The Most Anticipated Cleveland Restaurants Opening This Spring and Summer

Geraci’s Slice Shop

603 Prospect Ave., Cleveland

Last summer, downtown Cleveland lost a 40-year-old legend when Vincenza's Pizza & Pasta abruptly closed its shop. But soon, another local legend will take up the mantle to provide hot slices for all. Geraci’s Slice Shop, an extension of the 60-year-old brand, launched last summer in Willoughby as part of The Yard on 3rd. The expanded downtown spot will offer more in terms of food, beverage and setting. The fast-casual operation will feature classic Geraci’s pizzas – either by the slice or whole – plus appetizers, salads, subs and desserts like Italian ice and tiramisu. Guests can look forward to a fun, funky décor modeled after an `80s pizzeria, complete with full bar and game room. In the off season, Geraci’s Slice Shop acquired “Manager of the Year” Terry "Tito" Francona as an investor. “I’m an Italian who loves pizza and loves Cleveland,” Francona states. “Geraci’s is such a beloved brand it is just the right fit. Plus, it’s a short scooter's ride from the ballpark.”

Daisy’s

5614 Fleet Ave., Cleveland

Daisy’s in Slavic Village has endured its share of ups and downs over the past few years.The 40-year-old ice cream shop closed in 2018 and sat idle for three years. In 2018, chef Walter Hyde revived the shop but passed away in 2021.This past fall, LT Magnotto of Guardian Cold Brew purchased the property for his growing cold-brew coffee business,, using the back for production. Partners Brittany Bissell and Chris Hoke hope to reopen Daisy’s by Memorial Day at the latest. Their plan is to offer a combination of hard pack and soft serve ice creams, brownie sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes and floats. They will be serving Toft’s ice cream from Sandusky, “Ohio’s oldest dairy.” The owners will also offer a small selection of hot foods starring hot dogs and traditional Polish boys, with kielbasa, fries, coleslaw and barbecue sauce.

Doinks Burger Bar

15519 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland

Doinks Burger Joint enjoyed a long, fruitful run as a garage-based biz before setting up semi-permanent residency at the Cleveland Brewery, which continued until two weeks ago. The outpouring of community support persuaded partners Bonn Rassavong and Peter Brown to make the jump to a brick-and-mortar venture. Come spring, Doinks Burger Joint and Seltzer Bar will open not far from the garage where it all began. The 1,200-square-foot space sits a half a block west of Brown’s Six Shooter storefront. The star of the show will be the OG Doinks burger, a double smash burger with American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, sauteed onions and special sauce. The partners intend to keep the menu streamlined but will offer a handful of burger specials, a veggie option and few hot and cold sides. The “seltzer bar” component will feature a selection of hard-seltzer cocktails made with muddled fruits and house-made syrups.

Battr

910 Literary Rd., Cleveland

Issa Elkhatib and his partners have signed a lease for 910 Literary Rd. in Tremont, the next-door neighbor to the Lola/Lolita building that is now in the hands of Buildings and Food. Elkhatib’s plans for the 750-square-foot storefront call for bringing some interesting sweets into the neighborhood. Battr, as the business is called, will offer bubble waffles, Korean-style crepes, gelato and organic teas. The waffles will be topped with all matter of toppings, sauces and treats. The Korean-style crepes will be rolled into cones and given similar treatment. The long-vacant space has been spruced up recently, giving the new tenants a fresh box to work with.

Charter House

991 East 185th St., Cleveland

The beloved Bistro 185 closed four and a half years ago. Marc and Ruth Levine, the original owners, operated the Collinwood restaurant for 10 years before selling the business to their chef, Ryan Kaston, in 2016. After sitting fallow for nearly three years, the property finally has a new owner in Chris King. King, a versatile entrepreneur with businesses in the hospitality and transportation fields, will open Charter House. He has been working on the property for about four months and expects to have the restaurant ready to welcome its first guests this summer. King describes the cuisine as “classic American, with something for everyone.” To go with the food will be a great wine list and creative cocktails. “When people see it, they’ll love the décor and atmosphere,” he explains. “We want to attract the professionals and locals in the neighborhood that want someplace where they can go that’s safe, reliable, consistent and just a good atmosphere.”

