All the New Cleveland Restaurants That Have Opened in 2023

Fire 45 Grille + Social 6031 Royalton Rd, North Royalton Owner Chad Trush spent a year and a half gutting and rebuilding the former Mario’s restaurant in North Royalton into a stylish American grill. Fire 45 Grille + Social features a small but diverse menu with starters like oysters Rockefeller, roasted bone marrow and crabcakes, in-between plates such as wedge and Caesar salads and a gruyere-topped French onion soup, and entrees like grilled strip steak, Rockefeller-style salmon and a half dozen pizzas. Credit: Courtesy Fire 45

Watami Sushi 7426 Broadview Rd, Parma Instant gratification is the name of the game at Watami Sushi in Parma, billed as Ohio’s only conveyor-belt sushi restaurant. The dining room is small but efficiently arranged so that all the dishes pass within arm’s reach of every table, every diner. Items are color-coded, with green, yellow, pink, red and black dishes corresponding to the price. They start at $2.50 for vegetarian items like edamame, seaweed salad or an avocado roll and climb to $3.75 for raw nigiri like salmon, yellowtail and snapper or cooked items such as shrimp or eel nigiri or spider rolls. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Milk + Honey at Tower City Tower City Anisa Rrapaj opened Milk + Honey downtown in 2021. She also operates the Hive by Milk + Honey in the Limelight Building in Ohio City. This month, she opened a new Milk + Honey cafe at Tower City, in the space formerly occupied by Starbucks. On the menu are coffee and espresso drinks, chai drinks, specialty coffee drinks and fruit smoothies. To eat, there are breakfast bagel sandwiches, avocado toast and vegan chia pudding. At lunch, there are sandwiches starring chicken salad, turkey and even steak. Credit: Courtesy Milk + Honey

Quinn’s Kitchen and Bar 25517 Eaton Way, Bay Village For nearly two decades, the Greenisland Restaurant was the place to go in Bay Village to enjoy hearty Irish fare in a convivial setting. Now the space is home to Quinn’s Kitchen and Bar, an upscale American bistro. Owner Quinn Goehring grew up working in his parents’ restaurants, which include Wood Fired Oven, 3 Brothers Corner Tavern and Table Six Kitchen + Bar. Credit: Google Maps

Fiyah Korean BBQ and Hot Pot 1253 E 55th St, Cleveland For nearly three years, diners have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Fiyah, a contemporary Korean barbecue restaurant in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood. Now open, Fiyah features two dozen booths featuring built-in gas grills, allowing groups to enjoy the interactive art of tabletop grilling. The bar is equipped with built-in induction burners that, along with tabletop stoves, fuel the Asian hot pot meals. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Au Jus 5875 Broadview Rd Unit B, Parma Wedged between a Marco’s Pizza and a nail salon in a dinky Parma strip, Au Jus flies through 100 to 150 pounds of slow-roasted top round beef per day and about 12 gallons of au jus, which is made from the drippings. The small, mainly carry-out shop has quickly become Cleveland’s favorite source for Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches. Credit: Doug Trattner

Zina Greek Street Food 13898 Cedar Rd, University Heights Demetrios Atheneos, who operates the popular Chicken Ranch, has opened Zina Greek Street Food in a shop a few doors down from that University Heights restaurant. Zina offers “good, clean Greek street foods,” says the chef. A concise menu of staples like lamb sliders, gyros, chicken and pork souvlaki, spanakopita and loukoumades (Greek donuts) will be joined by daily or weekly specials like pastitsio and moussaka. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Phoenix Coffee, Lakewood 12501 Madison Ave., Lakewood Phoenix Coffee has made its long-awaited return to Lakewood — the city where it all began. Phoenix opened its first cafe in Lakewood in 1991. That shop lasted nearly 20 years before changing hands. Now, after 13 years, Ohio’s only employee-owned cooperative coffee company is back in Birdtown. The new cafe is located in the former Bi-Rite property, a 100-year-old building that is being redeveloped into “The Nest” by Forest City Shuffleboard owner Jim Miketo. Credit: Google Maps

Arthur Treacher’s 12585 Rockside Rd, Garfield Heights When Ben Vittoria closed his Arthur Treacher’s restaurant in Garfield Heights, it reduced the number of surviving locations of the chain that once had more than 820 of them to one, the Cuyahoga Falls store that he also owns. Fortunately George Simon, who bought the property, decided to revive the brand. Like the location in Cuyahoga Falls, the Garfield Heights store serves the same time-honored recipes and products that we have come to know and love from the iconic brand, which started in Columbus in 1969. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Lake Erie Scoops 6604 Detroit Ave, Cleveland Jennifer Taggart worked off and on at Sweet Moses for nearly a decade. When that shop closed in 2021 after 10 years in business, Taggart started planning her own ice cream shop. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when she took over the former Big Momma’s Burritos space in Gordon Square. In February she opened Lake Erie Scoops, a grab-and-go sweets shop specializing in premium ice cream, pie and other fun surprises. Credit: Courtesy Jennifer Taggart

1899 Golf and Social Club 20040 Van Aken Blvd, Shaker Heights After experiencing high-quality indoor golf facilities in New York, Brian Lindenbaum and John-Michael Speelman opened 1899 Indoor Golf in Canton. A year later, the pair opened a larger facility in Twinsburg. They followed that with 1899 Golf and Social Club, their most ambitious project to date. Located in the former Vogue Theater space in Shaker, the 17,000-square-foot entertainment complex features nine golf simulator bays, a full-service restaurant, two cocktail bars and a stage for live entertainment. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery, Ohio City 4010 Lorain Ave, Cleveland After six successful years in Lyndhurst, Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery has expanded to Ohio City. Owners Dustin and Paloma Goldberg spared no expense on the design and buildout of their new shop, which is trimmed in white marble, brass and glass. You can find it at 41 West, a mixed-use development at the corner of Lorain Avenue and W. 41st St. Credit: Photo by Doug Trattner

