While 2023 has been a tough year as far as restaurant closings goes, it wasn’t all bad news. Some great new restaurants opened. That trend will continue in 2024, with a slate of anticipated openings, including a second location of Boom’s Pizza, a new Doug Katz joint, a massive project from the Tartine owners and a bunch of other awesome new spots. Here’s what’s on tap for the new year on the Cleveland dining scene.

Salted Dough Bistro 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. The attractive fast-casual eatery opened its doors in early March. 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 will offer Fisher’s excellent pizza, but also a broader menu of American and Italian selections. Credit: Provided
One Pot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot 1825 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Height The prominent Coventry Road, long ago home to Hyde Park Grille and Sal & Angelo’s, is being taken down to its shell. Layers and layers of former renovations are being stripped away to make way for the latest chapter in the building’s 100-year lifespan. Come fall, the space will reopen as One Pot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. Like others in this trendy restaurant category, One Pot will offer guests an all-you-can-eat BBQ and hot pot dining experience. Management expects the dust to settle sometime in October. Credit: Provided
STEAK, Tremont Fresh on the heels of their recent success with Geraci’s Slice Shop in downtown Cleveland, the trio of Terry Francona, Jason Beudert and Chelsea Williams staked a claim on the former Parallax space in Tremont. The owners hope to “disrupt the steakhouse category” by delivering an affordable steakhouse experience in a cool, hip environment. The owners also plan to diverge from convention by offering diners a single choice of beef: the underappreciated coulotte. That cut will be sold as part of an all-inclusive meal that includes a fresh salad, house-made rolls and bottomless hand-cut fries, all for the low, low price of approximately $30. Also on the menu will be six to eight shareable sides. A dessert cart will make the rounds of the dining room. And there will be plenty of craft cocktails, wine and beer. Credit: Google Maps
Lil’ Ronnie’s 2365 Professor Ave., Cleveland In October, Edison’s Next Door Pizza closed its doors after just two months. The short-lived pizzeria took the place of Edison’s Pizza Kitchen, which occupied the space immediately next door to Edison’s Pub for 15 years. Next up for the Tremont storefront is Lil Ronnie’s, a satellite pizzeria from the owners of Il Rione. Since opening at the tail end of 2017, Il Rione (1303 West 65th St.) has earned consistently high marks for its pizza, vibe and operation in Gordon Square. For the past few years, owners Brian Moss and Brian Holleran have been looking for a way to expand. With the Edison’s spot, they believe they found the ideal fit. When Lil Ronnie’s (a play on Il Rione) opens in the coming weeks, it will be a stripped-down version of the mothership in Gordon Square. The primary focus will be on producing high-quality pizza by the slice and whole and delivering it in a timely and consistent manner. Credit: Douglas Trattner
Kiln, Shaker Heights After four years of instability – beginning with Sawyer’s and ending with Shake It – one of Van Aken District’s most prominent restaurant spaces landed one of Cleveland’s most bankable chef-operators. This winter, Doug Katz announced his plans to open Kiln, which the team describe as a “modern take on a classic European bistro.” Along with managing partner Todd Thompson and executive chef Cameron Pishnery, the team will create a “beautiful and comfortable interior with warm and friendly service.” The menu, still in the planning phase, will offer a broad range of sharable dishes served in the classic bistro style, which is to say on their own rather than as part of composed plates with starch and vegetables. When it opens in fall, Kiln will join Zhug and Amba in the Katz portfolio. Credit: Tiffany Joy Photography
Eugene Kitchen 2050 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights One of the best things to come out of the Ohio City Galley is the Tinman Burger, a drippy double smash burger with American cheese, special sauce, and sweet and spicy pickles on a brioche bun. The burger was so good, in fact, that it helped ignite a smash burger goldrush throughout The Land. After leaving the Galley, chef Michael Schoen took his talents to Lakewood, where he opened Eugene Kitchen at BottleHouse Brewery (13368 Madison Ave.). Originally, the plan was to open a second shop at the Cleveland Heights BottleHouse as well, but the pandemic threw a monkey wrench in those plans. Now, three years later, Schoen will follow through with those plans to open a second location on the east side. Eugene Kitchen will soon open at the Cleveland Heights BottleHouse on Saroj & Carlos departed after nearly a year. Credit: Provided
Oliva 408 W. St. Clair Ave., Cleveland For 20 years, Osteria offered diners a taste of Italy from its underground lair on W. St. Clair. The restaurant closed in 2020 and reopened in a new space (Walnut Ave., 1801 E. 9th St., Cleveland). Lola and Luca Sema, owners of Acqua di Luca, Luca and Luca West have taken possession of the property in the Warehouse District. Lola Sema says that she and her husband plan to open Oliva, an Italian-themed steakhouse, in the space, which sits immediately east of Acqua di Luca. The initial timeframe puts opening day in late summer or early fall. Credit: Google Maps
