You’ve got your favorite restaurants in Northeast Ohio, but what do your fellow Clevelanders think?

Yelp this month unveiled its latest ranking of the top 25 places to dine in Cleveland, tabulated using reviews and ratings from Yelp Elite members. The list includes some of the names you expect along with a handful of newcomers across a broad range of cuisines; casual joints and special occassion destinations; west, south, east and in between. How many have you been to and what do you think they missed?

1. Amba Sample Yelp review: “Amba has become one of my favorite restaurants! The food is fantastic and the small plates are so fun to share. You get the chance to try a bunch of different plates and drinks which I love. Our server was so helpful and kind. We’ve always had the same experience coming in! They don’t take reservations but we didn’t have to wait at all. The overall atmosphere is also great and romantic. I think there is truly something for everyone at Amba.” Credit: Scene Archives
2. Cordelia Sample Yelp review: “Having such a great time in Cleveland and one of the highlights so far has been dinner at Cordelia’s. An amazing space with warm hospitality and outstanding service . We ordered several outstanding dishes to share- start with a share plate of spreads. Don’t miss the Cauliflower and hamburger. Fried chicken was a home run too.” Credit: Scene Archives
3. Cent’s Pizza Sample Yelp review: “Easily some of the best pizza in town, if not THE best. Vincent Morreli’s Cent’s has a New York City sensibility to it, which makes sense, as he lived and worked there for a few years before coming home to Ohio. On the edge of Ohio City, he’s created a hip pizza oasis that is as delicious as it is cool. I especially love the Gorfunkel, made with Gorgonzola, sausage, pickled chili and red onion, and I’m still dying to try the Cherry Pie, topped with actual luxardo cherries atop dollops of ricotta. Cent’s crust is thin and chewy, filling but not greasy or gross. And they’ve got some killer cocktails these days, too. Bottom line? You’re gonna love this spot. Take out-of-towners to show off the city, bring your date here to make yourself look cool, or order a pie to eat from the comfort of your own home. Or do all of these, and keep coming back for more. Credit: Photo by Kory Gasser
4. Mia Bella Sample Yelp review: “Perfect restaurant for a birthday dinner with family. We made the reservation, a must on Friday night, and were seated right in cue. Mia Bella was crowded but the service never slacked. After reading off the specials and ordering a few bottles of wine we got started with bread, soups, mussels and fresh octopus salad. At this point in the evening one could be full, but not at Mia Bella, you must eat! The rigatoni with meat sauce was full of flavor, especially with the addition of meatballs on the side. The clam linguine was fresh, light and delicious. Now to the branzino, cooked perfectly, where the fish comes clean from the filet. Dessert and coffee were fantastic, cheesecake and crème brûlée are a no brainer, you are in Little Italy, dessert is necessary. Great atmosphere, friendly and professional service, and amazing food, so make that reservation.” Credit: Mia Bella FB
5. Blue Door Cafe and Bakery Sample Yelp review: “5 years later and blue door still does not disappoint!!! Brunch is soooo good and they now have a waitlist that you can add your name to prior to coming! The food is just as immaculate as ever. I LOVED the salmon over croissant w soft scramble eggs. The croissant bowl with the savory sausage gravy was also *chefs kiss*!” Credit: Photo via gin_norikolmt/Instagram
The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery 1970 State Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, (330) 926-9774 When in the greater Akron area, make a pit stop for brunch at The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery. Established as a micro bakery in 2009, the place has since become a full service restaurant offering sandwiches, crepes, viennoiserie, baked goods, house-made breads and more. Photo via The Blue Door Cafe and Bakery/Facebook
6. Il Rione Sample Yelp review: “This place is worth the hype 100%. Small so expect a wait but promise it’s worth it. Lots of spots around to grab a drink while you wait (recommend Flight or Wyne). Staff is always friendly. Recommend starting with a salad. #balance but they are really good. Perfectly dressed and very fresh. My husband and I shared two smalls and we had leftovers. The crust is perfectly crisp. The sauce is excellent. Cheese. Toppings. All of it. So good.” Credit: Scene archives
8. Marble Room Sample Yelp review: “The Marble Room, located inside a historic building in Cleveland, offers an experience that lives up to its reputation. The exterior still bears the markings of its former life as a bank, but stepping inside feels like entering a European church, with its high ceilings and marble decor. The lighting adds a luxurious and welcoming ambiance, making it feel like a scene from a postcard. We ordered oysters and steak, paired with a delicious Cabernet. Alexander, our exceptionally talented server, made us feel welcome and was attentive to our time constraints. I believe this is a must-visit spot in Cleveland, whether for a special occasion or simply to enjoy the experience. For me, just being there was a special occasion in itself.”
