Local Chains: The Winking Lizard

Why do I love Cleveland? Fun local chains.

I love the local chain The Winking Lizard.  With several locations around town, and two I believe in Columbus, Ohio, this is a great restaurant and bar to go to when you want good reasonable food, and plenty of beer choices.  With over 100 beers to choose from you can't go wrong.  I love that each location is different.  I go to the Lakewood location the most, and it is housed in a building that used to be an Elks club, and before that a tennis club.  It even has a bowling alley in the basement!  Each location also has a resident Lizard!

I remember the first time I went to one I had gone on a bike ride with my family out in Penninsula.  This was well over 10 years ago, and if I remember correctly the Lizard at that location would wink at you if you waved.  I loved it.  Flash forward several years to 2008.  Two of my girlfriends and I signed up to do the beer tour.  It took a lot of effort but we finished it.  I never received my jacket, but nevertheless I still love the chain.  I now go there almost every Friday after work with my coworkers for a late lunch and a cocktail. 

I love their spicy garlic hot wings.  But my all time favorite thing on their menu is their white bread pizza.  Unfortunately I have developed an allergy to dairy and can't eat it anymore, but sometimes I'm tempted to risk anaphylacxic shock just to taste it one more time!

**Note: While this is my first post about something I love about Cleveland, it is not my number one reason.  I will be posting about locations and activities as I revisit them and rediscover all the reasons I love calling Cleveland home.**

Does your city have any restaurants featuring cute lizards and delicious wings? What other Cleveland chains do you love?