I remember seeing Sterle’s Country House in Cleveland on an episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” a few years ago and, recalling the place from my childhood, thinking that it was none of those.

It’s not, but it’s not exactly the place from my childhood, either.

Frank Sterle opened what used to be known as Frank Sterle’s Slovenian Country House on East 55 Street in 1954. If you have Slovenian roots and have lived in Cleveland at any time since then, you’ve probably been to the place. Sterle died in 1986, and the restaurant was operated by new partners from then until 2012, when Rick Semersky bought it.

It’s still going to be known simply as “Sterle’s” (ster-LEES) by most of its longstanding clientele, so the tweak to the name isn’t a big deal. A bigger deal is that there’s now an outdoor bier garden, waitresses in black T-shirts instead of the traditional dirndl, and some items on the menu that Frank Sterle didn’t serve.

We went on a recent Saturday, doing Sterle’s the way it is best experienced: in a large group and when there’s live polka music. This is what hasn’t changed from the years gone by – families dance while accordions loudly pump out songs that everybody present has heard a thousand times. The band the night of our visit started at 6, and by 7 the large dining hall inside the Alpine ski-lodge-styled old building was nearly full.

Read more from Correspondent Mark Koestner at Dining Out: Cleveland Slovenian fixture boasts uneven food but a fun time for families, polka fans.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To read the latest posts on Simon’s coffee shop adventures, visit his blog at www.hold-the-coffee.blogspot.com.

It should go without saying that my boyfriend, Matt, knows me very well. So well that he knows what my ideal Valentines date is without asking. (HINT: Think of the furthest thing away from Applebees.)

What a great sport! Matt never complains about
modeling in my low-angle storefront shots.

I have many ideal dates and one of them is adventuring around Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, disputably my favorite area of Northeast Ohio. It's walkable, has plenty of mixed-use buildings, a wide arrange of unique bars, restaurants, stores and... of course, coffee shops. And unlike other young, energetic areas I've visited such as Ohio City, University Circle and Detroit Avenue, Tremont offers a slower-pace environment that feels more like a neighborhood than a commuter destination.

Anyway, this post isn't dedicated to my love of Tremont; it's here to review a very awesome coffee shop along West 11th Street that also doubles as record and CD store. (Groundbreaking idea!)

Loop, at 2180 W. 11th St., was the final stop for our date after browsing literature and sipping wine at Vision Voice Books and stuffing carbs into our faces at Crust, both on Kenilworth Avenue.

Oooooh... I always get excited over coffee shops with
two floors.

Location: Considering I already spilled my heart out for Tremont, I'll just focus this section on the corner of West 11th Street and Fairfield Avenue. Like most of Tremont, Loop is weaved along mostly houses with a few eateries and retailers in the mix. But this area is far from Tremont's most vibrant pastures.

A few fenced parking lots are dotted along Fairfield Avenue, and many of the houses along both streets aren't as majestic as Tremont's historic reputation would make you believe. And despite all of that, the area has plenty of appeal. In fact, part of me thinks the sour spots add a layer of character to the intersection.

Talking about character, Matt and I had the pleasure of watching runners finish their course of Cupid's Undie Run across the street at South Side restaurant. (Sorry, I didn't shoot any photos of any of the runners.)

After choking down a Lemon Rosemary Chicken pizza
at Crust, Matt and I figured it would be wise to split
only one muffin this time. We were so proud of ourselves.

Food and Beverages: Loop aligns itself along with most coffee shops, serving primarily cookies, scones and muffins in addiction to its caffeinated beverages.

That Saturday, Matt and I ordered a coffee cake muffin, a 20-ounce double-shot espresso and a 16-ounce cup of coffee for $8 and change. The double-shot belonged to Matt, who was going to order Loop's Death Charge that contains three espresso shots. Luckily, he was talked out of it.

I don't typically do this, but I have to give Loop credit on its milk and sweetener stand. Unlike some other places I've visited, Loop offers unbleached sugar in addition to the conventional artificial stuff of Equal and Splenda. (I have yet to find a coffee shop that offers packets of natural Stevia.) More rare to see, they label their pictures with skim milk and half-and-half. It's always good to know what fluid I am pouring into my coffee without needing to bother the barista.

