With COVID-19 raging across the country, indoor dining is declining and the local restaurants need help. There are stay-at-home advisories and a statewide curfew that are providing additional hurdles. We’re going to be highlighting 25 different local restaurants every week here to remind readers that most Cleveland restaurants are still doing takeout. So, we can help our favorite places and also get a delicious meal out of it. Sounds good to us.

Bourbon Street Barrel Room 2393 Professor Ave., Cleveland With the perfect mix of eccentric and classy decor, this Tremont spot has the right ambience for the type of place it is – a slice of New Orleans in Cleveland. And the bourbon list is extensive, naturally. Soul-satisfying dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffe, barbecue shrimp, and red beans and rice will transport you to the bayou. And the bourbon list is extensive, naturally. Photo via @BSBRCle/Instagram
Saffron Patch 20126 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights This unassuming Indian joint in a strip center in Shaker Heights may very well have the best Indian food in town. The chicken tikka masala is to die for, the onion kulcha is naan on crack, the paneer palak melts in your mouth and taking out from here is just as good as eating in. Photo via Saffron Patch/Facebook
Jo Jo Carloni’s 26926 Cook Rd., Olmsted Township Despite its zip code, the snug space has all the Old World charm of our favorite spag-and-ball joints in Little Italy, where descriptors like “gourmet” and “trendy” are replaced by “hearty” and “comforting” and “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” This spot is definitely worth the drive. Photo via Jo Jo Carloni’s/Facebook
Seven Roses 6301 Fleet Ave., Cleveland Even in a city with many citizens with ancestors coming from Poland, it’s hard to find a ton of restaurants offering the cuisine. This Slavic Village diner not only offers good Polish food but they also offer it buffet style for lunch during the week and the kielbasa and pierogies are some of the best around. Photo via @RoyalDocksBrewing/Instagram
Deagan’s Kitchen and Bar 14810 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Deagan’s has some of the best burgers in town, their fries are on point and almost everything on the menu is shareable. So if you’re one of those people that can never decide what to order, get Deagan’s with the whole family, order all the appetizers and small plates, and you get to sample most of the menu. The corn fritters and buttermilk fried chicken skins are some of our favorites. Photo via @DeagansKitchenAndBar/Instagram
Banana Blossom Thai 2800 Clifton Ave., Cleveland This 60+ item Thai menu will keep you coming back time and time again to try new things. But we highly recommend the house specialty hot and spicy crispy duck if you’re a first-timer and want the best item on the menu. Photo via Scene Archives
Artefino Cafe 1900 Superior Ave., Cleveland Delicious sandwiches named after famous artists, homemade soups and artisanally made coffee drinks are what’s for lunch at this cafe, that doubles as a local art gallery to enjoy some culture with your lunch. Photo via Artefino Cafe/Facebook
Adega 2017 East Ninth St., Cleveland This modern Mediterranean joint may be known for being one of the coolest designed places in town but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on the food. Being located at the Metropolitan hotel/the Nine, downtown’s swankiest residence, makes it not just beautiful decor, but the food is always creative and delicious as well. Photo via Scene Archives
Sichuan Hot Pot 2162 Rockwell Ave., Cleveland Just when you think that Cleveland’s Chinese restaurant scene can’t possibly get any better, when stalwarts like Siam Cafe, Li Wah and Szechuan Gourmet are joined by thrilling additions such as Han Chinese and LJ Shanghai, along comes Sichuan Hot Pot to gobble up some of the attention. And deservedly so, as die-hard fans of tongue-tingling Szechuan cuisine can’t seem to stay away from the relative newcomer. Photo by Doug Trattner
DC Pasta Company 12214 Pearl Rd., Strongsville Chef Dante Boccuzzi’s third Cleveland restaurant, D.C. makes high-quality, house-made pastas fun and affordable. Sold by portion size — taste, appetizer, or main — the various combinations can be mixed and matched to create a wide-ranging feast. The rest of the menu is equally accessible, with sections for cured meats, Italian cheeses, marinated veggies, meatballs, entrées — even olives. Photo via Scene Archives
49th Street Tavern 4129 East 49th St., Cuyahoga Falls The 49th Street Tavern is offering the 49th Street Burger that comes with 10 oz. of fresh burger patty with lettuce, tomato, onions, and choice of cheese on a brioche bun with a side of house chips and a pickle spear. Photo Provided by Restaurant
Bull and Bird Steakhouse 87 West St., Chagrin Falls In 2018, Gamekeeper’s Taverne in Chagrin Falls closed its doors after 40 years. While we don’t yet know precisely what will replace it, we do know who. Hyde Park Restaurant Group has signed a lease on the iconic property and plans to open a new steakhouse in the space. Bull and Bird will be a “a “chef-inspired, boutique steakhouse with European influences.” Photo via Scene Archives
Brennan’s Fish House 102 River St., Grand River Brennan’s has been in the fish business since 1973, and it’s easy to taste why. In summer, they are on the receiving end of bushels of swimmingly fresh Lake Erie perch, which is lightly breaded in flour and cornmeal and fried to a pale copper hue. The hulking platter includes a mountain of hand-cut fries, creamy shredded coleslaw and housemade tartar sauce. Photo by Doug Trattner
The Annex Bar and Grille 36200 Pettibone Rd., Solon You might not expect some of the best burgers in town to be located in what looks like a small house on a suburban corner of Solon but boy would you be wrong. The Annex’s “Famous” burgers are really worth the trip. For a little spice try the Flaming Burger, topped with hot peppers, grilled onions, pepper-jack cheese. Photo via Annex Bar/Facebook
Tay Do Vietnamese Restaurant 11725 Snow Rd., Parma The fragrance and flavor of Tay Do’s authentic Vietnamese cuisine — full of ginger, lime, cilantro, and mint — is enough to transport diners from the bare-bones dining room into a full-blown floral fantasy. You won’t be able to stop slurping this pho. Photo via Scene Archives
Michael’s Genuine 3427 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights While Van Aken waits for a few new places to open, Michael’s Genuine stands alone as the only full service restaurant in the new shopping district. It’s definitely good enough to be the flagship restaurant of the area. From Miami Chef Michael Schwartz, winner of a James Beard Award, Michael’s is one of the best new restaurants in town. Get there if you haven’t. Photo via Michael’s Genuine/Facebook
The Rib Cage 2214 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights This Cleveland Heights barbecue joint serves some of the meatiest wings around. Go for the ‘Carolina Mustard Vinegar’ for one of the most unique and delicious flavors in town. Photo via The Rib Cage Smokehouse/Facebook
Pounders 6370 York Rd., Suite 4, Parma “If you’re in that area (Parma/Parma Heights), Pounders was always good to me,” -Docc2183 Credit: Scene Archives
Noble Beast 1470 Lakeside Ave. East, Cleveland “Let me tell you, Noble Beast Brewing was excellent. Moderately priced and high quality. Corn Dog is one of their most recommended menu items, I love it, and I think you have to try it as well. The staff is very courteous. I really valued that. Noble Beast Brewing – I’ll be back,” Abbi P. on Yelp Photo via Noble Beast Brewing Co./Facebook
Choukouya Resto Bar 4620 Richmond Rd., Warrensville Heights As one of Cleveland’s only West African restaurants, Choukouya offers guests a dining experience unlike any other place in town. One such revelation is the chicken yassa, a stew-like dish with beguilingly complex flavors. Photo via Scene Archives

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