While it’s been a difficult year in the Cleveland dining scene, losing beloved spots left and right, it hasn’t been all bad news. We’ve also had some great new restaurants open. How many have you checked off your dining list?

Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ 20314 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights Mendel Segal, who is known to his many fans as the “rabbi pitmaster,” at his barbecue restaurant in Miami, opened an output of his delicious kosher barbecue in Shaker Heihgts in January. 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. In addition to the foods coming out of the pit, the restaurant offers non-BBQ foods like soups, salads, wings, burgers, fish and steak. To drink, there’s plenty of craft beer and a full liquor license. Credit: Doug Trattner
Abundance Cafe 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. Credit: Provided
Doinks Burger Bar 15519 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland Doinks Burger Joint enjoyed a long, fruitful run as a garage-based biz before setting up semi-permanent residency at the Cleveland Brewery, which continued until they opened this summer in their own location. The outpouring of community support persuaded partners Bonn Rassavong and Peter Brown to make the jump to a brick-and-mortar venture. The 1,200-square-foot space sits a half a block west of Brown’s Six Shooter storefront. The star of the show is the OG Doinks burger, a double smash burger with American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, sauteed onions and special sauce. They also offer a handful of burger specials, a veggie option and few hot and cold sides. The “seltzer bar” features a selection of hard-seltzer cocktails made with muddled fruits and house-made syrups. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Tutto Carne 2181 Murray Hill Rd., Cleveland This Italian-themed steakhouse, which opened in late spring of 2023, is operated by Ladner and Carl Quagliata, the chef-owners behind Giovanni’s, Smokin’ Q’s BBQ, Paloma and The Village Butcher. In the former Nora spot in Little Italy, the space has been completely transformed into a stylish and sophisticated 45-seat bistro. Chef de cuisine Ryan O’Driscoll oversees a steakhouse-style menu that benefits greatly from the owners’ sister establishment, The Village Butcher. A selection of other steaks and chops is joined by items like seared halibut with littleneck clams in horseradish broth, pan-seared scallops with bacon, potato and spring pea pesto, and a dry-aged beef burger topped with taleggio, short rib onions, bacon and special sauce. For pasta fans, Ladner and his team have assembled a roster of classic dishes. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Dukes `n Boots 4027 Erie St., Willoughby Chef Dante Boccuzzi’s first foray to the East Side welcomed its first guests in May. Located in the heart of Willoughby on Erie Street, 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 of the 60-seat restaurant with an eye on quality, consistency and creativity. “The food is traditional Southern but done right, refined but approachable,” she explains. Out back is a spacious 60-seat patio ringed by a rusted-metal fence. There is also live country-style music Fridays or Saturdays, inside or outside, weather depending. Credit: Douglas 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. The 4,400-square-foot property, which is next door to the plant store Stump and the new burger concept Shake It, recently opened as Paloma, a taco-focused Mexican restaurant. 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. Credit: Scene Archives
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.The 60-seat restaurant in Independence is studded with Filipino staples and classics like crispy lumpia, filled with either vegetables or pork; pork or tofu sisig served on a sizzling platter; pancit, made with rice or wheat noodles; and longsilog, the all-day breakfast dish of sausage fried rice topped with a fried egg. Credit: Douglas 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 will offer StoneFruit coffee, pastries, quiche, frittata, breakfast sandwiches, salads, Cubanos, grilled chicken sandwiches and ice cream. Next door, at Sushi 86, guests can look forward to a newly expanded menu of sushi, sashimi, rolls and poke bowls. For the first time, items off the Bites menu will be available to diners at Sushi 86 during lunch. Credit: Doug Trattner
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. 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. Credit: Scene Archives
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
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 recently, another local legend took 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. Credit: Scene Archives
