22 New Restaurants That Opened in the Cleveland Area This Year

The first quarter of the year tends to include its fair share of restaurant closures, but it also heralds a slew of…

By Scene Staff

Never Say Dive
4497 Broadview Rd.
Situated in a renovated classic 1920s-era tavern in Old Brooklyn, the buffed-up shot-and-beer bar features draft beers, housemade seltzers and cocktails and a fun selection of small plates from Chef John Hagerty, also of the Green Kitchen in Clark-Fulton. Those dishes, many of them vegan or vegan-ready, aim to match the high-low vibe of the bar. Guests can mix and match snacks like deviled eggs, pork rinds with whipped blue cheese, and spiced nuts. There’s a cheese board from across-the-street neighbor Old Brooklyn Cheese, Mexican charred corn and Killbuck Valley mushroom toast and a few larger plates including a double smash burger and udon noodle bowl.
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The 25 Best New Restaurants That Opened In Cleveland In 2023

It hasn't been all bad news on the Cleveland dining scene this year, though we did lose some beloved institutions. All around…

By Scene Staff

 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. Aside from the dozen or so locations of Lao Sze Chuan in Greater Chicago, 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.
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The Hottest New Restaurants That Opened in Cleveland This Year

While it's been a difficult year in the Cleveland dining scene, losing beloved spots left and right, it hasn't been all bad…

By Scene Staff

 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.
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The Most Anticipated Restaurants Opening in Cleveland the Rest of 2023 and Beyond

Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all the new openings that not only have already happened but all the good stuff…

By Scene Staff

 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.
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All the New Cleveland Restaurants That Have Opened in 2023

Cleveland welcomed 75 or more bars, cafes, sandwich shops and bistros this year. Here's a rundown on everything that has opened in…

By Scene Staff

 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 last week, 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. In the off season, Geraci’s Slice Shop acquired “Manager of the Year” Terry "Tito" Francona as an investor. The prominent Vincenza’s space has been artfully redesigned into an `80s-themed pizzeria where fun, nostalgia and efficiency are the names of the game.  A 25-seat sidewalk patio features a turf base and lawn chairs.
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The Most Anticipated Cleveland Restaurants Opening This Spring and Summer

Cleveland has welcomed almost 40 new restaurants, coffee shops and bars already in 2023, and the pace isn't slowing down anytime soon.…

By Scene Staff

 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, but locally the options are limited to a couple carry-out-only places such as Mely's Kainan and Nipa Hut Oriental Market.
Soon, thanks to Flora Grk, Greater Cleveland diners will soon be able to enjoy Filipino foods in a full-service, dine-in setting. The 60-seat restaurant in Independence is expected to open in May. The menu 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.
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20+ Of the Most Anticipated New Cleveland Restaurants Opening in 2022

After a disastrous 2020, the Cleveland restaurant scene bounced back in a big way this past year. Local diners (and drinkers) were…

By Scene Staff

Smokey’s BBQ and Saloon
    1502 Old River Rd., Cleveland
    
    Any day now, Smokey’s BBQ and Saloon will bring the intoxicating scent of slow-smoked meats to the Flats East Bank. Chef James Baker, son of Al “Bubba” Baker, will be leaning on his years of experience when firing up the Southern Pride to make brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken and sausage. The meats will be joined by sides like mac and cheese, greens and baked beans.
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All the New Restaurants That Opened In Cleveland In 2021

2021 has certainly seen its fair share of restaurant closings, brought about by the pandemic and other factors in the changing industry.…

By Scene Staff

 ETalian
    13 Bell St., Chagrin Falls
    
     The transformation from blacksmith’s shop to spa to farmhouse-chic pizzeria is complete. Months of construction have netted an open, airy and attractive space with exposed brick walls, cathedral ceiling, original beams and new windows that look out onto the upper Chagrin Falls. Filling the kitchen in a 6,000-pound imported Italian wood-burning oven that bakes pizzas in around a minute and a half. Pizzas can be ordered unsliced, sliced or folded “wallet-style” for mobile enjoyment from a paper pouch.
    
    Photo by Douglas Trattner
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46 New Restaurants To Try In Cleveland This Summer

For many of us, the last year and a half has been a blur, a foggy morass during which time crept and…

By Scene Staff

 Explore the Van Aken Market District
    3401 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights
    
    The Market District is one of the more exciting spots to open in the area in the last few years. There’s a food hall where you can grab food from a bunch of awesome local spots like Lox, Stock and Brisket and Banter, then grab a pastry at On The Rise bakery and a coffee at Rising Star. Then grab some cheese from Old Brooklyn Cheese Co before exploring the local shops like Whiskey Grade, Emily Roggenburk, Xhibition and Double Rainbow if you have a little one.
    
