CLEVELAND, Ohio – Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out Rowley Inn in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. Here’s a look at what to expect:
Location + hours: 1104 Rowley Ave., Cleveland (in Tremont). Brunch menu is served 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Menu or buffet? Menu.
About the place: This is a perfect example of a comfortable bar that made a decision to serve decent food. The place is more than 100 years old. Great brunch offerings - nothing too crazy but some excellent spins on assorted dishes. It's an enigma of a place, really: A shot and beer joint with a great craft-beer list. A couple of pinball machines and a bowling game stand not far from the dozen-seat bar. On our visit we heard classic Eagles, Boston and Beach Boys, plus album cuts from Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. A handful of televisions were on, with a couple showing the recent Wimbledon finals. Keno is available.
About the menu: There’s 15 breakfast items plus a handful of “not-breakfast” offerings. We tried a delicious pierogi omelet: Three scrambled eggs loaded with sauerkraut and kielbasa; it was just the right combination of salty and spicy. Avocado toast was incredible with intensely flavored balsamic drizzle and everything-bagel seasoning with sour dough and goat cheese. Also tempting: Chicken and waffles, breakfast burrito and chilaquiles (chicken, chorizo, peppers, onions, beans and corn sautéed in spicy sofrito sauce topped with cheese, two over-easy eggs, corn tortillas and home fries).
About the drinks: No hot tea. But coffee is decent and the bar is loaded.
For the kids: Four breakfast items for those 12 and younger are available - a basic breakfast, pancakes, grilled cheese and chicken tenders.
Don't miss: Toast. We never said this before in any of our reviews, but the toast here is amazing. One piece is huge and thick. The secret is it's grilled, not toasted, with just a thin layer of butter.
Worth noting: The leg lamp in the front window is there as a reminder the Christmas Story House, museum and Bumpus House are nestled within a few feet of the bar. Have brunch, take a tour of the iconic house. Or go to the House first and see if you can receive 10 percent off your bill at Rowley Inn, which was offered on our visit.
About the signage: Beer signs and Cleveland cityscapes from different eras hang throughout the space along with assorted sayings. Our favorite: "Alcohol: Because no great story ever started with someone eating a salad."
Have a brunch spot you’ve wondered about and want us to visit? We'll go anywhere in Northeast Ohio. Email me.
Previous eats: Northeast Ohio breakfast-brunch spots we’ve tried:
1815 Tavern - Aurora
111 Bistro - Medina
100th Bomb Group Restaurant - Cleveland
35 Brix - Green
Adega - Cleveland (downtown)
Akron Family Restaurant - Akron
Alexandris - Medina
Alley Cat - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)
Astoria Café & Market - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Aurelia - Chagrin Falls
Austin’s Wood Fire Grille - Brecksville
Barrio - Cuyahoga County (multiple locations)
Bay Diner - Bay Village
Beau's on the River - Cuyahoga Falls
Big Al’s Diner - Cleveland (East Side)
Big Boy - Valley View
Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern - Twinsburg
Blue Door Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls
Bomba Tacos & Rum - Akron
Bonefish Grill – Independence
Borderline Café - Lakewood
Brewnuts - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Brim Kitchen + Brewery - Willoughby
Burntwood Tavern - Brecksville
Café Arnone - Fairlawn
Check Please Cafe - Grafton
Claudette’s Café & Deli - Westlake
The Cheesecake Factory - Lyndhurst
The City Diner - Cleveland
City Works - Orange Village
Creekside Restaurant & Bar – Brecksville
Crop Bistro - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar - Lakewood
Eat at Joe’s - South Euclid
Eddy’s Deli & Restaurant - Stow
Element 41 - Chardon
The Eye Opener – Akron
Fahrenheit - Cleveland (Tremont)
Fat Cats - Cleveland (Tremont)
Felice Urban Café - Cleveland (East Side)
The Feve - Oberlin
Fire Food and Drink – Cleveland (Shaker Square)
First Watch - Fairlawn
Flour - Moreland Hills
Flury’s Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls
Flying Fig - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Fred’s Diner - Akron
Fresh Start Diner - Twinsburg
Gabe’s Family Restaurant – Cleveland
Galaxy - Wadsworth
Gandalf’s Pub & Restaurant - Valley City
The Girves Brown Derby - Medina
Granite City Food & Brewery - Lyndhurst
Grumpy’s Café - Cleveland (Tremont)
Hofbrauhaus - Cleveland (downtown)
Hudson’s Restaurant - Hudson
Inn on Coventry – Cleveland Heights
Jack Flaps - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Jake’s on the Lake - Avon Lake
Jennifer's - Strongsville
Kelly's cafe - Brunswick
Kosta & Vic’s - Parma
Lakeshore Eatery - Mentor
Lamp Post – Akron
Lowell Street Café - Elyria
Lucky’s Cafe - Cleveland (Tremont)
Luna Bakery & Café – Cleveland Heights
Luxe Kitchen & Lounge - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Magic City's Remarkable Diner - Barberton
Mama D’s - Lyndhurst
Market Garden Brewery - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Michael’s A.M. - Akron
Mike's Place - Kent
Mom’s Deli & Grille - North Royalton
Mustard Seed Market & Cafe - Fairlawn
Noble Beast Brewing Co. - Cleveland (downtown)
Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar - Woodmere
Perk Cup Cafe & Grill – Berea
Pinstripes – Orange Village
Prosperity Social Club - Cleveland
Punch Bowl Social - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)
Red Lantern Kitchen & Bar - Cleveland (Kamm’s Corners)
Rocky River Wine Bar - Rocky River
Rose Italian Kitchen – Solon
Rosewood Grill – Hudson
Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern - Solon
Scratch - Independence
Seven Chefs Buffet - Cleveland (downtown)
Soho Chicken + Whiskey - Cleveland (Ohio City)
South East Harley Diner - Bedford Heights
Southside Diner - Parma
Tartine Bistro - Rocky River
Toast - Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Tony's Family Restaurant - Parma
Townhall - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Touch Supper Club - Cleveland (Ohio City)
Twisted Citrus - Canton
Urban Farmer - Cleveland (downtown)
Valley Cafe - Akron
Village Diner - Orange
Wally Waffle - Akron
XYZ the Tavern - Cleveland (Detroit-Shoreway)
Yours Truly - Mentor