Fun Playing With Clam Bake Season, Part 2

After devouring two clam bakes at Solon's Bar 50/20 aka Mish Mosh, we next sampled the Clam Bake at Fisher's American Tavern, right next door to Mish Mosh. Though we give the slight Clam Bake edge to neighbor Mish Mosh, we also had a great time at Fisher's. Fisher's is serving it's last bakes tonight and tomorrow starting at 4pm; Mish Mosh goes through the end of October.

Fisher's basic clam bake includes a dozen clams, half roasted chicken, corn on the cob, sweet or baked potato, clam broth, New England clam chowder, and a roll with cinnamon butter for for $29.95. Extra dozen clams are $12. They also have a New York strip steak bake for $35.95 and a clamless chicken bake for $19.95. We continued our pattern of sharing one full bake, plus a dozen extra clams. On this evening, we decided to get a second cup of clam chowder in addition to our Steak Bake and extra dozen clams.

The chowder was ok, but definitely a food service product. 

This part of the bake was very good. We opted for sweet potato instead of white. Even though the corn wasn't grilled as Mish Mosh's was, it still had a lot of flavor for late October corn. The steak was nicely cooked to medium. And the sweet potato hit the spot for sweetness and texture. We were grateful for the pats of real butter, since the cinnamon butter was actually margarine. I especially liked the jus. 

Bob liked Fisher's clams better. I liked them better than the clams at the first Mish Mosh bake, half of which were a little too big and tough, but equal to the second two Mish Mosh bakes we had (the last after we had Fisher's). Mish Mosh won for presentation and that lovely tomatoey clam broth. Mish Mosh also won for it's house made chowda with fresh clams. It's not fair to compare lobster or filet with NY Strip, though we also loved Mish Mosh's grilled chicken. All the animal proteins we sampled were perfectly cooked by each restaurant.

So, side by side, priced within a couple of dollars of one another in each variation they shared, we give the win to Mish Mosh. But if you are hankering for clams, either restaurant will slake that thirst in style. Get Fisher's until tomorrow, Mish Mosh's Monday-Saturday through the end of the month.

Oh and if you fancy lobster with your bake, Mish Mosh offers live Maine lobsters Thursday-Saturday, and they are tasty!

Our third bake at Mish Mosh was steak - which had been a 12oz New York Strip similar to Fisher's, but switched out the night we dined to an 8oz Filet, still priced at $38. I normally prefer strip to filet, but not that night. 

Cooked to a perfect medium rare!

Straight up Clam Broth no Tomato, Third Mish Mosh Bake

We're going to try to get back to Mish Mosh for the pork ribs before the season ends! Though Fisher's was a very worthy second. Fun Playing With Clams in Solon for one more week!

Fisher’s American Tavern

28020 Miles Road

Solon, Ohio 44139

(440) 349-3736

https://www.facebook.com/fishersamericantavern/

Open for lunch at 11am Mon-Fri (Saturday at noon)

Closes 11pm

Closed Sunday

Bar 50/20 aka Mish Mosh

5020 Brainard Road

Solon, Ohio 44139

(440) 349-7300

mishmosheatery@gmail.com

No website, FB page: https://www.facebook.com/bar5020/

Open for lunch and dinner M-TH 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat until 1am.

Fun Playing With Clam Bake Season, Part 1

Not Wabbit Season. Not Duck Season. Sadly, not even Baseball Season for Cleveland in a few more days. But - it is Clam Bake Season! After seeing the post by Fishers American Tavern in Solon about their clam bake, we were excited to try it. It's available Thursday-Saturday now through the month of October. We'd just had Taco Tuesday there two days prior, and it wasn't crowded at all, so I didn't make a reservation, even as the clock slipped to 5:45pm. And the parking lot was completely jammed. Cars were parked on the lawn next to the parking lot. We knew this meant that the restaurant would be completely filled and very cramped. 

Sad, we looked at each other and Bob said, "how about Bar 50/20 next door?" Though we both were jonesing for clams, we decided it could wait for another day. Then we walked into Bar 50/20, and learned that they also have just started their Clam Bake Season, they just haven't told anyone yet. Well, I'm telling you! And we got to dine on the patio during a perfect early fall evening, so it was a win-win.

We had decided before leaving the house to share one clam bake and order an extra dozen clams so we could each have a dozen. As we anticipated, that was more than enough food for the two of us.

First course, a mug of Clam Chowda. Big chunks of potato and bacon rounded out the goodness. We shared it and it was a perfect portion.

The stars of the show! The dozen steamed clams were 2 varieties, not all Little Necks as stated on the menu. I prefer the Little Necks, but all were enjoyable, especially since they were delivered in a bowl of tomato-infused broth! The Honey Pomegranate Roasted Sweet Potatoes seemed like a pre-Rosh Hashonah treat (since both honey and pomegranate are traditional items for that festive New Year meal), and were a real step up from the traditional baked or boiled white potatoes. As we predicted, we barely made a dent in the Garlic Herb Roast Chicken, after polishing off our clams. Both the chicken and the corn were redolent of the grille and full of flavor. The breast meat was even more delicious dipped in that tomato-ey broth! 

Do NOT wait till you get home! Bar 50/20-Mish Mosh is offering three different meat options with this bake Monday-Saturday, and adds an additional choice of 1.5# Steamed Split Maine Lobster Thursday-Saturday. Instead of chicken, you can choose a half rack of Dry Rubbed BBQ Basted Baby Back Pork Ribs, or Black Angus NY Strip Steak. Prices are: $28 for chicken, $33 for ribs, $37 for steak, and $56 for the lobster, which come in alive and stay that way until you order them. The extra dozen clams were $13.

