Restaurants in Cleveland
The Midwest isn’t immediately known for its great dining, but in Cleveland, the abundance of neighbourhoods means a high incidence of locally owned restaurants. This helps the city stand out as a beacon of good food options in an otherwise fairly bland region.
The Cleveland restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over US$65)
Moderate (US$35 to US$65)
Cheap (up to US$35)
These Cleveland restaurant prices are for an average three-course meal and for half a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent per person; they do not include tax or tip.
Expensive
Blue Point Grille
Cuisine: SeafoodNot many places are particularly creative with seafood, but the inspiration in this Warehouse District eatery draws gourmands as well as famous local sportspeople. Try specialities such as the masala-spiced bass. It also serves up a mean steak if you’re not fish friendly.
Address: , 700 West St Clair Avenue, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 875 7827.
Website: http://www.bluepointgrille.com
Lola
Cuisine: AmericanThe cult of the celebrity chef is alive and well, and represented at this modern American restaurant by TV star Michael Symon. ‘Sleek’ and ‘elegant’ are adjectives often used to describe both the décor and the menu, and dishes include surprises such as scallops in pea-yoghurt purée.
Address: , 2058 East Fourth Street, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 621 5652.
Website: http://www.lolabistro.com
Sans Souci
Cuisine: EclecticThere isn’t too much choice of high-end continental fare, but this restaurant in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel brings a touch of Provençal to the Midwest. Influences actually range from French to Spanish and Moroccan, with angel hair pasta, bouillabaisse and veal osso bucco on the menu.
Address: , 24 Public Square, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 902 4095.
Website: http://www.sanssoucicleveland.com
Moderate
CROP Bistro and Bar
Cuisine: AmericanSelf-described as ‘inventive American fare’, the emphasis here is on very fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Chef Steve Schimoler changes his menus almost daily, such is his commitment to seasonal goodies. Pasta, poultry and steak are all present, but lovingly and creatively presented.
Address: , 2537 Lorain Avenue , Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 696 2767.
Website: http://www.cropbistro.com
Mabel’s BBQ
Cuisine: AmericanAnother restaurant by Michael Symon, Mabel's BBQ has a very different feel from Lola's. At communal tables, under industrial lighting and exposed brick walls reminiscent of the city's West Side Market, foodies enjoy flavourful Cleveland-style barbecue accompanied by a long list of bourbon.
Address: , 2050 E fourth St, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 417 8823
Website: http://www.mabelsbbq.com
Sokolowksi’s University Inn
Cuisine: PolishThe oldest family owned and operated restaurant in Cleveland, Sokolowski’s is a humble landmark of Cleveland eating, serving up scrumptous Polish and Eastern European cuisine. With homey, cafeteria-style service, accompanied by live music, this restaurant offers rich comfort foods catered to the working man.
Address: University Circle, 1201 University Rd, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 771 9236
Website: http://www.sokolowskis.com
Cheap
Corky & Lenny's
Cuisine: DeliCorky & Lenny's is a busy and lively East Side deli that has been around for over 40 years. On the menu are items like beef ribs, ham steak, roast stuffed kishka ( sausage pudding) and homemade gefilte fish, and the cheesecake is famous.
Address: Woodmere, 27091 Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 464 3838.
Website: http://www.corkyandlennys.com
Johnny Mango World Café & Bar
Cuisine: EclecticEclectic, international, tropical, flavourful, colourful - Johnny Mango is a place where all kinds of cultural and culinary ingredients are mixed and combined to great effect. There are plenty of vegetarian dishes, but seafood and red meat also feature on the menu.
Address: , 3120 Bridge Avenue, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 575 1919.
Website: http://www.jmango.com
Slyman's
Cuisine: DeliPeople flock to this deli for their corned beef sandwiches, which are an exercise in simplicity: meat, fresh bread and a pickle. You can also sample the full range of classic American sandwiches, including Reubens and a choice of melts.
Address: , 3016 St Clair Avenue, Cleveland,Telephone: +1 216 621 3760.
Website: http://www.slymans.com
