Groundbreaking new restaurant in the InterContinental Hotel

Cleveland – Chef Zachary Bruell, Parallax restaurateur and founder of the pioneering restaurant Z Contemporary Cuisine, is set to launch his biggest project to date, Table 45. This restaurant is scheduled to open in April in the space of the former Classics and Grill Room at Cleveland’s InterContinental Hotel.

A complete rework, the 6,000-square-foot restaurant and lounge was designed by nationally acclaimed architect and Z designer, Bill Blunden, who calls the new space a work of pure essentialism.

As a culinary pioneer in the 1980s, Bruell was the first Clevelander to introduce Northeast Ohio to California fusion cuisine set to a Bauhaus backdrop. Today, Bruell again is pushing the envelope with an entirely new concept he calls World Cuisine – a menu replete with international ingredients fused to a variety of cultures with his trademark intense flavoring and unique presentation.

Table 45 will have culinary and design elements never before seen in this region, including ambient sound computer monitoring linked to the audio system to continuously adjust music levels to thechanging moods of the seven separate dining areas.

Each of the seven zones is designed for different moods, from quiet and intimate to casual and high energy. Bruell and Blunden intended the restaurant to highlight all experiences, including an emerging trend toward casual elegance, where people can experience high-end dining without the fussiness of formal restaurants.

Other unique features include a private chef’s table in the main kitchen, a separate and open show kitchen in the center of the dining room with a tandoor oven, VIP tables with illuminated glass enclosures and an adjoining semi-private lounge.

The concept for Table 45 emerged from Bruell’s conviction that top restaurants must now entice all senses and appeal to various moods. They should be able to morph into the emotions of the patrons and intensify their experience.

"Restaurants no longer can be just about eating," Bruell said. "This will be a very sensual experience. It's about art and theater for all of the senses.”

To facilitate the eclectic menu, Table 45 will be equipped with two tandoor clay ovens for a variety of foods, including Indian breads fused to flavors from other cultures, such as Lebanese hummus.

Other mixed-culture items include Peruvian braised lamb shank with farfel, seared duck breast madras with vadouvan sauce and basmati rice, and grilled Kurobuta pork chops with chipotle jam and cornmeal madeleines.

“I designed this menu to provide diners with an entirely new experience, unlike any other,” Bruell added. “I think people will be overwhelmed by the attention to details alone. Every aspect of this venture has been meticulously planned.”

Table 45 will be open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week, with brunch served on Sundays. Valet parking is available. The restaurant offers private dining for parties of 25 or fewer. Table 45 is located in the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland at 9801 Carnegie Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio, (216) 707-4045.