Taza 19310 Detroit Rd, Rocky River Taza, the Lebanese restaurant with locations downtown and at Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere, has opened a new store in Rocky River. This third location opened in February, replacing, coincidentally enough, another Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant called Al Pita. Credit: Courtesy Taza

Dunlap’s Corner Bar 3258 W 32nd St, Cleveland Nick White and Jason Mattern grabbed the reins of Dunlap’s Country Corner, a neighborhood tavern in Clark-Fulton. The partners made some repairs and improvements, being careful to preserve and respect the classic tavern vibe. They refinished the mahogany bar, added a brass rail, built a new back bar, installed a draft beer system and serviced the pool table. New events and happy hours keep the joint active all week. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Winking Lizard Downtown 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland The Lizard opened its new downtown location in February in the AECOM building. The restaurant recently unveiled an expanded patio that benefits greatly from a southern exposure on St. Clair as opposed to the former “wind tunnel” over on East 9th. Winking Lizard closed its Galleria location last year and its Gateway District location in August of 2021. Credit: Courtesy Winking Lizard

CHA at Tinnerman 2054 Fulton Rd, Cleveland For this latest incarnation of CHA, Susan Walters has chosen a former VFW in Ohio City. The restored Victorian on Fulton Road shares a beautiful courtyard with the Tinnerman Lofts, one that includes a wood-burning oven, gardens and bocce ball courts. Credit: Courtesy CHA

Pho Sunshine 2999 Payne Ave #142, Cleveland At the tail end of last year, Cleveland diners lost a gem named Szechuan Café. The large space at Asia Plaza did not sit idle for long. Pho Sunshine Vietnamese Restaurant opened its doors in February. Diners can expect a large menu of familiar and not-so-familiar Vietnamese dishes that range from crispy spring rolls to a Vietnamese beef stew served with French bread. Credit: Pho Sunshine

Six Shooter Coffee, Old Brooklyn 4193 Pearl Rd, Cleveland After a great five-year run, Coffee Coffee Coffee closed its doors in Old Brooklyn. But it didn’t take long for another operator to swoop in and take possession of the space. That was Peter Brown of Six Shooter Coffee, who says that he was eager to take over and made quick work of the turnaround: The shop is now open for business. Credit: Six Shooter IG

Hecks Beachwood 3355 Richmond Rd, Beachwood Back in the late-`70s and early-`80s, Hecks operated taverns on both sides of the Cuyahoga River. In addition to the original Ohio City location, which celebrated its 50th birthday last year, the iconic Cleveland brand had a restaurant at Eton mall in Woodmere. Now, after nearly 40 years, Hecks has returned to the east side. Owner Fadi Daoud has been working since this past summer to transform the former Blu (and Moxie) space into a warm and woodsy American restaurant. Credit: Photo by Doug Trattner

Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ 20314 Chagrin Blvd, Shaker Heights Like his Miami restaurant, Mendel’s Backyard BBQ, Mendel Segal is proving that kosher and barbecue can indeed coexist. Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ opened its doors in Shaker Heights, across Chagrin Boulevard from Van Aken District. The 80-seat restaurant is full-service, but family-friendly. And with items like brisket, smoked pastrami, giant beef ribs, beef back ribs, smoked veal brisket, lamb ribs, smoked turkey, burnt ends and smoked chicken, few diners will miss the pork. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Boom’s Pizza 14370 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Ben Bebenroth and Jonathan Bennett, both of Spice Hospitality Group, have opened Boom’s Pizza in Lakewood. The snazzy corner shop is a pleasant merger between a casual sit-down and pick-up operation, with a comfortable dining room that rewards dine-in customers. Guests order, pay and grab their beverages from self-serve coolers filled with beer, wine by the can, split and bottle and soft drinks. Boom’s will be opening a second location sometime in 2024, taking over the former space of Michael’s Genuine in the Van Aken District in Shaker Heights. Credit: Agape Photography

Solstice Roasters Cafe 1101 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland It’s been more than two years since Joe Deinhart of Solstice Roasters announced his plans to open a new roastery and café in the former Peterson Nut Co. space in the Gateway District. At long last, that café has opened. The café has seating for about 20 in a setting that offers a view of the roasting process. In addition to sales and sipping, the space will be used for tastings, barista training and home-enthusiast roasting classes. Credit: Solstice Roasters

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 offers more in terms of food, beverage and setting. The fast-casual operation features 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. The prominent Vincenza’s space has been artfully redesigned into an `80s-themed pizzeria where fun, nostalgia and efficiency are the names of the game. A 25-seat sidewalk patio features a turf base and lawn chairs. Credit: Photo by Doug Trattner

Wolf Pack Chorus 2175 Cornell Rd., Cleveland From the name to the space to the food and the people who prepare it, everything about Wolf Pack Chorus is over the top. Here, the personalities are big enough to fill the cavernous carriage house-turned restaurant, which enjoys soaring cathedral ceilings, a mile-long bar and wall of windows overlooking University Circle. Restaurants in this part of Little Italy have always seemed to enjoy a sense of freedom and autonomy that their comrades on Mayfield have not. Places like Baricelli Inn, Washington Place Bistro and Club Isabella were never condemned for eschewing spaghetti and meatballs, veal piccata and chicken parm in favor of more continental offerings. So if chef-owner Chris Wolf wants to serve Nashville-style duck confit, he can damn well do as he pleases. Credit: Photo by Doug Trattner

