Plenty Of Free Parking: Great Lakes Brewing is closed on Sundays.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Great Lakes Brewing is closed on Sundays.

Mrs. Beckley and I were over at the coffee shop on Market on Sunday afternoon, and in the half hour we were there, there must have been six or seven groups of people that came by wanting to get into Great Lakes Brewing, which they can't do because it isn't open on Sundays. It breaks my Ohio City heart to see it.

So, because I want people to be happy, not aggravated, when they come to Ohio City, I offer this list of restaurants that are open Sunday in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The directions in each entry are essentially walking directions from Great Lakes Brewing, which is on Market Ave., that one block long brick street that is just west of W. 25th St., one block north of Lorain Ave., and across W. 25th from the West Side Market. There's a (mostly) pay parking lot on W. 26th at the end of Market St., and street parking everywhere else.

The Flying Fig -- This is literally across Market Ave. from the brewery restaurant main entrance. Kitchen open 5-10pm on Sundays. More of an upscale restaurant than the brewery, but very nice. Nice sidewalk terrace in the warm weather. Update 12/7/2009: Christine informs me that the Fig has a Sunday brunch that is really good and not that expensive. We'll have to check that one out...
Market Avenue Wine Bar -- Also across Market Ave. from the brewery. (They used to be right next to the brewery restaurant at the corner of W. 26th and Market Ave., but they have moved.) Right next to the coffee shop -- the two businesses actually connect inside, they may share management. Focus on wine, as you might expect from the name, but they have some very nice accompanying food, like a cheese plate, pate, bruschetta, etc. Open 4pm-1am on Sundays (and every other day except Saturday, which is 2:30pm-1am). Nice sidewalk terrace in the warm weather.
Koffie Cafe -- this is the coffee shop in which we were sitting when I conceived this list. Nice independent coffee shop, connected to the wine bar next door. Open Sunday afternoons, definitely, I don't know how late. Lovely sidewalk cafe in the warm weather. (Added 12/07/2009).
Bar Cento/Bier Markt -- If you start at the Great Lakes parking lot (on W. 26th St.) and walk past Great Lakes (can't drive it, one way!), and turn left onto W. 25th, you very soon get to this establishment (or establishments). Bar Cento is the restaurant, Bier Markt is more of a bar. Good food, a little more ambitious/edgy than Great Lakes. Good pizzas. Great pomme frites. Many many unusual beers are available, and I bet they don't have Dortmunder Gold on tap. "Serving food until 2am daily, 365 days a year."
Phnom Penh -- Across W. 25th St. from the Bier Markt (east side of W. 25th), in the block north of the West Side Market. There is parking behind the building, associated with the West Side Market. It's conceivable that Phnom Penh has a door opening on that parking lot. Cambodian restaurant, inexpensive. Asian, distinctive, but not Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese. Even if you order something that sounds Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese, it comes out a little bit different. Their other store, which has been there for years, is on Lorain at W. 130th or so. Open 3:00pm-9:00pm on Sundays.
West Side Market Cafe -- Open Sunday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. In the West Side Market building at W. 25th St. and Lorain, separate entrance on the Lorain Avenue side of the building. Big neon sign. From Great Lakes Brewing, you would walk up Market toward W. 25th, cross W. 25th, turn right to pass in front of the West Side Market, go around the corner to the left and then walk down Lorain a short distance. I would call it nice diner food. Beer and wine available and possibly hard liquor available. Kind of bar like on Friday and Saturday nights, but probably not on Sundays during the day. Nice brunch. Note that the West Side Market itself is not open on Sundays.
Touch Supper Club -- "Sunday Brunch 10:30am - 5:00 pm". This is on the north side of Lorain Ave., almost at the corner of W. 28th St. From Great Lakes Brewing, the easiest way to get there is to walk back toward the parking lot on W. 26th, turn left on W. 26th, go one block to Lorain, turn right on Lorain, and then Touch is almost at the W. 28th St. corner. We've had the brunch, which was quite nice, but aren't otherwise too familiar with the place. It does seem to have nightclub ambitions. Touch gets extra points from me for painting a giant sign on the side of their building, in good Ohio City style.
The Old Angle Tavern -- aka the corner for Mrs. Beckley and me. If you are walking north on W. 25th (away from the West Side Market and Lorain Ave.) , continue past the Bier Markt, you'll cross Carroll and then get to Bridge, and the Old Angle is on that corner. Their website doesn't actually give their hours, but I know they're open on Sundays, because we tend to be there then... They're not open at lunchtime, I think, maybe open at 4. Anyway, a comfortable place, pretty good food that's beyond normal bar food. They just brought the roasted brussel sprouts back for the fall, yum.
The Garage Bar -- "Open Sundays for Cleveland Browns games." On the opposite corner from the Old Angle, at W. 25th and Bridge. Really more of a bar, limited bar-ish menu. The main food I remember them having is hot dogs, although those are pretty good hot dogs.
Heck's Cafe -- Corner of W. 30th and Bridge. If you turn left (west, away from downtown) from W. 25th onto Bridge (at the Old Angle) and continue past Dave's Supermarket and Light Bistro (which is closed on Sundays), you'll get to Heck's. It's an easy walk from the brewery, really. Heck's is an institution, it's been there roughly forever. "Open Sunday 10:30am-9:00pm". Known for their Sunday Brunch, as you might guess from the hours. Fern bar ambiance, a lot of good salads, etc. Nice sidewalk terrace in the warm weather.
Johnny Mango -- If you continue west along Bridge, this is a strange orange brick triangular building where Bridge meets Fulton Rd. and W. 32nd St. It's basically one long block past Heck's. It's easily walkable from W. 25th, really, but a little further than "just up the street and around the corner". Johnny Mango is a sort of cheap world fusion food restaurant. Vaguely hippieish, some good meatless options, "Happy bean of the day" is available. Loud and much frequented by young people. (I'm 42, can you tell?) Open Sunday 9am-10pm with a nice Sunday brunch.
Momocho -- From Bridge, with your back to W. 25th, downtown, and the West Side Market, turn right (north) on Fulton, and Momocho is on your right in the same block as Johnny Mango (which is on the corner). Open Sunday 4pm-9:30pm. "Mod Mex cuisine". We haven't actually eaten there, so I have no real report, but they're pretty ambitious foodwise. This is the old location of the Fulton Grill.
Le Petit Triangle Cafe -- Across Bridge Ave. from Johnny Mango, a couple of storefronts from the corner along Fulton, across from the Carnegie Library. Tiny place, French cafe food, including Sunday brunch. Open Sunday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm. We've always enjoyed our meals, a great feeling place. I don't recommend trying to get brunch on Mother's Day without a reservation.

Other local restaurants that either aren't open on Sundays or haven't opened for business yet:
Souper Market, Le Lo Lai, Nate's Deli and Restaurant, Light Bistro, Dragonfly, ABC Tavern, Great Lakes Brewing.

[Additions/modifications made at 8:52pm on 10/11/2009.]
[Additions/modifications made at 10:26am on 10/12/2009.]

Labels: Cleveland, Great Lakes Brewing, Ohio City, restaurants