The Most-Anticipated New Restaurants Coming to Cleveland This Fall and Beyond

Boom’s Pizza

14370 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Customers who shopped at Keep The Change Kitchen Collective, the now-closed virtual food hall from Spice Hospitality Group, often looked forward to “doughball Fridays.” That’s when chefs Ben Bebenroth and culinary partner Jonathan Bennett would add Boom’s Pizza to the roster of menus. In June, the group announced that Boom’s Pizza would become a full service concept in the heart of Lakewood in the former home of Campbell’s Popcorn. Named after Bebenroth’s grandfather, Boom’s Pizza is described as a hybrid between New York and Neapolitan style pie. Slightly larger than a traditional Neapolitan pizza, these pies are perfect for one or two diners.

Hola Island Provisions

2235 E. 55th St., Cleveland

For eight years, Luis Roman operated the successful Latin eatery Campus Grille in Berea. But in the end, a spate of pandemic-related issues such as soaring food costs, scarcity of supplies and struggles with staffing conspired to compel him to close. When he opens Hola Island Provisions, he will begin testing what might be a blueprint for future expansion. For the next year, fans can find him on the Vocational Guidance Services campus, where he will be reviving a dormant cafeteria. His approach will be a Subway-style sandwich shop, but with pressed Caribbean-style sandwiches. Beginning in June, Roman will be offering pressed sandwiches like Cubans, tripletas, traditional ham and cheese, and grilled shrimp Po’ boy with creole sauce. He’ll also be offering empanadillas. A large atrium offers customers plenty of seating for dine-in enjoyment. If all goes well, Roman might relocate to a ghost kitchen.

Cleveland Bagel Cafe

436 E. Main St., Kent

When Starbucks closed its Kent store at E. Main and Lincoln streets last summer, the move set off a wave of concern for the future of the building. After many discussions, the property has landed in the hands of Mike Beder, a well-known businessman in the area. Beder has operated numerous businesses in the area, namely Water Street Tavern, Venice Café, Franklin Hotel Bar and Tree City Coffee. Along with partners Evan Bailey, Charlotte Varney, and Nicole Awad, Beder will open Cleveland Bagel Café in early May. Beder knew that he wanted to feature Cleveland Bagel at the café, having carried them at Tree City Coffee, but he decided to take the partnership one step further. “Our concept will be a broadened version of Cleveland Bagel Co.'s great offerings, including an expanded sandwich menu and full coffee bar,” he says.

Muze Gastropub, Eat Me Pizza and Trellis Rooftop Bar

1384 Hird Rd., Lakewood

First announced in 2019, Studio West 117 is gearing up for its first big debut. The Lakewood-based development is modeled after LGBT-focused neighborhoods like the Castro in San Francisco and the Short North in Columbus. Phase one, which is called the Fieldhouse, will feature two restaurants and a rooftop bar. Located at West 117th Street and Detroit, Studio West 117 aims to be the new hub for LGBT dining, nightlife and entertainment in Cleveland. In addition to the Fieldhouse, which will include two restaurants, a rooftop bar, a 5,000-square-foot event space and demonstration kitchen, future phases will include a 56,000-square-foot theater, smaller venues, retail spaces, and maker and studio spaces. First up for the multi-faceted development will be Muze Gastropub, Eat Me Pizza and Trellis Rooftop Bar, all three of which are on pace to open in early October. Michael Kittle, who has worked for Doug Katz, Jonathon Sawyer and Marigold Catering, oversees all of the food and beverage spaces.

Fahrenheit

55 Public Square., Cleveland

Rocco Whalen is relocating his 20-year-old Tremont hotspot Fahrenheit to the long-dormant John Q's Steakhouse spot on Public Square. When it opens in late 2022, the restaurant will boast an 8,000-square-foot main floor and 4,300-square-foot second level with rooftop seating. Expect an even finer-dining version of the celebrated restaurant.

Nighttown

12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights

When Nighttown, the iconic Cleveland Heights jazz club and restaurant, closed in 2020, its future looked bleak. But stepping up to save the day was Gregg Levy, whose Red Restaurant Group announced that it would reopen the storied property after extensive renovations and infrastructure improvements. The group recently announced that construction delays and other issues have made the answer to the question of when it's reopening unclear, but they'll be giving everyone an early look at the menu with three special events at Red — Sept. 28, Oct. 12 and Oct. 19.

Half Moon Bakery

Tower City

Despite opening at one of the worst times in recent history, Half Moon Bakery (3460 W. 25th St., 216-255-7714) is absolutely thriving, says owner Gerson Velasquez. To take some of the pressure off the original spot, Velasquez has his eye on expansion. His first move is to open a satellite shop at Tower City, where he’ll take over the former McDonald’s space in food court for another Half Moon. The menu will be nearly identical to that of the Clark-Fulton café, with Argentinian empanadas, Colombian empanadas, empanada-style tacos, Cuban sandwiches and Latin pastries. Velasquez expects the Tower City shop to open in October or November. More ambitious plans are on the horizon, says Velasquez. Those plans include converting a vacant commercial building in Brooklyn Centre to a full-service restaurant. Located at Denison and W. 34th Street, the sit-down restaurant will feature an expanded menu of empanadas, but will also offer breakfast service and other items to the mix. That project will take about a year and a half, says the owner.

Tost Sandwich Cafe

2341 Scranton Rd., and Detroit and West 28th St., Cleveland

t's only been a year and a half since Tommy Karakostas opened Tost Sandwich Café (13427 Madison Ave.) in Lakewood, but two more locations already are in the works. Before the end of the year, the longtime owner of the Greek Village will open new Tost shops in Ohio City and Tremont. Karakostas says that while he was working on the Ohio City location, he was approached by a developer about a possible Tremont outpost. Now, the two shops are moving forward simultaneously, with the Tremont store likely to open first.

Pearl Street Wine Market and Cafe

2523 Market Ave., Cleveland

Back in March, Karen Small shuttered the Flying Fig, her 23-year-old Ohio City bistro. But when she did, she announced that she would be partnering up with Jill Davis, owner of Toast Wine Bar, on a new project in the same space. Inspired by European bistros, Pearl Street Wine Market & Café will combine the retail aspect of the former Market at the Fig with a casual small-plates, farm-to-table café. In addition to small and shared plates starring local charcuterie and cheeses, there will be larger entrees featuring proteins, pasta, grains and seasonal produce. A rotating selection of wines by the glass, beer and classic cocktails will be available.

Heck’s Cafe

3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood

Come fall, Heck’s Café will make its triumphant return to Cleveland’s east side. Back in the late-1970s and early-1980s, the legendary burger restaurant had a location at Eton mall in Woodmere, alongside other classic places like the Cheese Cellar and James Tavern. This time around, Heck’s will rise in Beachwood. Fadi Daoud, who owns Heck’s in Ohio City and Avon, has taken possession of the former Blu and Cut 151 spaces at Richmond and Chagrin. Daoud says the plan is to convert the Blu space to Heck’s and use the attached Cut 151 space, which shares the same kitchen, as private event space until he develops a separate concept for that property.