Open for: Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch
Price range: $$$
With Westsiders — located, where else, but on Cleveland’s westside — owners Constantine Katsaros and Jack Messer aimed to create something of a unicorn in the restaurant world: a suburban bistro that is drop-dead gorgeous, well-run, and priced for weekly regulars. Affordable cocktails lay the groundwork for seasonal small plates starring honey-drizzled ricotta, braised pork belly served with crispy-creamy polenta fries, and roasted beets. Larger plates feature burgers, house-made tagliatelle Bolognese, seasonal fish and seafood, and smartly composed — and priced — meaty mains like tequila-glazed bone-in pork chops with corn succotash. 
Vibe check: Looking for a great brunch option for small groups? This is your spot.

Open for: Happy hour, dinner, weekend brunch
Price range: $$$$
In 2024, a year filled with too many restaurant closures to count, Artis was a bright spot. This buzzy, glam Lakewood bistro is helmed by chef-owner Andrew Mansour, who has a knack for weaving globetrotting flavors into a cohesive experience. Plates run from small to big, with flavorful gems like kimchi fried rice, hummus topped with Moroccan-spiced lamb, lobster bisque soup dumplings, and grilled Korean-style short ribs with ssam sauce. Crafty cocktails, great desserts, and a popular weekend brunch further boost this bistro’s rep.
Must-try dish: With so much going on, it’s easy to miss that Artis is secretly an amazing steakhouse, with half a dozen chops expertly grilled, sliced, and presented for sharing.

Open for: Happy hour, dinner
Price range: $$$$
Rood, which has graced this list in years prior, has earned its way back thanks to recent developments. New ownership by Vessel Hospitality, the group behind Cloak and Dagger, and fresh culinary talent in the kitchen has given this Lakewood jewel a revived sense of purpose. Star pastry chef Annabella Andricks has joined rising-star chef Josh Erickson in the kitchen, where they deliver seasonal Midwestern fare in a vibey lounge-like setting. Diners can expect plenty of vegetables and eclectic small plates, like za’atar-rubbed roasted carrots, togarashi-spiced mussels, and charred octopus with housemade chorizo. Andricks packs the dessert list with decadent pies like maple miso pie topped with sesame praline crumble or salt and honey pie served with bee pollen.
Best for: Happy hour, when there are some truly great deals on food and cocktails.

Open for: Happy hour, dinner
Price range: $$
Birdietown opened a few months ago and already has become the new darling of Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood. This two-level, 12,000-square-foot destination combines a restaurant, two bars, and 18 custom-built holes of indoor mini-golf. Banish thoughts of a noisy, kid-filled playpen as this is a bespoke destination built for adults. The cocktails are top-flight, and James Beard semifinalist chef Jill Vedaa oversees the gastropub menu, which is approachable but elevated, including the chef’s signature white bean puree and calamari with coconut glaze. 
Best for: Date night.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $
It’s hard to put into words how much people adore Il Rione, a buzzy pizzeria in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. Diners have been known to wait for hours at nearby bars until their phones light up to signal their tables are ready. They are rewarded with dazzling New York-style pizzas dished up in a slightly shabby, slightly chic dining room with an open kitchen and bar. The pizzeria focuses almost exclusively on stellar pies like margherita, sausage, and white clam, but the menu does offer a select few additions like meat and cheese boards and a handful of salads. To drink, there is an equally concise roster of beers, wines, and cocktails.
Know before you go: To while away the inevitable wait, cross the street to Stone Mad, one of the most beautiful and welcoming Irish bars in town.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $
Duck into Cent’s, which is located in an unassuming brick building on the western edge of Ohio City, and you’re immersed in a dreamy tangerine-colored tableau. Owner Vincent Morelli, a former visual merchandiser who also had a stint at Roberta’s in Brooklyn, has installed modular shelving stocked with eclectic merch like tinned fish, art mags, and turntables. Baked in a wood-burning oven, the Neapolitan-ish pies are exceptional, with clever combos like tomato, garlic, white anchovies, and capers, or the Sunday Gravy with bite-size meatballs, sliced garlic, and a shower of pecorino.
Must-try: While it might seem antithetical to order bread before pizza, Morelli’s wonder bread is truly a wonder. The poofy pillow is served with cultured butter, but regulars know to order the house-made stracciatella as well. 

