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| - I can't think of any reason to give the West Side Market less than five stars-- it's absolutely on par with public markets I've been to throughout the country (including Seattle's more famous Pike Place).
Unfortunately, our hotel didn't have a fridge so I didn't shop as much as I would have liked, but I had a great time exploring. There's a gigantic outside area for produce, and an even bigger inside area with meat, fish, and prepared food. Everything I saw was nice, but the meat and seafood counters were especially impressive. The options are overwhelming; I seriously considered a repeat trip the next day to explore some more, even though we were trying across town. Everyone I talked to was incredibly friendly. I ended up coming away with some sriracha strawberry jam, kolachies (how I had not heard of this delicacy before?), spicy beef jerky, plus a croissant and cappuccino for breakfast on the balcony while enjoying the view of the market.
Definitely bring cash-- I forgot both cash and my ATM card, and either one would have come in handy. On the bright side, many shops will take credit cards with a $10 minimum. Also, you can get two hours of FREE parking just across the street, as well as some cheap paid lots nearby (I moved to one of those when I wanted to get lunch and explore the neighborhood a bit).
Cleveland, you're lucky to have this place!
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