Let’s be honest, we lost some good ones in the last year or so. Between Greenhouse Tavern, Sokolowski’s and Lola, iconic Cleveland restaurants have shuttered recently. But that doesn’t mean we still don’t have our fair share of amazing restaurants. These 33 restaurants specifically highlight the awesome food that this city is known for.
Zhug
12413 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights
With the unveiling of this new venture, Doug Katz has created a new gravitational center for this side of town, attracting diners with such force that many get turned away. If your idea of Middle Eastern food consists largely of tightly wrapped falafel sandwiches, shawarma carved from a twirling spit and grilled beef shish-kabob on a bed of rice, Zhug will expand your culinary horizons in a million little ways. With its dazzling small plates, meticulously crafted cocktails and ripped-from-Tel Aviv-vibe, this cosmopolitan eatery upends every Cleveland dining convention.
Photo by Emanuel WallaceLarder
1455 West 29th St., Cleveland
Since opening in 2018, Larder has established itself as not only one of the best delis in Cleveland but possibly the country. Chefs/owners Allie LaValle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky and Kenny Scott were named semifinalists for a James Beard Award. And world renowned chefs Daniel Boulud of Danel and Thomas Keller of The French Laundry came to Cleveland to eat at Larder. The fried chicken and the pastrami are the stars of the show but really everything is top notch.
Photo via @LarderB/InstagramAstoria
5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Astoria manages to put a smile on our faces morning, day or night. The retail market keeps our pantry flush with gourmet foods like imported cheeses, cured meats, olives and wine. The large bar is an ideal place to meet up with a friend over cocktails, glasses of wine and a fully loaded meat and cheese platter. The animated dining room is where we land for full meals of tender wine-poached octopus, veal and ricotta meatballs, pizzas, and grilled lamb chops.
Photo via Scene ArchivesZoma
2240 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
Despite what that one guy on Yelp said about the “bread,” we’re slightly obsessed with Zoma. We love the communal atmosphere of the experience, where diners sit around a platter of colorful, savory stews, pinching off bites with stretchy injera. Rare is the place that hungry vegetarians and omnivores can so peacefully coexist thanks to items starring chopped greens, chickpeas, lentils, beef and chicken. The housemade Ethiopian hot sauce, fueled by an exotic berbere spice blend, is righteous.
Photo via Zoma/FacebookThai Thai
13735 Madison Ave., Lakewood
Few restaurants have made as big of a splash as Thai Thai, the tiny Lakewood eatery beloved for its flavorful, fiery Bangkok-style street foods. From the day it opened in 2016, this pared-down eatery excelled by focusing on a handful of Thai classics and knocking each and every one of them out of the park.
Photo by Emanuel WallaceSuperior Pho
3030 Superior Ave., Cleveland
Because pho is an essential part of a balanced diet, not to mention one’s sanity, noodle shops like this one hold a very important place in our lives. Winter or summer, a bowl of pho is more than food; it’s a restorative elixir that sets us on a brighter path. Crispy spring rolls, citrusy cabbage salad, and meaty banh mi sammies also make us happy, so it’s a good thing that the versions served at this perfectly acceptable dining room are as delicious as the noodle soup.
Photo via Scene ArchivesSOHO Chicken + Whiskey/Chicken Run
1889 W. 25th St., Cleveland
Put “chicken” in your name and you better do it right, and SoHo does. While SoHo temporarily changed their concept to a takeout spot called Chicken Run for the pandemic, they’re still serving perfectly tasty fried chicken and other delicious southern foods like fried green tomatoes, gumbo and shrimp and grits.
Photo via Scene ArchivesTacos at La Plaza Supermarket
13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood
All it takes to get your hands on what many deem the best tacos in Cleveland is venturing to this Lakewood supermarket. This grocery store cooks up barbacoa, carnitas, chorizo and al pastor tacos in front of your eyes. They’re served up as-is, but load up on diced onion, cilantro, guac and salsas to your heart’s desire.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe Black Pig
2801 Bridge Ave., Cleveland
The Black Pig seemed to really come alive following its move away from W. 25th Street. More neighborhood haunt than arbitrary destination, this is the rare type of place where you can visit once or twice a week and never grow bored. In-house butchers are all the rage, but this kitchen knows nose-to-tail better than most. Well-raised pigs come in the back door and enter the dining room as Old World charcuterie, crispy pork rinds, gently braised flanks and juicy grilled chops.