Open for: Afternoon and evening treats
Price range: $
What started as a roving cart at a farmers market scooping novelty flavors has blossomed into a decade of smiles at a shop in a quiet corner of Ohio City. The walk-through dessert shop (there’s no indoor seating area) offers small-batch ice cream in delicious and often surprising flavors. Mason’s was early among Cleveland food businesses to trumpet the joys of ube (purple yam), which it serves alongside creations like olive oil cake, tres leches, salted caramel miso, and pawpaw. To boost the fun factor, customers can receive their ice cream in eggy bubble waffles. 
Know before you go: In winter, the owners swap out most (but not all) of the ice cream for bowls of exceptional tonkotsu ramen, which diners can take home or slurp in a makeshift al fresco dining room.

Open for: Lunch, dinner
Price range: $
Since returning home to Cleveland, chef-owner Anthony Zappola has made a career out of delivering high-quality foods in quick-serve settings. After more than a decade of working for Tom Colicchio, Zappola opened back-to-back hits Lox, Stock, and Brisket and the Rice Shop in Cleveland. With Tripi, named for the birthplace of his grandparents, the chef aims his focus on a handful of Italian dishes. Sandwiches such as chicken Parm and cold Italian subs are built atop house-baked rolls, pasta is topped with a choice of sausage or meatballs, and thick slices of sheet-pan pepperoni pizza are ready for the taking. 
Best for: This might be the quickest, best lunch option in all of Ohio City.

Open for: Breakfast, lunch, aperitivo
Price range: $
Occupying a former showroom for Vitrolite tile, Patron Saint brings the all-day cafe trend to Ohio City. The sun-soaked space features graceful arches, 15-foot ceilings, and walls clad in various shades and designs of pigmented glass tile. Patron Saint transitions from early-morning coffee service to early-evening aperitivo hour. To match the Italian-inspired vibe, the chef has created a lean menu of composed plates like a continental breakfast, wholesome grain salads, warm vegetable dishes, piadinas, and meatballs.
Know before you go: A small but curated retail section offers great bottles of Italian wine, aperitivo, and amaro to go. Most are natural, low-intervention, and/or organic.

Open for: Lunch, early dinner
Price range: $$
Set inside an 1850s-era firehouse, Larder is a modern-day version of the classic Jewish delicatessen as seen through the eyes of chef Jeremy Umansky. The old-world setting provides the ideal backdrop to display heavenly breads and pastries like black-and-white cookies, fruit-filled rugelach, chocolate babka, buttery challah, and meaty knishes. Hungry Ohio City neighbors literally line up for the now-famous koji-cured pastrami sandwiches, but you should also try the epic fried chicken sandwiches, matzo ball soup, housemade charcuterie, and daily specials like local beet salad. The Hingetown eatery shares patio seating with Rising Star Coffee.
Vibe check: Larder doesn’t have much indoor seating, but you can grab a table on the roomy sidewalk patio, which the restaurant shares with Rising Star Coffee.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
Along with Zhug, the small-plates restaurant in Cleveland Heights, and Kiln in Shaker Heights, chef Doug Katz runs Amba in Ohio City. This well-designed space is a feast for the senses, with low lighting, a lively soundtrack, and a menu built for sharing. Start with mixed pickled veggies, chickpea fritters, and smashed-pea samosas, before moving onto ghee-basted shrimp, venison keema, and paneer with curry leaf and mustard seed. The attached Bar Amba is the ideal spot to ride out the inevitable wait for a table.
Know before you go: The attached Bar Amba is the ideal spot to ride out the inevitable wait for a table.

