Things You'll Need:
- Cash or credit card
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Step 1
Spend a night listening to live music at Nighttown (12383 Cedar Road, (216) 795-0550)). Open until 1 a.m. every night except Sunday when it closes at midnight, Nighttown has hosted jazz musicians, both local and world-renowned, such as the Count Basie Orchestra and Benny Green. The menu features familiar appetizers such as clam chowder and steamers, as well as the unusual like Halloumi Kebobs (Cyprian sheep and goat’s milk cheese with grilled vegetables and chive oil). In addition to pub fare like Bangers & Mash, there's plenty of dinner salads, steaks and seafood specials. The house specialty is called The Dublin Lawyer, which is lobster cooked in a cream sauce with mushrooms and scallions, drenched in Irish whiskey, and then served on a bed of rice. (You'll have to ask your server why it's called that--there's a story behind it!) Save room for the Apple Bread Pudding topped with bourbon crème. Check out the website below in Resources.
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Step 2
Satisfy a craving for Chinese at Bo Loong (3922 Saint Clair Ave. NE, (216) 391-3113)). Pass through its ornate pagoda until 3 a.m. on the weekends and 2 a.m. weekdays, and choose from a range of dishes from Bo Loong's extensive menu, all served in generous portions. Start with the generously stuffed potstickers. If you like spicy dishes, try the Mandarin Beef. Prefer seafood? Go for the rich lobster in black bean with egg (just don't be surprised if you are near the tank from which it is taken!) And if only noodles will do (as they sometimes will, especially if you've been drinking), go for the E fun noodles, which are long and smothered in a savory sauce.
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Step 3
Head for the Middle East at Kan Zaman (1917 W. 25th St., (216) 685-1500)). Staying open until 2 a.m. every night, on Saturdays Kan Zaman features Arabic Night filled with live music and belly dancing until 3 a.m. With cushioned benches and Arabic movies playing without subtitles, you can take in an authentic piece of the Middle East while dining on great food. Consider starting with hummus, baba ghanouj or grape leaves stuffed with beef and rice. Move onto main dishes like Shish Tawook (cubed and marinated chicken served with garlic mayonnaise on the side) and the Shawarma Plate (choose between lamb or chicken, which is then sautéed with tomatoes, onions, parsley and topped with tahini). There's also a variety of sandwiches (try the Makale, which has potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant and greens, served with tahini in a pita) and baklava and Arab coffee for dessert. They have a website; check it out below under Resources.
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Step 4
Go to Dianna's Deli & Restaurant (1332 W. 117th St., (216) 521-9393)) when you're seeking comfort food. Open 24 hours, seven days a week, you'll find a diverse crowd at Dianna's, especially late at night. The service is friendly, and the food comes out of the kitchen fairly quickly. In addition to the usual diner food of burgers and chicken tenders, the overstuffed sandwiches are a great deal. Choose from the Monte Cristo, a particularly thick Reuben, a tuna melt or a simple grilled cheese; get any with a side of perfectly fried onion rings. End on a light note with the rice pudding, or go decadent with the cheesecake. Breakfast is served all day, but beware of the sheer size of the omelets: they take up an entire plate.
