19 Christmas Pop-Up Bars in Cleveland to Visit This Holiday Season

Holiday pop-up bars, once a rare novelty, have now become a seasonal staple throughout Northeast Ohio. We’ve rounded up 19 of this…

By Kate Bigam Kaput

MiraCLE on Fourth St. at Society Lounge
As the famous movie line goes, “Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind,” especially at this downtown cocktail lounge bedecked with hundreds of glittering ornaments. This year, other classic holiday movies join the party, too, with installations like the “Elf Room,” a life-sized Grinch, and a neon sign that reads “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.” The cocktail menu, of course, is impeccable, made all the more festive because it’s served in ceramic glassware shaped like Santa, Krampus and a T-Rex in a Santa hat. Want to take yours home with you? Mug sale proceeds benefit UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Hours: Mon-Wed 4pm-12am, Thurs 4pm-1am, Fri/Sat 4pm-2am, Sun 12-10pm, 2063 E. 4th St.
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39 Restaurants Where You Can Score $9 Deals During Cleveland Pizza Week (Nov. 11-17)

Cleveland Pizza Week is seven days of paying homage to all things ‘za, no matter how you slice it. Each participating restaurant…

By Scene Staff

Danny Boy’s Pizza 
 20251 Lake Rd., Rocky River and 24129 Lorain Rd., North Olmsted

Traditional olive oil pan crust, five-cheese blend, lots of crispy Ohio Pepperoni, herbs & garlic drizzle, pizza sauce on top. Vegetarian Option and Gluten Free Option.
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Yelp's Top 25 Cleveland Restaurants for 2024

You've got your favorite restaurants in Northeast Ohio, but what do your fellow Clevelanders think? Yelp this month unveiled its latest ranking…

By Scene Staff

11. Case de Luna
Sample Yelp review: "Omg! This place deserves not 5 but 10,000 stars!!!! Everything here is just perfection! But make sure you make a reservation in advance, it gets super packed and it is difficult to find a spot if last minute. The ambiance is so beautiful with its perfect lighting through the entire venue which makes you get into a really nice mood of "something good is about to happen here" as soon as you walk in. Beautiful big windows with nice views of the city skyline too that makes it a whole perfect vibe for the experience. 

The service is just outstanding from the moment you walk in. Great servers with great recommendations of the menu and their specials of the day which is always great to hear. And the food is just amazing super high quality and you can definitely taste it! Their scallops were to die for, haven't had such delicious scallops in my life, they just melted in your mouth, their cannelloni di vitello were exquisite and extremely tasty as well as their tortellini! And their desserts didn't disappoint either so make sure you leave room for them because the crème brûlée is one of the best ones I have ever had in my life and their tiramisu was out of this world too!! 

Definitely an amazing place to celebrate any type of event or to treat yourself as it can get pricey. But sooooo definitely worth it!"
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18 New Cleveland-Area Restaurants Opening Soon

Autumn, as the jazz standard tells us, brings the promise of new love. It also brings the promise of new cafes, bars…

By Douglas Trattner

Coppia, Eastern Suburbs
In early 2025, chefs Hedy and Talia Trovato will unveil the new iteration of their three-year-old restaurant, Coppia. While the owners are electing to keep some details quiet for now – including the precise location – they have shared that the newly built restaurant will have a 50-seat dining room with “modern-organic design.” The room will also boast an 8-seat chef’s table. Like the original, the fine-dining eatery will feature seasonally changing a la carte and tasting menus paired with signature cocktails and sommelier selected wines.
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Photos From Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale First Pour 2024

Annually, fans of the Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale line up early for their first taste during the brewery's First Pour…

By Emanuel Wallace

Christmas Ale First Pour
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Photos: Cleveland Beer Week Celebrated the Best in Craft Beer

Cleveland Beer Week celebrated the best in craft beer with a series of bar crawls, a booze cruise aboard Lady Caroline and…

By Emanuel Wallace

Cleveland Beer Week 2024
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11 Cleveland-Area Clambakes We Love

As rail travel popularized in the mid 1800s, so did the tradition of the Cleveland clambake. “There was a source of shellfish…

By Scene Staff

Rustic Grill at StoneWater

Why we love it: The semi-private club welcomes both members and guests to its annual clambakes on Oct. 9 and 11 at 5 p.m. Indulge in the spot's unique twists on the classic seafood fare and sides.

