I Heart Waffles is open for business and making strides in the food business with their unique menu. Under the great business mind of Phil Davis, former owner of Phil the Fire, I Heart Waffles is located at 16802 Chagrin Blvd.
Now, one thing for sure, the menu is not the same as Phil the Fire. But Phil’s smile is, and the service is excellent. The 1,500 square feet shop gives you a down home nice setting to come and eat and enjoy good conversation.
The food selection is so good no matter what I picked on the menu. Yes, that means I have been there more than once. They serve these breakfast items all day. Waffles, chicken and one of my favorites shrimp along with fajitas, tacos and pizza waffles throughout the day.
Working with Executive Chef Leonard Black, they have created many waffle combinations. Now one of the items that caught my attention was the various omelets served to order. Many often ask why does he continue to open places to eat.
Davis shared with me the reason why.
“I am an inventor. No one knows the real stories on why I close. I am the only one who knows what really happen. Now, this is something I don’t need a lot of space to do it,” said Davis, feeling the location is great.
There’s no sit-down breakfast options available in the neighborhood and the traffic counts at the corner of Lee Road and Chagrin Boulevard are strong, and being across from Heinen’s helps, too,” said Davis.
This was not his first location. He originally opened the restaurant last year as a stand at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. He closed that kiosk, calling it a short-term lease situation, after less than two months.
Interviewing Davis, while eating some chicken, eggs and a homemade strawberry milk shake, he told me more stands are coming soon. “I am planning on opening another location in Brooklyn inside of the Walmart at 10000 Brookpark Road, off of Tiedeman Road,” he said.
The excitement in his eyes as he talked about how the Brooklyn store offers only 500 square feet and that’s enough space to do what they need to do. “Small space but we offer really good food made without oil or deep frying,” said Davis.
“After we get the Brooklyn store going, they said we can talk about future possibilities. For us to be able to locate in a Walmart could, we hope, foreshadow great things to come,” said Davis.
“I actually invented the Pushel before I Heart Waffles. Once I got the Pushel going, I wanted to get back in the restaurant business. I knew I did fried chicken great, but nobody was doing anything with the waffle,” said Davis.
His dream to take waffles in a different direction is something they are continuing each day. “We are working on another surprise in about 30 days,” said Davis. After 15 years, he’s learned his lesson and is now ready to apply them to this venture.
Davis came back to Cleveland in 1988 and been busy ever since. With over 25 years in business, he will continue to expand the waffle business.
“I really love this place. The waffles was outstanding. I plan to come back because everything was so good,” said Mary Jones, a customer.
“I have taken my lumps and I had challenges but I am now ready to go to the next level. Phil the Fire will be back in 2016, no special location has been named yet,” said Davis.
If you are in the area, please feel free to stop by this location and have it your way because I am sure, like me, I Heart Waffles. Tell them I sent you there for something good.
The hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Phone orders are accepted as well as all major credit cards.
Source:
http://callandpost.com/news/2015/mar/10/i-heart-waffles-fuels-phil-davis-fire/