Open for: Lunch, dinner, with a break in between
Price range: $$$
Acqua Di Dea is that rare special-occasion seafood restaurant that manages to exceed expectations, thanks to owner Lola Jacaj, a restaurant pro who also runs Oliva and Casa La Luna. Set in a drama-filled warehouse space in the heart of downtown that has been around since Grover Cleveland’s first term as president, the restaurant is bright, buzzy, and boisterous when busy. Kick things off with the seafood platter, which is loaded with king crab legs, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, scallops, and lobster, all gently cooked in white wine sauce. Crab cakes are loaded with sweet meat, grilled whole branzino is garnished with capers and anchovies, and pan-seared salmon is served with lobster ravioli. Meat lovers can tuck into veal chops, rib eyes, and slow-cooked ossobuco. 
Know before you go: Come for lunch, when you’ll find budget-friendly pizzas and pastas, alongside some more indulgent seafood dishes.

Open for: Evening to late night
Price range: $
The Old Brooklyn neighborhood continues to evolve from a sleepy bedroom community to a compelling destination for food and drinks. In early 2024, a group of industry vets opened Never Say Dive, a meticulously curated dive bar with stellar drinks and a delightfully over-the-top vibe. The tavern exterior belies the colorful interior, where neon pink flamingos and other campy art collide. To drink, there are $3 beers alongside draft cocktails, as well as house-made seltzers and creative mixed drinks. Dig into a Dive Dog, a Kobe-beef frank topped with caviar and potato chips, or a shockingly good bowl of udon in a savory bone marrow broth.
Must-try dish: On Tuesdays, diners can savor a bucket of crispy fried chicken and a bottle of Spanish cava for just $40.

Open for: Drinks until late
Price range: $$$
With a name like the Whiskey Bar, it’s clear what the owners of this low-key lounge pride above all else. Jay and Jade Novak have a near-singled-minded focus on sharing exceptional spirits, mostly amber in hue, from around the world. They opened the first Whiskey Bar on the east side of town about eight years ago and grew the collection to a dizzying 500 labels, with bottles originating in America, Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and elsewhere. The duo recently expanded the concept to downtown, where they pour just steps away from Progressive Field and Rocket Arena. Guests can expect wines, cocktails, small plates, and some live jazz on weekends.
Must-try: Flights here are a true whiskey-lover’s budget hack, granting access to prized bottles that might otherwise be out of reach.

Open for: Lunch, dinner
Price range: $$
Michael Symon’s downtown barbecue joint has developed a winning formula that pairs truly exceptional smoked meat with a lively industrial saloon setting. Cooked low and slow over Ohio fruitwoods, items like beef brisket, pork butt, pork ribs, turkey, and kielbasa exit the pits supple, smoky, and delicious. Those meats come by the pound or packed into two-fisted sandwiches. Sides and snacks include creamed corn, fried potatoes, broccoli salad, and pork cracklins with French onion dip. Brown booze fans will relish one of the best bourbon selections in town, while craft beer fans will have no complaints either. There is patio seating right on lively East Fourth Street.
Vibe check: Brown booze fans will relish one of the best bourbon selections in town, while craft beer fans will have no complaints either.

Open for: Dinner, Sunday brunch
Price range: $$
Since opening in 2022, Cordelia has enjoyed enthusiastic approval, including back-to-back semifinalist nods from the James Beard Foundation. Bright, lively, and approachable, the restaurant welcomes all comers with a hospitality philosophy dubbed “Midwest Nice.” From the city’s most dramatic open kitchen, chef-owner Vinnie Cimino reminds diners that eating out can still be daring, delicious, and playful. The ever-evolving menu is stacked with shareable relish and dip trays, daily fish and steak selections, and a four-slider pull-apart smash burger complete with melted cheese skirt.
Know before you go: If you can snag seats at the kitchen counter, you’ll enjoy a ringside view of the action, plus plenty of attention from the chefs.

