For the past year, Diane Miller has been quietly at work turning a handsome brick storefront on a quiet block in Ohio City into a restaurant. Miller has done her best to keep the details of the project under the radar (despite my attempt last year to pry the story loose), but given that opening day is just around the bend, the cat officially is out of the bag.
Within the month, Pastas and Pastries will open at 3800 Whitman Avenue, just around the corner from St. Patrick’s Church. Miller is not in this alone; she has enlisted industry veteran Ron Heinbaugh as her partner, pulling the former Snicker’s and Crazy Mac’s owner out of restaurant retirement.
“Diane and her husband were longtime fans of Snicker’s, and I worked part-time at the B&B,” says Heinbaugh about his involvement in the project.
The quaint 45-seat bistro will serve pasta, including a dozen different mac and cheeses, plus seafood, a few starters, some sandwiches. “A little bit of Italian, a little bit of everything,” says Heinbaugh, who admits that the menu is still in flux. “We’re just trying to make it fun.”
There is no physical bar, but the restaurant does have a full liquor license and thus will be selling beer, wine and cocktails. Dinner service and Sunday brunch will begin first, followed by lunch service at a later date.
Dessert will be given special attention here, with homemade German chocolate cake, carrot cake, coconut cake, lemon tarts and other sweets being available for dine-in or take-away enjoyment.
“We both like to bake, so we’re going to offer some really good homemade desserts,” Heinbaugh adds.
An early word of caution: Pasta’s will be cash only: “It’s the new trend,” says Miller.
Look for Pasta’s to open within the next few weeks.
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2014.
Cash is the new trend? Who’s under a rock?
Duh!!!
yeah, that 3% service charge on credit cards is the difference between a restaurant surviving or not? ridiculous….
Definitely not a new trend- nice try
boring
I will never go here, and this is because… 1) cash only is only a reason to not pay taxes, 2) this sounds like a reject concept from the 1990’s, and 3) nothing says balanced meal like a big plate of mac n cheese followed by a slice a cake.
what a joke
Too bad – was excited about a new restaurant in the area!
I haven’t carried cash in years and I don’t think I’m going to start anytime soon. Too bad though, this sounds like it could have been good.
I expect cash only at sketchy corner stores and extremely shady bars. If a restaurant can’t afford the small processing fee then I wouldn’t trust the food quality. As a hairstylist I say cash preferred but I would NEVER tell someone that they have to pay in cash, it’s rude! And I can’t imagine that it would benefit a sit down restaurant like this, they will lose the clientele that like to sit and spend spend spend while relaxing over food and drinks. Imagine getting a $100+ bill and not having enough cash? Plus no one carries checks anymore either!
It appears everyone has thus far missed the point of cash only operations. Avoiding taxes.
the 3% ccard is nothing compared to the 38% (plus many many other ways to hide income) you save from the government.
Some “trend” that is… I think I am going to skip this one until they figure out how to fill their 45 seats with “cashless” customers.
Cash only restaurants equal fast food restaurants! If you don’t want my Amex, I don’t need your food! I have only been to one other restaurant that didn’t accept credit cards……. Stino de Napoli in Rocky River…… I haven’t been there since. Fortunately I had 100.00 on me at the time …or I’d of had to wash dishes. BTW, HEADS UP TO MS. MILLER….customers spend more money where credit cards are accepted !
If you don’t take a credit card…. you won’t be seeing me.
Cash only works in neighborhoods filled with old folks….good luck getting them to spend their money in your place. Enough already! Just take cards, not taking debit cards is like spitting in the face of science and I freaking love science.
You guys need to relax on the cash and focus on the 12 macs and cheeses. Drink a V8 before you go if need to be “balanced.”
I’ve been to a couple cash only restaraunts and let me tell you, it was some of the best food that felt like homemade. Plus, they have been around for 20+ years. Don’t knock until you try it. Give these independent places a chance.
The real issue is the name: Pastas and Pastries. What? Terrible name.
What a great plan to draw crime. Run a CASH ONLY business in an obscure part of Ohio City.
New trend?… Sorry grandma the new trend is called bitcoin, not cash… Seriously you can setup a square credit card reader from any mobile device in less then 5 minutes and they only take 2.75%. Cash only is a horrible and sort of shady business decision.
Hahahahahahahahahaha new trend huh? For 3% really? The food industry has high margins which makes this smell like someone wants to pasta pinch. Let’s finish off with a slice of tax avoidance. This concept is a poor attempt at the eclectic food movement that Cleveland is well known for.
Leave this menu mix to Friendlys, TCBY, etc ….
And what a waste of $ on a liquor license: Ohio city is swarmed with unique, Cleveland-brewed craft beers. Put that $ into a good idea for a restaurant that will make Cleveland proud and one that takes cc’s.
The cat should have been left in the bag and given to the rightful feline winner of inspired “pasta” – Noodlecat.
