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| - Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few years you know who Michael Symon is. I won't bother providing a bio, you can look it up yourself. B Spot is Symon's answer to the celebrity chef-inspired burger joint. Actually, it's burgers, brats and beer. Simple yet effective. There are six locations scattered about the Cleveland area including one in the Gund Arena, I mean "The Q" and one in Cleveland Browns stadium, I mean FirstEnergy stadium. We paid our first visit to the Strongsville shop.
Located in a small space tucked away in the confines of a rather nondescript strip mall, B Spot is a little tricky to find. Seating about 50 the long-narrow space is decorated in warm inviting textures and features a couple of interesting design focal points including a wall of vintage beer cans and a giant blood red antler chandelier. It's a bit sick and twisted but in a good way. Sort of a visual representation of Symon's laugh.
The seating arrangement is a tad on the tight side. Metal chairs, wooden-topped bistro tables and a few larger booths lining the walls. The bar seats about 15 elbow to elbow. We were seated at a two-top in the banquette stage left. Talk about your tight quarters. The table was barely large enough for our food and with the sauces, paper towels, and salt and pepper shakers taking up about 20% of our available real estate we had to really be careful not to knock something on the floor. Before I forget, some of the sauces at the table were killer, specifically the coffee BBQ, balsamic steak sauce and B Spot ketchup. Get the fries so you can try them all.
It was a Tuesday about 5:15pm when we stopped in. We were greeted immediately upon entering. Not crowded but energetic. We were in the middle of the post-work happy hour slot. Speaking of happy hour, it was the main reason for our visit. $5 burgers, $3 draft beers.
The service, oh the service. Once again, I was underwhelmed. First, let me say that I'm all for introducing new technology in to the service industry if it improves the experience. Now let me say that the little handheld devices carried by the servers were very intrusive. Our server never looked up from hers the entire time she was interacting with us. It definitely put up a wall between us. It was sort of like trying to have a conversation with someone as they are tapping away on their smartphone. Another of my pet peeves was also illustrated - asking me what I want to drink before I've even gotten my coat off. Isn't this server 101? Give me a freakin minute to actually look at the beer list! Grrr.
Speaking of beer list, not a bad showing at B Spot. 24 draught selections, mostly craft, with about as many bottles will have something for just about every beer lover. I'm not a huge fan of how they were organized (from light to dark?) as I prefer by style, but I was able to quickly locate two winners, Troegs Hopback Amber - a hopped up, well balanced amber ale - and Jolly Pumpkin's Weizen Bam - a tart, wheat offering I found refreshing and light.
The menu is straight out of Symon's playbook, no surprises, and this is a good thing. It's about meat here and I couldn't have been happier. The focus is definitely on burgers but you can get your encased meat fill and fried bologna fix, too. I was a bit disappointed to learn that they source their beef out of NJ (It is organic, pasture raised, grass fed so points for that). Is there something wrong with Ohio cow? The meal:
The pickle bar - an interesting concept. Located against the wall behind the hostess station, it's stocked with a selection of pickled things - sweet spicy, garlic kosher dill, jalapenos, onions.
Chocolate milkshake - A tasty $5 shake. Good? Yes. Badass? Meh. Large enough to share served in the metal mixing cup. Not sickeningly sweet, nice and thick with a big straw. Could have used some more chocolate flavor for my taste.
Bacon cheeseburger - Cooked perfectly and seasoned just the same. Crispy, thick-cut bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce and a brioche bun. A perfect size.
The Lola - My wife loves the burger/egg combo and I can't blame her. A classic combo this one also featured some pickled red onions. Once again, cooked perfectly to my wife's specification with the same attention to detail shown with mine. I love watching the egg burst its yolk down the sides of the burger.
Lola fries - I don't think these would be worth $4 but since it was happy hour they were only a buck. Tasty, crispy shoestring version with rosemary. I didn't care for the serving vessel as it made it difficult to eat them without getting them all over the table. Might wanna rethink this one.
Our experience at B Spot was a good one. You can't beat the happy hour specials (we got out the door for less than $30 with tip) and the kitchen knows their way around a burger, actually nailing the cooking temps. There were a couple of shortcomings for us with the service and logistics but they were pretty minor.
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