Thinking about leaving Ohio??? Get in line and fill this out (Cleveland: new home, university)

[costello_musicman]

^^ I agree with just about everything you say.

Especially with the non-chain restaurants. You can go to 100+ AMAZING (that's right amazing) eateries in and around Cleveland and the innerburbs without of thinking about (or even seeing) a chain restaurant. Thats one HUGE thing I miss about being away from Cleveland for the time being...the culinary scene.

And don't get me started on what there is to do in and around Downtown Cleveland!

Residents have been painfully growing slow in downtown population..however, it has be at about 10% annual growth for the past couple of years with all the conversions and a couple new buildings.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

As an Ohio native who no longer lives there I think you make some good points, but there are a couple things I would have to disagree with:

1. Cleveland has plenty of non-chain restaurants to choose from. Yes, if you stay in the burbs you will be surrounded by an abundance of generic chain places, but Cleveland's neighborhoods and inner suburbs have a good amount of mom & pop and ethnic restaurants to choose from.

Cleveland Independents - Independent, locally-owned restaurants in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

[jam40jeff]

Cleveland Independents is just the tip of the iceberg. If non-generic things are important to you, then living in Stow is certainly the wrong place to be. You could live in an exurb of any large city and have the same complaints. I have been to many other cities and have felt there are few that give you a more unique experience than Cleveland. Places like Atlanta, Houston, and Charlotte feel especially "generic" to me. As I've said, to each his own, and there will always be things some people like about any area that others don't and vice versa, but I would hardly call living in Northeast Ohio "generic" (of course unless you're in a boring exurb, which will be generic anywhere).

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

Cleveland Independents - Independent, locally-owned restaurants in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

Thanks for the link and it's interesting because some of my favorite places are even on the list! (Angelo's Nido Italia, Bo Loong, Etna, #1 Pho, La Strada...)

That just even proves my point more. But great link, I need to try a few of these places now!

[PBSG]

Originally Posted by jam40jeff

Cleveland Independents is just the tip of the iceberg. If non-generic things are important to you, then living in Stow is certainly the wrong place to be. You could live in an exurb of any large city and have the same complaints. I have been to many other cities and have felt there are few that give you a more unique experience than Cleveland. Places like Atlanta, Houston, and Charlotte feel especially "generic" to me. As I've said, to each his own, and there will always be things some people like about any area that others don't and vice versa, but I would hardly call living in Northeast Ohio "generic" (of course unless you're in a boring exurb, which will be generic anywhere).

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to start a Stow vs. Cleveland debate. Overall I've found most places that are smaller family owned places are for the most part not that good. Take Crooked River Grill - Used to be a nice family place but has gone downhill to the point that the food and especially service is horrible. Paragons - same thing. In Stow I'm left with Moe's, Applebees, TGI Fridays - All places I try to avoid. Don's cafe in Stow is the only good one left!

Atlanta and Houston (BTW I used to live in Houston) are so damn big that you can basically find whatever you wanted down there. Some nice Italian, a nice park, some nice BBQ, a good concert - You can live your lifestyle and still be happy. Where are those things in Cleveland? When I ask about Italian restaurants around here, 99 percent of the people will say "Oh, there's an Olive Garden right down there"! Where is the good nightlife nowadays? There's a reason that the best parts of the Flats from the Mid-90s are in a landfill somewhere.

Also, someone mentioned the Rock Hall and the Science Center - which are nice places, but honestly how often can you go to those? Once a year? Once every two years? Try taking your family ever other weekend to the Rock Hall. You'll be broke and your family will hate you!

[Dennuchi46]

Some move out and some move in ---That would be in each and every state. Were all trying to find eden. But you know where that eden is ? Its family and friends .

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by PBSG

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to start a Stow vs. Cleveland debate. Overall I've found most places that are smaller family owned places are for the most part not that good. Take Crooked River Grill - Used to be a nice family place but has gone downhill to the point that the food and especially service is horrible. Paragons - same thing. In Stow I'm left with Moe's, Applebees, TGI Fridays - All places I try to avoid. Don's cafe in Stow is the only good one left!

Atlanta and Houston (BTW I used to live in Houston) are so damn big that you can basically find whatever you wanted down there. Some nice Italian, a nice park, some nice BBQ, a good concert - You can live your lifestyle and still be happy. Where are those things in Cleveland? When I ask about Italian restaurants around here, 99 percent of the people will say "Oh, there's an Olive Garden right down there"! Where is the good nightlife nowadays? There's a reason that the best parts of the Flats from the Mid-90s are in a landfill somewhere.

Also, someone mentioned the Rock Hall and the Science Center - which are nice places, but honestly how often can you go to those? Once a year? Once every two years? Try taking your family ever other weekend to the Rock Hall. You'll be broke and your family will hate you!

Head up to Cleveland and try out some places in Little Italy, Tremont, Ohio City, Downtown, Lakewood, the Heights...among others. I'm confused if you don't think you can find good restaurants in Northeast Ohio, although maybe you don't get out of Stow much? I agree that Stow is about as lame as it gets and many of the people that live there have a lame mentality to go along with it. Some of my Akron friends call the locals Stowbillies LOL.

Downtown Cleveland has about as many bars and restaurants as any other metro area of its size, plus all the sporting events. You bring up the downfall of the flats (which is slated for redevelopment) but the fact is Cleveland's downtown nightlife is in the Warehouse District and E. 4th Street Area. There are also good neighborhood bars on the west side. Actually, even Akron's downtown nightlife has seemed to have improved in recent years.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by PBSG

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to start a Stow vs. Cleveland debate. Overall I've found most places that are smaller family owned places are for the most part not that good. Take Crooked River Grill - Used to be a nice family place but has gone downhill to the point that the food and especially service is horrible. Paragons - same thing. In Stow I'm left with Moe's, Applebees, TGI Fridays - All places I try to avoid. Don's cafe in Stow is the only good one left!

Atlanta and Houston (BTW I used to live in Houston) are so damn big that you can basically find whatever you wanted down there. Some nice Italian, a nice park, some nice BBQ, a good concert - You can live your lifestyle and still be happy. Where are those things in Cleveland? When I ask about Italian restaurants around here, 99 percent of the people will say "Oh, there's an Olive Garden right down there"! Where is the good nightlife nowadays? There's a reason that the best parts of the Flats from the Mid-90s are in a landfill somewhere.

Also, someone mentioned the Rock Hall and the Science Center - which are nice places, but honestly how often can you go to those? Once a year? Once every two years? Try taking your family ever other weekend to the Rock Hall. You'll be broke and your family will hate you!

Nice Italian? Little Italy has tons of authentic Italian restaurants.
Nice Parks? Shaker Lakes, Rockefeller Park, Botanical Gardens, etc.
Good concerts? Every year top artists come to TCA and The Q.
Nice BBQ? Okay, I'll pass on that one since I don't know. Hot Sauce Williams, maybe?

BTW #1: Atlanta has Moe's everywhere.
BTW #2: I agree with you about the Rock Hall and Science Center, not a big draw for locals.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by PBSG

Where are those things in Cleveland? When I ask about Italian restaurants around here, 99 percent of the people will say "Oh, there's an Olive Garden right down there"!

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other in this debate, but just wanted to let you know that reading the line about people saying there's an Olive Garden when asked about an Italian restaurant cracked me up!

[MaryBeth2]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other in this debate, but just wanted to let you know that reading the line about people saying there's an Olive Garden when asked about an Italian restaurant cracked me up!

Ah, you must be Italian.