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| - SOHO Kitchen and Bar is a fried chicken joint. Not one of the mediocre variety mind you. No SOHO is a classy joint where you might hear Dan Hartman's "I Can Dream About You" playing in the background over the babble of satisfied customers and cheerful staff. Much like the 1980s crossover hit SOHO is part R&B, part Rock 'n' Roll and all badass.
SOHO's smooth southern cuisine is the R&B. The main attraction is Fried Chicken that is tender and perfectly seasoned. You can order the chicken mild or spicy. The spicy dry rub they use is a little too hot for my tastes; I prefer to order the chicken mild and supplement it with SOHO's house made hot sauce. On Wednesdays you can order fried chicken by the piece - boneless Breast $4.5, boneless Thigh $3.5, Drumstick $2.5, Whole Wing (so much bigger than a regular chicken wing) $1.5 - and sides a la carte for $3.5 each to customize your meal at a fantastic value.
I had gone a few times before trying the Mashers with Bourbon Gravy because I thought "that's a pretty ordinary side." I have since recognized the error in my ways--the gravy at SOHO is addictively good. In fact the gravy is an essential component of what has become one of my favorite ways to consume fried chicken: I'll order a couple pieces of chicken, normally a breast and a thigh, add a fried egg on top if I want extra protein or just because adding a fried egg to meat can elevate the awesome to the sublime, the Rosemary Waffles with Ohio Maple Syrup, and ask for a side of gravy. Taking the already excellent chicken and layering the spicy hot sauce, the sweet syrup and the savory gravy you get a bite that is a gastronomical tour de force.
A final note on the fried chicken is the consistency. Since the restaurant opened in 2011 I estimate I've had close to 100 pieces of chicken cumulatively; not once could I accuse SOHO of the deficiencies that can plague fried chicken elsewhere: too greasy, too dry, or too crunchy. The fried chicken at SOHO is always on point.
If you elect to eat something other than chicken, you will be similarly pleased. The Fried Green Tomaters are best I've ever had, the Lowcountry Boil has a solid half-dozen delicious foods combined in a massive bowl, and they cook a mean steak too. Whenever SOHO is offering a supper special I order it without question and I've never been disappointed. Standout side dishes include Jalapeno Hush Puppies and Deviled Eggs.
I have never had dessert at SOHO - I've always been too stuffed from dinner - but I've heard their Pecan Pie is amazing. Amid the excitement of the food you're about to eat it is easy to overlook SOHO's artful plating: the food here looks as good as any other top tier restaurant.
The bar at SOHO supplies the Rock 'n' Roll, with the feature being the best bourbon collection in Cleveland. They have everything from the customary (e.g. Bulleit) to the premium (e.g. Blanton's) to the extra rare (e.g. Pappy Van Winkle). You also can't go wrong choosing from the house cocktail list either whether you go for the booze-laden New Orleans, the sweet Coral Gables, or my personal favorite the Lynchburg, made with whiskey, limeade, ginger beer and mint. At $8.50 each the cocktails are very reasonably priced for West 25th Street.
SOHO is also one of my favorite brunch spots. Served 11:00am to 2:00pm every Sunday, SOHO's brunch boasts delicious entrees--the Chicken-Fried Pork Salad is not to be missed; sides--bourbon-glazed bacon? Yes please; and breakfast cocktails. My favorites are the Gentleman's Breakfast, which is the whiskey drinker's answer to the mimosa, and the Dixie Russian, which is a tasty, tipsy iced coffee.
With consistently impeccable food and service SOHO is a dream come true even among Cleveland's crowded, top-notch restaurant landscape.
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