The Diner on Clifton

It's a tiny, classy little diner right on the edge of Lakewood. Not good if you're trying to seat more than 5 people, but if there's just one or two of you, it's perfect.

The hamburger was great and they gave me honey for my fries when I asked for it (not all restaurants do!). Good coffee, friendly waitress, decent prices. Their menu is online, too- here.

Melt Bar and Grilled - Lakewood

The original location of Melt is on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, and it got so popular that they built one on the East side as well.

Let me warn you: it's always busy. Go here for innovation and creativity, not gourmet-ness. The decor is interesting, and I love their menu/branding art. This restaurant is recieving national attention and while most people are just ga-ga over it, there are some who walk in with great expectations and leave without them having been met.

Anyways, my friend and I got our sandwich to go, took it to the park and split it. It was plenty of food for both of us. The Monte Cristo is DELICIOUS! The fries are just OK. You can check out the full menu here.

Buckeye Beer Engine - Lakewood

 

The Buckeye Beer Engine in Lakewood is one of those places where the beer list is a small novel and the food menu is full of gourmet burgers.  I enjoyed delicious homestyle pierogies with my burger and it came with a delicious breaded pickle. The portion sizes were enough for two meals.

The service was slow but I didn't mind: it was a busy time and it took me long enough to eat my food. Their vast menu is available online if you'd like to check it out before going.

 

We enjoyed a Lambic Framboise: a very low alcohol beer that's more like a fruit juice.

Daystar Boutique - Lakewood

Wondering where to buy incense in Cleveland? Liberal bumper stickers? "Tobacco" pipes? Hippie clothes? Handmade candles? Hemp jewelry? Incense holders that are shaped like dragons?

You know the kind of shop I'm talking about. That particular kind of boutique that is frequented by a particular kind of person. These places harken back to my childhood, as my friend when I was younger was an entrepreneur of one called Fire & Earth, back in the early 2000s, in the Great Lakes Mall. It was there I first learned to use a cash register and talk to customers.

So let's just say that the smell of incense and batik dresses will always remind me of my happiest days of youth.

Anyways, I digress. Daystar Boutique sells a great selection of things at a decent price. They sell incense for a cheaper price than the local dollar store in Rocky River does. Their bumper stickers are awesome to look at, even though using one might make you 100x more likely to get pulled over by the cops. And I could just spend all day there smelling candles.

So yes: I recommend it!