Photo via Scene ArchivesL’Albatros
11401 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland
Given that University Circle is the epicenter of Cleveland culture, you’d think it wouldn’t be so damned hard to find a great meal. Fortunately there’s this French-themed gem, the crown jewel of the Zack Bruell kingdom. While we could happily live on the wine and cheese alone, it’s nearly impossible to skip the garlicky snails, the mussels frites, and the textbook skate with browned butter. Do yourself a favor and order the pied de cochon, goosed with the silkiest béarnaise.
Photo via Scene ArchivesFlying Fig
2523 Market Ave., Cleveland
Chef-owner Karen Small stocks her larder with simple, homegrown ingredients, then coaxes them into precise assemblages of soaring flavor at this hip, youthful, and energetic bistro in the heart of Ohio City. And as any trendinista will tell you, the Fig’s happy hours are among the best in the city for unwinding on a budget.
Photo via @TheFlyingFig/InstagramHerb’n Twine
4309 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
A sandwich place on the list of must try restaurants? Well, when you serve the type of sandwiches that Herb’n Twine does, it’s certainly deserving of a spot. At this 5-year-old gourmet sandwich emporium in Ohio City, people especially lose their minds over the turkey club. This artful construction is composed of house-baked French bread, house-smoked turkey breast, maple-glazed bacon, smoked Gouda, pickled onions, fresh spinach and sun-dried tomato mayo.
Photo by Tim HarrisonGinko
2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland
“Keep it simple” is a mantra that is valued but often ignored. Not at Ginko, the seven-year-old Tremont eatery from Chef Dante Boccuzzi that has a monastic focus on raw fish. Here, almost all of the admittedly small subterranean space is dedicated to the sushi bar, where obsessively fresh fish is draped over lumps of steamed rice. Diehard sushi fanatics travel distances long and short to belly up to this bar for the city’s best tuna, yellowtail, uni, mackerel, eel and octopus, all of which is served up in a boldly designed setting.
Photo via @GinkoTremont/InstagramFlour
34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills
Is it just us or does Flour get better and buzzier over time? We’ve been fans of the Italian restaurant since the start, lured out to suburbia by the four skilled hands belonging to Paul Minnillo and Matt Mytro. This tag team of tagliatelle put the panache back in pasta, elevating the genre from dependable gut-buster to captivating, elegant cuisine. The perfect pairings of noodles and sauce, like rigatoni with lamb neck gravy, are memorable to the very last bite.
Photo via Scene ArchivesSzechuan Gourmet
1735 East 36th St., Cleveland
When it comes to authentic Chinese food, this is the place. The best Chinese restaurant in town, bar none, boasts dishes that are out of this world. Try the three pepper chicken for some spice, the mapo tofu with pork, the cumin beef, the chili cucumber, and you’ll leave with a belly full and a smile on your face for how delicious this food really is.
Photo via @Dorjans/InstagramThe Marble Room
623 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Since Marble Room opened in the old National City Bank building, it’s been hard to find a more beautiful restaurant in town then the swanky Marble Room. The name says it all – the beautiful marble columns and intricately designed molding is absolutely stunning. And the steak and seafood are up there for the best in town. Get the ribeye and thank us later.
Photo via Scene ArchivesTommy’s Restaurant
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights
Known for their vegetarian and healthy options, this Coventry Road staple has been serving up Clevelanders since 1972. While they had vegetarian and vegan options before those became popular, they have more than just healthy options. The thick-cut french fries are some of the best in town and their milkshakes, especially black cherry, is a must try.
Photo via Tommy’s Restaurant/FacebookFat Cats
2061 West 10th St., Cleveland
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.
Photo via Fat Cats/FacebookFahrenheit
2417 Professor Ave., Cleveland
Chef Rocco Whalen’s perennially hot Tremont restaurant just keeps turning up the heat on new American edibles. Fahrenheit isf one of the reasons that this neighborhood has achieved such an elevated status among foodies near and far. Cleveland Nachos, chorizo stuffed dates and Kobe beef short ribs are just three of the many perfect dishes at one of the consistently best restaurants in town.