Duke’s ‘n Boots 4027 Erie St., Willoughby Dukes `n Boots, chef Dante Boccuzzi’s first foray to the east side, welcomed its first guests in the heart of Willoughby on Erie Street in May. The Southern-styled saloon elevates the honky-tonk vibe thanks to warm wood, exposed brick and a menu designed by a Michelin-starred chef. Heading up the kitchen is chef Emily Campion, who has been working at Ginko and Dante for the past year. She takes the reins with an eye on quality, consistency and creativity. Don’t miss the 60-seat outdoor patio, perfect for summer dining and drinking. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Tutto Carne 2181 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland The red-brick corner property in Little Italy that has been home to a handful of restaurants over the years including Salvatore’s, Tutto Giorno, Il Bacio and Nora welcomed a new operation in May with Tutto Carne. The Italian-themed steakhouse is operated by Zachary Ladner and Carl Quagliata, the chef-owners behind Giovanni’s, Smokin’ Q’s BBQ, Paloma and The Village Butcher. At the 45-seat bistro, guests will be encouraged to linger thanks to posh and plush velvet-wrapped chairs to dine on steaks, chops, seafood and classic pasta dishes. Credit: Douglas Trattner

Ice or Rice 3713 Payne Ave., Cleveland Ice or Rice Cafe has been in the works for years when you consider the pop-ups and events that owners Brian Ng and Rachel He have hosted in the past. Ice or Rice was a regular vendor at events such as the Asian Festival and night markets, where their Japanese shaved ice dessert was always in demand. At the cafe, diners can start with appetizers like edamame, seaweed salad, tempura shrimp and chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken). Onigiri, triangular seaweed-wrapped rice balls, come lightly filled with tuna, salmon or sweet pork floss. Credit: Ice or Rice

Fahrenheit 55 Public Square., Cleveland Rocco Whalen relocated his 20-year-old Tremont hotspot Fahrenheit to the long-dormant John Q’s Steakhouse spot on Public Square.The 8,000-square-foot main floor and 4,300-square-foot second level with rooftop seating has quickly become one of the hottest meal tickets in town. Apart from the name, some key players and a handful of menu items, Fahrenheit Downtown shares few similarities with the original bistro that helped keep Tremont’s dining scene aloft since 2002. The dishes that did make the move seem spiffier, prepared and plated at a higher level. In many ways, Fahrenheit feels like the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for Whalen: a tribute for a job well done for nearly 30 years. Not many local chefs have the star power required to lure diners to an expensive restaurant in the heart of downtown. But Whalen has always drawn big crowds thanks to his outsized personality, eclectic and approachable foods, and knack for treating everybody like a VIP, from high-powered sports celebs to young couples. Credit: Doug Trattner

Paloma 20041 Walker Rd., Shaker Heights One of the last remaining marquee restaurant spaces at Van Aken District was snagged by the team behind Giovanni’s and Smokin’ Q’s BBQ. From partners Zachary Ladner and Carl Quagliata of Giovanni’s and the Village Butcher, Paloma is a taco-focused modern-Mexican restaurant that is a bit more elevated than what’s typically offered. Cleveland has been deluged by taquerias of every shape, size and persuasion. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more, especially when it outshines many of its contemporaries.

Lao Sze Chuan Pinecrest, Orange Village Lao Sze Chuan opened in Chicago’s Chinatown in 1998, where it made a big splash thanks to its stellar Sichuan cuisine. Aside from the dozen or so locations of Lao Sze Chuan in Greater Chicago, there are only four out-of-state locations of the iconic brand. This summer, that number climbed to five thanks to local operator Sheng Long Yu, who opened a location at Pinecrest. Diners familiar with the Chicago-based restaurant can expect a similar menu featuring traditional and elevated Szechuan food and a stylish interior. Yu is behind many local establishments including Shinto Japanese Steakhouse in Strongsville and Westlake, Kenko Sushi in University Circle and Kent, Dagu Rice Noodle in Asiatown, Ipoke near the Cleveland Clinic and Hell’s Fried Chicken in University Circle. He is also the force behind a new Asian food hall taking shape in Asiatown.

La Playa 6410 Detroit Ave., Cleveland Since 2018, Rafael Ayala has welcomed Mexican food fans into his popular Gordon Square restaurant Blue Habanero (6416 Detroit Ave.). His new concept, La Playa, opened next door this summer. Ayala spent 6 months converting the former Boiler 65 space into a colorful marisquería ripped from the beaches of sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Ayala, who is from Jalisco and spends a lot of time in the surf towns of that state, says that he has been kicking around the idea of importing his favorite cuisine. The seafood-heavy menu offers Mexican beach staples like ceviche, seafood cocktails, aguachile, steamed shrimp, grilled fish, fried fish and seafood molcajetes. There’s also plenty of beer, vibrantly hued drinks, fun tiki-style beverages and mezcal-fueled cocktails. A DJ inspires a chill vibe that makes the fun extend out to the large patio. Credit: Doug Trattner

Tita Flora’s 6531 Brecksville Rd., Independence When it comes to cuisines that are sorely lacking in Cleveland, Filipino is at the very top of the list. The melting-pot cuisine of the Philippines continues to climb in popularity around the nation, but locally the options are limited to a couple carry-out-only places such as Mely’s Kainan and Nipa Hut Oriental Market. Thanks to Flora Grk, Greater Cleveland diners can now enjoy Filipino foods in a full-service, dine-in setting. For newbies, Tita Flora’s is a great place to go to explore Filipino food. For Filipino-Americans, Tito Flora’s is a great place to go to get out of cooking dinner, with the classics all being done to perfection here.

