Phil the Fire

It has been years. LONG, painful, unappeasable years since Jeff has had GOOD Chicken and Waffles. Of course, every now and again, a restaurant came along and promised the dish. Jeff didn’t budge. He knew, only Phil knew how to blend ultra-fluffy waffles, brilliantly fried chicken, perfectly mixed syrup and spunky hot sauce into a taste tempting treat. So he waited…and waited…and waited until Phil finally came back.

Phil the Fire is not only a story of good food (we’ll get to that) but it is also a story of a guy who reached for the stars, was punched down only to rise again, better than before.

Phil the Fire was first a wildly popular Sunday Brunch in the Heights, then a marvelous tiny restaurant at Shaker Square, so popular, it was almost impossible to get a table, an expanded bistro near Jacob’s Field and then a famous flop because of some nefarious characters that took advantage of the young restaurateur. To his credit, Phil righted the wrongs brought upon him by these guys and opened a new Phil the Fire in Beachwood. You’ve got to love a guy who so enjoys food he is willing to weather this type of storm.

We first heard that Phil was again going to open a restaurant in spring of 2011. While Michele fully adored the Catfish, it was Jeff who was obsessed by his Chicken and Waffles. He tried others. NONE came even close. Nobody had as fluffy a waffle. None features the perfectly fried chicken. The hot sauce and syrup were always substandard. The unique combination has NEVER reached the heights that Phil defined.

So we waited.

Once Phil opened again, we waited further. We tried relentlessly to again sample Phil’s fare, but the legend had grown too big. We could not get in! 45 minute, 90 minute, two hour waits were quoted. Finally, on this visit, they promised 20 minutes and we could finally sample Phil’s food.

It was worth the wait. Michele reported that the catfish was perfect and as she remembered. Next time she plans on ordering two pieces! (A one or two piece entrée are available.) Jeff quickly sliced up the breast, scattered it over the waffle, drizzled the syrup and hot sauce across the top and dug in. It was as if we had not eaten in a week. The food was gone in an instant. The waiter commented that Jeff ate the dish as Phil defined in the menu. “Of course!” he said. “Phil taught me how to eat this dish YEARS ago!”

Dessert was a forgone conclusion. In the original Shaker Square location, we once sat next to an elderly couple. The woman told us that the Red Velvet Cake at Phil the Fire was just like her mother made. We never knew this lady. The connection to food was visceral. The result was as we expected. Perfect.

So we have finally returned to Phil the Fire and Phil the Fire has returned to us. Let’s celebrate the event and glory in the results. This is food that appeals to everyone and everyone is apparently coming. Phil the Fire is a crowded place, proudly stand in line and wait to enjoy to bounty that is Phil.

http://www.philthefire.com/wp/ 3750 Orange Place Beachwood, OH 44122 216-831-3473

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