Guy Fieri Eats Bacon-Wrapped Tots _ Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives _ Food Network

The Rally Inn: A Cleveland Comfort Food Gem

As I walked into The Rally Inn, I couldn't help but notice the cozy atmosphere that enveloped me. It was clear that this joint served up some authentic Cleveland comfort food, and I was eager to try it out for myself. Chef Eric Latiri is a mastermind behind the menu, and his passion for cooking shines through in every dish.

One of the first dishes we ordered was the shrimp and grits. The chef's enthusiasm was infectious as he explained the process behind this popular comfort food staple. "You're gonna love it," he said with a smile, and indeed I did. The combination of succulent shrimp, creamy grits, and a hint of spice was absolutely delightful.

The Rally Inn is also famous for its bacon wrap tots. These crispy, cheesy bites are wrapped around soft potato on the inside and topped with a generous helping of bacon. But what really takes them to the next level is the chipotle ranch sauce, which adds a tangy kick and a touch of heat. "You gotta give the people what they want," the chef joked, referring to the fact that we can't resist these addictive tots.

As we chatted with Chef Latiri, I asked him about his approach to cooking. He explained that he takes pride in using only the freshest ingredients and innovative techniques to create dishes that are both familiar and exciting. "I always recommend the bacon wrap tots," he said with a grin. And it's clear that this dish is a fan favorite – even Aunt Paulie, who was skeptical at first, ended up loving them.

The Rally Inn has undergone a remarkable transformation since Chef Latiri took the reins. What was once a divey bar is now a vibrant and bustling restaurant that serves up some of the best comfort food in town. As I sat down to enjoy my meal, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this hidden gem. The chef's passion, combined with his commitment to using only the highest-quality ingredients, has resulted in dishes that are both delicious and memorable.

As we dug into our meals, I asked Chef Latiri about the menu options. He explained that they offer a variety of choices, including breakfast, dinner, taco, and prime rib options on Saturdays. But make no mistake – this is a comfort food joint through and through. The chef assured me that everything on the menu is carefully crafted to ensure that every bite is exceptional.

As I finished my meal and prepared to leave, I asked Chef Latiri about his approach to cooking. He laughed and said, "It's all about giving people what they want – in this case, crispy bacon, creamy ranch, and a side of tots." But it's clear that there's more to The Rally Inn than just its creative menu items. It's a restaurant that's deeply rooted in the community, with a chef who is passionate about using only the freshest ingredients to create dishes that are both delicious and memorable.

The verdict is in – The Rally Inn is an exceptional dining experience that is not to be missed. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a great meal, this comfort food gem is sure to impress. So come on down and try it out for yourself – I promise you won't be disappointed!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso i'm here in cleveland happens to be a joint that's serving cleveland comfort food i got to check it out this is the rally inn some veggies for your chili chiles here bud as soon as you come here you're hooked into wanting to be a regular i got the shrimp and grits for you how did you find the rally in it's just a little local hidden gem just started coming here you know well i don't that's what i was asking i would help you i was hoping you'd tell me you know you would really be surprised by just how good the food is here that's because when owner john oberman bought this joint the bar was set pretty low this was a very very divey bar at the time it's a punch palace no windows vinyl ripped up floors a punch palace that is one of the funniest lines i've ever heard but now they've got chef eric latiri punching things up in the kitchen bacon wrap tops ready to go i always recommend the bacon wrap tots soft potato on the inside wrapped with this crispy bacon and the chipotle ranch brings the whole thing together all right what are we making first mashed potatoes for the bacon wrapped hots boiled yukon skins on white pepper salt roasted garlic brown butter curry heavy cream mix it in with our shredded hash a little more salt black pepper now we're ready to form them let's see it that's not a tot that's a baseball yeah you know you gotta give the people what they want though and the wrap is just one whole piece of bacon man bam while those are frying what's the sauce that goes with them chipotle ranch how many items are on the menu here which one the breakfast menu the the dinner menu the taco menu the do prime rib on saturdays does the owner make you do this or is this just hugo and wacko uh yeah uh yes so it's the best answer i've ever heard we start with our ranch dressing chipotle peppers the worcestershire i like to call it woo-woo cause not everybody knows how to say it or spell it so that's your own way is woo-woo plate it up boom just like so dude it looks like a top mate after me incredibly creative you get crispy you get creamy you get crunchy anxious bacon thanks the chipotle sauce which is so needed because it adds a little bit of heat it adds another little dimension the creaminess of the ranch cooling it down a touch funky fried freaky freaky friday funky it's funky freaky fried it is delicious and really done right right on man bacon wrap hot pick up i love that they are crunchy on the outside and as soon as i bite in it's moist and steamy and yummy this is exceptional exceptional food aunt paulie have you ever been to this place not you don't go to punch palaces i do when you're in town you got a medium popper burger add cheese sticks cleveland loves its comfort food but john when he took it over definitely took things up a notch i think more than a notch you just can't beat it what appears to be just a simple little funky bar you go next level really impressed this guy's dangerous youso i'm here in cleveland happens to be a joint that's serving cleveland comfort food i got to check it out this is the rally inn some veggies for your chili chiles here bud as soon as you come here you're hooked into wanting to be a regular i got the shrimp and grits for you how did you find the rally in it's just a little local hidden gem just started coming here you know well i don't that's what i was asking i would help you i was hoping you'd tell me you know you would really be surprised by just how good the food is here that's because when owner john oberman bought this joint the bar was set pretty low this was a very very divey bar at the time it's a punch palace no windows vinyl ripped up floors a punch palace that is one of the funniest lines i've ever heard but now they've got chef eric latiri punching things up in the kitchen bacon wrap tops ready to go i always recommend the bacon wrap tots soft potato on the inside wrapped with this crispy bacon and the chipotle ranch brings the whole thing together all right what are we making first mashed potatoes for the bacon wrapped hots boiled yukon skins on white pepper salt roasted garlic brown butter curry heavy cream mix it in with our shredded hash a little more salt black pepper now we're ready to form them let's see it that's not a tot that's a baseball yeah you know you gotta give the people what they want though and the wrap is just one whole piece of bacon man bam while those are frying what's the sauce that goes with them chipotle ranch how many items are on the menu here which one the breakfast menu the the dinner menu the taco menu the do prime rib on saturdays does the owner make you do this or is this just hugo and wacko uh yeah uh yes so it's the best answer i've ever heard we start with our ranch dressing chipotle peppers the worcestershire i like to call it woo-woo cause not everybody knows how to say it or spell it so that's your own way is woo-woo plate it up boom just like so dude it looks like a top mate after me incredibly creative you get crispy you get creamy you get crunchy anxious bacon thanks the chipotle sauce which is so needed because it adds a little bit of heat it adds another little dimension the creaminess of the ranch cooling it down a touch funky fried freaky freaky friday funky it's funky freaky fried it is delicious and really done right right on man bacon wrap hot pick up i love that they are crunchy on the outside and as soon as i bite in it's moist and steamy and yummy this is exceptional exceptional food aunt paulie have you ever been to this place not you don't go to punch palaces i do when you're in town you got a medium popper burger add cheese sticks cleveland loves its comfort food but john when he took it over definitely took things up a notch i think more than a notch you just can't beat it what appears to be just a simple little funky bar you go next level really impressed this guy's dangerous you\n"