Charter House 991 East 185th St., Cleveland The beloved Bistro 185 closed four and a half years ago. Marc and Ruth Levine, the original owners, operated the Collinwood restaurant for 10 years before selling the business to their chef, Ryan Kaston, in 2016. After sitting fallow for nearly three years, the property finally has a new owner in Chris King. King, a versatile entrepreneur with businesses in the hospitality and transportation fields, will open Charter House. He has been working on the property for about four months and expects to have the restaurant ready to welcome its first guests this summer. King describes the cuisine as “classic American, with something for everyone.” To go with the food will be a great wine list and creative cocktails. “When people see it, they’ll love the décor and atmosphere,” he explains. “We want to attract the professionals and locals in the neighborhood that want someplace where they can go that’s safe, reliable, consistent and just a good atmosphere.” Credit: Google Maps
Scorpaciatta Italian Restaurant, Shaker Heights Peter Reuter had a five-year plan to take Scorpacciata from a food stall concept to a brick-and-mortar restaurant – and he’ll come close to hitting that goal when Scorpaciatta Italian Restaurant opens this month. Reuter, who launched his pasta stand at Van Aken District in 2018, quickly followed that up with a pizza shop. For the past year, the Johnson and Wales graduate has been hard at work converting the former Larchmere Tavern into the new full-service home of Scorpaciatta. The bar and restaurant will offer pizza and pasta, naturally, but also a wide variety of appetizers, charcuterie, and entrees. There will be seating for about 75 in the dining room, with room for another dozen at the bar. Credit: Google Maps
Artis Restaurant 17900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Andrew Mansour has taken possession of the former SideQuest property in Lakewood. The chef, formerly of Zhug and Edwins, is planning to open Artis Restaurant, which he describes as a contemporary, shareable steakhouse. Mansour says that Artis will be fine dining, but without the white tablecloths. Inside, the bar and dining room will sport a Miami Art Deco Revival décor, with `80s colors like coral and teal. “We’re going to be a steakhouse but absolutely not what you think about, where you get a big-old slab of meat and everybody ordering their own thing,” he explains. “We’ll be very shareable and approachable – a steakhouse that’s not a steakhouse. We’re putting a new spin on America’s favorite concept.” Credit: Google Maps
Agave and Rye 28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Agave & Rye opened its first Cleveland restaurant last summer in the former Bar Louie (1352 W. 6th St.) space in the Warehouse District. The Covington, Kentucky-based company is experiencing tremendous growth, with more than 15 restaurants scattered throughout five states. Today the company revealed its plans to open a second Northeast Ohio location, this one in the former Paladar space at Eton Chagrin Blvd. The new restaurant is projected to open next spring. Agave & Rye is billed as a modern tequila and bourbon hall that serves “epic tacos.” The restaurant is known for its double-shelled tacos, which feature crunchy corn and soft flour shells sandwiched together by beans, queso, pimento or guacamole. Credit: Scene Archives
Colina 12104 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland Adrien Aeschliman, who attained success in Baltimore with his restaurants Bottega and Colette, will attempt to do the same in Cleveland. Along with his wife Margaret and chef-partner Stefano Porcile, Aeschliman will open Colina on the western end of Larchmere Boulevard. The plan is to have the doors open sometime this fall. Colina will be an intimate wine bar with chef-driven, ingredient-focused small and large plates that will change frequently. Diners can look forward to South American and Northern Italian influences on the menu – a style they are calling “Gaucho Italian.” The double storefront will seat approximately 35 guests in two rooms, one for walk-ins, the other for those with reservations. Credit: Google Maps
Gogi En 6025 Kruse Dr., Solon Hibachi Japan Steak House closed last summer after just two years, but its predecessor, Akira Sushi and Hibachi, called that Solon space home for more than 20 years. In a couple months, a new restaurant will open up in that attractive property, this one specializing in Korean barbecue. It is part of the small but growing family of restaurants that includes Sushi En location in Columbus, Cleveland and Twinsburg. In typical Korean barbecue fashion, the tables will be outfitted with grills for cook-it-yourself adventures. Owner Mark Chun says that the restaurant likely will shy away from all-you-can-eat options in favor of packages that bundle various proteins like poultry, pork and beef. The menu will also offer starters like kimbap, those Korean-style rice rolls, noodle bowls, rice dishes and plenty of banchan. Credit: Google Maps
One Pot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot 1825 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Height The prominent Coventry Road, long ago home to Hyde Park Grille and Sal & Angelo’s, is being taken down to its shell. Layers and layers of former renovations are being stripped away to make way for the latest chapter in the building’s 100-year lifespan. Come fall, the space will reopen as One Pot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. Like others in this trendy restaurant category, One Pot will offer guests an all-you-can-eat BBQ and hot pot dining experience. Management expects the dust to settle sometime in October. Credit: Provided
