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.

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