Ninja City Van Aken

3441 Tuttle Rd., Ste. 405, Shaker Heights

Domo Yakitori and Sushi, which opened in 2020 at the Van Aken District, has closed. The shop enjoyed a roomy corner space inside the Market Hall, setting itself apart from most of the stalls thanks to its own compact dining area. Soon, that space will become home to Ninja City, which has earned plenty of name recognition since opening eight years ago in University Circle. Approximately five years ago, the Asian-influenced bar and pub relocated to Gordon Square (6706 Detroit Ave., Cleveland), where it has been happily ensconced ever since. Last summer, the owners added satellite shops at Tower City and the Global Center for Health Innovation. When it opens sometime this spring, Ninja City Van Aken District will be a counter-service driven eatery serving hits like soups, spring rolls, gyoza, wings, steamed buns, noodle salad, lettuce wraps, pho, ramen and banh mi sandwiches.

Scorpacciata

13051 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland

Back in 2021, we shared news that the former Larchmere Tavern, which had closed after nearly 30 years, was being converted into a high-end cocktail lounge and restaurant. Those plans never came to fruition. But that proved to be fortuitous for Peter Reuter, who was in search of a permanent home for Scorpacciata. In 2018, Reuter opened Scorpacciata Pasta Company in the Market Hall at Van Aken District. The success of the Market Hall in general and his shop in particular took him a little by surprise, he admits. He opened a second location in the Market Hall became home to Scorpacciata Pizza, which also has been drawing rave reviews. Snagging the Larchmere Tavern space, which has been home to a restaurant since at least the 1950s, plays right into Reuter’s well-laid plans. The full-service restaurant will offer pizza and pasta, naturally, but Reuter is eager to flex his culinary muscles. “We’ll have pizza and pasta, but we’ll also have a wider variety of options,” he says. “Appetizers, charcuterie, some steaks, more handmade pasta dishes, cocktails, a wine list, the whole nine.” Reuter says that he is completely renovating the property. When it’s done, it will have pasta-making room on display, a 12-seat bar and seating for approximately 75.

Guanquitas Restaurante

5107 Detroit Ave., Cleveland

Blanca Hernandez, owner of the four-year-old Pupuseria y Antojitos Guanaquitas (2998 W. 25th St., Cleveland) restaurant in Clark-Fulton, will open her second restaurant in the former Big Egg space. Unlike Pupuseria y Antojitos Guanaquitas, which serves strictly Salvadoran foods like tortas, tacos, pupusas and carne asada, this latest restaurant — called simply Guanaquitas — will offer a blend of traditional Salvadoran and Spanish items alongside American diner-style foods. In the morning, guests can dig into platters of huevos rancheros, enchiladas with pinto beans, pancakes, waffles, and bacon, eggs and hash browns. The rest of the menu is fleshed out with grilled chicken salads, BLT sandwiches and a handful of Salvadoran staples. Look for the restaurant to open sometime in May.

Heritage Steak and Whiskey

28869 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere

For the past year, Doug Petkovic has been quietly working to transform the former Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse at Eton Collection, which closed in 2019 after 15 years, into Heritage Steak and Whiskey. This is a solo project for Petkovic, who is a partner in Michael Symon Restaurants. As for the bill of fare, Heritage will specialize in grilled steaks and chops. As a second-generation restaurant, the property already had everything it needed with respect to infrastructure; the main task was to completely renovate the bar and dining room, which are swaddled in `80s-style mahogany paneling.

Artis Restaurant

17900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Andrew Mansour has taken possession of the former SideQuest property in Lakewood. The chef, formerly of Zhug and Edwins, is planning to open Artis Restaurant, which he describes as a contemporary, shareable steakhouse. Mansour says that Artis will be fine dining, but without the white tablecloths. Inside, the bar and dining room will sport a Miami Art Deco Revival décor, with `80s colors like coral and teal. “We’re going to be a steakhouse but absolutely not what you think about, where you get a big-old slab of meat and everybody ordering their own thing," he explains. "We’ll be very shareable and approachable – a steakhouse that’s not a steakhouse. We’re putting a new spin on America’s favorite concept.” The estimated opening day is slated for late spring or early summer.