The List: 101 of our favorite restaurants in Cleveland

Here is a list of our favorite restaurants by category and with remarks for exceptional dining establishments.


Top Restaurants
While all of these restaurants are superb, my favorite is Taste. I’ve been to the chef’s training grounds at L’Epi Dupin in Paris, and I frankly think his food is just as good, if not better in some aspects. Check out the recent review for further praise on this restaurant. (JT)

Taste
2317 Lee Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216)-932-9100

Moxie
3355 Richmond Rd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 831-5599

The Baricelli Inn
2203 Cornell Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216)-791-6500

Lola
2058 E 4th St
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 621-5652

L’Albatros
11401 Bellflower Rd
Cleveland, OH
(216) 791-7880

Fahrenheit
2417 Professor Ave
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 781-8858

Chez Francois
555 Main Street
Vermillion, OH 44089
(440) 967-0630

Verve
1332 Carnegie Ave
Cleveland, OH
(216) 664-5500

Top American Bistro
Although difficult to define what this genre is, the key component that sets many of these restaurants apart from the rest is the quality. While all of these restaurants demonstrate great quality, Johnny’s Downtown manages to do so with great consistency. (LC)

Johnny’s Downtown
1406 W 6th St, Cleveland, OH
(216) 623-0055

Fire
13220 Shaker Square
Cleveland, OH 44120
(216) 921-3473

Parallax
2179 W 11th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 583-9999

Table 45
9801 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, OH
(216) 707-4045‎

Three Birds
18515 Detroit Ave
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 221-3500

Top Steakhouse
Red is so good, they are even starting a chain in the difficult Miami market. I’ve been here probably five times, and always had an excellent steak, no matter what choice. (JT)

Red the Steakhouse
3355 Richmond Rd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 831-2252

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
28869 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 896-9000

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse (Eastside)
26300 Chagrin Blvd.
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 464-0688

(Downtown)
123 Prospect Ave E
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 344-2444

XO Prime Steaks
500 W Saint Clair Avd
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 861-1919

Top Seafood Restaurant
Seafood is quite tricky to prepare given delicate nature of the cuisine and the need for fresh ingredients. Blue Point Grille has been able to accomplish this with a wide range of fish and shellfish. (LC)

Blue Point Grille
700 W Saint Clair Ave
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 875-7827

Mitchell’s Fish Market
28601 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 765-3474

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood
26300 Cedar Rd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 831-8100

Pier W
12700 Lake Ave
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 228-2250

Blake’s Seafood Restaurant
9 Main St
Westlake, OH 44145
(440) 892-3474

Top Pubs
There are pubs, and then there is my home away from home. Winking Lizard is one of my favorite pubs ever. The selection of beers paired with wing and pizza night is a combination that can’t be beat. (JT)

Winking Lizrad Tavern
1852 Coventry Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216) 397-8380
www.winkinglizard.com

Claddagh Irish Pub
25389 Cedar Rd
Cleveland, OH 44124
(216) 691-0534

Brennan’s Colony
2299 Lee Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 371-1010

Great Lakes Brewing Co
2516 Market Ave
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 771-4404

R J Boland’s
724 Prospect Ave
Cleveland, OH
(216) 938-8949‎

Tremont Tap House
2572 Scranton Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-298-4451

Top Pizzas
I’ve eaten pizza all over and while my favorite is still Pizza OK in Milan, Cleveland holds it own with several great establishments. My favorite pizza joint is Geraci’s due to the quality of toppings. Just make sure you bring your checkbook since they don’t take credit cards. (JT)

Geraci’s Restaurant
2266 Warrensville Ctr Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216) 382-5333

Dewey’s Pizza
2194 Lee Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216) 321-7355

Marotta’s
2289 Lee Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 932-9264

Mama Santa Restaurant &
Pizzeria
12305 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland, OH 44106

Angelo’s Pizza
13715 Madison Ave.
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-221-5635

Eddie’s Pizzeria Cerino
7305 Broadview Rd. Suite H
Seven Hills, OH 44131
216-236-6007

Top Burgers
Cleveland offers some of the greatest varieties on a simple dish, the burger. It is the local favorite, Heck’s Café, which stands out from the rest with the quality of meat, toppings, service, and atmosphere. (LC)

Heck’s Café
2927 Bridge Ave
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-861-5464

Red Robin
4009 Orange Pl.
Beachwood, OH 44122 mall
216-378-9362

B-Spot
28699 Chagrin Boulevard
Woodmere, OH‎
(216) 292-5567‎

Bearden’s Restaurant
19985 Lake Road
Cleveland, OH
(440) 331-7850‎

Light Bistro
2801 Bridge Avenue
Cleveland, OH
(216) 771-7130‎

Top Sandwiches
The permutations of sandwiches are boundless in this city with unique fillings and a wide range of sizes. Out of the many choices, choosing Melt will grant you the greatest probability of giving you a winning experience. (LC)

Melt Bar and Grilled (Westside)
14718 Detroit Ave.
Lakewood , OH 44107
216-226-3699

(Eastside)
13463 Cedar Road
Cleveland Heights, OH‎ 44118
(216) 965-0988‎

Slyman’s Restaurant
3106 St. Clair Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114
216-621-3760

La Bodega
869 Jefferson Avenue
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 621-7075‎

Dish Deli & Catering
1112 Kenilworth Avenue
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 523-7000‎

Mister Brisket Inc
2156 South Taylor Road
Cleveland Hts, OH‎
(216) 932-8620‎

Top Italian
Little Italy serves as the epicenter of great Italian cooking in Cleveland, and that is where my favorite spot is. Michaelangelo’s offers some of the best pasta and short ribs around, along with an extensive but decently priced wine menu. On top of all of this, they also have a private parking lot which helps a lot on a busy night in Little Italy. (JT)

Michaelangelo’s Restaurant
and Wine Bar
2198 Murray Hill Rd
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 721-0300

Grotto Wine Bar
13101 Shaker Square
Cleveland Heights, OH 44120
216-664-1120

Bodega
1854 Coventry Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44118
216-932-3060

Risotrante Giovanni’s
25550 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 831-8625

Trattoria Roman Gardens
12207 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 421-2700

Primo Vino
12511 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 229-3334

Top Mediterranean Cuisine
Mallorca offers some of the best service around and it doesn’t hurt that their seafood and veal dishes are equally as good. Many a drug rep dinner was hosted here…memories. (JT)

Mallorca
1390 West 9th Street
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 687-9494‎

Mad Greek
2466 Fairmount Boulevard
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 421-3333‎

Marbella
Ste 101, 29425 Chagrin Boulevard
Beachwood, OH‎
(216) 464-9939‎

Zdara
1382 West 9th Street
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 535-0001‎

Top Other European Cuisine
Out of the Eastern European places, even with its unique décor and cafeteria-style setup, Sokolowski’s remains top notch. (LC)

Sokolowski’s University Inn
1201 University Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-771-9236

Restaurant Europa
30519 Pinetree Rd.
Pepper Pike, OH 44124
216-591-1273

Marta’s Restaurant
800 E. 222nd St.
Euclid, OH 44123
216-731-9596

Frank Sterle’s
Slovenian Country
House
1401 E. 55th St.
Cleveland, OH 44103
216-881-4181

Der Braumeister Restaurant & Del
13046 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH
(216) 671-6220‎

Let Petit Triangle Café
1881 Fulton Road
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 281-1881‎

Top Chinese
I grew up on Chinese food and cook it all the time, so I know this genre well. If you want authentic Chinese along with quality and service, the place to be is Siam Café. (LC)

Siam Cafe
3951 Saint Clair Ave
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 361-2323

Hunan East
724 Richmond Rd
Cleveland, OH 44143
(216) 381-2266

Bo Loong
3922 St. Clair Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114
216-391-3113

Li Wah
2999 Payne Ave
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 696-6556

Top Japanese
Plenty of good sushi can be found in Cleveland, especially for being so far from the coast. The best would have to be at Pac East on Coventry (not Eton). They must have their fish shipped in every few days, it tastes that good. Also, try out the authentic Malaysian food if you are the mood for some variety. (JT)

Pacific East
1763 Coventry Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216)-320-2302

Shuhei
23360 Chargrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 514-0927

Matsu
20126 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 767-1111

Sushi Rock (Downtown)
1276 W 6th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 623-1212

(Eastside)
2101 Richmond Rd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 378-9595

Yellow Tail
4054 Medina Rd.
Akron, OH 44333
(330) 666-9988

Top Other Asian
Sometimes, nothing satisfies hunger like a simple bowl of noodle soup. Aptly named, Superior Pho is truly superior. (LC)

Superior Pho
3030 Superior Ave
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 781-7462

Bangkok Thai Cuisine
5359 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland, OH 44124 Map
(440) 684-1982

Lemon Grass
2179 Lee Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216) 321-0210

Mint Café
1791 Coventry Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216) 320-9915

Tree Country Bistro
1803 Coventry Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-321-0644

Mekong River
1918 Lee Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 371-9575

Seoul Hot Pot
3709 Payne Ave
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 881-1221

Phnom Pehn
1929 W 25th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 357-2951

#1 Pho
3120 Superior Ave
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 781-1176

Sweet Mango Thai Cuisine
14610 Pearl Rd
Strongsville, OH 44136
(440) 238-9921

Top Indian
Indian food is sort of an addiction of mine. While Cleveland doesn’t quite compare with Delhi, I go with Saffron Patch for consistent, good quality Northern Indian cuisine. (JT)

