It’s practically inevitable: Every now and then, there comes a day when you just need a good burger. And with the renowned chefs and higher-end restaurants offering their takes on them these days, dedicated foodies have found new ways to enjoy the American favorite.

From The Twisted Paddy Facebook page

That’s definitely the case with The Twisted Paddy in Mentor, which opened in March. Owned by the same local group that operates Croagh Patrick’s Pub and The Wild Goose in Willoughby, it’s a burger place that goes well beyond your average burger.

Every wonder what peanut butter on a burger would be like? Want to try goat cheese guacamole? The build-your-own burger option gives you 50-some options to choose from, including your choice of bun, patty and even the seasoning rub. If you’re one of those people who stumbles indecisively when asked what kind of cheese you want on your burger, you might have trouble here – there are 10 to choose from.

Read all of Correspondent Mark Koestner's review: Dining Out: Twisted Paddy, a build-your-own-burger restaurant in Mentor, worth a visit.

It’s on the National Register of Historic Places, but the Sawyer Home in Mentor has a recent history of housing eateries with, well, short histories. In the last 15 or so years, it’s been home to at least four different restaurants.

Its latest occupant, Local Tavern, has a shot at making history. That’s to say it’s not hard to envision it sticking around for a while.

Locally owned by the same group that operates the flagship in Willoughby Hills, the Mentor location opened in June. Unlike its predecessor in the 170-year-old Sawyer home, the out-of-retirement version of Frank and Pauly’s that lasted only a year there, Local Tavern has figured out how to fit its style to the space. Four separate bars, an entertainment stage in the main room and strategically placed TVs work with the building’s cut-up layout better. The lively music and rock-themed décor make the whole place inviting and fun. You can watch sports there, but it’s not a sports bar.

Calling it a “tavern” is fitting. It’s more bar than restaurant, but Local Tavern is also a bar that foodies can get into. With a focus on fresh local ingredients, a tight menu and 30-some beers on tap — including a fair selection of micro-brews — it has a little bit of a higher-end feel to it, but without hitting your wallet on the high end.

Read more on Correspondent Mark Koestner's review: Dining Out: Mentor's Local Tavern does interesting bar food at historic spot.

When I came across Ballantine's post on Facebook last week about the Stone Beer Dinner on Jan. 20, I immediately texted the menu to my boyfriend. The beer — all from Stone Brewing Company — didn't exactly sound like my style, but the food seemed too good to pass up at the $35-a-head price. And wow, that is one of the best meals I have ever had.

The menu and the dishes — with some fancy Instagram filtering.

Course by course

The Citrus Arugula Salad was perfectly balanced flavor and texture. I was scraping the plate with my fork to try to get every last bit of prosciutto and citrus vinaigrette.

The Braised Pork Sliders — wow. I am pretty sure I said "Oh my god, these are amazing" with my mouth full more than once while eating these. A big fan of onions, I would have preferred a bit more of the "cotton onion" on my sliders. Also probably a bit more of the cole slaw. But the serving size was big enough, given the amount of food we were served (and beer).

The Righteous Chili was exactly how I like chili made — hearty with a spice that you doesn't hit you immediately. I couldn't detect any of the chocolate (my boyfriend good), but still enjoyed it.

The Coffee Rubbed Duck came to the table when I started feeling full. I actually had to pause before finishing the duck — and skipped some of the veggies on the plate to ensure I had room for dessert. I do not ever see myself cooking duck, and am not sure if I would regularly order it in a restaurant, but I was definitely looking forward to this. The meat was a little raw for my liking; though it tasted fine, the texture took me a minute to adjust to. But the coffee rub on it was incredible. And the cranberry redux? I'm probably going to be dreaming about that. If this dish lands a spot on Ballantine's menu, I definitely will be ordering it on a future visit.

The Pecan Ball was tasty and light — which was good after finishing the previous four courses and their accompanying beers. But it also was the most ordinary dish of the five. I could make this at home, which may be why it initially jumped out at me on the menu. I didn't not enjoy any of the courses, but this one was my least favorite, probably because it was so simple.

The beer

As I said earlier, the beer wasn't exactly my style, but all of it was good. The Levitation Amber Ale is probably the only one I would order on its own in the future, but that's just my taste. The others went perfectly with the dishes and were, to me, enjoyable in that context. I think my boyfriend actually might have been a bit impressed that I drank some hoppy varieties, which normally I avoid or taste before quickly swigging my own beverage.

More, please!

Our server let us know that more beer dinners are planned in February, March and April:

• Bells Beer Dinner on Feb. 10
• Southern Tier Beer Dinner on March 10
• Jackie-O's Beer Dinner on April 14

I thought she had said the Jackie-O's dinner wasn't set yet, but I sure hope it is! They're brewing some good stuff in Athens, and I would love to see what Ballantine will cook up to pair with the beer.

Like Ballantine on Facebook to keep updated on future beer dinner plans. Maybe I will see you there!

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

The Good Living in Mentor section that appears in Thursday's News-Herald (Sept. 20) offers plenty of information about new restaurants opening in Mentor. Check out all the stories by Jean Bonchak and Betsy Scott below:

• Influx of restaurants ramping up
• Caribbean fare served up in Mentor's Maracas
• Zoup!'s on in Points East Plaza
• Tony Sacco's set to change look, tastes of Great Lakes Mall
• Five Guys fans soon to find locale in city
• Looking forward to Scrambler Marie's
• Mmmm ... It's Melt in Mentor
• Jimmy's Backyard BBQ serves up barbecue at its best
• Frank & Pauly's eatery fills historic home
• Familiar Brown Derby back in town
• Red, Wine & Brew expands to city

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

Last week I ate at Cabana's Island Restaurant in Mentor. Neither my dining companion nor I had been there before, and we selected the restaurant based on the name and the coupon from the "Our Town and All-Around Dining Directory," which was good for $10 off our meal. And boy, what a place to beat the winter blues! The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant are tropical and relaxing.

However, that relaxed atmosphere translated right to the service, which was slow. It took a long time to be greeted, a long time to meet our server, a long time to get our drinks, a long time to get our food (our appetizer never came at all). But our server was very friendly and accommodating (she was sure to remove our appetizer from the bill), and the food was fantastic and worth the wait!

I ordered the Montego Bay Chicken, while my companion ordered one of the day's specials: Jamaican Java Chicken. Both meals were quite tasty and the perfect portion size for a night out -- not too much, but definitely enough to fill you up. I loved that the chicken I ordered came on a bed of sweet potato fries, a guilty pleasure of mine. And I'm not usually a fan of green beans, but Cabana's were juicy and crispy, with a summery taste that matched the feel of the restaurant.

I was impressed that my cocktail only cost $4, when I've gotten similar drinks elsewhere for twice that amount. The prices are moderate, with both of our meals about $10. After the coupon, our bill for two entrees, a cocktail and two beers totaled only $24.

The food and drinks were tasty enough to entice me to visit Cabana's again, in hopes that the last week's slow service was just a fluke. After all, there are a few more tasty-sounding things on the menu that I'd like to try.

Cabana's Island Restaurant
The Matchworks Building
8500 Station St.
Mentor, OH 44060
(440) 255-0697
info@cabanasrestaurant.com

If you're interested in your own "Our Town and All-Around Dining Directory" coupon book, you can get one when your News-Herald subscription is set up for EZ Pay, which is the automatic deduction from your credit card every month. You can also order one online at www.ourtownandallaround.com.

-- Cheryl Sadler