Restaurants in Cleveland: Staff Pick

20 results

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Blue Point Grille

700 W. St. Clair Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-875-STAR

Contemporary, Staff Pick

Well-prepared fresh seafood is the specialty at this beautifully renovated space in the Warehouse District. Don't miss Blue Point chowder or the grouper over lobster-mashed potatoes.

1 article
Dante

2247 Professor Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-274-1200

Contemporary, Staff Pick, Menu

At Aureole in New York, chef Dante Boccuzzi snagged Michelin stars two years running. Back home in Cleveland, he has taken over the former Lockkeepers and injected it with a more casual sensibility. Working as he has in Italy, France and Asia, Boccuzzi incorporates elements of these cuisines into boldly flavored dishes like Thai-style mussels, house-made cavatelli and pomegranate-glazed duck. Full bar and wine list.
Delmonico's Steakhouse

6001 Quarry Ln., Independence Southern Suburbs

216-573-1991

Steakhouse, Staff Pick

Cleveland's own Hospitality Restaurants scores again with this Italian-accented steakhouse, where the menu includes everything from rib, sirloin, and strip steaks to salmon, spicy veal meatballs, and Boursin-stuffed Sicilian peppers. An extensive wine list and professional service are additional reasons to visit.

1 article
Downtown 140

140 N. Main St., Hudson Akron/Summit County

330-655-2940

Contemporary, Staff Pick, Menu

Elegant, intimate, and friendly, this staple of the Hudson dining scene is a winner. Tapas-like small plates and not-so-small plates make up the menu; but despite the wine-bar motif and an occasional Asian accent, the fare owes much to the classic French bistro, with the depth of flavor that only made-from-scratch cooking can impart.

1 article
Fahrenheit

2417 Professor Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-781-8858

Contemporary, Staff Pick

Chef-owner Rocco Whalen's well-appointed bistro is one of the best in town, with a seasonal menu of smart, contemporary fare, spiced up with Asian and Mediterranean accents.

3 articles
Fire Food and Drink

13220 Shaker Square East Side/University Circle/Little Italy

216-921-3473

Brunch, Staff Pick, Menu

A cool vibe and a sizzling menu of attentively prepared American fare have turned Doug and Karen Katz's bistro into one of the city's top restaurants. "Classical simplicity" is the watchword here, and when those classical techniques are applied to first-rate ingredients, the results are often nothing less than astonishing. Interesting list of food-friendly wines.

3 articles
Flying Fig

2523 Market Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-241-4243

Contemporary, Staff Pick, Menu

Chef-owner Karen Small stocks her larder with simple, homegrown ingredients, then coaxes them into precise assemblages of soaring flavor at this hip, youthful, and energetic bistro in the heart of Ohio City. And as any trendinista will tell you, the Fig's happy hours are among the best in the city for unwinding on a budget.

6 articles
Great Lakes Brewing Company

2516 Market Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-771-4404

Pub Fare/Breweries, Pubs/Wine & Martini Bars, Staff Pick

Cobblestone roads lead to the best beers around. The tasting room provides a bird's-eye view of the shiny steel tanks and antique bar that Eliot Ness once bellied up to. The cellar bar is less bright, but even more atmospheric.

2 events 4 articles
Light Bistro

2801 Bridge Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-771-7130

Contemporary, Staff Pick

Artful, ambitious, and urbane, this Ohio City bistro disproves the notion that Clevelanders are strictly a steak-and-taters crowd. At dinner, a tightly composed "progressive American" menu treads fearlessly from braised pork belly to eggplant flan and beyond, always focused on seasonal, sustainable, locally grown foods and always playing to an enthusiastic audience.

1 article
Lola

2058 E. 4th St. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-621-5652

Contemporary, Staff Pick

Sophisticated but fun-loving, beautiful but sassy, Michael and Liz Symon's Lola is the hottest spot in town, with a tightly crafted menu of contemporary American fare, rife with elegant and amusing touches. Depending on the season, offerings might include beef-cheek pierogies or smoked Berkshire pork. And leave room for dessert: Lola turns out some of the most creative sweets in town. Notable wine list.

