Life is tough, and you deserve a little treat. Enter brunch, that glorious weekend hybrid that encompasses early mornings, late afternoons and everything in between. No matter what kind of meal you’re in the mode for, Cleveland’s got it all — from copious cocktails and classic country breakfasts to all-encompassing menus that let you forgo breakfast-coded cuisine and skip right to burgers and BLTs instead.
Can’t decide? There’s a brunch for that, too: Come try a taste of it all at United We Brunch, taking place Sunday, February 22, in downtown Cleveland. This event, hosted by Cleveland Scene and Cleveland Magazine, features some of the best brunch options in the city — all in service of making your weekends that much more delicious.
Here’s what restaurants are on tap this weekend.
Artis
17900 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, artislakewood.com
Brunch isn’t standard steakhouse fare. But then again, Artis isn’t a standard steakhouse. This Lakewood newcomer brings a decidedly Mediterranean POV to its midday menu, with dishes that borrow freely from across the region and lots of bright herbs and warm spices. Instead of syrup and stacks, dishes skew largely savory and sun-soaked: a spanakopita omelet with crispy phyllo, a braised lamp wrap with hummus and lemon, a smokey lutenitsa Benedict … Artis’s multicultural menu and bright yellow building offer a perky pick-me-up on even on the coldest of Cleveland mornings.
Barrio Tacos
Multiple locations, barrio-tacos.com
Cleveland’s no Austin, where breakfast tacos abound on every corner. But with nine Barrio locations across Northeast Ohio, a breakfast taco is never far from reach. Since 2012, this colorfully decorated and ever-growing local chain has been dishing up unholy handhelds stuffed with ingredients like cola marinated steak, beer-braised black beans and fiesta potatoes (plus a perfectly fried egg on top, if you want). Wash it down with a guava mimosa or a boozy elderflower fresca.
Burntwood Tavern
Multiple locations, burntwoodtavern.com
Burntwood’s brunch manages to make friends with everybody: pals out for mimosas, couples on casual weekend dates and even harried parents with chaotic toddlers. The menu presents breakfast staples alongside pub-friendly mains, and mimosa flights are a must (spiked with tequila and Malibu, if you’re feelin’ extra wild). Across all locations, the vibe is casual but polished, making it a reliable choice where you know you’ll always eat well, drink freely and leave happy.
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
2516 Market Ave, greatlakesbrewing.com/brewpub
When you want classic Cleveland, you want GLBC’s Ohio City brewpub, attracting visitors and locals alike since 1988. Brunch here leans into the brewery’s well-established strengths: award-winning beers, hearty comfort fare and a vibe that welcomes big groups and long stays. Lean into the city’s Eastern European roots with options like the kielbasa scramble and paprikash-topped pierogis and Polish Boy-style fries with an Edmund Fitzgerald-infused barbecue sauce. Mmm… tastes like the Midwest.
Grumpy’s Cafe
2621 W 14th St, grumpyscafe.com
Don’t be fooled by the name. This iconic Tremont spot is the self-proclaimed home of “feel-good food,” and the long wait on weekends is testament to locals’ love. No reservations and no call-ahead seating: Grumpy’s does it the old-fashioned way, just you and your brunch gang showing up early and waiting your turn alongside all the other early risers who are desperate for apple walnut French toast, jambalaya omelets and pulled pork boxty (among about 50 other options, literally). It’ll all be worth it when your name is finally called and you’re free to dig in.
JoJo Carloni’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
627 W Bagley Rd, Berea, jojocarlonis.com
You’ve heard of breakfast for dinner. But how about standard dinner fare for breakfast? This upscale Italian eatery opens at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, with nary a waffle or a Benedict in sight. When you’re a little bit over basic brunch fare, this is the perfect “let’s do something different” pick. Strombolis, calzones and heaping plates of pasta take center stage, and splitting a bottle of Tuscan wine at noon feels perfectly justified.
