While working on a piece for Cleveland Magazine about another topic, I had a quick chat with Symon this morning (hello giddiness) and took the opportunity to ask him about B Spot. He shared that they plan to open in mid November and offer 10 burgers, 20 beers, brats and basically, as he put it, a lot of beef.

The themed burgers, as he described them, will be meat on meat with toppings like bacon, fried bologna, Philly cheese steak (yes please),  pastrami and corned beef. He said it’s ridiculous how good these burgers are.

I’m just glad that both my house and office are all within two miles of the restaurant. This way I can pull a Costanza and grab a quick nap after what’s sure to be many lunches here.

Since I had him on the phone, I took a minute to tell him personally just how impressed we were with Bar Symon – both the food and incredibly reasonable prices (read more here). He shared that one of his favorite things about Bar Symon is that he can dress how he likes to at one of his restaurants and fit right in – in concert tees and jeans (followed up with his trademark laugh).

Everyday should start with a call from Michael Symon.

It’s a combination of the food, atmosphere, crowd and incredibly reasonable prices that have made us loyal customers. And this past Thursday, Lolita earned one more. Natalie can now add this Tremont staple to her ever growing list of fine dining experiences.

This trip was on behalf of Metromix, which surprisingly the site has yet to review. So for anyone out there who has yet to check out Lolita, my full recap should appear in a few weeks.

We started off with the roasted dates and beet salad with honey and ricotta, then moved onto the buccatini with carbonara, big chunks of pork belly and pancetta and the duck prosciutto pizza with rosemary and egg. But the highlight of the dinner – a quick chat with the super friendly chef Matt (Chatty) Harlan, who made Jamie’s day by bringing out the restaurant’s famed burger with egg and bacon (thanks again, Matt – I know how much you love making those!). By the way, chef Harlan, who has been there for the past 12 years (Lola then Lolita), has a little less than two months left there before he heads over to Avon Lake to lead the kitchen at Bar Symon.

As usual, everything was delicious – especially the beets (hands-down best beet salad in town – I know I always include that, but it’s true) and the burger. That burger is so deliciously messy and juicy; I can’t wait to see what other burger creations Michael Symon unveils at The B Spot.

Thankfully, Natalie was a picture perfect diner throughout the entire meal. Nonetheless, we still ate fast, paid within seconds of the server dropping off the main dishes, and were headed out before the dinner rush made its way in.

On our way out, I noticed Lolita is hosting a lamb dinner on May 6 with Jamison Farm. It’s short notice, but I’m willing to bet this would be worth checking out.

According to Joe Crea, Symon is taking over Swingos Grand Tavern in Avon Lake as well the former Cold Stone Creamery in Woodmere, which is part of the Eton Collection (this will replace the bakery he was originally planning).

Here’s more from the article:
Bar Symon, an American bar and brasserie, will occupy the site of Swingos Grand Tavern, which closed suddenly in February. The restaurant, at 32858 Walker Road, is scheduled to open in June.

“Everything on the menu will range from $9 to $18,” said Symon, adding that “most of the menu will be built around live fire cooking” and may feature custom-built rotisseries similar to the ones boldly displayed at his most recent restaurant, Roast, in Detroit.

“Very casual, American-driven, very comfortable — that’s what we’re aiming for,” Symon said, describing the vibe he and his wife, Liz, and their business partner Doug Petkovic are seeking. In addition to 100 beers from around the globe, 40 of them artisinal brews available on tap, Symon anticipates a comparatively modest wine list featuring about 25 bottles. Matt Harlan, executive chef at Lolita, will take over the kitchen in Avon Lake.

Once the doors open at Bar Symon, the partners will kick into overdrive to open the other restaurant.

The B Spot — “pretty much just great burgers and beer,” Symon said — will bring upscale casual fare to the tony Eton Chagrin Boulevard shopping center. It replaces a bakery concept he originally envisioned.

“We just wanted great, simple food,” Symon said of a menu that will feature “maybe 10 burgers plus fries, milkshakes, a couple of salads and around 20 beers on tap.”
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Congratulations, Michael, Liz and Doug! And good luck to Chatty – although we’ll miss you at Lolita.