9. Zhug Sample Yelp review: “This place has such a cozy and warm atmosphere–perfect for a small gathering with friends, family, or even a first date. The service is on point and super friendly and timely, which is a huge plus. The food? Absolutely delicious–fresh and flavorful. Honestly, some of the best Mediterranean dishes you’ll find in town. And don’t sleep on the drinks either; they’re impeccable! Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for great food and a relaxed, inviting vibe.” Credit: Scene archives
10. Noble Beast Brewing Sample Yelp review: “Was here for a late and light dinner and beer. The Nachos – Shagbark Tortilla Chips, Pork Carnitas Confit, 3-Cheese Sauce, Black Beans, Radish, Cilantro, Scallions, and Lime Crema. House-made Hot Sauce on side, and the Spent Grain Bavarian Pretzel – Black Flake Salt, Honey Beer Mustard, 3-Cheese Sauce were excellent. Big enough to be shared but not so large as to be a heavy meal in themselves.”
11. Case de Luna Sample Yelp review: “Omg! This place deserves not 5 but 10,000 stars!!!! Everything here is just perfection! But make sure you make a reservation in advance, it gets super packed and it is difficult to find a spot if last minute. The ambiance is so beautiful with its perfect lighting through the entire venue which makes you get into a really nice mood of “something good is about to happen here” as soon as you walk in. Beautiful big windows with nice views of the city skyline too that makes it a whole perfect vibe for the experience. The service is just outstanding from the moment you walk in. Great servers with great recommendations of the menu and their specials of the day which is always great to hear. And the food is just amazing super high quality and you can definitely taste it! Their scallops were to die for, haven’t had such delicious scallops in my life, they just melted in your mouth, their cannelloni di vitello were exquisite and extremely tasty as well as their tortellini! And their desserts didn’t disappoint either so make sure you leave room for them because the crème brûlée is one of the best ones I have ever had in my life and their tiramisu was out of this world too!! Definitely an amazing place to celebrate any type of event or to treat yourself as it can get pricey. But sooooo definitely worth it!” Credit: Courtesy Photo
27 Club Coffee 1215 West 10th St., Cleveland Owned by Cleveland native Machine Gun Kelly, this hip, modern coffee house in the Flats is perfect if you’re looking to find some coffee that you can put on the ‘gram. In addition to their coffee drinks, 27 Club serves cocktails, breakfast and lunch and has a bunch of specialty drinks like their Pink Latte. Credit: Photo via 27 Club Coffee/Facebook
13. Barroco Grill Sample Yelp review: “DELICIOUS food! Came here last night with a friend for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The service was friendly and fast and the food was to die for. The maduros (fried sweet plantains topped with cheese) were incredible and the mojito I ordered with it was also great and even came with a stick of sugar cane. My reina pepillada arepa was delicious too. It was stuffed with chicken, guac, and cheese and I got a side of yuca fries, which were super crispy. Would absolutely come back!” Credit: Scene Archives
14. EDWINS Sample Yelp review: “We came here for a date night and really enjoyed the experience. The staff was incredibly nice and efficient. Had a great meal and would definitely consider coming back for a date night. I love the concept behind the restaurant and it delivers on food and service.” Credit: Mark Oprea
15. Amazonia 1640 Hopkins Ave., Lakewood Sample Yelp review: “A speakeasy in the heart of Lakewood? Say less! Amazonia easily lived up to the hype surrounding it. I’m a little embarrassed to say how long it took us to find the door, but once we found it, we were transformed into a dark soothing safari like journey. Our server was pretty hilarious and while I appreciate the little story they tell at the beginning of the night, it did make me laugh. We were seated in the upstairs area, which lends to a better conversation over dinner, but I think the first floor is where you truly become immersed into the experience. Could not recommend the pizzas enough and I’m pretty sure we tried every drink on the menu and loved each and every single one. You’d have a hard time picking just one! The pizza stole the show though and I was left speechless. Will definitely be back!!!” Credit: Provided
