I've been to Scratch in Independence a handful of times, but this is my first time finally writing…read morea review and it's well deserved because this place never disappoints. I met a friend for breakfast this morning, and everything from start to finish was spot on. I ordered the Sweet Jalapeño Sandwich: an English muffin piled with jam, bacon, an egg cooked over medium, and cheddar, served with home fries. It was the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and just a little kick. My friend stuck with her usual: the Banana & Bourbon Caramel Bread Pudding French Toast, topped with fresh bananas and their homemade bourbon caramel sauce, plus a side of pork belly. It looked incredible and, according to her, tasted just as good as it always does. We arrived just a few minutes after they opened at 8:00 and were seated right away. The service was friendly, attentive, and very prompt without feeling rushed. Scratch has such a great casual, local diner feel, but with a menu that's anything but ordinary. The portions are generous, the flavors are unique, and the quality is consistently excellent. Definitely a go-to spot for breakfast or brunch...you really can't go wrong here.

This is the second time I've visited Scratch. The first was roughly 12-18 months ago. Both visits…read morewere awesome. The restaurant has a pleasant, bright, family diner ambiance. White walls, glass windows in front, a few things hung on the walls. Not fancy, but pleasant. Very clean. The food is phenomenal. I've been dreaming about their biscuits and gravy since my last visit. Still perfect. The home fry-style potatoes are what a lot of places try to serve but fail at miserably. They are crispy AND fluffy! Yum! My scrambled eggs were not at all greasy or oily. My iced tea was delicious and refreshing. My lovely wife had the chorizo hash, which I tried. Oh, my. So good. And the chipotle crema on top was just perfect. They have excellent diner coffee here as well. My service experience was immaculate the first time and just OK today. He was fine initially, but I feel like he kind of forgot about us after he checked on our food. We were stuck way in the back. Maybe he was on a break, which is fine. I spent time as a waiter in two different restaurants, so I'm sympathetic, but I did not get a drink refill, and I wanted one pretty badly. This is one of my favorite breakfast spots, and it feels like a hidden gem.

Old school diner and breakfast. Done to perfection. Love it when you can watch the chef cook and he…read moretakes time to chat. Try this place. You'll love it.

Hearing this diner was a hidden gem in Solon I knew I had to try it. I saw so many good reviews and…read morewanted to experience it with my family. The diner is super tiny like really tiny. I was surprised how small it was but it gives it personality. I like it! This diner has been open for over 60 years and it has an old jukebox machine and other vintage decor that really transports you back in time and gives you a unique, fun experience! The service was fantastic!! All the staff were so nice and attentive the entire lunch. Everyone that works there seems so happy and it's definitely a family vibe. This diner is really unique and special and I can't wait to come back again. The food was amazing and portion sizes were excellent. Food service was quick and chef was singing songs it was fun to watch! It puts you in a good mood just sitting inside. The only complaint I have is that the vent in the ceiling does have dust on it and the fan was running so it needs to be cleaned down up there but honestly I really don't have anything but positive to say about this hidden gem, Jim's open kitchen!

It's been a while since I've been here. A DT Bedford staple. Typically good Bfast and comfort…read morefoods. Old time feel. Came here for lunch with my mom. New paint job and a fresh look. At least new to me. As mentioned I haven't been here in a while. Wait to be seated when we came in. It took a few minutes but a table was cleaned for us and we sat. Nice crowd for a Thursday afternoon. Hostess is also the cashier. She gave us menus. Then we waited about 15 mins till a server came with silverware. She took our order. A chicken salad sandwich and the special chicken paprikash. I wanted to try it. Then we waited some more. At least 20 mins to get our drinks. Water with lemon. Then another 30 mins for food. It was hot when we got it. So it was fresh. Just took forever. I also got a cup of soup with my paprikash so I chose the mushroom barley. It was very thick, almost stew like. Lots of barley but not too many mushrooms. It was ok. Wouldn't get it again. The paprikash was ok. It's a ok portion. Not heaping. Ok though. It tasted ok too. Not too much distinct flavor. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again. Mom's chicken salad on wheat was just ok too. For the more than hour we waited to get our food, this was not a great experience. When we went to pay the hostess cashier was MIA and we waited. We were going to pay via cc but decided we did not want to wait any longer and just gave cash. I couldn't even flag someone down to tell them I left the bill by the register. No one there. Not sure if help was the issue. Probably was. Too many customers and not enough wait staff. Or just on their own time. Server seemed surprised we wanted to go boxes and our bill. But I got to get back to work and at this rate I was out of the office more than 1 hr 45 mins. Family place. Long time establishment. Good prices for a family. I don't want to knock. But this was a bit too far for me. I can't wait for my lunch for more than an hour. It may be awhile before I try again.

Went in for a quick Sunday morning breakfast, first time here. Server was delightful! Nice varied…read moremenu with good prices and food was very tasty as expected. Not fancy - who wants fancy?! - and the vibe was friendly! Will go back to try lunch options and the rest of the interesting menu! Sweet place!

