Whatever label you choose to bestow upon them – Best, Essential, Top Toque, Golden Spoon, Primo Piattos – the meaning is the same. These are the restaurants that stand out in a very crowded field for a variety of reasons, many of them intangible. When it's time to answer that ubiquitous question of "Where should we eat?," the answer can be found below whether you're a newcomer, long-timer or visitor.
Mabel's BBQ | 2050 E. 4th St.
216-417-8823 | mabelsbbq.com
There are restaurants that we enjoy and then there are restaurants that we can't stay away from. Mabel's is one of the few Michael Symon restaurants that succeeds largely independent of the star chef's renown. We go there not for the scene, but for the meat, amazingly savory, wood-kissed and consistent. Here, slow-smoked pork ribs, beef brisket, turkey and kielbasa act like siren songs to hungry carnivores. The logistics of feeding this many people this much great food aside, this bustling meat-and-bourbon hall always manages to exceed our lofty expectations.
Fire Food and Drink | 13220 Shaker Sq., 216-921-3473 | firefoodanddrink.com
There seem to be fewer and fewer gimmick-free farm-to-table bistros, the types of places that simply do in place of try. For more than 20 years, chef-owner Doug Katz has weathered every conceivable trend, challenge and calamity in this unpredictable business, responding with an ever-steady hand on the wheel. Diners can always count on Fire to deliver reliably delicious food trimmed with seasonal foodstuffs and served by a professional staff in a crisp, cool setting. Fire's sunny weekend brunch can make a morning person out of Rip Van Winkle.
Salt | 17625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
216-221-4866 | saltcleveland.com
"Nobody orders small plates in Cleveland." Since the birth of the turnip, that has been the conventional wisdom in these parts. Of course, at her whip-smart Lakewood bistro Salt, chef Jill Vedaa continues to upend that old saw by composing exceptional dishes that focus on a single theme. In place of a meat-and-three, diners zero in on carrots three ways, or earthy beets blasted with sparkle, or a savory lamb ragu over a few supple gnocchi. Mix and match your way to the perfect meal; variety, after all, is the spice of life.
The Plum | 4133 Lorain Ave.
216-938-8711 | theplumcafeandkitchen.com
If you aren't pleasing every Cleveland diner then you're probably doing something right. This edgy American bistro is fearless when it comes to food, pushing out items that are so bold in conception that they can seem like a dare. But in the hands of chef Brett Sawyer, dishes like raw pork tartar or a whole fried chicken served General Tso style are revelatory, stunning and singular. Here, humble ingredients like beets and carrots or chicken skin and lake fish are transformed into artistic seasonal creations that manage to tickle as much as they do satisfy. It's all presented in a sleek, contemporary interior by people who actually seem to care. And was that barbecued pigeon we spotted on the menu?
Ushabu | 2173 Professor Ave.
216-713-1741 | ushabu.com
Diners who settle in for a tasting menu at this wee Asian bistro will be taken for the ride of their lives. Chef Matthew Spinner's obsessive take on regional Japanese cuisine is a deep dive with more twists and turns than a thrill ride. Enjoyed as part of a seven- or 13-course excursion, or on their own as a la carte appetizers, the dishes are stirring seasonal still-lifes that simultaneously embody home and away. For shabu-shabu fans, Ushabu excels thanks to high-caliber ingredients, top-notch technology and an impressive sake selection.
The Black Pig | 2801 Bridge Ave.
216-862-7551 | blackpigcle.com
The Black Pig seemed to really come alive following its move away from W. 25th Street. More neighborhood haunt than arbitrary destination, this is the rare type of place where you can visit once or twice a week and never grow bored. In-house butchers are all the rage, but this kitchen knows nose-to-tail better than most. Well-raised pigs come in the back door and enter the dining room as Old World charcuterie, crispy pork rinds, gently braised flanks and juicy grilled chops. But this tony brick-trimmed boîte also crushes the pasta, beef and seafood games, which is precisely what keeps us coming back for more.
L'Albatros | 11401 Bellflower Rd.
216-791-7880 | albatrosbrasserie.com
Given that University Circle is the epicenter of Cleveland culture, you'd think it wouldn't be so damned hard to find a great meal. Fortunately there's this French-themed gem, the crown jewel of the Zack Bruell kingdom. While we could happily live on the wine and cheese alone, it's nearly impossible to skip the garlicky snails, the mussels frites, and the textbook skate with browned butter. Do yourself a favor and order the pied de cochon, goosed with the silkiest béarnaise. What's left to say about the service and setting other than they serve as polestars for others to pursue.
