It had been years since I'd been to the Players Club at Lost Nation Sports Park, the sports bar and grill that's housed inside the large sports complex in Willoughby. Recently, however, my wife and I were in the area, and we had heard they'd made some changes, so we stopped in.

We walked into the rear bar - the place is split into front and back areas, as well as a patio - and being a Tuesday evening, it wasn't exactly hopping. There were people playing darts and the Indians were on some of the many TVs. We sat ourselves at one of the high-top tables near the large bar. It was a laid-back atmosphere.

I'm typically a little nervous about places where you seat yourselves, as I tend to think we'll get overlooked. But someone came from behind the bar almost as soon as we sat down, and we were actually provided very good service all evening.

Read more of correspondent Mark Koestner's review at Dining Out: Players Club at Lost Nation Sports Park in Willoughby scores with tweaked menu. 

I'm always a little leery when someone tells me that a restaurant is "like (so and so)." Most times, I end up disappointed.

I'd heard a bunch of descriptions for Piada in South Euclid.

One gave the impression it was a pizza place. Wrong.

Someone said it was a noodle place. Closer.

Another person described it as "Chipotle for Italian food."

Bingo!

A regional chain with locations throughout Ohio and Indiana and Michigan, Piada recently popped up on Cedar Road near Warrensville Center Road, across from Whole Foods. It's easy to find in the Cedar Center North plaza because it sits directly below the shopping center's nameplate, at the end of the driveway at the main entrance.

In a plaza loaded with chain restaurants (Subway, Panera, Five Guys, Starbucks, Chipotle), this one is a hidden gem.

Read more of Managing Editor Laura Kessel's review at Dining Out: South Euclid's Piada delights with tasty Italian food in Chipotle-like setup.

If you've ever lost your favorite bookstore, a mom-and-pop grocery store or a good local restaurant to a big chain taking over, you know how regrettable it feels.

But what happens when it's the other way around?

That's what my wife and I and a few friends set out to discover regarding the Happy Moose Bar & Grill in Mentor, which recently dropped its affiliation with the Cleats chain and re-opened this past winter as an independent.

Read more of correspondent Mark Koestner's review at Dining Out: Cleats is gone, but Mentor's Happy Moose has comfy feel.