Twisted Taino to Open Restaurant in Parma, Close Location at Sauce the City Galley in Ohio City

For nearly a decade, Jose Melendez has been steadily marching toward his goal of opening a Latin-inspired restaurant. Finally, after a series of delays, that will happen on August 1st in Parma. Twisted Taino Restaurant (5633 Pearl Rd., 216-939-5444) is the culmination of Melendez' experience catering, hosting pop-ups and, most recently, running an eatery of the same name at the Sauce the City Galley in Ohio City.

The 5,500-square-foot restaurant will open first as a fast-casual carry-out business with outdoor seating. Phase II will usher in dine-service with seating for 80 to 100 guests. Unfortunately, the Ohio City location will close.

Like Twisted Taino in Ohio City, the new restaurant blends the cultures and flavors of Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico and various Caribbean ports of into delicious new ways. Appetizers include empanadas stuffed with a variety of fillings and smashed and fried tostones with avocado-based dipping sauce.

Melendez makes exceptional mofongo that gets stuffed with a choice of garlic shrimp, guajillo-roasted pork or crispy chicharron. It's sauced and garnished with fried potato sticks for added texture. Pastelón, often referred to as Puerto Rican lasagna, swaps the traditional pasta for thinly sliced plantain.

The Tripleta wrap is a burrito bursting with tender shredded pork, chicken, ham, cheese and a trio of sauces. Other handhelds include a traditional Cubano, a plantain-capped hamburger and soft corn-shelled tacos available with a choice of seven different seafood, meat or veggie fillings.