If you think you need a lunch pail and a hard hat to enjoy lunch on the loading dock, think again.
The Lunchdock has opened at the former Graybar Building, 975 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. It’s a covered outdoor patio that is actually the building’s former shipping dock.
Each day, a different restaurant or vendor sells lunch there, including Ivan’s Deli, DeVitis Italian Market, Zack’s Fire & Ice, Gionino’s Pizza and Brother’s Pizza. There’s also live music and indoor seating with a large screen TV for viewing.
The Lunchdock began as a way to feed the employees of SeniorTV, which is based at the building. Hours of operation are 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information visit www.lunchdock.com, where you can also find a list of vendors and their menus for the day.
• Art Latte is one part coffee shop, one part art gallery.
The eatery, which serves breakfast and lunch, was opened a few months ago by the husband and wife team of Erin Richards and Mark Shane at 1662 Merriman Road, in Akron’s Merriman Valley.
The shop sells a wide variety of coffees and teas, as well as breakfast and lunch offerings, including quiche, sandwiches, salads and wraps, as well as desserts.
Shane works for Springhill Farm in the Countryside Conservancy and the two plan to source as much food locally as they can. The salad dressings are all made from scratch, Richards said.
The artwork on the walls is Shane’s, and the couple is planning to exhibit other local artists and musicians, Richards said. They spent about a year renovating the space before opening in May. There’s also a party space for rent.
Richards said the couple hopes to sponsor Gallery Nights on Fridays and Saturdays in the near future.
Art Latte is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed Sunday. Phone 330-835-9007 for more information.
• A new East of Chicago Pizza is now open in West Akron, at 1650 W. Market St.
The eatery serves pizza, sub sandwiches, salad and wings and is owned by Matt and Toni Craig of Green.
Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. Phone 234-208-9230.
For more information, visit the shop’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/eastof chicagowestakron.
Lebanese food fest expands
Our Lady of the Cedars, 507 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Fairlawn, has expanded its Lebanese food festival to two days this year, Aug. 2 and 3.
The festival features traditional favorite Lebanese foods, including hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh, and stuffed grape leaves, as well as homemade pastries.
The festival is 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Chef at the Crossroads
Chef Scot Jones, the Akron native who previously manned the kitchen at the former VegiTerranean restaurant owned by rocker Chrissie Hynde, is now executive chef at Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
The restaurant is owned by chef Tal Ronnen, author of the New York Times bestseller The Conscious Cook, who became known nationally as the chef who prepared the meals for Oprah Winfrey’s 21-day cleanse.
The eatery opened in March and has been stacking up a pile of favorable reviews for its white-tablecloth vegan fare, and I hear Jones has been getting plenty of visits from vacationing locals. To learn more visit www.crossroadskitchen.com.
And finally…
Today is National Tequila Day. Please celebrate responsibly.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com. Find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @akronfoodie or visit my blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/lisa.