Bell & Flower Has The Perfect Fall Comfort Food

It may not be the tangy, lick-your-fingers-clean kind of comfort you’d get from the ribs at Rick’s Cafe — the 41-year-old Chagrin Falls spot that closed its doors in 2017.

But new tenant Bell & Flower achieves another kind of creature comfort with its New England clam chowder ($8.50) — one that fills your soul with warm, velvety goodness. With a gluten-free recipe that utilizes garlic, onions, white wine, clam juice, heavy cream, herbs, bacon, potatoes and fresh clams, it’s quickly become one of the restaurant’s top dishes.

“It’s a perfect option for fall,” says co-owner Shawn Monday. “The flavors balance each other well.” Topped with a little Tabasco, chopped parsley, fresh clams and a squeeze of lemon, the soup fits right into the East Side village’s charming small town vibe. 86 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls, 440-600-7755, bellandflower.com