Big Bite - The Blue Door "After Dark" 2015

When Michael Bruno opened The Blue Door Bakery and Café in Cuyahoga Falls several years ago, his restaurant became the buzz among local foodies. Soon, regular customers were begging him to serve dinner.

But Bruno, a retired Marine, doesn’t jump into battle without doing his due diligence, and he decided to wait for the right moment.

“For fine dining, the food, the quality, the preparation, the place setting — Everything’s got to be perfect,” he says.

This summer, he hired Chef Torsten Schulz to prepare dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. “People need to realize, for Cuyahoga Falls to have a Michelin Star chef, it’s unbelievable,” Bruno says.

Working closely with Schulz, Bruno continues to focus on seasonal, organic and locally-grown ingredients and humanely-raised, quality meat. “Each dish — from sourcing to preparation to presentation — is meticulously planned,” he says.

Not only does the menu go upscale for dinner, the restaurant’s tables take on a new look. Basic breakfast and lunch place settings are replaced with white tablecloths, crystal glassware, Rosenthal bone china, elegant silverware and fresh flowers from Novelli’s Florist.

“This is a fine dining establishment,” Bruno says. “And I don’t think we’ve got that in the Akron area.”

Taking care of guests is also a priority at The Blue Door, and servers know the menu inside-and-out and can offer suggestions based on your preferences. No matter how many tables are full, the servers treat your group as if you were the only guests there.

Dinner service begins with fresh baked breads, and then diners can choose from first-, second- or main courses, followed by dessert, or they can order a four-course chef’s tasting menu. Until the restaurant’s liquor license arrives, guests can sip sparking or still water and choose creative mocktails, like lingonberry-lemon and huckleberry-Earl Grey.

If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat before catching a movie, this isn’t the place to go. If you want a meal that leaves you stuffed to the gills, this isn’t the right spot for you. And that’s okay with Bruno, who appreciates the variety of restaurants available to suit a wide range of guests.

But, if you want a luxuriously slow meal, expertly prepared with attention to detail, with special options for vegans and those with dairy or gluten allergies, you’ll be satisfied with The Blue Door’s exclusive dinner service. Reservations are available on www.opentable.com or by calling 330-926-9774.