The area around E. 55th and St. Clair might not feel much like a neighborhood, but Café 55 (1361 E. 55th St., 216-600-5275) feels very much like a neighborhood asset. This chef-driven breakfast and lunch spot, the newest component of developer Rick Semersky’s Hub 55 project to open, puts a fresh spin on the corner bodega.

In place of soda, chips and 40-ouncers of malt liquor, Café 55 is stocked with locally sourced niceties like kombucha from Bearded Buch, cold-pressed juices from Anna in the Raw, fresh bagels from Cleveland Bagel and pastries from Bonbon Bakery. Early risers can grab a cup of fresh-brewed espresso and a croissant to go or place a breakfast order to enjoy in the bright and contemporary dining room.

Like most of the food served at Café 55, the breakfast options (served until close) are fast, fresh, flavorful and affordable. All are Breakfast Scrambles ($8), which build off the same chassis of scrambled eggs on a bed of roasted potatoes. The Rise ‘n Shine, for example, adds cheddar cheese, scallions, roasted sweet onion, fresh basil and fat lardons of smoky bacon made on premises. Others feature avocado, red peppers and goat cheese, or a vegan version with tofu (in place of eggs), avocado, basil and spicy honey. Each is bountiful and delicious.

Lunch customers, too, have their pick between grab-and-go options or custom, made-to-order bowls. In the cooler are packages of sushi from Sushi 86 and special lunch bowls prepared daily. The main items, for dine-in or takeout, are build-your-own affairs, with diners selecting a base (flatbread, roasted spuds, greens or brown rice), a protein (pulled chicken, roast beef, pulled pork or tofu) and a style. The Americas ($11), for example, takes my chosen flatbread and beef and marries them with tangy chimichurri sauce, roasted onions, fresh salsa and chunks of fresh, mild cheese. There are eight different styles from which to choose.

Keen visitors to Café 55 will notice a pass-through window connecting the restaurant to the new Goldhorn Brewery, next up on the Hub 55 punchlist. That brewery will boast a roomy taproom with seating for up to 100, all of whom can order food from Café 55’s expanded menu.

Café 55 is easy to get to and has a private parking lot. It is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 4, 2015.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

7 replies on “Neighborhood Asset: Café 55 Puts Fresh Spin on Corner Bodega”

  1. This article is rude and boarder line racist. Please reconsider your words before you make a sad attempt at a joke (40-ouncers). Just because the neighborhood isn’t the wealthiest in Cleveland doesn’t mean the lively Salvic population appreciates your comments about this not feeling like a neighborhood. The other members of the community enjoy being community gardeners, business owners, and great people. Not everyone lives like you do. Be sensitive of that.

  3. Becca = the new PC censorship police

    Thanks Becca. It don’t believe it helps society to be so sensitive you can’t even handle understanding what the shelves used to stock when reading this story. “40 ouncers” are not cool but I’m sure if it said at “home abortion kits” you’d be ok with that.

    One of the most pervasive problems in America (and Congress) is our inability to analyze the game by saying a thing or two about the players. Imagine how it would play out in baseball if no one was allowed to talk about shortstops or pitchers.

    Have you written me off as being a fringe weirdo yet? If you haven’t I’m surprised as that seems to be liberal mafia move #1. Becca not trying to slam you but this PC stuff is killing America which happens to be a place I care about.

  4. What a horribly written article. Half way through I had to look at who wrote it. I was thinking it had to be a stringer or a quest reviewer, I was surprised it was Trattner. So many uncalled for ‘shots’ at the area surrounding ’55’. Stop the judgement and keep your suburban social views to yourself.

  5. You uber sensitive touchy folks complaining about the tone of this article have obviously never been to any of the businesses in the area.

    I know exactly where to go for chips, soda, and a 40 over here. There are multiple places. Lots of them. Whether you bleeding heart social justice warriors want to admit it or not, the stereotypes of the ghetto are not just hearsay.

    Stop being so damned offended by reality.

  6. ^Hey genius, there are multiple places to go for 40 ouncers in Brunwick too, but somehow that doesn’t define them. Hmm wonder why…

  7. The Owner Rick Semersky does not pay his bills. He’s got a lot of nerve acting like he’s such a great guy from Cleveland. He stole from me by coercing me and my company to do work at his restaurant. Acted like a friend, smiled and patted me on the back every day and talked a good game about how much he loved our work while making false promises of more work he was going to give us down the road at a brewery he wants to build.
    Then stuck me for over $30,000.00 for CAFE 55. Never paid ONE PENNY for his job. I paid for everything to help fix up his ghetto building on 55th. He received HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS from the City of Cleveland to pay for improvements to his building! Who is keeping track of that??
    Now I have a Lien on the building, and he’s smiling in the Plain Dealer about his good hearted inspirations and dreams.
    Really Rick? You’re a lowlife scumbag that should be avoided like a bad rash
    He has hurt my family and my company tremendously.
    I despise people that feed off of the hard work of others.
    I would never solicit his business and I would advise caution with anyone ever considering doing any work with him, for him or his company.
    Greg Mata, President
    Cutting Edge Decorative Concrete
    Richfield, Ohio

Comments are closed.