Things got off to a good start when Laurie and our daughter-in-law, Amy, ordered "Dirty Martini's". They proclaimed them to be the best ever...just excellent!
Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar is serious about the bar portion of their business... The wine list contains 118 varieties plus 2 sakes, 5 ports or sherries and 41 different beers. Of the later, only 3 are domestic mass produced and 9 are micro-brews. (From Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New York) Wines range in price from $23.00 per bottle, (12 varieties), up to $183.00. The vast majority of the wines are priced under $40.00
But our family grouping, myself and Laurie, plus David II, Amy and grandsons, David III and Emmett Lee, weren't at Grovewood to check out the alcohol...but rather to explore the menu! After being seated and ordering drinks, our server brought us some nice bread...good consistency... It was accompanied by some quality oil and garlic for dipping. We ordered 2 appetizers to share. The first one were these Potstickers. They were shrimp and pork-filled Lithuanian dumplings with Thai chili butter sauce and seaweed salad. They were excellent!
The second appetizer was the Grilled Smoked Gouda. The Gouda was pan-seared, then oven finished. The cheese was then served with fig/shallot/port wine jam and crostini. While this wasn't exactly my kind of thing...everyone else loved the contrasts in flavors and textures...another win for Grovewood!
Other appetizers & small plates on the menu include a Cheese Flight, Mussels Milanese, Stuffed Banana Peppers, Tuna Bites, a Mushroom Pizzette, Crabcakes and Calamari Fritti.
For her entree, Amy ordered the Salmon Yakitori as pictured below. This is a Japanese style 'barbeque' served with Grovewood's signature chilled, spicy sesame noodles and seaweed salad.
David II stayed with the same theme as Amy, ordering the Scallop Yakitori. They've eaten here before and they really like the Yakatori entrees! One similar item on the menu featuring a duck breast is listed as 'Quackitori'...
This is my entree. It's the Yin Yang Scallops. These are seared diver scallops drizzled with pomegranate and mango coulis, over forbidden black Thai and basamiti rice with crispy spinach. It was very nice...
For her dinner, Laurie ordered the Ohio City Pasta ravioli stuffed with spicy crawfish in a Cajun tomato cream sauce. It was terrific...lots of flavor and a little heat!
Other seafood entrees include Seared Tuna Loin, a Salmon Duet (with both seared and smoked salmon) and Blackened Diver Scallops. Combination entrees include Crab Cake & Steak as well as Shrimp & Steak. Non-seafood entrees on the menu include a Pork Tenderloin, Bison Potroast, Pasta Bolognese, Cherry Duck, Zinfandel Short Ribs, Chicken Marsala and Filet Mignon Medallions.
In addition, 6 salads are available as are 5 gourmet sandwiches...plus 7 items for "Little Nippers". Six desserts are listed and Laurie and I shared a nice Apple Crisp Cobbler with a scoop of homemade ice cream, but it was in a bowl and didn't photograph well.
Service was very competent and helpful. Prices started at $9.00 for a sandwich or for any of 3 of the small plates/appetizers. Entrees ranged from $18.00 to $29.00. Most entrees come with a side but a number of other choices are available as well. The next time that we visit Grovewood, I'll have to try the Chorizo-Cheddar Whipped Potatoes!
Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar is located just a couple of blocks off of I-90 at 17105 Grovewood Avenue in Cleveland Ohio. This restaurant is open for dinner 7 days a week. Phone: 216-531-4900. For more information, go to http://www.grovewoodtavern.com/.
Until you got to Laurie's, I thought you were in an Asian place, which didn't fit the name. I love the idea of the little corner restaurant/bar like this and like we found in NOLA, with the great food. If I could figure a way to be beamed directly from here and not have to drive in the city, I'd go often.
ReplyDeleteDear Dave, It so nice to go out to eat and really enjoy the food that is served to you. Such a treat and fun experience for the whole family. So glad you had a good time. Blessings, Catherine
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled upon your blog after going to the Grovewood for the first time tonight. Nice review! I had the quackitori, which was amazing. I'm glad you had a nice time in Cleveland.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Dave. Years ago my husband worked for a company whose home office was in Cleveland and he thought Cleveland had some of the finest restaurants around. He said he always ate good when he went to Cleveland.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are looking forward to meeting you at the blogger get-together in a few weeks at Almost Heaven South. See you soon.
Sam & Meakin