Hecks Cafe Review: Amazing burgers and desserts!
Hecks Cafe in the Cleveland area is famous for its burgers, but it should also be renowned for its desserts! We discovered this Ohio City treasure on our first trip to Cleveland, and it has since become our go-to restaurant on subsequent visits.
Burgers That Rock
Their famous hamburgers do not disappoint! The classic Heckburger is a quintessential example: a 1/2 lb grass-fed beef patty topped with American cheese, Hecks sauce, lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickle. It’s juicy on the inside with a slight char on the outside, piled high on a soft bun.
Our favorite, which we’ve ordered on several occasions, is a burger that could be inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. It starts with a 1/2 lb of grass-fed beef and is crowned with braised short ribs, béarnaise sauce, cheddar cheese, and rocket arugula. The addition of the braised short ribs elevates this burger to one of the best we’ve ever tried.
Beyond Burgers
Hecks’ menu isn’t just about burgers. We’ve enjoyed their mushroom ravioli, mushroom flatbread, and fish and chips. The menu changes seasonally to showcase the best ingredients, so these items may vary. However, we can confidently say that you won’t have trouble finding a delicious option. After dining at Hecks Cafe six times, we’ve always left feeling satisfied.
Desserts: The Hidden Gem
Recently, we discovered the joys of their dessert menu. Our first sweet ending was a flourless chocolate cake. As someone incredibly particular about flourless chocolate cake (my homemade version is amazing), I can say this was the best I’ve had in a restaurant. It had a dense yet creamy texture and an intense chocolate flavor without being overly bitter.
The Salted Caramel Pretzel Bread Pudding is another standout, offering a warm, comforting treat with the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
The Sweet Burger Experience
After chatting with our waitress about other sweet options, she recommended the Sweet Burger, warning us that it’s a meal in itself. So, after a long day at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, we stopped by Hecks and ordered a Sweet Burger for dinner (or should I say dessert?).
When it arrived, our first reaction was “WOW!” The “buns” are made from thick rounds of chocolate chip cookie bars, with a brownie “patty” in between. The brownie is more cakey than gooey but has a wonderful chocolate flavor. A huge scoop of vanilla ice cream sits atop the brownie, crowned with another cookie bun. A knife through the center makes it look tall and statuesque.
As amazing as this brownie and chocolate chip cookie burger is, the funnel cake french fries served with fresh raspberry sauce stole the show. These sweet fries, sprinkled with powdered sugar, are a must-try when dipped in the raspberry sauce.
More Sweet Delights
We also tried the crème brûlée, which was creamy and smooth with a wonderful custard flavor. The caramelized sugar on top was perfectly crunchy without being burnt, and it was served with fresh strawberries and blueberries – the perfect finishing touch.
In the past few years, we have stayed in Ohio City several times and enjoyed meals at Hecks Cafe on each visit. They offer indoor and outdoor seating and we have enjoyed both.
We can confidently say that Hecks Cafe is a must-visit. Be sure to save room for dessert! You won’t regret it.