Pearl Street Market and Cafe 2523 Market Ave., Cleveland Following months of interior renovations at the former Flying Fig, partners Karen Small and Jill Davis recently opened its replacement, which is described as a retail wine shop and casual eatery. The wines are joined by local beer, ciders and classic cocktails. To eat, there will be meat and cheese boards served with housemade and local breads, seasonal vegetables and tinned fish. The star of the market is bound to be the sliced-to-order country hams, including those from famous makers like Benton’s, Col. Bill Newsom’s and Tripp. Also in stock will be local and regional cheeses from producers like Marchant Manor in Cleveland Hts., Kokoboreggo in Mt.Gilead and Sequatchie Cove Creamery in Tennessee. Down the road, a menu of salads, pastas, craft sandwiches and entrées will be rolled out for lunch and dinner. For those looking to stay home, the market will stock a selection of grab-and-go foods like sliced-to-order deli meats, cheeses, snacks, condiments and tinned fish. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Wolf Pack Chorus 2175 Cornell Rd., Cleveland This modern brasserie opened in Little Italy in the former Club Isabella space in early 2023. After signing the lease, owners Chris and Katie Wolf got busy making the contemporary property their own. Nearly every surface received attention, from the bartop to the bathrooms. Wolf Pack Chorus is the rare white-tablecloth restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The compelling chefy menu benefits from not sticking to the typical Little Italy fare of veal parmesan and chicken picatta. Credit: Doug Trattner
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. Credit: Scene Archives
Poppy 12502 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland For the past 14 years, Felice earned a place as one of the east side’s most endearing restaurants. It closed in late 2022 and Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison of beloved Lakewood tapas spot Salt+ opened. Poppy is in a 115-year old building that was turned from a house into a restaurant, giving it a very homey vibe. Vedaa’s menu takes its cues from around the globe. For this restaurant, the chef prefers to not pigeonhole herself into any specific cuisine. 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. Salt fans might catch one or two crossover dishes, but otherwise this is an all new collection. Credit: Lizzie Schlafer
Zina 13898 Cedar Rd., University Hts. Since the dawn of time, if you wanted to sink your teeth into a truly exceptional gyro, you had to drive to Lakewood. East-siders have Demetrios Atheneos to thank for whittling that travel time down to nearly nil. In January, the chef opened Zina Greek Street Food in University Heights, which is now home to the best gyro this side of the Cuyahoga. Credit: Douglas Trattner
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. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of Sichuan, chef and owner Tony Hu went on to open a dozen other Chicago locations of Lao Sze Chuan as well as other popular places such as Lao Beijing, Lao Shanghai, Lao You Ju and Lao Hunan. 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. Credit: Scene Archives
Au Jus 5875 Broadview Rd., Parma Thanks to the smash hit television show “The Bear” on FX, interest in authentic Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches has never been higher. That yearning appears to have translated into a promising launch for Au Jus, which specializes in that drippy Italian classic. The owners of Au Jus are striving to do things by the book. They slow-roast top round beef for more than five hours before chilling and thinly slicing it. The drippings are turned into flavorful au jus sauce. The sliced roast beef is warmed in hot au jus, piled into long French rolls and topped with sweet or spicy giardiniera. Additional au jus is served on the side for dipping, but sandwiches can be dunked by request. In Chicagoland, the sandwiches are typically enjoyed without cheese, but a layer of provolone is certainly acceptable. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Solstice 14810 Detroit Ave., Lakewood The owners of popular Lakewood cocktail bar LBM took over Deagan’s this summer after a 13 year run. Solstice, which opened in September. 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: Douglas Trattner
The Judith 5222 Lorain, Cleveland Since taking over Room Service, Jennie Doran has grown and cultivated the brand at retail locations in Ohio City and the Van Aken District. While the Ohio City location closed last year, Doran and husband/partner Andrew Worm opened The Judith in January, a French-inspired café in the former Guide to Kulchur space. Guests can enjoy a 30-seat space rich with warmth and texture, one that conjures images of an Old World Parisienne café. In the morning, Onyx Coffee and Tea will be served alongside breakfast pastries and open-face sandwiches, or tartines. Lunches usher in fresh salads, shareable small plates, baguette sandwiches and desserts. Also coming down the road will be a new Room Service shop, gathering space and teaching garden, all on the same property. Credit: Courtesy photo

Scene's award-winning newsroom oftentimes collaborates on articles and projects. Stories under this byline are group efforts.