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Cleveland Restaurant Guide

Cleveland-OH.com is pleased to present this selective restaurant guide for the city of Cleveland, Ohio featuring reviews by the Cleveland Scene. Try our online reservations. It's free and books the table immediately in the restaurant's reservation system. You'll also receive Dining Bonus Points redeemable at thousands of restaurants nationwide.

Cleveland Restaurants

Austin's Woodfire Grille
8121 Chippewa Road, Brecksville, OH 44141
Austin's Wood Fire Grille serves authentic Texas cuisine fired over mesquite coals. Austin's menu includes steak and seafood dishes as well as burgers and chicken parmesan, along with the regular complement of soups and salads.
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Fahrenheit
2417 Professor St., Cleveland OH 44113
Like all the best culinarians, Fahrenheit chef-owner Rocco Whalen lavishes his food with attention, yet knows when each ingredient must be allowed to speak for itself. The result is fabulous items like Java & Mustard-Crusted Pork Tenderloin; thin-crusted pizza topped with artichokes, Niçoise olives, and caramelized shallots; and the voluptuous chocolate-coconut pot de crème. No wonder Fahrenheit sizzles.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.
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Morton's - The Steakhouse
230 Huron Rd., NW (Tower City), Cleveland OH 44115; Tel. 216.621.6200
Part of a national chain, Cleveland's Morton's does the expected fine job with slabs of beef. Steak choices include porterhouse, filet mignon, and New York strip; veal, lamb, chicken, and seafood also put in an appearance. Atmosphere is comfortingly retro, with dim lighting, cozy banquettes, and Ol' Blue Eyes singing in the background.
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Pier W
12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood OH 44107
The spectacular Lake Erie view is still this seafood restaurant's main claim to fame. But the food is catching up. Bouillabaisse is a delicious house specialty, desserts are fine, and the wine list is notable.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.
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Vivo
347 Euclid, Cleveland OH 44114
Italian. The ultrahip Chicago destination restaurant Vivo has opened in Cleveland to much acclaim. Vivo serves contemporary Italian cuisine in a stylish setting, with fabulous desserts. Vivo's open late, with a full bar, spontaneous dancing and views of Cleveland.
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Blue Point Grille
700 West St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.875.STAR
A gold-and-cobalt swirl of elegance and sensuality, Blue Point's aristocratic dining room makes a fitting setting for its fine and flavorful seafood. Whether we feast upon the namesake Blue Point oysters, the velvety seafood chowder, the ephemeral Nags Head grouper, or the buttery yellowfin tuna, we inevitably end our meals feeling pampered and indulged. Not that we'd expect anything less from a place with the motto "Voro Ostrifer Amor Diutius." Eat oysters; make love.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Bruno's Ristorante
2644 W. 41st St., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.961.7087
Neighborly Bruno's is a throwback to earlier times, when Italian restaurateurs baked their own breads, made their own pastas, and served it all in charming, intimate little spaces. Whatever else you choose, don't miss Bruno's lasagna, eggplant Parmesan, or the fried calamari, which are some of the best in the city. Full bar.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Century at the Ritz-Carlton
1515 West Third Street, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.902.5255
As sleek and sophisticated as its namesake, the famous New-York-to-Chicago Twentieth Century Limited, the Ritz-Carlton's restaurant on the Avenue at Tower City is ever so much more than an elegant homage to the Golden Age of Railroading. In fact, the glorious deco decor soon takes a backseat to the impeccable ingredients, delicate textures, and saturated flavors that come out of the kitchen here, where a contemporary fusion fisson informs every dish. No less remarkable is the professional but unstuffy service, which, when paired with the imaginative presentation, gives a meal here the kind of energy that too often is missing from a midwestern "fine dining" experience. Isn't this a great time to be a hungry Clevelander?
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Chez Mozell
20156 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Hts., OH 44128; Tel. 216.751.6900
Free-spirited Mozell Devereaux is an artist, a registered nurse, a caterer, and a chef, but her grandest achievement may well be her superlative seafood gumbo, bristling with shrimp and crawfish, ladled over red beans and rice. Don't just take our word for it; visit her neat little N'Awlins-style restaurant in Shaker Plaza and judge for yourself. Full bar.

