For the third week in a row, we’re highlighting 25 local restaurants that you should get takeout from during the pandemic. Really, we’d love it if you support these local spots all the time. But especially now when a lot of places are struggling to pay the bills. Oh, and these places make some delicious food so you’re getting a wonderful meal out of it.

Proof Bar-BQ 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland Over the past three years, the former Komorowski Funeral Home building on Professor Avenue has transitioned from a place of bereavement to a warren of joyful activity with Visible Voice bookstore on the top floor and Crust pizza on the main floor. Now, in the bottom floor of the same building, Proof Bar-BQ and Cocktails is bringing Southern and Texas-style barbecue to Tremont and they’re killing the BBQ game. Photo by Doug Trattner
Mars Bar 15314 Madison Ave., Lakewood Oh man, the gyro at Mars Bar in Lakewood is worth getting this place on its own. It’s one of the best versions in town: Warm, thick and plush pita is piled high with flavorful shaved lamb-and-beef meat, crisp red onion, thick-sliced tomato and creamy tzatziki sauce made by the owner’s mother. Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Gus’s Diner 185 797 E 185th St Head to North Collinwood for the perfect comfort food/diner combination at Gus’s. They have one of the more extensive omelette lists in town, so if you can’t find an omelette for you here, you must not like breakfast. Photo via Gus’s Diner 185/Facebook
Blue Habanero Mexican Street Tacos and Tequila 6416 Detroit Ave., Cleveland For 15 years, Rafael Ayala has operated Tres Potrillos in the Akron area. He later added locations in Medina and Beachwood, which opened a few years back in the former Charley’s Crab space on Chagrin. Ayala recently opened Blue Habanero Street Tacos and Tequila, which took the space of the vacated Arcadian in Gordon Square, and is not a simple reproduction of those popular Mexican eateries. The food is tasty, modern and adds a flare to your typical Mexican-American restaurant. Photo via @BlueHabaneroCleveland/Instagram
Opal on Pearl 4250 Pearl Rd., Cleveland There are few more iconic properties in Old Brooklyn than the sturdy brick fortress at 4250 Pearl Road. That weighty mantle now belongs to Tony Mellon and his eight-month-old creation Opal on Pearl. What we found during our visits was a cozy neighborhood wine bar with more than enough food to keep guests from leaving when the inevitable hunger pangs strike. Since opening last summer, Opal has matured from a cheese-and-crackers kind of place to a full-fledged restaurant that attracts neighbors — if not cross-towners — for both drinks and dinner. Photo via Opal on Pearl/Facebook Credit: Scene Archives
Mister Brisket 2156 South Taylor Rd., Cleveland Heights “Do you like pastrami? How about corned beef? If you said yes to either and have not been to Mister Brisket, you are truly missing out. The sandwiches from this place are TO DIE FOR. They have a sizable sandwich menu for takeout and the sandwiches come in a small and large size. My husband and I split a large for a light lunch. Fantastic, tender meat. Some of the absolute best corned beef and pastrami anywhere and you just can’t beat the prices. For meat this good, it’s worth every penny of MB’s fair prices.,” Andrea Z. on Yelp. Photo via Mister Brisket/Facebook
56 Kitchen Multiple Locations Both the Solon and Mayfield Heights locations of this restaurant, that grew from the roots of the now defunct Cafe 56, are located in unassuming strip malls where you might not expect to find a hip restaurant serving scratch-made, locally sourced food. The pizzas are on point, the salads are reminscient of the original Cafe 56 ones and they always have some delicious desserts to finish the meal with. Photo via Scene Archives
Kafaya’s Kitchen 3650 West 117th St., Cleveland “Amazing! I wish there were more places like this. Kifaya is actually in the kitchen and we got to meet her and her daughter. Both of whom are super kind and welcoming. The place is small but the food is phenomenal. Really a great place to try some Somali food, I only wish there were more African restaurants to try,” Carlos P. on Yelp. Photo via Kifaya’s Kitchen/Facebook
Corky and Lenny’s 27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Village The iconic Jewish deli, known for their offerings like corned beef, matzoh ball soup and many more wonderful dishes has been going strong in the Eastern Suburbs since 1956. Modeled after famous New York delicatessens like Katz’s and the Carnegie Deli, Corky’s remains a beloved institution. Photo via Scene Archives
Indian Delight 5507 Detroit Ave., Cleveland ”By far the best Indian food I’ve had in Cleveland. This is the real deal. They don’t skimp on the spice, and have a ton of great Indian dishes. They don’t serve beer or wine but I get the impression they do most of their business through pickups. If you like real authentic Indian food, look no further,” Andy R. on Yelp. Photo via Indian Delight/Facebook