Tripi 3928 Lorain Ave., Cleveland In June, chef Anthony Zappola opened the doors to Tripi, an Italian American deli and market in Ohio City. chef Anthony Zappola will open the doors to Tripi, an Italian American deli and market in Ohio City. Customers can expect high-quality chef-driven foods delivered in a swift, efficient manner, just as Zappola does at Lox, Stock and Brisket, the Rice Shop and Le Stand, all at the Van Aken District Market Hall. In addition to a retail space, there’s a deli counter where the core menu consists of salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and ready-to-serve hot entrees, all prepared throughout the day with quality ingredients. Sandwiches like the sausage and peppers, chicken parm with mozzarella and tomato sauce, meatball sub, and hoagie packed with salami, soppressata, capicola, provolone and tomato arrive on fresh-baked Italian rolls. Other options include rigatoni and sauce topped with a choice of meatballs, sausage or chicken cutlet, pepperoni rolls and sauce, and square-cut Sicilian pizza available by the slice, half sheet or full sheet. Credit: Doug Trattner

Amazonia 1640 Hopkins Ave., Lakewood From the team behind the successful Barroco and Hola Tacos, Amazonia is a cocktail bar right next to the Lakewood location of Hola Tacos. As the name suggests, the bar takes some design, food and beverage cues from the Vergaras’ native South America. All told, the property seats about 60 in two distinct spaces. Expect creative craft cocktails that’ll keep you coming back for more and a small menu reminiscent of the flavors we’re used to from their other establishments, albeit in a more cocktail bar setting.

Patron Saint 2915 Detroit Ave., Cleveland Open only since early June, Patron Saint feels like it’s been an essential part of this community for years. Owner Marie Artale tapped chef David Kocab to craft a farm-to-table regional Italian menu that leans light, wholesome, seasonal and satisfying. Patron Saint is the kind of place where “a quick glass of wine” can cascade into a tipsy two-hour feast. As an all-day café, Patron Saint transitions from early morning coffee service through early evening aperitivo hour. The 50-seat café boasts a window counter with lake views, comfortable banquettes, a standing rail, and bar seating. While not a traditional restaurant, Patron Saint’s all-day menu offers enough variety and heft to cobble together a lovely meal. Credit: Tiffany Joy Photography

Nighttown 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights After four long years, Cleveland Heights staple Nighttown finally reopened in late 2023. New operator Gregg Levy of Red Restaurant Group was eager to show off the fruits of a very difficult and protracted construction process. On the surface, the nearly 60-year-old restaurant looks pretty much the same, but everything has been rebuilt, refurbished and/or replaced. From a completely new kitchen, executive chef Rowan Murray presents a menu that blends some Nighttown classics with modern-American dishes. Gone is the multi-page tome that greeted former diners, replaced by a trimmed down menu that focuses on seasonality and freshness. A smaller bar menu keeps patrons fed late into the night, a nod to Nighttown’s dedication to after-hours dining. A key to Nighttown’s original success, live music will be welcomed back in the near future. Credit: Doug Trattner

Sushi 86 and Bites 1050 E. 9th St., Cleveland Sushi 86, which operated in the 5th Street Arcades for over a decade, moved to its new location at the Harbor Verandas this fall with an expanded menu. Sushi 86 and Bites joins Nuevo Modern Mexican in serving a tourist-heavy clientele on the way to or from places like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center and Voinovich Bicentennial Park.At breakfast and lunch, Bites offers StoneFruit coffee, pastries, quiche, frittata, breakfast sandwiches, salads, Cubanos, grilled chicken sandwiches and ice cream. Next door, Sushi 86 seats approximately 60 people spread across the dining room, lounge and sushi bar. Next year that number will climb when Hsu adds patio seating. Guests can look forward to a newly expanded menu of sushi, sashimi, rolls and poke bowls. Credit: Doug Trattner

Poppy 12502 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland Fifteen years ago, Felice opened in a warm and woodsy Craftsman-style home on Larchmere Boulevard. Last month, Poppy opened in that same turn-of-the-century property. Now in the hands of Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison of Salt, the attractive restaurant seats 75 in the main and second floor dining rooms. The menu is divided into categories for vegetables, fish and meat, with plates growing in size within those categories as well as across the page. Credit: Lizzie Schlafer

Midnight Owl 20312 Shaker Rd., Shaker Heights It’s been a couple years since Joel Warger and Rosemary Mudry set out on their journey to open a craft brewery. In October, the couple opened the first traditional brewery in Shaker Heights. The team has reshaped the former Lucy’s Sweet Surrender space across the street from the Van Aken District into a bright, colorful and welcoming brewpub. A large section of the main floor was removed to provide sightlines to the 10-barrel brewhouse and row of fermenters, which ascend from the lower lever. Midnight Owl will launch with six house beers and grow to a steady roster of eight, with a few guest pours added into the mix. Warger, who cut his chops at Great Lakes Brewing for 14 years before moving over to Goldhorn Brewery, is starting with an assortment of quicker-brewing ales, but will be rolling out lagers down the road. A fully equipped kitchen offers guests an approachable selection of pub classics like warm soft pretzels served with beer cheese and mustard, beer-battered onion rings, soups and salads, and a trio of smash burgers. Credit: Doug Trattner

