“Best of Cleveland” team tackles best burgers in latest readers’ poll We are on the hunt for the best burgers in the CLE. We've narrowed the field down to a Top 10 thanks to reader voting over the past few weeks. Now, it's time to pick the winner. Voting continues through Monday. We’ll then visit the Top 3 finishers and tell you all about what makes them special. Hold on to your buns. VOTE Schnitz Ale Brewery opens Strongsville taproom, production facility The family ownership behind Schnitz Ale Brewery in Parma has expanded to a large production facility and taproom in Strongsville. How the family, who came to the United States more than two decades ago from Germany — where they had previously emigrated from the former Yugoslavia — is an interesting tale. READ MORE Collision Bend Brewing Co., Canalway team up on beer Collision Bend Brewing Co. and the non-profit organization Canalway have partnered on East Bank Pilsner. Proceeds go to Canalway Partners, a cultural heritage organization that promotes projects and programs within the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area in Cuyahoga County. READ MORE 2024 Fish Fry Guide: 60+ churches, non-profits offering Lenten dinners We update our non-profit fish fry guide weekly. More than 60 places are offering dinners across Northeast Ohio. From pike to perch, with an array of sides including mac and cheese, fries and more, you don't have to drive far to choose one. Most will run through Good Friday on March 29. READ MORE Best restaurant fish fry specials in Greater Cleveland It’s fish fry time in Northeast Ohio now that the Catholic Lenten season has hit, and Greater Cleveland restaurants are adjusting menus in honor. Cleveland.com gathered a list of more than 50 local restaurants offering fish fry options for Lent, whether its a regular menu staple or a seasonal special. READ MORE DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast If you like food and drink — and who doesn’t — we’re breaking new ground with our lively new podcast about dining and drinking in Greater Cleveland. Hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus crackle with their fun talk about the latest foodie happenings, joined by the most in-the-know experts in town, Marc Bona, Paris Wolfe and Peter Chakerian. It’s called DineDrink C-L-E and you can find it anywhere you download podcasts. Give it a listen and get your mouth watering. LISTEN HERE We tried Underberg digestif bitters at Fat Cats restaurant Show Paris Wolfe something unusual on a menu and she’ll try it. That’s what happened during a recent Girl’s Night Out at Fat Cats restaurant in Tremont. The 27-year-old fusion restaurant just added the historic Underberg digestif to its menu. Fat Cats has had the bitter at the bar for years, but only bartenders and others in the know asked for it. They just made it more appealing with the menu addition and the $3 price tag. Who can resist a new experience that’s just $3? You shouldn’t. DETAILS No BS: Orchid House Winery plans special Bourbon club A private, exclusive club for Bourbon lovers is set to open in April, and that’s no BS. Take that literally. The Never Ordinary Bourbon Society – No BS for short – is set to open its doors officially in April, just more than a year since the folks behind Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens bought ThornCreek Winery and Gardens and rebranded it into The Orchid House Winery. Think special and swanky. Grand opening is Saturday, April 6, for the private-members club located in Orchid House Winery’s basement. It has a hidden, speakeasy access. READ MORE |
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Pearl Street Wine Market & Café closes because of 175 percent rent increase Pearl Street Wine Market & Café in Ohio City is closing by April 4 when its lease runs out. That’s because the building’s landlord is raising the rent 175 percent, from $4,000 per month to $11,000 per month, according to owners and long-time restaurateurs Karen Small and Jill Davis. DETAILS What role did Cleveland play in the rise of the Cosmopolitan cocktail? Did you know that Cleveland played a role in the initial rising popularity of the Cosmopolitan? Cleveland native turned San Francisco bartender John Caine recalled the 1980s rise of the Cosmopolitan cocktail and how local Cleveland bars helped to bring the cocktail from the East Coast to the West Coast. READ MORE Seven Brothers Distilling innovates N.E. Ohio’s craft spirits market The first story of cleveland.com’s “Spirited Women” series took reporters Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus to Seven Brothers Distilling in Geneva. The distillery/tasting room has a large selection of local spirits and cocktails in a comfortable setting, with must-try bottles like barrel-aged gin and smoked whiskey. READ MORE Cleveland Whiskey moving, to open Flats tasting room
