Melt Bar and Grilled (14718 Detroit Road in Lakewood) has won awards from Cleveland Magazine, Crain's Cleveland Business, and Esquire Magazine. It has been featured on Fox News and on the Food Network. So, it should come as no surprise that there was an hour wait for a table when I arrived there for lunch.
I have yet to find a restaurant that's worth that long of a wait. I had to sit there for an hour while they made my simple take out order! Had I waited for a table, I would've been there for two hours before my food even arrived.
I really wanted to like Melt Bar and Grilled. I love the concept (creative sandwiches featuring melted cheese that are made of local ingredients), but I can't get over the hype.
My BBQ Chicken sandwich ($9.00) consisted of grilled chicken and onions slathered in barbecue sauce and topped with sharp cheddar cheese. It was good, but not wait-an-hour-for-it good. The cheese was too sharp and over-powered the flavor of the meat, and the amount of chicken was insubstantial compared to the thickness of the bread.
The sandwich came with freshly cut french fries, pickle slices, and Melt's own version of cole slaw. The fries were the best part of the meal. They were thick, fried just right, and nicely seasoned. I love a good french fry, and these did not disappoint. The cole slaw, which bore no resemblance to typical cole slaw, was seasoned and not creamy at all. Considering that I don't like "normal" cole slaw, the fact that I enjoyed Melt's version is a complement. It's pretty bad, though, when I like the side dishes more than the main course.
Melt Bar and Grilled is opening up a second location in Cleveland Heights near the end of this month. Hopefully that will narrow down the crowds and make the wait for your food (or a table) a little less ludicrous, but I am not going back to find out.
I was disappointed, to say the least. For a place that has won plenty of awards and received nationwide coverage, I expected better food. That's the only thing that would've made the wait worthwhile.
Comments
To be fair, the entire concept/vibe is what got Melt its attention: Record covers for menus, kitchy decor, tattooed/alternative waitstaff and the food. Try the sweet steak, parmageddon or the kindergartener with a side salad (awesome balsamic dressing) and the vegan chili. The deep fried Twinkie is worth a try too. I definitey recommend going on an off-time especially in warm weather to enjoy their little patio. The service is consistently slow but usually always friendly. Better luck next time. I'm in Brazil now but it is one of my Cleveland restaurants that I will visit FOR SURE when I visit.
i love this place! my sandwich was fantastic and so were the fries. the coleslaw could have a lot less ground pepper for my taste but taking the pepper out of the equation, the coleslaw was delicious. can't wait to go back again!
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