It’s not really a rooftop patio — but no matter, the view is one of the snazziest downtown.
Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar opened its patio atop the small attached parking deck on Mill Street, offering diners a nice perch from which to scope out the 28-story, art-deco FirstMerit Tower and other buildings.
The patio opened just in time for the fourth annual Downtown Akron Restaurant Week, which runs Monday through Sept. 13, designed to showcase downtown spots, including newbies such as Nuevo and Jilly’s Music Room. Veteran restaurants also are participating, such as Diamond Deli; it opened on South Main Street in the early 1980s, when the idea of Restaurant Week downtown might have seemed, well, just silly.
What a difference three decades or so makes. These days, Nuevo co-owner Lisa Hirt is talking about how the outdoor patio helps to handle the weekend crowds at her spot at Mill and High streets.
“We’re so glad to get it open. With the outside heaters, hopefully, we can keep it open through October,” said Hirt, who along with her husband, Zack, opened Nuevo in February after more than two years of planning, getting financing and redoing street-level space in the 1903 Gothic Building. Zack Hirt most recently was saute chef at Crave, which also will be participating in Restaurant Week.
In all, 20 restaurants and bars will offer specials and fixed-price menus over the six days.
Nuevo is offering three courses — highlighting its diverse “modern” Mexican lineup — plus any flavored or house margarita for $45. One first-course choice is carne empanada with cilantro salsa. Second-course picks include a version of the Mexican classic, tacos al pastor. Last, but not least for sweets lovers: Dessert choices are chocolate cake flan and a lemongrass tart with caramelized mango whipped cream.
The list of tequilas is enormous, no surprise, and you can get a flight of them.
Lisa Hirt, a dietitian at Akron General Medical Center, said she and her husband thought downtown was ready for a Mexican place when they began planning it some three years ago. They developed a business plan they presented to five doctors, all of whom signed on to be minority partners.
“Zack cooked,” she said, “and I made margaritas for them.”
Over at Jilly’s Music Room, at the former Northside next to the landmark Luigi’s restaurant, folks have concocted a special Restaurant Week signature cocktail, a boozy sangria if you will: cabernet sauvignon, brandy, amaretto, orange, lemon and lime.
Special eats at Jilly’s for the week are an eclectic mix, including Ohio smoked sausage corn dogs, and a dish featuring quinoa tabbouleh, roasted garlic hummus and crostini. Quinoa is a trendy high-protein grain with no gluten. Also featured will be Jilly’s Bark, the nightclub’s handmade chocolate-covered toffee with shaved almonds.
Bricco will show off its makeover in addition to its chefs’ talents. The place at Main and Exchange streets earlier this summer added a second walk-in cooler to house more fresh fish and seafood, accompanying menu changes. There’s also a new kitchen floor, as well as updates to the dining area, including new granite trim and teal paint that replaced the burgundy colors.
Owner David Glenny said the restaurant is offering two fixed-price menus for Restaurant Week, one called Bricco Favorites ($45 for two people) and the other dubbed Chef’s Creation ($65 for two).
The Bricco Favorites lineup includes an appetizer to share — choose fried dill pickles, risotto balls or calamari — soup or salad, and entrees, including various pizzas and Florentine ravioli with a basil and merlot cream sauce.
The Chef’s Creation menu boasts appetizers such as crab bisque and mini duck confit croquettes with foie gras gravy. Entree choices feature pan-seared halibut over blueberry lemon risotto with broccolini and white wine butter; and a rosemary and peppercorn-crusted bacon-wrapped filet with roasted garlic mashers, candied baby carrots and a mushroom demi glace (French brown sauce).
Glenny, owner of Bricco (and sister eateries in Kent, Akron’s Merriman Valley and Fairlawn) said Restaurant Week is about a lot more than one week: “It’s good to get the awareness up. … It’s making sure that people keep us in their plans and support us, not just for one week.”
See the accompanying box for a complete list of restaurants and bars participating. For more information and menus, go to www.downtown akron.com/restaurantweek.
