Melt Bar & Grilled, the local dining sensation that's swept the food-TV nation, has announced plans for a fourth location, slated to open mid-October in Mentor. Far-east diners can look forward to the largest Melt to date, with seating for 140 inside and another 40 to 50 outdoors. The look and feel — a sort of Cleve-centric, post-punk, rec-room vibe — will most closely resemble the Independence location.
The concept and menu — built around ginormous gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches washed down by a vast assortment of beers, booze, and other things to drink — will be an exact match to the other locations.
"We're very excited to be opening a fourth location in Mentor," says owner Matt Fish. "We already see many guests travel to Melt from the Mentor area, so we're looking forward to building a whole new customer base there and becoming a neighborhood favorite."
Other Melts can be found in Lakewood at 14718 Detroit Avenue, in Cleveland Heights at 13463 Cedar Road, and in Independence at 6700 Rockside Road. Learn more at meltbarandgrilled.com.
SOUP'S ON: Jim Barle says that if he didn't own the building, he'd never have opened his own café. In this case, the structure in question is the stately Heights Rockefeller Building, and the café is Barle Soup & Sandwich, which opened April 1.
"I did it because I think it's good for the building," he explains. "As the owner, I want it to prosper."
The bright and comfortable 2,500-square-foot café offers mainly counter service. Guests order and pay, then take a seat in the dining room. Staffers bring the food when it's ready. Patio seating is coming soon.
Menu choices include soups from the Souper Market, "design-your-own salads," sandwiches built on Stone Oven breads, and baked goods.
Buoyed by the many people who work in the area, as well as the residents of the nearby Forest Hills neighborhood, Barle says the new café is off to a great start.
Find them at 2479 Lee Boulevard in Cleveland Heights. Learn more at barlesoupandsandwich.com or call 216-371-3050.
PIG'S ON WHEELS: Food truck fans will soon see another rig cruising the mean streets of Cleve: The Rolling Pig. Owner Gary Wittlock spent the better part of 10 months converting a 1984 Ford step van into a mobile barbecue pit.
"I started catering last year to get funds to buy the truck," says Wittlock, a longtime call-center employee.
Instead of hickory or mesquite, the truck's custom built-in smoker is fueled by maple wood. That gives the meat a sweeter taste, Wittlock says. Features include pulled pork, beef brisket, and turkey. Meats are sold as sandwiches, platters, or stuffed into giant baked potatoes.
Learn more at 440-983-1547 or visit therollingpigbbq.com.
PLANTING MARIGOLD: "We're in spaces all over the city, but until now we've had no place to call our own," says Joan Rosenthal, owner of Marigold Catering. Now in its 15th year, the popular catering company has added an events space to its 12,000-square-foot headquarters at 3901 Lakeside Avenue.
Designed by Chris Demkow — the name behind such fashionable places as Club Isabella and Felice — the room is described as "cool, urban, and sophisticated." It features a built-in bar, stage, and hand-painted murals. It can accommodate between 120 and 175 people.
Call 216-566-5400 for more info.