Casual service meets fantastic food in an environment perfect for families & groups of friends…read more Each time I visit Northstar Cafe I love it more (and wish more deeply it would expand to a Westside location). For brunch, my go to is the biscuits and gravy. The gravy has a good heat to it and the biscuits are flaky and buttery. For lunch, the buddha bowl and chicken & avocado sandwich are both elevated classics. My husband raves about the fish sandwich - and the salad that comes as a side is anything but simple. When you enter, you'll order with the cashier and then find a seat with your number. Typical counter service - but what makes Northstar special is that the interior feels more like fine dining and the food is much much better than your standard fare. Worth a trip for its own merits, the fact that it's located in a nice shopping area is also a draw, especially for a weekend when you want to have a leisurely stroll.

Very chic looking place with open kitchen, pretty lamps and wooden accent wall…read more We were here for weekend brunch and this place was lovely with friendly staff, great food and beautiful vibe. You enter and order at the counter and then get a table. We were not planning on desserts but while ordering our food, they got fresh cookies and we had to order two. It was definitely the best decision of the day. Portions are good here and dishes are well prepared with perfect combination of textures and tastes. I especially loved the sweet potato hash. Frittata was good too. We also had hot chocolate and hot apple cider... Perfect for the cold January morning. Overall we liked this place and highly recommend it.

I recently was in Cleveland for a short vacation and decided to stop by this place after a long day…read moreby Lake Erie, and loved it from the moment I walked in. Parking was a breeze, and the I was seated right away. The friendly server - who also doubles as the cashier - was incredibly welcoming. It has an extensive menu of some southern classics. While the decor was nothing to write home about, places like these are about the food, not the decor. I got the smothered pork chops with collard greens and candied yams. The chops were nicely spiced and salted, the gravy rich and deep with slivers with onions in it. The collard greens were the best I have ever had. If you're visiting Cleveland, this is a must-try.

This one was a disappointment. I'm sad to say while my Chicken and Waffles was good, my wife's…read moreCatfish was a tiny 4" filet that was either undercooked or their recipe is not very appealing. Either way, she was not pleased. Combine that with a rather dank dining room and marginally interested staff and this was an invitation to avoid a return visit. Sad. We loved the menu and the collection of foods. Had this have been good, we were ready to sample the whole menu on subsequent visits.

Oh no, I can't believe I never reviewed this place! I've been here around 5x since moving back to…read moreCleveland in 2021. I've been on dates here, taken my parents here and most recently, had a big work lunch. Great selection on the menu, relatively low prices. The French toast is so good! The sausage links are meaty and yummy and the service is friendly! My daughter got a little toy after the meal so she loved that. On their website, it says no reservations, but when I called them to book a table to seat 9 people, they were able to accommodate! The wait time to get served and pay at the counter can be quite long during normal brunch/lunch hours. The location is great as it's super close to my work and to Miles Market. Love the retro 50s diner look as well! A solid local spot I always recommend!

Super friendly staff and people. Went there for breakfast and will be back. Great for big groups…read moretoo.

I end up staying in this area often for work trips and Kitchen Social is my literal go-to! The…read morerestaurant gets very busy, so without a reservation there is usually a small wait before you get seated. Luckily there are plenty of areas outside you can sit and hangout at while you wait. Service is always friendly! I go here so often, but my go-to faves are the two salmon dishes on the menu. The salmon is always cooked perfectly and never dry. The garnish that comes with the dishes pairs perfectly. I always leave feeling satisfied. This last trip, I also did try their lemonade, and it's to die for!

I have visited one of the locations in Columbus before they opened the ones in the Cleveland area…read more A group of us had a great experience that accomodated our large group with ease, so I hoped this location would be just as good. It was. The menu is varied for sure. I am quite the picky person, so many of the items on the menu just aren't for me, but the pizza is amazing. Our server, Ava, was great too. She checked on our table multiple times in the time we were there and was quick to make sure we had what we needed.

I was exploring restaurants in the area and came across Lox, Stock, and Brisket in the lively…read moreVanAken Market Hall -- and I'm so glad I did. I saw some menu items that sounded light and refreshing (like the lox with cucumbers) and figured it was worth a try. As I followed my GPS and other people walking in, I had no idea what to expect -- but the moment I stepped inside, I was blown away. The space is filled with beautifully curated shops and venues all under one roof, and the energy was vibrant, electric, and welcoming. People of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures were there -- it truly felt like a community gathering spot that instantly felt like home. I placed my order, grabbed the lox and a Coca‑Cola, and found a free table amidst so many people enjoying themselves. The community feel was unmistakable -- people chatting, laughing, and soaking up the atmosphere. The food was wonderful, the service was fantastic, and overall the experience was unforgettable. If you're looking for a place that's more than just a meal -- one with real heart, vibe, and community spirit -- this is it

Tried the brisket sandwich at Lox Stock at van Aken. Flavor-wise, it was very good -- the brisket,…read morecheese, and pickle combo worked nicely and tasted great. That said, I was disappointed by the size. For $20, I expected a thick, hearty sandwich, but this felt pretty skimpy for the price. Ordering was also a bit frustrating -- I had to repeat myself three times, and the employee taking my order had AirPods in. When your job involves communicating with customers, that really shouldn't be allowed by management. Good flavors, but between the small portion and the ordering experience, it's only 3 stars for me.