CLEVELAND, Ohio – Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out XYZ the Tavern. Here’s a look at what to expect:
Location + hours: It’s at 6419 Detroit Ave., in Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, 216-706-1104. Brunch hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It’s across from Blue Habanero and The Boiler 65 and near the Capitol Theatre. For parking, there’s a lot about a block away plus side streets.
Menu or buffet? Menu.
About the place: Comfortable spot. No reservations taken; it's first-come, first-served. A 15-seat well-worn wooden bar lines one side of the tavern, with tables scattered throughout. Classic rhythm and blues played on our Sunday-morning visit. Four televisions hung in the space.
About the menu: There are 15 items on the brunch menu plus specials. The menu ranges from smoked-salmon croissant, cheese blintzes, falafel wrap and several traditional items. A pal recommended corned beef hash, and while tempting we opted for a dense, compacted and delicious breakfast wrap with scrambled eggs, cheddar, black beans, bacon or sausage, with salsa and sour cream on the side. You get potatoes, grits or fruit as well to round out a good start to the day. All but two items (country fried chicken and waffles and turkey avocado wrap) are under $10.
About the drinks: House-made Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and two dozen beers on tap.
Don’t miss: Grits. Mix in the topping of shredded cheddar cheese & sliced scallions. I’m not going to eat grits again without scallions.
Have a brunch spot you’ve wondered about and want us to visit? We'll go anywhere in Northeast Ohio. Email me.
Previous eats: Northeast Ohio breakfast-brunch spots we’ve tried:
1815 Tavern - Aurora
111 Bistro - Medina
100th Bomb Group Restaurant - Cleveland
35 Brix - Green
Adega - Cleveland (downtown)
Akron Family Restaurant - Akron
Alexandris - Medina
Alley Cat - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)
Astoria Café & Market - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Aurelia - Chagrin Falls
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)
Big Boy - Valley View
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
Eddy’s Deli & Restaurant - Stow
The Eye Opener – Akron
Fahrenheit - Cleveland (Tremont)
Fat Cats - Cleveland (Tremont)
Felice Urban Café - Cleveland (East Side)
The Feve - Oberlin
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
Granite City Food & Brewery - Lyndhurst
Grumpy's Café - Cleveland (Tremont)
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
Lowell Street Café - Elyria
Lucky’s Cafe - Cleveland (Tremont)
Luna Bakery & Café – Cleveland Heights
Luxe Kitchen & Lounge - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Mama D’s - Lyndhurst
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