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| - We just love Don's, especially for lunch. It's almost impossible to list the many reasons why, but I will give it a shot. Should we start with the friendly welcome? Valet parking if you need/want it? The management is extremely observant and professional. The bar is one of the best in Cleveland. (TV is not too loud and music is under control) For one thing, it's right at the end of the Shoreway, and there is free parking, which makes it an ideal spot for downtown workers. If you live in Lakewood, Don's is 5-10 minutes from your house. But these are not the real stars. The staff is exceptionally professional. They anticipate your every whim. You can tell when you walk in that they are like a family, and they open their arms to you and treat you the same way....or better! But what about the food? It is consistently good. The emphasis is on seafood, and there is always a creative special in that arena. One thing I love about Don's is that they don't use the same veg and starch for each plate. The dishes are creative and unusual without being "way out" for the average person. Their salads are always fresh, as are the dressings that they use. Don's is always changing the menu to keep people interested and coming back to see what's new. In the summer of 2007, our favorite was the "Summer Crab Salad" (sadly, off the menu now). Beautiful whole Bibb lettuce leaves, fresh, sparkling hunks of lump crabmeat, homegrown-tasting cherry tomatoes and a creamy lemon-chive dressing. It was the perfect storm. The soups are consistently delightful, from split pea to leek and potato to chicken gumbo to tomato basil. There is something different and homemade every single day. They don't make a huge vat of soup and keep it in the walk-in for a month. It's FRESH, and it shows. That's so important, and that is what Don's does. They do it so well it seems like falling off a log, but it is not easy to do.
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