Sokolowski's University Inn - Cleveland, Ohio

http://www.sokolowskis.com/

I would like to recommend Sokolowski's to the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food as an excellent example of popular Cleveland food and fare. Sokolowski's is a cafeteria-style restaurant, operating in the Cleveland Tremont district for almost 80 years. Live music featured on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and unique decor and recipes are daily standards.

I am not sure if Sokolowski's features any sort of food challenges that would be appropriate for the show, but I believe that this restaurant, along with some of the other poster's suggestions (The Great Lakes Brewing Company, The West Side Market, and Joe's Deli) would make Cleveland, Ohio an excellent culinary experience and a very enticing episode!

*EDIT*
As an afterthought, a new brewery opened recently in Cleveland.

Fathead's Brewery - North Olmstead, Ohio

http://fatheadscleveland.com/

This local microbrewery and restaurant is based off of the original Fatheads, located in Pittsburgh. It has been immensely popular since its opening a few months ago, and features the South Side Slopes, which was rated by Maxim magazine as the 5th best sandwich in the United States.

Hey Adam and Guy,

If you're ever in the Cleveland, Ohio area, you need to check out the one and only Old Fashion Hot Dogs,or affectionately known as "Hot Dog Inn". This Cleveland landmark (in my opinion) had been around since the 1920's by a greek family that brought with them a hot dog chili sauce recipe that Skyline Cincinnati chili sauce cannot beat.
The place has sence been taken over by Tom and Loretta Sorma who continues to keep the receipe a secret. When you taste this sauce, you'll want to put it on everything. My colleague and I, Beau Schultz have brought in spaghetti, baked potatoes, put this sauce on grilled cheese and of course the proverbial french fry. Yummm!!
They won't give us the recipe, but I have been caught breaking down the 75# of hamburger they use to make a batch. And check this out; there's absoulutely no bean or liquid used to make the sauce.Just a lot of lard and love. Thay actually serve chili which is delicious, but it's not what they use to dress the dogs. Go figure! Hope you can make it in the future.

Cynthia Mason

P.S. I almost forgot. Adam there's another place in Akron, Ohio called Louis Bar and Grille that serves the best burgers in the city and I challenge you to try to eat 5 of those babies!

DSC00020.JPG (15 KB, 2 downloads) Me

I have a link for Louis, but Hot Dog Inn is a 8 seat diner operation so it's not in their budget.

http://www.akronsbestburger.com/

Cynthia

Alright one more time, totally spelled Louie's wrong. It's Louie's Bar and Grille in Akron, Ohio

Cynthia Mason

Adam, you definitely need to visit "Jackson Hole Restaurant" in Massillon, Ohio. Not only is the service great, the food is fantastic. They have even have a create your own breakfast pizzas! But what you need to go for is the TWELVE EGG OMELET WITH YOUR CHOICE OF 2 ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS, HOMEFRIES AND 2 10" PANCAKES. You get 45 minutes to eat this monsterous meal and get it free! I have never seen it done but Adam you might be up to the challenge. Come to football country and enjoy the great food and atmosphere.

Adam, I have been watching your show for a while now and I am amazed how you can eat these mosterous items but it brought to mind another awesome treat for you to attempt, the TWELVE EGG OMELET at JACKSON HOLE RESTUARANT IN MASSILLON, OH. This great breakfast consists of a huge twelve egg omelet with two additional ingredients of your choice plus homefies and two 10" pancakes. Eat it is 45 minutes and it is FREE! Plus you get a free t shirt and your photo on the wall. Not many have succeed so far, DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU? Bet we can beat you!

Adam,
You have to check out the King Kong Challenge at Dougs Classic 57 in Alliance Ohio. www.dougsclassic57.com many have tried and only a few have done it. Plus Mount Union College is located accross the street. Home of 10 Div III Football National Titles might make a nice side story for the show. Are you afraid of the King Kong Challenge. Doug's is set up to look like a 50's diner and Doug himself is a great great man. If anyone deserves the publicity it would be DOug and his classic 57 Diner. Thanks Shaun in Cleveland Mount Union alumni '98.

MIkes place in Kent, Ohio, has a burger that only like 3-6 peopel have finished. It is called the stu-anator. It's 60 oz of meat packed into 6 burger. Starts off with a hero bun, lettuce, tomato, fries, 3 burgers flat next to each other, two kinds of cheese, bun, lettuce, tomato, 3 more burgers, more cheese, more fries then condiments, and finally top bun. That would be a mouthful for even you Adam.