Matt had a fun time looking through Loop's music
collection, but he doesn't buy CDs often. He more
often rents them out at his local library.

Space and Atmosphere: If you're anything like my News-Herald colleague Andrew Cass, you probably skipped down to this section the second you read the phrase record and CD store. And unlike many of the bookstore-slash-coffee-shop combinations I've visited, Loop actually acts more like a half and half business. There's a few boxes and shelves on the coffee shop's first floor, and a far bigger library on its second floor. The second floor even has a station upstairs for patrons to listen to vinyl. Very cool.

The shop also offers very stellar work space for laptops. The first floor has outlets for almost every seat or stool available and its light-colored walls and ceiling lights provide plenty of illumination. (And yes, Loop like every coffee shop has free WiFi. No password needed either.)

Fun Fact: My first visit to Loop, pictured here,
is where I decided to start this coffee shop blog after some
encouragement from five of my News-Herald colleagues,
Amy, Andrew, Devon, Caitlin and Sam.
I now have 13 posts under my belt. Thank you, guys!

Loop also keeps artwork that's for sale mounted on its two-story wall.

Ironically enough, Matt and I learned Saturday that Loop had organized a special art walk for Valentines Day. It's a shame we missed it, but news at the News-Herald doesn't slow down on Valentines Day. For a plan B, Matt and I did spend Friday evening at our favorite Euclid bar, Paragon on Lake Shore Boulevard.

Again, if you have suggestions of a coffee shop for a future entry, send it to me via email--shusted@news-herald.com--or on Twitter at @SimonSaysNH.

Things are a little less uneven these days at Stevenson’s Bar & Grille.

That’s because the venerable Euclid sandwich shop has moved from its Lake Shore Boulevard location, becoming the venerable Cleveland sandwich shop in the process. The owners abandoned their original spot after 90 years in the midst of a long battle with Euclid city officials over safety concerns. Officials said the warped floor wasn’t safe and that the building had numerous code violations.

Now at 800 E. 200th St., next to the former Clark gas station and across from Discount Drug Mart, it hasn’t missed a beat in bringing its burgers and more to patrons who’ve found their way to the new spot.

Read more on Managing Editor Laura Kessel's review: Dining Out: Stevenson's moves from Euclid to Cleveland, brings familiar tastes.

Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale will go on tap at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 24, and you could get the very first pint of the year.

The brewer is looking for photos of your personal Christmas Ale tradition for the annual First Pour Contest 2013:

Upload a photo of your personal Christmas Ale tradition to FriendsofGLBC.com, or Tweet your photo using #ChristmasAle and #FriendsofGLBC. Using these hashtags will send your photo to the Friends of GLBC Gallery, where you can check out the competition and like and share your favorite shots (you must use #FriendsofGLBC to qualify).

One winner will be invited to our Brewpub, along with one guest, to enjoy 2013’s First Pour of Christmas Ale, along with a small prize package.

And please note, according to the official rules for the contest:

The Promotion is open only to legal residents of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin, who are 21 years of age or older at time of entry.

I can't wait to check out the entries. Reading the details of this contest has also gotten me pretty excited about the return of Christmas Ale (even though I haven't had my fill of Oktoberfest yet). If you won't be attending the First Pour event on Oct. 24, here's details on when the seasonal favorite will be available:

Christmas Ale will be tapped in the GLBC Brewpub ONLY at 11:30 AM on Thursday, October 24. Sorry, no growler or jug fills. 6-Packs and cases of Christmas Ale will be available in the GLBC Gift Shop ONLY beginning Thursday, October 31 at 10:00 AM. Thereafter, Christmas Ale will be available throughout GLBC’s distribution markets (distribution dates/times may vary, so check with your local distributor). Details subject to change at any time.

 -- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

The first glass of Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale will be poured during a release party starting at 11 a.m. Oct. 25 at the Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewpub, 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland. Info from the brewer's website:

Illustration by Duncan Scott/
DScott@News-Herald.com

It's good to keep Christmas in your heart all year long, but like Old St. Nick, Christmas Ale comes just once a year.

