Duck Island Is An Underappreciated Cleveland Neighborhood With Incredible Dining
By Nikki Rhoades|Published October 12, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Once upon a time, bootleggers would “duck” from the law in one Cleveland neighborhood. Despite Prohibition, this area was overflowing with booze — as a result, it became known as Duck Island. Though this area remains to this day, most Clevelanders have never heard of it. It’s tucked between two artistic havens — Ohio City and Tremont — and boasts delicious dining and creative cocktails to this day. Are you ready to explore a neighborhood that is unbeknownst to even most Clevelanders? Then let’s hit the road and set out to visit Cleveland’s Duck Island!
Duck Island is a petite neighborhood bordered by Carnegie to the North, Scranton Road to the East, and Train Avenue to the South.
The western border of this little-known community is the RTA tracks that run parallel to Columbus Road. It’s easy to pass through this petite place without even realizing you’re in a unique neighborhood outside of Tremont! The neighborhood is under their management, however — and it has prospered alongside the dining-friendly Tremont neighborhood.
This area, like much of the surrounding neighborhoods, was once overflowing with Slovak culture.
Back in the day, St. Wendelin Catholic Church opened to serve the very first Slovak Roman Catholic parish on the West Side. The church operates to this day — and its architecture is oh so charming.
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And, true to the atmosphere of Forest City, Duck Island has quite a bit of greenery to boast of.
In addition to tree-lined streets and businesses with hanging baskets, you can enjoy the charms of Northeast Ohio’s landscape in Duck Island’s Abbey Park.
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However, when it comes to dining, this petite community takes after Tremont.
The selection of food here is impressive for such a tiny area. It is also overflowing with old school architecture, as this old neighborhood has flourished for quite a while.
The Velvet Tango Room is a popular dining destination in this little-known Cleveland neighborhood.
Cleveland is an impressively walkable city, but there’s nothing like strolling down the street as the sounds of live jazz music spill out from cozy eateries. The Velvet Tango Room features live jazz in addition to small plates, and it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day.
Hand-crafted specialties are always on tap, and they pair perfectly with locally-sourced small bites. A meat and cheese board here is always a hit — you will find delicacies from Meister Foods, Wake Robin Foods, J & J Meats, Learned Steel Mustards, and Nonno Joe's Meats.
At the heart of Duck Island’s lore, however, is the Duck Island Club.
Nowadays, this intimate tavern is a hit with those looking for something a bit less rowdy than Downtown’s bar scene. However, it started as a speakeasy in the midst of Prohibition — today, it could still pass as an unassuming home.
If you find yourself in the neighborhood between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., you should grab some coffee at Duck Rabbit Coffee.
House-roasted delicacies pair perfectly with modest nibbles at this charming coffee shop. If you’re planning a crawl through the West Side Market, you should fuel up with some Cleveland-style coffee here beforehand!
Though petite, Duck Island is a neighborhood with a lot of attitude — it’s the perfect addition to any day trip to Ohio City or Tremont!
Going on a food tour of the city’s artsiest neighborhoods? You may not have heard of Duck Island until now, but it merits a visit!
Cleveland is home to some incredible neighborhoods, but the Prohibition-era legacy of Duck Island has largely been overlooked. Had you ever heard of Duck Island? Did you hear tales of Prohibition in this neighborhood from your parents or grandparents? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
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