Green Ktichen 3182 W. 25th St.., Cleveland In his time as chef at the Little Rose Tavern in West Park, John Hagerty turned the neighborhood bar into a destination for vegan food fans. Dubbed the Green Kitchen at Little Rose, Hagerty’s plant-based menu redefined for a lot of diners what vegan foods can look and taste like.. After a little more than two years in residency, Hagerty left the tavern in order to launch his own eatery. In November, Hagerty opened the Green Kitchen in Clark-Fulton, about a half-mile south of Porco Lounge. The move comes as that neighborhood is seeing historic residential development and vegan cooking is reaching its prime in Northeast Ohio. The menu will be similar to the one he offered in West Park, but “freshened up,” with less bar food and more healthy options. The only commercial meat-substitute he uses is Impossible for the smash burgers – everything else on the vegan menu is made in house. Credit: @The_Green_Kitchen/Instagram

Sweet Pork Wilson’s 11634 Madison Ave., Cleveland After graduating from St. Ignatius, Jason Brooks went on to play college football at University of Michigan and West Virginia University, where tailgating is a way of life. When he wasn’t on the gridiron, he was cooking for large crowds and honing his skills. His barbecue restaurant, Sweet Pork Wilson’s, opened recently on the border of Lakewood and Cleveland, where his team gutted and rebuilt the former Highland Tavern at the corner of Madison and 117th, which is located across the street from the RTA station. Coming off his wood-fueled pits are barbecue staples like beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs and chicken wings. In addition to the classic BBQ platters, Brooks offers Polish Boys, Polish Girls and chicken cheesesteaks made with smoked chicken thighs, peppers and onions. Credit: Doug Trattner

Doinks Burger Bar 15519 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland Three and a half years after the first Doinks smash burger landed on the griddle in owner Bonn Rassavong’s garage, the restaurant opened on Waterloo this summer. For the past seven months, Rassavong and Brown have been converting a long-vacant storefront a few spots down from Six Shooter Coffee, also owned by Brown, into a burger bar with a modern diner feel. The menu is a straightforward mix of burgers, sides, drinks and one dessert. The original Doinks burger is a double smash cheeseburger with shredded lettuce, pickles, sauteed onions and special sauce on a Stone Oven brioche bun. Other burgers include a kimchi burger and a banh mi burger topped with pickled veggies, jalapenos, fresh herbs and spicy sauce. Credit: Bonn Rassavong

Brassica 30070 Detroit Rd. With its sixth location and second in Northeast Ohio, Brassica’s Westlake outpost debuted in the last weeks of 2023. The fast-casual Middle Eastern concept born in Columbus lets diners build bowls with a base of hummus, greens or a fresh-baked pita. Those are topped or filled with a choice of falafel, braised Niman Ranch brisket or roasted chicken and a large selection of vegetables and sauces. To drink, there’s a short but high-quality list of wines by the glass and bottle, regional craft beers, cold-pressed juices and cold-brewed coffee. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Edacious Kitchen + Bar 33541 Lake Rd., Avon Lake Chef Andrew Gorski, formerly of Parker’s Downtown, opened Edacious Kitchen + Bar in his hometown of Avon Lake in August. When Dennis and Andrea Luke decided to close their five-year-old restaurant The Caslon, Gorski jumped at the chance to take over the property. When Dennis and Andrea Luke decided to close their five-year-old restaurant The Caslon, Gorski jumped at the chance to take over the property. The elevated neighborhood tavern, described by Gorski as “American rustic” seats 45 in the bar and dining room and another 34 outside on a newly added patio.

Battr 2135 Columbus 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.

Choolah, Westlake 2207 Crocker Rd., Westlake When it opened on Friday, December 15t, Choolah became the seventh store for the Cleveland-based company. Taking everything they have learned since opening the Orange Village store in 2014, the owners continue tweaking, refining and improving the entire guest experience. Choolaah’s commitment to preparing fresh, contemporary Indian food onsite has not. Wholesome ingredients like chicken, lamb, salmon and paneer are seasoned with proprietary spice blends and cooked in tandoor ovens in open kitchens. Fresh-baked naan wraps are filled with tandoori chicken, roast lamb, paneer, or vegan chickpea masala. The menu also offers bowls and street food like samosa chaat and pav bhaji. Credit: Doug Trattner

Red Lantern Japanese Cuisine 17446 Lorain Ave., Cleveland The Red Lantern restaurant in West Park refuses to expire. The original Red Lantern enjoyed a remarkable 30-year run until it closed its doors in 2012. That classic eatery was revived in 2014 by Cory Rowland, who opened Red Lantern Kitchen and Bar in the same shotgun space at Kamm’s Plaza. Red Lantern remained a fixture in the neighborhood until the pandemic dimmed its lights in 2020. But like Lazarus of Bethany, the Red Lantern has come back to life, this time as Red Lantern Japanese Cuisine. The new owners did not have to travel far for the opportunity. They also operate Dragon Towers, a traditional Chinese restaurant in the same plaza that has served the community since 1984. For their latest venture they have unveiled a menu of Japanese dishes that include raw and cooked sushi, sashimi, sushi rolls, hibachi plates, ramen bowls and bento boxes.

Cravings Thai Cuisine 19900 Detroit Rd., Rocky River Back in May, the Rocky River business was forced to close after it was announced that the property was going to be razed. . Cravings had been serving its community for 20 years, 13 at its last location. A new chapter began in September, when owner Tibby Pansing opened just a half mile away from the previous location. Pansing has debuted with a menu loaded with Thai classics and longtime favorites.

