Don’t get me wrong, I love good food, but the concept of the food truck always had one flaw to me… no beer. Chris Hodgson solves that problem for me by parking his culinary talents in a traditional restaurant space in downtown Cleveland called Hodge’s.
Hodge’s Cleveland
668 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216-771-4000
Hodge’s is the collaborative concept of Chris Hodgson and Scott Kuhn. Chris is a notable food truck chef earning local fame with Dim and Den Sum and Hodge Podge food trucks as well as national exposure with The Great Food Truck Race earning runner up on the first season. Scott is an up and coming restaurateur most recently opening Washington Place Bistro in Little Italy.
Located on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland, Hodge’s benefits from it’s proximity to the popular E. 4th neighborhood. It is continuing the eastbound sprawl which includes the recently opened, Colossal Cupcakes.
Some of the food truck roots work their way into the restaurant. Diners will be served a tater-tot amuse as well as cornbread with bourbon aioli. The cornbread with the aioli is spectacular. From there, the menu gets a little more sophisticated but approachable. The pickiest of diners should be able to find something on the menu. My favorite from the truck, the PBLT makes an appearance on the lunch menu where it can be ordered with tots or as a “lunchbox” with a soup and salad for $11.50.
The beer list reminds me a lot of the list at Washington Place. Most of the list is pretty safe, but as long as there are a couple options that I will be interested in, I am fine. Hodge’s will also be the only place, besides Market Garden, to offer Market Garden Brewery beer. Beginning today they will have Pearl Street Wheat on draught, perhaps my favorite of their brews. I am sure it does not hurt to have Market Garden Owner, Sam McNulty’s brother, William, behind the bar at Hodge’s.
Hodge’s will be open today at 4pm and through the weekend. Monday they plan on beginning their normal hours which will be lunch and dinner beginning at 11am everyday except Sunday. This might be a rather popular place after the Tribe’s home opener next Thursday, April 5. They will have live entertainment after the game with Disco Inferno as well as an appearance by some of Cleveland’s Food trucks.
Highlights:
Happy Hour from 2pm – 8pm all week.
Tuesdays are 2 for $40 (1 starter, 2 entrées & bottle of wine)
Locally sourced food including Chef’s Garden
Great patio and atmosphere
Good cocktail program
More info about Hodges:
Food-truck owner Chris Hodgson opening brick-and-mortar Hodge’s Thursday, on Euclid Avenue: Restaurant Row