After 11 years on E. 25th St., Cleveland Whiskey is taking its operations to The Flats, with plans for a production facility and tasting room. The move, which was significantly delayed by pandemic restrictions and construction product shortages, will start this month as offices and equipment are relocated. READ MORE Winter Warmer Fest packs in beer lovers and brewers The annual Winter Warmer Fest, a popular beer fest held in March at Windows on the River in Cleveland, drew a sold-out 1,500 people for the indoor-outdoor event. The fest is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, the lobbying arm for the state’s craft breweries. READ MORE Beer, beer, more beer! Our March review is out Our beer review for March covers six out-of-region beers along with a six-pack of brewery news from around the country. One of the beers we reviewed supports NIL — name, image and likeness — efforts for Ohio State athletes. All the beers we review are available on store shelves throughout Northeast Ohio. READ MORE Phyllis ‘Seven’ Harris talks favorite dining spots, CLE’s LGBTQ+ hubs The Executive Director for the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland offered up a nice mix of dining options with casual-but-friendly energy. She’s headlong into plotting out this summer’s “Pride in the CLE” and a huge anniversary for the center itself (one of the oldest in the country!) and was happy to share thoughts on it all. We worked up quite an appetite chatting with her. READ MORE … OK, but if you ARE on a health kick… You might feel like enjoying one of the burgers in our latest “Best Of Cleveland” readers’ poll, but if your waistline arguing for something else? Check out the 29 Lean Cuisine “Protein Kicks” meals our team tried and ranked so you don’t have to. Remember folks, no guilt. It’s all about balance and moderation. RANKINGS |
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OPENINGS Cent’ Anni brings Italian amaro bar to Little Italy Cent’ Anni opened somewhat quietly in Little Italy just before Thanksgiving. But the buzz around this hard-to-find Italian Amaro bar is growing louder and louder. It’s easy to see why the intimate 40-seat space is getting attention. The name Cent Anni (pronounced chent ah-knee) means “may you live 100 years" and suggests a story. LEARN MORE Royal Docks to open Cuyahoga County taproom Royal Docks has several locations in Canton and the surrounding area. Now, it's expanding into Cuyahoga County for the first time. The brewery will take over the former North High Brewing Co. location adjacent to COhatch co-working space in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. Royal Docks Tied House aims to open in April. READ MORE Good Company opens in Akron Buildings & Food, the owners of Good Company, have expanded to Akron. The original Good Company remains open in Cleveland’s Battery Park neighborhood, and now a second location is up and running in the former Akron Spotted Owl location on S. Maple Street. Expect GC food, a well-culled wine list, beers and more in a cozy spot in the city’s West Hill neighborhood. READ MORE Fast-casual vegan eatery Bodhi Express sprouts at Crocker Park Bodhi Express, 135 Market Street, opened on Thursday near Esporta Fitness and Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Westlake’s popular shopping center. The fast-casual eatery features a 100% vegan menu inspired by Asian dishes. READ MORE |
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EVENTS/TASTINGS Grand River Ice Wine Festival Grand River Valley wineries — Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards, South River Vineyards, Cask 307 Winery, and Red Eagle Distillery — are throwing an Ice Wine Festival. At each of the seven establishments, patrons receive an ice wine sample and pair appetizer. $10/person at each stop. Through March 30. Various wineries. DETAILS Cleveland Restaurant Week Cleveland Restaurant Week continues through March 16 with more than 40 locally owned restaurants in the Cleveland Independents consortium offering a variety of deals, many prix-fixe options with choices for appetizers, entrees and desserts. READ MORE Sake dinner set at Table 45 One of the world’s