Visiting the West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio, is certainly a foodie's delight, and one of the best ways to sample some of the market's freshest food is to catch a meal at the West Side Market Cafe tucked into the southeast corner of the massive market house.
We spotted the restaurant's modest entrance from the indoor market, tucked between vendor stalls, and stopped for breakfast one morning after working up an appetite shopping.
The restaurant has a vintage vibe with its sleek white diner-style interior and its friendly staff that seems to know the names of what appears to be a large cadre of regular customers.
The cafe, which bills itself as "a near West Side tradition since 1912", has a lot of great photos on the walls picturing the venerable market's early days, including a couple of shots of the early 1900s construction of the market that hung over the table where we were seated as we ate.
While some market regulars grab a snack from a market vendor and head to the building's balcony to sit on a window ledge to eat, those who want a true sit-down meal head to the cafe for breakfast or lunch.
I opted for the Market Hash, a dish featuring andouille sausage, peppers, and onions sautéed with hash browns and topped with poached eggs and a Creole mustard sauce. I expected a potato-prominent dish, but the thick chunks of spicy sausage were the most plentiful ingredient on my plate, making the meal a pretty good bargain at $7.00.
Tim ordered the buttermilk pancakes and received three of what looked like the thickest pancakes I think either of us have ever seen, along with a generous side of sausage links and some great looking and tasting fresh fruit. The pancakes, like my hash, made for an extremely hearty breakfast and another decent deal at $5.00. Tim felt it was best, though, to pop for the extra $1.50 for a side of 100% pure maple syrup for his pancakes.
The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Beer and wine is also available.
Check out the West Side Market Cafe site to see the menu, or check out the restaurant's Facebook page for more information.
Bottom line: Reasonable prices, friendly and quick service, lots of fresh ingredients, and a great retro atmosphere.
Be sure to check out my earlier article, West Side Market draws foodies to Cleveland, Ohio.
Interested in learning more about good grub in Cleveland? You might enjoy reading Cleveland Ethnic Eats: The Guide to Authentic Ethnic Restaurants and Markets in Greater Cleveland by Laura Taxel or Cleveland Food Memories: A Nostalgic Look Back at Food We Loved, the Places We Bought It, and the People Who Made It Special by Gail Ghetia Bellamy.
© Dominique King 2011 All rights reserved
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