Try this: The bake bodes a dozen middleneck clams, a cup of clam chowder, rolls with honey butter, braised red skin potatoes, lemon poppy seed and apple slaw, sweet corn, half a roasted chicken or 12-ounce strip steak and apple crumble ($49). Add a lobster tail or a dozen clams if you still have room. 1 Club Drive, Highland Heights, 440-461-4653, stonewatergolf.com
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43 Places to Score $7 Deals During Cleveland Wing Week

$7 wing deals? We've got them all over Northeast Ohio this week through Sept. 22 as Cleveland Wing Week kicks off with…

By Scene Staff

Image: 43 Places to Score $7 Deals During Cleveland Wing Week
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Photos From the 2024 Crocker Park WIne Festival

One of the region's late-summer staples is the Crocker Park Wine Festival, which transforms the bustling marketplace into a wine oasis. The…

By Emanuel Wallace

2024 Crocker Park Wine Festival
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Photos From the 2024 Cleveland Garlic Festival

The Cleveland Garlic Festival is a two-day event that takes place on Shaker Square. You can find traditional garlic along with some…

By Emanuel Wallace

2024 Cleveland Garlic Festival
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Photos From Cleveland Beer Week's Lagerland at Collision Bend

Lagerland was a celebration of the past, present and future of Cleveland’s Lager history. Breweries presented the full spectrum of Lager beers…

By Emanuel Wallace

Lagerland at Collision Bend Brewery
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Photos From 'A Taste of Black Cleveland 6.0' at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

The sixth iteration of the local restaurant showcase, A Taste of Black Cleveland, took place on the center court of Rocket Mortgage…

By Emanuel Wallace

A Taste of Black Cleveland 6.0
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43 New Cleveland Area Restaurants That Opened in 2024

It's been awhile since we could report this many new dining options in Northeast Ohio, and it's not even fall yet. From…

By Scene Staff

The Rooftop Restaurant and Wine Bar at RH Cleveland, The GalleryThe Gallery is a three-story, 55,000-square-foot showroom that blurs “the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality.” Like those located in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Banbury, England, the one in Orange Village has a robust food and beverage component. Chef Kyle Anderson oversees lunch and dinner menus populated by “enduring classics” such as burrata with grilled ciabatta, grilled avocado with crème fraiche and caviar, shrimp cocktails and Caesar salads. Lobster rolls and a grilled steak sandwich join larger plates like pesto pasta, roast chicken and broiled salmon. To start the day and at lunch, the menu offers wholesome items like avocado toast, French omelets, Swedish pancakes and a bagel, lox and schmear platter. Salads, burgers, chicken sandwiches and BLTs join larger plates with pasta, chops and fish. A wine bar situated by a pair of wall fountains serves wines from around the globe in a stunning rooftop setting.
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20 Cleveland Area Restaurants That Have Closed in 2024

With the summer crawling to a close, debuts on the Cleveland food scene have thankfully outnumbered places that we've had to say…

By Scene Staff

 Toast
     1365 West 65th., Cleveland 
    
    Toast in Gordon Square called it a day on April 3 after 11 years in the neighborhood. Owner Jillian Davis told Scene: "It's not bittersweet — it's bitter mostly. Operating a full-service restaurant is not as fun as it used to be." The neighborhood wine bar and restaurant was beloved for its down-to-earth vibe, personal service, unique wines and seasonal small plates and entrees. Davis mentioned staffing challenges and changing dining habits as some of the reasons behind her decision to close.
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52 Places to Get $8 Burger Specials During Cleveland Burger Week (July 8-14)

Cleveland Burger Week is upon us and it's bigger and better than ever. More than 50 of your favorite Northeast Ohio restaurants…

By Scene Staff

PIONEER

FAMOUS PIONEER BURGER: Two smash patties, white cheddar, house pickles, caramelized onions, and bacon jam on a Leavened sesame seed bun.
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17 New Cleveland Area Restaurants to Look Forward to This Summer

Your summer dining dance card is about to get a whole lot busier as more than a dozen joints are set to…

By Douglas Trattner

Boom’s Pizza, Shaker Heights 

 

Last fall, Ben Bebenroth announced that he and his team had signed a lease for the former Michael’s Genuine space at Van Aken District. When it opens this summer, Boom’s Pizza in Shaker will join the original shop in Lakewood, which opened in early 2023. Once again, Bebenroth is working with Richardson Design to rework the space to better align it with their service approach, which blends the efficiency of a fast-casual operation with the comfort of a sit-down eatery. Guests order, pay and grab beverages from coolers filled with beer, wine by the can, split and bottle and soft drinks. For this location, they plan to dial back the self-serve beverage options in favor of a streamlined bar program featuring draft beers and draft cocktails.
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All the Restaurants Offering Specials During Cleveland Taco Week (April 15-21) and What They're Serving

Cleveland Taco Week returns April 15-21 with dozens of your favorite Cleveland area restaurants offering deals and menu specials all week. Here's…