Mikes004[1].JPG (19 KB, 1 downloads) Stu-Anator

I loved the episode in Columbus with the OSU tailgating party and the trip to Schmidts. Love their Bahama Mama sausages and cream puffs! Next time you're in Ohio Adam, you should drop by Tony Packo's in Toledo to snack on one of their M.O.A.D.s. That's the Mother Of All Dogs! It's about 14" of their own smoked sausage on a footlong bun drizzled with their delicious hot dog sauce, covered in cheese and buried in a mound of their own sweet-hot pickles and peppers. They're so good I'll even drive 140 miles from Dayton Ohio every once in a while just to eat them. Their regular Tony Packo's hungarian chili dogs are pretty good too, along with other homeade goodies such as chicken paprikas and gravy, and hot german potato salad. Tony Packo's already has some fame from being mentioned in the tv show M.A.S.H., and they have several walls of their dining area covered with hotdog buns signed by famous people. I don't think the walls would be covered with all those signed hotdog buns if the food wasn't great! Definitely worth a stop next time you're in Ohio.

Adam, There is a challenge in Fairview Park, Ohio for you. Great food and atmosphere. The Fairview Tavern (Chow Down Challenge) You must eat a 2lb strip steak, baked potato, and salad or 2- 12'' pizzas with 2 toppings within 1 hour. I have not personally tried this, but you DA man for this challenge.

Adam, I'm pretty sure you've got the best job in the world- I'm envious! I travel a lot for work in Northern Ohio, and always try to eat somewhere interesting. I love good food!

Montgomery Inn; Cincinnati- someone mentioned it already...but I'll back it up. These ribs are ones you won't forget. Go for the king size rack and a full order of "saratoga chips." I myself have done a king and a regular size...every bite as good as the first.

Sokolowski's University Inn; Cleveland- Again; already mentioned, but definitely a uniquely old, "been around for ever" feel to it. Cafeteria style serving; all home-made heavy duty food. Every time I go there it puts me in a food-coma...fantastic eats.

West Side Market; Cleveland- I'll back this one up too- for a food guy, it's a mecca. Fresh everything, everywhere. More of a market than a restaraunt, but plenty of places to snag kick butt food and lots of it.

Slymans; Cleveland- Somebody before me mentioned their Ruben sandwich. www.slymans.com It's big, and it's GOOD! You don't realize how big it is because every bite is as good as the one before...goes down so smooth. Very hearty portions, like a landmark of the area. Incredibly unique lingo for their menu as well.

Chet & Matt's Pizza; here in Sandusky- The King Kong Pizza is no joke. I've been to Chicago...and the BEST pizza I've eaten has been there, but Chet & Matts does very well around this area. I ordered their King Kong once, and it was so big, it would hardly fit in the cab of a standard-cab full-size pickup truck with room for me to drive. When they deliver this damn thing, they have to do so in the BED of a pickup truck. I'm not a huge pizza eater, but it took me and 3 other guys 2 days to make one disappear.

Pine Club; Dayton- Not sure if they have any challenges, but some of the largest and best quality steaks I've eaten yet. Very old-school place- cash only. Pine wood everywhere; guess it was a favorite place of President Bush- had is seat marked with his picture.

Adam If your in Cleveland OH you HAVE to Stop at this Place called LEGENDS they have a 1/2 pound All beef Black angus Hot Dog that They call the Legends signature Hot dog.. their Challenge is to beat the Record of Eating 6 of these in one sitting. If you Accomplish this Feat you get an official Legend shirt $25 Gift certificate and the meal is one them

I personally Have Made it to 4 before i could not Eat any further

Adam! Please come and check out Famous Dave's here in Toledo, OH...I think you'll really like it!

Gary
Deli stuffed pretzel challenge, 3 lbs of pretzel filled with ham, roast beaf, turkey, provalone cheese, swiss cheese, and american cheese.I bet you can't eat it. This can be served at Servatii pastry shop. contact me at gagottenbusch@servatiipastryshop.com

I can't believe nobody has recommended Whitey's Booze n' Burgers in Richfield,Ohio. They are exactly between Cleveland and Akron. Unbelievable place. They opened in 1953 and have been going strong since. Whitey's keeps winning "best burger" awards by local TV networks as well as many surrounding newspapers. This IS Adam's kind of place without a doubt, not to mention he has to meet Willie the bartender, he's crazy and funny. Whitey's is the "Cheers" of the area. A must-go if the show rolls through Cleveland. Man vs. Food is such an entertaining show, great job.