Cleveland Reruns

I'll admit that I haven't been as adventurous as of late when trying out new places in Cleveland. When we have gone out, we've stuck to the tried and true, the not-so-new - and that's fine for us. We did have our first Momocho experience recently, but that's another post.

Work has kept me busy lately, and I've really enjoyed cooking at home. We made liege waffles a while back, and I've also had a thing for breakfast burritos (Greek yogurt instead of sour cream = loverly!). Since we bought our pizza stone, we hardly go out for pizza anymore. I'm also doing my very best not to unleash my bridey-ness all over this blog. It's not even relevant. We're not even getting married in Cleveland!

Tonight's post is about the reruns, the places you go back to again and again. I've already touched on my love affair with L'Albatros in previous posts so I won't do that this time. Here's just a couple of my favorite "reruns".

India Garden (Lakewood). Despite the fact that one of the waiters consistently hits on me and tells my fiance that he's a "lucky, lucky man" when he finds out that we have no babies, this is on my personal list of favorites. Their mango lassi is great (second only to Cafe Tandoor's) and the buffet is inexpensive and tasty. We lucked out on our last visit and had gulab jamun with kheer after our lunch.

Richie Chan's (Cleveland Heights). This is one of those unassuming places, kind of like Thai Kitchen in Lakewood - where you're not quite sure what to make of the non-decorated, folding tables and chairs. The menus are partially hand-written in the case of Richie Chan's.

A person attempting to be judicious might tell you that this gives a place character, makes it unique, and that a restaurant doesn't need to pop out to you in some way to get you in the door. I disagree. I think most people want something to pop. Sheherazade had to keep King Shahryar hooked on the stories she told so as to protect her own life... Hookless restaurants generally have a harder time of it.

That being said, if you're brave or trusting enough to visit either of these places - I don't think you'll be disappointed. Hooks? They don't need no steenking hooks, mang.

Tell me about your reruns. What places do you visit in CLE again and again?

Bicycle! Bicycle!

You know those buttons at the crosswalks you press to activate the crosswalk? (For those of you not in Cleveland - ours talk...) I have the strongest desire to karate kick one to activate it.

Jeff and I are hitting up the West Side Market this weekend and going to India Garden again. Any ideas/recipes to make? We had such luck making this amazing lemon pasta with chicken and cream last time.

DC is next week and I feel like a kid getting ready to go on summer vacation. I don't even want to work tomorrow, but if I didn't I know that'd be a little obvious that I wasn't sick. I skipped on the gym tonight in hopes to go on an evening ride (I was going to attempt the Euclid Corridor) but someone has my floor pump and I have a flat. I have a 2008 Specialized Dolce road bike that is my baby. I won't ride it to work in the Spring/Summer since it would totally break my heart if it got stolen. I'm looking for a bike in the $50 to $100 range to get to and from work. It's not that I'll miss riding the HealthLine... Boy, do I have some stories about that bus.

Tonight, I am being a lazybutt and ordering pizza/soda because it just feels like one of those nights. Sorry Alexa... I wussed out on the anchovies this time. I was going for a sure thing.

Columbus has a neat little cycling group that rides on Sunday nights and they were really fun. It was all ladies, and we'd go for a short 15 mile ride through the city. It was a little less fanatical than Critical Mass (I just signed up for Critical Mass here, though) but we looked out for each other. It was a good time. I left the group really quickly, because I moved to Cleveland really quickly. That's a story for another post. I really miss riding my bike. I am so anxious for touring season (Coming soon!).

Cruising for an Indian Buffet

I really wish I had the fortitude to post every day like Alexa et al... I'll have to work on that.

Jeff and I are heading to Washington DC in about a week. We're going to be tourists and then hit up Columbus for a St. Patty's Day party his parents throw every year. Sometime before we go, I'm actually going to get furniture! I'm thinking of throwing a little foodie party when I have places for people to sit. I've lived in Cleveland for six months and I have no living room furnishings.

Onto the food...

I've had some fantastic Indian food in Cleveland at Cafe Tandoor, and have found numerous Lebanese restaurants that are also pretty amazing. While Cafe Tandoor is quite nice, I have been missing a little Indian buffet in Columbus called Taj Mahal. You could go on the weekends and eat some pretty damn amazing Indian food for$7.99.

Until now.

Oh. My. God. Becky...
*clears throat*
No, seriously. I had found a small ad for a place in Lakewood called India Garden. They advertised a lunch buffet for $8.99, so I mentioned it to Jeff. We love visiting Lakewood restaurants (Angelo's Pizza, Melt...) and thought we'd give it a try. When I sat down with a plate of naan, a samosa, and some amazing chicken curry - I looked at Jeff and said "I think we've found our Cleveland Taj". Do not pass up this little restaurant. We waited for about 5-10 minutes to get a table because they were packed. There was a wait for a short time after that because people just kept coming in.

The staff is friendly and very willing to answer any questions about the food. Jeff and I loved this place and are planning to head back very soon.

They include Mango Lassi (a yogurt drink) with the buffet, too. The kheer is the best that I've had (outside of my own, which is crazy...I know).