Stay in touch Tricia--I would love to visit Brazil and I am sure JeffB would, too :)
 

I have been to Brazil a few times.  Carnival! Woohw! 

Here is the total copy of the tchaves spam, so you Realneo readers won't have to link to Examiner.com

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I'm pleased to report my latest discovery in Parma called Sittoo's, and if you're a fan of Aladdin's you'll want to check it out. In fact, has both common ownership and a similar menu to the popular Mideast food chain.

Tricia's Dish Tested Tips:
They put cinnamon on the rice, so ask for it without if you don't like it.
If you enjoy a larger portion of pita, you might want to request a double order with items like the combo plate or hummos.

The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
 

  Jeff B: I would love to have a Sittoo's in my neighborhood.  I get no investment.  The Rubin/Coral Company sits on their plaza property and charges exorbitant monthly rates.  How is it that they would rather have storefronts sit empty?  Meanwhile, we have docs, nurses, hospital workers that would provide a steady flow of customers if we had the kind of restaurant choice available in Tremont. 
 

I have worked on Mike and Jeff over at Bodega.  I would still like to see an eatery/tea house in the old greenhouse space at 3775 Pearl.  You would also have office workers from the wonderfully renovated building next door. 

Brooklyn Centre has McDonalds, Subway, Wendy's, China Express, Sal's Diner.  Believe me, these folks make some money.  But, as Tremont shows...restaurant choice helps everyone.  And, we are on a major thoroughfare with families visiting the zoo every day.

Meanwhile, Huntington Bank shuttered their office at Brooklyn Plaza and Third Federal is pulling out of Cleveland location on Brookpark Rd.  Planned abandonment brought to you intentionally by developers waiting for the low, low, lowest price...

And a blank slate--demo those corner commercial lots at taxpayers expense!

lmcshane

While good restaurants are a plus and help build a community, in Tremont most of the high-priced restaurants - residents cannot afford to go in much less afford a meal and if you have a family you can't even dream of eating at these places - even special occasions are out of the question. 

The only really good place to take a family out for a good meal is Applebee's in Steelyard Commons.  They offer the 2 for 20 deal and even that most low-income people cannot afford - if you are a family of six, it is still more than $70 dollars for a meal - (you have to buy drings and that does not include the tip)  and people on fixed incomes or low-incomes, $70 for one meal is outrageous. 

 The Big Egg re-opened and stopped in the other day. great affordable food. its owned by a greek family now, so they also have a few greek dishes. 

you do have to watch what you order though - some of it is processed. i ordered a chicken paprikash and it was orange, obviously a package mix, so I couldn't eat it. but their eggs and stuff are fab.

Very reasonable breakfasts, plenty of coffee refills, lots of seating so no one is rushed for those who care to linger.  I love it.  Met the owner  and I could swear he told me he was Lebonese, not Greek.  We have quite a few Lebonese business owners, Joe Dee's Pizza on Fulton, now into second generation.  Kate

  Hi Jerleen--I know that restaurants can seem like the enemy, when you and your neighbors are feeling down and out, but they are not the enemy.  We all need the occasion to leave the solitude of our homes and share food with others.  Restaurants afford us the chance to bring people together.  You don't always have to "pay" for the high end experience.  These days, you can share an appetizer or a glass of wine for around  $10.00 at most "high end" restaurants.  And, you are really paying for the ambiance more than the food sometimes.  Sokoloski's in Tremont is a $$ reasonable mainstay.  Good food, friends and AMBIANCE!

Believe me, it's always the same complaint...the grass is greener.   But, the reality--you and I both have it good.  We have friends and neighbors that live nearby and help when we need it.  We can walk most anywhere.  We have breezes off the lake and kids playing in the street.  I will take our life any day over life in suburbia :)

Wholeheartedly agree.  With all it's flaws, I LOVE Cleveland and in particular, the West Side.  The economy has left me with practically zip discretionary income and yet I still find reasonalble restaurants by taking advantage of happy hours, etc.  Nick's on Lorain still has a $2.99 breakfast which is a good place to meet friends, share the Sunday paper, again with plenty of coffee refills.  El Taino on Scranton, not much ambience, has surprisingly good food really cheap.

Spent some time in Bay Village and hated it.  Neighbor lobbied us for a year, trying to get us to mow lawn on diagonal so all front yards would look the same.  Of course, we then purposefully mowed in figure eights.  Couldn't wait to get out of there. 

We lived on the poorer side in a little box.  Residents always asked if you lived north or south of Wolf Rd.  so as to determine wealth.  Needless to say, none of our (ex) Bay friends visit here because they are admitedly afraid.  Suburbia is vanilla pudding.  Residents are insulated, uninvolved unless it pertains to their tiny bit of expensive turf.  Am I prejudiced?  You bet!  kd