At the heart of the classic children’s story The Secret Garden, a novel I loved as a kid, is a hidden and neglected patch of paradise. A special and hard-to-find spot is also at the center of this story. Americano is a wonderful new bistro on the ground floor of the Bratenahl Place condo tower. It opened in July but has thus far remained largely unknown and out of sight.
That’s no surprise, as it feels more like a private club than a restaurant. To get there, you must go down a long, unmarked drive off Lake Shore Boulevard, check in at the gatehouse and cross the apartment building’s lobby. But it’s worth the effort.
Don’t be deceived by first impressions. The formal dining room décor, complete with smoked glass mirrors, is on the stodgy side, suggesting the menu will be the same. But what comes out of the kitchen is just the opposite: contemporary, creative and, most importantly, delicious.
