Banter

The first restaurant of the 2016 To Dine Challenge is complete! Mr. H and I popped in to the new Banter on Detroit Road in the Gordon Square Arts District the other night, after I saw them post a picture on Instagram of my favorite bottled beer.

Banter brings us a unique food and beverage experience. It is a curated beer and wine store (each with their own separate room) that is also satisfying shoppers with house-made sausages and poutine.

After grabbing a spot at one of the few tables in the main bar, we wander over the room next door to check out the wine selection.

Then, on to the beer.

Which is where I found my favorite bottled beer, Epic Brewing's Big Bad Baptist.

Banter allows you to crack open your purchase right there at the store (for a small corkage fee) to enjoy with their tempting, but limited, menu. 

The bar area was busy for a Thursday evening. It did get quite loud in that room. If you're looking for a quieter space and something other than bar seating or high-top tables, there is a handful of standard tables in the wine room as well. 

People had been raving about the Corndog ($7), but honestly it was our least favorite item. Maybe we had an "off" one, but it was really soggy. 

Things perked up as we tried the Breakfast ($9) with Ohio maple and sorghum bratwurst, pain perdu, blueberry mustard, bourbon bacon, fried egg, and shaved maple. It was on the sweeter side, so I was imagining it paired with a spicy Bloody Mary at brunch! 

Mr. H let me have a bite of his Fried Chicken ($9) with crispy fried chicken sausage, braised greens, sweet corn mustard, and hot sauce. I really liked that one as well. 

But, hands-down my favorite thing that we tried was the Foie Gras poutine ($19) with seared fois gras, frites, duck gravy, apple gastrique, and duck confit. 

It was rich, decadent deliciousness. I could only eat about a third of it. 

Everything is priced reasonably for the quality of product that they are producing, and it was a hearty meal. It's casual, fun, and a great way to stock up on craft beers and wine while you're out for a bite. I think it's a nice addition to the area, and we'll be repeat customers. Open until midnight on the weeknights, and 1AM on Fridays and Saturday.

Banter
7320 Detroit Road
Cleveland, OH 44102
216-801-0305