Over the past year, the Cleveland dining scene has welcomed dozens of delightful new restaurants, from modest cafes on up to gorgeous fine-dining destinations. But 2023 is on pace to outshine its predecessor with scores of fresh options opening in the coming days, weeks and months. Here’s what’s on tap.

In the coming days, local soup shark Matthew Moore will open a new downtown Souper Market, joining locations in Lakewood, Kamm’s Corners and Midtown. This latest opening at the recently renovated Standard building coincides with the company’s 20th year in business. Credit: Matthew Moore
Balaton 8564 E. Washington St., Bainbridge This is the fourth location for Balaton since Therezia Olah launched the restaurant as a small takeout spot on Buckeye Road in the early 1960s. A few years later she graduated to a larger full-service restaurant farther up Buckeye Road. That restaurant thrived there from the mid-1960s until 1998, when the family relocated to Shaker Square. The addresses may have changed, but the dynamite comfort food has not. Stop by for the schnitzel and don’t miss the veal crepe. Credit: Scene Archives
Since launching Irie Jamaican Kitchen in 2017, Omar McKay has gone on to open locations in Old Brooklyn and in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood. Next up for the Jamaican-born chef is a spot at Chagrin and Lee in Shaker Heights, due to open in weeks. Credit: Courtesy Irie Jamaican
Luna Bakery and Café, with locations in Cleveland Heights and Moreland Hills, will add a downtown spot this spring. Located in the Western Reserve Building on West 9th, this latest expansion will focus on the breakfast and lunch crowds. Credit: @joecimperman
Earlier this year, Sofia Syed opened Roasted in Tremont with the aim of creating a community-minded coffee shop. The success of that café has spurred expansion, with a new Roasted in Lakewood set to open in the former Vibe space in two to three months. Credit: Brianna Schillero Photography
After an 18-year run, A. Brendan Walton shuttered his popular Gateway District spot A.J. Rocco’s. When it reawakens in the coming months, it will do so next door in the former Huron Point Tavern/Alesci’s building, which has undergone a major renovation. Credit: Facebook
Way back in 2020, Joe Deinhart of Solstice Roasters announced his plans to open a new roastery and café in the former Peterson Nut Co. space just steps from Progressive Field. At long last, Deinhart is nearing completion of the 20-seat café, with an eye to opening his doors in January. Credit: Google Maps
After a five-year run, Coffee Coffee Coffee closed its doors in Old Brooklyn. But Peter Brown of Six Shooter Coffee on Waterloo jumped at the opportunity to take possession of the space. When it opens in February, Six Shooter Old Brooklyn will offer the same great lineup of food and beverage. Credit: Scene Archives
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. Credit: Scene Archives
In a few weeks, Susan Walters will revive her Cha Spirits and Pizza Kitchen concept, which originated years back in Battery Park. This time around, the casual pizza bistro and wine bar is taking shape in the former VFW building next door to the Tinnerman Lofts building in Ohio City. Credit: Cha Facebook
Matthew Stipe closed the original Banter in 2020 after five years, while pledging to reopen a west-side location ASAP. That will happen soon when an expanded eatery with outdoor dining opens the former home of Minh Anh restaurant in Gordon Square. Credit: Banter poutine. Photo by Peter Larson photography
For nearly three years, Korean BBQ fans have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Fiyah, a contemporary restaurant taking form in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood east of downtown. It finally looks like those tabletop grills will be firing up shortly. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Sheng Long Yu already has made a huge impact on the Cleveland dining scene, with spots like Shinto, Kenko, Dagu Rice Noodle and Hell’s Fried Chicken. For his next big move, Yu will open an Asian food hall serving the most popular street foods from Japan, China and Taiwan. The ambitious project will rise in the shell of the former National Tire & Battery property at E. 30th and Payne. Credit: Re.Design Studio
