23 Must-Try Restaurants on Cleveland's West Side

By Scene Staff on Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 2:22 pm

While we are united as one city, there's definitely a divide between the west side and the east side of town. Each side boasts some fantastic food, of differing ethnicities, price points, and cuisines. But this week we're letting you in on the 23 essential spots to check out on the west side of Cleveland. We took into account anything west of downtown, but not too far deep into the suburbs. (Yes, we know Lakewood isn't Cleveland.) Bon appétit.

Tags:

Scroll down to view images

Lucky’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/Instagram

Il Rione

1303 West 56th St., Cleveland

Il Rione might be "just a neighborhood pizza parlor," but it elevates the genre thanks to warm lighting, stylishly weathered interior, and a killer playlist from the golden age of rock. While the menu is spare, the New York/New Jersey style pizza exiting the open kitchen is amazing, with the clam pie taking the cake. Diners can choose from a half-dozen predesigned pies or can build their own from the crust up.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace

Ginko

2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland

"Keep it simple" is a mantra that is valued but often ignored. Not at Ginko, the 7-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/Instagram

Ferris Shwarma

13507 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood

Their website says they have “the most awesome shwarma in Cleveland.” Who are we to argue? This menu is very straightforward with only a few options but when you do something so well, no need to mess with what is working.

Photo via @Arabs_In_Cleveland/Instagram

Fahrenheit

2417 Professor Ave., Cleveland

Chef Rocco Whalen's perennially hot Tremont restaurant just keeps turning up the heat on new American edibles. Fahrenheit is 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/Instagram

The 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 Archives

Banter

7320 Detroit Ave., Cleveland

Banter is the antidote to serious food in somber settings. It's county fair food with a bowtie, where fries, sausages, and hotdogs are spruced up for a clever crowd. You won't find a better corndog to drag through the mustard, and the crispy, melty fried cheese curds will vanish quicker than the Statue of Liberty at David Copperfield's abracadabra. But most folks come for the poutine, and who can blame them. Perfect fries drip with rich gravies made with real stock, while pert cheese curds slowly weep into the mix.

Photo via Scene Archives

Luca

2100 Superior Viaduct., Cleveland

This Italian spot is known for one of the best dishes in town; the Sacchetti al Tartufo Bianco which consists of fresh pasta purses stuffed with white truffle, 24-month aged pecorino Romano, 20-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano and ricotta cheeses, finished with white truffle cream sauce and aged fig balsamic. While that dish is a must-eat, the rest of the menu is just as good, the views of the city are unmatched and everything about this place makes it one of the best Italian restaurants in town.

Photo via Scene Archives

Fat Cats

2061 West 10th St., Cleveland

Thank goodness for Fat Cats. An oasis on the edge of Tremont's 10th Ave., its fried chicken is absolutely worth getting out of the house for. It comes topped with sriracha aioli and pickled cabbage slaw. A napkin is highly recommended.

Photo via @transqpoc_and_doge/Instagram