After closing last April, Ohio City Pizzeria got a second chance in July thanks to a nonprofit partnership between the West Side Catholic Center and Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute. By offering a new menu with classic Italian dishes and employing graduates from their respective programs, they hoped to create an authentic opportunity. “It’s something so simple that’s done so well that can really change your being,” says Edwins founder and CEO Brandon Chrostowski. “Italian cuisine is about restraint.” The cavatelli and meatball ($14) is a simple standout with a mouthful of flavor. The softball-sized meatball at its center is crafted from a mix of Parmesan cheese, a balsamic reduction and ground beef, bacon and veal supplied fresh from Edwins Butcher Shop. Surrounded with cavatelli in a hearty red sauce made with whole and pureed tomatoes, sauteed onions and a ton of basil, it’s a familiar but decadent dish. “It’s something you’d see your grandmother make,” says Chrostowski. 3223 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, 216-281-5252, ohiocitypizzeria.org
Ohio City Pizzeria Goes Non-Profit
The Lorain Avenue spot is finding success in its second iteration by doubling down on Italian classics like cavatelli and meatball.
