Forget “peak hours,” most of these Cleveland hot spots always have a wait, or are booked during traditional dinner hours, and it’s understandable, they’re all killer. From high-end formal dining, to comfort food and casual bites, here are a few of our favorite local haunts where you’ll almost never eat alone. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to call ahead!

Marble Room 623 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar is unbelievably fancy in a great downtown location. They do take reservations, and you’re likely going to need to book in advance if you want to sweep someone off their feet at this romantic spot on a weekend. Credit: Scene Archives
Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar 3120 Bridge Ave., Cleveland Johnny Mango is incredibly popular, largely because they really have something for everyone. With flavors inspired by Mexico, Asia and the Caribbean and stuffed with meatless and vegan options, they’re set-up to cater to anyone in town. However, their space unfortunately doesn’t accommodate all of Cleveland, so be prepared to plan ahead to nab a seat at the World Cafe. Credit: Scene Archives
Fat Cats 2061 West 10th St., Cleveland Season 35, Episode 11 Fat Cats is neither new nor flashy. For more than 20 years, this early-era Tremont bistro has lured diners to the far end of a quiet residential street by offering a cozy alternative to special occasion restaurants. We always find something on the menu that suits our mood, from a perfectly grilled off-cut chop to a fresh, seasonal pasta. Credit: Scene Archives
Edwin’s 13101 Shaker Square, Cleveland Edwin’s is an upscale restaurant with fancy French cuisine, so it’s definitely a great way to spend a few hours, but the best part of Edwin’s is its mission. The employees are almost exclusively formerly incarcerated, and the restaurant now has a companion butcher shop with the same mission. Grab a reservation before you go, and know you’re helping a great cause. Credit: Scene Archives
Boiling Seafood Crawfish 2201 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights This incredibly popular Heights eatery takes advantage of a trend notably prominent in New England with a Creole twist. The experience is a pretty all-encompassing one. Sure, they offer classic Cajun delights like po’ boys and etouffee, but you should really order an “experience,” where boil-in-bag seafood is served by the pound and you get the joy of cracking open your meal along with the gorgeous flavors. Credit: Scene Archives
Johnny’s Little Bar 614 Frankfort Ave., Cleveland This hidden gem is operated by the owners of Johnny’s Downtown restaurant, but with a different, much more low-key vibe. It’s a small space, so it fills up quickly. The bar is known for its hamburgers, which are made from meat culled from cuts used at the restaurant and never include cheese. Credit: Scene Archives
Molto Bene 18401 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Molto Bene has some great non-pizza Italian options, a rarity (yes, of course they also have pizza, and yes, of course it’s delicious). The fabulous dishes and gorgeous space make this space worth calling ahead for, so be sure to check it out when you’re feeling fancy. Credit: Scene Archives
The Pompadour 320 High St., Fairport Harbor The Pompadour is a ways away, but absolutely worth the trip and the scheduling. Be sure to call ahead, and take in the great views and scrumptious tapas. Credit: Scene Archives
Rising Grill Korean BBQ 3709 Payne Ave., Cleveland Rising Grill opened to rave reviews recently, so they’re often packed, but Korean barbeque is a rarity locally and Rising Grill absolutely delivers. The premise, if you’re not familiar, is grilling your own meat at your table, and customize your meal. Credit: Scene Archives
Salt 17652 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Salt’s Chef Jill Vedaa is a James Beard semi-finalist this year, and a deserving candidate for the coveted cooking prize. Salt absolutely lives up to the prestige. The bad news? You’re definitely going to need to call ahead and make a reservation, especially on weekends. Credit: Scene Archives
Sichuan Hot Pot 2162 Rockwell Ave., Cleveland Sichuan Hot Pot is a relatively new space that doesn’t even have a website, but that doesn’t mean it’s not jam-packed all the time due to rave early reviews. Be sure to swing by this Asiatown joint when you think the traffic has ebbed, because it’s absolutely worth checking out. Credit: Scene Archives
