The Scene
Once upon a time, before Clevelanders decided to trade in their stoops and clotheslines for propane barbecue grills and lawn care fees, funky little paprikash pits like the Czech Inn were as numerous as dandelions in the cracked city sidewalks. Alas, their aromas and tastes are as rare today as Steeler fans at a Browns game.
Czech, Please
The Inn, a romantic little hideaway where each table has its own fresh flower arrangement, is a good choice for Old World flavors like tripe soup and sauerbraten in a cream sauce so rich you'll call your doctor later and confess. The under-$15 meals, lace curtains and polished wood floors give this place a homey feel, and the Prague travel posters remind you exactly where home is. Sure it's a little cramped and a little quirky (they've been known to close early if business is slow), but the flavors are unsurpassed.