Providing eight years of authentic, comforting meals to the Highland Heights community, Stonewater Golf Club’s premier restaurant has created a seat at the table for everyone. The semi-private club, located in the Aberdeen neighborhood, welcomes members, residents, and the general public through its doors all season long, but garners a notable crowd for Fridays in Lent. Featured by Mashed as one of the 28 best fish fries in the country, The Rustic Grill takes pride in homemade cooking, using the freshest possible ingredients, and always being sure to add their own special touch to every dish.
The Breaded Cod Plate ($18) features cod that is both battered and breaded, creating a dynamic flavor. Starting with a spiced beer batter made in-house, that hearty taste we love is elevated with a coating of panko breadcrumbs, adding a crunchy lightness to the dish. This delicacy is served alongside a house-made tartar sauce, and the club’s special kale slaw, garnished with pepitas, cranberries, and a poppyseed dressing.
While the cod is a fan favorite, the grill’s standout Lenten offering is its Crispy Lake Erie Perch Sliders ($18), the personal favorite of executive chef Kathryn Neidus. As the name suggests, the dish is always sourced from local suppliers.
“Catanese Classic is our number one fish purveyor,” Neidus says. “They are local to Cleveland, and also where we get a lot of our spices.”
Each order comes with three sliders. Decadent sweet hawaiian rolls sandwich together perch, a traditional, house-made slaw, and a house-made garlic aioli. All the fixings are complemented with a side of fries, spiced to perfection with Cantanese Classic’s Old Bay-inspired seasoning.
The extra steps for a homemade taste are tasking, Neidus admits, but it’s a labor of love. “It does take a lot of work for this, but in the end, everyone pats themselves on the back.”
For those not in the market for a fried fish, the grill also offers a myriad of seafood dishes on their main menu. Verlasso Salmon ($26) and Red Snapper ($30) are pan-seared options with a lighter taste, or try the Lobster Bolognese ($29) for something you will dream about. Any salad ($6-$16) is also available to purchase with a portion of salmon or shrimp.
“There's something for everybody in the family,” Neidus says. “Having more options really does attract a lot of people. It's a fun atmosphere, and it's always buzzy.”
The Rustic Grill’s Fish Fry Fridays are open to anyone, no membership required.
Fridays during Lent, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., 1 Club Drive Highland Heights, 440-461-4653
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