Slyman’s 3106 St Clair Ave., Cleveland Slyman’s is utterly without pretension, letting its famous menu do the heavy lifting. The corned beef is as-perfect as your friends and neighbors have warned you; unfortunately, it’s not exactly a secret, so getting a table during peak times at this pocket-establishment can be tricky. Credit: Scene Archives
Tremont Taphouse 2572 Scranton Rd., Cleveland The Tremont Taphouse is the first gastropub in Cleveland, and they’ve taken the trend to new heights. Starting with the formula beer + food, they’ve elevated it to fit the upscale ambiance. If you’re looking to grab a table, avoid peak hours, but luckily they’re open until midnight most days. Credit: Scene Archives
Vero Pizza 12421 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights Vero doesn’t take reservations, and this pizza spot in the former Gelateria fills up fast. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is cozy, so give this Heights restaurant a shot on a weekday when you’re craving pizza. Credit: Scene Archives
Zaytoon Lebanese Kitchen 1150 Huron Rd., Cleveland Zaytoon is located downtown near Playhouse Square, so it’s a great spot to show up early at on the night you’re also going to a performance (as they don’t take reservations). This Lebanese eatery has great cuisine that’s hard to find elsewhere; be sure to check out their spinach pie. Credit: Scene Archives
Il Rione 1303 West 65th St., Cleveland It’s safe to say that there are no other pizza joints in town quite like Il Rione. The warm lighting, stylishly weathered interior and upbeat soundtrack spinning out tracks combine to create more of a pizza lounge than pizza shop. But here’s the kicker: the New York/Jersey style pizza is phenomenal so if you can snag a reservation, do it. Credit: Scene Archives
Acqua Di Luca 500 West St. Clair Ave., Cleveland For those looking for a restaurant to celebrate life’s big moments, thankfully, there’s Acqua di Luca, the latest restaurant from the husband-and-wife team behind Luca Italian Cuisine and Luca West. In true “special-occasion restaurant” form, the menu is unabashedly extravagant. The walk-in coolers are filled to the brim with shellfish, fin fish, veal, filet mignon, Kobe beef and menacing tomahawk chops. Those luxe foodstuffs are gilded with saffron, brown butter, Nebbiolo wine reductions and freshly shaved truffles. Credit: Scene Archives
Immigrant Son Brewing 18210 Sloane Ave., Lakewood When Constantino’s Market closed its Lakewood grocery store, it was a sad day for the family-run business. But the closure also provided one family member, brewery founder Andrew Revy, with the opportunity he had been waiting for for years: the ideal property for Immigrant Son Brewery. Lakewood’s super popular first and only brewery is a full-on brewery and brewpub, with equal emphasis placed on both the food and beer. Credit: Scene Archives
Porco Lounge & Tiki Room 2527 West 25th St., Cleveland Porco Tiki Lounge in Cleveland, Ohio, is a tropical paradise that transports you to a Polynesian-inspired oasis. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’re surrounded by bamboo, thatched roofs, and tiki statues. The bar’s menu features an extensive list of cocktails, including classics like mai tais and daiquiris, as well as unique creations that are sure to delight your taste buds. With its lively atmosphere and friendly staff, Porco Tiki Lounge is the perfect place to escape and unwind. In 2016, the Food Network named the bar one of the best tiki bars in the country. Credit: Scene Archives
Cloak and Dagger 2399 West 11th St., Cleveland This bookish cocktail lounge has nicely settled in at the revolving-door space in Tremont that has been home to many short-lived restaurants. Billed as a neighborhood craft cocktail bar, the library-themed salon boasts a book-like menu filled with libations described with tasting notes like herbal, floral, smoky and spicy. The beverages are buoyed by an all-vegan roster of bar bites like fries, “pork” rinds, BBQ “chicken” skewers and banh mi sammies. Credit: Photo by Josh Dobay Productions
Batuqui 12706 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland and 17 East Orange St., Chagrin Falls Following more than a year of construction, Carla Batista and Gustavo Nogueira recently opened the second location of their popular Brazilian eatery. Like the original, which opened on Larchmere in 2015, “Batuqui on the Falls” has repurposed an elegant residential building — in this case, a stately brick Victorian a short stroll from Main Street. Batuqui Chagrin features the same popular dinner menu starring authentic Brazilian dishes like Feijoada and Moqueca Baiana and an ongoing selection of specials and cocktails. Both are tough reservations to get, especially on the weekends, so plan accordingly. Credit: Scene archives
