Ali Baba

Lorain Ave, Cleveland, Ohio.
(Street w/red light in window—good houses)(?—esoteric directions, I know).
Weird, unusual menu—pita bread in bag—food good—beans—cheap too—OK atmosphere—no napkins or forks--?
Closed Sundays and Mondays
--RR 1989

The Mars Restaurant

W. 25th & Clark, Cleveland, Ohio.
Cool atmosphere (good name and sign!) Food is average—insanely cheap breakfast special.
--RR 1989

The Little Nest

Detroit and ?, Lakewood, Ohio.
Nice lunch counter—good breakfast specials (food and price) before 11. Lame coffee—not good about refills. Good place to sit. Almond French toast.
--RR 1989

Paul & Evelyn's Dinette

Rt. 6—Avon Lake, Ohio.
It looks like a bar, but a sign says “Breakfast Anytime”—it’s true—it’s also a bar. Paul is a nut. Really funny. #2 (for a long, long time “#2” was my shorthand for 2 eggs, homefries, and toast, because that was a #2 at Jerry’s Diner) and coffee for $3 even. The food is good. One poem on the wall. Liquor bottles covered with grease.
--RR 1989

Speed Wok

Downtown, Berea, Ohio.
Kind of cool, small, Chinese place—with a dining room—nice people working there. Food and prices are fair. INSANE, SCARY Egg Foo Young—beware!
--RR 1989

Steven's Family Restaurant

Corner of W. 116th and Detroit. Cleveland, OH.
This was my regular breakfast spot for quite a while when I lived a block away. There was a 69¢ breakfast special! (Two eggs, homefries, and toast-- it came to $1.17 with coffee and tax.) Nice waitresses, usually, and an insane guy named Eddie there in the mornings. Good booths and counter—- cool restaurant art on walls, and sculpture. Big, old pie display case. The food was uneven and not great, but it was the world record cheapest.
--RR 1989

Kaim's Restaurant

W. 25th/across from where all the construction/destruction is (that would be c.1989) Cleveland, Ohio.
Lot of good breakfast specials—real variety—okay prices.
Real nightmarish place with fake Tiffany lamps, ceiling fans, too much orange, fake brown wood, and a giant American eagle on the wall. Bad radio.
Of course this all has its charm, depending on your mood.
--RR 1989

Specialty Kitchen

Detroit Road, Lakewood, Ohio.
Storefront lunch-counter, run by foreign woman and her daughters. There were attempts to “fix it up” but it’s still lunch-counter-like, diner-like. Check out the lunch—homemade soup. Breakfast is average. Closed Sunday. I sat at the counter with the ceiling fan between me and the fluorescent light, doing weird things with light and shadows.
--RR 1989

Kleifeld's Restaurant

Downtown Willoughby, Ohio.
Sign on brick side of the building says: “Good Coffee Always”
Great small lunch counter—food/prices nothing special. But good coffee. Great Floor! Old counter with elbow spots, Bunn-omatic, stainless steel. No radio! Old Seeburg 200 Wall-O-Matic. Cool bathroom downstairs.
--RR 1989

Maria's Roman Room

Maria’s Roman Room
11826 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio.
My notes say: Good Outside Art – in somewhat dramatic fashion, but my notes fail to elaborate.
Lot of red light inside. Okay bar when the TV’s not on a sitcom. Don’t know about the restaurant—pizza has a decent reputation.
--RR 1989

Schenley's Bar

Prospect Ave, Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio.
It’s a bar… but they serve breakfast! Cheap breakfast special—lot of food—good atmosphere in the morning.
--RR 1989

The Fifth Wheel

3306 St. Clair, at E. 33rd. Cleveland, Ohio.
Okay place, old guys, cops. Built in an old garage. Grits taste like they’re made with motor oil. Eggs bad. Coffee weak.
--RR 198

Slymon's

3106 St. Clair. Cleveland, Ohio.
Scary! Stay away!
--RR 1989

(note: this is all it says in my notebook. I have no idea why I thought it was scary. I seem to recall eating there, repeatedly, too, and perhaps some fondness for the place. But maybe I’m wrong. I looked it up-- it’s actually Slyman’s Deli-- it’s still there, and it’s a big corned beef place.)

