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

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

Fun Playing with Food (and friends) at Lake House Restaurant in Lakewood

September 19 is "Talk Like A Pirate Day." My Mensa friends, who love a good joke, pun or excuse to be a little silly, set up a lunch by the water (Lake Erie) to celebrate. I'd never heard of Lake House Restaurant in Lakewood before, but it was a "fun to play with" discovery yesterday! Sadly, I didn't get any photos of the attendees, some of whom sported their Pirate finest, but ARGGHH did we have a great, inexpensive meal accompanied by a four star lake view despite the gloomy weather! The restaurant is a physically old, old-school diner-like space in a mid-rise residential building, with close, free parking, that serves up classic (and a little newer school) comfort food and diner grub, with beer if desired, six days a week. 

I loved that so much of the food was made from scratch (or nearly so), though my first taste, of a Guinness Pretzel Bite served with a cheddar cheese dipping sauce ordered by a table-mate, definitely felt Sysco-y (though warm and tasty).

But it was mostly uphill from there. 

House-made Clam Chowder

Our group numbered over a dozen, so I can't really fault them for serving this lovely soup a little to the cold side. But the microwave would have rubberized the beautifully tender clam meat, so we enjoyed it as served. Nicely done.

Cajun Pasta

Bob just had four teeth extracted, and so was limited to mushy food. Lake House Restaurant offers several pasta dishes that come by default with meat and/or seafood, but which can also be ordered "plain" - this option served Bob well: penne pasta tossed with a cajun spiced alfredo sauce and tomatoes. Topped with parmesan cheese, it tasted creamy with a little bite, and "gave" nicely without being mushy. I enjoyed my bite even without the chicken that normally accompanies it.

I took a flyer on the signature dish - Fresh Lake Erie Perch: Lightly breaded and fried, served with sautéed onions & parmesan topped pierogies, and coleslaw. Experience has taught that a dish like this would either be very good or very bad. Happy to report the former!

House made cole slaw

What a difference fresh-made makes! Creamy, clean and crisp. Half came home for dinner.

Fried Perch, Pierogies, Tarter

Another perspective

Half of this portion came home for dinner; it was a lovely value at $16 plus $2 for the cup of soup. The fish glistened with freshness under it's hot, crispy coat, cleverly plated over iceberg lettuce strips to keep it from getting soggy on the plate. I didn't get to learn if the pierogies are made in house or sourced, but they were fresh not frozen and the sauteed (not deeply fried) dough had a delightful pillowy lightness, encasing freshly mashed potatoes. The onion topping was nicely caramelized and accented with grated cheese and parsley. I would return for this meal again and again if I lived nearby!

Other diners in our party sampled various diner-style comfort foods, including patty melts served with house-made chips, wraps, salads, and one peanut-butter cup encrusted dessert that looked lovely. Service was exuberant and attentive, another reason to return for more. 

Lake House Restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Tuesday-Saturday, and Breakfast and Lunch only on Sunday. A great little fun place to play with your food with a view!