foremost experts on Sake will guide a tasting at Table 45 in Cleveland. The multi-course dinner is set for Tuesday, March 12. John Gauntner, an American who studied to become an expert in the Asian drink, will offer insight on the tastes, which include different styles of Sake. READ MORE Culinary treasures sale coming up The Cleveland chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International is holding a culinary treasures sale. Kitchen equipment, gadgets, books, linens and more will be available. In addition to foodies being able to stock their kitchens, the sale raises money for Les Dames, an organization of professional women in the food, drink and hospitality fields. The event is Sunday, March 10, at CLE Urban Winery in Cleveland Heights. READ MORE Pinot Noir tasting coming up The North Coast Wine Club in Solon is holding a tasting of “whole cluster” Pinot Noir. Whole cluster refers to the pressing process involving all parts of the grapes — stems and all — rather than the grapes alone. The wine is from a winery in Oregon, one of the best places on the planet for Pinot Noir. The tasting is Saturday, March 16. READ MORE Great Lakes Brewing Co. plans 2 beers, party for eclipse Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood is planning two beers for the solar eclipse in April: Vanilla Blackout Stout and 3:13PM Schwarzbier. The folks at Ohio’s first craft brewery also are planning a watch party for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. READ MORE St. Vitus Parish schedules annual Palm Sunday dinner
St. Vitus Parish’s annual Palm Sunday dinner is coming up, complete with Slovenian soup and Slovenian-style potatoes, roast chicken or beef and much more. The popular annual dinner, a fundraiser for the parish, is scheduled for Sunday, March 24. READ MORE |
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PICKS OF THE WEEK Royal Docks Brewing Co. Speaking of Royal Docks, we don’t think it’s premature to think “crushable summer beers.” We’re loving 16-oz tallboys of Backyard Crusher by Royal Docks. Everyone has a lime lager, so what makes theirs stand out? Ohio-grown barley malt with perfect measures of sea salt and lime and a delectably low IBU. It’s crisp, clean, well-rounded and pairs well with everything. Burgers anyone? Bonus: we all had (have?) that 1970s lawn chair on the label. It feels like an invitation to relax. Royal Docks’ website says, “It tastes like you’re having more than one.” Yep! Don’t mind if we do! Now someone flip on the Guards game! TIPPLE Tripi Italian Specialties Tripi Italian Specialties in Ohio City makes argubly the best sub in Cleveland. The Papa Tony includes Genoa salami, hard salami, soppressata, capicola, provolone, lettuce, tomato, giardiniera, banana peppers, muffalata and Italian dressing on an Italian roll. All of it is homemade and the effort shines through every bite. Tripi is located at 3928 Lorain Ave., Cleveland. READ MORE Fat Cats Opened in 1997, Fat Cats is a pioneer of the Tremont renaissance. The menu is a well-executed eclectic blend of world influences – American, European and Asian – a.k.a. fusion. It’s hard to choose just one dish, so go with people who share. Consider pierogis or kimchi potatoes or chicken curry soup or Filipino arroz caldo. Don’t miss Fat Cats iteration of ubiquitous crispy Brussels sprout -- Ohio apple, cashews, curry dressing. Vegetarian and vegan options are creative. Fat Cats is at 2061 W 10th St, Cleveland. DETAILS Carpe Raci in Brecksville Last year, the owners of the two 750ml Wine Bar locations announced a big change: Their Akron location would remain a wine bar, but the Brecksville restaurant would evolve into an Italian restaurant. Carpe Raci is doing brisk business, with charcuterie, mussels and other appetizer options preceding traditional favorites with a creative, tasty spin (cheese ravioli with eggplant and capers was so well done). Plus you can choose a glass off the menu or a bottle off the shelves. The restaurant is at 8903 Brecksville Road, Brecksville. READ MORE |
SPOTLIGHT “Wanna feel like a kid again?” No, we’re not here to pitch a new vitamin regimen or health food kick. In the latest installment of Classic CLE Eats & Drinks, we’re talking about the flavor (and color) explosion that is Mitchell’s Homemade Blue Cosmo ice cream. Blue raspberry cotton candy marshmallow that lights up like it has a pair of AA batteries plugged in on the underside of the cup. Peter Chakerian has thoughts. READ MORE |
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