Shanghai

2142 Rockwell (Chinatown). Cleveland, Ohio.
Expensive and filled with gross businesspeople at lunch—I didn’t eat here. Looks cool.
--RR 1989

Don's 21st Street Deli

E. 21st Street and Superior. Cleveland, Ohio.
Liver and onions special is excellent and cheap. Best liver and onions I’ve ever had, though the mashed potatoes were runny.
--RR 1989

Liberty Restaurant

West 25th—near bridge. Cleveland, Ohio.
Counter and booths—great place, full of characters—comfortable, too. In an old building—big green Carrier heater! Great art on the walls—especially the ocean scene behind the counter! Full of great diner stuff—Bunn, Hamilton Beach, pie and donut displays.
--RR 1989

Gold Coins

2162 Rockwell (at E. 21st) Chinatown, Cleveland, Ohio.
Real cheap and pretty good lunch special. Nice people working. Private booths.
--RR 1989

Lu's Wok In

Clifton, near W. 110th, Cleveland, Ohio.
All take-out. Hot and sour soup OK. Not great, but cheap.
--RR 1989

Chung Wah

3859 Superior, Cleveland, Ohio.
Weird place—not great—food not great. The “sea food” is artificial—fake seafood! Really FUNNY, but not great tasting. Cool booths. Mean (but funny) employees.
--RR 1989

Ho Wood

9521 Madison, Cleveland, Ohio.
Too expensive, not that good—hot and sour soup is pretty lame.
--RR 1989

William's Restaurant

Broadway, South of 55th, Slavic Village, Cleveland, Ohio.
Reduced hours—no one to work. So they tell me. At one time 24 hours. Insane lunch counter—good breakfast. Written about by Charlotte Pressler in "Hoya," which-- maybe I can find that later.
--RR 1989

The Coffee Pot

12415 Madison (near the 5 & Dime) Lakewood, Ohio.
Okay neighborhood diner (good neighborhood). Storefront—nothing special.
--RR 1989

Sammy's Grille 34

NCB Building, Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio.
Kind of cool—hidden—not pompous, even though “Grille” is spelled with an “e.” Not too expensive—diner-like—both times there I said “no mayo” and Sammy put it on anyway—he’s a real foul-tempered guy. Not a good atmosphere for sitting—at least at lunch-hour (‘til 1:30).
--RR 1989

Joe's Coffee Shop

Euclid Ave/Playhouse Square, Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio.
Corned beef place—too fast-paced—too deli-like—no atmosphere.
--RR 1989

Bo Loong

3922 St. Clair, Cleveland, Ohio.
Open 7 days, 10am – 2am. Dim sum breakfast—pretty insane—Saturday morning—I’m the only non-Asian person here. They don’t even offer a fork—just chopsticks. The place is full of cool people. It’s a nice atmosphere—there’s a big room with a good bar in the corner. But it’s not too insane (good and bad). Everything I eat is good, but the rice noodle is hard to take with a hangover. There are round tables with lazy Susan’s built in.
--RR 1989

Leader Luncheonette

Leader Drug on Prospect, Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio.
Recently reopened, I guess—run by one guy and one employee—specials every day—so far they’ve all been good. Great alive atmosphere—insane old lunch counter—fluorescent tube signs, all faded—salmon and green counter.
--RR 1989