Circo
1300 W. 9th St., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.575.0699
A marvel of ultramodern decor, Circo and its attached bar, Zibibbo, serve up contemporary Italian fare in a stunning multicolored setting of glass and leather. While such an impressive atmosphere might run the risk of overshadowing the food, that doesn't happen here. Instead, chef Matt Gambatese's menu of big, rich flavors more than holds its own, assisted by artful presentation and professional service.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Classics
9801 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
The new Classics Restaurant is located at the west end of the Intercontinental Hotel. The menu is guided by Chef de Cuisine Guillaume Brard, using the best ingredients & emphasizing French/American cuisine from treasured favorites to new surprises. The restaurant offers traditional white glove service, but with the drama of tableside flambées, stunning ambiance & live entertainment. Rated with 5 diamonds, the new Classics is a dining experience like no other. The restaurant provides an extensive wine selection of over 5,000 bottles. Tableware is nothing but the best: Villeroy & Boch china & Schott Zwiesel glassware. All desserts are prepared on premise. Classics also offers a cozy comfortable bar, remarkable fireplace & a unique wine room for special parties. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Empress Taytu
6125 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland OH 44103; Tel. 216.391.9400
Behind the doors of Empress Taytu awaits an exotic culinary adventure of the first order. The restaurant serves authentic Ethiopian foods, including beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetarian dishes cooked with a variety of spices and herbs.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Fire
13220 Shaker Square, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.921.3473
It's a handsome contemporary room, with worn wooden floors, soaring windows, ductwork-cum-art, and a vibe as lively and engaging as any place in the city. And yes, it's still all the buzz, even a year after its opening. But ultimately, what makes Fire hot is its food -- simple, straightforward, and with extraordinary depth of flavor -- thanks to the talents of chef-owner Doug Katz and his trusty tandoor. From aïoli-streaked naan to the most astonishingly succulent rib-eye steaks, the items that come out of that clay oven are out of this world, with mouthwatering richness and flavor to spare. If this were all Fire did well, it would be enough. But even non-tandoori items, like thin-crusted pizzas, savory coq au vin, and luscious pastas, are superlative: inventive, creative, and totally accessible little works of art.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Flying Fig
2523 Market Ave., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.241.4243
Layer upon layer of intense flavor is the hallmark of chef-owner Karen Small's seasonal creations. The intimate restaurant's earthy colors make a luscious backdrop for the rich tastes that Small coaxes out of savory ingredients like wild mushrooms, plums, braised greens, and an assortment of cheeses, in a menu that borrows from the best of Mediterranean, Asian, and American flavor lexicons. A compact but thoughtfully designed list of well-priced wines adds to the pleasure. Full bar.

Fulton Bar and Grill
1835 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH 44113; Tel. 216.694.2122
The Fulton's homey upstairs dining room may seem like an unlikely setting for inventive contemporary cuisine, but that's part of what makes this Ohio City spot so appealing. The rest of the attraction, of course, comes from the food -- a globally inspired collection of sassy little dishes that make diners (vegans and vegetarians included) take notice. Full bar.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Greek Isles
500 West St. Clair Ave., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.861.1919
If Mediterranean food is all Greek to you, schedule a visit to the Greek Isles. All your favorites -- avgolemono soup, layered moussaka, and sweet baklava -- are here, and all are tasty and well-prepared. For dessert, try a demitasse cup of thick, sweet Greek coffee and a galaktobouriko -- a crunchy phyllo turnover filled with firm, cheese-like custard and soaked in honey syrup.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar
17105 Grovewood Ave., Cleveland OH 44110; Tel. 216.531.4900
The quirky little Grovewood is a gem of a neighborhood tavern, with large portions of comforting food, a stellar wine list, frequent informal wine tastings, and plenty of live entertainment. And let us not forget the bowling machine, just beyond the door to the candlelit dining room.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Hyde Park Grille
123 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.344.2444
A fine cut of meat (like the Steak Kosar, a nine-ounce filet) coupled with smooth, professional service in a sophisticated and tranquil atmosphere: That's Hyde Park, where even non-red meat eaters have plenty of delicious choices. So relax, order a drink, listen to vintage Sinatra wafting through the sound system, and feel like a million bucks.

