Station 43 In The News!
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Chef Bennie Crosby with the popular fish
fry
and chicken parmesan.
Picture Courtesy of: Jim Olexa/Sun News |
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• 1/4/10 WMJI 105.7
In less than a month, I've visited two restaurants with firehouse themes. One, Moosehead Hoof & Ladder, is on the West Side; the other is Station 43 Tavern, at 39910 Aurora Road (Ohio Route 43) in Solon.
They have that interesting atmosphere and lots of firehouse memorabilia in common. Oh, and good food, too.
Michael Ruth, one of the owners of Station 43, has been a Solon firefighter/paramedic for 18 years. The other owners, Charlie Randazzo and daughter Lisa, liked the theme when readying to open in late 2007.
The popular tavern is being enlarged by some 30 feet on the western end to accommodate a larger U-shaped bar, dining room and kitchen.
Ruth continues to search nationwide for old and interesting fire-station items. Old maple booths in the bar come from a bowling alley. A huge hanging wooden ladder is from the Rocky River Fire Department. Hundreds of sleeve patches from around the world are displayed.
Let me tell you, I've eaten a zillion burgers over the years, but the Station 43 burger ($7.99) is one of the best. The half-pound of Angus is especially tasty, juicy and cooked perfectly, covered with Cheddar and bacon.
All burgers are served with fabulous browned sweet potato fries, fresh chips or french fries, plus a pickle.
One of the signature house soups is chicken tortilla ($2.99 cup). Be prepared for a slight bite from this soup, thick with chicken pieces and topped with crispy tortilla strips.
Mussels Monday is a big night at Station 43. Customers flock from far and wide to the $5.43/dozen mussels, served with garlic-butter sauce and garlic bread.
Here's a deal: Buy a dozen, get the second for half-price; buy two dozen and get the third free. Add pasta for $3.99, and you've got some inexpensive and delicious eating.
Daily specials range from Sunday beef strogonoff ($10.43) with dinner salad to the popular Friday beer-battered fish fry ($10.43) with fries, coleslaw and roll.
Chef Bennie Crosby puts out a great chicken parmesan ($11.43). It's one of the most popular entrees next to the fish fry.
It comes with a side of sauced rigatoni or spaghetti, plus dinner salad and roll.
Station 43 is just west of Market Place Square and east of Signature of Solon. Call (440) 836-0043. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. |
