John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

2nd and High brings Hawaiian poke to Cleveland

A mere 500 feet and seemingly a world away from East Fourth, 2nd & High Social House has experimented with a variety of interesting concepts since opening a year ago.

Many of them have been overshadowed by the hype of the celebrity chefs and established names in the area, not to mention the bar-restaurant -- 2123 East Second Street -- being tucked away on the scarcely-traveled road..

But owner Matt Wyrick is betting a concept that’s untested in Cleveland – which is why he confident in the bet.

Starting Feb 10 and coinciding with its first anniverary, Wyrick and bar director Alexandra Maryanovsky will debut 2nd & High Poke House. (Photos, clockwise: Alexandra Maryanovsky, Matt Wyrick, John Petkovic, Tyler Federico)

Text by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Hawaiian poke

The name change refers to a new menu focusing on poke. The fish-centric mainstay in Hawaiian cuisine that has become increasingly trendy, especially among sushi fans, thanks to its light and healthy ingredients and its appeal to vegetarians and vegans. (Matt Wyrick)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

2nd & High

2123 East 2nd Street, just south of Prospect Avenue near East Fourth Street. (Google Maps)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Complimenting the cocktail list...

“You’ll be able to walk up to a counter and pick your fish and vegetables and build your own poke bowl and watch it being made,” says Wyrick. “The menu compliments our cocktails and fits into our concept of doing heathy food and appealing to people looking for something different.” (John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

2nd & House new food menu

It will feature ingredients such as ahi tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumbers that will be served atop white or brown rice, or nachos or greens. 2nd and High will retain elements of its old menu – popular items such as catfish bits to go an array of steamed buns filled with barbecue pork, pork belly and hoisin glazed mushrooms. (Tyler Federico)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Geographically close, but not East Fourth...

"We are not on East Fourth. We will remain contrarian about it," Wyrick told The Plain Dealer last year."People should not expect the same Fourth Street sterility." 2nd & High Social House features a vintage Sno-Cone machine, which will be used to make a variety of elixirs. (Alexandra Maryanovsky)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Ambitious concepts...

The roll out will also mark a one-year anniversary for 2nd & High. The bar-restaurant has brought an ambitious and adventurous approach to food and cocktails that has been overlooked by the East Fourth and Prospect Avenue crowd. When it opened in 2017, it rolled out a build-your-own cocktail list that has since been modified. (John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Concepts underscore an attitude

For more info, go to 2andhighbar.com.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Past and present...

The place pairs a contemporary layout with old photos from Cleveland's past, including shots from the 1936 Great Lakes Exposition, held downtown. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Neighborhood bar in downtown

2nd and High is located in the old 21 Lounge space, which is near East Fourth Street, but exhibits a different attitude. "We are not on 4th. We will remain contrarian about it," says Wyrick, who has positioned 2nd & High as an neighborhood-bar alternative to bigger downtown operators. "People should not expect the same 4th street sterility." (Alexandra Maryanovsky)

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