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| - My wife and I were looking to go someplace special for our 25th wedding anniversary. We eat out often so we planned to go to an upscale place in downtown Cleveland. My wife was looking online for a new place to try, and she was surprised to see how high the ratings were for Mizestro in Brecksville. This is in the same location as restaurant 21-82, but with the new owner it is a completely different experience.
We were floored at the entire experience. From the drinks to the service to the meals, it was fine dining at its best. For example, Chef Matt created several hand crafted drinks for us. One was served in a small bottle that had the words "drink me" cleverly written on a tag to resemble the Alice and Wonderland experience; however, when you poured it into the martini glass over rocks the color changed as you poured. Another drink was accompanied by apple pieces with cinnamon, syrup, salted caramel, cashew powder to pair with bourbon, vanilla and special bitters. It was not on the menu. Chef Matt just asked me a few questions about what flavors I liked then created it. The meal was also exceptional, but rather than describe it I will post a few pictures.
The owner/chef came out to meet us and his background was impressive. When we went home we googled him and found the following:
Award winning Chef Mize, a United States Marine Corps veteran, earned his degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Hyde Park, NY, while stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. He was the personal chef to the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Ret. General Charles Krulak. After his honorary discharge from the Marine Corps, he was the Executive Chef for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institute, ARAMARK Corporation and prior to his leaving Philadelphia, the Multi-Unit Executive Chef for acclaimed restaurateur, Stephen Starr (Starr Restaurant Group) where he received the Chef of the Year award in 2011.
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