    Photo via Scene Archives
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The 23 Hottest Restaurants In Cleveland

With the pandemic slowing down, more and more people want to spend a night out on the town. Luckily, between new restaurants,…

By Scene Staff

 Ohio Pie Co.
    1315 ½ Pearl Rd., Brunswick
    
     In a very crowded market, Ohio Pie Co. has made its presence known since opening two years ago. Pizza lovers routinely make pilgrimages to a colorful storefront in Brunswick to claim one, two, or more thick, square-cut pies. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the shop to run out of dough long before it runs out of daylight. Still, many in Northeast Ohio have yet to try it because 30 minutes is a long way to travel for pizza, regardless how delicious it might be. For those people, Ohio Pie Co. just teased out a bit of good news. A social media post hinted at a new location – its second – in what looks to be the former Pizza Hut in Rocky River, located in the plaza with Whole Foods Market. 
    
    Photo via Scene Archives
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New and Coming Soon: 34 of Cleveland's Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of the New Year

While a global pandemic may not be the ideal time to open up a new restaurant, restaurants take a long time to…

By Scene Staff

 The Last Page
    100 Park Ave. Ste. 128, Orange Village 
    
     The Last Page, a restaurant described by its owners as a “modern American concept,” is opened its doors at Pinecrest in February. The Last Page is open seven days a week and features an all-day menu during the week and a brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests can expect an eclectic menu with global influence. On the menu are snacks and appetizers such as sweet potato chips with rye sour cream, salmon belly spread with everything crostini, colossal shrimp with horseradish cocktail sauce, and sweet and spicy dry rubbed ghost wings with umami ranch. 
    
    Photo via Scene Archives
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31 of the Best New Restaurants That Opened in Cleveland in 2020

We lost a lot of good and great restaurants in 2020, including iconic Cleveland establishments Sokolowski's, Lola and Greenhouse Tavern. That said,…

By Scene Staff

 Amba
    1975 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights 
    
     Along with Chimi, the restaurant Amba shares its kitchen with, from popular Chef Doug Katz (Fire, Zhug), is one of the first in Cleveland to have no public access, otherwise known as a ghost kitchen. While Chimi is Katz’s take on South American food, Amba is a modern fusion of Indian flavors. As is the case with Chimi, this ghost kitchen roll-out gives Katz the opportunity to test out a concept in hopes of developing it into a full-service brick-and-mortar restaurant. 
    
    Photo via Scene Archives
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The 20 Hottest Restaurants in Cleveland Right at This Moment

We know, the Cleveland restaurants scene is just blowing up at the moment. So how does one choose where to eat? Well,…

By Scene Staff

 Sawyer’s
    3396 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights
    
     In many ways, Sawyer's can be viewed as the culmination of all the chef’s previous restaurants, a culinary composition that represents the James Beard Award-winning chef's experiences with French, Italian, Japanese and American cookery. At the same time, his latest production is nearly impossible to pigeonhole. Less magnum opus than "greatest hits" compilation, the restaurant reprises many fan favorites from years and meals past. While no longer revelatory, dishes like confit chicken wings, beef fat candle, strangolapreti and Tabasco fried chicken are nevertheless worthy of encore performances.
    
    Photo via The Van Aken District
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The Most-Anticipated New Restaurants Coming to Cleveland in 2020

Adding to Cleveland's already vibrant dining scene, here are all the new restaurants in the area set to open their doors this…

By Scene Staff

 Mojo World Eats and Drink
    2196 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
    
     After roughly 40 years in business, Lopez has ceased to exist in Cleveland Heights. The pioneering Mexican eatery began life in 1980, when owners Brad Friedlander and Craig Somers opened the spot at Lee and Washington. For the past 15 years, Lopez lived across from the Cedar Lee Theatre, the last three years of which were under the ownership of longtime chef Michael Herschman. Soon, Herschman will revive his former Tremont bistro Mojo in that space. Like the original, Mojo will present a lengthy menu loaded with globally diverse and appealing options. The current working catalogue approaches 40 different items, most of which take inspiration from Pacific Rim, Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines. 
    
    Photo via Scene Archives
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26 Hot Restaurants That are New or Coming Soon to Cleveland

It's hard to keep up with Cleveland's hot food scene these days, thankfully Scene has your back. Here's a list of new…

By Scene Staff

 Cilantro Taqueria
    2783 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights and 20090 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights
    
    Fans of authentic Mexican and Cal-Mex food like tacos, tortas, burritos and bowls got a nice treat when this place opened in Cleveland Heights in early 2019, replacing a Chipotle. They also opened a location in Shaker Heights recently. It’s rare to find real tacos al pastor in these parts, slabs of achiote and pineapple marinated pork layered onto a vertical spit, or trompo, that cooks as it twirls. In Salinas and elsewhere in California, the items often go by the name tacos de adobada. You can find them here, and they’re delicious.
    
    Photo courtesy of Cilantro Taqueria
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15 New Cleveland Restaurants You Should be Eating at This Season

While it's always wonderful to stick with the spots you know and love, you should also branch out. These 15 Cleveland area restaurants,…

By Scene Staff

 Marble Room
    623 Euclid Ave., 216-523-7000
    Sorry, Crop Bistro. Now that Marble Room Steak and Raw Bar is open downtown, it jumps to the front of the line in terms of Cleveland’s most impressive dining rooms. The dramatic restaurant sits inside the historic bank lobby of the Garfield Building at E. Sixth and Euclid. And, as you can imagine, here you can spend a lot of money on steak and seafood. 
    Photo via hollie_gyarmati/Instagram
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