We set out on a quest the other day to find the best strudel in Northern Ohio. I asked our readers for their suggestions and the following were the top three (3) submitted. All three (3) of them are within 10 minutes driving distance of each other which made it really nice. I purchased samples from each of the strudel shops and then unscientifically asked neighbors, friends and business acquaintances to give me their honest opinion of their favorite. My one mistake was that I should of purchased the same flavor from all three bakeries to be fair, but when you see all those flavors, well you get the picture you want to sample them all!
From Rudy’s I purchased a cheese strudel, from Lydia’s I purchased a cherry strudel, and from Merties I purchased an apricot-cheese strudel. I myself had a very hard time deciding who made the best.
My strudel poll yielded the following:
Rudy’s – very good filling, reminded many of their grandmothers strudel (3 out of 4 stars)
Lydia’s – very flaky dough, the cherries tasted very fresh (3 out of 4 stars)
Merties – very flaky dough and great apricot filling (4 out of 4 stars)
The flaky dough comes from hand stretching the dough across numerous tables until almost paper thin. Then adding bread crumbs between the layers.
I suggest you stop by all three and have your own sampling. All three bakeries at the time of this post charged $6.00 for a half (approx. 6 inches)
Rudy’s Strudel & Bakery
5580 Ridge Road
Parms, OH 44129
440.886.4430
www.rudystrudel.com
Rudy’s Bakery also sells kolacki, pierogies, wedding cakes, bakery and more. There are table and chairs if you would like to sit down and have a little lunch. Rudy’s is family owned and have been serving the area for over 65 years.
Merties Hungarian Strudel Shop
6606 Smith Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44130
216.362.0012
(Please note Merties does not take credit cards.)
Lydia’s Hungarian Strudel Shop
6230 Stumph Rd
Parma Heights, OH
440.885.2600
www.lydiashungarianstrudel
Lydia’s Strudel Shop has been family owned since 1938. Lydia (pictured below) says she uses the freshest fillings in all of her strudel. Lydia’s Strudel Shop also sells danish as well as small and large butter horns.
Submitted by:
Diane Rock
NorthernOhioTourism.com
diane@northernohiotourism.com