Lucky’s Cafe (Facebook / @LuckysCafe)
777 Starkweather Ave. (map it!)
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 622-7773
Open daily 9a-2p
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/Y/Y
Kid-friendly? Y
Visited: Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.
Lucky’s is the first breakfast I’ve had in Cleveland, and judging by the recommendations I’ve had for it over the years, it’s a very good place to start. On a recent weekend excursion hosted by Positively Cleveland, our blogger group visited Lucky’s for our Saturday morning breakfast stop. Our exact itinerary was guided by Cleverlanders through social media using the hashtag #HappyinCLE, and they overwhelmingly sent us to Lucky’s.
This breakfast was provided as part of our weekend visit. If you want to read about Part 1 of the visit, see here!
Lucky’s is situated in the heart of Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, an up-and-coming area full of beautiful houses with little shops and restaurants tucked in between them. Approaching Lucky’s from the front, you’ll see a large patio and a garden next to it. By 9 a.m. on a Saturday, the place was filling up.
We learned that the owner Heather Haviland is originally a pastry chef, and she began her role at Lucky’s baking an array of delicious goods before she eventually took over the business.
Because of that, there’s a big counter up at the front with loads of beautiful baked goods and full coffee service. The cafe even has opening and closing hours during which they only sell coffee and pastries.
The inside of the cafe is bright and crammed full of tables, with the rear section raised up a couple steps.
Our meal kicked off with an appetizer of sorts: a few orders of Lucky’s pecan bacon. I’m a fan of bacon in general (that goes without saying), but you’ll always keep my attention by doing something to the bacon. Lucky’s bacon is cooked through without being too crisp, and the topping is earthy and sweet without being over the top. If you were just coming to Lucky’s to eat a plate (or four) of pecan bacon, you’d be in good shape.
I ordered one of the suggested dishes: the Shipwreck. There are certainly days when I can’t or won’t decide on what to get for breakfast, and that’s when catch-all meals like the Shipwreck are handy. It’s a little bit of everything: bacon, eggs, potatoes, veggies, cheese, plus toast and fruit on the side. Although it’s a big dish to reckon with, it was all cooked well without being dried out. Suffice to say, I finished it.
Another member of our party order the bruleed steel cut oatmeal, a heaping bowl of oats covered with winter fruits and lightly torched. It also came with a beautiful side of eggs en croute, baked in a dish with spinach and cream.
There’s also the biscuits, topped with cheese, eggs, and gravy, plus a side of potatoes and fruit. It’s a big chunky gravy, served in a huge portion.
Our server did a great job handling our slightly larger group, and the food came out quickly (although it was nice having the pecan bacon appetizer). Part of me really thrives on seeing busy breakfast and brunch cafes on Saturdays and Sundays. These are the biggest days for the morning meal, and places like Lucky’s are at the heart of any local scene.
On our way out we sneaked a peak at some of the bakery offerings, although we were so stuffed we couldn’t imagine picking up anything.
Like many of the restaurants we saw over the weekend, Lucky’s prides itself on usually locally-produced goods. Behind the patio lies a little garden. We were told that Lucky’s employees work part of their shift tending to the garden, so everyone is invested and knowledgeable in the cafe’s mission.
So there you have it: breakfast stop #1 in Cleveland. I’m happy to have finally been to Lucky’s. It’ll certainly be on my radar during any return visits.
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