Business & Tech

Chef Jeff Misses Palate, But He's Happy at New Restaurant

Jarrett brings his popular dishes to AMP 150 in the Cleveland Marriott

Jeff Jarrett remembers standing at the window of  restaurant, watching cars stream into the nearby and feeling frustrated none were turning into his driveway.

"At first, it was great. It was busy, we got good reviews," Jarrett said. "But right around when patio season opened, people stopped coming."

Palate's tucked-away location in a small Pearl Road shopping plaza may have played a role in the restaurant's demise. Palate closed about the time Jarrett left in June, about five months after it opened.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

But Jarrett has landed on his feet. Patrons of the Strongsville restaurant who miss his creative dishes can find him just off the West 150th exit of I-71.

He is now the executive chef at AMP 150 at the Cleveland Airport Marriott Hotel

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"It fits my style," said Jarrett, who has control of the ever-changing menu and a quarter-acre garden out back that is producing tomatoes, peppers, okra, corn and other homegrown veggies for his recipes.

Jarrett was known as the chef-owner of Palate, but had no actual financial investment in the restaurant.

He said when customers started treating Palate like a special-occasion restaurant -- even though it had the price point of a once-a-week eatery -- he cut staff to try to survive.

But ultimately, he said he and the Palate investors went their separate ways.

A sign on the window of the restaurant, 12214 Pearl Rd., says the business is temporarily closed for reorganization.

Jarrett said he doesn't know if Palate will reopen. But he does know he's happy where he's at now.

"It's good," he said. "It's way more stable here."

That's not to say, though, that he wouldn't be open to another restaurant of his own some day.

"I would still do it again," he said. "As a chef, that's something you always dream about."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Strongsville