Saffron Patch
20600 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216)-295-0400

Madras Café
5156 Wilson Mils Rd
Cleveland, OH 44143
(440) 461-3737

Café Tandoor
2096 Taylor Rd
Cleveland, OH 44112
(216) 371-8500

Udupi Café
6339 Olde York Rd
Cleveland, OH 44130
(440) 743-7154

Jaipur Junction
9377 Sprague Rd
North Royalton, OH 44133
(440) 842-3555

Flavors of India
26703 Brookpark Rd.
North Olmsted, OH 44070
440-779-5774

Bamboo Garden
5106 Great Northern Mall
North Olmsted, OH
(440) 734-0500‎

Top Latin American Cuisine
Even being this far north, one can find both high-end cuisines to mom-and-pop shops within this genre. Given their desire to encompass the vast variety of Latin flavors with a modern twist, Paladar is a must try. (LC)

Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar
28601 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 896-9020

Los Habaneros
20255 Van Aken Blvd.
Beachwood, OH 44122
216-991-4522

Sarava
13225 Shaker Square
Cleveland, OH 44120
(216) 295-1200

Momocho
1835 Fulton Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-694-2122

Brasa Grill
1300 W. 9th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 575-0699

Mi Pueblo Taqueria
12207 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 671-6661‎

Top Middle Eastern Cuisine
The donor and kebabs are some of the best around and the meats on the rotisserie are always hot and fresh. They also listened to me and upgraded the baklava last year. It feels good when the customer has a little power. (JT)

Anatolia Cafe
2270 Lee Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
(216) 321-4400

Taza Fresh LLC
28601 Chagrin Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
(216) 464-4000

Aladdin’s Eatery
12447 Cedar Rd
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 932-4333

Cedarland
9491 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 791-6606

Nate’s Deli
1923 W 25th St
(216) 696-7529

Maha’s Cafe
3323 West 25th Street
Cleveland, OH‎(
(216) 741-9810‎


If you have any questions, opnions, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit (especially in St. Louis or Salt Lake City), please comment below.

It’s been a privilege and great time writing these articles for the past two years. We hoped you enjoyed them and got to try some new restaurants along the way. Thank you.

Taste Restaurant- Cleveland

This is one of Michelle and I's favorite restaurants. We go there at least once a month and enjoy their event tastings and wine samplings. Michelle wrote this great review. Hope you enjoy.


Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
By Michelle Tarbox MD and James Tarbox MD


Taste Restaurant
www.tastefoodwine.com
2317 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH, OH 44118
(216) 932-9100
Open Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm; Sun 5pm-9pm


Taste . . .
A simple word that conjures many different meanings. Scientifically it denotes the unique process of chemoreception by which the body reacts to the chemical composition of a food particle. On a more esoteric level it relates the flavor of a food, its culinary essence if you will. In other usages it can mean to eat a small portion of one or many things in order to sample them. It can also imply style and sophistication…oh and one more thing, it is the name of one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Cleveland.


My husband James and I first ventured into Taste (located on Lee road between Cedar and Fairmont) while we were waiting for a table at Morota’s (a absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant in the same area of Lee…but I digress). We had run into Lowell and Chen and while they hadn’t planned to join us at Morota’s, they were in for a little pre-game show if you will, so we found our way into Taste. When we walked in we were greeted by a warm and sophisticated décor with a comfortable intimate floor plan and by an equally pleasant and classy hostess. She showed us to a cozy corner booth and brought us our menus. Now of course since we were already on the waiting list at Morota’s (restaurant pager in hand) we settled on just getting drinks and a dessert. One item on the menu particularly caught our fancy: the red bell pepper cheesecake. This intriguing combination was too tempting to turn down. The friendly attentive waiter brought us our cheesecake, a coral colored fluffy triangle garnished simply with a mint leaf and without hesitation James and I dug in. The red bell pepper cheesecake was a gamble that paid off. It was sweet and fluffy like most cheesecake, but with smokiness and a depth of flavor contributed by the bell pepper which is roasted and pureed in preparation for the dish that rounded off the taste in a sophisticated flourish. We knew instantly that we would be back.


I can’t even count the number of times James and I have visited Taste since that first mouth watering meeting. Taste hosts theme dinner nights paired with wine tastings that is one of our favorite date night activities and a great opportunity to try a sampling or taste of many of the different dishes and wines available at the restaurant. The wine courses are selected by Larry Weider who co-owns the restaurant with his partner Raj Singh. Larry is a friendly, amicable host, and a passionate wine aficionado who truly enjoys introducing people to new varietals and types of wine. The dinners are thoughtfully prepared to match the wine course by Chef Anthony Vicente, who was born in Paris where he also trained. Chef Vicente draws from all cultures of cuisine for his offerings so while there are many French influenced dishes available; there are also flavors from Asia, Britain, and even local home–grown fare. A host is always present at the dinners and provides entertainment and information.


Chef Vicente changes the menu frequently to allow for the best use of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, and to keep things novel for his regular (and devoted) patrons, of which there are many. There are some dishes that are so popular that they stay in rotation including the red beet carpaccio, thin slices of red beets with spinach, curry dressing, goat cheese, and smoked bacon, the scallops and creamy leeks which are always the perfect texture and seasoning, and of course the red bell pepper cheesecake.


There is a Prix Fixe menu which offers three courses and two glasses of wine per person for $49 per person which James and I take advantage of fairly regularly. An average dinner for James and I goes something like this. For the first course James might get the parmentier d escargots with garlic-parsley butter (which is a rolled parchment filled with perfectly seasoned and prepared escargot) while I might get the chicken-stuffed crispy raviolis with sweet chili sauce (one of my favorites). For the second course James might order the rack of lamb with mashed carrots and mint emulsion while I might enjoy the grilled veggie alfredo with yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, and parmesan. For dessert James might have the chocolate mousse with hazelnut ice cream while I might go for the caramel and banana jam with Belgian chocolate and vanilla ice cream. During the course of the dinner James and I would each have been brought two glasses for wine from their wide selection to complement our meal.


Taste has something for everyone’s preference or taste, a wide range of culinary offerings and a broad wine selection. The Prix Fixe menu and the theme dinner nights offer a simple way to sample or taste the many flavorful dishes and full palate of wines offered. The sophisticated tasteful décor provides a comfortable relaxed atmosphere to unwind and enjoy your meal. It’s definitely worth your time to stop on by and have a taste of Taste.


Scale of 0 to 5
0: “When birds burp, it must taste like bugs.” – Calvin and Hobbs
5: “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” – Eleanor Roosevelt


Food and drink: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Bang for the Buck: 4
TOTAL: 19/20 . . . I told you it was one of my favorite restaurants ;o)


Dr. J. Tarbox's two cents: I learned long ago never to disagree with my wife, sometimes compromise, never disagree. Her review is spot on. We enjoy going to Taste several times a month, especially for the great wine tastings. Check out the Events section on their website for monthly updates.


Food and drink: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Bang for the Buck: 4
TOTAL: 19/20


If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org or visit the blog at starboxmd.blogspot.com. Thank you.

Post-PRK Day 36- small steps & eye drops

Day 36
Be ready for a slow progression to good eye sight. After about Day 10, I would wake up each morning being able to see fairly well. Upon placing my eye drops and starting daily activities, my vision would be slightly off with some double vision involving lights at night.

After Day 15, my night vision was better and I wasn’t getting any more double vision with lights. My vision slowly seemed to be getting better, until Day 20 when it seemed to regress slightly.

I went to my ophthalmologist today on Day 36. I was a little surprised when my right eye was able to read 20/25 without a prescription. This is probably since 80% of my free time is spent looking at a computer screen 25 inches away from my face or an iPhone which is 14 inches away. So apparently I’m a little farsighted for the first time in my life, the amazing abilities of laser eye surgery.

It will probably be another month before my right eye has the ability to focus on closer objects. I’m also still on the steroid eye drops to reduce the risk of corneal haze that occurred in my left eye, it’s not impairing my vision and should go away on my own. I guess it just looks bad on the adverse outcomes list.

Hope this blog on PRK was helpful. I probably won’t post again on this topic unless my vision is still having issues, just waiting on time and my eye shape to take its course.

Quick Bite: RJ Boland’s

RJ Boland’s
http://www.rjbolands.com/

Chilean sea bass and filet mignon half price for $13.48 on Thursday’s (so is everything else on the menu), personal HD TVs, chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches, what’s not to like

RJ Boland’s is an interesting combination of a gastropub and sports bar located downtown next to the Winking Lizard. The first thing Lowell and I noticed were the flat screens adorning every wall, with personal flat screens tucked into each booth. Soon, we were watching Sportscenter commentary on the Super Bowl from the comfort of our booth while other TVs discussed the Super Bowl (an important event for a sports bar) or headline news.

The waiter showed up promptly and mentioned that all entrees were half off on Thursdays. I asked, “Even the Chilean sea bass?” He nodded a cool yes. “Alcohol,” I pressed forward, but predictably was denied. That didn’t stop me from getting a Newcastle on tap.

Not that we are cheap spenders, but since the entire food menu was half off, today we decided to dine like kings for lunch. Both of us started off with the New England clam chowder. If you are a fan of bacon (and who isn’t if you can eat it), this is some of the best tasting chowder you find. It’s overflowing with bacon and clams. Next we split an appetizer of 12 wings in sweet Thai chili; there are 8 other flavors you can choose from. While not as spicy as I would normally like, the wings were meaty and tender.

