Contemporary in Cleveland

20 results

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Ballantine

4113 Erie St., Willoughby Mentor/Lake County

440-942-5151

Contemporary, Menu

A laid-back vibe, a killer bar, and an ambitious kitchen cooking up everything from burgers to braised lamb make this friendly East Side gastropub a worthwhile find.
The Cabin

35 E. Garfield Rd., Aurora Kent/Portage County

330-562-9171

Contemporary, Menu

Nestled into a rustic, rambling structure on the Mario's International Spas' campus, The Cabin offers an enticing menu of mostly Mediterranean fare, featuring wood-fired pizzas, plush pastas, and well-executed seafood, chops, and steaks.
Chocolate Bar

347 Euclid Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-622-2626

Wine/Martini Bar, Contemporary, Pubs/Wine & Martini Bars

Imported from Buffalo, the Chocolate Bar is part nightclub, part restaurant. By day, the airy space bustles with lunchtime activity, with diners digging into affordable salads, sandwiches, and entrées. At night, ladies (and the men who love them) pair chocolate martinis with decadent desserts. While chocolate finds its way into all manner of menu items, it's wise to stick to those that come with whipped cream or alcohol.
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.
Fat Cats

2061 W. 10th St. West Side/Ohio City/Tremont/Detroit Shoreway

216-579-0200

Contemporary, Menu

The eclectic, contemporary menu at this Tremont fixture is a good match for its shabby-chic decor; and somehow, dishes like bouillabaisse, seared duck breast, and sausage-and-goat-cheese rigatoni taste better when devoured 'neath the light of candles and lava lamps. Friendly staffers and a full bar are other reasons to pad on into this neighborhood gem.
Flour

34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills Eastern Suburbs

216-464-3700

Italian, Pizza, Contemporary, Menu

After 25 years in Little Italy, Paul Minnillo has moved to the suburbs with this contemporary restaurant serving modern regional Italian cuisine. The far-ranging menu includes small-plate-style antipasti and creative greens, as well as silken pastas and hearty entrées. A wood-fired pizza oven turns out killer Neapolitan-style pies. A deep Italian wine list and a patio round out this East Side gem.
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
Ken Stewart's Lodge

1911 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., Bath Akron/Summit County

330-666-8881

Contemporary

Ken Stewart's newest endeavor is a top-notch restaurant disguised as a fanciful homage to rural rusticity. Fish and seafood are the stars of the contemporary menu, and while the prices are as up-to-date as the preparations, generous portions, imaginative decor, and polished service make a meal here seem like a value. Impressive wine list.
L'Albatros

11401 Bellflower Rd. East Side/University Circle/Little Italy

216-791-7880

Contemporary, French, Menu

L'Albatros seduces diners with a roster of classic brasserie gems like escargot, roasted cod, and an outstanding selection of cheeses. But since this is a Zack Bruell restaurant, guests can count on more than a few contemporary menu twists, all served up in a series of intimate dining spaces and, in season, one of the region's loveliest secluded patios.
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
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
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
Moxie

3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood Eastern Suburbs

216-831-5599

Contemporary

Svelte and sophisticated, Moxie is where you take your business partners to impress them with your good taste. The seasonal American foods, including grilled fish, savory meats, and bountiful salads, are artfully presented by professional servers.

1 article
Nemo Grille

36976 Detroit Rd., Avon Western Suburbs

440-934-0061

Contemporary, Menu

The eclectic, globally inspired menu at this fine-dining venue (a thoroughly renovated 1850s farmhouse) focuses on intensely flavored preparations assembled from extravagant ingredients. From fanciful salads to lush meats and seafood, the food is muscular, creative, and generally delicious. Out-of-the-ordinary wine list.
Noosa Bistro

7418 Mentor Ave. Mentor/Lake County

440-953-1088

Contemporary, Menu

When it comes to value, this neighborhood bistro delivers, with a well-crafted array of contemporary preparations — think dishes like sautéed mango shrimp or pan-seared duck breast with strawberry vinaigrette — at moderate prices. Smart selection of martinis and wine.
Parallax

2179 W. 11th St. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-583-9999

Contemporary

Chef/owner Zack Bruell has netted nearly all the fish in the sea to craft his Asian-tweaked oceanic menu. Impeccably fresh fish is served raw, poached, deep-fried, grilled, roasted, seared and sautéed. Stellar sushi courtesy of in-house sushi chef. Many wonderful non-fish selections as well.

1 article
Pura Vida

170 Euclid Ave. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-987-0100

American, Contemporary, Breakfast

Veteran chef Brandt Evans' Public Square restaurant is a breath of fresh air for downtowners, with a spare decor, an urbane vibe, and rustically refined menus built from local, sustainable ingredients. A stickler for details, Evans pays equal attention to every element of a dish. He does, however, leave room for whimsy, as evidenced by the occasional odd ingredient and deconstructed arrangement. Full bar.
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
Wonder Bar

2044 E. 4th St. Downtown/Flats/Warehouse District

216-298-4050

Contemporary

This mellow East Fourth St. bar packs no shortage of different styles on its stage — everything from reggae and blues to jazz and R&B. On weekends, DJs take over for the late shift.
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