Let me start off by saying, it's a bit unclear on why this place is ranked so highly. I see a lot of notes about the chicken paprikash, but before my diet changed, I tried it. The individuals who think this is the best chicken paprikash they've ever had must not have someone who makes chicken paprikash in their family, or know anyone. It isn't bad, but it is far from the best. No where near any home cooked paprikash I've ever had, and I can give you three places off the top of my head that will blow it away.
Now, MY visit. A Saturday night in Parma isn't going to be anything special, but the restaurant was pretty empty. The non bar area is exclusively seating people who want Eastern European food, but are too old or lazy to make it themselves. I don't criticize or judge others for their lifestyles, that's their business, so do not take this as judgement: Everyone in here was either over 70 years old, or would be classified as obese. It isn't the place to go for healthful or well balanced meals.
There is no one seating people, rather you walk in and just sit down. The podium for the hostess is covered in their...stuff. Our server, Rosalie, was nice and polite. She was also reasonably (but not overly) helpful in trying to find something on the menu that would fit my dietary needs. I landed on...a potato. Yea, I seriously had a potato for dinner...this is the ONLY option they had without animal products.
My issues really where the bathroom. This was a three, until I went into the bathroom. They seem to have tried to remodel it, but gave up 75% through. They could use more frequent visits to follow up on customers not flushing, and a tad more space, or making it a single person. I physically did not fit in the urinal, or at the sink. As in, when I tried to wash my hands, the divider flopped over to the right and I was putting pressure on it trying to get my hands on the sink. The soap was out, and the paper towel dispenser didn't work.
I know people often don't think of the restroom as a symbol of the business, but I see it like the kitchen (and often notice this correlation). It is a staple area, used by the staff, that is rarely seen, and rarely mentioned. Not off limits, but not really talked about. If the associates (or management) care, they clean as they go, or they notify that attention is needed. This should be as clean/well maintained or better than the kitchen, a place customers can't go...so what does the kitchen look like, and what shortcuts do they take there? Clearly the staff isn't using soap when they wash...
Read moreWouldn't have expected Cleveland to be a town that shuts down on Sunday. Birmingham, Savannah, Wichita, sure, but Cleveland? I'd say that's not the Cleveland Sundays I remember but I don't remember most of my Cleveland Sundays, to put it nicely. Narrows the dinner options severely, but I'd heard from a number of people about this place out in Parma that did a chicken paprikash that, unlike my Cleveland Sundays, I wouldn't soon forget. Kind of a schlep, but better than another gastropub burger.
They were not wrong. Creamy without being heavy or relying on gloopy cornstarch, studded with perfectly toothy nokedli and just-keeping-it-together chicken, and tasting of just enough paprika to frame it up right. I could've eaten it all night, but was glad I got the "small" you see in the photo. There is a large, of course, and I assume that plate wouldn't fit on the bar. As good as anything I've had along Belmont in Chicago, with the bonus of being in a slightly smoky '70s suburban restaurant bar, with extraordinarily friendly patrons talking about the Led Zeppelin on the jukebox like they were hearing it for the first time. Great Lakes Dort alongside it only made it harder to leave. Glad I...
Read moreWow! Been patronizing this restaurant for many years. Haven't been there in awhile though. Went in for dinner today. Very few people in the restaurant, usually packed, quite odd. Seated quickly, looked at the menu. Their prices have increased about 20-25%. Food was mediocre. Never before saw the waitresses that were there. I asked our waitress if she could bring us some rolls while we waited for our dinner. She said "we charge by the roll". I said "What? we've been coming here for many years, never heard anything so ridiculous, they've always brought us rolls". She said no they've always charged for them & don't say anything to get the other waitresses in trouble(??!) She had attitude in her voice, insinuating we were lying or something. I got a roll with my meal so she brought me one roll in the basket. I have Never, Ever heard of anything so ridiculous as paying by the piece for some freaking bread!!!! We had to ask for refills on our drinks. She never brought my mother the coffee she ordered (with her dinner) until we were almost finished with dinner. Hence, we will not be returning to this...
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