Johnny's Bar
3164 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109; Tel. 216.281.0055
This is a spot for extraordinary meals in sumptuous surroundings. Veal, beef, seafood, and pasta dishes are robustly flavored and elegantly presented by knowledgeable and well-trained servers. The wine list is voluminous, mixed drinks are generous, and desserts -- especially the enormous serving of caramel-beribboned Bananas Foster -- are out of this world.

Johnny's Downtown
1406 West 6th St., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.623.0055
How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people? Go to this opulent Warehouse District restaurant and find out. Executive Chef Vid Lutz's heady creations are nearly as grand as the room itself, with bold flavors, savory ingredients, and a pleasantly upscale Italian accent. Hey, at least our dreams of the good life are free. Full bar.

Juniper Grille
1332 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.771.1334
Chef Tom Szoradi's sleek, serene downtown grill offers a pleasant respite from the trials of the 9-to-5 day. Both the breakfast and lunch menus are packed with updated comfort dishes, ranging from baked apple pancakes to rosemary-roasted pork chops, and the soothing decor manages to be both relaxing and inspiring. Full bar.

Lava Lounge
1307 Auburn Avenue, Cleveland, OH; Tel. 216.589.9112
The staffers at this tiny retro lounge in Tremont like to pretend it's just a bar, not a restaurant. But don't let them fool you: The food here is first-rate. Gorgonzola-topped rib-eye on focaccia bread, peppery cavatelli, cold marinated pork tenderloin, prosciutto-stuffed Mozzarella, and what is, for our hard-earned dinero, the best fried calamari in the city all more than hold their own against the generous mixed drinks, draft beer, and selection of better wines brought to you by your friendly barkeep. Set it all against a backdrop of throbbing electronica, under the light of undulating lava lamps, and the result is a big serving of urban atmosphere.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Li Wah Restaurant
2999 Payne Avenue, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.696.6556
Dim sum in the morning, noodles at midday, and dishes ranging from custardy braised tofu to salt-baked squid at night make spacious Li Wah, located in the heart of Cleveland's Chinatown, one of the city's best locations for tabletop adventuring. While the Hong Kong-style restaurant specializes in seafood, we also adore the crisp-skinned Peking duck and the delicious vegetarian dishes, surprisingly well paired with a kitschy Mai Tai or Singapore Sling sipped from a faux coconut shell.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Lockkeepers
8001 Rockside Road, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.524.9404
Situated on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, Lockkeepers is sort of the Cary Grant of Cleveland dining rooms -- handsome, refined, and yes, charmingly old-fashioned, with a masculine Arts and Crafts decor and a big menu of upscale American-dream foods, ranging from foie gras and caviar to prime rib and porterhouse steak. The wine list is serious, the service is professional, and -- as you might expect -- the air is heavy with the perfume of money. So how to finance this splurge? Preferably on someone else's platinum card. That always makes the champagne just a little bit sweeter, mais non?
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Lola
900 Literary Rd., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.771.5652
Tremendously hip and just a trifle edgy, Lola is one of the city's best restaurants. Nationally recognized chef-owner Michael Symon's seasonal "contemporary Midwestern cuisine" has a distinctly delicate touch, yet his creations, grounded in the classics but updated for today's sophisticated palate, sing out with flavor and inventiveness. Service, too, is excellent. Full bar.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Lopez Southwestern Food Club
2196 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Lopez is the preeminent southwestern/Mexican restaurant in Ohio. Led by Chef Eric Williams, the kitchen is regarded as innovative, original, and ambitious. Seven flavors of margaritas, lobster enchiladas, and pecan/pumpkin seed crusted trout with smoked jalapeno mustard are only three examples of menu items that sustain the restaurant's reputation and buzz. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Lozada's
1909 W. 25th St., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.621.2954
Part cucina criolla and part shrine to Major League Baseball, Lozada's serves traditional Puerto Rican fare in a simple dining room crammed with sports paraphernalia. Dishes include alcapurria (a sort of banana croquette stuffed with ground beef), tostones (fried plantain patties), and goat stew. Seasonings are generally subtle, not fiery; portions are large; and prices are low, making it a tabletop adventure the whole family can enjoy.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Lure Bistro
38040 Third St., Willoughby OH 44094; Tel. 440.951.TUNA
Bright, bustling, and intense, the atmosphere here is a perfect backdrop for chef-owner Nicholas Kustala's tasty contemporary menu. Choices range from Asian hand rolls and raw oysters all the way to lamb pot pie, cassoulet, and a marvelous diver-scallop risotto with mussels, mascarpone, and chive-infused truffle oil. Full bar.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Major's Club Isabella
2025 University Hospital Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106
Major's Club Isabella, winner of Taste of Cleveland 2004 "Best of the Fest," serves up casual, hip food. The reasonably priced 75-bottle wine list compliments the trendy cuisine. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Mi Pueblo
11611 Euclid Ave., Cleveland OH 44106; Tel. 216.791.8226
This friendly Mexican taqueria near the CWRU campus serves large portions of simple, well-prepared foods in an attractive atmosphere. Beefy burritos approximately the size of a small log are among the more popular offerings.