Harlow’s 14319 Madison Ave., Lakewood Lakewood’s lesser known pizza joint should not be slept on. The 12-inch Neapolitan pies come in just five choices – Marinara, Margherita, Bianca, Salami and Leonardo, but they perfect every offering and so nothing else is needed. Photo by Peter Larson
Etna 11919 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland This romantic, tightly packed Little Italy spot is one of the best Italian restaurants in town. A great wine list, authentic menu items and a dark ambience recalls the Old Country that created this remarkable cuisine. Photo via Etna Ristorante/Facebook
Aldo’s 8459 Memphis Ave., Cleveland This place is so old school, they don’t even have a website. But it doesn’t matter, because the food is so good. This hidden gem, that only contains about 12 tables total, is located next to a dental office in Old Brooklyn. Start with the hot peppers and calamari and finish up with the linguini. Photo via Aldo’s Restaurant/Facebook
Luna Bakery and Cafe 2482 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights and 34105 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills Luna may be (understandably) known for their delicious pastries and cakes. But the hot food is just as good as their baked goods. The smoked turkey panini, the herb scrambled egg breakfast sandwich, the tuna panini and the banana nutella crepe are just a few of our favorite offerings at this European-style cafe and bakery. Photo via @LunaBakeryCafe/Instagram
Hunan By The Falls 508 East Washington St., Chagrin Falls “This place is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. Been coming here for 20 years and it’s still amazing. My parents love it here. I come all the way from Lorain County to get food here at least once a year and it’s always a treat. Pricey but well worth it. Staff is always super friendly and the menu is large and detailed. My favorite dishes are the Jade Minced Chicken appetizer and the Crispy Beef entree. Absolutely melt in your mouth and there’s plenty to take home for later. Highly recommend this place to anyone that is looking for real authentic Chinese food. They’re the best!” Brian P. on Yelp Photo via Hunan By The Falls/Facebook
Pho Lee 3820 Superior Ave., Cleveland Pho Lee is in a space that has seen more than its fair share of turnover. By our count, this is the fourth Vietnamese restaurant to occupy this spot in eight years. From Pho 99 to Ninh Kieu to Pho Ha Nam, all of them served great pho and other Vietnamese dishes, but the under-the-radar digs deep inside Asian Town Center likely proved insurmountable. Here’s hoping that this time is different, because given the quality of the soups sold here, people should be beating a path to the door. Photo by Doug Trattner
Domo Yakitori and Sushi 3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights The most recent addition to the Van Aken Market Hall is Domo, which has a variety of Japanese street foods that are grilled, deep fried, griddled and rolled. Despite a seemingly limited menu, there is a surprisingly robust numbers of options, especially when you consider supplements and add-ons. The trio of principal food groups here is comprised of sushi, yakitori and okonomiyaki. Photo by Douglas Trattner Credit: Scene Archives
El Tango Taqueria 14224 Madison Ave., Lakewood Chef, artist and musician Antonio Carafelli turns humble Tex-Mex and Latino standards into flavorful masterpieces in this little Lakewood storefront. Try getting takeout at this spot and you’ll be rewarded with some delicious tacos. Photo via El Tango Taqueria/Facebook
Brewster’s Cafe Bistro Pub 2681 Creekside Dr., Twinsburg “I meant to leave this review months ago during the COVID lockdown. My son and I were looking for something we’ve never tried before. Brewster’s was selected and holy cow did they deliver! My son ordered their Caesar salad and I ordered the barbecue chicken, minus the bacon but extra onions, flatbread. We both loved our meal so much that that’s all we get from there now. Unfortunately, my waistline is not happy with me at the moment. We order from them at least every other week. Their food is just that delicious!” Stacy M. on Yelp Photo via Brewster’s/Facebook
Savor the Moment 4080 Rocky River Dr., Cleveland “I love Savor the Moment. It’s an “off-the-beaten-path” coffee shop, but well worth the stop. The owner is great! I recall stopping a year or two ago and not having cash (I only carry credit) and he gave me my coffee free of charge. I’ve only experienced hospitality like that in the South! (PS they now accept credit!! 🙂 They offer a wide variety of tea and coffee drinks, sandwiches and soups for lunch, and pastries. Savor the Moment is a wonderful spot. Go there,” Samantha F. on Yelp Photo via Savor the Moment/Facebook
Moosehead Hoof & Ladder 7989 Columbia Rd., Olmsted Falls “The French onion steak sandwich is literally amazing.. If you don’t try it then we can’t be friends.. I don’t know if I could ever get one anywhere else again after having this one. Just….get it. Trust me,” TJ S. on Yelp Photo via Moosehead Hoof & Ladder/Facebook

Scene's award-winning newsroom oftentimes collaborates on articles and projects. Stories under this byline are group efforts.