Fun playing with Clam Bake Season started for us at Bar 50/20, and we'll be back to try some of the variations, but there will also be others, I hope, before we're done. Fishers does take reservations . . . .

Bar 50/20 aka Mish Mosh

5020 Brainard Road

Solon, Ohio 44139

(440) 349-7300

mishmosheatery@gmail.com

No website, FB page: https://www.facebook.com/bar5020/

Open for lunch and dinner M-TH 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat until 1am

Reservations accepted and encouraged

Fun Playing with Food at Bar 50/20 AKA Mish Mosh

Mish Mosh made it's first appearance on this blog in March 2017. At that point, we'd only scratched the surface of their food; I thought surely I'd posted about them again. But with the roller coaster our lives have been on the past few years, it never happened. Until now. 

Chef-Owner Howard Curtis and his sons, Chandler and Skyler Curtis, cook up an eclectic menu and a constantly changing bevy of specials for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday at their cozy space located at 5020 Brainard Road in Solon. In nice weather, their outdoor patio is primo. Howard's wife and Co-Owner Jamie curates a lovely wine selection year round. It is one of our favorite places to dine. A base menu of starters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, salads and entrees is complemented daily by a specials list that can compete with any restaurant in Cleveland for quality, freshness and creativity. Price points range from $10 up to $24 for the Strip Steak, and mid twenties to low thirties for some specials.

Since it seems my photographs have been accumulating for over two years, here are some highlights:

This gorgeous piece of cod was also from the 2017 Lenten season. 

Continuing from 2017, this Special featured Tortellini, tossed with sausage, seafood and cream.

Bob enjoyed their take on a Banh Mi. Roast Pork, Country Pate, Pickled Carrots, Daikon Radish, Nuoc Mam Cham were served on a Crusty Baguette. It took them a while to get the hang of the fresh cut fries, but get it right they do!

When Stuffed Cabbage is on the menu, it is on my plate! Served here with potato-cheese pierogi (and a tossed salad first, with housemade balsamic dressing). Oh, there it is:

Their Bourbon Street Cobb Salad resembles no Cobb salad I've ever had, but it's delicious. After the first time I had it, I asked for the dressing on the side because it is a spicy meatball! Mixed Greens, Rice, Cheddar and Mozzarella, Scallion, Roasted Peppers, Cajun Ranch with an "add" of chicken. 

This Sausage Kale Soup actually made kale not just palatable, but delicious! Another awesome soup selection is their Clam Chowder with Bacon.

This particular dinner was enjoyed on the aforementioned patio. 

Another standout from the regular menu is the burger selection. 

Bob loved his Cajun Burger. Caramelized Onion, Mushrooms, Pepper Jack Cheese, topped with Cajun Ranch. 

This Pork Chop special also made Bob very happy, There were enough leftovers for a second meal!

Bob had tried the pizza over the last couple of years, but it never appealed to me. Howard, a Connecticut native, sympathized with my longing for East Coast style pizza, but it's not what he serves here. Still, something made me decide to try it. And, as Anthony Bourdain said of Chicago's Burt's Pizza (deep dish) back in 2008 - it's not pizza (as I know it), I don't know what it is but it's delicious!

The crust had a great chew and crunch, and even though it was cooked in a pan, I liked it! So much so that I ordered another style on my next visit. 

They call this the Mesclun Pizza: A plain cheese pizza topped after baking with Baby Field Greens, Sundried Tomato, Goat Cheese, Balsamic Vinaigrette. And as weird as it may seem to top a pizza with a salad, the sun dried tomatoes really pull it together and make it work. Though I confess I ate the greens part mostly as a separate salad component and not still on the pizza. 

Howard and Jamie offer delicious food, gracious hospitality, and a killer patio (in season). Highly recommended for Fun Playing With Food in the Eastern suburbs!

Bar 50/20 aka Mish Mosh

5020 Brainard Road

Solon, Ohio 44139

(440) 349-7300

mishmosheatery@gmail.com

No website, FB page: https://www.facebook.com/bar5020/

Open for lunch and dinner M-TH 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat until 1am.

Fun Playing With Fried Fish in Solon

Ash Wednesday ushers in the Lenten season, which is heartily observed in Northeast Ohio. Heck, even southern Ohio is in on the act; the Filet o' Fish was invented by a Cincinnati area McDonald's franchisee who saw his burger business dry up between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. 

We enjoyed delightful food, music and libations at Grove Hill Restaurant on Fat Tuesday, but for some reason, the day after had me craving fried fish. If I have learned one thing living in Cleveland for over 20 years, it is that well prepared, fresh fish is a hard thing to come by, even during "the season." How happy that Solon's Bar 50/20, under new ownership since September 2016 and soon to be re-branded as "Mish Mosh,"  started their Lenten fish fry tonight. 

For $18 each, Bob and I were each first served a lovely salad topped by an obviously house-made Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Then, three magnificent pieces of crispy battered fried Haddock, accompanied by house-made Coleslaw (which didn't look pretty at first blush, but which had been allowed to age to the perfect flavor point), house made tarter (easy on the pickles, so the fish shone through), and fries.

Our first two visits to Bar 50/20 had been uneven - beautiful burgers and fries the first visit (sans camera) and so-so the same plates a few weeks later. But tonight's fish fry left no doubt - owners Jamie and Howard (Howard also being the Chef) are bringing some fun, together with well sourced and prepared food, to the Solon area. And the patio looks like it will be a lovely place to relax and play with your food come the springtime! But in the meantime - the fish fry will be offered every Friday during Lent.

Bar 50/20

5020 Brainard Rd

Solon, Ohio

(440) 349-7300