Vine and Bean Cafe

12706 Larchmere Blvd.
Cleveland, OH
216-707-3333
www.vineandbeancafe.com

The owners of Lucky's Cafe in Tremont have opened up a new cafe in the Larchmere district and I finally got a chance to go check them out the other weekend. Vine and Bean Cafe has taken over the old Cafe Limbo house and serves up the same delectable menu items as Lucky's. They day I visited there were two individuals working the front counter and serving the outside patio that had two other tables seated when we arrived. They have not been open too long so they are still ironing out the details of staff and hours. They seemed to be a bit disorganized as whom was doing what, i.e. menus/delivering food/drinks, etc. That is one of the good details about Lucky's in Tremont, you order at the front counter and then someone brings the food to the table. Nice and easy, there is no question of traditional table service, but at Vine and Bean, there was definitely some confusion of table service or no table service. I am just fine without the traditional, but they need to decide which works best for them and just go with it.
We ordered cappuccinos which were delicious. I opted for the Lemon Waffles with honey whipped cream and a Blueberry Compote. The waffles had a great Lemon flavor, but I wasn't all that impressed with the texture of the waffles. You can't go wrong with Honey Whipped Cream and I am not usually a huge fan of the Blueberry, but the compote was delicious. The blueberries lent a perfect tartness that paired well with the sweet cream.
My companion ordered an egg, ham, and cheese croissant sandwich. He seemed very pleased with his selection, and said it was exactly what he was looking for.
The space of the new Vine and Bean Cafe is very comfortable and the outside patio is a great place to relax on a late morning or early afternoon. I look forward to sipping a glass of wine on their patio, as they advertise live music sometime in the future.
Vine and Bean Cafe is definitely a place I will return to if not for the delicious cappuccino, for the beautiful surroundings and relaxed atmosphere.

Lucky's Cafe

Revisited:

777 Starkweather
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 622-7773
www.luckyscafe.com

An afternoon stop at Lucky's...
After having lunch downtown I had a craving for something sweet. Lucky's was the spot. I had experienced their sweets in the past, and had mixed feelings. I was ready to try again, and I had no complaints. A cappuccino and a Milk Chocolate Brownie with Butter cream frosting and burnt sugar crust. Mmmm. The Brownie was moist and smooth and the slight crunch from the sugar crust was perfect with the creamy frosting. The cappuccino was exquisitely frothed and the espresso was perfectly balanced. The two were just what I was looking for, and as always Lucky's was there for the afternoon treat.

Lucky's Cafe

777 Starkweather
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 622-7773
www.luckyscafe.com

Lucky's Cafe in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood is a perfect place to sit and sip coffee all day or just stop in for a quick bite. The cafe has indoor seating and outdoor seating. The seating outside consists of picnic tables lined up along side their personal herb and vegetable gardens.
Each time I have been to Lucky's I have left pleased and sometimes overly caffeinated, due to over indulgence of the luscious coffee. They are open seven days a week, but only serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. They offer sweet selections like scones, tarts, cookies, and cupcakes as well as soups and sandwiches. The sandwiches are served on your choice of house baked breads from focaccia and multigrain, to baguettes and flaky croissants. My most recent visit I left with two cupcakes and a peanut butter brownie, and unfortunately, all three were dry and unimpressive. Because of how good everything else has been, I surely will try again.
On the brunch days they serve delectable options, from gingerbread waffles with maple apples, honey whipped cream and house made caramel, to the Shipwreck: an egg scramble of bacon, potatoes, peppers, and cheese, served with buttery toast. I also have enjoyed their house made granola served with yogurt and fruit, as well as the oh so rich, brioche stuffed French toast, with sweetened ricotta and served with caramelized peaches. Sweet deliciousness. Even if you arrive on a busy weekend morning, the overstuffed couch near the front is a perfect spot to enjoy your meal and coffee while looking out of the large picture window on to the street, or conversing with your neighbor across the table.
The staff is always helpful and courteous. A few additional perks are that they adorn the walls with local artists' works, and also feature a daily dark roast, medium roast, and flavored coffee.
There is nothing like a locally owned cafe; especially one that grows it's own veggies and herbs, and Lucky's is definitely not one to overlook.