Open for: Dinner and drinks
Price range: $$$
Cloak & Dagger offers the cozy appeal of a warmly lit study thanks to shelves of leather-bound books, curious antiquities, and plush furniture. The literary theme carries over to the beverage menu, a seasonal collection of original cocktails presented in a meticulously illustrated booklet. The hip spot pairs those cocktails with an all-vegan roster of bar snacks, sandwiches, and full plates. Dishes include seasonal jams and bread, masa hushpuppies, spring pea bruschetta, and artichoke-filled “crab” cakes.
Know before you go: You can and should make reservations at this always-hopping hotspot.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
The grandest dining room in Cleveland belongs to Marble Room, an opulent prime steak and seafood restaurant tucked into a turn-of-the-century bank lobby. Designed by the architecture firm behind Severance Hall, the stunning beaux arts-style interior boasts soaring ceilings, massive pillars, grand staircases, and ornate ironwork. To go with all that eye candy is a menu flush with caviar, seafood towers, sushi and sashimi, and a butcher shop’s worth of steaks and chops. The toughest tables in town come with fine cocktails, professional service, and frequent live music.
Know before you go: Make reservations well in advance for this stunning downtown steakhouse.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
Cleveland, like most major cities nowhere near an ocean, has enough great sushi places to satisfy nigiri lovers. But this one, operated by former Nobu chef Dante Boccuzzi, is unique in terms of style, setting, and selection. Located beneath Boccuzzi’s namesake bistro Dante, Ginko is a grotto-like den dominated by a horseshoe-shaped sushi bar. No expense is spared to secure the finest, freshest fish, which is crafted into an unforgettable omakase or a la carte experience. A pair of dedicated shabu-shabu tables offer an alternative to the fish, while sake aficionados will savor the exceptional list here too.
Must-try dish: Get the omakase and leave the decisions to the sushi chefs.

Open for: Brunch, dinner
Price range: $$
Located in a handsome 1920s-era warehouse downtown, Masthead has been brewing up good times since 2017. The beefy 20-barrel brewhouse sits right behind the bar and produces a wide variety of exceptional ales and lagers, including a classic American IPA and a beefy double IPA called Extra! Extra! (There’s also a full bar if you prefer your drinks shorter and stronger). From a wood-burning oven come excellent Neapolitan-style pizzas, calzones, and giant pretzels, which join shareable snacks like hummus, quesadillas, and stuffed dates. 
Know before you go: Start with a four-beer flight to get a lay of the land before committing to a pint.

Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
This spot in Cleveland’s AsiaTown neighborhood attracts diners for steamer baskets flush with xiao long bao. But those who explore the menu further find an array of outstanding Shanghai-style soups, noodle bowls, and meat dishes. Worth calling out is the wonton soup with shrimp dumplings, spicy beef noodle soup, scallion noodles, shredded pork with preserved vegetables, and soy sauce duck.
Must-try dish: The spicy wontons are guaranteed to warm you up.

Open for: Lunch, dinner
Price range: $$
Cleveland is blessed with many wonderful Vietnamese restaurants that specialize in noodle soups — sparking plenty of debates and declarations about the current “best” at any moment. We prefer to avoid such stark classifications, but nevertheless often steer diners in search of comfort to Pho Lee. Located in Asian Town Center, this modest cafe prepares stellar pho, delivered piping hot in minutes, as well as deeply flavorful bun bo hue: beef noodle soup slicked with red chile oil. Soups come with a garnish plate overflowing with bean sprouts, shredded cabbage, fried banana blossoms, fresh mint, and limes. In addition to the soups, Pho Lee offers rice and vermicelli plates, banh mi, and cups of strong, sweet Vietnamese coffee. 
Know before you go: Before or after your meal, hit the mall’s Asian grocery next door for all your pantry needs.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$$
After changing hands in 2022, a prominent corner property in Little Italy has been transformed into a stylish, sophisticated Italian-themed steakhouse. Zachary Ladner and Carl Quagliata, the chef-owners behind a handful of local restaurants, have created a brilliant 45-seat bistro that benefits from ingredients shared by sister establishment Village Butcher. Classic chophouse starters like steak tartare and shrimp cocktail join hot appetizers like coquilles Saint Jacques and veal sweetbreads. Tables can opt for large-format steaks like a 100-day dry-aged tomahawk rib-eye, bistecca alla Fiorentina, or chateaubriand, all served on silver platters. Those delights join other steaks and chops, seafood dishes, and luxurious pastas.
Know before you go: Chef-owners Zachary Ladner and Carl Quagliata also operate Giovanni’s, a fine-dining establishment in Beachwood that has been going strong since 1976.