Cleveland's favorite holiday nectar will touch down in the GLBC Taproom on October 25 at 11AM for all the good over-21 boys and girls. Come dressed in your reindeer sweater and ring your jingle bells as we give a warm, festive welcome to a fresh batch of spiced holiday goodness.

Look for a special appearance by Santa Claus (played by jolly Brewer Luke Purcell), ready to listen to your Christmas list (more beer, right?). Co-owner Pat Conway will recite the winning poem from our First Pour Poetry Contest in the fashion of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" before one of our bartender elves serves the season's first glass to the winner and we kick off another joyous season of Christmas Ale!

Christmas Ale will be poured while supplies last. Reservations not accepted. Sorry, no jug or growler fills. Details subject to change without notice. 

So what's that about the first pour poetry contest? It's a chance for you to show off your creativity and your love of Christmas Ale, and get the first glass poured at 11 a.m. Oct. 25. More details on the First Pour Poetry Contest:

It's good to keep Christmas in your heart all year long, but like Old St. Nick, Christmas Ale comes just once a year.

Cleveland's favorite holiday nectar will touch down in the GLBC Taproom on October 25 at 11AM for all the good over-21 boys and girls. Come dressed in your reindeer sweater and ring your jingle bells as we give a warm, festive welcome to a fresh batch of spiced holiday goodness.

Look for a special appearance by Santa Claus (played by jolly Brewer Luke Purcell), ready to listen to your Christmas list (more beer, right?). Co-owner Pat Conway will recite the winning poem from our First Pour Poetry Contest in the fashion of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" before one of our bartender elves serves the season's first glass to the winner and we kick off another joyous season of Christmas Ale!

The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros wrote his own "Ode to Christmas Ale" in the style of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" for the Dec. 20, 2009, edition of The News-Herald. It was published as the centerpiece of our Sidetracks feature page:

Check out his poem for inspiration, but, please, don't plagiarize any of his poetic art.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Check out the news release I received today regarding Sterles Slovenian Country House's relaunch party:

Since it’s opening almost sixty years ago, Sterles Slovenian Country House has been a Cleveland tradition, serving traditional Slovenian fare to thousands of patrons.  With the recent sale of the establishment to new owners, and the culmination of a successful Thursday evening music series, Sterles plans a Grand Relaunch Party for Thursday, October 18 from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

The party is open to the public and tickets are $35 per person, with only a limited number available.  Guests will enjoy substantial hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine and tours of the iconic restaurant.  Local favorites, Harmonia and DJ Kishka will perform beginning at 7:00 pm. With a large parking lot, plenty of convenient parking is available.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.thursdaysatsterles.com   

Rick Semersky, Sterles new owner, states, “Clevelanders have embraced Thursdays at Sterles in such a remarkable way.  We’ve had fantastic crowds on Thursday nights, so much so that Thursdays at Sterles including our “Not Your Grandma’s Schnitzel” baskets will now be an ongoing tradition each and every Thursday night.”

“The enthusiasm and energy in and around Sterles has been great and we are looking forward to sharing that with everyone at our Grand Relaunch Party on October 18th.  With a menu of traditional food, beers and wines along with great entertainment, the Grand Relaunch party will be a great way to cap off the last eight weeks and help to move Sterle’s forward while honoring all that is great about our last 60 years.” 

The highly successful Thursdays at Sterles will continue with a winter series.  Dates and music to be announced soon.

For more information, please visit www.thursdaysatsterles.com or contact Andrea Wedren, Boom, 216.272.1084, andrea@boomideas.com.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Local food deal is up now on Groupon for J B Milano’s in Richmond Heights spend $15 and get $30 worth of Italian food and non-alcoholic drinks. You may need to click on All Deals up at the top of the page, because Groupon updates its deals frequently to find the deal. You have until Friday morning at 4 a.m. to buy the deal.

There’s also a deal for Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant on West 117th Street in Cleveland. This deal, which doesn’t expire until the clock strikes 12 on Friday night, is your pick between $29 for a prix fixe Mexican dinner for two ($58.35 total value) or $58 for a prix fixe Mexican dinner for four ($116.70 total value).

