The Best Things We Ate in Cleveland in 2023

Goat Biryani at Paradise Biryani Pointe

Multiple locations, paradiseindiancuisine.us
Rahul Gonuguntla opened Paradise Biryani Pointe because he couldn’t find the quality of Indian food that he grew up with back home. Now with four locations in Northeast Ohio, the restaurant specializes in Southern Indian dishes but offers a broad sampling of Indian cuisine. The showstopper is the Hyderabad-style goat biryani, an aromatic dish of perfectly steamed and seasoned basmati blended with tender bone-in goat.

Lamb Tacos at Paloma

Paloma, 20041 Walker Rd., Shaker Hts., 216-465-1336, palomavanaken.com
Like most American cities, Cleveland has been deluged by taquerias. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more, especially when it comes from the team of Zach Ladner and Carl Quagliata. For these, lamb is slow roasted until it’s luscious, supple and flecked with char. The savory meat is tucked into freshly pressed and griddled flour tortillas and topped with mint, shredded cabbage, garlic crème fraiche and sliced jalapenos.

Pork Adobo at Tita Flora’s

Tita Flora’s, 6531 Brecksville Rd., Independence, 216-232-4303, titafloras.com
At Tita Flora’s, owner Flora Grk offers an authentic taste of homestyle Filipino cooking. Her food is accessible but exciting, with boldly flavored dishes redolent of soy, garlic and vinegar. Most offer up a compelling interplay of sweet, sour and salty. Adobo, arguably the national dish of the Philippines, is a mouthwatering stew of lean and fatty pork in a tangy sauce. Dishes come with white rice but consider upgrading to the garlic rice.

Lox, Onions and Eggs at Corky & Lenny’s

Corky & Lenny’s , 27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, 216-464-3838, corkyandlennys.com
Dining at Corky and Lenny’s was like visiting an old friend. The Jewish deli had been chugging along since 1956, when it opened at Cedar Center. The most recent location at Village Square in Woodmere had been in business for 50 years. We lost founder Lenny Kaden earlier this year, and we lost the institution at the end of the year as Cleveland said goodbye to a 67-year institution.

Ricotta Dumplings at Poppy

Poppy, 12502 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-415-5069, poppycleveland.com
This year, Felice on Larchmere became Poppy, the latest creation from partners Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison. The warm three-level Craftsman-style house and spacious patio are the ideal environment to savor Vedaa’s brilliantly composed dishes. The ricotta dumplings approach vegetarian perfection thanks to delicate gnocchi topped with savory mushroom marmalade and a vibrant broccoli pesto.

Continental Breakfast at Patron Saint

Patron Saint, 2915 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, patronsaintcle.com
Open since June, Patron Saint already feels like an essential part of the Ohio City community. The all-day café, set in a former Vitrolite tile showroom, offers beautiful bites morning, noon and aperitivo hour. Chef David Kocab has a knack for packing flavor and texture into every bite. The pitch-perfect continental breakfast includes thin-sliced cured meats, cheese, fresh fruit, a jammy egg, focaccia toast, compote and preserves.

Cleveland Mojito at Battr

Battr, 910 Literary Rd., 216-202-6157, battrsweets.com
This year, Tremont scored a hot new dessert shop that specializes in Belgian waffles, Hong Kong-style bubble waffles and French crepes, which are filled, glazed and topped in a variety of ways. Guests can build their own or go with a signature creation, like the Cleveland Mojito, a crisp-tender bubble waffle filled with creamy vanilla gelato and topped with rum-mint syrup, candied lime zest and fresh mint.

Corned Beef Hash at City Diner

City Diner, 5109 Memphis Ave., 216-400-7529, thecitydiner.net
Back in 2017, Old Brooklyn residents were thrilled to see the long-dormant Expressway Diner under new management. But the revival was short-lived owing to the pandemic. But earlier this year, the classic diner was buffed back into existence. The place looks better than ever, the service is swift and courteous, and the breakfasts are delicious. The hearty corned beef hash comes with two eggs and biscuits. Spend another couple bucks for a side of sausage gravy.

Italian Beef at Au Jus

Au Jus, 5875 Broadview Rd., Parma, 216-795-5063, aujus-cle.com
It’s not every day that legends are born. With the opening of Au Jus in Parma, Cleveland’s Italian beef game immediately climbed to championship level. Wedged between a Marco’s Pizza and a nail salon in a dinky strip, the spotless kitchen flies through 150 pounds of slow-roasted top round beef per day. That tender shaved beef is piled into a hoagie bun, doused with gravy and topped with crisp giardiniera.

Turkey Pardon at Coppia

Coppia, 8623 Mayfield Rd., Chesterland, 440-688-4480, coppiarestaurant.com
It’s no small feat to make some noise when you’re a tiny bistro tucked away in sleepy Chesterland. But that’s precisely what Hedy Pastrán and Talia Trovato are doing at Coppia. The restaurant, formerly linked with the Paganini School of Cooking, is forging a new path, one that brings fine dining down to an approachable level without surrendering one ounce of its grandeur. This seasonal dish featured buttery and crisp-skinned duck breast paired with savory collard greens and Thanksgiving-flavored stuffing.