Chin's

St. Clair and E. 30th, Cleveland, Ohio.
This is an old place, the phone book says it opened in 1929, and there’s a good, old lighted sign that says, “Steaks.” But it’s nothing special—remodeled with dark paneling, red vinyl—dark—plain, big room—nothing weird, except for the picture by the door (of Chin?) The menu is plain—Chinese-American—no weird cocktails on it—but Sunday liquor—“Old Crow!” No hot and sour soup—good tea, cups, and plates—I get pork chop suey, it’s the cheapest thing on the menu—$4.00.—and it’s a MONSTROUS portion of dark, scary, crawling food—pretty good. Well, it isn’t great, but it’s a lot.
--RR 1989

Coffee House at the Hollenden House Hotel

Downtown/Superior and E. 6th. Cleveland, OH.
Not bad for lunch—inexpensive if you just get soup or something—very bland place—but nice people working—businessman place, mostly. Won’t be around long.
--RR 1989

(note: this place is long gone, because they tore the Hollenden House down before I moved out of town in 1990. This is one of the tragic closings that didn’t wait for me to leave. I was searching for some pictures of it, because I can’t even remember now why I liked it so much, and I came across this website:
http://www.clevelandmemory.org/
on which you can search the images, and there are some cool old pictures, postcards, etc, of stuff in Cleveland and the area. I guess the original Hollenden House was built in the late 1800’s, then torn down in the 1960’s. The new Hollenden House was built in 1963, but I guess when they decided to tear it down in 1989 they figured, what the hell, we already tore it down once. Or maybe they didn’t have an appreciation for that kind of simple and sparse 1960’s architecture. Very sad.)

Tick Tock Tavern

Clifton at W. 116th, Cleveland, OH.
Went here with Dan Strayer—I had a big ole club sandwich. Dan had some chicken wings that were HOT. Beer - $1.25. The bar is okay. Nice bathroom. It’s a big place, restaurant and bar. They have an insane Greek salad.
--RR 1989

Minh Van

12210 Madison, (Bird Town) Lakewood, OH.
Vietnamese restaurant. Great, insane menu—nothing normal. Lot of soups. Good French coffee. I had Banh xeo—pretty rich and intense—good.
--RR 1989

Ming Garden

Old Arcade, Cleveland, OH.
Too expensive, bad food, and it sucks to sit in the Arcade at lunchtime on weekdays—but Chinese restaurants are rare right downtown—and they do have hot and sour soup.
--RR 1989

Hi Luncheonette

Somewhere on Euclid (by CSU), Cleveland, OH.
Good menu—lot of stuff. Insane layout—weird, curved counter. Busy, popular at lunchtime. Old photos on the wall, portraits, of who? Club sandwiches are great—huge. “Clevelander” sandwich is goose liver, and only about $2.00. Great.
--RR 1989

The Detroiter

Detroit at W. 117th, Cleveland, OH. Open 24 hours, 7 days!
Not inspiring in décor, but kind of dark—counter and booths. Eggs Benedict special, with coffee—$4.00—real good—fair homefries. Crowded on Sunday morning—lots of regulars. “House of Moy” next door closed—Detroiter will expand. Cool building with bathroom and offices upstairs. Bakery Bldg.
UPDATE: Detroiter moved to where House of Moy was, vice versa. Detroiter SUCKS now—no personality, all earthtones and bullshit.
--RR 1989

Bamboo Palace

Lorain at Riverside (by Riverside Theatre), Cleveland, OH.
Monday – Sunday open Noon, 4pm Saturday. One big room –booths—fake leather—not real insane, but nice. Hot and sour soup “for 2”--$3.00—BIG bowl, good, good egg roll—only $1.00. Beer and wine, no cocktails.
--RR 1989

Kathleen's Kitchen

16804 Lorain (by Riverside Theatre), Cleveland, OH.
Intense Irish neighborhood place—everyone knows everyone else but ME. Looks good, food okay, small. Breakfast/lunch only.
--RR 1989

