Plain Dealer Staff
Best Summer Foods: Plain Dealer foodies' favorite eats, from walleye to burgers to berries and barbecue
Cleveland, Ohio - Barbecue, fresh salads, local corn and berries, carny foods, hamburgers and hot dogs, Lake Erie fish … summer food means so many things, to so many people. With the season in full swing — finally — we asked some Plain Dealer contributors to share their favorite summer dishes.
Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
Lake Erie Walleye
Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland; 216-664-5696: What better place to enjoy some local seafood than watching the rowers pass by from the lovely riverside patio at Merwin's Wharf? Their tender pan-seared Lake Erie walleye is finished with a lemon herb-butter sauce and served with sauteed green beans with red peppers. A Burning River Pale Ale goes nice with it, too. — Laura DeMarco
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Sky Hi Burger
Skyway, 2781 W. Market St., Fairlawn; 330-836-2806: They've been serving the Sky-Hi since the 1970s. I can see why. It was a juicy meal, perfect with a California Fizz drink. Oh, and the sign is so evocative and lay-out of this place add to the summer vibe. best-summer-pd Photo of Skyway in Akron -- a classic burger drive-in burger spot. - John Petkovic
Roxanne Washington, The Plain Dealer
Big Shrimp Boat
Sandy's Frozen Whip, 17635 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland; 216- 531-9400: The Big Shrimp Boat, which comes with French fries AND onion rings, is my favorite summer treat. But it's not just the food; it's the setting, too. With a big blue awning and picnic tables painted deep blue, Sandy's feels like a waterfront food stand, and it helps that the beach is nearby. Sandy's is open only during the summer months, so I have to grab a Big Shrimp Boat — and ice cream — while the getting is good. — Roxanne Washington
Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
Harvest Pizza
Crust, 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland; 216- 583-0257: Pizza may not be the first thing you think of as a "summer food." Think again at Crust, which the Food Network calls the best pizza in town. Their fresh seasonal Harvest Pie, with locally-sourced basil, tomatoes and mozzarella, is one of the best in town — and about as seasonal as it gets. Enjoy it on the patio for extra summer flavor. — Laura DeMarco
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Tacos
La Plaza Taqueria, 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Cleveland; 216-476-8000: This cafe (part of the La Plaza Supermarket) feels like a Mexican outpost in Cleveland. The tacos are stellar and come with eight kinds of meat to go with a variety of toppings and a patio… hits the spot on a sunny day. — John Petkovic
Eric Susyne
Asparagus Salad
Scorpacciata Pasta Co., 3441 Tuttle Road, Shaker Heights; 216-513-9822: Located in the new Market Hall at the Van Aken District in Shaker, Scorpacciata Pasta Co. offers a short list of freshly made take-away salads that are ripe and ready for a summer picnic. The Asparagus Salad combines a vibrant blend of mesclun greens, lightly poached asparagus stalks, mint, julienned radish, a dollop of ricotta cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette dressing. These simple ingredients combined pack a wallop of summer harvest goodness. Meant as a side dish for Scorpacciata's true stars – a revolving lineup of housemade pasta and sauces – this salad stands on its own legs, or add on from the menu cold chicken or pancetta for a full picnic in a bowl. — Eric Susyne
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Moqueca Baiana
Batuqui, 12706 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland; 216-801-0227: Hot beaches, samba, sun, caipirinha … just the name "Brazil" conjures up sweet summer vibes. Can't afford a trip south this year? Head east to Cleveland's stellar Brazilian restaurant Batuqui, which specializes in the flavors of the coastal Afro-Brazilian state of Bahia, and the inland state of Minas Gerais, where more Native American flavors abound. My favorite is the Moqueca Baiana, a Brazilian stew with shrimp, tomato, green peppers, coconut milk and dende oil. Perfect with a caipirinha on their lovely patio. — Laura DeMarco
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Sloppy Joe
