Where to Eat in Cleveland
Cleveland is in the midst of a restaurant renaissance, with bistros, craft breweries, bakeries and more making it a dining destination.

Photo By: Arpad Benedek ©Arpad Benedek 2014, All rights reserved.
©Nathan P. Destro
Photo By: BurkleHagen Photography
Photo By: BurkleHagen Photography ©burklehagen2014
©Rushabh Sheth
Welcome to Cleveland
Iconic Dish: Pierogi at Sokolowski’s University Inn
Michael Symon might have given the humble pierogi a makeover at Lola Bistro, where it is filled with slow-simmered beef cheeks and topped with a dollop of horseradish creme fraiche. But for many locals, there is only one true version, and it is served up without fanfare at this 90-year-old Polish cafeteria. The fact that citizens of every stripe grab trays and shuffle down the lunch line is proof that pierogi are a birthright for many a Midwesterner. All day long, these potato- and cheddar-cheese-filled dumplings languish in a warm bath of melted butter with sauteed onions creating a soul-satisfying dish of pure comfort food.
Photo courtesy of Ben Pettey.
Cheap Eats: Superior Pho
Meal with a Mission: Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute
Edwins Leadership & Restaurant
Hottest New Restaurant: Butcher and the Brewer
Adult Hangout: Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Worth a Drive: Flour
Late-Night Spot: Bar Cento
Burgers: B Spot
Sure, Michael is known to most Food Network fans as a television star, but he’s also the chef at popular Cleveland restaurants like Lola Downtown and Lolita in Tremont. On top of it all, he’s selling some of the best hamburgers in the Midwest at this homegrown and growing chain of casual burger bars. Michael is the king of “meat on meat,” a lily-gilding technique that tops already delicious Pat LaFrieda meat patties with ingredients like salami or pastrami or pulled pork. If you can pry your mitts away from the killer burgers, head straight for the amazing bologna sandwiches, which are sliced thick, griddled and topped with dill pickles, mustard and cheese.