http://www.cleveland.com/top-restaurants/index.ssf/2010/04/lockkeepers_comfort_food_is_upscale_delicious.html

Lockkeepers restaurant in Valley View, Ohio

Lockkeepers Private Dining in Valley View, Ohio

Upcoming Wine Dinners at LockKeepers

Brunello Dinner Thursday,September 22nd, 2011 Bastianich Dinner Thursday, October 6th, 2011 Amarone Dinner November, November 26th, 2011

Sun News Review

Revived LockKeepers holds the key to fabulous diningby Barbara Collier
Wednesday July 15, 2009, 3:42 PM

JIM OLEXA/SUN NEWSMalisse Sinito with LockKeepers' seafood risotto, left, and rib eye steak oreganatto.

LockKeepers in Valley View always has been a special place for many, back to its days as the River Pub, owned by Frank and Malisse Sinito, at the corner of Canal Road and Rockside Road. It was 1988 when the Sinitos took over what Malisse now describes as a "rundown biker's bar." She became chef/manager, turning out good food from her many family recipes, but she wanted a classier atmosphere.

Malisse urged Frank to spruce up the place, investing in a little decorating. He agreed and, in '92, opened LockKeepers, which became one of the area's most popular restaurants. Malisse left later that decade to raise their family. In 2002, Frank opened the new LockKeepers, just up the hill toward Thornburg Station. The gorgeous restaurant, serving the magnificent food of executive chef Pamela Waterman, earned the prestigious Four-Diamond rating. LockKeepers closed in '07 and Cleveland native Dante Boccuzzi opened Dante. After a year, Boccuzzi opted to move to the Tremont area, where he will open Dante in August. Frank Sinito, left to find a new tenant, considered closing, but Malisse frowned on the idea. After some interior changes, LockKeepers reopened this year, with Malisse running the show beside executive chef Jeff Jarrett. Malisse tastes every creation, striving to serve "really good food, prepared simply." She is particularly proud of the calamari ($9.95), small and pan-sauteed with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, Kalamata olives and scallions in a white wine sauce. The mild sausage stuffed peppers ($6.95) served with marinara is a tasty appetizer. The signature tomato-basil artichoke soup, one of Malisse's creations, also is back on the menu. So savory, so tasty. Frank's salad ($5.95), a customer favorite, is a mixture of greens, marinated balsamic onions, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese, topped with focaccia croutons. The iceberg wedge ($5.95) is the best in the city. A huge wedge of lettuce is topped with tomato, crisp bacon bits, hard-cooked egg, red onion and a terrific gorgonzola dressing. The ravioli? Simply superb. Each tender ravioli pillow is filled with four cheeses, then topped with marinara ($13.95) or bolognese ($14.95) sauce. All pastas are housemade. The pan-seared peppercorn crusted filet mignon ($29.95) is deliciously tender and juicy. It's served with barolo wine sauce, vegetable and a crispy potato/shallot cake. Several seafood specialties vary according to availability. Don't pass on the rainbow trout or the seared yellow fin tuna encrusted in cracked peppercorns. Following your meal, try a glass of housemade limoncello or orancello ($3.75). The tasty drink, a delightful digestive, is the creation of general manager Brian Woehrman. Pastry chef Kara Swortchek offers outstanding desserts, including molten chocolate cake and a spectacular cherry amaretto sundae. The terrific bar and lounge is a great spot for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. weekdays. Call (216) 524-9404 for dinner reservations. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Make suggestions to food/restaurant editor Barbara Collier at (216) 986-2367.

LockKeepers Wine Tasting- Friday, June 12th 2009

The LockKeepers wine tasting parties are back!

The parties will be hosted monthly in the beautiful private
dining space of the restaurant. The friendly format will
feature hors d'oeuvres and wine tutelage in a fun
"mix and mingle" environment. All wines presented can
be purchased at retail price to be enjoyed at home or
downstairs with dinner in the main dining room after the
party. Reservations now being accepted.



Friday, June 12th 6:00pm-8:00pm $25 per person
Wines of Argentina

Friday, July 17th 6:00pm-8:00pm $25 per person
Organic Wine
hosted on the newly decorated patio (if weather permits)

Friday, August 14th 6:00pm-8:00pm $25 per person
Barolo and Barbaresco

Friday, September 18th 6:00pm-8:00pm $25 per person
Wines of Washington State

Silver Spoons: Signs of CivilizationA meal should not end when the plates are cleared. Kicking back and taking in the experience is part of the allure of dining out. So relax, and order a digestif such as Cognac or a sweet, house-made dessert drink. If you want to take a pass on the alcohol, never underestimate the power of the always simple but often surprising cup of coffee.

House-made Limoncello( LockKeepers )The ornate bottles in the middle of the restaurant draw diners’ attention and have even prompted a few regulars to attempt their own homemade limoncello. Sure, the stuff in the bottle is tasty, but it can’t compare to LockKeepers’ signature drink. General manager Brian Woehrman says the Italian after-dinner drink is simple, and that’s where the beauty lies. Lemon zest infuses with vodka for 40 days. Simple syrup is added before it is served. “It’s sour. It’s sweet. It gets attention.”8001 Rockside Road, Cleveland, (216) 524-9404Espresso Martini ( Johnny’s Bar )Don’t order this when you first walk into Johnny’s, warns bartender Deborah VonAlt. “It will curb your appetite,” she says. And if you’re going to a restaurant like this, that’s the last thing you want to do. Here, if one customer orders an espresso martini, VonAlt knows she’ll need to make a few more. A landmark Italian restaurant, Johnny’s espresso is, of course, top-tier. Mix that into a martini with a touch of Godiva white chocolate liqueur, and you’ll have a new go-to dessert drink. “We prebrew espresso and keep it chilled,” VonAlt says. “There’s no compromising your martini with ice.”3164 Fulton Road, Cleveland, (216) 281-0055
French-pressed Coffee( Chez Francois )Chez Francois creates its own coffee blend from Sumatran, Kenyan and Columbian beans bought raw — still boasting their natural green tint — and roasted in-house. They do this to ensure freshness, sure, but it also keeps the beans from over-roasting, which produces an oily flavor. “You want it to be just dark brown but not oily,” says owner Matt Mars. “When you over-roast, you’re just hiding the flaws.” The brew is delivered tableside, half-pressed in a French press pot. Let it steep for a stronger flavor or finish pressing for a lighter brew.555 Main St., Vermilion, (440) 967-0630
Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac ( L’Albatros Brasserie )As your hands cup a balloon-shaped snifter, the temperature of the amber Cognac inside rises, bringing out its natural caramel flavor with undertones of vanilla. While the average cognac aged for three to four years has more of a bite, the Martell’s minimum six-and-a-half-year aging process inside soft Limousin and Troncais oaks gives it a smooth finish. This makes it easy on a full stomach, says L’Albatros manager Brandon Chrostowski. “It goes in and massages you,” he says. “At the end of a meal, it makes you go home and sleep easy.”11401 Bellflower Road, Cleveland, (216) 791-7880signs of Civilization