It’s that most glorious and positive time of the year when we take a step back and recognize the absolute best restaurants of Cleveland, as chosen by Scene’s readers. 2020 has sucked, and it’s been a particularly rough year for the restaurant industry. But that doesn’t mean Cleveland restaurants aren’t still putting out kick-ass meals worthy of your dollars and attention.
Be sure to visit and support all of the worthy recipients, because we’ve already lost too many good ones this year. Let’s keep the rest of these places, and all the others, open.
Larder
1455 West 29th St., Cleveland
At its heart, Larder is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, out of this world fried chicken sandwiches and awesome baked goods. But there’s so much more going on here than that. Chef-owner Jeremy Umansky utilizes techniques like koji (a Japanese mold) curing, foraging for wild edibles, cold and hot smoking, and fermentation and pickling to produce an ever-shifting roster of seasonal plates.
Photo via @LarderB/InstagramBest Restaurant: Barroco
12906 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 287 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake and 3941 Erie St., Willoughby, barrocoarepabar.com, Lakewood – 216-221-8127, Westlake – 440-641-1283 and Willoughby – 440-527-8125
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Local Snack: Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.
4464 Broadview Rd., Cleveland and 3441 Tuttle Rd., Ste. 101, Shaker Heights, oldbrooklyncheesecompany.com, 216-321-7757
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Seafood Market: Kate’s Fish
1979 West 25th St., Cleveland, facebook.com/katesfishmarket/, 216-621-7675
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest New Restaurant: Hola Tacos
12718 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 12102 Madison Ave., Lakewood and 3941 Erie St., Willoughby, hola-tacos.com, Lakewood – 216-801-4666, Cleveland – 216-938-9301 and Willoughby – 440-527-8101
Photo via Scene ArchivesRising Star
710 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland
Coffee connoisseurs sing the praises of Rising Star baristas, who are as knowledgeable as their keenly sourced coffee is potent. Each cup is meticulously brewed to order using beans straight from the onsite roaster. We’re not surprised that after just eight years in business, the successful shop has already expanded to seven different locations. And the Tremont location has a fireplace to keep warm with a cup of coffee for when the days are so cold you can’t do anything else.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Teahouse: Cleveland Tea Revival
1434 West 29th St., Cleveland, clevelandtearevival.com, 216-321-7757
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Chef: Jill Vedaa (Salt+)
17625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, saltcleveland.com, 216-221-4866
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest French Fries and Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Tommy’s Restaurant
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights, tommyscoventry.com, 216-321-7757
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Jamaican Restaurant: IRIE Jamaican Kitchen
621 East 185th St., and 4162 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, iriejakitchen.com, Pearl Rd. – 216-291-7488, East 185th St. – 216-350-6112
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest French Restaurant: L’Albatros
11401 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland, albatrosbrasserie.com, 216-791-7880
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Korean Restaurant: Seoul Garden
5270 Pearl Rd., Parma, 216-661-5990
Photo via Scene ArchivesSushi at Ginko
2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland
Ginko in Tremont has been voted the best sushi restaurant in Cleveland by Yelp, fellow chefs and even Scene. While its high-priced rolls may keep frugal couples from ever entering the building. However, Monday through Friday, Ginko rocks a killer happy hour until 6:30 p.m.. where diners can score $5 rolls and cocktails.
Photo via @GinkoTremont/InstagramBest Japanese Restaurant: Shinto
17070 Pearl Rd., Strongsville and 857 Columbia Rd., Westlake, shintoexperience.com, Strongsville – 440-878-3868 and Westlake – 440-772-5017
Photo via Scene ArchivesSzechuan Gourmet
1735 East 36th St., Cleveland
“This place is the best Szechuanese in Cleveland, and one of my all-time favourite places to eat. Bring a bunch of friends so that A) you can order family-style and get like 20 dishes, and B) so that you can all be uncomfortably full together when you walk out after an incredibly delicious meal. Some of the greatest hits are spicy crispy fish fillet, eggplant in black bean sauce, lamb with cumin, dan dan noodles, the hot pots, and the green beans. Having said that, I also have ordered and devoured almost everything on the menu at this point, and it’s all very very tasty,” Nick D. on Yelp
Photo via @Dorjans/InstagramBest Thai Restaurant: Thai Thai
13415 Madison Ave., Lakewood, thaithailakewood.com, 216-226-4890
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Vietnamese Restaurant: Minh Anh
5428 Detroit Rd., Cleveland, minh-anh.com, 216-961-9671
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Pho: Superior Pho
3030 Superior Ave., Ste. 105, Cleveland, superiorpho.com, 216-781-7462
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Seafood Restaurant: Pier W
12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood, pierw.com, 216-228-2250
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Desserts (Restaurant): Rood Food and Pie
17001 Madison Ave., Lakewood, rfpie.com, 216-712-4506
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Irish Restaurant: The Harp
4408 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, the-harp.com, 216-939-0200
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Pizza: Il Rione
1303 West 65th St., Cleveland, ilrionepizzeria.com, 216-282-1451
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Vegan Restaurant: Cleveland Vegan
17112 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, clevelandvegan.com, 216-221-0201
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Late Night Eats and Best Hot Dog: Happy Dog
5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, happydogcleveland.com, 216-651-9474
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Burger: Heck’s Cafe
2297 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, 35514 Detroit Rd., Avon heckscafe.com, Cleveland – 216-861-5464 and Avon – 440-937-3200
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Latin Restaurant: Paladar
28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, paladarlatinkitchen.com, 216-896-9020
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Butcher Shop: Ohio City Provisions
3208 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, ohiocityprovisions.com, 216-465-2762
Photo via Scene ArchivesMabel’s BBQ
2050 East Fourth St., Cleveland
Michael Symon knows meat. In fact, he wrote the book on it when Carnivore came out a few years back. So if anybody could lend credence to the concept of Cleveland-style barbecue, it’s Symon, who also happens to be a great student of all regional forms of barbecue. Thanks to the low-and-slow ‘cue at this East Fourth Street hotspot, Cleveland finally has earned its way onto the national barbecue scene.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Polish Restaurant: Sokolowski’s University Inn
1201 University Ave., Cleveland, sokolowskis.com, 216-771-92336, Rest in Peace
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bagels: Cleveland Bagel Co.
