Station 43 Tavern has upped the seasonal ante by introducing brand new comfort food specials

By Beth Newcomb

To some, a restaurant placemat may be as significant as a leaf making its way down to the ground. But at Station 43 Tavern, the rolling out of a new placemat signifies a fresh season of mouth-watering specials has arrived—to be enjoyed for months instead of days.

“We decided to change the way we offer our specials,” says Managing Owner Lisa Randazzo-Ross.

“Previously we offered them for two months at a time and on particular days, listing them on our placemat so guests would be able to stay current on what we were offering. But instead of restricting our guests to ordering something they loved on a particular day, we decided to offer our specials every day and only change them seasonally.”

That means if you love the new lasagna special, a towering creation Lisa says is better than even she can make (and she’s Italian), you can enjoy it every day of the week for lunch or dinner. The dinner portion is priced at $14.99 and comes with salad and garlic bread. Perfect layers of sauce, meat and cheese are piled high in a delectable tower. The lunchtime portion, at $7.99, allows guests to still grab a chunk of the good stuff with less heft.

“Our menu is so large, we put out specials to highlight the creativity of our chefs and offer something different for our guests to enjoy. For example, right now we’re featuring comfort foods,” inserts Chef Brian Swaney, the mastermind behind many of Station 43’s delicious draws.

With plenty of comfort packed into every bite, the appeal of Station 43’s new chicken fried steak dish is huge. Served with potatoes, vegetables and a dinner salad, Brian makes his the old-fashioned way, from scratch. It’s a value-priced $15.99.

A lamb shank dinner, at $15.99, also is a new menu highlight, but it’s the lobster mac ‘n cheese that’s become one of the biggest draws. Chunks of lobster are smothered in Chef Brian’s cheese sauce with Applewood bacon to add interest. The ambitious dinner portion is $17.99.

“It’s made from scratch and is amazingly good,” Lisa rhapsodizes.

In addition to the new all-day, every-day specials, the seasonal appetizer selection at Station 43 also packs a punch.

Explosively divine, the buffalo chicken dip is a cheesy concoction with mild heat, while the stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon bring it on in blazes.

General Manager Anthony Fiorelli is quick to point out that comfort food isn’t the only thing making Station 43 one of the hottest places to be.

You can take the edge off holiday shopping duties by stopping into Station 43 for the martini of the month. For November, it’s a pumpkin martini, and for December, it’s a candy cane martini.

Oh, and while you’re there, put your order in for a Station 43 holiday cookie or party tray. Lisa says anything on the catering menu is available to make your party a smashing success.

Station 43 Tavern is located at 39910 Aurora Road, in Solon. Dining hours are Sunday through Thursday, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. The phone number is 440-836-0043 and you can call ahead for seating or reservations. The web address is Station43Tavern.com, where you’ll find dining and catering menus. Like the restaurant on Facebook at Station 43 Tavern. The restaurant offers free Wi-Fi and a free dinner entrée for anyone turning 43 with a valid I.D.