The Observation Deck

As you probably know Kluck's closed last Friday. This Monday there were men painting the outside orange - I stopped and asked what was comming in and they said a mexican resturant. Does anyone have any more info? It looks to me like a Cozumel (they have restuarants in Independence, Brunswick and Broadview Heights).

Jennifer Desilets wrote:As you probably know Kluck's closed last Friday. This Monday there were men painting the outside orange - I stopped and asked what was comming in and they said a mexican resturant. Does anyone have any more info? It looks to me like a Cozumel (they have restuarants in Independence, Brunswick and Broadview Heights).

Might have been a mistake, I knew Hot Sauce Williams had looked at it.

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uh-oh, saying that will inspire all the folks who are going to start crying that Lakewood's going to be the next East Cleveland, that the ghetto is on our doorsteps ... (yet the same folks will go to Bubba-Q's in Avon with no hesitation, even though the food is similar)

Though after seeing Hot Sauce Williams on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," this pale caucasian really wants to give it a try!

c. dawson wrote:uh-oh, saying that will inspire all the folks who are going to start crying that Lakewood's going to be the next East Cleveland, that the ghetto is on our doorsteps ... (yet the same folks will go to Bubba-Q's in Avon with no hesitation, even though the food is similar)

Though after seeing Hot Sauce Williams on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," this pale caucasian really wants to give it a try!

Hot Sauce Williams rocks!!!!!!!! I use to live on Prospect in Down Town Cleveland. I was a frequent customer.

c. dawson wrote:uh-oh, saying that will inspire all the folks who are going to start crying that Lakewood's going to be the next East Cleveland, that the ghetto is on our doorsteps ... (yet the same folks will go to Bubba-Q's in Avon with no hesitation, even though the food is similar)

Though after seeing Hot Sauce Williams on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," this pale caucasian really wants to give it a try!

C D

I am a tad outraged over that one! I am pretty close to the Williams family having spent many a night between 2:00am and 4:00am with the old man back in the 70s, and now working with Craig Williams in East Cleveland. A very good family.

I often said Lakewood is nothing until Hot Sauce Williams or Whitmore BBQ comes to town.

FWIW

It is going to be Mexican just can't remember the name. It was an independent place from what I remember. I saw a write up in the Plain Dealer about last week. They said "authentic Mexican". We'll see in mid-October which is when they said it would open.

They said "authentic Mexican".

We'll see indeed.....S'pose they'll have snapper stuffed with chilis, steamed in banana leaves? Or will it be what we're told is genuine...chimicungas and tacos?

Jeff

I looked up the article in the PD - it's going to be called El Jalapeno. I didn't see any more info. I've never been to Hot Sauce Williams, but it would be great to have a real BBQ place in Lakewood! Either way we'll still be eating at La Pita several times per week.

c. dawson wrote:uh-oh, saying that will inspire all the folks who are going to start crying that Lakewood's going to be the next East Cleveland, that the ghetto is on our doorsteps ... (yet the same folks will go to Bubba-Q's in Avon with no hesitation, even though the food is similar)

Though after seeing Hot Sauce Williams on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," this pale caucasian really wants to give it a try!

I am just curious. Why would a barb-q restaurant spark the East Cleveland comment? I associate barb-q with the South.

Stephen Eisel wrote:Though after seeing Hot Sauce Williams on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," this pale caucasian really wants to give it a try!

I am just curious. Why would a barb-q restaurant spark the East Cleveland comment? I associate barb-q with the South.[/quote]


Stephen

I believe some of this goes back to the comment I made of working with the Williams Family in East Cleveland.


FWIW


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Jeff:

Just a guess. Chimichangas and burritos. The orange paint tells you want you need to know.

Sorry to see Klucks go. I remember (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) on more than one occasion having a drink with the ex. with Leroy tending bar and David (the Other) Jacobs a couple of stools away.

Am I dating myself?

And where ARE those Whitmore twins, anyway?

On a related matter, anyone want to expound on the difference in regional barbecue? I had a conversation recently in DC with a GA native who said "the barbecue here (meaning DC) isn't at all right". It's all good to me, but what's the difference? I did tell her to look up Hot Sauce Williams if she ever got to Cleveland.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:Though after seeing Hot Sauce Williams on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," this pale caucasian really wants to give it a try!

I am just curious. Why would a barb-q restaurant spark the East Cleveland comment? I associate barb-q with the South.

Stephen

I believe some of this goes back to the comment I made of working with the Williams Family in East Cleveland.


FWIW


.[/quote] Jim, you quoted the wrong person. I did not make the pale white comment. I am lilly white.. The quote things is all messed up.. (edited)

Any chance the new place has a spot open for "Friday Nights with Chef Geoff?" Bad idea, that could bring in the inspectors and health issues...and that is just for Chef Geoff himself.

no, I made the comment because Hot Sauce Williams restaurants are generally in African-American areas of town, ergo they become associated with that area, and there is a perception that I have seen crop up many times on the Observation Deck that refers to Lakewood becoming the next East Cleveland, because things like Aldi's (a German-owned grocery company, which also owns Trader Joe's) or other businesses along West 117th that could be perceived as representative of businesses one would see in East Cleveland or other predominantly African-American areas of Cleveland are showing up on our borders.

This attitude bothers me when I see it, because to me it comes off as racist, as if anything related to African-Americans or East Cleveland mean poverty, crime, drugs, etc. And any business like that on West 117th means that it's "creeping over the borders" into our fair city. Or should I say our "fair-skinned city."

So I was trying to be sarcastic, because numerous past postings about something like this would spawn someone to start spewing out that a BBQ place is a sure sign that Lakewood's going to turn into East Cleveland. And it's a sad thing to see ... but not unusual. I've heard neighbors say that when they see an African-American walk down the street, that they lock their front doors. That really saddens me. I think Lakewood's strength has been and should always be, the diversity of the city's population, and how we all have something to bring to the table.

And yes, BBQ shouldn't be construed as a race thing (though often is, just because of the prevalance of BBQ places in African-American areas) ... and not even a southern thing, because while it has been a southern dish, there's all sorts of varieties now, and some of the good stuff even comes out of the north. I've had killer BBQ all over the country, even in the hills of Pennsylvania ... where one woudn't suspect that anyone would do BBQ!

And while a hispanic restaurant won't be so bad, I do wish it would be a Hot Sauce Williams ...

Since everyone posting seems to think Lakewood needs a Hot Sauce Williams, maybe we should contact the owners and ask them to open up shop. If I weren't up to my eyeballs in Dog Park petitions I'd suggest we start one . Seriously, I wonder if meeting with the owners might tempt them to open in Lakewood - it worked for India Garden. Jim? Thoughts?