The City Diner 5109 Memphis Ave., Cleveland Back in 2017, Old Brooklyn residents were thrilled to see the long-dormant Expressway Diner under new, capable management. Edward Michalski brought the stainless steel diner out of retirement and back into the limelight, where it remained until the pandemic dimmed its lights once again. But earlier this year, the City Diner reopened once again, giving local residents a new place to meet and eat. The place looks better than ever, the service is swift and courteous, and the food is delicious. Credit: Doug Trattner

The Judith 5222 Lorain Ave, Cleveland Jennie Doran and Andrew Worm, owners of Room Service, have opened The Judith, a French-inspired café. The 125-year-old building in Ohio City, formerly home to Guide to Kulchur bookstore, has been transformed into a charming 28-seat European-style café. In the morning, coffee and tea is served alongside breakfast pastries and open-face sandwiches. Lunches usher in fresh salads, shareable small plates, baguette sandwiches and desserts. When the wine, beer and cocktails are added in the coming months, the café will roll through happy hour and into the evening. Credit: Daniel Lozada

Crepes ‘n’ Crisps 9751 Chester Ave., Cleveland Mohamed Sadek, who has run the popular Urban Kitchen (9751 Chester Ave.,) in the Upper Chester district for six years, branched out when he pened Crepes ‘n’ Crisps, a fast-casual shop specializing in Belgian street foods. The location is just steps away from Urban Kitchen, in the space formerly home to iPoke.The star of the show would have to be the fries, a choice of four different varieties that get topped and sauced to one’s heart’s content. Guests choose between traditional thick-cut, skin-on Belgian style, extra-crispy American-style, sweet potato waffle fries and spiral-sliced “tornado” spuds. The fries are cooked not in peanut oil or lard or vegetable oil but good old-fashioned beef tallow. There’s also traditional Leige waffles, which can be enjoyed in a multitude of sweet or savory ways, and the same goes for crepes.

Heritage Steak and Whiskey 28869 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Yes, it took Michael Symon’s partner Doug Petkovic approximately two years to get to this point, but the wait was more than worth it. Heritage Steak & Whiskey opened in late November, taking the former Fleming’s spot at the ritzy Eton Collection, and the restaurant quickly earned a spot amongst Northeast Ohio’s most highly regarded steakhouses. A bustling open kitchen prepares elevated steakhouse fare, the star of which are the wood-grilled steaks and chops. Guests can look forward to a mix of cuts, grades and purveyors, with a starting lineup that includes a filet, hangar, strip, bone-in rigonter-cut ribeye and spinalis, aka the ribeye cap, aka the best part of the best steak.Executive chef Jeff Gable has created a menu that doesn’t skimp on the non-steak items. There is a double-bone heritage-breed pork chop, duck confit, Dover sole, salmon roulade, linguini with clams, and a burger topped with pork belly. Same goes for the sides, which are close to a classic steakhouse, but the preparations will be chef-driven and creative. Credit: Richardson Design

Pearl Street Wine Market and Cafe 2523 Market Ave., Cleveland In 2022, 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 combines 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 are larger entrees featuring proteins, pasta, grains and seasonal produce. A rotating selection of wines by the glass, beer and classic cocktails are also available. While we’ll always miss Flying Fig, the newer version is fulfilling the space in our heart left by it. Credit: Joe Szabo

Danny’s on Professor Rd., Cleveland In advance of a move to the former Nick’s Diner property in Ohio City, Proof Bar-BQ in Tremont was put to bed last year. With newfound space on their hands, partners Michael Griffin and Dave Ferrante began considering options for lower-level space, which sits beneath Crust and Visible Voice Books. They settled upon a late-night watering hole helmed by longtime bartender Danny Grim, which became Danny’s, which will have a small kitchen for late night noshers like bacon-wrapped mini hotdogs, loaded nachos and of course pizza from Crust. Credit: Doug Trattner

Gio’s Pastaria 3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights Scorpacciata Pasta departed the Van Aken District in October, which will be followed by their pizza spot leaving at the end of the year. Stepping in to activate the two stalls vacated is chef Zachary Ladner, who along with partner Carl Quagliata operates Paloma at Van Aken, Tutto Carne in Little Italy, Smokin Q’s BBQin Mayfield and the nearly 50-year-old Giovanni’s in Beachwood. Ladner and team converted the pasta space to one of their own, called Gio’s Pastaria, a pasta-centric concept featuring all housemade pastas. When Scorpacciata Pizza closes, it will make way for Haute Doughnuts, which will offer a large selection of fresh-fried, yeast-raised doughnuts (that just happen to be vegan), but also many that are filled or topped with non-vegan items.

Village Dog 7321 Broadway Ave., Cleveland The Village Dog, located in the former Burger Haven building in Slavic Village, opened in late summer. The drive-thru only joint offers a variety of hot dog preparations like Chicago-style, chili-cheese, Rueben dogs and Polish Boys. Customers can also build their own from a selection of toppings. There are vegan dogs and chicken tenders as well. Sides include tater tots, chili-cheese tots, onion rings and fried mac and cheese. For dessert, there is soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes. Credit: Ed McDonald

Retro Burger 17800 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls Since opening in 2021, Pizzeria DiLauro in Bainbridge has grown from a friendly neighborhood pizza shop to a multi-concept destination that has people lining up for a taste of whatever the Adam and Tiffany DiLauro are selling. The Pizza that Adam and his team are making is some of the best in town. In November, the pair opened Retro Burger, a quick service burger and fries restaurant, in an adjacent space. No surprise, they strived for excellence and succeeded.