Banter | 7320 Detroit Ave.
216-801-0305 | bantercleveland.com
Banter is the antidote to serious food in somber settings. It's county fair food with a bowtie, where fries, sausages, and hotdogs are spruced up for a clever crowd. You won't find a better corndog to drag through the mustard, and the crispy, melty fried cheese curds will vanish quicker than the Statue of Liberty at David Copperfield's abracadabra. But most folks come for the poutine, and who can blame them. Perfect fries drip with rich gravies made with real stock, while pert cheese curds slowly weep into the mix. Banter's tightly curated list of draft beer and wines by the glass is always on point.
Xinji Noodle Bar | 4211 Lorain Ave.
216-465-2439 | xinjinoodle.com
Places that keep the moving parts to a minimum generally have a leg up on those that complicate matters. Start with great broth, fresh noodles, and quality meats and you should wind up with a bowl of delicious ramen. That's the formula here, where bowls of bouncy comfort are ladled up in a hip-enough storefront. Toss in a few knockout starters like crispy-spicy Korean fried chicken, supple steamed buns and delicate pork-filled dumplings, pair them with cold beer and sake, and you've made a fan of us.
Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant
2240 Lee Rd., Cleveland Hts.
216-465-3239 | zomacleveland.com
Despite what that one guy on Yelp said about the "bread," we're slightly obsessed with Zoma. We love the communal atmosphere of the experience, where diners sit around a platter of colorful, savory stews, pinching off bites with stretchy injera. Rare is the place that hungry vegetarians and omnivores can so peaceably coexist thanks to items starring chopped greens, chickpeas, lentils, beef and chicken. The housemade Ethiopian hot sauce, fueled by an exotic berbere spice blend, is righteous.
Il Rione Pizzeria | 1303 W. 65th St.
216-282-1451 | www.ilrionepizzeria.com
Il Rione might be "just a neighborhood pizza parlor," but it elevates the genre thanks to warm lighting, stylishly weathered interior, and a killer playlist from the golden age of rock. While the menu is spare, the New York/New Jersey style pizza exiting the open kitchen is amazing, with the clam pie taking the cake. Diners can choose from a half-dozen predesigned pies or can build their own from the crust up. Beer, wine, and cocktails round out the fun.
Larder Delicatessen | 1455 W. 29th St.
216-912-8203 | larderdb.com
At its heart, Larder is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, and flaky fruit-filled rugelach. But there's so much more going on here than that. Chef-owner Jeremy Umansky utilizes techniques like koji (a Japanese mold) curing, foraging for wild edibles, cold and hot smoking, and fermentation and pickling to produce an ever-shifting roster of seasonal plates. On special might be a house-smoked whitefish salad sandwich, wild-cherry blintzes, or chicken of the woods mushroom "pastrami" sandwich. Neighbors already have worn a path to its door for house-baked loaves, chocolate-swirled babka, dark and chewy chocolate chip cookies, and flaky potato knishes.
LJ Shanghai | 3142 Superior Ave.
216-400-6936
LJ Shanghai, a relative newcomer in Cleveland's Asiatown neighborhood, has been absolutely besieged by diners who recognize quality xiao long bao—or soup dumplings—when they see and taste them. We've been making habitual pit stops for those amazing dumplings, but also the growing roster of satisfying soup, noodle, and meat dishes. Tops in our book is the plump shrimp wonton soup, spicy beef noodle soup, Shanghai-style scallion noodles, and soy-braised duck.
Vero Pizza | 12421 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Hts.
216-229-8383 | verocleveland.com
It might just be pizza to us, but to owner Marc-Aurele Buholzer, it's a way of life. First you make the dough, then you stoke the fire, and finally you feed the neighborhood. There's only so much of that naturally leavened dough to go around, so admiring diners know to get here early to secure one or three of those fly pies. They exit the wood-burner with a textbook puffy, chewy, tender crust spotted like a leopard with slightly bitter bits of char. Those bits provide the perfect foil to the sweet, rich Milk 'n Honey pie topped with garlic, mozzarella, egg and bit o' honey.
Flour | 34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills
216-464-3700 | flourrestaurant.com
Is it just us or does Flour get better and buzzier over time? We've been fans of the Italian restaurant since the start, lured out to suburbia by the four skilled hands belonging to Paul Minnillo and Matt Mytro. This tag team of tagliatelle put the panache back in pasta, elevating the genre from dependable gut-buster to captivating, elegant cuisine. The perfect pairings of noodles and sauce, like rigatoni with lamb neck gravy, are memorable to the very last bite. Throw in a fistful of creative starters, crisply tailored pizzas, and a great steak and fish dish and what else does one need (apart from a stellar wine list, which is covered)?