Lake Erie Distillery
4277 Hamann Industrial Pkwy, Willoughby
BYOBrunch, anybody? The East Side microdistillery’s tasting lounge is no more, but the bottle shop is still open for business. You’re more than welcome to brown bag it or even to order delivery while you sip on cocktails made from locally distilled spirits, including their bestselling Dill Pickle Vodka. If bold and briny isn’t your style, go cozy and candied with the Maple Coffee or keep it classic with a barrel-aged bourbon Manhattan.
Nuevo Modern Mexican and Tequila
1000 E 9th St, nuevomodmex.com
It’s never too early for tequila. Need we say more? OK, OK, we will: This Latin-inspired spot will transport you (culinarily, anyway) to more tropical temps, with brunch specials like a tres leches French toast with caramelized bananas and a Mexican-style hot brown with slow-braised duck carnitas. When the weather warms up, they’ve also got one of the best patios in the city. Located at the edge of downtown’s Voinovich Park, Nuevo is the closest you can get to Lake Erie without actually going for a dip.
Rosewood Grill
Locations in Hudson, Strongsville and Westlake, rosewoodgrill.com
Omelets. French toast. Chicken and waffles. Everyone loves a classic brunch dish. But not every restaurant manages to make them feel special. Rosewood Grill pulls it off with a menu that keeps comfort intact while a bit of polish, from multiple Benedict variations to chicken and waffles, smoked salmon toasts and a proper plate of kielbasa hash (this is Cleveland, after all). With a fancy-casual energy and a menu of bougie brunch cocktails (champagne sangria, anyone?), Rosewood Grill is a prime pick for laid-back mornings and celebratory afternoons alike.
Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens
16965 Park Cir Dr, Chagrin Falls, sapphire-creek.com
Sapphire Creek doesn’t do subtly, as evidenced by 28-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a luscious landscape. Their “Grand Brunch,” served every Sunday, is a white-tablecloth-meets-brunch-buffet hybrid where omelets, waffles and crepes are just the warm-up. The real flex is carving stations stacked with prime rib, seafood displays piled with smoked salmon and oysters, and a made-to-order chicken and waffles station — with a side of winery pours, of course. It all takes place in a setting that feels more Napa-adjacent than Northeast Ohio, making brunch a most-of-the-morning event to remember.
Sol
38257 Glenn Ave, Willoughby, solwilloughby.com
This self-proclaimed “global fusion” restaurant specializes in the eclectic: flavors, texture and even tastes you might not expect to go together in the same meal, much less the same dish. When everyone at the table is in the mood for a different type of cuisine, this is the spot, with options like Mexican-inspired avocado/egg enchiladas, North African-style shakshuka with Manchego cheese, and a decidedly Eastern European Benedict that swaps out English muffins for two crispy potato pancakes. No need to pick a lane: This is a menu where ordering all over the map is exactly the point.
The Burnham
100 Lakeside Ave E, instagram.com/burnhamcle
You don’t have to be staying at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown to enjoy this particular perk, a daily breakfast-and-lunch spot that specializes in slightly upscale Midwestern comfort food. The vibe is calm, the service is smooth and the menu sticks to familiar favorites done well, making it a great choice for a leisurely downtown brunch that just might trick your brain, at least temporarily, into thinking you’re on vacation. Reservations usually aren’t hard to snag, but it’s best to plan ahead when the Browns are playing at home.
The Last Page
Park Ave #128, Beachwood, thelastpagerestaurant.com
There are times when you really need brunch to be more than just a meal; you need it to be an occasion. The Last Page’s brunch menu is polished and intentional, and it’s the little details that tell you they take this midday meal as seriously as it deserves: the vanilla whipped cream atop their golden malted waffles, the aromatic addition of a savory sofrito sauce to the breakfast burrito. Here, the little things are a big deal. And importantly, everything is designed to be shared, which drives home the idea that brunch is meant to be a social, sit-awhile affair.
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