The Revival Room 200 N. Main St., Hudson When Peachtree Southern Kitchen in downtown Hudson closed back in 2018, Gretchen Erb of Oak and Embers Tavern snatched it up immediately. After five years, Erb unveiled The Revival Room, a cocktail bar with a light menu. Unlike the meaty portions dished up at Oak and Embers in Hudson and Chesterland (Pinecrest closed last year), Revival offers a trim menu of snacks and small plates designed to pair with the drinks. Chef Michael Suriano has crafted an eclectic menu that offers starters like pickled Scotch eggs, spanakopita, cauliflower tots, housemade jojos and a couple salads. Larger plates include a smash burger served on naan, duck confit potpie and a vegan spaghetti and meatballs made with spaghetti squash and Impossible meat.

Luna Bakery and Cafe, Downtown 1468 W. Ninth St., Cleveland Owner Bridget Thibeault opened the third iteration of Luna this summer, when she opened a café on the ground floor of the Western Reserve Building downtown.This newest location for Luna Bakery and Café, which launched in Cleveland Heights a dozen years ago and added a Moreland Hills café in 2018, will offer made-from-scratch options that run the gamut from sweet treats to sandwiches, salads and healthy bowls, just like the other two locations. Since opening in 2012, Luna has evolved from a bakery to a full-fledged café and become one of the most popular lunch spots in town.

Abundance Culinary 1975 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights For the past year, chef Liu Fang and Carl Setzer have made themselves known around town. What began as occasional pop-ups selling buns, dumplings and noodles under the name Abundance Culinary advanced to weekly two-day residencies at Larder in Ohio City. At those events, and others across town at Rising Star in Cleveland Heights, the pair cultivated a passionate, dedicated following for Fang’s elevated Chinese cooking. The chef leans into our region’s bounty to craft modern interpretations of classic Chinese dishes. Diners on both sides of town have grown fond of items like Chinese sausage-filled dumplings, dry-fried green beans, Shanghai scallion noodles, honey ma wings and Huainan brisket ramen.The pair opened their own permanent space at the old diners on Lee Road this August and hopefully will be there for a long time to come.

Cent’ Anni 12403 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland A long-simmering project in Little Italy finally opened in late 2023. Cent’ Anni, a posh little cocktail bar that has been in the works for some time, opened in late November. Located in the rear of the building immediately west of Valerio’s, the speakeasy-style lounge is a celebration of all things Italian. Cent’ Anni focuses on all things amaro, those quintessential Italian liqueurs that form the backbone of apéritifs and digestifs. Those beverages are joined by a roster of Italian beer, wine and soda. To pair with the drinks, there’s a menu of snacks and small plates with items such as bread and butter, cheese boards, charcuterie and tinned fish with accompaniments. When the weather warms up next year, owner Valerio Lorio will fire up the wood-burning pizza oven in the repurposed garage.

Crumb and Spigot, Lakewood 15322 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Crumb and Spigot owner Jamy Bolling announced his plans to open a west-side location of his popular Bainbridge restaurant earlier in 2023. That came to fruition in October, where diners can look forward to the same menu of wood-burning pizzas and approachable tavern fare as at the original location. Set in a former Verizon space, the new location is a little larger than the original, but not by much.

Restaurante Guanquitas 5107 Detroit Ave., Cleveland The former Big Egg spot is vacant no longer as Blanca Hernandez, owner of the four-year-old Pupuseria y Antojitos Guanaquitas restaurant in Clark-Fulton, opened Guanaquitas in April. Unlike Pupuseria y Antojitos Guanaquitas, which serves strictly Salvadoran foods like tortas, tacos, pupusas and carne asada, this latest restaurant — called simply Guanaquitas — offers a blend of traditional Salvadoran and Spanish items alongside American diner-style foods. Also new to this location is a liquor license, which will permit diners to pair a cold beer or margarita with their food.

La Cave Du Vin 710 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland La Cave Du Vin, a Cleveland Heights mainstay for 23 years, was resurrected in a new location in early December, taking over the old Spotted Owl spot in Tremont. The venerated subterranean wine bar closed in 2018, with pioneering beer and wine guru Erich Lasher at the helm. Will Hollingsworth, a longtime fan of that Coventry watering hole, proposed the project to Lasher, who was enthusiastic from the start. Hollingsworth’s Buildings and Food restaurant group also owns and operates Prosperity Social Club, Old 86 and Good Company, along with an Akron location of The Spotted Owl. The wine bar is very much in the same spirit as the original Coventry location.

Salted Dough 12308 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Campus Pollyeyes, the “world-famous” stuffed breadstick restaurant founded in Bowling Green, closed its Little Italy location in July after four months. But, as they say, one man’s loss is another man’s gain. In this case, the man in the plus column is Jeff Fisher, who made a name for himself at Touch Supper Club and Crust. In 2019, Fisher opened Salted Dough (9174 Broadview Rd.) in Broadview Heights and has been doing brisk business ever since. Like his four-year-old flagship, the Little Italy Salted Dough, which opened in late December, offers Fisher’s excellent pizza, but also a broader menu of American and Italian selections. Credit: Provided

Black Market Meats 15613 Detroit Ave., Cleveland Chef Todd Kronika, the chef behind Cloak and Dagger, opened an all-vegan deli concept in Lakewood in October. Guests can look forward to a grab-and-go menu with a few counter stools, and a roster of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees. Kronika crafts pretty much everything in the kitchen, including the vegan deli meats, cheeses and condiments. He uses techniques like brining, pickling and smoking to boost the flavor and texture of fruits and vegetables. Credit: @BlackMarketMeats/Instagram

