Despite *waves hands around* all that’s going on in the world and the ever-turbulent nature of the hospitality industry, the first few months of 2025 have seen almost two dozen new restaurant and bar openings around town. How many have you been to?
Flower on Freeman
Luxe Kitchen owner Melissa Cole and her team have transformed the former Duck Island Club into the Flower on Freeman. While the general footprint of the compact club is the same, every surface, fixture and stick of furniture has been replaced. Apart from the bar, most of the seating is in low-slung, comfortable chairs and banquettes. To drink, there are “elevated cocktails,” including functional beverages. A pint-size kitchen dishes up small plates like pickled shrimp, caviar, beet dip, charcuterie and desserts. Credit: Douglas TrattnerSofia’s Kitchen + Bar
In January, Andrew Revy of Immigrant Son Brewery announced that he was taking over the former Salt space in Lakewood. Just a few short months later, on Tuesday, April 15, he will open the doors to Sofia’s Kitchen + Bar, an upscale-casual restaurant that he describes as “corner bar meets American bistro.” Heading up the kitchen is veteran chef Andy Strizak, whose resume reads like a Top 10 list of Cleveland’s best restaurants. On the opening menu are starters like deviled eggs, cheese boards, battered veggies, sauteed mussels and a Shepherd’s Pie-style loaded fries with lamb, peas, carrots, gravy and cheese curds. In addition to soups and salads, there is a lamb burger, roasted pork sandwich with au jus, and a vegetarian sub. Credit: Douglas TrattnerLittle Cloud Sandwiches
Run by Laura Ashton, who along with husband Matt owns Lekko Coffee, and Rachael Champion, who along with husband Jared owns Iggy’s Bar in Lakewood, the colorful carry-out-focused shop offers fresh-made salads, sandwiches, fries and sauces, including breakfast sandwiches all day. In the lunch and dinner sammie category are creations like turkey and brie, Italian, cheesesteak, griddled pork roll with cheddar, and chickpea patty. Chef David “Skippy” Rutherford will also offer a handful of seasonal sandwiches and kid-friendly options. Credit: Rachael ChampionArthur Treacher’s, Cleveland Heights
Under the guidance of new owner George Simon, who purchased the Cuyahoga Falls shop and revived the Garfield Heights location, this latest Arthur Treacher’s is an “express” eatery focused on carry-out business. Thanks to a unique relationship between prior longtime local owner Ben Vittoria, these last few Arthur Treacher’s locations adhere to the original recipes, seasonings and specifications. Diners can expect the same soul-satisfying items of their youth, such as crispy pie-shaped fish fillets, breaded shrimp, fried clams and fried chicken strips — all coming with fragrant hush puppies and thick, ridged “chips” just waiting to be doused in malt vinegar. And, of course, it’s a homecoming for the Heights, as the new location is where the original one stood from the 1970s to 1990s. Credit: Douglas TrattnerStadium Sports Bar and Grill
The spot on Bolivar now home to the Stadium Bar and Grill has been a number of establishments over the last two decades, and it’s once again returned to a sports-themed bar after spins as a club and restaurant. The current set-up does appear to be a better fit for the events-driven neighborhood, with a polished gridiron decor, a full-size basketball hoop, and plenty of screens for viewing live action. Credit: Courtesy photoCafe Indigo
A cafe has returned to the northern side of Shaker Square thanks to Café Indigo, which opened in late February. The bright, corner café is owned by Melissa Garrett-Hirsch, who also runs UnBar Café (12635 Larchmere Blvd.) around the corner on Larchmere. On the coffee side of the operation, baristas pour brewed coffees, espresso drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes, and specialty drinks like mushroom coffee, matcha and chai. Breakfast sandwiches are served until 11 a.m., when lunch items like salads and build-your-own sandwiches — hot or cold – take over. Credit: Douglas TrattnerBuild the Pho, Ohio City
As the name suggests, Build the Pho, opening any day now on West 25th, is a build-your-own-bowl-style concept, with diners having numerous options with respect to noodles, broth and meats. Owner Eric Weng says that customers prefer the customization model over having to select from a short roster of predesigned bowls. The broths – beef or vegan – are made in the restaurant each day. Noodle options include rice, wide rice, egg and vermicelli. Diners can add any combination of proteins – including double or triple portions – from a list that includes rare beef, beef brisket, meatballs, beef tendon, beef tripe, sliced chicken, shrimp and tofu. Weng says that a spicy version of the beef broth likely will be added to the menu down the road. In addition to the noodle soups, the restaurant serves rice and vermicelli noodle bowls topped with various meats and starters like spring rolls, summer rolls and mango shrimp salads. The owner says that soup dumplings and pork steamed buns will be a new addition limited to the Ohio City location. Credit: Douglas TrattnerCity Slice, St. Clair
