuji Japan Steakhouse, Mentor
2. Sumo Boy, Mentor
3. Hibachi Japanese
Steakhouse, Willoughby
Favorite Mexican
1. Don Tequila, Mentor
2. Luchita’s, Mentor
3. Jalapeño Loco, Mentor
Favorite Sports Bar
1. Cleats, Mentor
2. Panini’s, Concord Township
3. Winking Lizard, Mentor
Favorite Dessert
1. Gavi’s – Cannoli,
Willoughby
2. Molinari’s – Crème Brûlée, Mentor
3. Yours Truly – Berry Blast, Mentor
Favorite Hamburger
1. Burgers & Beer &
Breakfast, Willoughby
2. Yours Truly, Mentor
3. Delaney’s Chase Inn,
Mentor
Favorite Pizza
1. TJ’s on the venue/Zeppe’s, Mentor
2. J’s Pizza Market, Mentor
3. Longo’s, Mentor
Favorite Ribs
1. Burgers & Beer & Breakfast, Willoughby
2. Mike’s Kitchen, Mentor
3. Capp’s, Leroy Township
Favorite Seafood
1. Brennan’s, Grand River
2. Pickle Bill’s, Grand River
3. Lure, Willoughby;
Silvestro’s, Painesville; &
Molinari’s, Mentor
Favorite Steak
1. Outback, Mentor
2. Texas Roadhouse,
Willoughby
3. Longhorn, Mentor
Favorite Breakfast
1. Yours Truly, Mentor
2. Burgers & Beer & Breakfast, Willoughby
3. Manhattan Deli, Mentor
Favorite Business Lunch
1. TJ’s on the Avenue, Mentor
2. Gavi’s, Willoughby
3. Chester’s Legacy
Tavern, Painesville
Favorite Place
to Take a Visitor
1. Pickle Bill’s, Grand River
2. Brennan’s, Grand River
3. Debonne Vineyards,
Madison Township
Favorite Patio
1. Red Hawk, Concord Township
2. Panini’s, Concord Township
3. Cleats, Mentor/Chester’s Legacy Tavern, Painesville
Favorite Carryout
1. Mike’s Kitchen Catering, Mentor
2. TJ’s on the Avenue, Mentor
3. Longo’s/Chipotle/
Applebee’s
Favorite Catering
1. Mike’s Kitchen Catering, Mentor
2. J&J Catering
3. Kuhar’s, Mentor
Favorite Cheap Eats
1. Chipotle, various locations
2. Favored Flavor, Painesville
3. Scooter’s World Famous Dawg House, Mentor
Favorite Place to Take Kids
1. Red Robin, Willoughby
2. Scooter’s World Famous Dawg House, Mentor
3. Chuck E. Cheese, Mentor
Favorite Bar
1. Noosa, Mentor
2. Winking Lizard, Mentor
3. Hellriegel’s, Painesville
Favorite Coffee House
1. Seekers, Mentor
2. Starbucks, Mentor
3. Arabica, Willoughby
Most Romantic
1. Gavi’s, Willoughby
2. Molinari’s, Mentor
3. Bistro 70, Painesville
Best Service
1. John Palmer’s Bistro 44,
Concord Township
2. Gavi’s, Willoughby
3. Pranzo, Willoughby
Favorite New Restaurant
(opened within the past year)
1. Fuji Japan Steakhouse, Mentor
2. Hooley House, Mentor
3. Young’s Sushi, Willoughby
Favorite Restaurant
(any category)
1. TJ’s on the Avenue, Mentor
2. Molinari’s, Mentor
3. Yours Truly, Mentor
Favorite National Chain
(any category)
1. Bravos, Mentor
2. Fridays/Longhorn/Wendy’s
3. Applebee’s/Chipotle/
Quaker Steak & Lube
Favorite Local Chain
(any category)
1. Yours Truly, Mentor
2. Longo’s, Mentor
3. Winking Lizard, Mentor
What type of cuisine or
restaurant operation
would you like to see
operating in Lake County?
1. Thai
2. Greek
3. Indian |
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