It’s National Chili Month and as promised, we’ve got some hearty reading this week on the top three finishers in our Best Chili in Greater Cleveland readers’ poll.
In third place, Firehouse Grille & Pub of Willoughby Hills crossed the finish line with their namesake crock of Firehouse Chili with 11.58% percent of the vote.
We sat down with Firehouse general manager Marty Graham and chef Kyle Roark last week to walk us through the crock of fan-favorite chili and its menu applications.
A crock of homemade chili comes with oyster crackers at Firehouse Grille & Pub is located at 2768 Stark Dr. in Willoughby Hills - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Background: “We’ll be here 20 years next summer and our Firehouse Chili has been a Day One menu item,” Graham said. “Our recipe is proprietary — I suspect the other winners would tell you the same thing — but I can tell you that our chili is built for the masses.”
Construction: “It’s a traditional all-beef chili with kidney beans—heavy on both,” Graham said.
Flavor Profile: “It’s got a little zip, but it’s also very accessible and not spicy-hot, said Graham. “We don’t want to chase people away. It’s All-American, homestyle, no frills and not necessarily unique —there’s not an item in there that is considered unusual or exotic. It’s just good eats and we’re proud of that.”
If Your Chili Had a Commercial: “We don’t do what Skyline does and put cinnamon in there or anything. We also don’t make it overwhelmingly hot, either. That’s not our chili. We figure people can heat things up with hot sauce and jalapenos if they want. You can always add spice, but it’s hard to take heat away once it’s there. We don’t mess around with that.”
You can get a crock of chili or a Firehouse combo from Firehouse Grille & Pub located at 2768 Stark Dr. in Willoughby Hills - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Presentation: “The crock comes topped with shredded sharp cheddar cheese, fresh green onions and a pouch of oyster crackers on the side,” Graham said. “It’s been a favorite of our customers for a long time. Consistency is huge. We offer the crock by itself, on its own, or as a side with a salad or sandwich.”
Reflections: “We were happy and surprised to hear we were in the running,” said Graham. “This [voting] thing really took off on its own, thanks to our customers. It’s popular, but you all cover a [seven-county] footprint. It’s popular with our folks, but for us to start out in third place and stay there in such a large footprint holding strong was great!”
Kyle Roark, Chef (left) and Marty Graham, Owner (right) of Firehouse Grille & Pub is located at 2768 Stark Dr. in Willoughby Hills - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Sales: “We offer chili year-round, but sales definitely ramp up in the fall. It’s a steady seller,” Roark said. “During peak season, we go through around 40 pounds a week.”
Verdict: Yadi & Peter totally get the appeal. It’s a solid bowl of chili, with a decidedly “keep-it-simple” approach. The midweight gravy is loaded with ground beef chunks of similar size to the beans and veggies in it. Firehouse Chili has a lot going for it, especially for those of you who voted for your mom’s chili. This comfort classic will have you convinced somebody’s mother is back there in the kitchen stirring things up. (We checked, it’s not ours). Firehouse itself has a great vibe. The patio there is warm and inviting — not to mention dog-friendly, bonus! — and they have a solid menu of American fare. If you’re accompanying a chili fan and long for something different, we recommend their layered Quesadilla starter and the Cajun Chicken Alfredo.
Firehouse Grille & Pub, 2768 Stark Dr., Willoughby Hills, OH 44094 440-943-4983