Chagrin Tavern on the River's owner looks to improve on formula
Oct. 27—Chris Hammer, the new owner at Chagrin Tavern on the River in Eastlake, is working with his newly hired chef, Chris Miller, to develop a winter menu that will keep customers returning once winter sets in.
At the height of summer, as many as 1,000 people a day flocked to the place to eat, imbibe, dance to live music and enjoy the Chagrin River views.
The restaurant, at 196 E. Island Drive, is not easy to reach, and getting to it is certain to be more challenging once the snow flies. Former owner Michael Huffman, who built the Chagrin Tavern in 2020, also upgraded the road to reach it. A steep hill leading to a one-lane bridge followed by a sharp left turn is the challenge that remains.
But the view from the riverside eatery is extraordinary, especially when the sun sinks low over the Chagrin River, casting its reflections on the water, while dozens of cormorants perched in riverside trees are silhouetted against an orange sky.
The view and the seabirds remain once the boats are taken from the water in preparation for winter.
"Ultimately, I want to improve the menu so much that we will not only have this great view, but people will have a phenomenal meal to look forward to," said Hammer, who took over the Chagrin Tavern in late August.
Riverside dining, where boaters can come ashore or park and have their meals delivered, attracts outdoors lovers all summer. The three-season patio, complete with heat lamps and glass garage doors enclosing the space when cold weather comes, preserves the view.
Hammer wants to keep those who have been coming to the Chagrin Tavern since it opened in 2020 but also make new friends who want more than bar food. So instead of changing the menu, it's being upgraded by Miller, who comes with experience in corporate kitchens that will help him handle the crowds who descend on Chagrin Tavern in warm weather.
"Favorites here are the perch and walleye," Hammer said. "We upgraded them with a new breading and preparation style."
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The wine list has also been improved, he said. Hammer comes from a family that owns one of the oldest wine distributors in Northeast Ohio, Solon-based AJH Distributors. The company survived the years of Prohibition by keeping the contract to provide the sacramental wine for the Catholic Church.
Hammer has built the new wine list with selections to pair with the food.
"It doesn't give a good impression for the bar to be empty when people first come in," he said.
As a result, he's devised a 2-to-6 p.m. happy hour on weekdays with specials available only at the bar, shifting the focus away from the water.
Dishes developed by Miller include foods hearty enough for an early dinner. They are Chicken Nachos with a smoky Gouda cheese sauce, Fried Pickles with a zesty remoulade, Chicken Satay with a peanut sauce, Vegetable Pot Stickers and housemade Ricotta Gnocchi tossed in a short rib gravy.
A clambake, offered through October, was a popular choice, and prime rib dinners on the weekends have a regular following and will remain.
A pastry chef is a member of the 32-person staff, and Hammer, himself, is on hand most of the time to greet guests and fill in where needed.
"I get in at least 20,000 steps a day," he said.
In spring, he intends to construct new docks, build an outdoor bar and undertake a few other improvements.
Chagrin Tavern on the River
Where: 196 E. Island Drive, Eastlake.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Live music: 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. some Sundays.
Info: 440-540-4199; chagrintavernontheriver.com.
