A milkshake traveled 375 miles in 2017 because a woman receiving hospice care wanted one last taste of home. Emily Pomeranz had grown up near a beloved Ohio restaurant, and even after moving away, she never forgot its mocha milkshakes.
When her friend reached out to the restaurant, owner Tommy Fello did something extraordinary. He packed a freshly made shake with dry ice and arranged overnight shipping so it could reach her in Virginia.
I keep thinking about the effort behind that small gesture. Sending a frozen drink hundreds of miles isn’t exactly an ordinary restaurant request, especially when there is no guarantee it will arrive in perfect condition.
But this wasn’t really about ice cream. It was about giving someone a familiar taste from a place she loved, at a moment when that memory meant everything.
A Milkshake With a Road Trip Story You Won’t Forget
Most milkshakes never leave the table they’re served on. One from Tommy’s Restaurant in Cleveland Heights traveled 375 miles to reach a former customer.
Emily Pomeranz grew up in Cleveland Heights before moving away, but she never forgot the restaurant’s mocha milkshakes. In 2017, while receiving hospice care in Virginia, she wished for one more taste of the drink she remembered from home.
Her friend Sam Klein contacted owner Tommy Fello to explain the situation. Shipping a frozen milkshake hundreds of miles was no ordinary request, but Fello was determined to make it happen.
Fello packed the milkshake with dry ice and arranged overnight delivery to Virginia. The shipping cost $123, but the gesture meant far more than the price of getting a frozen drink across state lines.
I believe stories like this matter because they show what food really does. A shake is sugar and milk, sure, but it’s also a memory in a cup.
For one person, that memory meant comfort when comfort counted most. It’s hard to put a price on that kind of kindness.
The story attracted national attention because it was about more than a restaurant delivering dessert. It showed how a familiar food can carry memories of home, childhood, and the people we love.
Tommy’s simply made the trip happen in reverse. The food came to the person instead of the other way around.
So when you sip a shake there, you’re drinking a little bit of that story. Not every dessert comes with that kind of reputation attached.
Honestly, it makes the straw feel a bit more special.
Fifty-Plus Years of Feeding Coventry
Back in 1972, Tommy Fello opened a small spot on Coventry Road. He probably didn’t expect it to become one of the best-known restaurants on Cleveland’s east side.
Over the decades, Tommy’s grew and eventually moved into its current, larger home on the same street. The neighborhood grew alongside it.
That long run explains a lot about the loyalty. Families who ate here as kids now bring their own kids.
Longtime customers often return to familiar neighborhood restaurants when visiting home. More than five decades of history have made Tommy’s a recognizable part of Cleveland Heights.
I can’t imagine many places lasting this long without a strong personality. Tommy’s has one, and it shows in the menu and the walls.
Local art decorates the space, giving it a homegrown, creative feel. It looks like a restaurant made by and for its neighbors.
A half-century in the same neighborhood also builds trust. Customers know what they’re getting, and they keep coming back for it.
That trust is part of why the milkshake story feels so natural. A former customer still felt connected after moving hundreds of miles away.
You don’t build that kind of bond overnight. It takes years of good food, friendly service, and showing up for people.
Tommy’s has been doing that since the 1970s, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Shakes Are the Headliner, and the Choices Keep Going
Chocolate, strawberry, malted, vegan, oat milk. The shake lineup at Tommy’s Restaurant reads like a wish list from every sweet tooth you’ve ever met.
Milkshakes are the item people bring up most when they talk about this place. With a menu this long, that’s a serious achievement.
Malts deserve their own shoutout. A chocolate malt here has fans who won’t order anything else for dessert.
You can also get creative with add-ins like banana and house-made peanut butter. Suddenly your shake becomes a small, happy project.
Tommy’s also offers non-dairy shake options, giving visitors who avoid traditional milk-based drinks additional choices.
That kind of thoughtfulness is rare at a classic shake counter. Many places treat non-dairy fans like an afterthought.
Here’s a practical tip. Shakes come out generous, so sharing is an option if you also plan to eat a full meal.
Of course, drinking the whole thing yourself is also an option. Nobody’s judging, and frankly, it’s tempting.
The 375-mile delivery shows how deeply a familiar flavor can stay with someone. For Emily Pomeranz, a mocha milkshake brought back memories of the place she once called home.
They chase the ones that taste like a good afternoon in Ohio. That’s exactly what’s coming out of the blenders here every day.
