If you’re looking for the best eateries in the Cleveland area, you might be interested in the 17 best restaurants in Cleveland.
Below, we’re breaking down a few hidden gems you may have otherwise overlooked. Based on the local’s tastes, these restaurants are said to be one of a kind.
Express Deli
$ | (216) 267-7878 | WEBSITE
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Express Deli serves up amazing sandwiches, subs, wraps, and a welcoming attitude. Their menu is loaded with freshly cut meats, and eat item comes in generous portions.
If it’s your first time in the shop, the owners generally give a tasting tour so that you can sample some of their foods.
Even if it’s not your first time, the owners pay attention to regulars and love to be friendly and outgoing.
Their signature dishes include their jumbo Reuben wrap, corned beef sandwich, and their pastrami pita. Additionally, they include new sandwiches on the menu all the time.
Boney Fingers BBQ
$ | (216) 331-5252 | WEBSITE
Boney Fingers BBQ is the perfect place if you want a quick BBQ meal. They serve a variety of barbequed meats, including Angus beef brisket, burgers, baby back ribs, and more.
You’ll also enjoy their tacos, pulled pork, wings, and cheesesteak sandwiches.
Aside from that, Boney Fingers BBQ includes an all-day breakfast that includes some breakfast favorites with a twist.
Some include a brisket hash, Texas toast, french toast, and a classic Boney Breakfast with eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and your choice of meat.
Munch
$ | (216) 231-0922 | WEBSITE
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Much focus is on providing vegan, vegetarian, and meat options using fresh, wholesome grub.
They are a small business that prep their food daily. The cuisine served is Mediterranean food with your classic deli sandwiches and soups.
Some local favorites are Julie’s Tebulah Falafel, Ruben sandwich, and their daily soup, which is served in a literal cup.
Other favorites include the PaPa’s Portobello sandwich, Simon’s Cilantro Chicken Salad, and their hummus and pita chips.
Il Rione Pizzeria
$$ | (216) 282-1451 | WEBSITE
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Il Rione Pizzeria is a rustic pizza place that includes a large selection of pizza pies and a bar.
The pizzas come in a wide variety of savory, spicy, and sweet. You can also get your favorite classics, such as pepperoni, margarita, and sausage pies.
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, Il Rione creates delicious pizzas such as their clam pie, anchovy pis, and their green pie.
If you’re not up for pizza, they also have salads, including a house salad, arugula salad, and a radicchio salad, all made with fresh ingredients.
The Cleveland Bagel Company
$ | (216) 600-5652 | WEBSITE
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The Cleveland Bagel Company was started by Dan Herbst and Geoff Hardman when they were producing small batches for the farmer’s market.
However, they gained popularity and soon decided to expand into a company, since they have become one of the most recognized bakeries in the area.
The Bagel Company uses a unique technique that cold-ferments the dough before hand-rolling them into bagels and water boiling them with care.
The result of this is savory rolls that are perfect for sweet and savory flavor combinations. These fresh bagels are perfect with a schmear of cream cheese.
Brassica
$$ | (216) 848-0450 | WEBSITE
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Brassica provides mouth-watering authentic Mediterranean dishes that you won’t want to skip out on. They include a large menu selection with a huge variety of protein options.
If you want something healthy, their salads are packed with fresh vegetables, or you can try their delicious tahini soup.
Some favorites include their salad bowls, minty pink lemonade, and their freshly baked cookies.
Aside from that, their pitas are made every day and pair wonderfully with their hummus. Don’t forget to try their falafels at least once.
Flying Fig
$$$ | (216) 241-4243 | WEBSITE
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The Flying Fig is a high-class dining experience made by chef Karen Small. She works closely with local farmers to source high-quality ingredients for her creations.
The menu changes with each season and offers freshly picked fruits, vegetables, and meat sourced from farmers in the Cleveland area.
Guests will be served small plates packed with flavor that you won’t find anywhere else. Each plate includes plant-forward options to help show tribute to the local farmers.
There are also freshly butchered meats, including seafood. If you’re also up for it, the menu sometimes features fresh pasta, which pairs well with any drink on their menu.
Market Garden Brewery
$$ | (216) 621-4000 | WEBSITE
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The Market Garden Brewery is part of a group of outdoor restaurants, including the Bar Cento, Bier Market, and Nano Brewery.
If you’re looking for an outdoor restaurant with a nightlife atmosphere, then you shouldn’t go wrong giving this place a try.
The kitchen focuses on providing pub grub that is seasonal and creative. Unlike other breweries, you’ll have a large selection of IPA beers, seltzers, and house-made ciders.
The menu includes sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and starters to pair with your drinks.
Ginko
$$ | (216) 274-1202 | WEBSITE
Being right next to the sea, Cleveland’s best sushi spot is Ginko. Ginkgo was formerly operated by chef Dante Boccuzzi and includes a unique style of sushi rolls.
Here, you will find a selection of the finest fresh fish crafted into sushi rolls that you won’t find anywhere else. Even if you’re not a sushi lover, the menu has something for you with their shabu-shabu tables.
If you’re planning to go, ask them about their off-menu courses! This hidden gem of a sushi spot includes all your classic sushi favorites.
It provides some new and innovative ways to display their sushi dishes.
Mabel’s BBQ
$$ | (216) 417-8823 | WEBSITE
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Mabel’s BBQ joint is run by Michael Symon and is located in downtown Cleveland.
