Coastal Taco quietly closed on the last day of 2018. Since opening the beachy taqueria almost three years ago, owner Rick Doody came to the realization that there’s more to life than just tacos. This past November, Doody opened Lindey’s Lake House next door to his popular Beachwood restaurant Cedar Creek Grille, and he has been so pleased with the reception that he decided to expand the concept downtown.
“We’re trying to build a brand in Cleveland,” he says. “People love the vibe of Coastal Taco, the bar-centricness of the place, but you’ve got to have more than just tacos these days.”
When the paper comes off the windows, diners will discover a casual but fashionable setting that conjures images of the Hamptons, Cape Cod or Michigan’s Walloon Lake, a destination that holds a special place in Doody’s heart. The new Lake House décor ups the comfort factor with more booths, roomier furniture, enhanced lighting and a fresh coat of paint.
“We’re trying to kick it up a notch, to get rid of some of the hokeyness,” Doody says. “A place where you’re willing to spend $20 instead of $3 for a taco.”
Like the original in Beachwood, this one will offer a wide range of approachable, appealing American foods. Starters include guac and chips, skillet cornbread, spicy calamari and hot crab dip. Taco platters and thin-crusted brick oven pizzas share top billing with popular Lake House items, as well as some plucked from Cedar Creek Grille. On offer will be fried chicken, fish and chips, lobster rolls, cedar-planked salmon and steak frites.
“It’s like the best of both worlds,” Doody notes.
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This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2019.
Will they have a DJ on Saturdays? What about Fresh juiced margaritas????
Were trying to kick it up a notch, to get rid of some of the hokeyness, Doody says. A place where youre willing to spend $20 instead of $3 for a taco.
Lost me when he said “hokeyness”…there was…and is…nothing wrong with the riverside patio setting. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken.
As for “A place where youre willing to spend $20 instead of $3 for a taco.” UM…not so much. Went there on my birthday a couple of summers ago, and bobody was spending a lousy three bucks. The tacos were teensy and were more akin to sliders in size. So if you wanted a meal, and not a snack, you were spemding a lot more than three bucks for a taco. Two or three tacos were certainly not enough, and you needed other items from the menu as well, if you wanted to satisfy your hunger.
So you were already spending closer to twenty bucks than a mere three, and it’s likely that this new “concept” will likely kick the prices up a notch or two higher. Hopefully, the service will be better, as well.
He may have had a lot of previous success, and made a lot of money, but claiming that the place was some “hokey” Flats dive with cheapo tacos is an outright falsehood. In that respect, Doody is full of crap.
Its nice to see a taco place go away. Im glad to see something a little more upscale and varied. They still need some good Asian, non sushi food down there. Like Asian Peatl Singapore rice noodles and their awesome egg rolls., or Ho Wahs Thai Basil chicken or Kung Pao chicken Ho Fun. Some good pork potstickers would be nice also. Not those thin skinned tasteless ones everyone seems to serve. Nice, thicker skinned ones steamed nicely and pan fried nicely on the bottom.
While Im st it, Id like some good pasta with a plain old tomato meat sauce without cream and cheese in it. Captain franks was fun to go to at 2:30am and get the pasta and meatballs after the bars.