For years, the words “food court” have been synonymous with fast and family-friendly but not necessarily healthy. 

One also rarely thinks fresh when they are considering the options at a nearby food court.

Well, it’s time to change a few of those thoughts.

New to Great Lakes Mall in Mentor is Chop It Salad Co., which features salads, wraps and “chopadillas” both made to order or off its menu.

Read more of Managing Editor Laura Kessel's review at Dining Out: Chop It Salad Co. mixes up fresh options at Great Lakes Mall.

Rainy, cool days like today put me in the mood for soup, and luckily Giant Eagle is doing all the work for me.

Through Wednesday, with your Giant Eagle Advantage Card, you can pick up a 24 oz. container of soup, a 10 oz. container of salad, an Old World French baguette and a 1.5 liter of Pepsi for just $6.49 -- the price of the soup alone.

This deal is a TOTAL steal, and very tasty. I've had the chili and chicken noodle soup, and today I'm trying out the chicken tortilla soup, which I have heard is delicious.

I'm not sure if the deal is good at all Giant Eagle locations, but it is on at the Mentor and Willoughby stores.


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

I'm not a knitter and have little use for yarn, but I was tempted to stop in to Cast on Cafe to pick up some lunch after browsing the menu posted on Downtown Willoughby's website.

I ordered the Confetti Salad, which is made up of "white rice, black beans, scallions, red and yellow bell peppers dressed with basil Parmesan vinaigrette." I've had confetti salad before, but there was something about this mix -- perhaps the vinaigrette -- that made it the best I have had. I'd like to try some of the other items on the menu -- like the Chicken Salad sandwich or the Waldorf Salad -- but it's going to be difficult ever ordering anything else.

(I also splurged on a cappuccino truffle, which was well worth it.)

If you're curious about what exactly the Cast on Cafe is, here is a description from the website:

I’ve had a passion for knitting, fibers and yarn since I was a child and I hope to inspire the same passion in you through education, assistance and the finest products available.
Cast On Café offers a variety of yarns from around the world, books & magazines, greeting cards, notions & needles and more.
Stop in for a cup of coffee or tea and a friendly place to knit or crochet anytime.

Cast on Cafe
castoncafe.com
440-946-9276
castoncafe@sbcglobal.net
38038 Second St., Willoughby
Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


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

I've been a big fan of Bob Evans. No matter what time of day I go, I can find something on the menu I enjoy. But I especially love the Wildfire Chicken Salad. The dinner is stacked with lettuce, corn, grape tomatoes, tortilla strips, cheddar cheese and chicken strips coated in barbecue sauce, with the restaurant's special Wildfire Ranch dressing on the side. Several of us at The NH frequently get this when we order out, and if you've had it, you know why. If you haven't had it, I would definitely recommend trying it.

And, after a recent, incredibly positive experience, I would recommend you order it from the Bob Evans in Willoughby (Interstate 90 and state Route 91).

I was heading to my boyfriend's for our regular mid-week TV night. I had a while to drive because I was across town, so I asked him to call and order me a dinner-size Wildfire Chicken Salad with rolls on the side -- my usual order.

When I got to the restaurant to pick the meal up, the woman helping me was putting an extra bread container into my bag. She smiled at me and said, "This is for your friend." I was a little puzzled because my boyfriend had said he didn't want anything, and I must have looked it because she asked, "Are you going to see him?" I said yes, hesitating, but she smiled and said, "This is for him." She handed me the carry-out bag and receipt, and I saw that I was not being charged for the extra goody she had given me.

When I got to my boyfriend's place, the first thing he said to me was, "DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE CHERRY BREAD?" He said when he placed the order, the woman listed all the types of bread they had, and he asked her about the cherry bread and remarked how good it sounded, but told her I had wanted rolls.

And what was in that bonus container I walked out of the restaurant with? Two slices of cherry bread.

I really appreciate this customer service. The server had no reason to give me an extra serving of bread. Because she did, you can bet I will be patronizing the Willoughby location and encouraging my friends to do the same.

Visit the company's Web site to view the menu and find other restaurant locations.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Ordering Bob Evans' Wildfire Chicken Salad for takeout has become pretty much a weekly ritual for me. Every Tuesday I ask my supervisor if he's hungry and thinking the same thing I am. His response: "Yes. With rolls."