After the waiter brought out the sea bass and filet, Lowell and I mused on how we were getting to enjoy a top notch dinner for lunch. The Chilean sea bass while a little on the small side oozed of buttery omega-3 fatty acid goodness and the mushroom risotto accompanying it was equally sumptuous. Lowell’s filet was excellent, though the gorgonzola was a little overpowering.

After enjoying these gastronomic delights, we capped off the meal with chocolate chip sliders, tasty cookies encasing a nice helping of vanilla ice cream. The half price menu will continue on Thursday’s until St. Patrick’s Day, so get out and enjoy this great pub. Definitely, one the best bang for the bucks ever.

Dr. Tarbox

PRK Post-op Day 7- a summation of all the important points: asymmetry, tissue and moisture

Day 7

Ode to not having the big eye, small eye effect anymore. For the last 4 months, since I had PRK on my left eye, I’ve walked around with an even more than usual asymmetrical face. Now, at least my eyes are almost the same size again through lenses.

I had one more episode of very sharp pain and eye watering late in the night on Day 2 (early morning Day 3) that seemed to last for half an hour despite artificial tears. Probably my eye mocking me for thinking the pain was over. I also experienced hyperesthesia where all of my sensory fibers seemed to be in overdrive. My whole body seemed to itch all over, so I put on lotion. No valium here. I presume it was due to the last of my new nerve fibers grasping at my contact lens or maybe my eye was drying out. I felt much better upon waking up though my eye still felt like there was sand in it most of the time and my nose would run frequently. Good tissue like Puffs Plus is quite helpful. By 72 hours, most of the eye irritation and light sensitivity appeared to be gone. Sleeping without goggles was also a great improvement; I guess they just don’t fit my face.

I went to my one week follow-up today. The vision check went well and the dang contact is finally out of my eye. It served a great purpose, but for some reason I feel like my eye is finally able to breath again. One downside is I went from 20/25 vision to haziness. A slight setback related to a bunch of healing cells being removed with the lens that will hopefully correct again in the next few days. Now if my vision can stabilize quicker than in 3 weeks. Work will be sort of difficult if I can only see a computer screen well every few hours. I haven’t had too much shadow effect, double vision (of which I still have no idea why this occurs) or night halos which some people will experience. Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of moisturizing eye drops. This is sort of similar to the effect Vaseline has on a cut, just don’t macerate the wound and it will heal quicker. I bid you adieu till hopefully three more weeks.

PRK Day 2: Some pain, Federer, mattresses and IZ

Day 2
I had one episode yesterday evening where my right eye seemed to spasm for a few seconds. I blame it on using Facebook too much and then turning to the right and looking right into the overhead light in my study by accident. After applying some Artificial Tears and turning off the lights, I was ok again.

I didn’t sleep too well at night. I was trying to decide if it was the goggles, mattress, or Federer vs Tsonga match. After waking up at 5am and noting that Federer easily won, I still tossed and turned. I’ll flip the mattress tonight to rule out one more variable.

I made it back to the eye clinic for my one day follow-up. The ophthalmologist was mostly checking to see if my cornea is healing properly and that the contact is in place. I wonder if some of the people who have had horror stories with pain didn’t have one of these barrier contacts.

I recalled listening to Iz’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow during the procedure. Great song if you’ve never heard it, very soothing.

I was already mentally preparing myself for the tearing that will happen tonight. That is likely because my cornea will have healed enough that nerve fibers will start touching the contact. Better the contact than the air, I always say.

Around 5pm, a little over 28 hours after my procedure, I started having quite a bit of irritation. I tried some drops and the gnawing pain only decreased a bit, so off I went too lay down in a dark room. After a short nap, I awoke to find the pain gone. If I’m lucky like last time, the pain will only last a little longer, and I’ll only need a dark room and rest. A little ironic regarding how much I dislike taking medicine.

If I don’t post much between now and this Wednesday, that’s probably good thing because that means nothing noteworthy happened until my one week follow-up, i.e. my contact falls out, earth shattering pain, or wild swings in my vision.

PRK Post-op

Day 1 (since the pre-surgery post was so long, I will start a new post for the post-surgery updates)

I’d forgotten what it was like to wear sunglasses in dark room while typing on the computer. All of the snow on the ground reflecting sun outside isn’t helping either. My eye is fairly sensitive right now to light, this usually take a few days to clear up.

The surgery went off without a hitch. I recall looking up at a device with a green dot in the center, 4 groups of 12 white lights in the corners and two orange lights on the lateral sides. The ophthalmologist spent several minutes using a ringed spatula to remove my corneal epithelium. The actual red laser seemed to only take 5 seconds. Mitomycin-c required about a minute. More smoothing of the cornea, and then the contact was laid down. Spacers were removed and I was on my way.

If you wear glasses and are only getting one eye done at a time, try to get a prescription for a blank lens the week before. You can also ask to have a demo lens used if you are ok with that. Walking around wearing glasses with one lens is a sure fire way to be classified as strange. Then again, for some people it might be a good conversation starter.

I only stayed up for one hour this time to eat some food and then I took a three hour nap. Currently, my eye feels a little irritated. I’m trying to apply artifical tear drops every two hours in between my other drops since it’s winter here, and the air is very dry. Vitamin C 1000mg a day has also been recommended.

My eye is slightly puffy right now with a mild subconjunctival hemorrhage, not too bad for having a spacer and clamp to hold my eye open earlier. I can actually make out what is on the computer screen right now, but there is a slight shadow effect and my eye throbs at times. Also, I may not have mentioned this earlier, but your vision will seem very good one day and not so good the next. It’s a gradual process as the eye heals and can take months until your vision reaches its final resting place. For now, eye drops and more eye drops, then off for my one day follow-up appointment tomorrow. Hopefully, my eye won’t start tearing too much till tomorrow night.

PRK: a diary for those with questions, concerns, interests, or comparison to LASIK

T minus 1 day:
I am going for PRK on my right eye tomorrow so I thought I would blog the experience for those who are interested. I figure I could offer a fairly unique background since I already underwent PRK on my left eye back in September with some success.

To start off with, you might be wondering what PRK is. The acronym stands for photorefractive keratectomy which means a laser is used to shave down your cornea, so that it will grow back in a contour that will allow for better eye sight.

How does this differ from LASIK which everyone has probably heard of, knows someone who has had it, or has had it themselves? LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. Once again, a laser is used, but this time a small flap is cut in your cornea and the laser makes minor corrections under this flap. The flap is then dropped back down which provides two of the biggest reasons why LASIK is so popular. You are able to see quite well within a day or two and there is little healing time.

PRK on the other hand can take a few days to have enough vision to perform basic tasks. They usually recommend waiting a week to drive. My ophthalmologist felt that I should be able to go back to work in under a week. Honestly, I didn’t feel comfortable in front of a computer for an extended period of time until 3 weeks out.

Now, you are probably wondering why I didn’t get LASIK. In fact, I already had LASIK on both my eyes 10 years ago with great success. Unfortunately, I was still in school at the time and my vision has regressed to a -3 to -4 spherical diopter with +2 cylinder (astigmatism) since then.

When I approached the ophthalmologist about further laser surgery, he noted that my corneas were thick enough to undergo LASIK again. My cornea was greater than 600 microns which scared the nurse a little. I’ve seen some numbers that ~500 microns is a threshold, but each surgeon has their criteria and different procedures that can be performed based upon how much residual cornea they wish to maintain. Thus, even with my thick corneas, the ophthalmologist was concerned about the integrity of my cornea with two flaps, thus we went with the safer route. Sure, I could’ve gone with the quick and easy LASIK, but I kept on having dreams of my eye collapsing on itself. I know that really can’t happen, but every one is allowed to have ridiculous medical thoughts at times, I’ve seen plenty.

In September 2009, I underwent PRK on my left eye since it had the worse astigmatism. This was also sort of a trial since my right eye was my dominant eye. I could still undergo LASIK if I was satisfied. As you may have noticed, I was undergoing one eye at a time because I could take off up to 3 weeks in case I was unable to work. I also have partial monocular vision, so I am able to look out of one eye mostly if need, thus another reason why this was suitable.

I arrived at the doctor’s office that morning and sat around for a while. I finally went back for the procedure which involved several numbing drops and lied down. A plastic stabilizer was next inserted around my eye to prevent blinking. I was now starting up at a multitude of red, white, green and yellow lights. The red was in the center and most important since the ophthalmologist kept on telling me to look at it. He then used a small instrument to take off the epithelial surface of my cornea. I could only feel the slightest pressure. If you’ve never worn contacts before or have some phobia of people sticking stuff in your eyes, you might need some valium before the procedure.

Next, he asked me to stare straight ahead at the red dot. It had not become slightly hazy, better with some lubricant drops. Then, the buzzing sound BEGAN. “Keep looking ahead,” I was reminded as the smell of burnt tissue entered the air. Since I’ve been on surgery rotations several years ago, this didn’t bother me in the least, but once again, if this makes you squeamish please tell your doctor so you can take some medication for anxiety before the procedure.

After about a minute, the procedure was over. Some mitomycin-c drops were applied which have been shown to reduce corneal hazing in people like me who are very near-sighted. A barrier contact lens was then placed on top. After spending 10 minutes total in the laser suite, I had received my bag of eye drops and was on my way out the door.