Barberton’s Block 7 opens
Block 7 is the name of a downtown Barberton parking lot where the city hosts concerts and other activities. It’s also the name of a new eatery/bar/live music venue in a roughly 110-year-old building at 524 W. Tuscarawas St.
Husband and wife Mark and Tonda Skaburn opened up Block 7, in the former David B’s, earlier this month.
“We’re really excited about going in on the ground floor” of the city’s emerging arts and entertainment hub, Tonda Skaburn said. (Mayor William Judge said the city would like to see all of downtown designated an arts and entertainment district, which would allow for more liquor licenses.)
The Skaburns, who were partners in a bar in the Portage Lakes area several years ago, are making changes to the menu. Fresh-ground, hand-formed burgers have been added, along with handmade onion rings, a Hawaiian chicken sandwich (chicken, bacon and grilled pineapple) and a Hungarian sausage sandwich featuring a sausage patty from Leach’s Meats & Sweets in Barberton. On Saturdays, diners can get an 8-ounce strip steak, baked potato and salad for $10.99.
David Boshara, who owns Fa-Ray’s restaurant in Barberton, sold the business and the building to the Skaburns. The two-story structure features a pressed metal ceiling and the original tile floor from the days when it was Henry’s Cafe. Boshara continues to run the David B’s in the Copley Township portion of the Montrose shopping area.
Tonda Skaburn said she’s fortunate to have hired great employees, including kitchen manager Shirley Gault and bar manager Mary Fling, who both previously worked at Barberton’s Hungarian Club.
Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 330-745-7677.
Oktoberfest in Brimfield
It’s September, and time for the annual Oktoberfest Friday-Sunday at the German Family Society’s picnic grounds, 3871 Ranfield Road, Brimfield Township.
There will be lots of German food made by society members, including schnitzel, cabbage rolls, sausage, chicken, bratwurst and pastries. Beverages will include beer, of course, as well as wine and soft drinks.
Each day has polka bands and performances by folk dancers. Sunday will be Family Day, and feature miniature train rides, a bounce house and balloon animals.
This is one of the society’s two big annual events — the other is the Old European Days in June.
Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5, children 12 and younger free. Call 330-678-8229 or go to www.germanfamily society.com.
Greek Festival in Akron
The Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron runs Sept. 11-13. The church is at 129 S. Union St. adjacent to the University of Akron.
The long-running festival features favorite Greek eats, music and dancing and tours of the church. Admission and parking are free.
Dining with Diabetes
Diabetes rates are growing. With that in mind, Akron General Medical Center is offering a two-part cooking series for those with diabetes or people interested in learning how to cook for someone with diabetes.
The Dining with Diabetes classes incorporate cooking demonstrations, taste testing and meal planning. Certified diabetes educators and a professional chef will be present.
The classes will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 10 and 17 in the Frasche Classroom of the hospital at 1 Akron General Ave. (formerly 400 Wabash Ave.) Cost is $10. Register by calling 330-344-2462.
Cooking fall produce
The Just This cooking series, organized by Akron City Hospital and focusing on healthful eats, has teamed up with Mustard Seed Market in Bath Township.
Dietitian Erin Schenkenberger and executive chef Frank Zifer, from the Virtues Restaurant at City Hospital, will offer a demonstration using fall produce at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Mustard Seed, 3885 W. Market St., Bath Township. Cost is $20. Register at Mustard Seed Market’s customer service desk or at www.mustardseedmarket.com/events-classes.
Looking ahead
• Main Street Medina, a nonprofit group promoting downtown Medina, brings back its Progressive Dinner, featuring four member restaurants, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Tickets are $45, $41 for Main Street Medina members, at www.mainstreetmedina.com.
The dinner includes appetizers at the Olive Tap, salads at Lager & Vine, an entrée at Main Street Café, and desserts at Thyme2. A private donation will provide wines with each course.
• The Wayne County Historical Society will host a Community Kitchen Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 20, featuring kitchens in four homes on Founder’s Row on Bever Street. Included will be the College of Wooster’s President’s House, now occupied by President Grant Cornwell, and his wife, Peg.
Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple, available at Buehler’s stores in Wayne County (Milltown, downtown and Orrville) and at Wooster Book Co.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KatieByardABJ.