Since opening three years ago on the city’s west side, City Slice Pizzeria (12021 Lorain Ave., 216-273-7504) has been flying through slices like nobody’s business. The bustling shop offers a ready choice of massive slices carved from eye-popping 40-inch pies. Now, fans of the New York-style pizza can grab a slice on either side of town. City Slice recently opened the doors to a second location (6217 St. Clair Ave.), this one in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. Like the original, the shop offers a choice of “mega” slices, which are reheated to order, and whole 18-inch pies. The pizza is joined by garlic knots, salads and subs. New to the east side are wings, loaded fries and chopped cheese sandwiches. Credit: Douglas TrattnerAngie’s Soul Cafe, University Heights
Shortly after Sauce the City closed its University Heights location this past summer, Akin Affrica of Soul Republic United Restaurants announced that he was taking the spot over. Earlier this year, he opened the doors to the newest Angie’s Soul Cafe (14480 Cedar Rd., 216-331-0935). The fast-casual restaurant joins other Angie’s locations in Midtown, Cleveland, Warrensville Hts., and Lee/Harvard. Unlike the Carnegie Ave. restaurant, this latest one follows the “express” model that newer shops have adopted. Those stores offer a slightly condensed menu. Credit: Photo by BurkleHagenThe Arcade on Detroit
After closing Deagan’s Kitchen in 2023, Dan Deagan sold the business to a group of partners, who opened Solstice later that year. That business closed a year later and Deagan, at the time, was too busy to focus much attention on the space. But it wasn’t long before he was ready to dive back in with a new venture. The Arcade on Detroit, which Deagan will open with partner Andrew Tsiros in late April, will be a lively bar filled with classic and modern arcade games, pinball machines, Skee-Ball, billiards and tabletop games like air hockey and foosball. Expect leagues to form around various games. Credit: Google MapsSmokehouse 91
Located next door to The Village Butcher, which is also owned by Carl Quagliata and Zach Ladner, the fast-casual eatery is a natural extension of the high-quality butcher shop next door. Ladner describes the restaurant as a “stripped down, bare bones, traditional Texas barbecue.” Unlike at Smokin’ Q’s, the barbecue restaurant that Ladner and Quagliata replaced with Cuoco Bello, Smokehouse 91 will be primarily carryout. The meats, cooked for hours in an offset smoker, will be sold mainly by the pound (1/2-pound minimum). Guests can expect a roster that includes brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey, sausage and chicken. The meats will be carved to order and served with sliced white bread, pickles and onions. The sides and sauces are classic but tweaked. Credit: Courtesy photoCapriccio’s
The new Italian restaurant in Solon is under the guidance of Michael DuBois and longtime operator Brad Friedlander, who also run OddFellows and Lopez 44 in Chagrin Falls. For decades, the building at the corner of Miles and Brainard was home to the American Tavern. In 2018, Scott Fisher took over and renamed the restaurant Fisher’s American Tavern. That business closed last spring in anticipation of the changeover. Fisher has joined the team at Cleveland Restaurant Management Group, which owns Capriccio’s. The menu features a generous assortment of starters, salads, pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas and entrees. Guests can start with an order of Brad’s “famous” stuffed hot peppers, lightly breaded calamari, meatballs and wine-steamed mussels. There is Italian wedding soup, chopped salad and a Caesar. Credit: Courtesy photoDecades
In January, owner Bryan Dall shut down the Flats East Bank lounge, which he purchased in 2023, saying that the club had run its course. Instead, Dall set his sights on the future — or, rather, the past. After shuttering the dueling piano bar, he set about converting the space to Decades, a throwback to the 1980s and 1990s. There’s a new dance floor. New lighting and decor. And DJs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. spinning the best hits from those decades. But, Dall added, the piano playing won’t completely stop. Credit: Courtesy photoTavern Six, Chagrin Falls
When Panini’s Bar & Grill closed its Chagrin Falls location last year, Dan and Teanna Vitantonio saw a golden opportunity to expand their restaurant portfolio. The couple operate Tavern Six in Kirtland – which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this spring – and Sage Karma Kitchen in Willoughby. And they recently opened Tavern Six Chagrin Falls to join the party. A gentle renovation has given the space a “rustic modern” look like the original. “We’re a scratch kitchen, so everything is made in-house – that’s super-important to us,” says Teanna. “Everything is made to order.” The large menu is loaded with familiar, approachable fare that includes starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and entrees like steaks, ribs and fish and chips. The signature dessert – the only dessert – are cupcakes baked by Teanna. Since opening the doors in 2015, Tavern Six has never repeated a cupcake flavor, which used to change daily but now changes every couple of days. Credit: Google MapsEDWINS