Otto Moser Tavern

2044 E. 4th / btwn. Euclid and Prospect. Cleveland, OH.
Est. 1893. Not cheap—pastrami / or corned beef sandwich--$2.95—everything else is more. Bloody Mary--$2.00. But the place is really great—dark, smoky, weird bar—animal heads and old photos—too many fucking businessmen—not enough time to take it all in at lunch. Better place to spend an afternoon (Saturday?)—great shrine over bar—photos, weird stuff—in frames—including Bob Dylan single cover, “Positively 4th Street.”
--RR 1989

Min-Anh Vietnamese Restaurant

Detroit near 54th, Cleveland, OH.
Recommended by John Phlegm. Not outrageously cheap, but okay—pretty nice inside, though not cheesy or insane enough. #62 and coffee (good, strong)—pork w/peanuts on vermicelli w/vegetable—in bowl—it’s good--$3.95.
--RR 1989

George's Diner

Prospect at E. 40th. Cleveland, OH.
Best diner in Cleveland. Open 7 days. Insane classic diner interior, dark green marble counter, stainless steel, green Formica, always interesting people. (No biscuits and gravy) but grits!
Closed.
Now: Moe and Ruth’s (or something). FAKE businessman’s diner. $5.00 hamburgers. Don’t go—sucks massively. (George’s RIP)
--RR 1989

The Shore Restaurant

12009 Detroit, Lakewood, OH.
Walking distance—counter/booths—good waitresses—Greek storefront diner. Breakfast specials: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, home fries, coffee, tax: $3.05. Okay prices, but puny pancakes, puny eggs.
--RR 1989

Dave's Luncheonette

Btwn Prospect & Huron / west of E. 9th, Cleveland, OH.
Good prices—good food, real ugly paneling and décor—huge variety of people—good waitresses—Deluxe Cheeseburger special—too much to eat $2.95—try their tabouli and hummus—take out bad wine! Small counter—good specials—had chicken sandwich in pita bread—and okra w/ rice—all great!
--RR 1989

Champion of China

Prospect at E. 9th Street / downtown Cleveland, OH.
Average lunch $5.00—no Hot and Sour soup—nice place—too many fucking businesspeople. Nice, not weird or sleazy, but okay. Special today: Happy Family: &5.95. I get shrimp w/garlic sauce—medium—soup comes with it—big portion—too much to eat—real good, just hot enough.
--RR 1989

Downtown Coffee Shop

(George’s Downtown Coffee Shop/luncheonette) Huron Mall, Dtwn./btwn. E. 9th—E. 12. Cleveland, OH. George is the cook. Good employees. Great diner, lunch counter, mostly long counter, also a few tables—breakfast—lunch (green Carrier heater like the one at Christine’s in New York). Grill, etc, behind counter—too many businesspeople—lot of Middle-eastern stuff on menu—not super cheap, but not overpriced.
--RR 1989

The Spot

Huron Mall, Downtown—Huron btwn. E. 9th and E. 12th—Cleveland, OH. REALLY small place, lunch counter—literally “under the stairs”—in a corner—six stool counter—new place—little personality except that of the guy running it—knows everyone. Mr. Saunders comes in—black guy, old, works in bldg., architect—sits in the TINY corner—says ‘cause he’s the poorest tenant in the bldg., that’s his seat. Chili looks good. What I have is fair. Breakfast, too.
--RR 1989

Diane’s Café

Diane’s Café
Cleveland, OH. Corner Prospect and Huron, near E. 9th—at “V”—Pretty sleazy, but okay. Inspiring interior (except filled with smoke)—small menu—self-serve cafeteria-like—bad tables. Try for breakfast sometime.
--RR 1989

Clifton Lunch

Corner Clifton and W. 117. Cleveland, OH. Not real great food or atmosphere—food is average price—below average food, but I wouldn’t quite say BAD. Atmosphere is "bad hillbilly"—could be better at some other time. Probably the best experience you’ll have with this place is walking by looking in the window.
--RR 1989

Note: This place has long since closed, and a new, much nicer restaurant opened in the same spot. I ate there once, and they were generous enough to give me extra homefries in place of the toast I declined. But I don't remember the name of the place!