Photo via @FahrenheitCleveland/InstagramEdwin’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute
13101 Shaker Square., Cleveland
In 2013, Brandon Chrostowski opened Edwins Leadership and Restaurant at Shaker Square. Not only is the French bistro one of the finest restaurants in town, they’re also a non-profit organization that hires and trains convicted felons to work in their restaurant. Chrostowski started Edwins with the belief that, “every human being regardless of their past has the right to a fair and equal future”. Everything on the menu is superb, but we’re big fans of the burger that’s prepared table-side, and the duck is also delectable.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBarroco Grill
Multiple Locations
If you’ve never had an arepa before, you need to head to Barrocco ASAP. Arepas, which hail from Colombia and Venezuela, are grilled white tortilla’s stuffed with a variety of ingredients. The ‘La Gringa’, stuffed with braised beef, feta cheese, avocado, chimichurri, greens and mozzarella, and the ‘Buffalo Chicken’ arepa are two of our absolute favorites. Barrocco also has fantastic live Latin music three nights a week.
Photo via @BarroccoGrill/InstagramSalt+
17625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
“Nobody orders small plates in Cleveland.” Since the birth of the turnip, that has been the conventional wisdom in these parts. Of course, at her whip-smart Lakewood bistro Salt, chef Jill Vedaa continues to upend that old saw by composing exceptional dishes that focus on a single theme. In place of a meat-and-three, diners zero in on carrots three ways, or earthy beets blasted with sparkle, or a savory lamb ragu over a few supple gnocchi. Mix and match your way to the perfect meal; variety, after all, is the spice of life.
Photo via @LBoeNeedham/InstagramLJ Shanghai
3142 Superior Ave., Cleveland
LJ Shanghai, a relative newcomer in Cleveland’s Asiatown neighborhood, has been absolutely besieged by diners who recognize quality xiao long bao—or soup dumplings—when they see and taste them. We’ve been making habitual pit stops for those amazing dumplings, but also the growing roster of satisfying soup, noodle, and meat dishes. Tops in our book is the plump shrimp wonton soup, spicy beef noodle soup, Shanghai-style scallion noodles, and soy-braised duck.
Photo via Scene ArchivesParallax
2179 West 11th St., Cleveland
Longtime Cleveland chef Zach Bruell’s salon is as chic as can be, with precise but unpretentious fare that finds its heart in classical technique and its soul in contemporary artistry. Options include excellent sushi, plenty of seafood and such bistro standards as duck confit and grilled hanger steak. There’s really something for everyone here, as it has one of the most eclectic and extensive menus in town.
Photo via Parallax Restaurant/FacebookNora
2181 Murray Hill Rd., Cleveland
Nora upends the Little Italy stereotype of the spag-and-ball joint by applying classic French technique to Italian ingredients to come up with dishes that are in synch with the season, if not the surrounding restaurants. While you won’t be dabbing red sauce off your shirt, you will be awash in the Old World charm that attracts us to the Hill in the first place. Beneath a pressed-tin ceiling and behind a wall of windows, diners dig into creamy burrata, crunchy polenta fries, wild mushroom stuffed agnolotti, and fettuccine carbonara topped with crispy matchstick potatoes and a buttery poached egg.
Photo via Scene ArchivesRising Grill
3709 Payne Ave., Cleveland
It was right around the time our server wheeled a cart up to the table that we regretted not inviting more friends to dinner. Our combination platter had enough beef short rib, ribeye, pork and chicken to feed half the dining room. But we persevered, cooking up tasty bits of Korean BBQ on Rising Grill’s trusty new gas-powered grill tables. Hot off the grate, we bundled up the charred, garlicky pieces of meat into cold lettuce wraps, dragged them through sauce, popped them in our mouths, and washed them down with ice-cold OB beer. We never stood a chance, but at least we went out with a smile.
Photo by Doug Trattner Credit: Douglas TrattnerIl 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: Emanuel WallaceLucky’s Cafe
777 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland
Lucky’s Cafe has won Scene’s best of brunch award so many times, we can’t keep count. Chef and Owner Heather Haviland’s Tremont cafe has also been featured on the Food Network multiple times, with Chef Michael Symon calling their biscuits and gravy the “best thing he ever ate,” and also on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Photo via @LuckysCafe/InstagramMomocho
1835 Fulton Ave., Cleveland
Clever cuisine, playful decor, and intimate surroundings make this “modern Mexican” eatery like nothing else in town. Don’t come around looking for refried beans and rice; luscious lamb “adobo” and avocado-leaf-crusted tuna are more Momocho’s style. Factor in the fruit-infused margaritas, chilada-style beers, and the smart array of tequilas, and even the fiercest bandito would happily pull up a chair.
Photo via Scene Archives
