The Observation Deck

Saw this in the PD today ... sounds like the place needs Lakewood diners to come and try it out so it will survive and thrive. Maybe a story is needed in the Observer to help get the word out??

From the Plain Dealer, Food section:

RESTAURANT ROW
Chef is ready, waiting for customers to try his Italian with a twist
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
John Long
Plain Dealer Columnist

What happens when you open a restaurant and no one comes? You panic. But what happens when you are a chef who comes to Cleveland from New York City where you were the toast of the town and no one comes? Probably panic, but with a little more confidence.

Exactly that is happening at Venezia, Moha Orchid's new Italian restaurant with a little Moroccan accent in Lakewood.

In New York City, Orchid's face was plastered on the pages of the New York Post and his cooking received favorable reviews in the New York Times, the Post, Daily News and New Yorker Magazine. And here he is ignored. That's a shame.

Orchid likes to talk and wonder aloud why restaurant patrons in Lakewood only tend to go out on weekends. He has one of those New York mouths that can go on and on, but he shouldn't be judged for that. Judge him for his food, which is pretty darned good.

His tagliatelle with tomato sauce and shredded pork ($12 at lunch) is delicious. The tender pasta and pulled pork was perfect with the fairly chunky sauce. His flair with Moroccan food shone through brightly with his bestilla, an upside-down chicken pie with a delicious flaky phyllo crust and filling of chicken, hard-cooked eggs, onions, cinnamon and almonds. You can also get pizza, and if you don't like what Or chid puts on it, tell him and he will make it your way if he has the ingredients. There are also a variety of pasta dishes, salmon and osso bucco -- all of which are priced from $12 to $18. His desserts are all made in house and worth the calorie splurge.

Venezia, 16300 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. It's closed Monday. Call 216-226-0006 for reservations.

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Moha needs to get the word out about his excellent little restaurant. I know he was on with Fred Griffith a couple of weeks ago, but he really needs some "Grand Opening" PR. It's hard to just put up a sign and wait for the customers.

Word of mouth takes time. I've been in a couple of times for lunch since he opened, and will continue to patronize him. His food is excellent, prices fair, and portions good. And to second what John Long said....the desserts are really special. We hope to have a full review out in an upcoming issue.

For those of you who haven't tried this great little eatery, What are you waiting for? You won't get better Italian up on the Hill....and certainly not in River. Bring your own wine (liquor license in process?) and enjoy some fine Italian......OR, get out of the rut and give one of his Moroccan dishes a try. You won't be disappointed.

Jeff

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I agree that prices will be a barrier to the success of this place. I tried it for lunch in a nearly empty room (one other table filled) with some buds and while we enjoyed it, it bit deep in the wallet. Sadly, I won't be going back for a while. I might try again with my wife, she of the Youngstown Italian family. But I just have to save up a bit.

I agree, a grand opening event might be nice. I knew it was coming because I drive by that place a lot but suddenly it was open to little fanfare.

I do agree that the staff was nice when I was there. It seemed that there was literally only one person working at lunch and the woman seemed to prepare the food as well as take the orders. Not sure if that was to save on costs initially.

Maybe if he knocks a couple more bucks at lunch and leave dinner at the lunch prices he might see a boost. I know I would go more often if that were the case. I agree with Charyn...if you go in there with more than just a date night partner, it gets expensive.

Nice little write up in the side-bar section in Scene Magazine for Venezia. Comments on the good food and unique choices. Not a full review yet, though.

I think a pricey Italian restaurant that serves beer and not wine will be doomed from the start. I think they would be better off with no liquor license at all and send their customers down the street to the mini mart to pick up a bottle of wine or some beer.

I agree that price is always important in choosing where to dine, and if Venezia is pricey they may not be able to attract a lot of people ... but I hope that if their quality is quite good, they are priced appropriately, AND that Lakewood can sustain a number of higher-end restaurants. Sure, we've got Three Birds and Players ... is there room for more? Certainly there should be right demographics in Lakewood to support higher-priced places. Westlake, Bay, and 'River shouldn't be the only places around to support high-quality higher-price places (interestingly enough, in this week's issue of Crain's Cleveland Business, they rate the top 25 wealthiest suburbs ... only Westlake and Bay make it over here. No Rocky River!).