Loder's Shake Shoppe, 6983 Royalton Road, North Royalton; 440-237-6020: This popular summer stop looks like some old spot in a movie. It's been attracting softball players, families and kids since the 1950s. The Sloppy Joe is a no-frills classic — a summer staple that goes down well with a heap of onion rings. — John Petkovic
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Terry T’s Tomato Salad
La Dolce Vita, 12112 Mayfield Road, Little Italy; 216-721-8155: La Dolce Vita owner Terry Tarantino is something of a tomato evangelist. No one loves tomatoes more, or uses them better, in the local restaurant scene. Terry's tomato sauces and pizzas are top-notch, but nowhere does his use of the simple vegetable shine more than in his fantastic tomato salad, especially with the fresh tomatoes that are local in the summer. Made with sliced tomatoes, red onions, carrot ribbons, feta and vinegar and oil, it's simpler summer perfection. — Laura DeMarco
Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
Elotes
Cilantro Taqueria, 2783 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights; 216-331-3069: What's better than summer corn? Summer corn served Mexican street-style at this new Cleveland Heights taqueria. Their made-to-order elotes are served on a stick, slathered with butter, cream sauce, chili seasoning and cheese. Can be made hot or mild. — Laura DeMarco
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Lake Erie Perch
Flat Iron Cafe, 1114 Center St., Cleveland; 216-696-6968: This Flats institution has been open since 1910… in no small part because of longstanding favorites like the Lake Erie Perch, which is served as a sandwich or as an entree. Either way, it's a golden-brown treat that comes with a heap of thin-cut fries. — John Petkovic
Eric Susyne
Pepsi Shrimp
Wild Mango, 362 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted (another location at Legacy Village, Lyndhurst, also serves the same menu); 440-979-1888: Pepsi Shrimp is a burst of summery color, flavor and texture. In this dish, golden Pepsi-battered shrimp perch on a bed of red pepper and green cucumber Asian salad and crispy soba noodles. This refreshing appetizer is the perfect starter for Wild Mango's inventive Euro-Asian fusion main dishes. Served up in a martini glass at the Great Northern location, Pepsi Shrimp delivers a visual and flavorful toast to summer dining. — Eric Susyne
Grant Segall, The Plain Dealer
Local Berries
Available at many farms and farmers markets throughout Northeast Ohio: Despite a cool, soggy spring, blueberries and raspberries are plentiful now and should remain so for a few weeks, says Matt Vordraska of Rittman Orchards in Doylestown. The sweet treats are great by themselves or in muffins, pancakes, cobblers, smoothies, sundaes, salads and more. — Grant Segall
For a 2018 list of local markets, see https://www.cleveland.com/cooking/2018/05/northeast_ohios_2018_farmers_m.html.
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Catfish
B&M Bar-B-Que, various locations: Open since 1958, B&M has turned generations of Cleveland on to its Southern-tinged barbecue. Ah, but the catfish is a must and perhaps the best in the area. It's crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside, and you can eat it as part of a meal or by itself, as a finger-licking snack. — John Petkovic
Greg Burnett, The Plain Dealer
Ribs
Open Pitt BBQ Restaurant, 12335 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland; 216-851-7709: Most of us look forward to summer for many reasons, but rolling out the grill is near the top of the list. Because of recent monsoon-like showers, grills have been staying put. A temporary fix could be a trip to Open Pitt for ribs. The Pitt is not pretentious. It's a rib joint. I'm talking a Cadillac-sized barrel grill in the back that's smoking 24/7. Warning: This is not fast food. As a sign points out, "Good food takes time to prepare." The St. Louis-cut slabs are perfectly charred, smoky and tender. An array of sides is available. I went with slaw, the savory sweet baked beans and white bread. All that's left is getting home to a comfortable deck chair and a cold drink. — Greg Burnett
Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer
Sweet Corn