I work from home, for myself & I take CC’s. Ever hear of PayPal Here or Square Register? #SMDH
Most restaurants charge the server for the 3%,sometimes 5%, on credit card tips. That being said a customer is more than likely to spend more money when using a card. And if aren’t tipping with cash, you really should start.
I wouldn’t completely rule the place out just because of the cash thing. I also wouldn’t be likely to be driving around and go “oh hey lets try that place.” It just means if I ever wanted to check the place out, I’d have to plan ahead to hit an ATM. People are taking personal offense to a business decision, perhaps a bad one, but a mere business decision that means you take 10 minutes to hit up an ATM. If their food can back it up then people will take the extra time to snag some cash.
I say all we should all deal in cash and screw this government out of as much taxes as possible then they won’t have it to waste!
Whether you’re mad about the cash thing or not, want to screw the government or not, or wouldn’t drop 10 bucks on some Mac and Cheese, it doesn’t change the fact that ‘cash only’ is, to me, and inconvenience. I personally probably wouldn’t go, certainly not on a whim, and I don’t believe for a second that cash only is any form of trend. Hope it works out for this place.
I live in Brooklyn, NYC and cash only restaurants are one of the most obnoxious parts of dining/drinking out here. It’s common practice and it’s NOT “cool”. It’s also very funny how ATMs are often conveniently located (with $3 fees) right inside the restaurant/bar. I’m from Cleveland and I really though the city was better than that stuff.
Nate’s on W. 25th is cash only and they have done just fine. Granted there are a few ATM’s on that street.
Also, cash only is not the new trend, the new trend is bitcoin – almost 0 transaction fees, but technology is not quite there yet. Check back in 2 years.
Cash-only is the new trend? Who are they kidding? They have that backwards. I never carry cash. They’ll change their policy or be gone within a year, I predict.
This is just bad. I was excited to see a new restaurant being promoted, but i already see enough down falls to make me say “No thank you!” First of all, who carries cash these days? I don’t have a minute in my day for unnecessary bank trips. And no bar? Ew I wouldn’t event bother. Sitting at the bar is just a nice relaxing atmosphere feel. You can mingle and relax. Thirdly, the menu sounds just awful. Coming from a health conscience life style, mac & cheese & pastries? I’d rather do anything else. Good luck!
Cash? I don’t carry cash except for a little ten spot tucked into my wallet for emergencies. Guess I won’t be eating at this establishment. There are other yummy restaurants that will take my plastic.
Nate’s may be doing ‘just fine’, but I would eat there more if they accepted plastic.
Most of you would have not been able to survive 30 years ago when everyone carried cash apparently. It’s not THAT big of a deal. If you don’t like the music, turn the station and listen to something else. I think its more ridiculous to go to another “nameless” restaurant and wait for over an hour in a cramped space for a glorfied grilled cheese sandwich.
A good majority of restaurants are cash only here in San Francisco. I’d agree that its a trend. Most people here when they go out just Venmo whoever has the cash and its not really a big deal.
Jesus, relax u maniacs. They have an ATM there that charges $0 to use it. They have great Mac n cheese and the staff was super friendly. I don’t look like the nicest dude but they were real nice anyhow. Give it a try
I have worked in the service industry for 15 years. I will say that the cash only is a benefit to avoid the credit card fees. Most people don’t realize when you tip your server at the end of the shift they in return tip back the house a percentage of their sales. For example bar, food runners, bussers and most places separate the credit card sales. So when someone comes in and racks up a large bill and doesn’t tip well, you may be stiffing the serving completely.
It has happen that no tip has been left and the server still has had to pay the 3.5 to 5 % tip out at the end.
It’s not fair to the servers, but it’s not fair to the customers either. I never carry cash with me. I use my debit card. On a rare chance that I did have cash most likely it wouldn’t be the amount to enjoy myself. I’d ask for a water and maybe a pasta done. If I could use my debit card I would spend more. It’s not like they don’t overcharge on all these foods to make up 3%. They are in a position to overcharge but my budget stays the same. I would not pay to use a ATM, nor would I go out of my way to find one. There’s a ton of places to eat in that area that accepts debit/ credit cards. I wouldn’t feel a loss.
I live in Ohio City and I’m happy to support a new eatery in the area. I carry cash and credit like an adult so that won’t be a problem. Just like Cleveland to have 30+ people respond with negativity before trying the place out. Welcome to the neighborhood P&P.
For years this was a corner store owned by the Abed family. Glad to see its renaissance.
Do they take travelers checks?
This is definitely a place to check out. Everything is good, the service, the atmosphere, the food. I can’t believe the negative comments just because they don’t take plastic. I’ll gladly take cash to go again. The food was excellent. A great little place,
I agree about the “cash is the new trend” comment, but I’d visit the ATM if the food is as good as what this guy had at Krazy Mac’s in Elyria. I actually found this article bc I missed the food and wondered if he’d opened up elsewhere. If he still has it on the menu, Buffalo mac and cheese is the best!