Hotel Breakers - Needs better restaurants

Agreed. The burgers, fries, chicken fingers, all need improved immensely

Not sure there's much more to improve upon when a lot of the food is cooked at a central location, then brought to the food stands. Can't make something that isn't fresh, fresh, without revamping their whole food service model.

That's is news to me, I'm pretty sure the food is cooked at each food stand. I've seen burger broilers, fryers, ovens, etc. all in use at individual food stands that cooked the food I've had. Burgers, fries, pizza, corn dogs, philly steak, funnel cake, elephant ears among others were all cooked at each food location.

Currently none of the dining options at Breakers motivate me to leave the park and go eat there. I wouldn't mind seeing Breakers drop Friday's and try to put something in that isn't a national chain. Maybe another local Ohio chain (this is probably where Melt should have gone). Or reach out to some local up and coming chefs and give a truly unique to CP dining experience a go. Right now Point, in my opinion doesn't have that signature restaurant that isn't a national chain. Keep the entrees priced between $15-$30 and you could have a winner.

My group tried a burger from RoundUp and also the wings, sausage, and brisket from Miss Keet's and they were all a step above what I'm used to getting at CP. Those are two good in park upgrades that they've done if you ask me. Keep them coming!

On the negative side, my wife stood in line for over 30 minutes at Pinks and they somehow lost her order and then she waited about another 15. Somehow after all that she ended up with an extra burger on her tray so that was good at least. How is that place always so inept at slinging freaking hot dogs?

I’ve had good luck at Pinks, but I’m usually there mid morning with little or no line. What I have noticed is the workers there don’t exactly seem ... how shall I say?... top of the line? It’s easy for them to forget your order by the time you’re picking up your drink. The register tape is supposed to follow you, but often it somehow gets lost on that short trip.
So I tell them I had the lobster tail and off I go!

TGI Friday's is fine at the breakers. Putting in something local that is unknown to the majority of visitors will probably not be very popular. Hotel guests want a safe choice that is predictable and familiar especially if they have kids.

I have yet to experience a lost order there but I just wish it was a bit more centrally located. Love the onion rings but I really should not be eating them. It is hard to screw up tube steaks.

Food service has been a problem at CP for all time. They've had some people make improvements, only to ship them off to other parks. The inconsistent leadership is part of the problem, but I also don't know that there is a lot of senior management potential in the industry who can lead. If they can do it, they're probably working for the big theme parks.

I'm getting tired of liking all of Jeff's posts. But, here I am again agreeing. Trying to give "the masses" what they want (read what they have already heard of), will, at best, perpetuate mediocrity. I've only seriously been paying attention to the amusement industry for three years and have concluded that the industry's ingenuity and excitmeent is found only within a handful of designers and engineers not with any of the executive leadership. Even the big theme parks have seemingly settled for "innovating" via following past established norms.

Agreed that food service has been a problem but they have made some meaningful improvements this year and I think it will continue. Chef Bucco, who is the executive chef, is actually a heavyweight in the industry. His linkedin profile is quite impressive and I'm hopeful we will see some more improvements in quality under his direction.

i'm fine with it being a chain in there, but Fridays is just kind of stale these days. I'd think something a little more "hip" to the times would do alright. Maybe a Red Robin or even a BJ's Brewhouse. Personally, I liked BJ's when i ate there the few times I did, and it's kind of unique - but I won't go to the one near me because the service is HORRIBLE. I guess it's not like that everywhere, though.

It's a chain that's setup like a microbrewery, with kid safe food and some unique twists on most other chain food. Something like that, I think would do well.

The BJ's down here are already feeling like Friday's. They've really gone down hill the last few years. I think part of the problem is that all these chains seem to think the public taste is for massive portions of heavy, high calorie food. Do people want that? I don't.

Of the 3 times I went, 2 of them were "media-preview" type events, so I'll assume the portions were smaller and the service was better because they were showing off.

The 3rd and last time we went, I had made reservations through their app, and it said 45 minutes, so we showed up 40 minutes later and checked in. Only to wait another 45 because the online check-in is worthless, and you still actually have to be there. At that point, it was too late to go anywhere else because it was dinner time. Then, they were out of paper towels so when you washed your hands, you couldn't dry them, service was obnoxiously slow, and my food was still OK but they comped us a free pizookie because of all the issues they were having. Nice gesture, but a free cookie in a pizza pan isn't going to bring me back.

However, I've heard from people in other places that it's not like that, so I'll always assume it's just our location. If the food has morphed away from what it was a few years ago, then... Meh.

I remember Friday's being on the cutting edge of chain restaurants out 10 years ago. They were the first ones to carry IPA's and make sauces with craft beer - and they even introduced people to cheese that wasn't cheddar in a more mainstream setting. I used to really enjoy their Jack Daniel's sauce on their appetizers with a couple of drinks, but now it's just ridiculously *heavy* food that makes me feel like I ate a brick.

This is Fridays last year on a 20 year contract with CP.

Mid Teir chains are dying just about everywhere. The only chains that seem to be able to make it are fast casual (Chipotle, Panera, Shake Shack, etc.), sports bar (BW3's, Yard House, etc) and Higher end (Capitol Grille, Bonefish, Seasons 52).

Friday's is not quite any of these and is going to be left behind. Really if CP wants to have a higher quality of restaurant they need to work with actual chefs and not just corporations. I'd like to think that Chef Bucco knows this, and there is plenty of regional talent to bring in, even on the fast casual chain side. A B Spot Burgers (Chef Michael Symon) would do well I would think. He actually has a restaurant in Detroit too, so would be able to represent two of their biggest markets.

A BSpot at CP would be great and with Symon being from Cleveland, he probably loves CP. But, it is not the kind of restaurant that is a good fit for a TGIFriday replacement, neither is Melt. Too limited of a menu primarily focused on one category. How about a Cheesecake Factory? That chain seems to still have traction to it, they have an extensive menu and they have a nice bar. Great deserts too.

Cheesecake Factory is sooooo particular about location and operation that I believe a seasonal, back-o-the-hotel location would surely be turned down. They don’t play with staffing, either. Their managers make ridiculous money and get a car. I’ve also heard they can be fired for things like burned out lightbulbs.

B Spot would be a better choice. We have one in Columbus that I believe doesn’t do that well, though. It’s never been particularly busy when I’ve visited.

Slyman's Tavern is a local Cleveland spot gaining some traction with just opening their second location. The famous Cleveland Deli Slyman's franchised their name and their famous corned beef out and then the rest of the menu is rounded out with tavern style food and a full bar. http://slymanstavern.com/menu/ It's definitely different then any current offerings in the park but I would love to see this open up somewhere. Keep the local vibe going with none national chains coming in. This may not work in Breakers, but I could see it working elsewhere in the park.

I like what they did with Melt last year, bringing in a locally famous chain that's gotten some national TV love. There are still plenty of places from Cleveland and I'm sure Detroit that could fill some gaps in the parks food line up without being heavily reliant on national chains like Panda Express and Subway. Places like Barrio, Happy Dog, Ohio City Burrito, etc. Locally famous restaurants that can offer quick serve menu options. Help expose non-locals to the Cleveland culinary scene that has been regularly highlighted in national media the past 5-10yrs.

I was going to mention Slyman's. I think it'd be a good fit, but it could also totally flop - because a sandwich that size is already expensive. Hike it up for resort pricing, and it would really turn people off.

Plus, it's not the same as Melt, but it might be close enough that people would think it is.