The salad is lettuce, grape tomatoes, corn, green onions, barbecue chicken, cheese and tortilla strips, with their special Wildfire ranch dressing on the side. It is fantastic and filling. The restaurant offers both a lunch and dinner portion, to fit your appetite, and the dinner portion is just $7.99, to fit your budget.

Other favorites I have at Bob's (if for some reason I'm not in the mood for the WCS) include the Pot Roast Sandwich, the Bob=B-Q Pulled Pork sandwich and the Fried Chicken Dinner (especially the garden veggies on the side). For breakfast, you can't beat their pancakes. Or sausage. Or omelets. Heck, the whole breakfast menu is tasty and cheap.

Oh and their rolls are really great, too -- and can be found in your grocers' freezer.

Bob Evans
locations vary throughout Northeast Ohio and can be found on the restaurant's Web site, www.bobevans.com

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

My wife and I were out shopping last Saturday. On our way we decided to stop for lunch at Crostata’s Pizzeria at the corner of Bishop and Highland Roads. We had been watching the transformation of this location from a coffee bar/shop into a rustic looking building. Upon exiting our car, we were received by the smell of baked bread and wood fire. We knew we were in for a treat! Entering the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the hostess who seated us at a table. There is a full view of the kitchen area. Our server greeted us almost immediately and asked for our beverages. Soda and ice tea are bottled here. They also have a complete wine list. We looked over the menu. Appetizers, salads and soup were listed on one side. Pizzas and dessert were listed on the other. Since it was lunchtime, they also had a sandwich menu. Everything looked great! We ordered the Pizza Classico and a Caesar salad. The salad was delivered by the chef, Anthony Pilla (who happens to be a nephew to the former Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland). The salad had fresh toasted homemade bread croutons that were still warm, shaved mozzarella cheese slices, and a wonderful dressing. It was served with wonderful warm homemade bread sticks. We devoured our salad and bread and were almost too full for pizza. Then the pizza came, again delivered by Chef Pilla. Pizza Classico had a wonderful blend of buffalo mozzarella, roasted Roma tomatoes, caramelized onions, and sauteed mushrooms. Chef Pilla stated each pizza is a work of art. The tomatoes were roasted there. The caramelized onions were sweet and delicious. We took about half of the pizza home. We had no room for dessert, but they serve many Italian delicacies.
Crostata’s is a restaurant in the Quagliata family. Many Mentorites may remember the White House. The Quagliatas also operate Giovanni’s in Beachwood. Chef Pilla grew up in Mayfield Heights and studied in Chicago.

We would definitely recommend Crostata’s . Go there if you want a delicious wood-fired pizza!

Crostata’s Pizzeria
585 Bishop Road
Highland Heights, OH 44143
440-449-7800

Hours
Monday – Thursday
11:30 AM – 9 PM
Friday & Saturday
11:30 AM - 10 PM
Closed Sundays

Website in development:
www.crostatas.com

--Chuck Hogye
chogye@news-herald.com

Sure, Max & Erma's is a great place to go to get a juicy burger, but don't count out the restaurant if you're in the mood for lighter fare.

This weekend I tried their Hula Bowl salad, which the menu calls "No Guilt." The description states the dish is "Mixed greens, pineapple-soy chicken, Mandarin oranges, fresh chunks of pineapple, tomatoes, carrots & crunchy noodles, with a fat-free honey mustard dressing."

I know what you're thinking: Fruit on a salad? With honey mustard dressing? I was thinking the same thing, but something about it appealed to me -- and boy, am I glad it did. In no time I was scraping the bottom of my bowl and wishing I had gotten the dinner size instead of the lunch portion.

Max & Erma's also has one of my most favorite foods, chicken tortilla soup. One bowl of the spicy, cheesy special recipe is hardly enough and always leaves me wanting more. In fact, I would love to have some right now.

Max & Erma's Restaurant Mentor
7890 Mentor Ave. (near Great Lakes Mall)
Mentor, OH 44060
440-205-9994

A coupon for Max & Erma's can be found in the "Our Town and All-Around Dining Directory." 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 Mwww.ourtownandallaround.com.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com