by Ashley Sowers
You’ve probably heard mention of the new restaurant coming to Cleveland Heights and if not, you’re in for a treat. The brainchild of owners Ryan Gullatt, Andre Scott, Jeremiah Burks, and Chris Thomas, The Haunted House Restaurant marries good food and horror movies. Yep, that’s what I said. Gullatt conceived the haunted house concept looking for something that would stand out. And that’s exactly what he and his team have accomplished. I was able to squeeze into The Haunted House before its official opening—continue reading for 5 key takeaways you should consider as you plan your first visit.
1. It’s scary but only in a fun way
When you walk in, you’re going to be overtaken by the pleasant smell of movie popcorn. This immediately makes sense as you approach the hostess from in front of a mock movie ticket office. Images of iconic horror movies and figures decorate the walls throughout the restaurant and the red and black decor fits perfectly. Songs like Thriller and Ghost Busters fill the space with at least one scary movie playing on a television screen above the bar. The theme is fun and is executed pretty well without being overdone.
2. People are excited about The Haunted House Restaurant and are showing up!
I arrived just a little bit before the restaurant opened, but I absolutely was not expecting the growing line forming around the corner. The line moved fast, but there was a 30-minute to 1-hour wait to be seated. I definitely advise trying to make a reservation if that’s possible. Otherwise, I was able to get in for bar seating right away and really enjoyed that experience.
3. Study the menu ahead of time
The menu is eclectic and a little overwhelming. The dish titles are clever and on theme with the restaurant. But you do have to read the description of almost each of them in order to have any idea about what you’re ordering. This is part of the fun of The Haunted House Restaurant. But if you are anything like me, you’re starving by the time you arrive and want to eat ASAP. There are so many tasty sounding dishes on this menu. Taking even a quick glance at it before you arrive will definitely help you narrow down your options.
4. The food is good
After getting some input on my very friendly bartender, I decided on 2 appetizers and a “brinner” entree. Brinner (think breakfast/dinner) is a yummy part of the menu that mimics brunch items, but is offered all day. My appetizers were the Nightmare on Elm Street Corn and the Frankenfish Tacos.
Overall this was a good dish, but the waffle took the cake for me. It was perfectly fluffy and had a distinct yet understated flavor in combination with the wings and whipped topping. I will say that I would never eat this on a date. When I went to the restroom, I saw that my teeth and tongue were the color of the waffle—still worth it.
It is also important to mention that there is a vegan portion of the menu that I plan to explore in the future.
5. It’s the drinks for me
I played it safe and ordered “Thee Cosmopolitan,” which is your typical cosmo. As tasty as it was, this was a move I rethought as I witnessed the capabilities of the bar. While enjoying my meal, I saw all different types of drinks—some with bubbles, dry ice, and candy. The couple next to me ordered one of the Haunted Bowl Drinks called “The Thing.” Containing vodka, gin, rum, tequila, TripleSec, Midori, pineapple juice, and Sprite, they insisted that it tasted just as good as it looked and I believe them! In addition to a full offering of handcrafted cocktails, The Haunted House has a decent beer selection and features a number of Cleveland Urban Winery wines. Whatever you drink, they have something for you. The cocktails and haunted bowls are so exciting and fun—I actually can’t wait to get back to try more!
Overall The Haunted House Restaurant is not going to be for everyone in terms of food and atmosphere, but for me it is definitely repeatable. The Haunted House Restaurant is located in what was previously Melt at the corner of Cedar and S. Taylor and is set to officially open on Tuesday, July 20th.