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| - Cleveland is blessed with talented chefs. Our usual go-to is Michael Symon, but we've had a few great meals at Alley Cat and heard good things about Zac Bruell's other restaurants, so for my husband's last birthday we gave Table 45 a try. Long story short, we had a good meal, but it didn't live up to the hype or our expectations.
The food:
--Caesar salad: we don't get any points for creativity on our order here, but they don't get any points for extra effort, either. There are standout Caesars out there, and while this was tasty, it wasn't memorable.
--Short ribs: my entree was the best thing we ordered. The short ribs were fork-tender and the sauce was excellent. The polenta had a wonderful flavor, but could have been thicker. The portion was huge, and I enjoyed this one twice.
--Grilled beef tenderloin: my husband's steak was very good, but not $58 good-- there's more impressive cuts of beef to be had in Cleveland. They did a good job making it medium rare, but could have seasoned it a bit more. They were a bit skimpy with the brandy cream sauce, but it was delicious and they did eventually provide a little more sauce upon request.
--Creme brûlée: very good.
Service: friendly and professional, but not as responsive as you'd hope for at this price point.
Atmosphere: odd. This is in the first floor of the very modern InterContinental Hotel in the Cleveland Clinic, and instead of feeling chic, it ends up feeling kind of sterile. It's also distracting when hotel guests use the restaurant back door as an entrance to the hotel; hotel guests have every right to be comfortable in gym clothes and hoodies, but it kind of detracts from the fine dining vibe the restaurant is going for.
"A-OK" is three stars, and that sounds about right. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but it didn't discourage me from wanting to try more of Zac Bruell's creations, and I wouldn't discourage you from going if you're staying at the hotel or visiting the hospitals or university.
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