Their menu includes award-winning smoked meats that have been cooked on Ohio fruitwoods. Some classic favorites include the beef brisket, pork butt, and pork ribs.
However, they also have other barbeque items like smoked turkey, kielbasa, and pork cracklins.
If you stop by, don’t forget to try their delicious sides, such as their creamed corn, fried potatoes, and broccoli salad. You can also enjoy bourbon selections of craft beers from their tap to pair with your meal.
Angelo’s Pizza
$$ | (216) 221-0440 | WEBSITE
Angelo’s Pizza is the perfect place to grab a drink and watch some sports. They have a full revolving tap bar that pairs excellently well with their pizza menu.
Their specials are constantly changing, so don’t forget to try their current selection.
Aside from that, there is a large selection of appetizers, salads, and pasta for those who aren’t interested in their pizza selection.
Some classics that people recommend are their spicy cheese curds served with a side of chipotle bacon rach, their seafood pizza, and their classic deep dish pepperoni pizza.
Lucky’s Cafe
$$ | (216) 622-7773 | WEBSITE
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Lucky’s Cafe is the most popular brunch spot in Cleveland. Their head chef and owner is Heather Haviland, and she’s devoted to bringing the freshest breakfast foods to the table.
All products are exclusively sourced from nearby farms, which means that all the food is delectably fresh.
The menu includes cult classics such as waffles, breakfast burritos, and Reubens.
However, they also include creative twists such as their Ohio sweetcorn waffles with strawberry compote, cruelled steel-cut oats topped with fruit compote, and house-made granola served over plain yogurt with fresh fruit and local honey.
Superior Pho
$ | (216) 781-7462 | WEBSITE
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Superior Pho is the perfect Vietnamese restaurant to have that perfect bowl of Pho.
Their beef noodle soup is their number one seller, and they have been perfecting this dish for nearly 15 years. Not only do they have the classic Pho selection, but also other Vietnamese favorites.
These include vermicelli noodles, fresh spring rolls, and delicious Bahn mi sandwiches.
If you’re feeling like trying a little bit of everything, their menu includes a nifty combination menu that includes a wide variety of different items.
LJ Shanghai
$$ | (216) 400-6936 | WEBSITE
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LJ Shanghai is located in Cleveland’s AsiaTown district and is one of the reigning favorites for locals. If you’re looking for classic Chinese food, you won’t find any better place.
The menu includes hand-made Xia long bao and some shanghai classics such as shanghai noodles, bowls, and soups.
We’ve found that locals recommend their soup dumplings, pork noodle soup, or their knife sliced noodle special.
Other unique menu items that you should try are their crisp, cooling cucumbers, beef fried flat noodles, and fried pork chops.
Larder
$ | (216) 912-8203 | WEBSITE
The larder is known as a modern version of a Jewish delicacy. It’s a pastry that includes Eastern European baked goods with Jewish roots.
The food is a mixture of baked pastries that are both savory and sweet. They also include a wide variety of deli-style dishes from eastern Europe.
The bakery makes sure to source local produce and flour, sugar, and milk. Some of their must-have menu items include the pastrami sandwich, assorted meat boards, and freshly baked cookies.
They also include daily specials such as beef and mushroom chili with cheese, Knish caviar, and chilled asparagus soup.
Momocho
$$ | (216) 694-2122 | WEBSITE
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If you’re looking for your new go-to Mexican restaurant, then you can count on Momocho. It’s a restaurant with a food menu made by Chef Eric Williams.
He has perfected modern Mexican cuisine that you can find right there in downtown Ohio. Here, you can find a large selection of classic Mexican dishes and some unique Mexican fusion foods.
Some of their must-have dishes include their smoked gouda tamales, pork chop al carbon, and ancho braised beef brisket.
Others also recommend their short rib tamales, chile Relleno, and wild boar taquitos.
Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant
$$ | (216) 465-3239 | WEBSITE
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You won’t find many Ethiopian restaurants in Cleveland. Still, Zoma’s is always a winner, no matter what cuisine you’re looking for.
They have an easy-going atmosphere which is perfect for trying a large selection of Ethiopian foods. Almost all food is served on platters.
You’re given stretchy injera to help scoop up small portions of Ethiopian stews, curries, and stir-fried vegetables.
Regulars tend to recommend that if you’re trying Zoma’s for the first time, you should get the Zoma Special Combo.
That way, you can try a large variety of their signature dishes. Aside from that, the split red lentils, spicy beef stew, and Zoma special beef are highly recommended.
Tommy’s
$ | (216) 321-7757 | WEBSITE
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Tommy’s has been around since the early 1970s and has continued to stay open and become one of Cleveland’s favorites.
They are a hippie dinner that provides a large selection of vegan, vegetarian, and meat-eater foods. They include a whole breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu, making them perfect for any time of the day.
Some of their most popular dishes include Spanish pie, a veggie burger, and French onion soup. However, they also have specialty items such as spiked hummus, black bean chili, and meat pies.
Conclusion
Cleveland has a large selection of all types of cuisine. With most restaurants being open for more than ten years, it’s always hard to choose where to grab a bite.
However, you can’t go wrong with any of the places on this list, as they have been around and will continue to stay around for years to come.
Taylor lives in Atlanta, where she spends most of her time working in the food industry as a cook, bartender, and server. Today, she writes for Birch Restaurant as Taylor’s deeply passionate about food and wants to share it with you!