The Judith 1384 Hird Rd., Lakewood Since taking over Room Service from founder Danielle DeBoe Harper a decade ago, Jennie Doran has grown and cultivated the brand at retail locations in Ohio City and the Van Aken District. The lifestyle boutique is known as much for its design-inspired gifts, home goods and apparel as it is for its artfully curated environment. While the Ohio City location closed last year, Doran and husband/partner Andrew Worm have announced exciting new plans to return to the near-west side. The couple has taken possession of 5222 Lorain Avenue, the former home to Guide to Kulchur, which they will develop over the next year or so into three components. The first space to be unveiled will be The Judith, a French-inspired café. Guests can look forward to a 30-seat space rich with warmth and texture, one that conjures images of an Old World Parisienne café. Next up in the roll-out will be a new Room Service store, which will mark the brand’s long-anticipated return to the West Side. Included in that retail experience will be a garden and gathering space for the community. Credit: Scene Archives
For the past six years at his Miami-based Mendel’s Backyard BBQ, Mendel Segal – aka the “rabbi pitmaster” – has been proving that kosher and barbecue can tastefully coexist. This spring, Segal will attempt to replicate that success in Shaker Heights when he opens Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ across the street from Van Aken District. Credit: Google Maps
Dante Boccuzzi will add to his already impressive portfolio of restaurants with two upcoming projects. First up will be a country bar and restaurant called Dukes ‘n Boots in the former Burgers-n-Beer space in Willoughby. Later, a steakhouse called Il Leone will anchor CrossCountry Mortgage’s new HQ in St. Clair-Superior. Credit: Google Maps
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. Credit: Scene Archives
After five years in Lyndhurst, Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery will open a second shop in Ohio City. The swanky 1,800-square-foot bakery and café will occupy the corner spot at 41 West, a mixed-use development at the corner of Lorain Avenue and W. 41st St. Look for a late-winter opening. Credit: J. Kapela
Rocco Whalen is building a new two-story home for Fahrenheit in the long-dormant John Q’s Steakhouse. The new restaurant will occupy 8,000 square feet on the main floor and 4,300 square feet on the second floor, which will offer a rooftop seating area with views of Public Square. Credit: Vocon
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. Credit: Scene Archives
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. Credit: Scene Archives
Demetrios Atheneos, who opened the popular Chicken Ranch in 2020, will open Zina Greek Street Food in the same University Heights strip mall. The fast-casual eatery will deliver items like lamb sliders, gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita and loukoumades. Atheneos also is in the process of converting Myron’s Deli in Cleveland Heights into Market on Lee and Dominick’s Deli. Credit: Google Maps
Three new grab-and-go food tenants are heading to the Central Kitchen in Midtown, home to Cleveland Kraut, Cleveland Bagel and Souper Market. Mulberry’s Pizza will open its third location, joining spots in the Flats and Avon Lake. Cleveland Sandwich Co., which also has a spot downtown, will offer chef-driven sandwiches. And Vegan Vybez will sell vegan meals inspired by Panamanian flavors. Credit: Central Kitchen
Veteran brewer Joel Warger and his wife and business partner Rosemary Mudry will open Midnight Owl Brewing Company in Shaker Heights. The casual full-service brewpub currently is taking shape in the former Lucy’s Sweet Surrender space on Chagrin Boulevard near Van Aken District. Credit: Gibbon Architecture
Carl Quagliata and Zachary Ladner, the team behind Giovanni’s, Smokin’ Q’s BBQ, The Village Butcher and Paloma, have taken possession of the charming brick bistro in Little Italy most recently home to Nora. The untitled bistro will serve primarily steaks and chops, but also some seafood and pastas dishes. Credit: Google Maps
Joe Schlott will make his triumphant return to Lakewood, when he opens a new location for his Gray House Pies. But before that happens, he’ll launch Pizza Vendetta, which will focus almost entirely on Detroit-style pizza, and U.K. Pies and Fries, home to British handpies, fries and gravy. Credit: Joe Schlott