After having a friend drop me home, I stayed up several hours typing on the computer wearing the provided sunglasses. Nothing beats causing severe strain to my eye right after a stressful procedure. Also, like most patients I ignored my doctor’s orders of going to sleep for a few hours. My eye didn’t feel too irritated, just like there was a bit sand in there.

You will receive several drops to take. A steroid (prednisolone) drop which is used four times daily for the first week, three times daily for the second week, twice daily the third week, and once daily the final week. An antibiotic drop (Vigamox in my case) is also given to take several times a day for one week. A NSAID (Acular) eye drop was needed for one day. I also received some vicodin for pain and valium for anxiety and sleep, but I’m not a big fan of medication. I never opened the bottles, and they are still sitting in a medicine bag in case anyone gets any weird ideas. Artificial tears are highly recommended to use several times a day, especially if your eye is dry. I was also provided some thin goggles which you are supposed to sleep in for 3 nights.

The next day, my eye still felt great. I drove to my one day follow-up appointment (this is not recommended) and my check up went smooth. Words still looked slightly blurry, though I could make out objects at a distance. My cornea was already starting to heal well and I wasn’t in any pain. I have read horror stories where people are in pain continuously for five days and curled up in the fetal position unless they are taking pain meds or anesthetic eye drops. This reinforces why it is of the utmost importance to make sure your ophthalmologist is very experienced in this procedure. Cheaper surgeries may save you a few bucks, but issues with eyesight can affect you the rest of your life.

The second night I was about to sit down for dinner when my eye started watering. It had watered a little the first night, but stopped with a few dabs. This time my eye kept watering and felt irritated. I applied some of steroids eye drops which helped a little but the watering continued. I then went and laid down for about an hour in a dark room. Eureka! My eye had returned to normal lacrimation. At my one week follow-up, I was feeling more comfortable with driving though I still couldn’t stare at a computer screen or read text for a long period of time without the words starting to slightly blur. By three weeks, I felt like I could go about all of my daily work and home tasks comfortably. After 3 months, my left eye still only had about 20/40 vision, but my astigmatism was almost gone. I am wearing a slight corrective lens to lessen eye strain. Do I wish I had perfect vision out of my left eye right now? Sure, but 15% of the time, people will need touch-ups after laser procedures.

Now I sit on the precipice of PRK on my R eye, I will have an update tomorrow after the procedure.

Lastly, I would like to provide a quick disclaimer. While I do have a background in medicine, my knowledge of the eye is no where near what a trained ophthalmologist or optometrist has. My story serves to help those who might have some interest or questions before talking with their doctor. While I can provide advice or insight based upon what I’ve read or experienced, I will always defer to those who make a living in this field.

Inchin’s Bamboo Garden

Inchin’s Bamboo Garden
5106 Great Northern Mall
North Olmsted, OH 44070
(440) 734-0500
http://www.bamboo-gardens.com/

Inchin. “What the heck is that” was the first thought that entered my mind. I was told it’s a play on words for Indian Chinese cuisine. This doesn’t mean Indian food with a Chinese flair. It’s an Indian take on Chinese cooking, and quite tasty is an understatement.

My first experience in Indian Chinese fare was in Calcutta while eating at Arsalan. While I didn’t partake in their famous biryani, I did enjoy a vegetable jhalpiazi dish that was infused with red and green chilies and other subtle spices that had more of an Asian flare. Maybe once India takes over China in population the cuisine will only be known as a variation of Indian food.

We decided to try Bamboo Garden because several friends from India said it reminded them of Chinese food back at home. How could I turn down that stamp of approval? The food is also considered halal which means it is permissible for Muslims to eat.

The restaurant is located on the western half of the Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted. The interior of the restaurant is very spacious, comfortable, with mellow lighting and red and yellow painted walls. A friendly host sat us promptly and then we were off to the buffet.

I’ll admit that when I first laid eyes on the variety of food available, I was very impressed. Following is a list of the great assortment of food found on this buffet: darsan with ice cream, chicken red curry, lamb yellow curry, chicken fried rice, chicken hakka noodle, shrimp creamy chili, General Tsao’s chicken, chicken lai, thai mixed vegetable, okra black bean, T’sing hoi potato, vegetable hakka noodle, vegetable fried rice, crispy chili baby corn, cauliflower dry and chili, and hot and sour soup. Nearly all of the dishes were spiced very well, though the shrimp dish was a little bland and overcooked. After mixing them with yellow curry, the taste greatly improved. I also didn’t care for the baby corn that much, it was too mild and soft. However, overall the rest of the buffet is a spice heaven.

The meal ends with a quite tasty dessert. Darzan are thin, fried crispy noodles coated in sugar and honey. When mixed with the ice cream, the combination is pure nirvana (had to get one of those jokes in). For those living on the west side or who have an interest in trying a spin on Asian cuisine, definitely check this restaurant out. There are also locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Raleigh, and Seattle.

Scale of 0 to 5
0: "What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." - Confucius

5: “With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow – I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.” - Confucius

Food & Drink: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4 (Buffet service, but friendly)
Bang for the buck: 4 (The buffet was $9.95, but for the variety it is well worth it)
TOTAL: 17/20

-Dr. Tarbox

Dr. Chang’s two cents:
Food & Drink: 4.5 (Good for an uncommon genre)
Atmosphere: 4 (Quiet and clean)
Service: 4 (Quick to refill water, otherwise buffet self-serve style)
Bang for the buck: 4 (All-you-can-eat for lunchtime for a decent price)
TOTAL: 16.5/20

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org or visit our blog at starboxmd.blogspot.com. Thank you.

Mad Greek

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
By Lowell Chang, MD and James Tarbox, MD

The Mad Greek
2466 Fairmount Blvd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
(216) 421-3333
http://madgreekcleveland.com/

Outside of the usual gyro shop, it is hard to find Greek food here in Cleveland. If one is near the Clinic, there is actually a place close by in Cleveland Heights, The Mad Greek. The restaurant has been around in the area for many years, but has had trouble with the food until recently.

At first glance, you will see a vast menu and realize it’s not only Greek food, but also Indian food. Although you will not find a fusion of the two ethnic foods, there’s plenty of choices for your taste buds. We visited this restaurant to test out the new items on the menu and started out with the three dip combination (hummus, tzatiki, baba ganouj) for appetizer. Overall the dips were fresh, but not as strong in flavor as other places. For main entrée, I ordered the gyro house plate consisting of herbed lamb meat, grilled vegetables, pita, and tahini. The lamb was fresh and had good flavor. The grilled vegetables improved on the usually raw onions and tomatoes for gyros. The tahini did not go well with the gyro, but I still had the tzatiki sauce from our appetizer to accommodate. For dessert, we tried the baklava, which was excellent and probably one of the best I’ve had in Cleveland. The baklava was slightly warm, moist, with a good nutty flavor, and not too sweet, drizzled with some chocolate sauce.

Overall, the atmosphere was comfortable with airy seating area and friendly service. Quantity of the food may be lacking a bit given the price that we were paying. I have not tried their Indian cuisine, but Dr. Tarbox can speak more about it.

Scale of 0 to 5 (0 equals “Naan of your business”, 5 equals “Opa”)
Food and drink: 4 (Overall fresh and solid in flavors)
Atmosphere: 4 (Comfortable)
Service: 5 (Friendly)
Bang for the Buck: 3 (Gyro quantity is not as much as one will get at other places)
TOTAL: 16/20

-Dr. Chang

Dr. Tarbox's two cents:
Back when I first moved to Cleveland, I probably ate at this restaurant at least once a month for two years. I showed up mostly for the Indian food, and would occasionally eat Greek food for variety. Sadly, it seemed like their quality of food started to decrease, thus I went on a two year sabbatical. I’m glad to have since returned. I’ve enjoyed two meals there in the last month and plan to add Mad Greek back onto the rotation.

Scale of 0 to 5 (0 equals “Naan of your business”, 5 equals “Opa!”)
Food and drink: 4.5 (The roast leg of lamb was tender with every bite, and the tomato red wine sauce on top complimented the dish well. From the Indian perspective, I went with an old stand by, the lamb curry, and I wasn’t disappointed. The tender lamb was in a spicy, flavorful tomato curry sauce that compares favorably with the traditional Indian restaurants in town. Awesome baklava as mentioned above. The Greek menu is more expansive now as well.)
Atmosphere: 4 (Two spacious dining areas, and a nice bar if you need it.)
Service: 5 (Always cheerful, helpful, and promt.)
Bang for the Buck: 3 (A little on the expensive side, but well worth it when the quality is high.)
TOTAL: 16.5/20

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Also, you can visit our blog at starboxmd.blogspot.com. Thank you.

I received several request on Lucky's Cafe. I also decided to post Vine and Bean as well since it's the sister restaurant. Enjoy.

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
By Lowell Chang, MD and James Tarbox, MD

Lucky’s Café
777 Starkweather, Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 622-7773
http://www.luckyscafe.com

In a world full of Starbuck's on every corner and at your workplace, it’s nice to get something a little different. Take a gamble and perhaps you’ll find something different at Lucky’s Café in Tremont.

