IZZY SCHACHNER IS A DYNAMO in the Northeast Ohio restaurant business. He opened his first eatery downtown nearly 20 years ago, and for years catered to movie crews shooting in Cleveland. Today, he operates a food truck, StrEat Mobile Bistro, and is president of Northeast Ohio Food Truck Association.
So when Schachner and partner Jay Leitson opened a restaurant in Solon last year, the city’s growing dining scene was energized. For Schachner, Solon was a good match since his restaurant — 56 Kitchen — serves several gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes.
“Solon is kind of ground zero for our customer base,” says Schachner, whose restaurant is in Solon Square Shopping Center on Aurora Road. “It’s a good center point.”
56 Kitchen is one of several restaurants that will take part this month in Solon’s inaugural Foodie Fest, a weeklong celebration of the city’s food establishments. The fest is an extension of the city’s annual Taste of Solon, which started in 2005.
Foodie Fest will kick off Nov. 12 with Taste of Solon at the Signature of Solon banquet room, where about 30 restaurants in Solon and neighboring communities will offer samples of their most popular menu items, including entrees, salads, appetizers and desserts. Attendees will vote on the best dishes in various categories.
“It’s a really fun event,” says Cary Root, chairman of the Solon Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the Foodie Fest. “Everybody likes to eat, and we have a super variety.”
Then, from Nov. 13 to 18, participating Solon restaurants will take part in Foodie Fest by offering specials and discounts. “The idea is that now that everyone has had a taste, they can go to the restaurant and enjoy at good meal at a place you might not otherwise have visited,” Root says.
Peggy Weil Dorfman, Solon’s economic development manager, says the objective of Foodie Fest is to build awareness of Solon as a dining destination. She says even Solon residents might not realize that the city is home to 59 food establishments, including full-service restaurants, quick-serve franchises, coffee shops and ice cream parlors. Of that number, 31 are locally owned, including Harvest Kitchen and Lounge, Station 43 and Imperial Wok.
Root says Solon’s dining scene has transformed over the past year or so. 56 Kitchen is one of 12 relatively new restaurants here. Others include Mish Mosh Eatery, Villa Toscano, Red Bowl Chinese Restaurant, Munch, Nobu Tei and Shinano Sushi Bar and Japanese Cuisine.
“Depending on the marketing these restaurants are doing, you may not have heard of them yet,” Root says. “Hopefully, we can make them top-of-mind.”
Another new restaurant is The Butcher’s Pantry, a unique butcher shop-restaurant combination that also offers a wide selection of wines and craft beers. The business only sells beef, pork and lamb raised in Ohio, and serves Texas-style lunch sandwiches with smoked brisket and pulled pork.
Butcher’s Pantry, which opened in April 2016, is the first restaurant for owner Taylor Steinhoff. He said his business has been well-received.
“We chose Solon because it’s a nice community, as far as the people who live and work here, and commute through here,” Steinhoff said.
For tickets to Foodie Fest call the Solon Chamber of Commerce at 440-248-5080 or visit solonchamber.com.