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Shay’s is a place where blue collar boys, rednecks, cops and the urban working-class go to get great fare at inexpensive prices. Shay’s does not belong on East Fourth it just wouldn’t work there. But on E. 40th and St. Clair it is an oasis in a challenged neighborhood. Shay’s has the added celebrity of having been showcased in a couple scenes of the Harvey Pekar movie American Splendor.
The MenuI met the cool kids – Chris West and Joel Kirk – from EatingAroundTown.com on your typical blustery cold Cleveland winter day to nosh at Shay’s and talk about the rich restaurant scene around the City. The second I sat down our wonderful waitress gave us warm greeting and took our drink order. The menus placed down in front of us offered a rich selection of some of the finest diner fare possible. Shay’s offers a deep variety of appetizers. The restaurant has a full menu of breakfast fare that it serves all day and with a smile. Burgers. Hot sandwiches slathered in gravy! Diner fare – meatloaf, pizza, and onion rings – for the masses. The restaurant also offers an authentic Halal Breakfast. This is a foodie’s fantasy place. The problem you will encounter won’t be not being able to find something to eat but rather wanting to order too much off this full menu. The FoodLet’s just say there was much debate and jostling regarding who was going to order what. My boys ordered up the jalapeño poppers for an appetizer. Joel then went for the breakfast food and ordered up an extreme omelet and a pancake. (A fine choice for lunch by the way.) Chris played it a bit safe and went with the famous Shay Burger. And I kept the “Old School” theme and ordered a hot meat loaf sandwich with gravy.
There have been times when all of us have ordered food based upon what our eyes desire and not what our stomachs can handle. I am pretty safe in suggesting that was the case at Shay’s. When the food arrived it was if a cornucopia was served on each plate. Joel’s omelet was larger than the plate! It was a gigantic, hot pile of eggs, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage, bacon and two (yes, two) types of cheeses. Just delightful. Most diner’s serve a decent two or three egg omelets but this was close to 20-eggs if I was counting correctly, which I wasn’t. But the point being this was truly an extreme omelet. Joel’s pancake was a gorgeous brown about eight inches wide and replete with a large dollop of real butter on top. It looked damn tasty and was reported by Joel to be just that. The Shay Burger ordered by Chris was ridiculous. Good that is! The Shay Burger is the best half-pound-of-beef money can buy. There are no pre-formed perfect beef patties here, my friends. Oh no! Only hand formed mounds of burger. The burger was layered with tons of cheese, crispy bacon and all the accoutrements one would want on a burger. The fries could have had a bit more character, I understand – but were certainly right out of the fryer where they have that crisp cover and great steam. Truth is the burger took Chris to task – since the young man couldn’t finish it at the table and had to call a truce with the gargantuan sandwich. Chris took the rest home and will finish later what was started at lunch. No doubt in my mind that if there was an honest, good competition for Cleveland’s best burger – Shay’s would surprise a lot of people with its fresh and, at times, overwhelming, burger.
My meatloaf sandwich when placed in front of me reminded me of my days as young pup going downtown with my Grandmother and after a few hours of shopping stopping by one of the lunch counters and ordering the old style open faced hot sandwich. There was a large mound of freshly made mashed potatoes – check. A massive meatloaf sandwich on white bread (not toast – bread) – check. And the entire plate slathered in brown gravy. Check! I have to say the meatloaf had a little spice lovingly placed in the recipe, which gave it a lingering heat in the throat. Very nice touch. The mashed potatoes were insanely good with the residue chunks of spud and butter. The gravy was divine. I am hoping to scope out the hot turkey sandwich next time I go to Shay’s. The sign of good diner is not messing with the tried and true diner menu. It is imperative if you offer an old style hot sandwich that you deliver. And Shay’s delivered. Well. The only negative item I have to report about Shay’s was that the boys were a wee bit disappointed in the jalapeño poppers. But here’s to trying something new on the menu next time we go. DepartingListen, Shay’s is not going to win any awards for its interior design. I doubt the chef will win any awards for his/her culinary skills. And honestly, the floor could use a good wash (or two). But the food stands superior among Cleveland’s “diners, drive-ins and dives” scene. I certainly would recommend Shay’s for a unique business breakfast or luncheon. This place celebrates its “Old Schools” roots and in a town that celebrates the trendy food establish this is certainly a breathe of fresh air. |