Café Tartine, L’Ecrin Vert and Sky Club Cafe 776 Euclid Ave., Cleveland The new apartment complex City Club announced in June that the operators of Tartine Bistro will open three original concepts at the “mixed-use apartment and penthouse community,”. The 23-story complex will include 304 apartments and penthouses and a handful of food and beverage options. Those F&B concepts will be under the control of Dean and Anna Valore, operators of Tartine Bistro (19110 Old Detroit Rd.), a 15-year-old French restaurant and wine bar in Rocky River. Options will include Café Tartine, a 25-seat French-themed lobby café and wine bar; J’adore, a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining on two levels; L’Ecrin Vert, a 40-seat basement bar and lounge with a French cabaret theme; and Sky Club Café, a weekend cocktail bar located in the Sky Club. City Club Apartments broke ground in December of 2021. The pre-leasing center is now open at 313 Euclid Avenue and first occupancy is expected beginning in October of this year. Credit: Provided
Tricky Tortoise, Willoughby Willoughby Brewing Company had a remarkable run stretching back to 1998. After closing for good in 2020, the massive property sat idle for about four years. That’s when Bobby Ehasz grabbed the keys. Ehasz, a career military guy, is a partner in Pompatus Brewing, a nano brewery in Bainbridge. Ehasz’ first major hire was Caleb Brown, a brewer who worked at Platform/AB and Thirsty Dog. Craft beer fans can look forward to a lineup of clean, drinkable and broadly appealing styles. The new owner has done considerable work to brighten up the cavernous space and make it more comfortable. A second bar was built in the dining room to take some pressure off the main bar by the brewhouse. In preparation for the return of live music, the stage is getting a facelift and the sound and lighting systems are being updated. To eat, there will be straightforward pub menu with wings, pizza, pierogies and pie. And that model train that circles above? It’s still there. Credit: Scene Archives
Sauce the City at Re:Bar 2132 E. 9th St., Cleveland It was a good but short run for La Plaza Taqueria at Re: bar downtown The restaurant, a partnership between Re: bar owner Rachel Ulloa and La Plaza’s Adrian Ortega, launched in February of this year. It was the first restaurant residency at the bar since Ulloa completed renovations on the adjacent property, adding a kitchen and dine-in seating. La Plaza’s Gateway District outpost is on the way out, but a replacement is all lined up. Next up for Re: bar, which is located a block from Progressive Field, is Sauce the City. When approached with the offer to step in, owner Victor Searcy Jr. leapt at the chance. Diners can expect two-fisted fried chicken (and hot chicken) sandwiches, wraps, tenders and wings. If things go as planned, Sauce the City at Re: bar will open in late winter. Searcy referred to the space as a satellite kitchen with hopes that he’ll eventually open a full service restaurant somewhere downtown. Credit: Scene Archives
Cilantro Taqueria, Tremont 2417 Professor Ave., Cleveland Cilantro Taqueria, the fast-growing Cleveland-based Mexican restaurant group, is moving into Tremont. The Galindo family has purchased the former Fahrenheit property at 2417 Professor Ave. and will open location number six there. Galindo says that the new restaurant will claim only about half of the property, with the other side being offered up for lease to another tenant. Like the other five locations, this one will be fast-casual, with customers grabbing their own seats or taking their tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, rice bowls or “gringas” to go.Cilantro opened its first shop on Coventry in 2019. Since then they have added locations in Lakewood, Shaker Hts., North Olmsted and Chesterland. This latest restaurant is expected to open in February. Credit: Provided
CleaveLand Grill Pearl Rd., Strongsville On October 19, Cleveland lost one of its best resources for Halal ingredients when a fire broke out at CleaveLand Grocers (13425 Snow Rd.,) in Brook Park. But it wasn’t just those who follow that strict dietary law that suffered a blow, the mourners also included fans of great burgers, chicken sandwiches and cheesesteaks. While Syed continues to focus on getting the grocery and grill in Brook Park back up and running, he has decided to branch out with a second location. The new location by Shinto in Strongsville will include a butcher shop and kitchen but not a grocery. The owner expects this new store, dubbed CleaveLand Grill, to be open sometime in the coming month or two. Credit: Doug Trattner
Old School Pizza & Wings 19071 Old River Rd., Rocky River Flipside Burgers in Rocky River closed in late October Sometime in the near future, the space will reopen as location number two for Old School Pizza & Wings (19071 Old Detroit Rd.), a three-year-old restaurant in Avon Lake. The restaurant is owned by James Mowbray, who also operates Parker’s Grille & Tavern in Avon Lake and Betts restaurant downtown. Credit: Provided
Geraci’s, Willoughby 4127 Erie St., Willoughby In October, The Yard on 3rd in Willoughby shut down for the season. At that time, Geraci’s Slice Shop, which has enjoyed two summers at that popular attraction, packed up for good. But they won’t be traveling far; the family will be opening a full-service restaurant down the block. The Geraci’s team purchased a building — their first in 67 years of business — at 4127 Erie Street. The trim space will accommodate about 22 guests, but a future rear patio could more than double that. Unlike at the Yard, where they dished up a limited “Slice Shop” menu, the new restaurant will be more in line with a traditional Geraci’s restaurant. Diners can expect a full roster of classic dishes like lasagna, veal parmesan, chicken marsala and, of course, pizza. Credit: Scene Archives

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