Game Day Winner and a Pier W Dinner

It's time to announce the winner of the Heinen's Game Day giveaway. Thank you for sharing your favorite dishes to make. Look for another fun recipe from me as we near the big upcoming Game Day. Using random.org, the winner is.....

...#16, Kayla Grise! Email me by Monday at 4:00pm to claim your prize, or another random winner will be selected. Thank you to Heinen's for sponsoring my Game Day post.

I also wanted to share a recent dining experience with you. When we're looking for a special occasion restaurant, there are a few that come to mind. Pier W happens to be one of them. With stunning views of Lake Erie, the cliffs, and the Downtown Cleveland skyline, it just can't be beat. Luckily, the service, food, and drinks live up to the atmosphere and reputation, and we've enjoyed several memorable meals there over the years.

Mr. H's birthday was last week, and he select Pier W for his birthday dinner celebration. We went all out, and had a wonderful meal.

We started with a Sampler of Oysters ($18 for 8).

I love it when you get to try different types of oysters side-by-side, because I just don't know enough about them. They were succulent, and a great start to the meal.

We also shared the Calamari Fritti ($12), served with Gremolata, Sriracha Aioli, and Sweet Spicy Tamarind Dip.

This was good, but I've had better.

Mr. H ordered the Cedar Planked Salmon ($28), and loved it. It was even mild enough for me to enjoy a small bite. I went with the Grilled Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna ($33), served with Chinese Black Rice, Tempura Snowpeas, Bean Sprouts, and a Tamari Glaze.

The seared tuna was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I do wish that there had been more than three peas included, and that the dish had a bit more sauce to use with the dry rice, but otherwise, this was a great dish.

Pier W surprised us with a complimentary birthday dessert. The vanilla ice cream and homemade whipped cream hit the spot, and it was a thoughtful touch. I had included a note in our OpenTable reservation that it was a birthday celebration. It's nice to know that they pay attention to those comments.

One tip: The window tables at Pier W have the best views, and they are first-come first-served. We arrived a half hour early, checked in with the hostess, and then enjoyed a cocktail at the bar while we waited. We were seated right on time for our reservation, and had one of the best booths in the restaurant.

Thanks for another memorable special occasion meal, Pier W!

What's your go-to restaurant for a celebratory meal?

Pier W
12700 Lake Avenue
Winton Place
Lakewood, OH
216-228-2250

Disclosure: Heinen's provided a $50 gift card to give away to one lucky reader, and a $100 gift card for supplies, in exchange for a recipe and giveaway post. All opinions stated are 100% my own.