In a nation of look-alike, shrink-wrapped supermarkets there remain repositories of culinary culture – places where you can shop (often on the cheap) and come away with a basket full of fresh, fabulous food. Cleveland’s historic West Side Market is one of those places.
Located across the Cuyahoga River from downtown, and readily accessible by RTA Train (the W. 25th/Ohio City stop), this market is where Cleveland families, Cleveland chefs and the surrounding countryside shops – especially on Saturday mornings.
The market is divided into two areas: the Fruit and Vegetable Arcade, and the far larger yellow brick Markethouse, with its vaulted ceiling and utterly endless array of food.
The morning this Cheapflights reporter took his growling stomach to the market, avocados were selling for $.99, the berries were fresh, and the seafood succulent. Mothers with infants strapped in front packs jockeyed with celebrity chefs and hungry tourists down the narrow aisles of the Markethouse amidst the mingled smells of Mexican, Polish, French and Thai concoctions.
If you’re looking for a way to eat cheap, and exceedingly well, hop the RTA from your hotel, take along a couple of those recyclable grocery bags and load up on fresh baguettes, cheese, fresh fruit and wine. Pack a picnic lunch and head to one of Cleveland’s Parks, perhaps up in the University Circle area for a picnic. Weather bad? Head to your hotel room and feast. No room service can match this.
The Travel Channel and the Food Network are no strangers to this palace of the palate. If you’re a foodie, this is the Midwestern Mecca of markets.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Images: West Side Market)
