CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out Aurelia in Chagrin Falls. Here’s a look at what to expect:
Location + hours: 16 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls, 440-600-7770. Weekend brunch is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Street parking.
Menu or buffet? Menu.
About the place: The long space once was Dink's, an institution. Now it's a sleek spot in the heart of Chagrin Falls, with a bright green faux living-wall art, a long booth-bench, bar and partially open kitchen. On our visit we went back in time hearing classic '70s songs - Steve Miller, Gerry Rafferty, Jimmy Cliff, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. There's one television over the bar. Delicate Boxwood clippings grace the tables.
About the menu: The key thing to know is the menu changes often. Our brunch offerings included nine items. Each comes with soup or salad. Many of the items show their source - for example, the omelet is made with eggs from Moores Heritage Farm in Plymouth Township, Ohio-grown shitake mushrooms and Middlefield Swiss cheese. There’s also sirloin melt, burger and rice bowl. On one trip we noticed brisket hash; on another, meatloaf hash was being served. Johnnycakes were good but simple - nothing incredible. But the accompanying chicken sausage was delicious. A ham and egg melt came with local maple-cured ham, a Beefsteak tomato from Ohio, local cheddar and fresh bread from Alesci’s. Aurelia really banks on quality local ingredients. Vegetable soup was hearty and not overly salted - a bit out of the ordinary for brunch but a nice start.
About the drinks: Full bar is available with a trio of Mimosas offered.
Don’t miss: A pot of French-press coffee. Incredibly fresh roasted flavors and no waiting; the pot is left on your table. Single-cup and double-cup sizes are available.
Dinner? Here's our take on dinner at Aurelia - dining review.
Have a brunch spot you’ve wondered about and want us to visit? Email me.
Previous eats: Northeast Ohio breakfast-brunch spots we’ve tried:
1815 Tavern - Aurora
111 Bistro - Medina
35 Brix - Green
Adega - Cleveland (downtown)
Akron Family Restaurant - Akron
Alexandris - Medina
Alley Cat - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)
Astoria Café & Market - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Austin’s Wood Fire Grille - Brecksville
Barrio - Cuyahoga County (multiple locations)
Bay Diner - Bay Village
Beau's on the River - Cuyahoga Falls
Big Al's Diner - Cleveland (East Side)
Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern - Twinsburg
Blue Door Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls
Bomba Tacos & Rum - Akron
Bonefish Grill – Independence
Borderline Café - Lakewood
Brim Kitchen + Brewery - Willoughby
Burntwood Tavern - Brecksville
Café Arnone - Fairlawn
Check Please Cafe - Grafton
Claudette's Café & Deli - Westlake
The Cheesecake Factory - Lyndhurst
The City Diner - Cleveland
City Works - Orange Village
Creekside Restaurant & Bar – Brecksville
Crop Bistro - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar - Lakewood
Eat at Joe's - South Euclid
The Eye Opener – Akron
Fahrenheit - Cleveland (Tremont)
Fat Cats - Cleveland (Tremont)
Felice Urban Café - Cleveland (East Side)
Fire Food and Drink – Cleveland (Shaker Square)
First Watch - Fairlawn
Flour - Moreland Hills
Flury's Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls
Flying Fig - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Fred's Diner - Akron
Fresh Start Diner - Twinsburg
Gabe's Family Restaurant – Cleveland
Galaxy - Wadsworth
Gandalf’s Pub & Restaurant - Valley City
The Girves Brown Derby - Medina
Hofbrauhaus - Cleveland (downtown)
Inn on Coventry – Cleveland Heights
Jack Flaps - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Jennifer's - Strongsville
Kelly's cafe - Brunswick
Kosta & Vic's - Parma
Lamp Post – Akron
Lucky’s Cafe - Cleveland (Tremont)
Luna Bakery & Café – Cleveland Heights
Luxe Kitchen & Lounge - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Michael's A.M. - Akron
Mike's Place - Kent
Mom's Deli & Grille - North Royalton
Mustard Seed Market & Cafe - Fairlawn
Noble Beast Brewing Co. - Cleveland (downtown)
Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar - Woodmere
Perk Cup Cafe & Grill – Berea
Pinstripes – Orange Village
Prosperity Social Club - Cleveland
Punch Bowl Social - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)
Red Lantern Kitchen & Bar - Cleveland (Kamm's Corners)
Rose Italian Kitchen – Solon
Rosewood Grill – Hudson
Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern - Solon
Scratch - Independence
Soho Chicken + Whiskey - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Southside Diner - Parma
Tartine Bistro - Rocky River
Toast - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Tony's Family Restaurant - Parma
Townhall - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Touch Supper Club - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Twisted Citrus - Canton
Urban Farmer - Cleveland (downtown)
Valley Cafe - Akron
Village Diner - Orange
Wally Waffle - Akron
Yours Truly - Mentor