A celebration of 9 survivors from Cleveland’s ever-crowded restaurant scene
If it’s true that you’ve got to be a little nuts to get into the restaurant business, then the following list surely represents the craziest crew Cleveland has to offer. In their decades of service, these restaurateurs have succeeded in an industry that rewards hard work, unwavering passion, and resilience in the face of great change. We asked them to reflect on their careers and on some of their most memorable moments. Here’s what they cooked up.
Zack Bruell
Current restaurants: Chinato, L’Albatros, Table 45, Parallax
Previous restaurants: Z Contemporary Cuisine (1985)
First job in the biz: Dishwasher at University of Colorado cafeteria (at age 20)
Shifting trends: The labor market in Cleveland has improved drastically. When I opened Z, we had to hire people with zero fine-dining experience and train them to do what we wanted. It was naive of me to think that they’d stay with me. I ended up being the training ground for the rest of the city. It’s much easier to find talent now.
