Salmon Dave's Maine Event: Lobster Feast!
By Patricia Nugent
The time has come at Salmon Dave’s Pacific Grille in Rocky River to celebrate “The Maine Event.” The crème de la crème of sweet, succulent lobster is plucked from cold Atlantic Depths at the peak of the season rushing them to the charming west side destination for true lovers of lobster.
“We go to great lengths to ensure our Maine lobsters are perfectly fresh,” says Hospitality Restaurants (HR) Culinary Director Marc Standen. “For the event, we will fly in more than 4,000 pounds of lobster over eight weeks.”
The Maine Event has been a Rocky River fixture for two decades and is widely recognized as one of the most loved New England style lobster bakes in town.
“We’ve been consistently voted a top seafood restaurant in Cleveland by local and national magazine polls, from Cleveland Magazine to Bon Appetit and Wine Spectator,” says George Schindler, president of HR.
“Combine the best lobster money can buy with terrific service and it’s no wonder we have to open early to get everyone in on Sunday.”
The signature meal of the celebration presents lobster just like they do back in Maine. Served in a cast iron skillet, the New England Style Lobster Bake includes a whole Maine lobster with roasted chicken, steamed clams, redskin potatoes, clam broth and fresh corn on the cob. Served for $39.95 daily, the deal gets crazy good each Sunday when the bake is discounted $15, to just $24.95. The restaurant opens early at 1:00 p.m. just to accommodate the demand.
Lobster is not only the main event, it also accents a variety of signature creations from Salmon Dave’s talented culinary team. Starting at the top of the menu, Salmon Dave’s delights guests with warm, crispy Lobster Rangoons, a perfect start in the cozy west side seafood saloon. The award-winning Lobster Bisque at Salmon Dave’s is so loved, it made the menu year-round. Annual favorites shine, from the lobster cream anointed pasta with spinach and bright cherry tomatoes to the already cracked and shelled lobster tails ready to adorn any of the gems across the wide-ranging menu.
“Reservations are essential to get in on Sunday for this promotion. We start getting calls in June and July to ensure we will have the Maine Event,” says George.
The décor is an old-fashioned take on a Victorian saloon. Rugged exposed brick, period black-and-white tile flooring, soaring two-story ceilings and a mammoth mahogany bar are all looked down upon by a friendly moose head on the wall, making the space at once charming and grand. Stop in Monday through Friday, between 3:00 and 6:30 p.m., to enjoy what has been voted the west side’s best happy hour. The festivities resume Friday night from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m.
Consistently voted a top seafood restaurant in Cleveland, Salmon Dave’s opened in 1993 in the heart of the historic Old River district.
It is the second of nine establishments operated by Hospitality Restaurants, joining the Cabin Club in Westlake, Blue Point Grille and Thirsty Parrot downtown, Delmonico’s Steakhouse in Independence, Kingfish Seafood in Montrose and three Rosewood Grill locations in Strongsville, Hudson and Westlake.
Salmon Dave’s Pacific Grille is located at 19015 Old Lake Road, in Rocky River. Call 440-331-2739, or visit SalmonDaves.com. Open Monday-Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; and special hours on Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Happy hour is Monday-Friday, 3:00-6:30 p.m., and Friday, 9:30-11:00 p.m.