To survive 22 years in the restaurant game takes more than a little moxie; it takes flexibility. Over the years, Moxie restaurant in Beachwood has endured more nips, tucks and tweaks than a C-List celebrity. Up next for the pioneering Cleveland bistro is the deepest cut of all.
The restaurant, which Esquire magazine included in its annual list of best new restaurants in 1998, will close its doors on Saturday, April 27. When it reopens a few weeks later in June, it will do so with a new name, design, menu and concept, according to company reps.
This is far from the first time Moxie has announced changes – sweeping or otherwise. Over the years, guests have watched as the menu expanded and contracted to correspond with current dining trends. Conventional arrangements of appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts gave way to those touting small, medium and large plate formats. Those, in turn, were swept away in favor of a menu flush with salads, sandwiches, half portions and smaller (read less expensive) entrees.
Cleveland diners, wherever they elect to eat, can thank Moxie owner Brad Friedlander for seeding the local market with household names like Doug Katz, Karen Small, Tim Bando, Eric Williams, Jonathan Bennett and John Kolar, all of whom have worked their way through the proving ground of Moxie.
As we near the reopening (or is it opening?) of the restaurant, we’ll learn more about the concept and menu. In the meantime, Red, the Steakhouse (3355 Richmond Rd., 216-831-5599) in Beachwood will now be open daily for lunch.
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