I’m sure this is another one of those posts that is going to piss people off, but I had a horrible meal at Tommy’s in Coventry, and I wasn’t real impressed with their food. Tommy’s is a Cleveland favorite (OMG! Rachel Ray luvs that place!), especially for vegetarian hippies as much of the menu is either vegetarian or vegan.
**Before I get going on the food, a big FU to Marc’s in Coventry. “We don’t give change.” In order to park in your parking lot you need change, but you won’t give it out? You can go and get bent Marc.
I asked our waiter what he recommended with meat in it and he suggested the Curt Burger ($7.50). It’s was pretty weak. As you can see from the picture up there it looked like someone threw it up against a wall before they served it to me. For a cheese burger with bacon, onions and mayo, it lacked any real flavor. I was looking for something luscious and juicy, I didn’t get it.
Others in my party were underwhelmed as well. I tasted my wife’s meat pie and it wasn’t anything special. My friend stopped eating her spinach and mushroom pie half way through because it got “gritty”. That’s not pleasant.
While I’m being negative, our service was horrible. Our waiter must have had something very important going on in the kitchen because he was M.I.A. almost the entire time. At one point we even had to ask multiple people for refills. Maybe it’s because we had kids with us, who knows.
The one bright spot was their french fries. Oooh, those bastards are delicious. Crispy and crunchy fresh-cut potatoes, perfect doused in vinegar. Make sure you order those if you go.
It sucks having a crappy meal at a Cleveland landmark, but Tommy’s was definitely not up to par that night.
Tommy’s Restaurant
1824 Coventry Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-321-7757
Tagged with: Tommy's breakfast • Tommy's Cleveland • Tommy's Coventry
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March 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 am
I think you have to go in there with a certain mind-set — service is slow, shakes/fries/pancakes/french onion soup are good but otherwise the food is bland. Order accordingly and it’s delicious.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 am
Thanks for the tips Melinda. I was thinking about going back for breakfast soon, I’ve heard they have some good selections there too.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 am
I have to agree with you Mark. We lived in the Coventry area for a brief time and our vegetarian friends raved about Tommy’s. I have tried to their food many times and have never had a meal that registered over unremarkable. For such a great food city it saddens me that Tommy’s is considered a Cleveland landmark. On a side note it speaks volumes that Tommy’s is a vegetarian mecca when their food is so bad. I really feel badly for those who have chosen the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle if Tommy’s is the best that Cleveland can offer them.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Mark, I also completely agree with you! I have spent the last seven years (between Beaumont and Carroll) hearing how wonderful Tommy’s is…I’ve only been once and was not pleased at all. I’m pretty boring when it comes to food, so it takes a lot for me to be disappointed!
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March 2nd, 2010 at 5:25 pm
I’ve never not had…. ummmm…. stomach distress after eating at Tommy’s. I’ve learned my lesson, milkshakes and french fries ONLY.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
I feel like a traitor against my hometown for saying this, but I have had some negative moments at Tommy’s, as well. But they do make a mean french fry!
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March 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 pm
those tomatoes in the picture look like a bummer, too, btw
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March 2nd, 2010 at 9:01 pm
I’m a lifelong Tommy’s fan for the milkshakes (mocha = yum) but the burger is definitely worth skipping. I like the Rah sandwich and the fries and would get their salads, spinach pies, or falafel any day. Just skip the meat…
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March 2nd, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Some of my in-laws are vegetarians. They visited us a year ago and I asked around for a recommendation of where to take them for lunch / dinner. Tommy’s was the unanimous choice. What a let down. The food was TERRIBLE, the wait was long, and the service was below average. Not sure why anyone raves about the place.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
resting on laurels….I’m hoping Tommy’s catches up with other great restaurants in Cleveland and gets some real (local/fresh/not fake) ingredients. I’d love to be proven wrong but I’m guessing the bacon on your burger came out of the same factory that gnarly tomato came from. I think Tommy’s menu and concepts are great but they need a face-lift on the food prep, service and ingredient quality. In the mean time, anything with cheese that has passed under their broiler has a decent chance of being satisfying.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 6:39 pm
You have to try the Colleen. It’s the only thing I get, and it’s amazing. It’s a pita sandwich with falafel, bacon, muenster, green peppers, sprouts, all topped off with their sesame/tahini sauce. It is seriously good. The cheese oozes out and gets crispy on the edges. I never knew how good falafel could be until I had it in combination with bacon! Get it with the peanut butter and chocolate milkshake and I promise you won’t be disappointed!
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March 3rd, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I think Tommy’s has gone downhill. It used to be really really good. The service was always terrible; I learned to live with it. But nothing beat the EZ Falafel. I used to crave it. However, when I was there a couple weeks ago, it wasn’t up to par. And now that you mention it, it hasn’t been good for awhile. One thing I can never understand, the place is ALWAYS packed! Go figure.
PS: If you want good meatless dishes, try the Asian fusion place across the street. Can’t remember the name. And Hunan on Coventry has some very good veggie dishes.
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March 4th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I lived in and around that area for a couple years while I was in school and you’re absolutely spot on. I know the whole point of your blog is to try new places, but if you’re a Coventry regular you have much better food options than Tommy’s: Dave’s Cosmic Subs, Panini’s, even the Wink. About the only place I like less there than Tommy’s is Jimmy Johns.
AND don’t get me started on Marc’s. I have never had a good experience there ever. Cash only, they close way too early for being in a “college town” and the employees there have always been rude to me. Am I the only one who thinks a Trader Joes would be much more appropriate for that real estate?
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March 5th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I don’t get it either. I live near there and have eaten there several times and never had anything I really liked, aside from their milkshakes. Even their breakfast is underwhelming.
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March 8th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Yet another vote against Tommy’s here. I’ve been there several times and have never really enjoyed it. The milk shakes are good, unless they accidentally give you the yogurt milkshake, which is awful. That’s the only time I’ve ever sent an order back.
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March 18th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Here’s another vote against Tommy’s. Living close to the area, I’ve eaten there quite a bit but I couldn’t tell you why. The food is greasy and the service is slow. I like their fries and despise their breakfast. Worst pancakes ever. Go down the street to Inn on Coventry. People say they have bad service but we’ve never had anything but good luck (and tasty pancakes).
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March 31st, 2010 at 9:25 pm
And strike another vote against Tommy’s.
Like the last poster, the fries blew. In addition, I ordered an IRS (spinach pie with mushrooms and cheese) and found it rather underwhelming. Soggy, too.
My vegan friend ordered a “Mexican Tortilla Soup” (or similar) that was vegan-friendly; after all it came highly recommended from our waiter who said it had a “kick” to it. It showed up and looked suspiciously like chili. Tasted like it too, except without meat and with….well, not meat, but I don’t know what the hell it was.
So basically I got a flavorless, watery calzone and my friend paid $5 for a small bowl of vegan chili.
Overrated, not worth the hassle. I’ll wait for MELT to open at Cedar/Taylor.
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March 31st, 2010 at 9:26 pm
(err…”UN-like” the last poster…woops)
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May 24th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I’ve eaten at Tommy’s for at least 20 years and the food has definitely gone down hill. Broccoli Risso used to be one of my favs but not anymore. The hummos, meat pies and spinach pies have ALL disappointed me and I really don’t think I have a reason to go back. It’s too bad that Tommy’s relies on their name and no longer their food to keep people coming back.
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