While my wife and I usually end up eating cheap, we do like to occasionally splurge and go for something that is a bit more special, and that doesn't mean fancier, but better or more innovative food. If Venezia does Moroccan, that might be the trick for us, because good bastilla can be a most wonderous thing to eat. I've taken a Moroccan cooking class where we made bastilla, and while not easy, the flavors and textures were just absolutely heavenly.

There is a good sidebar about the restaurant in this week's Scene (as noted in an earlier post), so hopefully now that word's getting out, the restaurant will do better ... I'm looking forward to eating there, and I hope others are too, and the place does well ... and hopefully even more restaurants will open up in town and be supported here.

c. dawson wrote:I agree that price is always important in choosing where to dine, and if Venezia is pricey they may not be able to attract a lot of people ...

Three Birds, Pier W?


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I would agree that I would hope Lakewood could support more pricey fare but the restaurant doesn't feel like the kind of restaurant that Pier W or Players tries to feel. That is a bit more oppulent. Venezia still feels like a corner mom and pop Italian joint with Italian pop music playing. It is a mood thing. It didn't have the chianti bottles lining the walls or pics of Sinatra like a more homey place might have but it didn't have the upscale feel of a place where you would take a date out dressed to the nines. The food would be fine at either place...mom and pop places make some great Italian food (Peppers) that can be as good as the pricier fare (Stino Di Napoli). But Venezia feels more like a great lunch destination but prices it like a night on the town. That can be a tough sell, I would think.

I am not saying mood and atmosphere define a good restaurant but it certainly is a part of it. In fact, I have been in many expensive restaurants where that WAS what defined it because at times the food is somewhat lacking. Venezia has the food base covered pretty well (through a very specific selection) but I think it has its atmosphere and mood and setting to work on to match the prices it is asking. I don't think I am saying this well but...

Jeezus Phil..from your posts, you make it seem like someone would be dropping a C note at Venetzia WITHOUT the booze....

If I recall, entrees ranged from 12 to 18 (pasta to Osso Bucco). Can you dine cheaper? Absolutely. But in comparison, the menu prices are what would be considered moderate, as compared to 3 Birds, Players (higher end) IHOP, Bob Evans (lower end).

I agree that his atmosphere could use some help, but really, when was the last time you paid the big bucks for an atmospheric restaurant that served crappy food....I mean you go for the food and the atmosphere is merely an enhancement.

FWIW
JEff

We'll have to give it a try at least. If we want people to invest in Lakewood.

Phil Florian wrote:Nice little write up in the side-bar section in Scene Magazine for Venezia. Comments on the good food and unique choices. Not a full review yet, though.

Elaine will probably get there eventually...

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Charyn

You are probably correct in your assement of what draws diners to restaurants. Atmosphere must reign supreme, lest why would there be a Long Horn Steak House? But from a pruely personal standpoint, when I dine out, if the food is not exceptional, then neither is the dinning experience, irrespective of the atmosphere, service and yes, weight of the silverware.

I also agree about costs. I don't load up the family truckster and head out to Salmon Dave's asking for a table for six. But, by and large, most restaurants in the moderate and higher price ranges aren't drawing a "family business".....they're looking for couples and foursomes, out for the evening.

Now, if Venetzia is going for that crowd, based on menu as well as price points, there will be a goodly number of people who will opt out, because they can get better atmosphere somewhere else (nevermind any qualitative comparisons of WHAT you're actually eating......focusing purely on the lighting and music). And that's okay. Likewise, that same crowd is, like you and I, going to appreciate a glass of wine (especially with an Italian meal). That is also a problem. A very distinct drawback.

Having said all that, I am still very much of the opinion that in terms of value for product, the place is good. Especially if your personal definition for a dining experience is focused more on what's on the plate, then the plate ie, ambience, itself.

Jeff