Open for: Happy hour, dinner
Price range: $$$
Jessica Parkison, who ran the former Salt in Lakewood alongside chef Jill Vedaa, took possession of a beloved century-old home-turned-restaurant space on artsy Larchmere Boulevard. The elegant main floor boasts mahogany fixtures, exposed wood beams, and a tony four-seat cocktail bar. Seating extends to the enclosed front porch, the renovated second floor, and the sprawling landscaped patio complete with bar in the carriage house. Chef Erik Kneip’s smart, seasonal cooking is on full display in creative small, medium, and large plates. Cocktails here are not to be missed.
Vibe check: On warm summer nights, Poppy’s sprawling patio is the place to be.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
At Zhug, chef Doug Katz combines a tempting menu of small plates with a buzzy lounge-like atmosphere. The menu veers from cold-smoked octopus and schmaltz-fried potatoes to curried lamb-topped hummus and eggplant moussaka. All meals include warm pita and fiery zhug. Creative cocktails and a global wine list round out the experience.
Know before you go: Zhug does not accept reservations, so wait for your table next door at Parnell’s Pub, a stellar watering hole with great service, beer, booze, and craic.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
Chef-owner Peter Reuter launched separate pasta and pizza concepts in the Van Aken District food hall a few years back, then used the success as a launch pad for this permanent restaurant, a neighborhood pizza and pasta joint that punches well above its weight. Reuter prides himself on making meals from scratch, from naturally fermented pizza dough to house-made pasta. Orecchiette is tossed with crisp-tender broccoli rabe, Kalamata olives, and chunks of zesty sausage, and capped with breadcrumbs and grated cheese, while the mortadella pizza blends mozzarella, lemon zest, pickled shallots, dollops of pesto, and crisp-edged slices of mortadella. If pizza and pasta aren’t your thing, the chef bolsters the menu with a few Italian mains such as chicken parm and braised short ribs with polenta. 
Best for: The attractive bistro is casual enough for a family pizza party, but sleek enough for a date-night dinner.

Open for: Brunch, dinner
Price range: $
For many years, you couldn’t pick up a newspaper or magazine without reading about the legendary burgers at Stevenson’s Bar on the east side of town. If Instagram had been around back then, the joint would have been crowned a “hidden gem.” The original business was approaching 100 years old when its building was demolished in 2013; soon after, the owner secured a new home, but some of the magic was lost in the shuffle. But 2024 ushered in a new owner, Perry Ward, who both honors tradition while improving the food, spiffing up the bar and barroom, and expanding the beverage options. The classic Big Guy, a double-decker creation on a triple-split bun, is better than ever, joined by newcomers like fried chicken sammies. 
Know before you go: Work up an appetite for a Big Guy with a few frames on the vintage bowling machine.

Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$$
Opened in late 2024, Kiln is the third restaurant Doug Katz has launched in five years. Whereas Amba leans into Indian-fusion and Zhug to Mediterranean small plates, this latest project is unabashedly American, including subtle nods to Katz’s since-closed, 20-year-old bistro Fire. Some two dozen items — some small, others large, all built to be shared — ramble between flaky mushroom tartlets, fried chicken livers, and beef tips in Burgundy jus with airy popovers. Fans of either salmon or trout will love the pink-fleshed arctic char, served atop beurre blanc and capped with a shaved fennel salad. Expect a distinctive wine list, exceptional service, and a stunning setting within the Van Aken District.
Know before you go: Unlike Katz’ other hotspots, Amba and Zhug, Kiln does accept reservations, though the emphasis here is still on walk-ins.