4201 Detroit Ave., and 7501 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, clebagelco.com, Detroit – 216-600-5652 and Carnegie – 216-282-7287
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Steakhouse: Red, the Steakhouse
417 Prospect Ave., Cleveland and 200 Park Ave. Ste. 130, Orange Village redthesteakhouse.com, Cleveland – 216-664-0941 and Orange Village – 216-279-7700
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Middle Eastern Restaurant: Zhug
12413 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, zhugcle.com, 216-862-2508
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Food Truck: Cleveland Cookie Dough
All Over Town, clecookiedough.com, 216-816-0970
Photo via Cleveland Cookie Dough Co./FacebookBest Patio Dining: Collision Bend Brewing Company
1250 Old River Rd., Cleveland, collisionbendbrewery.com, 216-273-7879
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest African Restaurant: Zoma Ethiopian Cafe
2240 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, zomacleveland.com, 216-465-3239
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Chicken Wings: Dina’s
5701 Memphis Ave., Cleveland, dinaspizzaandpub.com, 216-351-3663
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Italian Restaurant: Mia Bella
12200 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, mblittleitaly.com, 216-795-2355
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Indian Restaurant: India Garden
18405 Detroit Rd., Lakewood, indiagardencleveland.com, 216-221-0676
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Donuts: Brewnuts
6501 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, brewnutscleveland.com, 216-600-9579
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Diner: Grumpy’s Cafe
2621 West 14th St., Cleveland, grumpys-cafe.com, 216-241-5025
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Cakes: Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes
720 Avon Belden Rd., Avon Lake and 20033 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, kelseyelizabethcakes.com, Avon Lake – 440-653-5883 and Rocky River – 216-767-5633
Photo via Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes/FacebookBest Breadmaker: On the Rise Artisan Breads
3471 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights and 3407 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights, ontheriseartisanbreads.com, Cleveland Heights – 216-321-7757 and Shaker Heights – 216-491-8800
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Greek Restaurant: Astoria Cafe and Market
5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, astoriacafemarket.com, 216-266-0834
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Fried Chicken: SoHo Chicken and Whiskey
1889 West 25th St., Cleveland, sohocleveland.com, 216-298-9090
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Ice Cream: Mitchell’s
Ten Locatioons, mitchellshomemade.com, Ohio City Flagship – 216-861-2799
Photo via Scene ArchivesJoe’s Deli
19215 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River
“Best DELI in the Cleveland area, I will say best deli in the Great lakes region. We have had all the sandwiches they make. I love the 3 inch tall stack on their sandwiches. It makes you smile, it’s so big. The soup options are great, the standards and also the daily option. Watch for the chowder options. They are amazing. I would recommend the Rueben, but the chicken sandwiches are crazy good. Plenty of dining space and good size tables makes for a great meal,” Travis K. on Yelp
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bar Food: Buckeye Beer Engine
15315 Madison Ave., Lakewood, buckeyebeerengine.com, 216-226-2337
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Juice Bar: Restore
1001 Huron Rd. E., Cleveland, 34 Park Ln., Hudson and 311 Park Ave., Orange Village, restorecoldpressed.com, Cleveland – 216-217-6689, Hudson – 234-284-8683 and Orange Village – 216-450-1593
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Romantic Restaurant : Marble Room
623 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, marbleroomcle.com, 216-523-7000
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Tacos: La Plaza
13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Cleveland, 216-476-8000
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Sub Shop: Herb’n Twine
4309 Lorain Rd., Cleveland, herbntwine.com, 216-465-9600
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Tapas/Small Plates: Butcher and the Brewer
2043 East 4th St., Cleveland, butcherandthebrewer.com, 216-331-0805
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Polish Boy: Banter
3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights, bantercleveland.com, 216-777-9965
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Local Chain: Barrio
Seven Northeast Ohio Locations, barrio-tacos.com
Photo via Scene Archives
