Chowder House Cafe, Cuyahoga Falls

Chowder House Cafe
(8 out of 10)

2028 Chestnut Blvd

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223

(330) 794-7102

Chowder House Cafe

Chowder House Cafe recently became the new occupant of one of our old favorite places to go.  Formerly Jimmy's Cafe, the Chowder House Cafe had a lot to live up to.  Jimmy's always had amazing art, showcased in rotating displays, as well as all over the walls.  The old cafe was also big on live music, and we've been to various jazz and acoustic shows there over the years.  After our evening was complete, it was good to see that some things don't change, and those that do, change in amazing ways.

First and foremost, the parking situation has to be addressed.  Like many smaller eateries, Chowder House shares a lot with other businesses.  The only parking in the lot that is available to CH customers is in the back of the cafe.  There are roughly 10-12 parking spaces available and, believe us, they fill up quickly.  We can see how this would be a reoccurring problem, and the CH tries to manage overflow parking by posting signs that direct customers to park in the CVS store parking lot across the street.  At first, we were disappointed because it was pouring rain outside and we did not want to schlep across grass, mud, and puddles to get to the front door.  Upon parking, though, we agreed that parking at CVS is possibly closer to the front door than the back lot parking spots.

The outside of the cafe is colorful and, even with the gloomy, dark skies and rain, it stands out among many surrounding businesses.  Upon walking in, you're greeted with a warm glow from dim lamps and various candles spilling light across the small dining area.  Yep, we said small.  The cafe is a smaller restaurant, easily manged by 2 or 3 servers.  When you walk to your table, the first thing you notice is the unique decor.  The walls look like they are splashed with paint, but not in a weird, messy, sticky way.  Everything that adorns the walls and windows has meaning and purpose.  Pieces of glass, ornaments, ribbon, and ceramic shapes hang from window treatments in many colors.  The kitchen is semi-open, framed by beautiful stained glass and wood paneling.  The cafe has the feeling of the beach, reminiscent of a small shop that belongs in a southern vacation area.  A welcome mini vacation from the gloomy Ohio winter.

Chowder House Cafe welcomes patrons to bring their own wine to enjoy with their meal.  They do charge a $5.00 corking fee though, so plan for that charge to be added to your bill.  Speaking of the bill, be aware that Chowder House Cafe only accepts check or cash.  The menu is simple and elegant, focusing mainly on seafood items (if you don't care for, or are allergic to seafood, don't fret!  Keep reading!). 

• Starters: We ordered the Crab Gratin: Crab and lobster blended with a mascarpone and gorgonzola bechamel, baked and served with crostini.  Pretty tasty.  The bread was toasted perfectly, and the gratin was served with a beautiful golden brown crust.  The lobster and crab pieces were not very noticeable, and the entire dish was light and buttery.  We would have liked a little more seasoning added to the gratin, however, we'd rather add our own salt and pepper than have an overly seasoned dish.  The portion was generous, we had at least half of the gratin left after the bread was gone!
• Soups: We had to order the Lobster Bisque: Made with lobster, cream, and sherry, served with a large piece of bread.  This soup was so good that the noises we made during our first bites hardly sounded appropriate for mixed company (or public for that matter).  The bisque was very thick and had huge chunks of sweet, tender lobster.  It was the winner of the night.
• Dinner:  Aside from various salads and sandwiches (which all were tempting and sounded delicious), Chowder House Cafe has an eclectic dinner menu, including Seafood Pasta, Cassoulet, and Three Little Pigs (ten ounce boneless pork loin chop wrapped in bacon pan-fried,  and set atop roast pork shoulder finished with Ohio apple cider demi served over mashed potatoes).  Dear Lord.  Although tempting, we decided to go with the Kobe Steak Burger: ten ounce Kobe burger topped with gorgonzola cheese served with pickle variations and roasted mashed potatoes.  When Kobe is on the menu, you cannot resist...and we were SO glad that we didn't.  This burger was massive, and the pat of gorgonzloa on the top complimented the tender steak burger perfectly.  The pickle variations were two different types of pickles: one sweet and one hot, almost like a banana pepper-pickle.  A steak sauce was also served with the burger, and it was a spicy addition.  The potatoes were creamy and well-seasoned, mashed up with the red skins mixed in.  Simply amazing.

At the end of our meal, we were so stuffed that we weren't able to partake of the incredible dessert that Chowder House offers.  There is a dessert case that is visible from the tables.  There were various types of cakes and pastries that looked delicious.  We'll have to return and try some next time :)

Overall Impression/Rating:  Chowder House Cafe lacks in parking, but brings it with fresh, inventive food that is simply incredible.  Not a place for crowds, this would be a perfect spot for a romantic night out.  The menu is moderately priced, with most dinner entrees from $12-$20, and sandwiches from $8.  The decor of the cafe itself is like an art display, and the gentle light from the candles create an intimate setting.  Good show, Chowder House, 8 out of 10!