Here is some background why this place differs from other cafes. The owner and chef of Lucky’s is Heather Haviland who has trained in the art of pastry making in various locations around the country. Prior to her stint as owner and chef in her own establishments, she worked as the pastry chef at Fire, Food, and Drink in Shaker Square. Now one can find her pastries at her own restaurants

Our misadventure began when we were looking for a burger place in Tremont. After finding out our original target served only at dinner time, we made a detour. When we walked into this cafe, it appeared to be the standard coffee and pastry stop. However, upon closer examination of the menu, we found some great selections. Since we were still in the mood for burgers, we decided on ordering the Lucky Burger. This was one mean burger with a nice thick burger patty, topped with a sunny-side up egg and nice smoky bacon. This may seem strange, but you basically get brunch more efficiently. It also comes with fresh chips and coleslaw.

Even more impressive than the burger was the mac-n-cheese. This is not your ordinary microwave mac-n-cheese because this one comes with four different types of cheese all baked together in gooey goodness. We also opted for the optional bacon, enhancing an already great dish.

The "icing on the cake" for our food adventure this time was literally the desserts. After all, this is the chef's forte.

Overall, the food tasted fresh and aligned more on the gourmet side of cuisine rather than café. The chef also makes it a point to use locally grown produce. The atmosphere is comfortable and homey providing both comforts of indoors and outdoors. While indoors you are provided a great place to study along with wi-fi access, and, if the weather is nice, the picnic area provides a good place to kick back and enjoy a tasty meal. We rolled the dice on this adventure and hit the jackpot.

Scale of 0 to 5 (0 being the odds are against you and you will not win, 5 means time to go all in on a royal flush)
Food & Drink: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4 (Limited number of staff, but friendly)
Bang for the buck: 4 (prices for the food tend to be higher, but portions and taste are good)
TOTAL: 17/20

-Dr. Chang

Dr. Tarbox’s two cents:
I never thought macaroni and cheese could taste so good, the bacon on it was superb. The fried egg on the burger was a nice addition and dang tasty.

Food & Drink: 5 (Everything I had was great, the homemade pie ala mode for dessert was the clincher).
Atmosphere: 4 (Dang bee kept on trying to eat our food while sitting outside).
Service: 4 (Seemed like the cashier was the wait staff and the busboy all rolled into one. Very nice though and the chef also greets people at their table).
Bang for the Buck: 4 (Great food at prices a little higher than usual for lunch, but worth it).
TOTAL: 17/20


If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Thank you.

Vine and Bean

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
James Tarbox, MD & Lowell Chang, MD

Vine & Bean Café
12706 Larchmere Blvd
Cleveland, OH
216-707-3333

Wednesday - 11am to 8pm
Thursdays - 11am to 8pm
Fridays - 11am to 10pm Live Music!
Saturday - 9am to 10pm Live Music!
Sunday - 9am to 4pm

Heather Haviland's Lucky Brunch
Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm

You may have remembered a review we did last fall on Lucky’s Café over in Tremont. I can still remember the macaroni and cheese with bacon and the Angus hamburger with a fried egg like it was yesterday. So when I heard that Heather Haviland was opening a café over near my neck of the woods, I couldn’t wait to dine in, and I have on multiple occasions.

So where to begin? If you get a chance, they have an awesome brunch on weekends. This includes the aforementioned baked mac & cheese, you have to remind them about the bacon. There are also some vanilla bean waffles topped with roasted peaches, honey whipped cream and striped with house-made caramel sauce. I’ve had the gingerbread waffles here and they were some of the best I’ve ever had, I’m sure the vanilla would be par excellence as well. Michelle and I were too full to try the Shipwreck which is a concoction of eggs, hash brown, bacon, cheddar, and veggies, but with those ingredients how can you go wrong.

Two things that Vine & Bean prides itself on are utilizing local ingredients and having a plethora of vegetarian options for those of that persuasion. The Shipwreck can magically turn into a Canoewreck with curried tofu instead of bacon.

Other dishes I have tried include the Egg pie… or is it another name for quiche? It included black forest ham, local (there’s that word again) bacon, Swiss and green onion. This was as good as any quiche that I’ve ever head. Nice, soft fluffy egg with a tasty mixture of ingredients. Now if I just had a farm to go maintain. This dish was served with banana bread and honey fruit salad.

I also tried a meatloaf special one day. This dish had a nice peppery flavor with less tomato sauce influence, and a delicious au gratin in the form of a triangle. These potatoes tasted really good in the accompanying smoky gravy.

If you happen to venture to Vine & Bean on a weekday, you still have options for hot paninis, breakfast sandwiches, chopped salads, and a very nice beer selection (of which I have yet to try). On a final note, the restaurant is located in a renovated house with many styles of chairs and tables to sit at, a nice alternative atmosphere.


Scale of 0 to 5
0: “A writer is like a bean plant - he has his little day, and then gets stringy.” EB White
5: "Fill every beaker up, my men, pour forth the cheering wine: there's life and strength in every drop, thanksgiving to the vine!" Albert Gorton Greene

Food & Drink: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4.5 (can be a little slow if busy, otherwise very friendly and helpful with suggestions)
Bang for the buck: 3 (a little expensive, but for the quality of food and use of local products, you definitely get what you pay for)
TOTAL: 17.5/20

- Dr. Tarbox

Dr. Chang’s two cents:

This is another good establishment from the folks who brought you Lucky’s Café. Food is fresh and flavorful. I personally have only tried the lunch items, but hope to try their brunch menu at some point. Be sure to check out some of the pastries also.

Food & Drink: 5
Atmosphere: 5 (What you expect from a typical café)
Service: 3.5 (Only two wait staff at most, so the busier they are, the slower the service. A cashier during one of my visits had trouble with their math.)
Bang for the Buck: 3 (Costs a little more than the usual café style foods)
TOTAL: 16.5/20

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Thank you.

The Joys of India

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
By James Tarbox, MD and Lowell Chang, MD

Two [trips] in a [month], I bet you think that’s pretty clever don’t you boy.

Having returned from a trans-hemispheric trip to Peru, I laid down to rest for a few hours. I then dumped out my suitcase and replaced my missionary worn clothes. After being in Cleveland for fifteen hours, Michelle and I were off to India.

During the 15 hour flight from Newark to New Delhi, yes this really occurred and no it didn’t take 23 hours or a layover in Frankfurt, Heathrow or Abu Dhabi as I was asked several times, I made a decision that I would both relish and regret. The stewardess asked if I would want American or Indian cuisine for my meal before landing. Indian food of course, and whoever is Continental’s chef for international cuisine, I give props. The paneer (cheese) and aloo (potatoes) were very tasty in a nice tomato curry. They didn’t hold back on the spices much to my surprise and enjoyment. As I ate it, I thought I would’ve been happy to have eaten this at a good Indian restaurant in the US.

Our flight was scheduled to land at 8:40pm India time and I didn’t know how long it was going to take to get through customs or if our airport shuttle would be on time to enjoy dinner at The Great Kabab Factory. One of my friends from Delhi says he goes there all the time when he returns home, which sounded like good advice to me. Lo and behold, we arrived at the Radisson by 9:30pm and I tipped the driver 100 rupees for what was considered a complimentary ride. I haven’t seen someone with a smile that big since I last watched Jim Carrey in a movie years ago. I later learned that I probably doubled the driver’s salary for the month with that tip. Too bad I didn’t learn this until arriving in Kolkata four days later for my friend’s wedding after dispensing several thousand rupees worth of tips. Consider me a goodwill ambassador.

After we checked in, the first question I asked the Radisson was if The Great Kabab Factory was still open. They responded happily by pointing us in the right direction. Some cheerful hostesses and waiters greeted us, and we sat in an elegant, vast dining area with a vaulted dome ceiling and black pillars. An overly persistent waiter finally twisted my arm into ordering a bottle of wine. Another waiter took our order in which I got the non-vegetarian feast, Michelle the vegetarian.

Soon our table was surrounded by joyful staff bring all assortments of kababs. At this restaurant, dishes included Galouti kabab (minced lamb…or mutton as Indians say infused with spices), Peshawari Murgh Tikka (succulent chunks of chicken coated in spices), Macchi Tikka Khada Masala (luscious fish), Logan ki Boti (a mutton dish that I will mention more of below), Prawn Hara Dhaniya (shrimp), and Barrah Kabab (cubed lamb chop).

I sampled some of Michelle’s vegetarian kababs which included a Tandoori Paneer Tikka and Dakshini aloo among others. Michelle started tasting the non-vegetarian dishes since they did not contain beef. The waiters caught on and soon our plates were filling up with all sorts of tasty morsels.

I sat there as the waiter now supplied the Logan ki Boti sampling from the kitchen. The sumptuous lamb stewed in a fiery hot red-orange curry would soon melt away in my mouth. I tried to remember the last time I ate something that spicy, yet I wanted to eat more despite my mouth and stomach threatening to strike. The mutton was so tender; I could cut it with the handle of my fork. The spices were almost overpowering, yet invigorating. Apparently, the mutton is braised in a sauce containing chilies, onions, saffron, coriander, cashews, and a dash of mint. I’m sure my dopamine receptors were on full throttle.

Two more delectable kababs to go, then onto the main course, I thought. Not so fast my friend. The waiters kept showing up at our tables offering more of these finest meats. The kabab appetizer is all you can eat!!! Why didn’t I know this?? Why did I have to eat that scrumptious entrée on the plane??!! No offense to Continental, but The Great Kabab Factory definitely lives up to their phrase: “Where the kabab is king!”

