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 Fish, Soup, Burgers, and More at Fisher's American Tavern, Solon Ohio

After 5 posts from our winter visit to Florida, it is time to briefly return to the East Side of Cleveland. The American Tavern lived on Miles Road in Solon for many years, and we had stopped visiting years ago because it was so old and tired. It sold once or twice, and changed names, but I heard of no reason to revisit it. Then, in the spring of 2018, Scott and Tami Fisher acquired the property, re-renaming it "American Tavern" but adding their name as well. They scrubbed the place from the bottom up and back down again, and refreshed it without disturbing the pub-like charm. 

Fisher's American Tavern has become a "go to" for us. We especially enjoy the fish specials, though I'd put Scott's Chicken Paprikash up against any in town. Given their very modest price points, the Fishers aren't selling the kind of high end, freshly caught fish featured in the Destin posts. Rather, working with modest food service ingredients combined with mad kitchen skills, a lifetime of experience, and a crackerjack staff, they deliver very tasty and well-prepared food and drinks at very friendly prices, in a space that has regained the feeling of a place where "everyone knows your name." The menu leans heavily on comfort food, but has something for everyone, including a nice salad selection. And they even take reservations (which you will need if you wish to dine on Friday or Saturday night without a wait)!

Chicken Noodle Soup

Fisher's has joined the ranks of so many restaurants starting their "homemade" soups with commercial bases, then adding fresh ingredients. But this one works. While I would never mistake the broth for made-from scratch, I'd happily consume this cup of goodness on a chilly Cleveland day. 

On that first visit, Bob and I each had a version of Annie's Fish and Chips. I had the half plate, plus the above cup of soup, and Bob had the full plate. 

Annie's Fish & Chips Half Plate

Annie's Fish & Chips Full Plate

Both plates begin with good quality frozen haddock filet. They end in crunchy deliciousness after being expertly beer battered and deep fried. Accompanied by a house-made slaw, this is a worthy fish fry available every day the kitchen is open, throughout the year. 

For our next visit, we landlubbered. 

Bob's Mushroom Swiss Burger

Bob's burger was topped with sauteed mushrooms, Swiss, lettuce, tomato and onion. 

Chicken Paprikash, House Made Spaetzle

Bob enjoyed his burger. The Paprikash was nicely cooked, perfectly seasoned, and served over house made Spaetzle. It melted in the mouth. I'm pretty sure that this was the "half" size order, BTW.

Our next dinner happened to be a Monday - Burger Night! $6.99 gets you a half pound Angus burger of your choice from the 8 item burger menu (except the "Tavern" and "Rodeo" burgers, which each have bacon in addition to the burger patty, and carry an upcharge on Burger Night) and one "standard side." Tuesday through Saturday, they will swap out the beef for grilled chicken or a veggie patty no charge; on Burger Night, there is a $1.49 upcharge for the swap. It is a generous deal for $7.

Bob's 

This "Italian Burger" was an off-menu special. The burger wore melty mozzarella, balsamic reduction, arugula and tomato. 

Chili Burger

My burger was topped with house made chili, cheddar cheese, diced onion and Jalapeno. I also sprung for a second side, steamed broccoli. 

Perfectly steamed, with a little toothiness yet, this was not your typical food service bag broccoli (which always tastes a little funky to me). 

We returned on a raw December night. A cheesy broccoli soup was the first order of the day for me!

Walleye Finger Appetizer

The walleye fingers came to the table so hot, crispy and fragrant that we dug in before I took a picture. Again, a naked frozen fish, deftly beer battered and handled, it's on the regular menu for $11.49.

NY Strip Steak Dinner

Bob's steak was cooked to medium as he requested, and served with potato mash and vegetable of the day. He was very happy.

Fisher's offers fish specials every weekend, year round. In the spring, they had several variations on the fish fry, and we were fortunate to get some! I stuck with a half order of the Beer Battered Haddock, but started with  a cup of soup. 

Velvet Chicken Soup

Bob's: Breaded Perch Fish Fry Dinner

Perch is Bob's favorite, and this plate did not disappoint! 

The weekend "fish frenzy" menu also includes a few drink specials available all hours for $6. In addition, they offer Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3:30pm to 6:30pm, with drink specials and half priced appetizers (except the Walleye fingers). Scott and Tami will treat you like family, which is a big reason we have so much fun playing with food at Fisher's! 

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