Deagan's Kitchen in Lakewood named best new restaurant by Cleveland Magazine

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - The building had been empty for years on Detroit Avenue. It had seen restaurants come and go but was again waiting for a new tenant to roll the dice in cultural Lakewood. Daniel Deagan had a plan for the restaurant space just west of Warren Avenue.

"My wife and I wanted to create something that we wanted to go to," Deagan said. "We like going out and having great food but we don't like getting really dressed up."

Foreign to the term "gastropub," it's exactly what Deagan's Kitchen became, fine dining in a casual atmosphere.

"We get people that come in in shorts and flip flops to people in suits for happy hour," he said.

Deagan, known by just his last name to those close to him, spent years putting together a plan for his restaurant. He had worked at various levels of the restaurant business and wanted the former Cleats restaurant to be exactly what he envisioned.

The interior was redone to have an old fashioned pub feel to it. Hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and old wood from an 1860s era barn now offer a cozy feel as patrons choose from 28 craft beers on tap and more than 70 in bottles.

"People feel comfortable coming here with their kids while wearing jeans and still eating great food," said executive chef Demetrios Atheneos. "That's what, especially Cleveland diners, have gotten used to. Really good food and being comfortable being able to do it."

The former Bodega chef is responsible for a lunch menu that includes pecan crusted chicken salad, Amish chicken and waffles and vegan orecchiette pasta.

The dinner menu is highlighted by "bar snacks" that include devils on horseback (dates, haloumi, bacon and watercress) and bar oysters.

The "small plates" dinner section offers crisp eggplant, prosciutto and gruyere stuffed quail and peking duck confit mac n Cheese. While the "big plates" include bangers and mash, bacon wrapped beef tenderloin and bay of fundy salmon.

Other features during the week include Taco Tuesdays and vegan nights.

Having opened in September, 2010, Deagan said he already believes that the restaurant will be a success. Readers of Cleveland Magazine agree, as Deagan's Kitchen took home the 2011 Silver Spoon Award for Best New Restaurant.

The 17th Annual Silver Spoon Awards Party is on May 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Marriott Downtown Cleveland.

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Pete Kenworthy anchors Good Morning Cleveland. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter . You can also email Pete at kenworthy@wews.com .