Baricelli Inn
Address: 2203 Cornell Rd. Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: 216-791-6500
Website: www.baricelli.com
Although the historic brownstone mansion that houses a bed and breakfast is still known for Continental fare, and chef Paul Minnillo's commitment to the finest ingredients, a slightly more economy-conscious menu recognizes the demise of the expense account crowd. The more playful menu offers pasta dishes in "a little" or "a lotta" sizes, with prices adjusted accordingly. Minnillo's seasonal menu draws on local produce and the chef's own affinage; in fact, an artisanal cheese board with three, five or seven varieties is a highly recommended start – or end – to your meal. Pastas include gnudi, ravioli and risotto with seasonal accoutrements. Meat and fish entrees include classics like a 16-ounce rib eye with reggi fries and creamed spinach, and a flat-iron steak with wild mushroom and gruyere fritata, and sauteed mustard greens. Poultry and fish offerings round out the updated and ever-changing menu.
Muse
Address: Ritz-Carlton, 1515 W 3 St. Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: 216-902-5255
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Default.htm
The dining room at Muse, the Ritz-Carlton's elegant restaurant, is an restrained space accented with stately dark wood and beautifully lit local artwork. Muse's...well, muse is the bounty of fresh local ingredients from artisan purveyors. Appetizers like chilled cucumber soup with coriander and candied orange truly do their job, awakening the taste buds for the adventure yet to come. Main courses hit all the high points – beef, salmon, scallops, chicken and pasta – that hotel restaurants are required to touch on, but Muse certainly adds an inspired twist with sophisticated and memorable accompaniments like truffle mac-and-cheese and gnocchi. An "aspiring artists" menu for children is also available.
Table 45
Address: 9801 Carnegie Ave Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: 216-707-4045
Website: www.tbl45.com
Saving Michael Symon, Zach Bruell may be the busiest man in the restaurant business. This, his second restaurant, has a modern touch, from the clean lines of the bar and lounge area to his signature grilled chicken breast, served with hydroponic watercress and pommes frites. The globally influenced menu finds the kitchen tending tending the grill and minding a Tandoor oven. From the grill, you'll find grilled strip steak, swordfish and salmon; from the oven comes roasted lobster tail and Berkshire pork chop. The rest of the menu runs the international gamut, from Bangkok-style Caesar salad (romaine tossed with cilantro and lemon-scented Thai fish sauce, shallots and jalepeno) to Moroccan-style osso buco with eggplant zalouk and chickpeas.
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