2015 must-eats.

I like eating.  Maybe you noticed. Restaurants are really fun.  People cooking for me is awesome.

But writing 2015 is weird.

Anyways… This is a list of Cleveland-area restaurants I want to dine at in 2015:

1. Happy Dog: DIY gourmet hot dogs?  Sign me up.

2. Pier W:  Just the view alone is a reason to check it out.

3. Crust: I’ve heard legends about the size of their pizza slices.

4. Treamont Tap House: I’ve read great things about the food and large beer selections.

5. Lucky’s Café: They are known for their breakfasts, even Guy Fieri visited.

6. Merwin’s Wharf: The metroparks opened a restaurant overlooking the Cuyahoga River.

7. Dina’s Pizza & Pub: I haven’t been to this place in probably 20 years and that is not ok.

8. Sokoloswski’s University Inn: Authentic Polish food in a restaurant that’s been around since 1923!

9. Barroco: Because I need an arepas in my life.

10. Geraci’s Restaurant: Making pizzas since 1956, again Guy Fieri even visited.

Of course all of this will be done while sticking to my debt plan of yesterday.  I have 12 months to dine at 10 restaurants of all different price points.

Here’s to hoping I make it through it all.  Any other local suggestions?

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve!

samosky’s pizza.

Hands down favorite specialty pizza.  No hesitation.  Philly cheesesteak pizza, all the way.

I have ordered from this place a few dozen times since first trying it 2 summers ago.  I have exposed 98 people (estimation) and got them all hooked.  They then spread the word.  I now have to wait 1.5 hours for a take out order.  I should get a marketing bonus!  (Yes, I am saying their entire success is because of me.  bold.  self-centered.  I know.)

Samosky’s Pizza is located in the small town of Valley City, which is in the middle of nothing Medina County. Wherever you’re from, it’s worth the drive.

Last night I was the best neighbor ever and brought home dinner for the boys that live downstairs and I.

Of course I ordered the largest size of our favorite that I could, Philly cheesesteak pizza.  It has an alfredo sauce, Swiss-American cheese, Philly steak meat,  green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and some salt and pepper.  I don’t think I can even do justice to try and explain how these flavors come together to create the best pizza of all time! 🙂  The crust is garlicky and perfect.

I decided to try a pizza I have never tried before, another one of their award winning pies, the heartacado.  This comes topped with alfredo sauce, mozzarella and provolone cheese, guacamole, artichokes. black olives, onions, tomatoes, feta cheese, basil and oregano.  I was nervous about trying this since it’s an unusual mixture but it was amazing.  Even the meat loving neighbor boys said they loved it.

See that piece missing?  Yeah, that was ate by me in the car on the drive home.  It smelled so good.  I couldn’t wait any longer!  Oooops.

I have worked my way through their pizza menu but can’t say a word about the rest of their food.  I always say I’m going to start trying it but when I go it’s because I’m craving this pizza.

 

frankie’s italian cuisine.

 

Confession:  I am addicted to getting a great deal.  Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local are my jam but usually only when they send me additional percentage off coupons.  Savings on top of savings?  Duh!

I scored a Groupon for Frankie’s Italian Cuisine in North Olmstead paying $12.75 for a $30 certificate! It was originally $15 and I bought it with a 25% off weekend coupon code.

We went Friday night to try it out.  No regrets here.

We first ordered the Frankie’s Famous House Salad.  Wish I would have remembered to take a picture of it.  This thing is crazy.  It comes on a tiny appetizer plate but piled insanely high.  It comes with their homemade sweet and sour dressing already mixed in with the lettuce, then has 3 inches of cheese topping it all.  It is plenty to eat as your entire meal or we split it between two people.

We also got an order of breadsticks and a side of meatballs (2).  The breadsticks were soft and garlicky and the meatballs were tasty.

Lastly we ordered a large pizza, we picked sausage and green peppers as toppings.  I thought their price of $2 per topping was a little steep but whatever.  The crust was soft and flavorful.  I’m guessing the sausage is homemade and was the best part of this pizza.  The green peppers were soft like they had been sautéed before being put on the pizza.  I really like how they contributed to the pizza taste.

For all that food our bill was $29.50.  Because of the $30 certificate we were only charged for the tax on this bill.  Can’t beat all this food for $15.11 (12.75 Groupon price + 2.36 tax) plus tip.