The prix fixe menu includes for each pair of diners:

• One guacamole or empanada flight

• Two soups or salads

• One appetizer, such as nachos or flautas

• Two entrees, such as chiles rellenos or pork tacos

LivingSocial also has a deal for John Palmer’s Bistro 44 in Concord Township. Spend $25 and get $50 to spend on food and non-alcoholic drinks. Looks like this deal should be available until sometime Friday.

Happy eating!

-- Nicole Franz | NiFranz@News-Herald.com | @FranzOrFoe

Now is the perfect time to take a trek to the west side of town to visit Great Lakes Brewing Company. Oktoberfest is in season.

I tried this beer for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was hooked. It's fine in the bottle, but straight from the tap at Great Lakes Brewing Company, it is divine. If Oktoberfest isn't your thing, several other beers are on tap. And it's not just the beer that's good at Great Lakes. The menu has a plethora of delicious-sounding options, making it a tough decision (and ensuring that I will be back again soon).

During my most recent trip, my boyfriend and I split the 3 Onion Bruschetta (Shallot, chive, Videlia onion, mozzarella cheese, brewer's barley bread crostini) as an appetizer. The bruschetta is slightly sweet, cheesy, and very tasty. For the main course, I ordered the Old World Burger (Smoked cheddar, bacon, fried onion straws, housemade Edmund Fitzgerald Porter barbecue sauce, pretzel roll) and he the Pretzel Chicken (Gerber's chicken encrusted with pretzel, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Burning River Pale Ale mustard sauce). My dish came with thinly cut fries; I was expecting thicker fries but still enjoyed them, but my boyfriend wasn't a big fan of the skinny option. The mashed potatoes that accompanied his chicken were good and flavorful.

The worst part about our dishes was that I liked them so much, I might have trouble ordering something different the next time I go. But I have my eye on:

• Grilled Chicken Sandwich (Grilled Gerber's chicken breast marinated in Dortmunder Gold Lager, bacon, lettuce, herb mayonnaise, pretzel bun)
• Pulled Pork Sandwich (Dee Jay's pulled pork, housemade Edmund Fitzgerald Porter barbecue sauce, cole slaw)
• Caprese Sandwich (Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil on a ciabatta roll with balsamic drizzle)
• Bratwurst & Pierogi (Dortmunder Gold Lager bratwurst, potato and cheese pierogi, braised red cabbage, sour cream, Dijon mustard)
• Fresh Garden Pasta (Fresh pasta with garden vegetables, garlic and olive oil sauce)
• Veggie Tacos (Two veggie tacos with squash, zucchini, carrots, black bean puree, pico de gallo, mozzarella cheese)

I'm going to need to plan another trip to the west side soon ...

Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Ave., Cleveland
216-771-4404
glbcinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com
www.greatlakesbrewing.com
Facebook page
Great Lakes Brewing Co. on Twitter


View 2516 Market Ave in a larger map


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Friday night I went to Zócalo Mexican Grill & Tequileria in the East 4th neighborhood downtown. It's Tuesday night and I am still thinking about the Blackberry Lime Margarita I had (well, both of the Blackberry Lime Margaritas I had).

The dining menu includes several especiales de casa (house specialties) that feature various sauces, rubs and spices. I actually wish I was more of a fish person because all of the seafood dishes sound fantastic. I had (and loved) the Enchilada Tinga Poblano, which is "Braised pork wrapped in corn tortillas then baked with spicy chipotle sauce, enchilada sauce and our specialty cheese blend. Garnished with crema fresca, chives and cotija cheese." Yes, it was as delicious as it sounds. It might be a little difficult for me to order anything else the next time I go there.

Don't leave Zócalo without perusing the drink menu, where you'll find tequila, tequila and more tequila (or, if you're like me, too many margaritas to choose from). Your server should be able to recommend the perfect drink if you can't decide.

If you have this year's Our Town and All-Around Dining Directory, you'll find a buy-one-get-one coupon to Zócalo inside.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com