2 articles
Lolita

900 Literary Rd. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-771-5652

Contemporary, Staff Pick

Whether it's authentic Neapolitan pizza, tangy house-cured salumi, or luscious braised pork cheeks, count on Cleveland celebrity-chef Michael Symon and his staff to do it right at this sassy, sexy little boîte in trendy Tremont. For luxe on a budget, grab a seat at the bar and check out the daily happy-hour specials.

2 articles
Lucky's Café

777 Starkweather Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-622-7773

Bakery, Staff Pick, Menu

Chef Heather Haviland scours the state in search of farm-fresh eggs, seasonal produce and eco-conscious meats for her killer weekend brunches. Think sweet corn waffles with strawberry-rhubarb compote, cheddar-scallion scones topped with scrambled eggs and sausage gravy, and delectable pastries.

1 article
Melt Bar and Grilled

14718 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Western Suburbs

216-226-3699

Destinations, American, Pub Fare/Breweries, Vegetarian, Staff Pick, Menu

If you've ever doubted that toasty, gooey grilled cheese sandwiches are the universal comfort food, just check out this boisterous Lakewood bar, where the kitchen turns out more than two dozen scrumptious variations on the theme, and the clientele ranges from smiling grannies to pierced, inked, and also smiling local rockers. Impressive beer selection.

1 article
Michaelangelo's

2198 Murray Hill Rd. East Side/University Circle/Little Italy

216-721-0300

Italian, Staff Pick

Trained in Italy’s Piedmont region, talented chef-owner Michael Annandono tackles an ambitious repertoire of mostly northern Italian fare with consistently delicious results. We can rarely resist the delicate homemade pastas, served in a room that is as elegantly understated as the food itself. Italian and Californian wine list.
Momocho

1835 Fulton Rd. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-694-2122

Contemporary, Staff Pick, Menu

Clever cuisine, playful decor, and intimate surroundings make this "modern Mexican" eatery like nothing else in town. Don't come around looking for refried beans and rice; luscious lamb "adobo" and avocado-leaf-crusted tuna are more Momocho's style. Factor in the fruit-infused margaritas, chilada-style beers, and the smart array of tequilas, and even the fiercest bandito would happily pull up a chair.

1 article
Red the Steakhouse

3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood Eastern Suburbs

216-831-2252

Contemporary, Staff Pick

Luscious slabs of beef and creative, indulgent salads, sides and desserts make this modern American steakhouse a prime location for well-heeled meat-eaters. A well-organized wine list, gracious service and contemporary rustic decor with a Napa-like sophistication complete the region’s best steakhouse.

1 article
Sokolowski's University Inn

1201 University Rd. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-781-2799

Central European, Staff Pick

Wood paneling, pierogies and perch in Tremont’s oldest ethnic family owned restaurant (since 1923), serving boilermakers before Prohibition. Black Angus beef, grilled trout, and baby back ribs flavor rooms heavy with Browns memorabilia.

3 articles
Ty Fun Thai Bistro

815 Jefferson Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-664-1000

Thai, Staff Pick, Menu

From the intricately folded napkins to the carved carrot roses, this intimate Thai restaurant in Tremont serves up the eye candy as well as a solid assortment of well-prepared standards — pad Thai, chicken satay, and spicy green curry.
Udupi Café

6339 Olde York Rd., Parma Hts. Southern Suburbs

440-743-7154

South Indian, Vegetarian, Staff Pick

A favorite of the Indian community, but still mostly unknown to the rest of us, this spacious, well-maintained vegetarian restaurant specializes in authentic south Indian cuisine, which tends to be spicier but less heavy than its better-known northern Indian counterpart. Crowd-pleasers include sheer stuffed crêpes (dosai), spicy lentil soup (sambar), and batura, a puffy fried bread about the size of a watermelon. Features a daily lunch buffet.

1 article
XO Prime Steakhouse

500 W. St. Clair Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-861-1919

Contemporary, Staff Pick, Menu

Zdenko Zovkic has given the usual staid steakhouse scene a smart, contemporary twist, turning this high-profile restaurant into a svelte, sexy destination. While the steaks, all USDA prime, are the real stars, the lengthy menu goes well beyond to include luxurious fish and seafood alternatives. Meantime, seats in XO's uncluttered lounge are prime space for sampling the neighborhood's urbane vibe.

1 article