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| - To say that this place caters to the wealthy, white suburbanites of Northeast Ohio is a bit of an understatement. Just take a look at where the other three locations are - Rocky River, Solon, and Chagrin Falls. It's a stereotype and, judging from the abundance of high-priced foreign cars packed into the parking lot (our little green Kia stuck out a bit), they're doing quite well. Speaking of parking lots, I've got to get this off of my chest before I can continue.
I don't mind valet parking. It has a time and a place. It's great when a restaurant is located in a busy downtown area where parking is at a premium. It's great for impressing your date and it's great if there are private, monitored lots in less than reputable neighborhoods. What I do have a problem with is so-called "complimentary" valet. You know the kind. You pull in, see the sign and about a dozen red-vested 19 year-olds scurry to open your doors. What the hell. This is a private lot located around the restaurant. Why the hell do they have valet? I've been parking my own car for 23 years. I think I can handle it. Not so fast. At this Burntwood Tavern you have no choice. This also means you basically have no choice but to fork over $3-$5 for the obligatory tip before you head home. I was irked before I even walked in the doors. Enough said.
The Burntwood Taverns all appear to follow the same Restoration Hardware theme and this location was right on point. It's got pieces of old barn beams traversing the ceilings, copper-topped bars, warm colors, dark woods, rusty artwork on the walls, a big stone hearth for gathering. It really does have a nice vibe to it. Comfortable and perfect for lingering if that's your thing. We showed up around 6pm on a Saturday and the place was jammed. Thirty or so minutes for a table. No thanks, we snagged two seats around the corner at the bar.
There was a great energy in the bar area. Plenty of people chatting, drinking eating. It wasn't too loud, either. I think the architecture helped to dampen the din. Our bartender, Scott, was fantastic. He was friendly, attentive in just the right amount and seemed to be having a good time. The beer selection is decent with about a dozen taps and a matching set of bottles. A nice craft beer offering, no doubt. They've also got plenty of mixed drinks if you like less water with your alcohol. The menu here is pretty extensive. Think American pub fare with plenty of your favorite comfort dishes mixed in - fish and chips, pot roast, BLT, burgers, salads. There's something for everyone. Here's how our meal went:
Tavern Chips - I'm a sucker for homemade chips. Cover them in bacon, cheese and garlic and you've got my attention. The chips were perfect, warm, crispy and well seasoned. The Gorgonzola melting with the bacon and the crispy chives...need I say more?
The Wedge Salad - One good thing about a wedge, you know what you're in for. A crispy quarter-head of iceberg topped with tomato, eggs, bacon and carrots. The surprise here was the Parmesan peppercorn dressing. Well done. The wedge. The only healthy thing about it is the word "salad" in its name.
Lobster Bisque - My wife digs the bisques and what's not to like? Heavy cream, sweet lobster, tomato, a drizzle of herbed olive oil. This one didn't disappoint.
Tavern Steak & Potatoes Quinlan - I needed some red meat and I needed it bad. Normally served with fries I opted for the potatoes Quinlan (roasted red-skins mashed slightly and then pan-fried in butter until crispy). I suggest you do the same. The 10oz steak, ordered medium, was cooked, well, sort of medium. The meat's temperature was a tad uneven with one end leaning toward rare and the other toward well-done. It was still tasty and the asparagus, slightly charred, were a great companion.
Overall, our experience here was a good one. We really liked the atmosphere, at least in the bar, and the food was tasty and filling. The few hiccups there were were easily overlooked in favor of the bigger picture and I have a feeling that we'll find ourselves paying them a visit again.
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