Mise
10427 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland OH 44102; Tel. 216.651.6473
Jeff Uniatowski's casually sophisticated restaurant on Clifton is a gem, with artful tableware, professional service, and a compact menu of innovative and delicious cuisine. The dining room and bar are totally nonsmoking, but a relaxing lounge, with overstuffed sofas and massive chairs, is just right for unwinding over tapas, wine, and a smoke.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Mojo Bar and Musicafé
2221 Professor St., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.592.6656
Chef-owner Michael Herschman's dinner menu is a merry blend of American, Latin, Asian, and Mediterranean flavors, served in small-plate, tapas-like portions, in a setting both sophisticated and energetic. Nightly live jazz, a rock-solid wine list, and a killer martini menu are the perfect accompaniments to the creative dishes, which can be mixed and matched for a meal as humble or as grand as one desires.

Niko's on Detroit
15625 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood OH; Tel. 216.226.7050
Depending on the time and day, diners here may find a DJ spinning contemporary Greek and Euro-techno tunes or performers playing traditional Greek music, or belly dancers shimmying through the aisles. But it's the simple homemade food -- perfect pastitsio, savory gyros, and crunchy galatobourekos, brought to the table straight from the oven -- that makes this place a standout. Thoroughly modern, but casual and comfortable, Niko's is a prime example of how fine a neighborhood restaurant can be, when owners care enough to make it so.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

One Walnut
1801 E. 9th St. (in the Ohio Savings Plaza building), Cleveland OH 44114; Tel. 216.575.1111
Sophisticated and urbane, Marlin Kaplan's One Walnut attracts throngs of downtown white-collar types for tasty lunches and elegantly comforting dinners. The restaurant's warm art-deco decor serves as a backdrop for unusual and attentively prepared meat and seafood dishes, augmented by a solid selection of wines and mixed drinks from the intimate little bar. Good housemade desserts, too.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Osteria di Valerio & Al
408 West St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.685.9490
The names of the dishes roll across the tongue like ripe black olives: Carpaccio di Tonno. Ribollita Toscana. Sformato di Zucchine. And the flavors? Like little time bombs, set to shower the palate with truffle oil, fresh herbs, and savory reductions. Osteria di Valerio & Al is an intimate little restaurant, where the authentic flavors of the Piedmont are woven into sophisticated, contemporary dishes. Those interested in a slice of pizza pie need not apply. But for those pursuing a slice of culinary paradise, your table is waiting.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Parker's New American Bistro
2801 Bridge Ave., Cleveland OH 44113; Tel. 216.771.7130
San Francisco has nothing on Parker Bosley and his New American Bistro, where earthy, locally produced foodstuffs are prepared with style, wit, and sophistication. Bosley serves up his delicious, labor-intensive fare in a historic Ohio City dining room, a recently remodeled space as warm and welcoming as any in town. Full bar, notable wine list.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Phnom Penh Restaurant
13124 Lorain Ave., Cleveland OH 44111; Tel. 216.251.0210
This no-frills eatery serves authentic Cambodian and Vietnamese dishes, flavored with ingredients like fresh Asian basil, lemon grass, and coconut milk. Much of the menu is devoted to noodle dishes, including an assortment of pad thai. Tropical fruit drinks, like coconut soda and mango juice, and several varieties of French coffee are available to wash it all down.

Rachel's Caribbean Cuisine
14417 Cedar Rd., South Euclid OH 44121; Tel. 216.382.6952
Dance on over to this modest little restaurant for the best Jamaican jerk chicken in town, roasted with a mouthwatering blend of sweet and savory spices, and so tender and succulent, you may almost be moved to tears. Full bar. Lunch, dinner.