Irie Jamaican Kitchen 16600 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights This fourth location of Omar McKay’s Jamaican restaurant, which opens on June 1st, joins the original on the border of N. Collinwood (621 East 185th St., 216-350-6112) and others in Old Brooklyn (4162 Pearl Rd.) and in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood (837 W. Market St.). The fast-casual eatery in Shaker will be grab-and-go with a handful of seats. Diners can look forward to a delicious selection of jerk chicken, curry chicken, curry shrimp, braised oxtails and vegetarian options dished up in bowls, wraps or traditional style with warm cabbage, rice and peas, and plantains. New for this summer is jerk butter shrimp. Also new for this season is an Irie Jamaican food truck, which will soon be available for parties, events and food truck meet-ups. Not one to sit still, McKay already has his eyes on location #5, which will open in Lakewood this summer. Credit: Scene Archives

Roaming Biscuit 1418 West 29th St., Cleveland Located in the former home of Bigmouth Donuts between the Beet Jar and Jukebox, the popular breakfast establishment, which began as a ‘roaming biscuit’ pop-up, opened their flagship shop this summer. Unlike the Bake Shop and Café at Tyler Village complex (3615 Superior Ave.), which owner Shawnda Moye opened in 2021, the Ohio City shop sells only biscuit sandwiches and biscuit-based specials for breakfast and early lunch. In contrast, the Bake Shop at Tyler Village offers a menu of biscuits, pastries, and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. If you haven’t had these, you’re definitely in for a treat. Credit: Doug Trattner

Locos Street Tacos and Burritos 4760 W. 130th St., Cleveland Residents in the Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood have been watching the slow creation of Locos Street Tacos and Burritos for nearly three years. That’s how long it took to convert the former Frosty Dog ice cream shop into its present state as a colorful walk-up taco and ice cream eatery. Lines are a common sight here, where birria tacos are the house specialty. Filled with stewed chicken or beef, the tacos are griddled until crisp, melty and hot. Credit: Doug Trattner

Mooncat Boba Cafe 3460 West 25th St. Cleveland In early August, Chun Wong opened Mooncat Boba Café , a boba tea café located across the street from MetroHealth Hospital. Customers can select classic milk tea, fruit flavored tea or slushies. Those beverages are then topped with a choice of boba, jellies and popping boba. Mooncat also offers a concise menu of snacks and sides, including popcorn chicken made with white pepper and Chinese five spice. Also available are chicken rice bowls, musubi, fried dumplings, sugar biscuits, spring rolls, cheese sticks and waffle fries.

Lopez 506 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls Ponyboys in Chagrin Falls closed in October, making way for restaurateur Brad Friedlander, formerly of Moxie and Red, to purchase the business. Friedlanderd revived his legendary Mexican restaurant Lopez, which he opened in 1980 with partner Craig Sumers. The popular Cleveland Heights restaurant enjoyed an 18-year run before reopening a few years later as Lopez Bar and Grille down the road, with chef Michael Herschman at the helm. Lopez is as close to the original restaurant as possible, says Friedlander. Friedlander and his kitchen staff have dusted off the original recipe books from the early 1980s to craft the new, albeit pared down menu. Diners of a certain age will recall with fondness dishes like tacos al carbon starring grilled skirt steak, pork adobo, quesadillas (called sinconizadas), enchiladas, and smoked game hen with jalapeño mustard sauce. Credit: Christian Kalinyak

Tito’s Tacos 10102 Lorain Ave., Cleveland Tito’s Tacos is a Latin spot in the Cudell neighborhood with Guatemalan flavor. Open since late winter, the bright corner restaurant is bedecked with rows of colorful papeles picado, the intricately cut tissue-paper flags. The street tacos ($3-3.50) are lovely, filled with a choice of chicken, steak, al pastor, tripe, chorizo, cabeza and tongue. Each comes with a pair of small, warm and soft corn tortillas. The restaurant also offers a selection of pupusas and both Guatemalan and Salvadoran-style tamales, along with a variety of Latin American soups and many other items. Credit: Doug Trattner

Parilya 8155 Columbia Rd. Roger San Juan launched Parilya food truck in 2019. Dubbed “A Taste of the Philippines,” the truck has earned a large following by offering dishes like lumpia, pancit, chicken tocino, BBQ chicken and rice, grilled chicken skewers and other delicious items. And in the last stretch of 2023, they opened a brick and mortar spot in Olmsted Falls. The menu at the restaurant offers many of the same foods typically available from the food truck, along with some weekly or bi-weekly specials such as kare-kare and dinuguan. Credit: Provided

Solstice 14810 Detroit Ave., Lakewood The owners of popular Lakewood cocktail bar LBM took over Deagan’s this summer after a 13 year run.While the restaurant has been refreshed and reconceived, its owners hope to achieve the same goals as their predecessor. Chef Miess, also of LBM, has crafted an “adventurous, fun, but approachable” menu divided into categories of small plates, greens, big plates and sweets. Many are listed as being vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. Entrees include crab cakes, burgers on focaccia, ravioli with sage-cashew cream sauce, seared salmon with green harissa, cassoulet and pork chops. Like LBM, they also have 11 thoughtfully crafted cocktails on draft, in addition to 14 draft beers and three wines on tap. Credit: Natalie Renee Photography

Verbena 1434 West 29th St., Cleveland Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe opened this summer in Hingetown in the former Cleveland Tea Revival space, bringing a non-alcoholic bar, shop and cafe to Cleveland. What began as an itinerant pop-up offering non-alcoholic spirits, wine and beer is now a brick-and-mortar establishment in Ohio City. The 350-square-foot space is being described as “a shared workspace cafe meets neighborhood bar and bottle shop.” Verbena offers a selection of mocktails featuring popular brands, plus an assortment of coffees, teas and more and a small food menu featuring toasts, dips and other bar snacks.