Good Meal Jane is a bit of an enigma.
From over-the-top burgers to thick-and-wild pizzas, the ghost kitchen has captured the eye of social media foodies across Northeast Ohio. But for a while, as the food purveyor started out by dropping secret links to local influencers most didn't know how to get it. The secrecy garnered interest before hungry locals even had the chance to try the funky, standout menu items. While the owner is still unknown to the public, the offerings have become some of the most popular ghost kitchen food orders in Cleveland as they've become more accessible through a daily link found in the Instagram bio of @goodmealjane. Right now, the business is only accepting call-ins at 888-474-9922.
Keeping the momentum going, Good Meal Jane is moving into a brick and mortar at the beginning of 2022. Though its exact location will be kept a secret until closer to the grand opening, lovers of Good Meal Jane can expect to see it flourish this March in the Old Brooklyn area.
“The mission is to bring some of the greatest foods and the best foods to the people of Cleveland, and soon the rest of the country,” says chef William Lewis. “Eventually we want to get to the point where we can franchise, and watch over it and make sure, in the places that we're welcome, that we have a place and a position in that market.”
However, don’t wait until then to try this Cleveland gem. Before you visit the link in the restaurant’s Insta bio, here are three things to know.
Detroit-Style Pizzas Dominate the Menu
Cleveland and Detroit don’t agree on much — but one thing we do see eye-to-eye on is that thick-crust pizza from up north. These square pies feature a thick crust with airy dough and crispy bottom. While some Detroit-style pizzas feature sparse, inverted toppings, which the kitchen also does on a few offerings, Good Meal Jane piles high and packs tight unconventional garnishes such as seafood boil or corned beef. “We make them traditionally, with the sauce on top,” says Lewis. “But sometimes we put the pepperonis on top. We use a deck oven, but we do it a lot differently from other companies.” While most traditional pizzas use a conveyor oven, the deck oven toasts the thick dough at 575 degrees for extra crispy edges. “I think people love [Detroit-style pizza] in Cleveland because you don't see too much of it around,” says Lewis. “We just happen to have the best one around.”
Can You Keep a Secret?
At first, Good Meal Jane only gave out the order link to foodies and bloggers. “We knew only bloggers and foodies would totally understand truffle oil and buffalo mozzarella cheese and all these other different eclectic flavors on a pizza,” Lewis says. “A lot of people would shy away from it.” As the buzz grew around Good Meal Jane, though, it became more of a “speakeasy,” he says. It transitioned to posting “link drops” every Wednesday, where a menu was available for an hour on Good Meal Jane’s Instagram story. Then, viewers can send it to friends and family before orders closed. Once they do, diners get so eager for pie that they’ve tried to show up and demand one. “We tried charging people $100 a pie to get them to not walk in and order, and that didn't work out so well, because we got like four or five people every week that were walking in and paying $100,” says Lewis. Even with a brick-and-mortar location coming, Lewis promises to keep things interesting. “We've done a whole bunch of things to just slowly turn into a ‘regular’ pizza place, but I don't think we'll ever be regular.”
The Regulars' Favorite
The OG Roni ($20-$30) — buffalo mozzarella, Wisconsin brick cheese, house-made mild red sauce, ezzo pepperoni, white truffle oil and Mike’s Hot Honey on a sourdough crust — started it all. “It tastes like an explosion of flavor in your mouth,” according to Chef Lewis. “It’s the best thing you’ve ever had.” Aside from its “traditional” pepperoni pizza, Good Meal Jane also carries pies such as its Philly cheesesteak pizza called The Fresh Prince ($27-$37) and a vegan chicken Philly pizza that Lewis claims is the best in the United States. Customers are also big fans of Good Meal Jane’s wings, with some of its most popular flavors being the garlic parm wings ($8.50 for six) and the honey lemon pepper ranch wings. Good Meal Jane also offers breaded shrimp on its menu, and amongst all of the hodgepodge of food items, it is to no one’s surprise, a hit as well. “I just like interacting with the people and seeing the joy on their faces when they try [the food] for the first time,” says Lewis.
Try This: The Flamin' Hot Sheesh Burger
Have you heard the secret? Good Meal Jane’s new Flamin’ Hot sheesh burger ($7.99) is the latest white whale amongst Cleveland foodies. While most burger connoisseurs would gawk at two 5-ounce smash patties with the works, including nacho and American cheese, this ghost kitchen turns up the heat with a crunchy, spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-dusted bun. An elegant drizzle of even more neon-orange nacho cheese offers up a grand finale. It might all sound like a novelty nightmare, but the dish is so beloved that Good Meal Jane sells 30 to 50 of them a day. “It looks so gimmicky until you actually try it, and then you realize it’s everything that you needed,” says chef William Lewis, who plans to open a brick-and-mortar location later this month. Until then, try one yourself by ordering through a link on the restaurant’s Instagram bio.
