Restaurant Review: Pacers Grill in Euclid Ohio (Cleveland East)

Pacers Grill, located up on a hill off East 260th Street in Euclid, is easy to pass up in your car. You'll see a sign and if you look quickly enough, a brick structure nestled behind a grassy hill. In the 3 years I've lived in the area I went there for the first time very recently.

Knowing it as a sports bar type place, I expected Pacers to be like another sports bar in Euclid located on E. 222nd st. about a mile away.

Euclid Pacers is larger on the inside than it looks from the outside. Trains rumble along side the parking lot and you're greeted with a decorative sidewalk outside the restaurant.

Once inside, and watch that first step (according to me and the big sign on the door), the lighting is pleasant. It isn't so dark you're squinting for 15 minutes. A large square bar sits in the middle of the bar area of Pacers. Video games and a killer jukebox are to either side of you.

Just to your left is the dining room, which is also large. Booths and tables fill the area and televisions and typical bar decor clings to the walls. The music is a nice mix of older and modern tunes and the volume is at a level that even at the large round table, you can still talk to - and be heard by - the people you're dining with.

Pacers has a larger dinner menu than I was expecting, as well. Burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pork chops, soups, salads, appetizers, pizza and BBQ ribs (and if you ask Pacers, they'll modestly tell you theirs are the "best ribs in town"). Take a look for yourself at: http://www.pacersgrill.com/dinner.html

I opted for the Sante Fe Chicken, which is a chicken breast with black olives, Monterey jack and cheddar cheese and tomato. Included is a side of Chipotle sauce, which I think is just salsa and sour cream mixed together. I decided to hold the tomato and also go with french fries instead of onion rings. $6.99.

People in my party ordered sandwiches as well.

Pacers alcohol selection was good. Bud Light was on tap, so 22 ounces of brew cost us $2.25. Can't really beat that. Like I said, they also have the flavored malt beverages.

The surroundings were relaxed and it was easy to just converse and glance up at the televisions every so often. The TV's weren't so large or loud that they became a distraction. The food came out in about 15 minutes.

The chicken breast I got was, bar none, the best piece of chicken I've ever had at a restaurant. It was large, tender, free of fat, and tasted phenomenal. The french fries were thick cut and seasoned well. My entire meal came out hot and fresh.

My fiancé got the Reuben and onion rings. The corned beef was lean, tasty and there was a generous amount of it. Swiss cheese, saurkraut and rye bread topped it off and the heaping pile of onion rings on the side of his sandwich only added to his delight. The Thousand Island dressing was served on the side.

If you have a somewhat 'normal' appetite, you're gonna be asking for a doggy bag.

The girl who served us was very attentive and polite. She was quick to inform one of my guests that they were out of the drink she wanted and offered up alternatives. Sides were also no problem. Condiments, including ketchup and mustard are already on the table and were full and clean. The Dr. Pepper did leave quite a bit to be desired, though...

The customers were a varied group and we were seated as to not rub elbows with anyone else. All in all it was a very nice dining experience and if you live in the Cleveland East area and haven't checked it out, I highly recommend it.

Atmosphere - 8/10

Service - 8/10

Food - 9/10

Value = 8/10

You can visit Pacers website here: http://www.pacersgrill.com/

In addition to their Euclid location, they also have a restaurant in Willowick, Ohio, off Euclid Avenue.