AMP 150--Cleveland, OH [$$$]

For this outing, we were excited for our weekly distraction since we both have been feeling under the weather. It was Grace's turn to choose, and she did her research and picked AMP 150. The online menu looked really snazzy, but the website said nothing about it being a hotel restaurant. After finding a parking space that was not an ideal distance from the hotel entrance, we used the revolving doors and veered to the right towards AMP 150. We were asked whether we wanted restaurant or lounge, and we chose restaurant because neither one of us was up to day drinking this week. When we got to our table, we couldn't help but feel slightly under dressed and not-so-corporate. We both wanted a lunch on the healthier side this week, which worked out because the main entrees were a bit pricier than what we chose.

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Grace:

Upon arrival to our table, I noticed the really cool, shiny red chairs. When I sat down, I immediately started looking at the menu that was waiting for me on the tables. I was perusing each section of the menu, but kept going back to the soup and salad portion 1) because I'm sick and 2) because I get paid tomorrow. The waiter brought us some water. After some time, I decided on the chicken soup and the chopped salad--because both had avocado (and we know I can't pass that up).

Both of our soups came out before our salads so I was glad Shannon wanted to get soup and salad, too, so I wasn't the only one eating. Most people think of chicken noodle soup as "chicken soup," but I read the description beforehand and was completely sold. The chicken soup consisted of avocado, radish, these crazy spicy peppers, corn dumpling, cilantro, and tomato. There was a lime wedge on the rim of my bowl, so I spritzed that in the soup to liven it up even more. The chicken soup was really great and was only $6! It was the right temperature and the perfect amount of soup to be considered a meal with the salad to come later.

As previously mentioned, I also ordered the chopped salad. It consisted of avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, onions, olives, and green beans. The dressing was a white balsamic vinaigrette which was very sweet and different, because I've only ever really had raspberry vinaigrette. Every single bite of this salad was fresh and crunchy! My salad was a dollar more than Shannon's, so I got more food on my plate, which made me feel bad--but luckily, we did finish eating at the exact same time. 

I really liked AMP 150! It is located in the Marriott on W. 150th Street. AMP 150 is good for what it is, but I felt Shannon and I were the odd, young women there solely for the food and not for a budget meeting. Based on the food, it was success, but because it seemed more for business-oriented people and/or hotel guests, I probably won't find my way back there in the foreseeable future. 

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Shannon:

Grace informed me that the restaurant was in a hotel shortly before picking me up, so until I arrived at AMP 150, I was uncertain of what I'd find.  The hostess booth was to the right of the front door, off the lobby.  We were seated in the restaurant section, as opposed to the lounge, which were seats dispersed into the lobby area.  Some of the booths were very intricately decorated and there were several rooms off the main restaurant area for private meetings/parties.

Upon scanning the menu, I found that the squash soup I saw on the online menu was nowhere to be found.  Saddened by this, I scanned the entrees, however the one vegetarian option seemed too pricey for lunch.  Having my heart set on soup, I ordered the tomato, and the spinach salad.  The soup arrived first, which was a thick creamy bisque topped with creme fraiche and a Gruyere crouton.  I devoured the soup, glad that I ordered the bowl over the cup.  Soon after, my salad arrived.  This was a bed a spinach with chopped onions, Lake Erie Creamery Feta cheese, topped with a sunny side egg and vanilla vinaigrette.  The salad did come with bacon, which I asked the waiter to hold.  I have many salad recipes I've wanted to try that are topped with an egg, although unless they are scrambled or over hard, eggs that I make do not turn out correctly.  I was excited to try this accompaniment.  I chopped up my salad so the egg ran into the bed of spinach and mixed with the sweet vinaigrette.  This was the ultimate clashing of cold and warm, the egg still warm from the pan mixing with the cool lettuce and dressing.  The feta was truly spectacular and the crispy sweet onions tied it all together perfectly.  The waiter brought us complimentary bread, which I used to soak up the remaining egg and dressing once I had finished my salad.  I was very pleased with my choice, and was satisfied without being overwhelmingly full.

Other than feeling slightly out of place among the other patrons who seemed to be meeting here over their lunch break, it was a lovely place.  Since AMP 150 is in a hotel, I do not think I would have thought to stop in if I had been driving past.  I am glad, however, that somewhere I do not think I would end up on my own was somewhere Grace and I went to enjoy together.  I would like to make it back whenever the squash soup is in season, so I can give it a try!

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Outside of AMP 150, from hotel lobby.

Seating area

More seating

Cool booth

Chopped salad

Chicken soup

Spinach salad

Tomato soup

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We had noticed there were unidentifiable objects stuck to the ceiling above the bar while we were eating, so on the way out we investigated.  The hostess saw us looking and taking pictures, so she insisted that we get a card of our own.  She walked around the bar to find the bartender, who came over and gave us instructions. We had to pick a card and write our names and the date on the sides.  We picked the 4 of spades.  He came back and shuffled the cards a billion ways, showing us as he went, then he rubber-banded them all together and told us our card will stick to the ceiling once he throws the deck in the air.  And so it did!  The rubberband stuck to it as well.  We were amazed!  That was definitely a new experience, lunch and a show!

Our card

Our card on the ceiling

Many cards on the ceiling!

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