Restaurant Reivew
Rowley Inn
Rowley Inn is a great casual dining choice for anyone visiting A Christmas Story House & Museum, as the causal pub is conveniently located right across the street. Many extras frequented the bar as well as the cast after filming. Also, the upstairs was used for the makeup and wardrobe department. Movie buffs touring the house from the Christmas classic will want to stop by for a meal and some more memorabilia.
Food
The food at Rowley is surprisingly good for a pub. Numerous specials are offered throughout the week: Taco Tuesday, Wednesday Steak, Pierogi Thursday, Friday Fish, and everyday brunch.
Brunch is the best time to plan your visit as it was rated best brunch by readers of the Cleveland Scene magazine. The menu is pretty extensive with ample choices for everyone, from meat lovers to vegetarians. A few highlights include: Breakfast Mac and Cheese, Avocado Toast, Chicken and Waffles, Breakfast Tacos, and Buttermilk Pancakes.
One interesting and "unique-to-Cleveland" choice here is the Pierogi omelet. Basically this entree consists of a pierogi stuffed with scrambled eggs, kielbasa, home fries, cheddar, and roasted garlic mashed potatoes, served with sauerkraut. I opted to skip the kielbasa (note that a vegan Beyond Brat is available as a substitution). This was a great dish and the serving size was huge!
On a cool side note, Guy Fieri of Food Network's popular Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives visited Rowley in 2022. He ordered the Bacon wrapped tots and the Loco Moski (Pierogis topped with a burger, eggs, sauteed onions, and gravy).
Service
We sat at the bar and the service was great. This place is usually always bustling on weekends due to the close proximity to A Christmas Story house, one of the city's top tourist attractions.
Atmosphere
The vibe is casual and pub -like. There is a leg lamp in the window which is pretty cool and you can see the house out the window. You will find darts and a few games in the back, making The Rowley a great choice for a few drinks or comfort style apps.
Final Remarks
Visitors to A Christmas Story house will want to plan for brunch/lunch at The Rowley Inn. The movie memorabilia, proximity to the iconic house, and fun vibe makes it a perfect compliment to a day out in Cleveland's historic Tremont neighborhood.
