When the second phase of the Flats East Bank development debuts in Spring 2015, Steve Schimoler will have a large presence there. The chef and owner of Crop Bistro in Ohio City will open two new restaurants in the Flats: Crop Kitchen & Vine and Cropicana.
Crop Kitchen and Cropicana will be separate and unique concepts, Schimoler explains, covering some 10,000 square feet of riverfront space with expansive patios. Crop Kitchen will be a more casual version of its older sibling in Ohio City, sporting an atmosphere described as warm, rustic and comfortable. In terms of food, think country-rooted fare like pot roast, smoked foods and apple pie.
Directly next to Crop Kitchen will sit Cropicana, dishing up what Schimoler says will be "authentic, upscale Mexican fare with Latin and South American influence." Cropicana happens to be the name of Schimoler's short-lived eatery on Whiskey Island, but that is all these two operations will have in common, they promise. Menu items might include braised short ribs with poblano corn pudding and mole. Of course, there will be an extensive tequila selection, margaritas and other Latin-themed booze.
"There is no question the Flats offers Cleveland’s best real estate with its riverfront location and we wanted to be part of it," Schimoles says. "This is a strategic move for us to join in the positive momentum of yet another growing neighborhood in Cleveland.”
