Former DiCillo Tavern Reopens as Tavern of Mayfield with New Owner, New Chef, New Menu

By Douglas Trattner on June 17, 2021 at 10:26AM

DiCillo Tavern wasn’t just the oldest restaurant in Mayfield Heights; it was the oldest business in Mayfield Heights. The longstanding fixture on Mayfield Road has been around in some fashion or another since the area was more forest than concrete jungle.

Bar Oni, Ushabu’s Second Act, is True Izakaya – All About the Vibes

By Douglas Trattner on June 16, 2021 at 11:21AM

My wife and I popped into Bar Oni more out of curiosity than hunger. It had been a couple years since we were inside the snug Tremont space.

First Look: Twin Palms at the Spotted Owl, Opening Thursday June 17

By Douglas Trattner on June 15, 2021 at 5:01PM

And Then There Was One: Arthur Treacher’s in Garfield Heights Closes

By Douglas Trattner on June 15, 2021 at 11:24AM

Ben Vittoria, owner of the two remaining standalone Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips restaurants, has closed one of them — the Garfield Heights location. That means his Cuyahoga Falls store is the last full-service Arthur Treacher’s in the country.

Lakewood's Thai Thai to Welcome its First Dine-In Customers at New Location

By Douglas Trattner on June 14, 2021 at 1:36PM

It’s been quite the roller coaster ride for Siriphan "Kiwi" Wongpeng and her beloved Thai Thai restaurant. The popular Lakewood eatery closed at the tail end of 2019 in anticipation of a move to a larger location.

First Look: 'Batuqui on the Falls' Opening Wednesday, June 16

By Douglas Trattner on June 14, 2021 at 9:24AM

Update: Heart of Gold to Open in Former Plum Space in Ohio City on Monday June 14

By Douglas Trattner on June 11, 2021 at 9:03AM

Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips is Alive and Well in Cleveland

By Douglas Trattner on June 10, 2021 at 4:30PM

A couple weeks back I went to an Arthur Treacher’s for the first time in 40 years and ordered pretty much everything on the menu. I dunked the crispy pie-shaped fish fillets in tartar sauce.

Vero Pizza in Cleveland Heights to Reopen for Dine-In Service After Installation of New Wood-Burning Oven

By Douglas Trattner on June 10, 2021 at 2:12PM

Marc-Aurele Buholzer has been baking pizzas in the same oven for nearly a dozen years, nine as the owner of Vero Pizza (12421 Cedar Rd., 216-229-8383) and two and a half as the chef of its predecessor La Gelateria. Soon, he will be receiving and installing his “dream oven,” an Acunto from Naples.

MidTown's Weekly Food Truck Corral the Chomp Has Returned

By Douglas Trattner on June 9, 2021 at 10:33AM

Earlier this month, Downtown Cleveland Alliance announced that Walnut Wednesday would return after a one-year hiatus. Not to be outdone, MidTown Cleveland has revived its weekly food truck roundup the Chomp.

Doug Katz to Close Chutney B at Van Aken District, Anthony Zappola to Open Le Stand in Same Space

By Douglas Trattner on June 3, 2021 at 3:12PM

Doug Katz has announced that he will close Chutney B, the fast-casual Indian/Thai rice bowl concept inside the Market Hall at Van Aken District. He says that his two-year lease was coming up for renewal and that it made sense not to renew in order to focus on his upcoming projects.

First Look: Acqua di Luca, Opening in the Warehouse District in Mid-June

By Douglas Trattner on June 3, 2021 at 10:20AM

Punch Bowl Social to Reopen in the Flats on June 9

By Douglas Trattner on June 2, 2021 at 12:22PM

After initially closing in March due to COVID, Punch Bowl Social (1086 W. 11th St., 216-239-1508) in the Flats reopened in July of 2020, only to close again in November. It has remained closed since then.

Brewer and Chef Depart Immigrant Son Project Prior to Opening Day

By Douglas Trattner on June 2, 2021 at 9:29AM

Immigrant Son (18120 Sloane Ave.) is one of the most anticipated of summer openings. The restaurant and brewery is billed as the first actual brewery in Lakewood.

Kindred Spirit Is a Solid Addition to Van Aken’s Already Solid Culinary Lineup, Even If There’s Room for Improvement

By Douglas Trattner on June 2, 2021 at 8:00AM

On a recent Thursday evening it felt as though Shaker Heights was the epicenter of Northeast Ohio. Every square inch of Van Aken District was activated, from the fully occupied front patios of restaurants like Michael’s Genuine and Kindred Spirit to the grassy knoll, where children scampered over top like ants at a picnic.

The Blessed Cafe Brings Homestyle Puerto Rican Fare to the Old Arcade

By Douglas Trattner on June 1, 2021 at 5:16PM

This past February, The Blessed Cafe joined the food offerings in Cleveland’s Old Arcade. Opened by chef Denise Santiago, who moved to Cleveland from Puerto Rico 10 years ago, the casual restaurant specializes in Latin foods.

Cleveland City Council Approves Lease for New Restaurant in Former 100th Bomb Group Space

By Vince Grzegorek on May 30, 2021 at 9:19AM

Cleveland city council this week approved a lease with the new operators of the former 100th Bomb Group Restaurant space. That longtime Brookpark Road institution closed during the pandemic after its corporate owners, Specialty Restaurants Corp., offloaded its businesses in the Midwest.

MarMar's Pizza Kitchen Will Pop Up at Katz Club Diner on June 2 and 3

By Douglas Trattner on May 28, 2021 at 1:41PM

Heinen's Downtown Reopens Historic Rotunda and 2nd Floor Balcony

By Douglas Trattner on May 28, 2021 at 10:03AM

As downtown Cleveland continues to return to pre-pandemic activity, one notable deficiency remained: the historic rotunda at Heinen's, which opened inside the Cleveland Trust Building in 2015. While the popular grocery had reopened last fall, the rotunda and second floor balcony had remained shuttered owing to social distancing requirements.

Rising Star Coffee to Open Cafe Inside Lucky's Market on Lakewood-Cleveland Border

By Douglas Trattner on May 26, 2021 at 4:23PM

Since acquiring Lucky's Market on the Cleveland-Lakewood border, Dave's Markets has continued to find ways to increase ties to local companies while improving the experience for shoppers. Last year the market invited the owners of Edison’s Pizza in Tremont to open a satellite store inside the grocery and soon Rising Star Coffee Roasters will join them.