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| - I had to crack up when I read Cara's review. I, too, am a former jazz musician, having given it up fairly recently, but hopefully not forever.
Nighttown is probably the place that I would call the coolest, neatest, or greatest joint in all of Cleveland. Maybe not the best, but there's a big difference between being the best and being the greatest.
Nighttown is remarkably consistent. I have never had a meal that is short of great. Brunch, lunch, dinner, doesn't matter. Everything is great. Nothing (on the menu) is astounding, but that's OK. You do not go to Nighttown to be blown away by food. You go to Nighttown to be blown away by history, atmosphere, and music. And Nighttown delivers completely in these regards.
When you walk in, after you figure out which door to use to enter, you're routed through a narrow 90 degree corner and into the bar area, which is well-stocked with single malt Scotch, ALWAYS a good sign.
The table setup is often odd - three people in an L- or C-shaped booth with one chair, things like that. Dark colors and well-worn materials are complemented by walls covered in jazz musician head shots and old Cleveland newspaper front pages.
The menu is distinctly English/Irish, but reaches broadly. I would call the food gourmet without being fancy. Everything is carefully prepared and served promptly by friendly, professional servers. 7-8 times in 10, when I visit, it's after Church for brunch... either the eggs benedict, which is always perfect, or the bangers and hash, which is a really nice change. Their coffee is great, as are their bloody marys.
And, the jazz. There are few places left in this country where you can see this much good jazz over the course of a year. There are big names, but there are also no-names that will just rock you back and forth all night while you sip a great single malt, well-made martini, or a refreshing T&T.
If you get the chance to visit during the Tri-C jazz fest, do it. There isn't a bad show during the whole week, and there are some really amazing ones.
If there is a discussion about Cleveland Institutions, Nighttown simply must be in the conversation.
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