It’s been a turbulent five years since Nighttown owner Brendan Ring announced that he was “temporarily” closing the restaurant in March of 2020. Ring, of course, never did reopen the iconic jazz club; in 2021, the property was sold to the Red Restaurant Group. After $2 million worth of improvements and renovations, Nighttown reopened in late 2023, only to close for good just nine months later. Brandon Chrostowski saw an opportunity, one too good to pass up, as he decided to relocate his restaurants to Cleveland Heights. When they arrive — or make reservations — diners will have a choice between two different experiences, each with its own menu, price point and atmosphere. The main room is home to the fine-dining portion of EDWINS, while the smaller rooms, bars and patios is home to the more casual “brasserie” version of EDWINS. The “salon lounge,” which is the small room connected to the main dining room, is open at 8 p.m. for cocktails and light bites. Credit: Douglas TrattnerTony’s Burger Shop
Earlier this year, Tony Zappola shut down the Rice Shop, an Asian-fusion concept that he launched in Vegas. The Van Aken District restaurant was facing the same challenges as its competition, namely rising food costs, higher wages, decreased sales and a shallow talent pool. So the chef opted to simplify. In place of a chef-driven concept that was “difficult to source, difficult to staff, and very niche,” Zappola grabbed some low-hanging fruit. Tony’s Burger Shop, which took the place of the Rice Shop, is straightforward, familiar and appealing. The shop is largely in the capable hands of Eddy Keating, who Zappola has been mentoring since the Ohio City Galley days. The concise menu features single and double smash burgers, a few specialty burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried chicken tenders, fries and onion rings. Credit: Photo by Doug TrattnerTwo Friends Brewing
The last time we checked in with Dan Malz, he was brewing beer (and distilling spirits) at Portside in the Flats. He left that outfit in 2016 (it closed in 2017) and he’s quietly been plotting his return ever since. Almost a decade later, he’s back with Two Friends Brewing in Collinwood. Malz’s partner in the project is Ozimba Anyangwe. The two met while working as chemists for the Cleveland Division of Water. The brewery is located next door to The Standard in a space that was previously home to the Cleveland Brewery. But the new tenants expanded into the adjoining space to create a spacious 100-seat bar. Beer lovers can look forward to a wide variety of beers, including pilsners, kölsches, stouts, pale ales, IPAs and seasonals. Fans of Portside’s exceptional 216 Pale Ale can expect a similar concoction, says Malz. Credit: Douglas TrattnerTrust Coffee
Thyme Table owner Mike Smith went through years of planning, setbacks and persistence before opening Trust Coffee in Bay Village. In the end, he and wife Tess Smith found the ideal property for their project. Opening bright and early, Trust Coffee features brews from Ohio City’s duck-rabbit, as well as some specialty coffee roasters from around the country. Thyme pastry chef Laura Jerina prepares a selection of scones, cookies and muffins for a light breakfast. At midday, the café transitions to lunchtime fare, with salads, sandwiches and other items. Come happy hour, Trust offers beer, wine and cocktails alongside café-style foods and desserts. Credit: Courtesy photoLopez 44
“Lopez has had several locations over the years, and we’ve continued to iterate with every new location,” Brad Friedlander. “Lopez 44 is the pinnacle of everything we’ve learned and experimented with. We’re very excited to give everyone a taste of what we’ve been working on.” The kitchen is helmed by chef Christa Barnoski, who is behind an updated “Southwestern” themed menu. Guests can look forward to dishes such as whole fried red snapper with fire-roasted pineapple salsa and white beans, braised pork with charred salsa verde, grilled skirt steak with fried potatoes and salsa verde, and smoked baby back ribs with jicama slaw and jalapeno cornbread. For dessert, there are cinnamon sugar-dusted churros served with chocolate ganache. Credit: Courtesy photoGood Pizza
Since launching his YouTube channel in 2019, Charlie Anderson has amassed 180,000 subscribers who come back time and time again for the host’s no-nonsense at-home pizza-making instruction. Now Anderson has a physical space where people can watch him make New York-style pizza IRL and enjoy the spoils with Good Pizza on East 4th Street. Anderson describes his pizza as an “artisan take on the classic New York pizza,” mentioning buzzworthy places like Scarr’s, L’industrie and Mama’s TOO! as paragons of the category. At Good Pizza, he will offer 18-inch pies by the slice and whole. To start, the menu will include standard pies such as Margherita, pepperoni, spicy vodka, marinara and white. Guests can expect seasonal pies to come and go. Credit: Courtesy photoBirdietown
Birdietown Mini Golf and Lounge is a two-level, 12,000-square-foot destination that combines a restaurant, two bars and 18 holes of indoor mini-golf. The mini-golf holes – nine up and nine down – were designed and built by Cleveland-based Shred & Co. The courses are compact but inventive, challenging without being gimmicky, and the holes fit seamlessly into the architecture of the space. Guests can dine on the main level or in the loungey lower level. Chef Jill Vedaa has crafted a creative but casual menu that plays well with the environment.
To drink, there are classic cocktails, local beers on tap, and wines by the glass and bottle. Credit: Douglas Trattner