Spinach Pies With Fillings You’d Never Guess
Falafel, sesame sauce, bananas, curry powder, and mozzarella. All of that goes into one fold-over spinach pie on the menu at Tommy’s Restaurant.
It sounds wild on paper. Yet the spinach pies are among the most talked-about dishes in the building.
These pies come in a long list of combinations. Vegetable-filled versions share the menu with choices featuring tuna, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, or Muenster cheese.
They’re big, too. Sharing one is a smart move if you also want fries or a shake.
Meat pies are another favorite on the menu. They’re filling, hearty, and built for people who skipped breakfast on purpose.
Many menu items carry names instead of plain descriptions. You’ll see choices like the Lindsey, the Quinn, and the Jennie.
That naming style adds personality, though it can feel like a puzzle at first. Reading the descriptions closely helps you find your match.
Here’s a friendly tip for first-timers. Pick one adventurous item and one classic, so you get a bit of both worlds.
Ohio has plenty of comfort food, but few menus mix flavors quite like this. The combinations feel playful without being silly.
Once you find your favorite pie, you’ll probably have a Tommy’s order for life. Folks in the Heights seem to all have one.
Books Next Door Make Waiting a Lot Less Boring
Right beside Tommy’s Restaurant sits Mac’s Backs-Books on Coventry, a beloved independent bookstore. The two spaces connect, which is a pretty brilliant setup.
Books and milkshakes in the same trip? That’s a lazy Saturday done right.
The connection comes in handy when there’s a wait. Instead of staring at your phone, you can browse shelves until your table is ready.
Busy times do happen, especially on weekends. Arriving near opening can help you beat the bigger crowds.
The bookstore also adds to the creative mood of the whole spot. Combined with local art inside Tommy’s, it all feels very Coventry.
I like how the two businesses seem to fit together naturally. One feeds your stomach, and the other feeds your brain.
Families can make a real outing of it. Kids can pick a new book, then celebrate with a shake.
Adults get a quiet break between bites and pages. It’s an easy way to slow down for an afternoon.
Few restaurants in Ohio offer this kind of built-in bonus. Most just hand you a buzzer and wish you luck.
Here, waiting becomes part of the fun. You might even leave with a new favorite author along with your leftovers.
Your Coventry Game Plan Starts at This Address
Finding Tommy’s Restaurant is easy. It sits at 1824 Coventry Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, right in the heart of the Coventry Village shopping area.
Hours are simple to remember. Tommy’s opens at noon and closes at 8 p.m., seven days a week.
That steady schedule helps with planning. Lunch, an early dinner, or an afternoon shake break all work.
Parking is available in the Coventry area, including nearby garages and street spaces. Check posted rates and restrictions before leaving your car.
Coventry is a walkable neighborhood with plenty of shops. A stroll before or after your meal makes the trip feel bigger.
Between the bookstore, the street, and the restaurant, you can easily fill a few hours. It’s a nice mini adventure close to Cleveland.
Weekends bring the biggest rush. Showing up right at noon or after the lunch crowd thins out can save you time.
Larger groups are welcome, which helps for family gatherings. Just remember that popular places stay popular for a reason.
Takeout with curbside pickup is another handy option. It’s perfect for days when you want Tommy’s food on your couch.
Either way, your shake won’t need to travel 375 miles. A short drive will do just fine.
Kindness Is the Real Secret Ingredient Here
Menus can be copied, and recipes can be borrowed. Heart is harder to fake, and Tommy’s Restaurant has plenty of it.
The milkshake delivered to Emily Pomeranz in 2017 remains a memorable example of that generosity. What began as a simple request from a friend became a nationally reported story of kindness.
The restaurant’s extensive menu gives first-time visitors plenty to consider, from its well-known milkshakes to its unusually named sandwiches and spinach pies.
That help matters when dishes have names like the Sharpie or the Quigly. A quick question can steer you toward your new favorite.
The restaurant’s dedication to its neighborhood shows up in other ways too. Local art on the walls makes it feel rooted in the community.
The restaurant has served generations of Cleveland Heights customers, giving longtime visitors a familiar place to return to whenever they are in the neighborhood.
I believe that’s the true measure of a great restaurant. Food brings people in, but care keeps them coming back for decades.
Ohio has many wonderful places to eat. Few have a story quite like a shake sent across hundreds of miles for one former customer.
So next time you’re near Cleveland, stop in and order a shake. Sip slowly, and think about how far kindness can travel.
Turns out, it can go at least 375 miles.
