Just Like Home at Joe’s
This Rocky River institution is a morning tradition for patrons who sip on small batch-brewed coffee daily and order their favorite standbys — Joe’s Breakfast Special with two hand-cracked eggs, meat and home fries, or a slice of the quiche served with a fresh-baked muffin. If you like to mix up your first meal of the day, Joe’s keeps you on your toes with different daily breakfast wraps, croissants and bagels.
Joe’s knows corned beef, its delicatessen roots and legacy. Naturally, the corned beef hash topped with two eggs flies out of the kitchen. Fresh fruit is a favorite side, and so is the Naples Cocktail of yogurt parfait with fruit, granola and pecans.
Sipping on her coffee, Jeanette Kanaan reflects on the 47-year-old business she and her husband Joe have nurtured into a West Side gathering place where customers are like family. “We love that people start their day with us,” she says of the many tables of familiar faces and the joy of greeting new guests. “The community of Rocky River has been so amazingly supportive.”
19215 Hilliard Blvd., 440-333-7890, myjoesdeli.com
Tavern Time
Established in 1963, the tavern Kim Berry’s parents started is a local legacy and part of Rocky River history. Berry remembers living upstairs in the “inn” until she was eight, the way authentic taverns like Herb’s worked.
“What we have here is very special — I have people who are in their fourth generation of coming to Herb’s,”
Berry relates.
The cozy, horseshoe-shaped bar and charming dining room offer a welcoming spot for Saturday and Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to noon. “We are farm-to-seed-to-table,” says Berry of aiming to source as many local ingredients as possible and working with Midwest family farms. A baker produces specialty bread for Herb’s with no preservatives.
“Our sausage is a must,” Berry raves, adding that the maple syrup is the real deal.
Eggs Benedict is dressed with Canadian bacon and either Maine lobster or avocado, served with hash browns. A Croque Monsieur nestled on thick buttered-and-grilled French bread is a haute way to nosh on a breakfast sandwich.
From the bar, fresh-made juices are mixers for bellinis and a classic Bloody Mary served with a skewered grilled cheese wedge. There’s a running list of draft beers and bottles, and curated wines suit every taste. Berry seeks out family vineyards rather than volume producers.
A Toast to Herb and Bobbie
Two omelets are a nod to the founders. Bobbie’s Favorite includes spinach, fresh mozzarella and avocado with a side of picante. Herb’s Favorite is “everything — all the meat, all the veggies, all the cheese,” Berry says of a fan favorite.
19925 Detroit Road, 440-331-9870, herbstavernrockyriver.com
Sunday Funday
Sunday funday kicks off at Market, where a lively weekend brunch usually includes games on the screens, music piping throughout the bar and restaurant, breezes flowing in from the open garage doors and guests chilling on the patio.
Assistant Manager Haley Rudiger calls the environment “social and high-energy,” as a go-to for watching sporting events or gathering with large groups.
Seasonal menu changes offer a mashup of brunch options, along with standards guests gravitate toward such as the Market Stack of goat cheese and chorizo sausage pancakes. Classic omelets are paired with cinnamon rolls from local Bigmouth Donut Company. Produce and garnishes are plucked from purveyors at the West Side Market. Market keeps a steady core menu, adding seasonal flair throughout the year.
Bloody Mary, As You Like It
Check out the build-your-own Bloody Mary cart with a few dozen ingredients to dress up your cocktail, from olives to garlic and bacon.
1137 Linda St., 440-799-4292, marketbeer.com
A Good, Hearty Start
Move over, small plates, and prepare for a morning meal with leftovers to spare. Scramblers Rocky River opened in February, introducing its bistro-style dining room with a bar, counter service and tables to accommodate brunch-going crews. A generous patio offers sunny-side dining no matter the style of fresh-cracked eggs you choose.
“Our goal is to make sure by the time you leave, you realized the value and quality of your experience,” says Michael Barr, district manager.
Fluffy four-egg omelets are made to order, and pancakes from scratch-made batter “are the size of your plate,” Barr says.
Bennys (eggs Benedict) come in a crab cake or traditional preparation, two per plate with fresh fruit or tomato. A select kids’ menu offers a smiley-face pancake with a bacon grin.
“We have several mimosa offerings, as well as traditional breakfast beverages,” Barr says.
And don’t forget the Caruso’s coffee blend produced specifically for Scramblers with seasonal flavors, a go-to vanilla bean, cold brews and iced coffees.
Pare Down Portions
If volume isn’t what you’re after, choose a shareable like the biscuit flight or fruit pancake sampler.
21810 Center Ridge Road, 440-238-4143, scramblersrestaurants.com
Classy Confections, Nostalgic Taste
Trademark macarons in flavors ranging from classic raspberry and vanilla to nostalgic Fruity Pebbles and s’mores are colorfully displayed at Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes, which offers up to 20 types daily along with cupcakes, cookies, brownies and more.
“From the beginning, our focus has been creating treats that taste as beautiful as they look, introducing some of the flavors and treats I grew up with, but giving them a makeover,” says Kelsey Shepard, owner.
Stop in Tuesday through Saturday for something sweet, and celebrate a special occasion with a decadent, creatively decorated party cake — some adorned with macarons. (Book your cake two to three weeks in advance.)
Best-Selling Picks
You’ll always find these go-to goodies: birthday cake macaron, jumbo salted chocolate chip cookie, white almond cupcake, cake batter blondie and the oatmeal cream pie “with a cult following,” Shepard says.
20033 Detroit Road, 216-767-5633, kelseyelizabethcakes.com
Wild for Cake
Cake for breakfast? Why not? A cookie to dunk in your coffee? But of course.
