24 of the Best Date Night Restaurants in Cleveland

Lockkeepers

8001 Rockside Rd., Valley View

One of the best Italian spots in town is located in a beautiful setting on the historic Erie Canal and Cuyahoga River. But the picturesque setting is hardly the only star of the show here. The veal chop parmigiano, sausage-stuffed peppers and seafood fra diavolo pasta are all to die for.

Photo via Lockkeepers/Facebook

Luca

2100 Superior Viaduct., Cleveland

One of the best Italian restaurants in town also contains one of the best views of the city. The sacchetti, which contains white truffles over ricotta stuffed pasta shells, may sound heavy for the summer but you have to get it while sitting on the patio at this Superior Viaduct located spot.

Photo via Luca Italian Cuisine/Facebook

Marotta’s

2289 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights

This upscale traditional Italian joint has some of our favorite pizza in town. Large slices resembling New York-style pizza and delicious pastas are just some of the wonderful options in this intimate setting. Enjoy your meal with their extensive Italian wine list.

Photo via Marotta’s/Facebook

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge

6605 Detroit Ave., Cleveland

Before there was Toast, Brewnuts, Spice, Astoria, XYZ Tavern and sweet, Sweet Moses there was Luxe Kitchen, an early speculator in the then up-and-coming neighborhood of Detroit Shoreway. When it opened 15 years ago, the oh-so-haute bistro joined area mainstays like Rincon Criollo, Happy Dog, Latitude 41 and Gypsy Beans, which perhaps was the first piece on the chessboard of this so-called urban renaissance. Today, guests can expect great chef-driven food, fun drinks and amazing service.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace

Home Bistro

12022 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland

Little Italy didn’t get to celebrate the Feast in 2020 but it did score a wonderful new restaurant. Home Bistro is a revival of a Chicago spot of the same name that husband-and-wife team Victor Morenz and Emily Gilbert owned before returning to Northeast Ohio. The transformation of the space, formerly Gusto, has restored much of the turn-of-the-century elegance to the property. From the kitchen, Morenz turns out an eclectic roster of globally influenced dishes that always hit their mark.

Photo via Scene Archives

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.

Photo via Scene Archives

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

Salt+

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/Instagram

Le Petit Triangle

1881 Fulton Ave., Cleveland

A little cramped, occasionally noisy, and quite possibly the city's smallest restaurant, this tiny French bistro still manages to provide a romantic atmosphere while turning out superlative crepes, earthy pâtés, and one of the best Croque Monsieur sandwiches this side of the Seine. You’ll be transported to Paris for a couple hours here.

Photo via @Lindsey_Salchi/Instagram

Molto Bene Italian Eatery

18401 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

“If you're on the hunt for authentic Italian cuisine, but don't want to head over to Little Italy on the East Side, Molto Bene is your place. The pasta is fresh and delicate as if it were just made by your Nonna, and the sauces are flavorful and delicious. The gnocchi is my favorite, and I am lucky that they allow me to slightly alter the dish and serve it with vodka cream sauce, delizioso! My taste buds are in heaven!,” Dana W. on Yelp.

Photo via Molto Bene Italian Eatery/Facebook