Bites Nearby: Chowder House

Chestnut Boulevard eatery serves adventurous fare, preserves quirky art from Jimmy’s Café.

When Louis Prpich opened up the Chowder House at the former Jimmy’s Café in 2009, fans of Jimmy’s might have worried that the colorful décor would get a major makeover. Those worries were largely unfounded as the bold palette and fun, quirky touches are still there. The menu reflects a change in ownership. Prpich, who recently opened the nearby Sugo with an Italian emphasis, maintains a hand in creating the menu and running the kitchen at Chowder House.  The lunch menu features popular sandwiches such as the lobster roll ($9), pulled pork ($8), East Coast cod ($10) and chicken with goat cheese ($9). Lunch specials cost a tad more. Sandwiches come with chips or you can substitute chilled sesame noodles for an extra $2. Dinner features …

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5 Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

You can go with tried and true, or maybe something a little different.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday. You did remember, right? Well, don’t just sit there, make some plans. Don’t panic, there’s still time and we’re here to help. We’ve done a little scouting around and found some promising Mother’s Day treats. You could go with tried-and-true Mother’s Day staples, or try starting a new tradition. Here are a few suggestions to try: • A diamond. Is mom a sports fan? Take her out to the ballpark. The Akron Aeros play at 1 p.m. on Mother’s Day, and as an added bonus, the Aeros feature a Breast Cancer Awareness/Pink Visor Giveaway (to the first 1,000 ladies). Canal Park is a great place to spend an afternoon: Game tickets are reasonable ($5 for bleacher seats, $9 reserved seating adults, $8 kids and seniors) and the …

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Sugo Modern Italian Bistro Delivers

Mouth-watering Ahi tuna ribs worth the wait.

My love for Italian food began in my early childhood, so when Sugo Modern Italian Bistro opened up March 4 in Cuyahoga Falls, I was beyond excited to taste the wide variety of dishes they offered. The small restaurant is intimate and romantic; lit candles sit on top of every table, music plays softly in the background and the lights are dimmed to create a cozy atmosphere. I also noticed the restaurant caters to sports fans, providing ample bar seating and a flat-screen television, which probably has been rigged to stay on ESPN. The wait staff was wonderful, and chef and owner Louis Prpich did a wonderful job in ensuring the bistro is enticing to everyone. "I want people to be comfortable when they come here," Prpich said earlier this week…

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Tradition Continues Through Sugo Modern Italian Bistro

New restaurant premiers today.

Sugo Modern Italian Bistro opens its doors today at 4 p.m. after weeks of preparation and training. The new restaurant is run by Chef Louis Prpich, who also operates the well-known Chowder House Cafe, also in Cuyahoga Falls. Sugo will be taking over the former location of DiLullo's Restaurant on State Road. "DiLullo's has been an Italian restaurant for the past 60 years," Prpich said. "I wanted to keep that Italian tradition going, but modernize the menu." Prpich is especially excited about the tuna ribs. Similar to hot wings, the Ahi tuna ribs are seasoned in a classic bagna cauda sauce (the Italian version of hot sauce), served with an assortment of pickled and raw vegetables with gorgonzola in crema for dipping. Other items on the menu …

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Bites Nearby: Chowder House

Chowder House in Falls features signature chowder, daily specials.

Chef Louis Prpich has found a home at the Chowder House, 2028 Chestnut Blvd., 330-794-7102. Occupying the former Jimmy’s Café, the Chowder House opened in 2009, adopted the eclectic setting and added Prpich’s culinary stamp with “fresh soups, sandwiches and special daily entrees using only the freshest ingredients.” The lineup of specials posted recently on the Chowder House Facebook page included Asian barbecue tuna ribs; pan-fried polenta; osso bucco with risotto ala Milanese; seafood puttanesca over hand-made fettuccini; “fish and chips”; Carlo's Italian chicken with eggplant, fresh mozzarella and prosciutto butter; and sausage stuffed pork chop with sugo Arrabbiata. Alcohol is not served, but patrons can bring their own beer and wine. …

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