ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out Rocky River Wine Bar. Here’s a look at what to expect:
Location + hours: It's at 1313 Linda St., Rocky River. Sunday brunch is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Menu or buffet? Menu.
About the place: Tucked off Detroit Road, the wine bar has a quaint, French bistro-like feel. There's a 13-seat bar and handful of booths and tables, plus spacious patio.
About the menu: More than a dozen items range from three scrambles to strawberry waffle and WB hash. A well-made prosciutto Benedict had light and tangy Hollandaise sauce, and the prosciutto was shaved instead of the usual thick slice of ham tossed onto a benedict. Home fries were ideal: Crunchy outside, light and fluffy inside, and nicely seasoned with parsley and rosemary. We mulled the difference between "flatbread" and "pizza" as we munched on the breakfast flatbread. It's a 15-inch long pizza with chorizo sausage gravy, bacon, four-cheese blend, scrambled egg and a maple-syrup drizzle that gave it a sweet touch. The gravy is used sparingly; it's not thick or gloppy like you would find on biscuits.
About the drinks: A full line of brunch cocktails is available, but if you're into wine know this: The bar has a 24-bottle pour system, which serves pro-rated pours. So if you want to try an expensive wine but just want a taste and not commit to the whole bottle, this is the way to do it.
Don’t miss: The patio. Areas are both covered and uncovered, and a fire pit / lounging area sits amid the tables and under hanging lights. Veuve Clicquot gold awnings brighten the area. A garage door to the patio was closed on our rainy visit, but would air out and open up the restaurant nicely on a pleasant day.
Nice touch: Bathrooms are lined with wine crates.
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
Element 41 - Chardon
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)
Hudson's Restaurant - Hudson
Inn on Coventry – Cleveland Heights
Jack Flaps - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Jake’s on the Lake - Avon Lake
Jennifer's - Strongsville
Kelly's cafe - Brunswick
Kosta & Vic’s - Parma
Lakeshore Eatery - Mentor
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
Market Garden Brewery - Cleveland (Ohio City)
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
Seven Chefs Buffet - Cleveland (downtown)
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
XYZ the Tavern - Cleveland (Detroit-Shoreway)
Yours Truly - Mentor