Bites Nearby: Deagan's Gastropub

Everyone's heard the buzz about at 14810 Detroit Avenue between Cook Avenue and Warren Road.

The food is creative, well-made and tasty; the waiters are informed and affable; the décor is farmhouse chic with Porter-colored wood, weathered bricks, re-purposed barn planks and a copper-tiled ceiling.

The menu features upscale fare designed to please the mainstream as well as the adventurous — including a handful of good vegetarian options. The menu items are stated clearly, and with brevity; the prices range from $6 to $11 for Small Plates and $10 to $21 for Big Plates; for the noshers there are all sorts of snacks, charcuterie and antipasti. Deagan's is open seven days with half-priced wine on Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Vegetarian Wednesdays (6 to 8 p.m. specials) and brunch on Sundays, starting at 10 a.m.

If you're on foot, the Detroit entrance will land you in the bar. It has 36 seats with a few TVs, two dozen beers on tap and a lengthy drinks menu. There is a back entrance, where there are about 100 parking spots in a municipal lot.

Deagan's is a spacious room with good-sized tables, booths and a satellite seating area off the bar. A lot of the personality has come from the salvaging and re-purposing of tables, chairs and fabrics; antique wrought iron light fixtures; one wall hosts a mural from a bygone restaurant in a bygone era, as well as doors and a decoupage table that came with the property.

Everything here seems to harbor a story- you just need to ask and the waiters will tell.

It is evident that the employees like where they work: they are welcoming, knowledgeable and easygoing.

Partners Deagan and Stroud have made it look simple, but there are many components to a restaurant of this size. The ability to delegate is key, and knowing when to step in is also key: you will always find Deagan or Stroud (oftentimes both) working the floor during service.

Deagan's has repeat customers, happy employees and fantastic food; it is raising the bar for the other restaurants around town.

14810 Detroit Avenue Lakewood, Ohio 44107

http://www.deagans.com/default.html

216.767.5775

Sunday - Thursday: 11am - Midnight,

Friday and Saturday: 11am - 2am