Credit: Scene Archives
ETalian 13 Bell St., Chagrin Falls The transformation from blacksmith’s shop to spa to farmhouse-chic pizzeria is complete. Months of construction have netted an open, airy and attractive space with exposed brick walls, cathedral ceiling, original beams and new windows that look out onto the upper Chagrin Falls. Filling the kitchen in a 6,000-pound imported Italian wood-burning oven that bakes pizzas in around a minute and a half. Pizzas can be ordered unsliced, sliced or folded “wallet-style” for mobile enjoyment from a paper pouch. Credit: Scene Archives
The Last Page 100 Park Ave. Ste. 128, Orange Village Within a tsunami of fast-casual monotony, The Last Page at Pinecrest is a welcome detour. This modern-day supper club offers an immersive, upscale experience, from the luxuriously appointed waiting area to the grand bar in the rear of the drama-filled dining room. A lengthy menu avoids categorization of any kind, presenting instead a blitz of appealing items that lean on various cultures and cuisines. Credit: Scene Archives
The Sleepy Rooster 5120 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls In early 2021, Craig and Sarah Fitzgerald opened The Sleepy Rooster in Chagrin Falls. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu Institute in Pittsburgh, Craig worked in fine dining restaurants in Pittsburgh and Florida. At Sleepy Rooster he focuses on top-flight breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes like fresh-baked biscuits and gravy, goetta and eggs, avocado toast and fried bologna sandwiches. Credit: Scene Archives
Filter 740 W. Superior Ave., Cleveland Since opening his first Sauce Boiling Seafood Express restaurant in 2019, Kyler Smith has gone on to open four more locations in Ohio, with more on the way. In February, Smith opened Filter in former Take 5 Rhthym and Jazz space in the Perry–Payne Building and the changes are dramatic, to say the least. Sporting a lounge-like atmosphere, with shimmering fabric panels, a DJ booth and lengthy bar, the 120-seat restaurant and bar is already attracting a ton of attention. The menu is under the control of chef Jarrett Mines, whose client roster as a private chef includes top players from the Cleveland Browns. Diners can look forward to American fare like pasta, fish, lamb chops and steak. Credit: Scene Archives
Juneberry 3900 Lorain Ave., Cleveland There is a silver lining to the 2019 closure of Jack Flaps, a popular breakfast diner in Ohio City. Chef Karen Small took the space over and finally opened a diner of her own after much anticipation. The bustling cafe serves breakfast-all-day and lunch items until the early afternoon. Small, who is also in the process of a new concept at the recently closed Flying Fig (2523 Market Ave.,) in the same neighborhood was motivated to grab the space because of what she believes is a gap in the marketplace. Juneberry features an all-day breakfast and lunch menu largely inspired by the chef’s decade spent living outside of Athens, Ohio. Credit: Scene Archives
Boom’s Pizza 14370 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Partners Ben Bebenbroth formerly of Spice and Jonathan Bennett of Moxie and Red started hosting “doughball Fridays” at Keep the Change Kitchen Collective, the now-closed virtual food hall from Spice Hospitality Group, during the pandemic. The pizza became so popular that they decided to open a brick and mortar space which opened in Lakewood in January as Boom’s Pizza. The Neapolitan-style pizza shop has quickly become one of the most popular eateries in town, and for good reason. It’s phenomenal. Credit: Agape Photography
Martha on The Fly 2173 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 This breakfast concept took their pop-up concept and turned it into a brick and mortar spot that opened in Tremont in 2022. At this micro-diner, patrons can look forward to breakfast sandwiches perfected during the pop-up run, items like the Betty, Shirley and Doris egg sandwiches and their phenomenal cornmeal fries. But this place is usually packed so plan in advance. Credit: Scene Archives
Cordelia 2058 East 4th St., Cleveland When speaking of hotly anticipated openings, nothing topped Cordelia taking over the former Lola space. Owner Andrew Watts calls East 4th Street “the best address in the city,” and in July, he and executive chef Vinnie Cimino officially became that street’s newest operators with an approach they call “Midwest Nice”. The restaurant has quickly vaulted to the top of many best restaurant lists so you definitely want to snag a reservation if you want to eat here. Credit: Scene archives