Chicken and Waffles at Juneberry 3900 Lorain Ave., Cleveland Juneberry Table is a showcase for chef Karen Small’s unfussy style of cooking. In this sun-splashed Ohio City diner, breakfast and lunch plates star humble Appalachian ingredients like buckwheat, sorghum, cornmeal, fruit preserves, fermented veggies and cured meats. In the exemplary chicken and waffles, local chicken is pickle-brined, dredged in panko and fried to the perfect chestnut brown before joining the Ohio cornmeal waffles. To dress it up, there’s Ohio maple syrup and earthy-sweet sorghum butter. Credit: Scene archives
17. Astoria Sample Yelp review: “Remains one of my faves in the 216… we had the octopus, salmon and maiale ribs… all were excellent… festive scene makes this summer patio experience super fun and our regular bartender Jess guided us on great drinks and dishes and is an asset to the venue.” Credit: Scene archives
18. Mabel’s Sample Yelp review: “Iron Chef Michael Symon did the research, homework and created a masterpiece of a restaurant! We really enjoyed our meal and will return. Next time we are each ordering a 1/2 pound of fatty and a 1/2 pound of lean brisket vs only the 1/2 pound! It’s that good! Turkey could have had a little more smoked flavor so I’ll pass on that.” Credit: Scene Archives
19. The Last Page Sample Yelp review: “Nearly flawless experience, they are truly building something special. The location is great, the restaurant buildout is fantastic, service is great.” Credit: Scene archives
20. Sora Sample Yelp review: “First of all, this restaurant is beautiful and such a nice environment to be in! Just walking in feels like you’re transported to another place. The servers were full of personality and great to work with. All the food we ordered was good, especially the fries and the seaweed salad! The salmon bowl was really good as well. You won’t be disappointed!” Credit: Sora FB
21. Lao Sze Chuan Sample Yelp review: “We moved to CLE from Chicago and this was the best Chinese food we found here in CLE. Was definitely on par with the one back home and is our go to place here. Love the fried rice and chicken and the fish is one of our faves. The servers are always quick and attentive and the restaurant itself has a great interior.” Credit: Photo by Doug Trattner
Le Petit Triangle 1881 Fulton Ave., Cleveland “Had a wonderful brunch at Le Petit Triangle . We didn’t have a reservation and they were busy but we got seated pretty quickly . The Chocolat is delicious ; the dark chocolate prevents it from being overly sweet and espresso was perfectly prepared . The mushroom crepe was fantastic ( get it )! Our servers checked on us frequently, to top of drinks and check if we enjoyed the food . There were so many options on the menu I wanted to try , will definitely go again,” Mediha S. on Yelp Credit: Scene archives
23. Great Lakes Brewing Co. Sample Yelp review: “A Cleveland staple! Every time I come here it brings me joy, the old bar in the pub area is so cool and all of their rooms are well thought out and considered. The food here is always amazing, we actually had our rehearsal dinner here and the prices were great and the food was fantastic. Highly recommend having any event here. As a brewery OG in Cleveland I always have to respect this place. The beer is great, and I am glad they have started experimenting a little bit more with what is produced! We have always been treated well while dining here, and we will come back for years and years to come!” Credit: Emanuel Wallace
24. Masthead Brewing Company Sample Yelp review: “Best brewery in Cleveland, possibly the best in Ohio. If you’re ever in the area I highly recommend it if you like IPAs and stouts. They also have the best pretzel around and the pimento cheese is killer. All their pizzas are delicious the steak fajitas, and chicken bacon ranch pizzas are my favorite! Thanks Masthead for being so awesome!!” Credit: Scene Archives
25. Corner 11 Sample Yelp review: “Corner 11 in Cleveland, OH, is a charming spot that makes every visit a pleasure. The interior is delightful, with a cozy ambiance that instantly feels welcoming. The service was great and felt like an intimate family affair. I tried the small poke bowl with salmon, and the freshness of the fish was impressive. One of the highlights is the unlimited toppings, allowing for endless customization and ensuring each bowl is perfectly suited to your taste. I’ve returned to Corner 11 multiple times, and it has quickly become a favorite for when I want to treat myself. I’ve also gotten the khao soi which I highly recommend to try something a little different. Each visit feels special, with the ability to mix and match toppings to create a unique meal every time. If you’re looking for a consistently satisfying dining experience, Corner 11 is definitely worth a visit.” Credit: Emanuel Wallace

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