Wednesday was opening night at Bar Symon in Avon. We walked in a little after “normal” dinner hour, to a packed and bustling beautiful space, complete with local news crews (which we apparently made a brief crowd shot appearance for a split second… still locating the video). There was an hour-and-a-half wait.
Admiring the bar (and varied beer list!!), we remarked how this was almost like Symon’s answer to The Greenhouse Tavern (one of our favorite places) — with a similar trendy-staff-funky-restaurant-yet-relaxed-lounge kind of vibe.
Back to the beer list… it is just fantastic! There were many beers of which I had never heard — both draft and bottled — and I started on the “fruity” list with a Rodenbach Flanders Red Ale. Delicious, raspberry-ish taste (and reasonable price point) made it a definite “I-want-to-try-everything-on-the-list” draft night. Perhaps I’ll spread those tastings across multiple visits.
After being seated, I ordered another “funky/odd” draft from the list — a Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale (vegetable beer?!). I have never heard the term “vegetable beer.” It was equally as delicious as my first selection, at an equally as happy-hour draft pricing. I have no knowledge to actual “happy hour” prices, but with nothing on the menu more than $18, this is definitely a wallet-friendly night out.
With our second round of beers (and full orders placed), our appetizer of wings arrived. While small, they were easily pulled from the bone. I believe the vegetables in the wing basket were sweetened peppers (or perhaps a pepper slaw?) and balanced out what I thought was an otherwise overly seasoned (salty?) wing.
Unfortunately I had the same “my-taste-buds-say-salty” sensation on the fried Brussels sprouts. Although I have a new idea in preparation, as I typically pan sear the sprouts whole when I prepare them at home.
What was generally uneventful at the forefront of my meal, was immediately improved upon my first bite in to the Bar Symon burger (basket-ed with again, weirdly salted fries and sweet, sweet ketchup). Served on a giant English muffin, topped with bacon, fried egg and cheddar — and cooked PERFECTLY medium rare without nary a bloody or greasy run in sight — my mouth was in complete heaven for quite possibly the burger that I would order if I ever find myself on Death Row (potentially for killing someone over eating my burger).
AB ordered the lamb roast (special for Wednesdays, until they run out; cannot wait for Goat Taco Tuesdays!), which was also cooked to perfection and topped with a seriously to-die-for mint-cilantro-yogurt sauce and paired with sliced potatoes.
After eating quietly my entire burger-of-mass-delight, I truly imagined there to be no room for dessert. Yet, I always need to know what is on the list. Upon hearing from the other side of the table an inquiry to the infamous Guinness ice cream, I decided on the telepathic suggestion of the waitress — as “ice cream sandwich” was really the only thing I heard. This resulted in yet another fabulous decision, as two pieces of triple-stacked banana bread sandwiches, layered with a light spread of peanut butter were presented for our full enjoyment. Emphasis on full. The extra side of peanut butter to drizzle over was just bonus.
Being stuck on the west side in soccer-mom-suburbia has pained me time-and-time again with its excess in (disgusting) chain establishments, so we will most definitely make return visits to Bar Symon. There are several items on the menu over which I was salivating (big board of sausages! tomato soup! mac & cheese!!!), and our first meal was a great start.
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July 6th, 2009 at 6:44 am
I’m so glad you reviewed this place. I’ve been so excited to try it out - even more so now!
July 7th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I can’t wait to try that. I always make my parents come to downtown cleveland or the east side for a restaurant, but I guess I have an excuse to drive farther west than usual to meet them.