After eating a few more kababs, I’m succumbed to the main course wondering if I could finish it as well. They served each of us a biryani (a rice dish with spices and chicken in my case) and two types of dals (spiced lentils). That biryani was the best I’d ever had; no wonder my friend from Gujarat had such a tough time explaining how different they were in the US and from home. I had to hold off on the aloo toori because there were four different desserts still to arrive which included: jalebi with rabri, pista phirnee (rice, sugar, water, almond, and pistachio mixture), rasmadhuri (soft cheese in a creamy, sweet milk sauce and almonds), and tinka kulfi (like an ice cream popsicle). The jalebi seems like India’s alternative to a funnel cake, except the fried dough is of thinner circumference and the design more ornate and circular.

After eating one of the most delicious and tasty meals of my life, I was finally able to appreciate why all my friends from India had a hard time explaining what real, authentic Indian food is like. The complexity of flavors that hits your mouth is like nothing you’ve probably ever tried before. I used to not understand when my Indian friends would downplay the spice level of food in the US, keep in mind I’m discussing flavor and not hotness per the Scoville scale. To put it in perspective, every dish I had was probably three to ten times the amount of spices as the domestic fare. In the US, you can ask for your Indian food to be spicy, but there’s a catch. It may get hotter due to the addition of red peppers or other chilies, but it’s not the same as the taste explosion you get from adding ten times the amount of onions, ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander, butter or oil. Yes… oil, that’s when I knew I was getting the real deal. When I got to the bottom of the bowl of one of my murgh (chicken) dishes, and the entire bottom of the bowl has a centimeter layer of oil. Man… that is good. Do keep in mind, if you want your food to be hot as well, India will happily oblige with more red and green chilies that you ever thought possible in a meal.

The next morning in Delhi, we rented a taxi for the day and saw the Qutb Minar, Bahai lotus temple, and Humayan’s tomb. We ate at a local restaurant called Pindi for lunch which served some excellent murgh, sag (spinach) paneer, and stuffed naans. Then, off to the India Gate, Parliament, Raj Path, Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid.

After that tour de force in sightseeing, we arrived at Bukhara a little before 7:00pm which is located in the ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel. The door wasn’t even open yet, so we rested in a sitting lounge that had nice carpets and interesting Renaissance paintings on the ceiling.

Once entering the restaurant, we were greeted by more cheerful hosts and waiters. The walls are made of stone and there are dark red columns and carpets everywhere. Our table consisted of two semi-low set chairs with cushions and two knee high tree stumps. I was ok with this because at times I do eat like a Tyrannosaurus rex perched over my meal.

Bukhara is famous for being rated as the top Asian restaurant in the world, as well as, one of the Top 50 restaurants in the world by Restaurant Magazine a few years ago. They also relish the fact that Bill Clinton stayed at the hotel just to eat at this restaurant, the waiter mentioned this twice. Little did he know I already knew this bit of information. He also mentioned that they have the best dal and lamb in all of Delhi. Check off round number 2 for me.

When I first perused the menu, I immediately ordered the dal bukhara. I next wished to get the Sikandari raan which is a braised, whole lamb leg, but the waiter said it was too much food for one person, even two. Did he not know who he was talking to??!! Well, I took his advice and ordered the lamb seekh kebab (note the slight change in spelling) which I would later lament as my second poor food related decision on this trip. Michelle ordered paneer tikka and tandoori aloo which are cooked in an Earth oven.

The dal is a mixture of black lentils, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, cream, and butter simmer overnight (or 24 hours per the waiter) and arrives at your table in a good size ceramic bowl. After eating this delectable morsel of artery clogging goodness with keema (mutton) stuffed naan, I can honestly say that I have never had better dal…EVER. The extraordinary thick, creamy, roasted texture and the perfect combination of spices all brought together by the slow cooking make this dish one not to miss. I sometimes wonder why I didn’t purchase some bottles to bring home, apparently they sell the stuff.

I next bit into the seekh kebab expecting life’s goodness to continue to flow through my digestive track. I chewed, swallowed, and ate some more…and some more. I couldn’t get the lamb kebab from The Great Kabab Factory out of my head!! Theirs was better, plain and simple. The lamb at Bukhara tasted slightly overcooked and wasn’t as complex in flavor. The dish was good, don’t get me wrong, but possibly my expectations were too high. Maybe the raan at Bukhara is the answer, but I won’t be able to answer that question until another time. The paneer and aloo were also passable, but not memorable dishes. They didn’t have enough flavor and both tasted slightly overcooked as well. This surprised me since we were part of the first group of customers for the night.

Is Bukhara “arguably the finest Indian cuisine on planet Earth” as their website, bukhara.com, proclaims? I’ll give them finest dal recognition, but I honestly thought that The Great Kabab Factory had better lamb kababs, as well as an overall meal.

We would later go the Taj Mahal which is one of the most magnificent structures in the world. I still laugh when one of my friends remarked that it was just ok. Afterwards, we were off to Kolkata to celebrate one of my longtime friend’s marriages. It was the main reason for the trip and a great experience, the rest of the vacation was a bonus.

Now if I venture into Indian restaurants in the US, I can always recall the great food I had in India. Also, I can finally judge a meal and truly understand what flavors and spiciness really are.

A few additional thoughts:
1. When was the last time I had yellow cake with chocolate icing? This decade?
2. For those wondering, the lyrics at the start are modified from a Radiohead song.

- James Tarbox, MD

I would like to thank my friends who helped to review this article. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Also, you can visit our blog at starboxmd.blogspot.com. Thank you.

Day (or night) in the life of a nocturnist

Ahh the sunny beaches of Seychelles. Why did I wait so long to get here? (buzz buzz buzz) Is that a fly? Surely, not here. Not on this pristine slice of beautiful Earth. (buzz buzz buzz) Dangit, fly??!! Ohh wait is that my pager? Is that the General Internal Medicine Triage Officer (GIMTO) sending me another patient? A nurse who is asking for a sleeping pill? Pain medicine that should have already been ordered? (buzz buzz) Ahh, it was only my cell phone. 2:00pm and I am still at home. Time to wake up and eat cereal.

Boy I love driving to the hospital at 4:30pm. Everyone else is trying to drive away. No rush trying to find a parking spot. What service am I working again today? Admitting would be sweet. No cross-cover, just me and my ideas on how to care for patients. Not having to worry about anyone else forgetting pain meds, zofran, or colace. Pulmonary is usually pretty nice, unless a patient goes downhill. Then, one hour of my night disappears with them. The non-teaching general internal medicine (GIM) pager has been hit or miss. Lately, the service is ballooning to 60 patients. Good for the hospital, bad for shotgun pages at 6:00pm, 10:00pm, and 4:00am. I sometimes wonder why we get 20-30 pages between 5:30 to 7:30pm. It’s an exercise in efficiency and Zen. Lastly, Kaiser, Bone Marrow, Pall Med, GI and whatever other service decides to utilize us. This pager has not been too bad in the last month. Bone Marrow seems to be coordinating their calls more often and the fellows and PAs appear to remember to adjust pain meds. I wish they would have pre-orders for fever though.

Ahh, I get to carry the GIM pager. I wonder how many pages I am going to get tonight asking if I cover GIMTO patients. Do they not realize those two little letters mean so much? (buzz buzz buzz) The first barrage of pages, and of course all the teams have signed out by 5:15pm. This patient is agitated, in restraints, and no haldol prn? The patient got switched to percocet at 3:00pm and already wants their dilaudid? A family meeting now? (buzz) First admission from the Emergency Department (ED). Nice to see they are cleaning house. Time to go to the ED. (buzz buzz) Do I know if the patient will go home tomorrow? Maybe, though I will not decide. Yes, the patient can have an extra dose of dilaudid and benadryl. Why is she not on a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump? Need to transfer her to GIM 3. Well, done admitting that 90 year old for altered mental status and a history of metastatic pancreatic cancer on tube feeds and severe dementia. The only person I could contact was her granddaughter who firmly believes the patient would want everything done... ok.

It is about 8:00pm. Time to eat dinner. Normally, I would bring a few sandwiches, but tonight I will make a McDonald’s run. (buzz) A sleeping pill at 9:00pm? Sure. Dinner time is usually interesting depending on who is around. Lowell is probably one of the best Asian chefs in the hospital. Another colleague always has some interesting pita sandwiches filled with Middle Eastern delights.

I’ve got some time to review cross-coverage sign out. Let’s see only 7 subspecialties notes to review, 6 BMPs, 5 chest… x… rays. 4 hemoglobins, 3 cardiac enzymes, 2 line placements, and a restraint order to be signed at 4:00am. (Using the tune from the Twelve Days of Christmas)

(buzz) You called an AMET on chest pain? Are the vitals stable… yes? Ok, I guess. I will be right there. Stat EKG, enzymes, CXR, and nitro. The patient is fine after the nitro? Let us see how the enzymes turn out.

The midnight hour approaches. 2 hours later, oh there are the stat cardiac enzymes which are negative. Should I go to the call room now, or wait for my next admission? Admitting and Kaiser still are waiting. (buzz) Am I Orange? Not since last year. Also, why does the GIM pager always get paged when Orange is asked for? No, I do not cover Kaiser. No, I do not distribute admissions, call the GIMTO.

Let us see, it is 1:30am. I wonder if I will get 3 hours of sleep. (buzz) Another patient who can not sleep? Why do they not put ambien in the water? (sleep… buzz) Yes, did someone page GIM? General Internal Medicine? (hold) No one paged me? Ok… did anyone page anyone? Yes… yes, you can give an extra dose of dilaudid.