Chris and Katie Wolf are a few weeks away from introducing Wolf Pack Chorus in the former Club Isabella space in Little Italy. The attractive 5,000-square-foot restaurant aims to hit the sweet spot between neighborhood trattoria and upscale special-occasion restaurant. Credit: Cushman & Wakefield
Old 86 5304 Detroit Ave, Cleveland Since opening Spotted Owl in Tremont, Will Hollingsworth has beefed up his portfolio with Spotted Owl Akron, Prosperity Social Club in Tremont and Good Company in Battery Park. Next up for Buildings & Food, his budding hospitality group, is Old 86, a bar that will open in the former Tributary space on the Detroit Shoreway/Ohio City border this spring. Credit: Aaron Sechrist
Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison, owners of Salt in Lakewood, are busy with two new projects. The first is Poppy, which will open this spring in the former Felice space on Larchmere. Down the road, Evelyn, their new Spanish eatery, will open in the former Spice Kitchen property in Gordon Square. Credit: Douglas Trattner
The Bistro 185 property on East 185th Street has been dormant for four years. Following significant renovation, the space will reopen as Charter House, which owner Chris King describes as a classic American restaurant. Credit: Google Maps
Doinks Burgers enjoyed a two-year run as a garage-based pop-up selling burgers and fries. Come spring, Doinks Burger Joint and Seltzer Bar will open a brick-and-mortar venture on Waterloo, a half a block west of owner Peter Brown’s Six Shooter Coffee. Credit: Courtesy Doinks
Cleveland Bagel, which has locations in Ohio City and Midtown, will open its third location in Lakewood, at the former site of Streat Burger. Like the other two shops, this one will feature fresh-baked bagels, schmears, breakfast sandwiches, coffee and juices. Credit: Scene archives
Geraci’s Slice Shop 38040 Third St., Willoughby At Geraci’s Slice Shop they’re offering their 10 inch honey pie with red sauce, mozzarella, romano, pepperoni, sausage and Akron Honey habanero hot honey. Credit: Provided
Chef Andrew Mansour, formerly of Zhug and Edwins, will open Artis in the former Side Quest building in Lakewood. Mansour describes the fine-dining restaurant as a contemporary, shareable steakhouse with an Art Deco décor. Credit: Google Maps
Proof Bar-BQ 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland One of Tremont’s newer patios also happens to be one of the neighborhood’s best-kept secrets. While Proof’s snazzy subterranean dining room is petite, the 100-seat piazza out back offers plenty of room to spread out under the stars. Where better than a backyard to rip into some smokey barbecue and top-shelf whiskey. A new chef and a refreshed menu have given Tremont’s only barbecue joint a lift going into summer. Diners can still bank on killer Texas-style ‘cue, but now can also look forward to some creative and seasonal specials. Credit: Courtesy Proof
Jennifer Taggart worked off and on at Sweet Moses for nearly a decade. In February, she will open Lake Erie Scoops in the former Big Momma’s Burritos space in Detroit Shoreway. Sporting a “Saturday morning cartoons meets ice cream truck” vibe, the grab-and-go shop will offer ice cream, pie and other sweet treats. Credit: Google Maps
After more than two decades, Panini’s in the Gateway District closed its doors. Come February, Parlay on Ninth will take its place. Significant renovations have converted the space from a neighborhood pub to an elevated sports bar described as a mix between comfortable cigar lounge and Vegas-style sportsbook. Credit: Google Maps
Anthony Zappola, the chef behind the Rice Shop and Lox, Stock and Brisket, both at Van Aken District, will open Tripi Italian Specialties in Ohio City. Due to open in late winter or early spring, the casual italian eatery will offer salads, sandwiches, subs, pasta and pizza by the pound. Look for it at 41 West at Lorain and West 41st. Credit: Google Maps
Winking Lizard, which opened its Bedford Heights shop 40 years ago, closed both of its downtown locations in the past two years. But a new Winking Lizard currently is taking shape in the AECOM building on East 9th. When it opens in February, the restaurant will boast a fresh design and expanded patio. Credit: Scene Archives

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.