Wild Flour Bakery’s Sue Johansen gives you permission. A giant sign in her home reads, “Eat cake for breakfast!”
Pint-sized party cakes available in the case tempt you to find reasons to celebrate. The smallest 5-inch rounds serve four to six people. “It’s something people grab in the morning on the way to work to celebrate a colleague’s birthday or pick up on the way home ‘just because,’” Johansen says. The bakery also stocks larger cakes.
A revolving selection of seasonal cookies are assorted with everyday favorites like chocolate chip, peanut butter and double chocolate. The snickerdoodle recipe is a childhood favorite from Johansen’s mom.
“So many customers have become friends,” Johansen says, noting how the walkable neighborhood encourages passersby to drop in and nearby businesses offer a network of support.
Cinnamon Roll, Cookie-Style
Wild Flour teaches a couple of sweet roll classes each year and sells sweet rolls during holidays. Get your fix daily with a cinnamon roll sugar cookie.
20111 Lake Road, 440-331-2950, wildflourbakery.com
Call Her Kolacke Kathy
Croissant or muffin? Why not both with a cruffin from Kathy’s Kolackes and Pastry Shop, available on Saturdays in a variety of flavors, including the most popular raspberry with cream cheese frosting.
You’ll always find kolackes — the pastry that started it all in 1991, when Kathy Schriner embarked on a creative departure. She left a longtime airline role to bake fulltime, inspired by a growing following for her homemade treats.
Schriner’s kolackes are inventively filled with ingredients beyond apricot, cherry and apple. Try a hot-dog kolacke, a play on pigs-in-a-blanket. Other picks include chocolate, strawberry cream cheese and blueberry.
“We have an open kitchen, and people are mesmerized when they see us rolling dough,” Schriner says.
Fill a box full with signature butter cookies, scones, cinnamon rolls, brownies and beyond. The coffee is always on, and pups are welcome for a house-made biscuit.
Send Some Sweets
“One guy brought in a duffel bag to fill up with poppy seed rolls,” Schriner says. “He was traveling back to Florida and wanted to take them back home.” An easier way to introduce Kathy’s Kolackes to far-away friends is to shop online and send them some love. Kathy’s ships goodies all over the U.S.
19032 Old Detroit Road, 440-835-6570, kathyspastryshop.com
Who’s the Bigmouth?
No mixes, fillers or preservatives — no fake sugar, candy-aisle toppings like gummy bears or food coloring.
“Our process is unprocessed,” says Kelly Brewer, who, in 2018, opened Bigmouth Donut Co. with his wife, Diana. “We started the donut business because we got tired of eating donuts that make you feel like junk.”
Glazes and fillings contain fresh fruit, brioche dough for raised donuts is prepared in-house and frycake batter is mixed by staff who are equally passionate about producing a “real” donut. “Everything is fresh-made and perfectly imperfect,” says Brewer.
Bigmouth Donut offers about 15 options daily, including the award-winning vanilla-bean glazed and the sour cream old-fashioned frycake. You’ll find a weekly “dossant” special — a cross between a donut and croissant. Donut-egg sandwiches and a variety of vegan and gluten-free choices are available, too.
Party With Donuts
Think big and cater a wedding or event with Bigmouth Donut. Or, stop in any day for a fix, Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
19265 Detroit Road, 216-282-8228, bigmouthdonut.com
Panera Bread
Arrive before 10:30 for a Panera Bread Steak & Wake breakfast ciabatta specialty sandwich, treat yourself to Spinach & Bacon Souffle or start the day on a light note with Garden Avo Toast. Treat your office to a “feast of baked goods” with pastry indulgences like chocolate croissants and orange scones.
19705 Center Ridge Road, 440-331-0555, panerabread.com
Vitality Bowls
Acai, anyone? Vitality Bowls specializes in whipping up a thick blend of these superfood berries for its smoothies, fresh juices, soups, salads and paninis. If you’re concerned about food allergies, this kitchen is designed to prevent cross contamination of the Big 9.
19511 Center Ridge Road, 216-712-6999, vitalitybowls.com
Erie Island Coffee
At first sight, the intricate latte art that Erie Island Coffee’s baristas craft may leave you with a pang of guilt for sipping — or prompt another order. But to just admire the caffeinated concoction would be unfair to the skilled team and expert roasters who deliver what they promise is “perfection in every cup.”
“We don’t settle for less,” Erie Island says, explaining how every crop of beans has a slightly different profile, offering a unique experience in every blend. Favorites include the light roast, Jamaican Me Crazy, medium Signature Blend, bold Morning Launch and lively Craftsman Blend that promises to “keep your motor fueled all day.” Drive through or park at a table in the café and settle into a cuppa something special.
19300 Detroit Road, 440-333-1510, erieislandcoffee.com
Starbucks
It’s the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, and your local barista will remember your name. Likely, you’ll get a personalized message and doodle on your to-go cup. The Starbucks Rocky River location is a community staple in the walkable downtown district with two floors of seating for gathering, working or simply taking a break. People Google to find egg bite recipes like the ones you’ll nosh on daylong here. Favorites are the Bacon & Gruyère Egg Bites and Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites. You already know about the coffee.
19555 Detroit Road, 440-356-1760, starbucks.com
Einstein Bros. Bagels
What’s for breakfast, Einstein? Bagels, bro! Specialty selections range from Chorizo Sunrise to the Nova Lox, every egg cage-free and options for indulging or streamlining like the Santa Fe Egg White Sandwich. At Einstein Bros. Bagels, the coffee’s always on with a variety of blends.
19115 Detroit Road, 216-239-5384, einsteinbros.com