As I nod of to sleep again, I think about all of the flexibility this job offers. I must have spent half the months of February thru April in airports while on the interview trail. Due to the great flexibility offered in scheduling shifts, by the month of May I had caught back up in work hours. I wonder how many other staff could pull that off, at least those without Audi A8s. I wonder if I’ll ever buy an Audi A8. I wonder if the chairman will ever get one. Why have I spent the last 30 minutes thinking about cars?

Time to catch some more Zzzzzzs. (sleep… … buzz) Am I covering H81-12? I don’t know. Who is the staff? Dr.? He is the GIMTO right now, not the staff. Who wrote the last note? Yes, the last primary team note in Epic. You don’t know? Look in the computer? You are not near a computer? Ok... I’ll wait. It’s Tucker? Try calling them.

(buzz) Constipation? How long has this been going on? It’s 5:00am? He’s had it for 3 days? Sure, I guess the colace will help. (buzz) The patient lost IV access. How many times have you tried? Has another nurse tried? Another nurse? Any important medications needed? Ok, wait for SWAT. (buzz) The patient is confused? I think I’m confused. Reorient. It’s 6:30am. Time to get up and make sure my patients did ok. Only paged every 30 minutes since 1:00am.

Hmm… do I want to page the GI fellow at 7:00 or 7:15am. Signout to pall med went fairly smoothly. It’s time to go home. I wonder if my driving is worse than a blood alcohol level greater than 0.1. Finally, I arrive home to my bed. I’m glad I have a four day weekend to look forward to. I can’t wait for some rest and relaxation. Five hours of sleep in the daytime, then trying for seven hours of sleep tonight. This job does have its benefits. Even if I have two tough shifts a week, I still have the weekend to recover. It seems like many colleagues are able to spend plentiful times with their families. The combination of salary, benefits, and free time is tough to beat. Plus, my pager will spend the next few days off.

Speaking of time off, visions of the beach are entering my consciousness. Hear the waves softly crashing against the shore. That sure is nice music in the background. The world is slowly fading away. Wait a second. What is that I hear? (buzz… buzz… buzz)

Das Schnitzel Haus

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
James Tarbox, MD & Lowell Chang, MD

Das Schnitzel Haus
5728 Pearl Rd
Cleveland, OH 44129-2850
(440) 886-5050
www.dshparma.com/

http://www.bereaoktoberfest.com/
http://www.derbraumeister.net/

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are starting to change color. The evening air has a slight tinge of coolness to it. You wonder if your car can make it through April without a checkup. For those of the beer persuasion, it’s also time to remember that October can also be spelled with a K.

For as long as I’ve been in Cleveland (about 4 years) every Labor Day has been a time to remember the impact of German beer on our lives. I still remember sitting in Munich’s City Center in 2006 enjoying a glass of Palauner Dunkel Weiss and some great Weisswurst...but I digress. It is memories like this that make me yearn for what good beer tastes like and to enjoy some nice schnitzel and wurst. Sure, it’s still 4 weeks from when the Germans across the pond will start their festivals, but we’ll take the good weather as reason to celebrate when we can.

I headed off to Berea (a vibrant community just south of Cleveland) around 3:00pm in a car with Lowell, Eddy, Yi Ju, and Olivia. Not to worry, Olivia will not be influenced by or remember any of this… I hope. I hadn’t eaten lunch yet in anticipation of this event, thus upon arriving I was eagerly searching for food vendors. Fortunately, Eddy reminded me that Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest was on tap, so a slight detour was made. You could pay extra to get it in a plastic mug, but I have plenty of real glass mugs from Winking Lizard. The Hofbrau pours as light amber and has a nice balanced malty, hoppy taste. Sure it doesn’t have the complexity or fullness of a nice Paulaner or Augustiner, but considering the location, I’ll take what I can get.

We next found the Schmidt’s of Columbus booth which Eddy highly recommended for the Bahama Mama. It wasn’t a standard bratwurst or frankfurter, but I was able to add some delicious sauerkraut. This was a tasty brat with nice spiciness and robust flavor, yet not overpowering. Well, if you know me, you know one brat is just a starter. I was off to search for more sustenance when I noticed several people walking around with shirts proclaiming Cleveland’s only true German restaurant with 120 imported beers. After looking closer, I realized the shirts were advertising for Der Braumeister.

The Der Braumeister makes a very nice knackwurst, which means the veal/pork sausage has been smoked as opposed to a brautwurst which is grilled and flavored with nutmeg and coriander. They have apparently been on Cleveland’s Westside for over 80 years. I made a mental checkmark to definitely visit this restaurant in the future (likely right after submission of this review).

After enjoying this great German fare, some more beverages, and a Chef’s Choice Meats cooking session, we ventured home. Yet, German food was still on our mind, which led us to Das Schnitzel Haus. Why did we venture here even though I was salivating over Der Braumeister? Mostly due to the closer proximity and so we could try the buffet (only $7.95). Do not worry Der Braumeister, I will be there soon enough.

We arrived at Das Schnitzel Haus at 1:30pm and noted that the parking lot was not too full. Hopefully, this was due to the lateness of our lunch hour. Upon entering the door, we were greeted by a cheerful hostess. Little did we know that she would soon be our waitress and cook. Rather than sit out in the covered Bier Garden (the only one with a fireplace in Cleveland), we chose to sit indoors closer to the buffet.

After perusing the beer menu, I asked for one of their specialty beers. Apparently, they were out. I asked for another, they had stopped selling it due to poor sales. I finally settled on a nice, very smoky beer which still manages to be well balanced, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen for those who are interested.

We were then off to the buffet. I by habit tend to avoid the salad bar; this one was pretty limited anyway containing a house salad, potato salad and cabbage. After scooping some veal schnitzel, chicken cordon bleu, kartoffel kuegeln (potato pancake), and goulash on my plate, I returned to my table. The buffet wasn’t quite as large as I was expecting.

The first thing I noticed about the schnitzel was that it was much thinner than what I was served in Europe. However, the flavor was fairly good considering the slender coating of batter. The chicken cordon bleu and goulash were a little dry, but passable while the kartoffel kuegeln was oily and only tasted of potato.

Our waitress said we would soon have fresh entrees available. We also ordered some cevape (Eastern European skinless sausage) since they are known for this. Then, off she went to the kitchen. Soon we had fresh chicken cordon bleu and goulash which were definitely more tender and tasty than before.

We had to remind her on the cevape, and once it was brought forth I was interested in the eggplant and red pepper spread it was served with. This was definitely different than the pita and cheese that I ate it with in Europe. Fortunately, the cevape went quite well with this spread.

After having another helping from the buffet, we were definitely content with life. It was nice having some fairly authentic German food at Das Schnitzel Haus and hopefully next time I’ll be able to find a beer I like better.

Scale of 0 to 5
0: “I fear the man who drinks water and so remembers this morning what the rest of us said last night.” ~ Greek proverb

5: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” ~ Benjamin Franklin (could I have used any other?)

Food & Drink: 4 (Make sure the buffet is fresh if you order it.)
Atmosphere: 4 (The indoors are fairly ordinary, but the bier garden looks awesome.)
Service: 3.5 (Hopefully due to our late lunch.)
Bang for the buck: 4 (The buffet is a great price, though we had to order another entrée to expand our tasting.)
TOTAL: 15.5/20

Lastly, I’d like to give a quick shout out to Taste on Lee. They serve great French seasonal cuisine and host monthly events including the latest where I had one of the best wine pairing dishes in recent memory. The braised short rib with mushroom and leak frittata with a Barbarian 2003 from Meeker Winery in Sonoma was outstanding.

- Dr. Tarbox

Dr. Chang’s two cents:

I have not been to any other German buffets, so it’s hard to compare Das Schnitzel Haus. Again, the fresher the batch of food, the better the food tasted. I would have liked to see some German sausages in the buffet, but none was found on this visit. The atmosphere is overall quiet, but maybe because we visited during the latter half of the lunch hour.

Food & Drink: 3.5 (Not as many choices as other types of buffets.)
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3.5 (Friendly, but only one person managing both kitchen and tables during lunch.)
Bang for the Buck: 4 (It’s the usual buffet price.)
TOTAL: 15/20

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Also, feel free to leave any comments here. Thank you.

8 pack of beer and wine 2008

After discussing beer and wine with a friend from Texas earlier this evening, I have decided to post some of my quick reviews on beer and wine that I had from 2008. Hope you enjoy these as much as I did... they are all 8 or higher on my scale of 1-10. I'll try to be more detailed in the future.

Beer
1. Scaldis- Belgium 12% warm caramel, smell & taste, clean refreshing, could drink every day though need to be careful with the alcohol content- 8.5/10

2. Harviestoun "Ola Dubh" 30 yr reserve ale- 11.2 oz 8% black oil aged in whiskey caskets, chocolate notes & roasted. Definitely dark in color. Thick texture, definitely not your standard beer. Taste of dark fruit, slightly bitter, yet somehow a refreshing aftertaste. I still have the bottle, heck it's 30 years old. I also bought a few for some friends after celebrating finishing residency.