El Rinconcito Chapin | 3300 Broadview Rd.
216-795-5776
To tabletop adventurers like us, half the fun is in the hunt. We first discovered the joys of Guatemalan street food at a tidy little storefront in Old Brooklyn, where the owner turned out amazing pupusas, dobladitas, chuchitos and garnachas, texturally satisfying stacks of corn pancakes, shredded beef, cool salsa and salty cheese. We were sad to see him go, but happy when El Rinconcito Chapin resurfaced a couple miles away at a bigger, brighter and better equipped new home. An expanded menu includes all of our favorites plus a laundry list of equally gratifying large plates and weekend specials.
Rising Grill | 3709 Payne Ave.
216-465-3561 | risinggrill.com
It was right around the time our server wheeled a cart up to the table that we regretted not inviting more friends to dinner. Our combination platter had enough beef short rib, ribeye, pork and chicken to feed half the dining room. But we persevered, cooking up tasty bits of Korean BBQ on Rising Grill's trusty new gas-powered grill tables. Hot off the grate, we bundled up the charred, garlicky pieces of meat into cold lettuce wraps, dragged them through sauce, popped them in our mouths, and washed them down with ice-cold OB beer. We never stood a chance, but at least we went out with a smile.
Fat Cats | 2061 West 10th St.,
216-579-0200 | coolplacestoeat.com
Fat Cats is neither new nor flashy. For more than 20 years, this early-era Tremont bistro has lured diners to the far end of a quiet residential street by offering a cozy alternative to special occasion restaurants. We always find something on the menu that suits our mood, from a perfectly grilled off-cut chop to a fresh, seasonal pasta. Never one to coast on classics, owner Ricardo Sandoval floats fun fliers like Korean steamed buns, Filipino lumpia, or Mediterranean grilled octopus. Servers here treat everybody like regulars and have the knowledge to recommend a great bottle of wine.
Boiling Crawfish Seafood
2201 Lee Rd, Cleveland Hts. | 216-459-7777
The seafood-in-a-bag trend rolled into town with a bang, with three spots devoted to the concept opening in a few short years. You don't have to explain why to the diners who crowd this small, boisterous storefront by the Cedar Lee Theatre. Digging your hands deep into a bag of spicy, saucy steamed seafood might be the most fun one can legally have in a restaurant. The aptly named Handful is a Santa-sized sack filled with shrimp, crawfish, clams, andouille sausage, corn and spuds, all lolling about in a mouthwatering gravy.
Greenhouse Tavern | 2038 E 4th St.
216-443-0511 | thegreenhousetavern.com
Over the years, the Greenhouse Tavern has always come through for us as the Swiss Army Knife of restaurants. Few places have the culinary range to span the bridge between every day and special occasion, from burger-and-beer-at-the-bar to blow-your-mind at the chef's counter. It's always tough to veer away from chestnuts like hand-ground steak tartar, Ohio lamb burger with "stinky cheese," Animal-style frites and Tabasco fried chicken. But we do so in order to find new favorites like the summery salads, seasonal pastas and special seafood dishes that will vanish before we can return.
Momocho | 1835 Fulton Rd.
216-694-2122 | momocho.com
Since he opened this jumping bean of a bistro a dozen years ago, Eric Williams has been defining and refining his unique brand of modern Mexican food. Every move seems designed to inject more flavor, texture and visual interest into the kinds of dishes we thought we knew. We grew up on chips and salsa – but nothing like the nutty sikil pak salsa served here. Guacamole is heavenly just the way it was, but stir in some smoked trout and bacon and boom! Tacos filled with seasoned ground beef are pretty awesome, but how can we go back after trying the adobo-braised pork with chile chipotle mojo? For tequila fans like us, Momocho is the foggy Promised Land.
Balaton | 13133 Shaker Sq.
216-921-9691 | balaton-restaurant.com
Talk about underappreciated. When Balaton opened a half-century ago on Buckeye Road, the primary language spoken in the dining room was Hungarian. But word of the modest restaurant's remarkable goulash, Weiner schnitzel, and paprikash wriggled out, at first to the immediate neighborhood, and later to the city and region as a whole. Come to the lovely restaurant at Shaker Square, where Balaton has now resided for 20 years, and you won't be awash in Old World shtick. Instead, you'll enjoy expertly prepared dishes like that Frisbee-sized schnitzel, and golden-brown fried chicken livers, and portly stuffed cabbages, and gravy-soaked spaetzle, all of it lovingly handmade to order and sold well below market value.