Steve's Lunch

On Lorain, in the 40’s or 50’s. Cleveland, OH. They specialize in HOT DOGS—as do many places on that part of Lorain—also chili. Small, old, worn, pretty insane—“gastric experience” (from John Phlegm, who recommended it)—"put-you-on-the-toilet- food."
--RR 1989

“Food Factory” at Greyhound Station

Greyhound Station on Chester. Cleveland, OH. Just as you’d imagine—in a Greyhound bus station—bad overpriced food—tiny, insane French fries, terrible décor and atmosphere—but it’s in a bus station so it's perfect. I had a fish sandwich—terrible—$2.00—wouldn't make a habit of eating here—worth doing once.
--RR 1989

Caxton Coffee Shop

Huron near Prospect and E. 9th. Cleveland, OH. More expensive than P.J.’s—kind to too nice—but great long counter w/yellow boomerang design. Grill etc. behind counter—Cleveland art on walls (photos/drawings). Foreign people owners—great waitresses—I get spaghetti and sausage special—$3.75—but REAL good. It’s 1-2pm on Wednesday—empty (blizzard outside). REAL cheap breakfast specials.
--RR 1989

Mall Restaurant and Lounge

Mall Bldg. and St. Clair. Engineer’s Building. Cleveland, OH. Sleazy Greek lunch counter—nothing special, but perfect in its nothingness. Good employees. Big place—big counter—good breakfast special. Note: Closed. RIP.
--RR 1989

Dimitri’s Family Restaurant

Lorain and W. 110th. Cleveland, OH. Insane portions. Carpet is an art work.
--RR 1989

Bearden's Drive-In

19985 Lake Rd. Rocky River, OH. Home of the Peanut Butter Burger. Great onion rings (up there with Skyway and Ernsberger’s). Not real cheap. Toy train around top of wall. (Also, Bearden’s Restaurant 4118 Rocky River Dr.)
--RR 1989

John's Diner

Lakewood, OH. On Detroit (near Rocky River)—Open Sunday—Hard to recognize it as a diner on the outside—easy to miss—small sign—but it says “Diner." Beautiful diner inside—old wood, curved roof—kind of nautical—or real old train-like—blue tile w/red stripes—great marble counter—sausage gravy and biscuits!
--RR 1989

The Egg Palace (The Big Egg)

Cleveland, OH. It was one of these names, then another? Or both at the same time? —Detroit at W.52—Open 365 days, 24 hours. Remodeled like a restaurant, but diner all the way—long counter with almost all cooking done behind it—double Jerry’s Diner style grills with stove in between. Great hash browns—great gravy. Insane menus (indescribable).
—RR 1989

Savoy Café

Cleveland, OH. Restaurant and Lounge—Prospect, downtown. Mostly a bar—but breakfast and lunch place, too. More expensive than P.J.’s—not unreasonable though. Great bad wine selections. Tough atmosphere. Good bar—good place to drink at lunch—check drink specials (above bar). Some old wood (some new), green walls. Booths with Seeburg Wall-o-matic. I’m the only WHITE customer (employees are all white). Beef stew special lunch--$2.90. Greasy—but tastes good (I don’t get sick).
RR. 1989

Athens Restaurant

On Prospect. Cleveland, OH. Good sign outside—but that’s ALL—ate here once—slow service—bad food—bad service—yuppie atmosphere (surprising) (cool outside—fixed up pretty inside). Short changed (attempted). Then I threw up that night—from their food? Who knows.
—RR. 1989

P.J.'s Luncheonette

Cleveland, OH. A little lunch counter in the Euclid Arcade, same four regular employees working. Cheapest food in downtown Cleveland—hamburger lunch special with coleslaw, and daily specials. This place is amazing, dirty, dim, with fluorescent lights, long counter. There are cheap breakfast specials, too.
—RR. 1989.