Bonnie Flinner.jpg

Prosperity Social Club owner Bonnie Flinner.

(Photo courtesy of Bonnie Flinner)

It's a sunny Friday afternoon and the always sociable Bonnie Flinner is feeling every bit as sunny.

See, the owner of Prosperity Social Club is tickled to be called to do a "5 for Friday," our column about the region's movers-and-shakers and their favorite places to grab a bite or a brew.

It may be the most gregarious response to an interview request we've had for the column to date. We're as excited as she is.

"I always love reading it every week," she laughed when Cleveland.com phoned her up. "I'm really excited to do this. I love that column you do, and often wondered who I would pick if you called."

Flinner, who said she is "prone to yak away, so be warned," was true to form, charming all the way.

"I'm sure everyone says how hard it is to choose five," she said. "I know how hard it is of a business to make a restaurant happen, and I have so many peers and colleagues—and like to patronize their places as much as possible. And that makes it even more difficult... You don't want to leave anyone out."

How did Flinner solve the dilemma? She said that when choosing her favorite five food fixes, she had to "take that business relationship aspect out of my choices a bit," and just think of herself as someone who "isn't quite so intimately familiar" with the food scene.

"I picked what I like personally, places that 'keep it real,' without being pretentious, or worrying that someone would judge me," she laughed.

"I'd have picked [Prosperity] for self-promotion, but my husband says that I'm always working when I'm there, so it doesn't count!

"Even when we go for fun, I end up working—so there's not as much 'fun time' there as I would like," Flinner added, laughing again. "No date nights there!"

She warned us about her struggle to keep it to five. So it was no surprise when she went over her target number and started shoe-horning.

"Oh! I forgot to mention Jack Frost Donuts and Frank's Bratwurst at the West Side Market! Both places are excellent examples of 'do one thing and do it well!'"

Prior to that laugh-out-loud last-minute addition, Flinner had offered us her "favorite five," in no particular order, and in her own words:

Si Senor Mexican Restaurant (16800 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; 216-941-4424, www.sisenormexicangrill.com). For Tex-Mex, I really love Si Senor at Kamm's Corners... We're there on a weekly basis! (laughs) I don't really know who owns them, but that one by me is a regular stop. Super friendly, and food comes out fast... they have a side-dish called Charro Beans, which you can get in place of refried beans. It comes with a lot of dishes. Amazing, almost like a bean-and-pork soup—all kinds of layers of flavor, and really well done. I'm addicted! (laughs) Whoever roasts the meat there for carnitas knows what they're doing. Love it! Crispy, juicy, falls apart.

Bruno's Italian Ristorante (2644 W. 41st St., Cleveland; 216-961-7087, www.brunosristorante.net). It's a little, hearty go-to comfort food place that has been there a really long time and, wow, do they have really great food! It's so amazingly fresh, homemade with love, it's just the best. I love their rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese. It is hard for me to try other menu items because of that dish! (laughs) When we go, it's the Caesar salad from scratch with the anchovies in the dressing, and the rolled eggplant, and tiramisu for dessert. When they're out of tiramisu, it's sad! (laughs) You never have room for the tiramisu anyway, but you find room if they have it!

Jack Flaps (3900 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; 216-961-5199, www.jack-flaps.com). It's a new favorite, and has been since we started thinking about how Prosperity would do brunch. I liked how they created the menu. It was full of different, unique dishes—all really well done—and with each component so complimentary to the others. I want to eat breakfast there all the time! (laughs) They rotate the menu there, so I don't get too attached to any dishes there. I just know there will be an equally delicious item there in its place. Just took our kitchen staff there this week. Had a lot of fun. Love me some Jack Flaps!

India Garden (18405 Detroit Ave., Lakewood; 216-221-0676, www.indiagardencleveland.com). A place that you want to support because the people there are so nice. They get to know you there, which seems like an important thread emerging in all my choices! (laughs) Love the lunch buffet, which they do seven days a week. Great standards you can count, great chicken curry and a whole bunch of excellent rotating side dishes and vegetarian dishes. Last week I had the roasted eggplant and potato, which was amazing. My husband is in love with the cold chickpea salad, which has amazing flavor. They're very generous with naan [bread] there. Healthy, well-made food and quick.

The Butcher and the Brewer(2043 E. 4th St., Cleveland; 216-331-0805, www.butcherandthebrewer.com). My new favorite restaurant experience in Cleveland, hands-down. I like casual, comfortable, being around other people. Fancy is fine, but on a regular basis, this is a place I can get behind. I love the communal-style service. Great food to share, excellent beers... there's nothing that hits the mark for me quite like it. The first time there, I went with some [friends] in the hospitality business and there wasn't a snarky knit-picky complaint among us! We were all happy as clams, which is rare for such a tough crowd! (laughs) I'm going there tonight, so it is literally my "Friday" pick this week! (laughs)

Chakerian is a freelance writer in Bay Village