ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out Herb's Tavern. Here’s a look at what to expect:
Location + hours: 19925 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 440-331-9870. Hours: 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday.
Menu or buffet? Menu.
About the place: The tavern has a comfortable, homey, clubby feel with dark wood walls and worn floor. Televisions on a recent Saturday morning were tuned to ESPN College GameDay as people pre-gamed for football. The pub - with its name in Olde English lettering - has been around since 1963. Dedicated parking lot is out back of the tavern, which sits along a busy commercial stretch of Detroit Avenue.
About the menu: Fairly standard and nothing crazy, with omelets being the flagship. Dishes include corned beef and hash, a breakfast sandwich, and sausage and gravy biscuits. Breakfast tacos tempted. More than a dozen sides are available. We tried a Bobbies Favorite with fresh Bufalo Mozzarella, spinach and tomato and served with a generous side of pico de gallo and topped with fresh sliced avocado. The Hippie Herbie, a toned-down version of the Bobbies omelet, had fresh Mozzarella, tomato and spinach. Note: The online menu does not have as many options as what you will find in the restaurant.
About the drinks: Coffee was high quality, though the bottles of Prosecco ordered by a large party near us tempted. (Who needs orange juice?) Also: Arcadia Brewing Co. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was making Herb's signature beer, a lager, but the brewery recently ceased operations.
Don’t miss: Ten very hearty omelet offerings with potatoes and toast on the side.
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
Brewnuts - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Brim Kitchen + Brewery - Willoughby
Buckeye Beer Engine - Lakewood
The Burnham - Cleveland (downtown)
Burntwood Tavern - Brecksville
Café Arnone - Fairlawn
Check Please Cafe - Grafton
Claudette’s Café & Deli - Westlake
The Cheesecake Factory - Lyndhurst
The City Diner - Cleveland (closed)
City Works - Orange Village (closed)
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 (closed)
Grumpy’s Café - Cleveland (Tremont)
Gunselman’s Tavern - Fairview Park
Hofbräuhaus - 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 (closed)
Kelly's cafe - Brunswick
Kosta & Vic’s - Parma
Lakeshore Eatery - Mentor
Lamp Post – Akron
Leo's Italian Social - Cuyahoga Falls
Lowell Street Café - Elyria
Lucky’s Cafe - Cleveland (Tremont)
Luna Bakery & Café – Cleveland Heights
Luxe Kitchen & Lounge - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Magic City's Remarkable Diner - Barberton
Mama D’s - Lyndhurst
Market Garden Brewery - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Michael’s A.M. - Akron
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink - Shaker Heights
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
Pier W - Lakewood
Pinstripes – Orange Village
Prosperity Social Club - Cleveland
Punch Bowl Social - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)
Red Lantern Kitchen & Bar - Cleveland (Kamm’s Corners)
Rocky River Wine Bar - Rocky River
Rose Italian Kitchen – Solon
Rosewood Grill – Hudson
Rowley Inn - Cleveland (Tremont)
The Rustic Grill - Highland Heights
Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern - Solon
Scratch - Independence
Seven Chefs Buffet - Cleveland (downtown)
Soho Chicken + Whiskey - Cleveland (Ohio City)
South East Harley Diner - Bedford Heights
Southside Diner - Parma
Steve's Doghouse - Cleveland
Sunny Street Café - Concord
Tartine Bistro - Rocky River
Terrestrial Brewing Co. - Cleveland (Battery Park)
The Depot - Rittman
Toast - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Tony’s Family Restaurant - Parma
Townhall - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Town Tavern - Green
Touch Supper Club - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Twiisted Burgers & Sushi - Medina
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