Bites Nearby: Match Works Tavern

“Mentor is full of chains,” says Tom Quick, the graduate who has returned home to run Match Works Tavern at 8500 Station St. “We're not the mainstream. People are always looking for something different, like independently owned and established places that pay special attention.”

Quick is now the executive chef and owner of Match Works — open just a month — a public house, or pub, that is “a little more casual in both price and atmosphere” than Quick's former venture, Epiq Bistro in Concord Township, which closed in 2008.

“Basically it's a larger place with a wider range of clientele, like early birds who come in for a tavern burger ($7) and calamari ($9),” Quick said of Match Works. “Then there are those that want lamb shank ($18). There's a little bit of both.”

He punctuated: “Food is still the star.”

The menu features bar snacks, like French Dip sliders ($5) and popcorn chicken ($5); small plates of Tom's Beef Tartar ($11), jumbo lump crab cake ($9); pastas like Penne Bolognese ($13), smoked bacon Mac & Cheese ($13); and full dinner entrees like steak ($18-24), Ahi tuna ($17) and shrimp risotto ($17). Full menus for both lunch and dinner are available at www.matchworkstavern.com.

Quick is well-known in the area and his disciples have followed him back to Lake County. “We have a pretty educated clientele in this area and Cleveland. Some of the best chefs in the country are in Cleveland,” said Quick, who was chef-owner at both Zinc Bistro and Picolo Mondo in downtown Cleveland.

Picolo Mondo was one of Cleveland's first fine dining establishments, Quick said. “Everybody else was opening cans of green beans.”

Mentor Works is open each day except Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Saturday is a 5 p.m. open.