River's Edge
1198 Old River Road, Cleveland; Tel. 216.696.1198
Sure, there's something unnatural about walking into a Flats bar in the first light of day. But that's how it is if you want one of the best breakfasts in town. While it's far from fancy, the morning fare is good tasting and inexpensive, the place is clean, and both the staff and the regular customers are friendly and welcoming.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Sans Souci
24 Public Square, in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.696.5600
From creamy lobster bisque to lush bouillabaisse, the ever-changing seafood selections at Mediterranean-inspired Sans Souci have rarely failed to please us. Of course, we would expect nothing less from a kitchen that marries classic technique with top-notch ingredients. Factor in the cool, collected country-French decor, an exceptional wine list, and professional service, and Sans Souci is quite the catch.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

Sergios in University Circle
1903 Ford Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106
Dining at Sergios in University Circle is a sensual experience. The restaurant is an inspired mix of continental, coastal, Asian, and Brazilian flavors in the heart of Cleveland's cultural playground. The cross-cultural menu reflects the diversity of Chef-Owner Sergio Abramof's background. The flavors are bright, clean, and bold. The Sergios menu features local, organic, and seasonal items as often as possible. Service is casual and professional. (Description provided by Opentable.com)
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Shuhei
23360 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood OH 44122; Tel. 216.464.1720
The first thing guests spot when they enter Shuhei is the big, beautiful sushi bar, backed up by a small army of bustling sushi chefs. As you would expect, an excellent variety of maki and nigiri sushi is the star of the show here -- ordered à la carte or in combinations as either appetizers or entrées. Beyond sushi, diners can also select items from a large menu of steaks, seafood, poultry, noodle, and vegetarian dishes. Charming servers in traditional kimonos add a decorative touch.

Stix Bar and Grill
8377 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls OH 44023; Tel. 440.543.7849
We like this friendly restaurant for its luscious wood-smoked barbecued ribs and its savory grilled steaks. But we love it for all the unexpectedly wonderful extras, like impeccably fresh and well-seasoned veggies, scrumptious sweet potato fries, dynamite chicken-and-andouille-sausage gumbo, and homemade apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream. Owner and genial host Nick Karakas makes sure everyone is happy and, as a matter of fact, we are.
Full review available from the Cleveland Scene.

The Baricelli Inn
2203 Cornell Road, Cleveland; Tel. 216.791.6500
This beautiful turn-of-the-century brownstone is a showcase for Chef Paul Minnillo's earthy yet elegant dishes. Minnillo's creations are so vital and vibrant — roast lamb loin, breast of chicken, long-boned veal chops — that sometimes we get excited just reading the menu. Is it a mere coincidence that the inn also offers several luxurious guestrooms on the upper floors? I think not.

The Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Street, Cleveland OH; Tel. 216.771.4404
Even if you resist drinking Great Lakes' award-winning beer, you can still get a taste of the brews' distinctive flavor. The bratwurst is soaked in perennial favorite Dortmunder Gold; the tangy salad dressing takes its flavor from the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. The porter pops up later in the scrumptious chocolate chunk ice cream. It's hard enough to do food with excellence, even without adding the beer factor. Not only does Great Lakes manage to succeed at both, the brewpub integrates them in a stylish -- and delicious -- way.

The Pyramid
12501 Lorain Ave., Cleveland OH 44111; Tel. 216.671.9300
The Pyramid serves a wonderful assortment of authentic Arabic cuisine that goes beyond the usual hummus, baba ghanouj, and kibbeh. Try a big bowl of fattah -- toasted pita bread soaked to a pudding-like consistency in chickpea stock, blended with tahini, and topped with pine nuts. For dessert, skip the baklava and order a square of warm kunafa -- sweet Armenian cheese topped with shocking-orange phyllo shreds and bathed in sugar syrup. Service is friendly and helpful.

Tommy's
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Hts. OH 44118; Tel. 216.321.7757
Tommy's boasts a large menu of creative and unusual vegetarian sandwiches, soups, and salads, many with a Middle Eastern flair. (Carnivores: Don't despair. There is meat on the menu, too.) After a healthy hummus-stuffed ripe tomato or a grilled cheese sandwich with veggies, sunflower seeds, and sesame sauce, splurge on an old-fashioned, creamy malt or milkshake. Just how healthy do you want to be, anyway?