Figure 1. Washington Place happy hour is sure to please even the pickiest of your co-workers, patio or not (2018).
Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.
So far this spring, the sun has been a major flirt but has yet to commit. More persistent is the rain. And, oh, how it has rained this spring.
Clevelanders, already well aware that abundant sunlight is sparse throughout the year here in Northeast Ohio, are anxious for some fun in the sun. Summer solstice is a mere week away, and my fellow residents are ready to break out into song and dance to celebrate the best months of the year here.
A favorite pastime of those enjoying the warm, sunny CLE days is dining alfresco. From the informal porch sail to the more formal rooftop soiree, Cleveland’s got you covered, er, uncovered.
Figure 2. Washington Place serves up some mmm, mmm good cream-of-something soup. Would Genetics and Genome Sciences mind if I licked the bowl at their faculty recruit dinner (2015)?
One such beautiful uncovered space for dining can be found at Washington Place, an inn and bistro located blocks from CWRU and in the heart of Little Italy. Many of us in the area take Washington Place for granted. Sure, we know you serve up great cocktails for the end-of-the-work-week happy hour (Figure 1). And, yes, I appreciate that you are open for dinner on Sunday nights when most are not. But, really, what can you, Washington Place, offer that a cool, hip eatery on the west side can’t give me?
Oh, I see…
Figure 3. Mom making the most of Mother’s Day dinner at Washington Place (2016).
Seriously, my first few dining experiences at Washington Place were indoors during the academic year when we hosted faculty recruits (Figure 2). Or, that time I failed to book brunch for Mother’s Day before everyone was booked (Figure 3). The food was more than good and the fireplace was warm and inviting (Figure 4-6).
Figure 4. Grilled beef tenderloin medallions at Washington Place (2015).
Little did I know…
Figure 5. Tomato mozzarella salad and another cream-of-something at Washington Place (2015).
Figure 6. Pasta at Washington Place (2015).
One fateful day last summer, Steve, Mom, and I spontaneously wandered in for a late lunch. Would you like to sit outside? Wait–what? You mean amongst the butterflies in this piece of patio heaven (Figure 7)? Yes, I would. I really, really would like to sit outside (Figures 8 and 9). After all, it’s another day of sun.
Figure 7. Flowers, complete with butterflies, on the patio at Washington Place (2018).
Figure 9. Steve ordered another salad (Washington Place, 2018).
Figure 8. Shrimp and grits, CLE-style, at Washington Place (2018).
Update: Washington Place Bistro & Inn closed May 19, 2020.
