Lola // I love black beans. I cook with them all the time and am a sucker for any dish that lists this as an ingredient. I even made brownies last night that called for black beans as a secret ingredient. A few weeks ago I met a client for lunch at Lola, her first visit. I started with the pureed black bean soup topped with cilantro and I believe bits of guanciale. Outstanding. If I wasn’t with my client, I would have easily ordered a second bowl! Incredibly smooth and perhaps the lightest version of this soup I’ve ever tried. I’m still thinking about it. And the best part about going to East 4^th for lunch? Grabbing a cappuccino at Erie Island after. Best in the city.

Shinano // The service is so slow that sometimes I swear they even forget you’re there. But they make a good roll. Several in fact. And that’s why I keep going back. And if you’re not in hurry, it’s a good place for lunch (actually, the food comes out super fast; it’s just taking your order and dropping off the check that they’re fairly leisurely about). The one roll in particular that keeps me coming back is the Volcano – an inside out roll with crab and avocado topped with broiled scallop, octopus tobiko and mayo. This roll is so good, that we ended up ordering a second one for the table on our last visit. The only thing I didn’t care for the first time I tried it was the amount of mayo. So when I get it, I always ask for very little mayo and it’s perfect each time.

Moxie // With its proximity to our office, this ends up being a popular spot for meetings. On this lunch in particular, I met with the coordinator for Flavors, the main fundraiser for The American Liver Foundation (I’m volunteering this year), who suggested we meet here. Moxie has several salads I like off the lunch menu, but this time I opted for something new – the Atlantic salmon with cauliflower puree, cauliflower florets and pomegranate reduction. Part of my New Year’s resolution was to eat more fish (cook more actually, but this counts), and with this dish, I’d eat it daily. I may never order salads at Moxie again.

Phnom Penh // Nothing warms you up during a Cleveland winter like a bowl of spicy hue beef soup with rice noodles, beef brisket and lemon grass. Pair it with their overstuffed and aromatic egg roll, and you’ll leave happy. While my past few visits here have been hit or miss, this place is still one of my favorites and this soup is the reason why.

A few weeks ago, we made the super short trek to Solon to check out Shinano on behalf of Metromix. I’ve been to the Richmond location several times (and even more for takeout), so I knew the sushi would be satisfying, but what about the other items? Aside from the sushi, I’ve never given the menu a second look and was eager to dive in and try the non-sushi specialties.

You can read the whole store here. The short of it is, we will be back, but just for the rolls. The other items we tried were disappointing. In fact, the curry rice left such a bad taste in my mouth, it took several glasses of milk when I got home to erase (plus the dish itself is not appealing to the eye). Now I’m sure there are some stand outs, and to be fair, it’s not like we tried every single item. But in my opinion, sushi is their specialty and that suits me just fine.

Other low lights included the service and decor. I’ve heard from several people now that they too had poor service and I have now twice. Don’t get me wrong, service is super friendly, just super slow – with food, the check and picking up plates. I asked if the staff was all new and was told it’s mostly the same from the previous location, so no excuse there. As for the decor, truthfully, I wasn’t expecting much so it’s really not all that disappointing. Overall, the restaurant is very clean and neat, just on the cold and stale side.

But again, if it’s good sushi you’re craving, you will get it here. But in the end, Pacific East still retains my vote (but it’s nice to have options).

The menu is basically the same as its original location on Coventry. The space is a little smaller, but nice and simple overall – especially the sushi bar. And for being open only a few days, service was good as well.

For lunch, I had the sushi special: 2 rolls (I chose Philadelphia and yellowtail), soup and salad for $8.95. My husband had the beef udon with vegetables in a broth. My lunch was great – just as good as the Coventry location. Jamie’s was a bit disappointing. Although the super thick noodles and miso-like broth were good, the beef and vegetables were a bit bland overall.

Despite the so so beef udon, the sushi, miso soup and salad with that addictive ginger dressing were wonderful – and that’s really all I care about. Pacific East, in my opinion, is the best sushi spot in town. They are going to do very well in this location and we will definitely be regulars, along with most of my friends and coworkers.

Pacific East: 216 765 1305

The second Pacific East location, located in Eton next to Paladar, is not too far behind. They are waiting for their license and look to be open for business around the 17th.

Looking forward to having both of these places near my home and office. Mint never disappoints for delicious Thai and Pacific East is easily my favorite spot for sushi in town.

Favorite
•Pizza: mama santa’s or mama joe’s. (both mamas know good pizza)
•Coffee shops: Starbucks in Chagrin Falls (Sunday morning tradition with James)
•Breakfast place: Lucky’s in Tremont
•Grocer: Heinen’s and Miles Market for everyday; Whole Foods and West Side Market for other
•Wine bar: Market Street
•Place to eat outside: Flying Fig and Lopez
•Mexican/Latin Fusion: Momocho and La Tortilla Feliz
•Local spot: American Tavern
•Sushi: Pacific East (and it’s coming to Eaton)
•Thai: Lemon Grass (Mint is a close second)
•Indian: Café Tandor (Saffron Patch for lunch)
•Chinese: Hunan on Coventry
•Cheap(er) eats: South Side
•Italian: Battuto (but nothing beats my gram’s sauce and meatballs)
•Place to be seen: Lola
•Dessert: chocolate croissant at Presti’s
•Splurge: Chez Francois
•Wine shop: Miles Market and Cuff’s in Chagrin Falls
•Places I miss: Lawson’s (best dip), Frisco Rose (my gram always took me there), Hough Bakery and Silver Grill