Cleveland Is "Lucky"

As Clevelanders, we know that we are fortunate to have such an amazing dining scene in our fair city. Over the past few years, the rest of the nation has started to catch on as well. Chefs like Symon and Sawyer are helping put Cleveland on the map (as others before them). I consider myself, a self-proclaimed foodie, very lucky to live here.

One of the restaurants that makes me feel "lucky" is Tremont's own Lucky's Cafe. I previously wrote about them here, but I had to pay tribute again after dining there last weekend. Several months ago, "R" and I attended a tasting event held at the Sight Center. Chef Heather Haviland and her team were there serving two amazing dishes- one of which took home the coveted title of "Guest Favorite". This would be their Baked Mac-N-Cheese: cheddar, brie, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses baked with pasta and cream topped with brioche bread crumbs and served with house-made apple sauce. You can also add bacon for a small fee. At the event, I think we both ran back to their station for seconds (and thirds if I'm truly being honest). After talking to the chef, we discovered that the mac & cheese was served on their brunch menu. We knew a visit was in our future.

Several months passed, but we finally made it over to Lucky's last Saturday. I resisted several tempting breakfast dishes (and even my favorite side- the pecan crusted bacon), and chose the heavenly mac & cheese. It was even better than our first tasting of the dish at the event. The crisp crust and addition of bacon added a whole new dimension to the plate. As you can see from the picture above, I dove right in and took two bites before I even remembered to take a picture. Oops, sorry! The side of grapes and house-made apple sauce was appreciated. The dish was extremely rich, as you can imagine, so it was nice to have something fresh to cleanse my palate in between bites. By the time I was getting to the end of the dish, I was a little overwhelmed by the rich, heavy flavor but I knew what I was getting myself in to when I ordered. I have to say that it is one of the best macaroni and cheese dishes that I've ever had- sorry Grandma!

I do have to quickly mention the daily special that "R" ordered, because Lucky's should honestly consider adding this dish to their menu! Their corned beef hash, eggs, and hollandaise sauce was outstanding. If this is ever a special when you are dining there- you MUST get it.

Of course, the atmosphere of Lucky's always enhances your dining experience. Guests gather at brightly colored picnic tables outside amongst Haviland's vegetable and herb gardens. Talk about fresh. The staff is always pleasant, helpful, and quick. I am truly thankful that we have such amazing restaurants as Lucky's Cafe here in Cleveland. They make me feel "lucky" to live here.

Lucky's Cafe
777 Starkweather Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 622-7773