West Orchards Farm Market (30 minutes from downtown Cleveland), 3034 North Ridge Road, Perry: Corn doesn't get any better than the just-picked perfection at West Orchards in Perry. The century farm is owned by Todd and Ame West, the fifth generation of farmers on the ridge near the Lake Erie shoreline. Their location prevented them from being hampered by this year's rains. The sandy loam soil drained, but the cool weather pushed harvest to the second week in July. Locals know that if the trailer is out front, the corn is ready and was just picked that morning. Everyone has their opinion on whether the white corn or the bicolor is sweeter, but you can't go wrong with either. The milky goodness will make you forget about any sense of decorum. Eaten from side to side or round and round, you'll end up with a kernel-filled, satisfied smile. — Lynn Ischay
Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
Pulled Pork
Barabicu, 5767 Ridge Road, Parma; 440-481-3057: What's summer without barbecue? The meat is smoked on a 700-pound-capacity wood-fueled smoker that runs 24 hours a day here. Everything is good and made fresh daily, including "chicken cupcake," a fantastic rolled piece of thigh meat that's brined, seasoned and then tightly rolled together and covered in crispy skin. The pulled pork, smoked for three days, is melt-in-your-mouth creamy — and a perfect summer takeout. Pair it with some smoked potato salad and chopped coleslaw for an instant picnic. — Laura DeMarco
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
Shack-Cago Dog
Shake Shack, 311 Park Ave. (Pineccrest), Orange Village; 440-600-8689: What's more summery than a hot dog? The perfect summer dog is at the ballpark, of course. But if you're not headed to a game, head to Shake Shack at Pinecrest (or the new downtown location) for their classic flat-top Shack-Cago Dog, an all-beef Vienna dog with relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper, celery salt and mustard. Not sure why a New York chain is serving Chicago dogs in Cleveland, but it was just about a perfect a hot dog as you can get. — Laura DeMarco
John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer
El Cubano
Paladar Latin Kitchen, 28601 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 900, Woodmere; 216-896-9020: The Nuevo Latin spot boasts a stellar "Latin Street Food" menu with a variety of flavorful small plates and shareable nibblers. Now, the big one ... The El Cubano sandwich: pulled pork, ham and Swiss cheese. It's the best I've had since I was in Miami's Little Havana. And it goes very well with the yucca fries and a mojito. — John Petkovic
Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer
Barberton Chicken
Belgrade Gardens, 401 E. State St., Barberton; 330-745-0113: For 86 years, the bird has been the word at this restaurant. The chicken is rolled in flour, then eggs, then rolled in breadcrumbs, then fried in lard. The result is a crispy coat that leaves the meat inside succulent, but not too greasy. It's served with a hot sauce — a spicy mix of simmered vegetables and rice … killer. — John Petkovic
Greg Burnett, The Plain Dealer
The OMG 2.0
Black Box Fix, 25359 Cedar Road (Legacy Village), Lyndhurst; 216-675-3129: This is a nice compilation of fresh grilled peppers, onions, chicken, cheese, a couple of dollops of spicy crab mayo, and, lastly, some fresh buttered lobster and shrimp with a bit of a char to finish it off. An added treat is the Fix Street Corn — sweet, grilled, rolled in creole butter and topped with cotija cheese, cilantro and a squeeze of bang sauce. A small area for dining is available in this contemporary-styled eatery. But it's summer: Go on any Friday or Saturday evening, and the Legacy Village summer concerts are just a couple of steps away from the restaurant. — Greg Burnett
Greg Burnett, The Plain Dealer
Beef Polish Boy
Kim's Wings, 22382 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid; 216-731-3202: If you like your food pretty, you may be turned off at the first sight of a Polish Boy. At this carry-out place where everyone's "honey' or "sweetie," four or five staffers behind a window scurry about a kitchen that's about half the size of a tiny house, cooking up wings, fries and Polish sausage. The Polish Boy (comes in pork, too) is placed inside a potato roll, smothered in sweet, creamy coleslaw, a good handful of fries and drenched in Kim's lovely sweet and tart BBQ sauce. The cool slaw, along with the slightly charred but tender sausage smothered in sauce has summer grilling time all over it. Grabbing one on your way down to the beach at Sims Park to watch the summer sunset seals the deal. —Greg Burnett
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