3. Brasserie des Rocs Grand Cru Special Brown- 11.7 oz 9.5% Belg amber, dark brown, smells of cherries, taste is light hoppy slight caramel, roasted malt, drinkable- 8/10

4. Koningshoeven Quadrupel- one of my favorite beers that Winking Lizard served in 2007 and 2008, why did it have to go. 10% Trappist. Dark brown in color, with vanilla overtones by smell. Above standard sweet malt with dark fruit taste. If I ever needed a backup beer after experimenting on something different, this always hit the spot. 9/10

Hmm... I think I'll try using a slight modification on the Beer Advocates template for rating. A:appearance. S: smell T: taste D: drinkability O: overall

Wine
1. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Rubric Vintage 2006- Hyde Park- 8/10
A: nice dark red
S: slight chocolate
T: dark fruit with slight chocolate at the end
D: very smooth
O: quite an enjoyable wine, especially with a nice filet or prime rib

2. Norman Conquest Cab 2004- Lola- 8/10
A: very dark red
S: dark plum
T: dark fruit with a hint of chocolate again (hmm... looks like I'm a fan)
D: smooth, slight tannins
O: another nice wine that goes well with meals or cheese

3. Bogle Phantom syrah/zin/mourvedre- Clarksburg, CA 2005- 9/10
A: dark red
S: hints of cherry
T: berry, vanilla, pepper, smoky aftertaste
D: full bodied wine, yet easy to drink
O: wow... excellent blend, goes well with a long meal

4. Elsa bianchi malbec 2006- 8.5/10
A: very dark purple
S: flower smell
T: dark plum with very little smoke, slight burnt sugar
D: full body, very smooth
O: nice example of a good Argentinian malbec

If anyone wants to comment on which style they prefer, I would appreciate it.

Le Petit Triangle

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
By James Tarbox, MD and Lowell Chang, MD

Le Petit Triangle Café
www.lepetittrianglecafe.com
1881 Fulton Rd
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 281-1881

When I first heard about Le Petit Triangle, my first thought wasn’t that this restaurant serves some of best French bistro food that you’ll find in Cleveland, but a greatly underappreciated Weezer song.

Anyway…upon entering the restaurant, it reminds me of quaint European café with the kitchen and pastries in clear sight. And I think it may have really been in the shape of a small triangle.

We started off with a wood smoked trout plate. It consisted of smoked trout served with capers, red onion, spinach, crackers, and herbed cheese. The combination was very tasty, especially if you can fit everything on one cracker. If the crackers were devoured too quickly, they were also bringing by plenty of hot out of the oven French bread.

I next partook in the French Onion soup. While in a French restaurant, why not try their namesake, and it doesn’t disappoint - a nice mixture of sweet onions in a semi-thick broth. Plus, there’s nothing like good ol’ Gruyere to top off this selection.

My main entrée was a cassoulet (French for casserole…tough one) of slowly simmered duck, chicken sausage, white beans and vegetables. It was very good though leaning towards the beans more than meat. Thinking back on the menu, there’s plenty of vegetarian options. The cassoulet can also be ordered as an appetizer if you just want a small portion, thou I wonder if it’s still in a ceramic pot.

They offer a plentiful selection of both savory and sweet crepes (there’s not many places in Cleveland that are good at this.) The wine list was very tempting with a wide range of very reasonably priced selections from France to California, but I had to work later that day (should that have really stopped me).

I’ll definitely return in the future to try more selections from this excellent restaurant in Ohio City.

Scale of 0 to 5 (0 equals “I can speak French but I cannot understand it.”- Mark Twain",
5 equals“I went to a cafe that advertised breakfast anytime, so I ordered French Toast during the Rennaisance.”- Stephen Wright")

Food and drink: 5 (best French food in the area unless you want to drive 1.5 hours west to Vermillion… and that’s not even the tough part, it’s driving home after all the… well…)
Atmosphere: 5 (quaint, comfortable atmosphere and it’s shaped in a triangle)
Service: 4 (pleasant waitress, but messed up the order; the chef made sure that the mistake was corrected)
Bang for the Buck: 4 (not too expensive, especially for great French food, the crepes are reasonably priced as well)
TOTAL: 18/20

-Dr. Tarbox

Dr. Chang’s two cents:
In a city that does not boast much selection of French cuisine, this place will offer a decent sampling of the genre in a comfortable and geometrical setting. Personally, I tried the garlic pork shoulder, which was satisfying comfort food on a cold day.

Food & Drink: 4.5 (Good selection of entrees for a small operation)
Atmosphere: 4.5 (Comfortable and conversation easy)
Service: 4.5 (Friendly service overall)
Bang for the Buck: 4 (Decent portion size)
TOTAL: 17.5/20

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Thank you.

Anatolia

Tonight I will share two recent reviews that Lowell and I published. One is Anatolia, a fantastic Turkish restaurant in Eastern Cleveland. The other is Le Petit Triangle in Ohio City, a great French bistro.

Just What the Doctor(s) Ordered
By Lowell Chang, MD and James Tarbox, MD

Anatolia Café
2270 Lee Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-321-4400
www.anatoliacafe.com

Here in Cleveland we’re fortunate to have many options for Middle Eastern food, but it’s difficult to distinguish one place to another. One restaurant that stands out in terms of flavor is Anatolia Café. Turkish cuisine differs from other Middle Eastern food with its use of tomatoes and paprika found in their stews and sautés.

The original Anatolia was located opposite Whole Foods off of Cedar Road in University Heights. Although the food was always good, the dining room was small, being problematic in getting a table on busy nights. Anatolia has been at the new location on Lee Road for about 7 months now and offers the same great cuisine with a larger dining room and a nicer décor.

I have been to this restaurant several times and cannot think of a time that I had a bad experience. Probably the best way to start out each meal is with the mixed appetizer plate. Out of the various dips, one of my favorites is the babbagannush which has a smooth, smoky flavor. Of the main entrees, the standout dishes include the mixed grill, the lamb okra, and the döner (seasoned lamb strips-equivalent to gyro meat). One thing that can improve is probably the desserts with a mediocre baklava.

Overall, Anatolia offers great tasting Middle Eastern food at a location with a nice atmosphere that can accommodate large parties.

Scale of 0 to 5 (0 equals “Cold turkey”, 5 equals “Turkish delight”)
Food and drink: 4.5 (Great appetizers and main entrées, but lacking in the dessert category)
Atmosphere: 4.5 (Comfortable)
Service: 5 (Always friendly)
Bang for the Buck: 3.5 (Costs a little more, but worth the cost)
TOTAL: 17.5/20

-Dr. Chang

Dr. Tarbox's two cents:
Overall, I could eat at this restaurant every week if budget and family/friends allowed. It’s tough to beat that doner when it’s fresh off the carving wheel. They have a nice variety of combination platters and most appetizers are excellent.

Scale of 0 to 5 (0 equals “Cold turkey”, 5 equals “Turkish delight”)
Food and drink- 4.5/5 (The adana with yogurt is one of the best Middle Eastern dishes I’ve had. It rocks my dunya…I hope that means something. Quality of the appetizers may vary, but most are great.)
Atmosphere: 5/5 (The new location has a great atmosphere, vibrant background, and not too loud that you can’t carry on a conversion. While it is always busy, there never seems to a long wait if any. The patio is great in warmer times. )
Service: 4/5 (Always friendly and usually prompt)
Bang for the Buck: 4/5 (You’ll pay a little more than a sidewalk kebab stand, but it’s well worth it)
TOTAL: 17.5/20

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for restaurants to visit, please e-mail us at: tarboxj@ccf.org and changl@ccf.org. Thank you.

Chicken and Bowtie Pasta with Asiago Cream Sauce

Made this nice recipe tonight. Very tasty, I modified it a little from Big Oven by adding more asiago, prosciutto, garlic, and mushrooms.

The wine was a Ménage à Trois (Zinfandel-Merlot-Cabernet) is a Red wine from Folie à Deux Winery in Napa Valley. It went very well with the dish.

Chicken and Bowtie Pasta with Asiago Cream Sauce
http://www.bigoven.com/recipe161444

"A tasty mix of chicken, garlic, mushrooms, prosciutto and pasta are complemented by a thin but flavorful Asiago cream sauce." Original recipe yield: 6 servings.

Yield: 6 Servings
Main Ingredient: Chicken
Cuisine: Italian

Tags: Brunch Main Dish Liked Saute Italian Chicken Dinner Spring Creamy

Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS:
1 (16 ounce) package farfalle (bow tie) pasta
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
2 1/4 cups heavy cream divided (consider just 2 cups)
1/4 cube chicken bouillon crumbled
3/4 cup grated Asiago cheese (1 cup) ~ 0.25 lbs
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped prosciutto (7 strips)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic (used 5 cloves)
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms (~1 cup of wild mushrooms)
1/2 tablespoon parsley flakes

DIRECTIONS: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water (1 gallon) to a boil. Cook pasta for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, and set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used EVOO… this is an Italian recipe after all) in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chicken cubes, reducing heat if necessary, until no longer pink in center and juices run clear. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups cream to a simmer, stirring often. Whisk in bouillon and cheese until well blended and bouillon has dissolved completely. Dissolve cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water, and whisk into mixture. Cook and stir 2 minutes more, then remove from heat and set aside.

Melt butter (I used EVOO) in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Stir in prosciutto, garlic, and mushrooms and cook until mushrooms are tender, about 3 minutes. Add chicken, reduce heat, and continue cooking until chicken is heated through. Return sauce to the stove and add remaining 1/4 cup cream and parsley flakes. Heat through. To serve, place pasta in a large mixing or serving bowl. Add chicken and mushroom mixture and pour in cream sauce. Toss well, and serve.