Collision Bend | 1250 Old River Rd.
216-273-7879 | collisionbendbrewery.com
Mega-restaurateur Zack Bruell has a bushel of restaurants around the city, and this one isn't even our favorite. But that doesn't mean we don't adore being down here by the river, soaking up the history of the 150-year-old brick building in the Flats while enjoying riotously flavorful food and beer. The sprawling menu is hard to pin down, but can't miss items include wood-fired pizzas, lamb tamales, fish tacos, Moroccan-spiced lamb ribs, and burgers. Tack on a flight of the house-brewed beer and watch the freighters and kayaks float by.
Spice Kitchen | 5800 Detroit Ave.
216-961-9637 | spicekitchenandbar.com
Ben Bebenroth is regarded as one of the region's leading farm-to-table chefs for good reason. He puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to sourcing food by managing a working farm just south of town. While the dishes change with the calendar, diners can count on options built around local produce, pork, chicken, and beef and sustainable fish and seafood. The cheery, flower-trimmed Detroit Shoreway bistro makes weekend brunch all the better.
Soho Chicken + Whiskey | 1889 W 25th St.
216-298-9090 | sohocleveland.com
If Soho literally served nothing but chicken and whiskey as its name suggests, we would totally be down with that. What more do you need when the fried chicken is this good and the bourbon list is this long? But wait, there's more! Meals start with airy biscuits, butter and jam. Stellar snacks like deviled eggs and pimiento cheese and chips are required eating. And to go with that magical, crackle-crusted yardbird are Southern suppers like shrimp and grits and the always frog-free Frogmore Stew. If you can handle the heat, shower on Soho's famous hot sauce.
Flying Fig | 2523 Market St.
216-241-4243 | theflyingfig.com
As Ohio City continues to change at hyper-speed, we're increasingly grateful for Karen Small and her unpretentious bistro. While concise, the locally sourced seasonal menus offer enough variety for everybody at the table, and that includes the vegetarians. Fresh, creative salads, savory small plates, meaty mains and just the right kiss of dessert is all a diner ever requires. For 20 years, the happy hour has remained one of the best in the biz, and summer sidewalk dining along picturesque Market Avenue is the epitome of urban chic.
Nora | 2181 Murray Hill Rd.
216-231-5977 | noracleveland.com
Nora upends the Little Italy stereotype of the spag-and-ball joint by applying classic French technique to Italian ingredients to come up with dishes that are in synch with the season, if not the surrounding restaurants. While you won't be dabbing red sauce off your shirt, you will be awash in the Old World charm that attracts us to the Hill in the first place. Beneath a pressed-tin ceiling and behind a wall of windows, diners dig into creamy burrata, crunchy polenta fries, wild mushroom stuffed agnolotti, and fettucine carbonara topped with crispy matchstick potatoes and a buttery poached egg.
Astoria Market and Café | 5417 Detroit Ave.
216-266-0834 | astoriacafemarket.com
Astoria manages to put a smile on our faces morning, day or night. The retail market keeps our pantry flush with gourmet foods like imported cheeses, cured meats, olives and wine. The large bar is an ideal place to meet up with a friend over cocktails, glasses of wine and a fully loaded meat and cheese platter. The animated dining room is where we land for full meals of tender wine-poached octopus, veal and ricotta meatballs, pizzas, and grilled lamb chops. On the weekend, the brunches here draw reliably enthusiastic crowds.
Superior Pho | 3030 Superior Ave.
216-781-7462 | superiorpho.com
Because pho is an essential part of a balanced diet, not to mention one's sanity, noodle shops like this one hold a very important place in our lives. Winter or summer, a bowl of pho is more than food; it's a restorative elixir that sets us on a brighter path. Crispy spring rolls, citrusy cabbage salad, and meaty banh mi sammies also make us happy, so it's a good thing that the versions served at this perfectly acceptable dining room are as delicious as the noodle soup.
Ginko | 2247 Professor Ave.
216-274-1202 | restaurantginko.com
A wise man once said, "If the sushi is cheap, run." That sounds like solid advice given the logistics of flying fresh fish around the globe. Since opening this edgy Asian den beneath his eponymous bistro, Dante Boccuzzi has avoided shortcuts and cost-cutting measures in the pursuit of crafting the city's best sushi experience. Grab seats at horseshoe-shaped bar and dig into spotless sashimi, sushi, and rolls. The kickass room makes everybody feel like a rock star and the astute staffers always help unearth the perfect bottle of sake.