By Scene Staff

Twisted Taino Restaurant


Street Tacos + Street Corn Salad Combo for $10
3 Pork Carnitas Street Tacos: Topped with Chopped Cilantro and Onions served with Pico de Gallo, Avocado Habanero, Lime Wedge & Street Corn Salad
3 Chicken Street Tacos: Topped with Chopped Cilantro and Onions served with Pico de Gallo, Avocado Habanero, Lime Wedge & Street Corn Salad
3 Vegan Fajitas Street Tacos: Topped with Chopped Cilantro and Onions served with Pico de Gallo, Avocado Habanero, Lime Wedge & Street Corn Salad
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14 Cleveland Area Restaurants That Have Closed in 2024

Thankfully, the first quarter of 2024 has brought far more openings than closings, against recent trends. But Cleveland still said goodbye to…

By Scene Staff

 Toast
     1365 West 65th., Cleveland 
    
    Toast in Gordon Square called it a day on April 3 after 11 years in the neighborhood. Owner Jillian Davis told Scene: "It's not bittersweet — it's bitter mostly. Operating a full-service restaurant is not as fun as it used to be." The neighborhood wine bar and restaurant was beloved for its down-to-earth vibe, personal service, unique wines and seasonal small plates and entrees. Davis mentioned staffing challenges and changing dining habits as some of the reasons behind her decision to close.
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22 New Restaurants That Opened in the Cleveland Area This Year

The first quarter of the year tends to include its fair share of restaurant closures, but it also heralds a slew of…

By Scene Staff

Never Say Dive
4497 Broadview Rd.
Situated in a renovated classic 1920s-era tavern in Old Brooklyn, the buffed-up shot-and-beer bar features draft beers, housemade seltzers and cocktails and a fun selection of small plates from Chef John Hagerty, also of the Green Kitchen in Clark-Fulton. Those dishes, many of them vegan or vegan-ready, aim to match the high-low vibe of the bar. Guests can mix and match snacks like deviled eggs, pork rinds with whipped blue cheese, and spiced nuts. There’s a cheese board from across-the-street neighbor Old Brooklyn Cheese, Mexican charred corn and Killbuck Valley mushroom toast and a few larger plates including a double smash burger and udon noodle bowl.
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25 of the Best Italian Restaurants in Cleveland

We all love some hearty Italian food from time to time. Or, well, all the time. And lucky for us in Cleveland,…

By Allison Jack

 Bar Italia
15625 Detroit Ave., Lakewoo 

 Why we love it: Modeled after New York bistros, Bar Italia is a vibe, bringing house-made sauces and harder to find fresh pastas varieties to the table. Enjoy the minimalistic classy ambiance featuring large Italian art and mirror pieces and a center bar fixture at this trendy spot with a seasonally open front. Try this: The homemade Bolognese is the star menu item “due to its use of fresh ingredients, the unique choice of low acid New Jersey tomatoes, its rich and hearty flavor” and its role as the foundation of the restaurant’s concept, says director of operations Tim Davin. Try it in Chef Andy’s Bucatini Bolognese ($17), a classic fresh bucatini with house-made special meat sauce.
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Photos: The 17th Annual Winter Warmer Celebrated the Best in Ohio-Brewed Craft Beer at Windows on the River

The annual late winter Winter Warmer beer festival is presented by the Ohio Craft Brewers Association and is unique in that all…

By Emanuel Wallace

Winter Warmer Fest at Windows on the River
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Photos: Hundreds of Clevelanders Stuffed their Faces at the Mac 'n' Cheese Throwdown to Benefit W.A.G.S. 4 Kids

The Mac 'n' Cheese Throwdown is both a competition and fundraiser for W.A.G.S. 4 Kids. Local restaurants put up their best Mac…

By Emanuel Wallace

The 2024 Mac-N-Cheese Throwdown at The Madison
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25 of the Best Cleveland Brunch Restaurants

From classic egg-and-toast diners, to hip fine-dining establishments with inventive breakfast dishes, explore the best brunch spots in Northeast Ohio.

By Allison Jack

 Juneberry
3900 Lorain Ave., Cleveland

Why we love it: The comforting morning vibe and menu give a nod to the 12 years chef Karen Small (formerly of Flying Fig) spent in Appalachia. “I was inspired to create a small intimate place, that people could feel comfortable and nourished,” says Small. Try this: Everyone loves the cheddar and chive biscuits ($4) served with sorghum butter and jam.
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21 of the Most Romantic Restaurants in Cleveland

Cleveland's got you covered for date night no matter the occasion, price point, or side of town. From top-end steakhouses to charming…

By Allison Jack

Jaja
2050 Gehring Ave., Cleveland

Why we love it: “The room is a completely different room than any other room in this entire city,” says Chef Brian Whalen says of the whimsical, intimate Mediterranean- and Latin-inspired small plates and Argentinian steak hotspot slinging designer cocktails. The majestic retractable roof that opens the ceiling to the stars (seasonally), plant life whimsical animal elements, feminine lamp shades, mauve plush seating and the marble bar make this one a feast for the eyes and the mouth. “It’s kind of a sensory overload; there’s so much going on.” Try this: Chef Whalen recommends the balanced dish of raviolo ($18), crafted with handmade pasta (three ravioli), with herb ricotta filling. “We drop an egg yolk into the center of it and cut our own raviolis out and top with cacio e pepe compound butter and serve with a bright citrus gremolata (parsley, cilantro, shallot, garlic, zest and juice from oranges, limes and lemons)."
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All the Restaurants Dishing Up $8 Specials for Cleveland Pierogi Week (Jan. 29 - Feb. 4)

