The Plum Café & Kitchen: Brett Sawyer does farm-to-table casual in Cleveland

Three years ago, Nate Lobas and Jonah Oryszak took a chance on a 150 year-old spot in an inner-ring neighborhood on Cleveland's west side. If the area gentrified as they hoped, their restaurant would be a cornerstone of the new scene.

It helps, of course, to have a talented, well-known chef on the team. Lobas and Oryszak nabbed executive chef Brett Sawyer to head up the culinary side of what would become The Plum Café & Kitchen.

Sawyer came to the new partnership from the kitchen of James Beard Award winner (Best Chef: Great Lakes) Jonathon Sawyer (no relation), chef/owner of the Greenhouse Tavern and Trentina restaurants in Cleveland.

The plum is an intimate, 50-seat farm-to-table restaurant that's centered around an exposed brick chimney that runs the height of the two-story dining room. Bold yellow wallpaper marks the entryway, but in the spare and serene dining room, the sole nod to color is a blush-hued banquette. A new wall of windows overlooks a patio and a curved bar is clad in clean white subway tile.

At lunch, the Plum’s menu emphasizes adventurous sandwiches and salads, including a Ploughman’s Lunch, with sour ham, sharp cheddar, seasonal pickles, cultured butter and a 45-minute egg ($9). At dinner, attention-grabbling offerings include starters like fried chickenrones—puffed chicken skins with sea salt and hot sauce ($4) and main courses such whole fried Lake Erie white bass with whey braised greens and rice porridge ($18).

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Up and coming

The Plum partners purchased the classic storefront space for just $42,000. After 18 months of repairs and renovations, the restaurant is a jewel of the evolving Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Just next door is more evidence of urban renewal, microbrewery and tasting room Platform Beer Company, with whom The Plum shares a patio.

Welcome

Exuberant wallpaper sets the tone for the cheerful, casual space.

Bright spot

White subway tile and rustic fixtures create a clean and contemporary feel.

Dining room

The 150-year-old building features original exposed bricks and a wall of windows overlooking a patio.

Pop of pink

A blush-colored banquette is the sole nod to color in the crisp, white dining room.

Ploughman's Lunch

With sour ham, seasonal pickles, a 45-minute egg, aged cheddar and cultured butter on a white loaf.

Green Bean Salad

With roasted grapes, vegan kale pesto, crispy quinoa and pickled rhubarb.

Smoked Duck Confit

It's served with sweet corn polenta, green tomatoes, zucchini and peppers.

Breakfast

A neighborhood bakery, Cleveland Bagel co., delivers morning pastries to accompany The Plum's in-house coffees and teas.

Brett Sawyer

A veteran of James Beard Award winner Jonathon Sawyer's (no relation) Trentina and Greenhouse Tavern, Brett proves ready for his close-up.

More to come

The Plum partners eventually plan to open another concept in an upstairs space.