Cocktails at Nightjar nod to classic Chagrin Boulevard establishments, alongside a menu of familiar builds and local spirits.
Photo courtesy of Stark Enterprises
BY ADRIANA GASIEWSKI
Noticing the lack of higher end cocktail bars in the east suburbs, Sam Friedman, owner of Nightjar Jazz Bar, decided to open Nightjar on Feb. 13 in Eton Chagrin Boulevard at 28867 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere.
“Live music is also something we are seriously lacking in our neighborhood, and so to hear live music, you have to get yourself at least downtown or West Side,” Friedman says. “And so, the nice thing is now here, we have live jazz happening every Friday and Saturday.”
Viewing it important to keep “our money in our local economy,” Friedman prefers to welcome local artists and spirits to the emerald-covered jazz bar.
“We have amazingly good distilleries here in Northeast Ohio, so I think you’ll come in here, and for a small bar, you’ll see a higher percentage of local bottles than anywhere else,” he says.
Nightjar’s cocktails are also named after businesses on Chagrin Boulevard to further create an East Side connection.
To make drinks like the Davis Bakery, vodka with grapefruit liqueur, grapefruit juice and a bitter grapefruit soda, and the Corky and Lenny, the jazz bar’s take on a horchata, Nightjar uses local vodka, Voudoux Vodka in Medina and Seven Brothers Distilling Company in Harpersfield Township, respectively.
“We have amazing distilleries all around Northeast Ohio. There’s over 20 distilleries in Northeast Ohio — I don’t think people know that,” he says.
The Corky and Lenny also uses bourbon cream from Middle West Spirits in Columbus, causing it to taste like a vanilla milkshake as Friedman put it.
“It’s too delicious is the answer,” he says. “It’s not my type of drink at all, and I could drink 50 of them.”
Another popular drink at Nighjar is its Cousin’s Cigars sazerac, a New Orleans cocktail made with rye whiskey, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar and an absinthe rinse.
Nightjar also has a small food menu consisting of its CLE Reuben skewers and khachapuri, a cheese bread from the country of Georgia. The bar will also debut a tinned fish menu.
“You’re getting a tin of fish of your choice with all kinds of really great accompaniments: pickles and onions and cheese and crackers,” Friedman says. “And so, it’s our version of charcuterie, in a way.”
The bar also has dessert menu, including kosher friendly desserts in collaboration with Fiamma by Mendel.
In addition to its drinks and food offerings, the jazz bar welcomes musicians every Friday and Saturday, spinning classic records from its DJ station on other nights.
A few of the artists that have visited include drummer Tony Kazel and his band Oregon Space Trail of Jazz who play electric music.
“The next night, Saturday, for example, we have a trio of guys who are definitely all over 60 and play very acoustic,” Friedman says. “And so, we really have different types of jazz happening here.”
With temperatures warming up, he is looking forward to having Nightjar’s patio open more often for its Wednesday Cigar Patio, which includes bourbon and cigar specials, in collaboration with Cousin’s Cigars and mahjong on Tuesdays.
“We’re happy to open the space to people who want to come and do things like book club or supper club or play mahjong or all types of things,” Friedman says. “We want this to be a real comfortable third space for people to come enjoy, ‘cause we provided a great atmosphere.”
Nightjar is open Tuesday to Saturday from 4 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the bar is open until 1 a.m., an additional two hours compared to its weekday nights.
Live jazz fills the room on weekends, with guests gathering across both the main floor and mezzanine.
Photo courtesy of Stark Enterprises
Tucked just off Eton’s main walkway, Nightjar is designed to feel like a discovery — dark, intimate and slightly removed from the plaza.
Photo courtesy of Stark Enterprises
Publisher’s Note: An earlier version of this feature first appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News and cjn.org.