Cleveland Pierogi Week has arrived (Jan. 29 - Feb. 4) and not a moment too soon. Because seven days of comforting $8…

By Scene Staff

Das Schnitzel Haus
5728 Pearl Rd., Parma, OH 44129

Three Haus' made potato & cheese pierogi, served with grilled onions and sour cream.
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The Best Things We Ate in Cleveland in 2023

After dozens and dozens of meals out on the town, Scene dining editor Doug Trattner reflects back on the best dishes he…

By Douglas Trattner

Goat Biryani at Paradise Biryani Pointe
Multiple locations, paradiseindiancuisine.us
Rahul Gonuguntla opened Paradise Biryani Pointe because he couldn’t find the quality of Indian food that he grew up with back home. Now with four locations in Northeast Ohio, the restaurant specializes in Southern Indian dishes but offers a broad sampling of Indian cuisine. The showstopper is the Hyderabad-style goat biryani, an aromatic dish of perfectly steamed and seasoned basmati blended with tender bone-in goat.
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The Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings in Cleveland for 2024

While 2023 has been a tough year as far as restaurant closings goes, it wasn't all bad news. Some great new restaurants…

By Scene Staff

 Tricky Tortoise
4057 Erie St., Willoughby

Willoughby Brewing Company, which launched in 1998 by T.J. Reagan, helped spur the revitalization of downtown Willoughby while simultaneously making some damn fine craft beer. It closed in 2020, but will soon reopen as Tricky Tortoise, which will have most likely have a simple pub menu with items like wings, pizza, pierogies and pie, according to new owner Bobby Ehasz, who was in search for his next craft beer project (Ehasz, a career military guy, is a partner in Pompatus Brewing, a nano brewery in Bainbridge). Ehasz’ first major hire was Caleb Brown, a brewer who worked at Platform/AB and Thirsty Dog. Brown is inheriting a storied brewhouse – one that turned out award-winners like Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter and Railway Razz – but guests can expect Brown to start with mainly classic styles, albeit with his own twist.
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The 25 Best New Restaurants That Opened In Cleveland In 2023

It hasn't been all bad news on the Cleveland dining scene this year, though we did lose some beloved institutions. All around…

By Scene Staff

 Lao Sze Chuan
Pinecrest, Orange Village

 Lao Sze Chuan opened in Chicago’s Chinatown in 1998, where it made a big splash thanks to its stellar Sichuan cuisine. Aside from the dozen or so locations of Lao Sze Chuan in Greater Chicago, there are only four out-of-state locations of the iconic brand. This summer, that number climbed to five thanks to local operator Sheng Long Yu, who opened a location at Pinecrest. Diners familiar with the Chicago-based restaurant can expect a similar menu featuring traditional and elevated Szechuan food and a stylish interior. Yu is behind many local establishments including Shinto Japanese Steakhouse in Strongsville and Westlake, Kenko Sushi in University Circle and Kent, Dagu Rice Noodle in Asiatown, Ipoke near the Cleveland Clinic and Hell’s Fried Chicken in University Circle. He is also the force behind a new Asian food hall taking shape in Asiatown.
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The 10 Most Popular Scene Restaurant Reviews of 2023

Scene dining editor Doug Trattner ate and ate well once again this year. What were you most interested in? A mix of…

By Scene Staff

Poppy is a Big Test for the Salt Team. They’re Passing With High Marks So Far
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The Cleveland Restaurants That Closed in 2023

It's always hard to say goodbye, especially when you bid adieu to a beloved restaurant or shop. Unfortunately, this year the Cleveland…

By Scene Staff

Mitchell's Fish Market 
28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere

It's hard to imagine Eton Chagrin Blvd. without Mitchell's Fish Market, but going forward that's precisely what shoppers at the Woodmere lifestyle center will have to do. The seafood restaurant announced this week that it was closing its Northeast Ohio location after 20 years. When Eton made its big debut in 2003, after developer Bob Stark completely reshaped the suburban shopping strip, Mitchell's Fish Market was just one of the many big food draws for diners. Launched by Cameron Mitchell in 1998, Mitchell's Fish Market grew to nearly 20 locations in a handful of states. Mitchell sold the chain to Ruth's Hospitality, which in turn sold it to Landry's. Following the closure of the Woodmere shop, the chain has trimmed to seven.
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