Where to eat in Cleveland 2001

Ethnic food is a specialty in Cleveland, whether it's a Polish dog smothered
with Cleveland's famous Stadium Mustard, an open-pit-barbecued spare rib, or
a spicy burrito. There are restaurant rows in the Flats, the Warehouse
District, the area around Gund Arena and Jacobs Field, and on Coventry Road
in Cleveland Heights.

Johnny's Downtown Â Â Â Northern Italian / Continental Cuisine (216) 623-0055 -
1406 West 6th St Cleveland, OH Â Â Â . Private Dining Rooms can accommodate from
10 to 100 people. "....More and more, greater Clevelanders are discovering,
the city's hub; and Johnny's Downtown with its excellent food, service and
decor...." Gordon Bleu, Currents "......Want to know where the hottest spot
in town is? It's the Warehouse District....and the hottest restaurant....is
Johnny's Downtown...." Parma News

Johnny's Bar Â Â Â Northern Italian / Continental Cuisine Â Â Â (216) 281-0055 -
3164 Fulton Road Â Â Â Cleveland, OH . Private Dining Rooms can accommodate from
8 to 36 people. "....Of all the superb places to eat, Johnny's Bar on the
near West side is my favorite. Johnny's has gone from linoleum floors to
mahogany paneling, but the food has remained unchanged - excellent...."
Eleanore Osborne, Restaurant Critic
"....Undoubtedly Johnny's has the best gnocchi in the world, dressed in a
garlicky cream sauce and accompanied by tiny veal meatballs...." Daytona
Beach News-Journal. BEST RESTAURANT IN CLEVELAND "Zagat Survey of America's
Top Restaurants"

Lola Bistro Â Â Â Contemporary tel.: 216/771-5652 - 900 Literary Rd.Cleveland ,
OH Cleveland $10-$20. Chef-owner Michael Simon describes this hot spot in the
Tremont neighborhood as "an American bistro specializing in urban comfort
food." Translation: homey classics with nouvelle twists. Bestsellers on the
winter menu are shrimp-escargot pot pie; wild-mushroom shepherd's pie; and
macaroni-and-cheese with fresh rosemary, goat cheese, and roasted chicken.
Fish and game are also first-rate, and desserts are out of this world. Chef
Michael Symon has been lauded in Bon Appetit for his winningly inventive
comfort food. Highlights include moist and flavorful herb-crusted local
walleye and dreamy rosemary-herbed macaroni and cheese (the goat cheese is a
divine touch). Service is excellent. Call ahead for exact directions.
Reservations essential

Blue Point Grille Contemporary Seafood Cuisine - 700 West St. Clair
Cleveland, OH Â Â Â Tel. (216) 875-7827. "....Offering gourmet dining in the
heart of the Warehouse District, The Blue Point Grille serves the absolute
freshest and highest quality seafood available...." Cleveland Magazine
"....Cleveland's premier seafood restaurant...." West Life Magazine
"....Everything is done right! A great restaurant...." Cableviews Magazine.
This Warehouse District spot is Cleveland's newest see-and-be-scene--don't be
surprised if you spot a local sports hero or two among the stylish patrons.
The kitchen excels at both creative and straightforward preparations of
flown-in-daily fish, which can range from a Masala-spiced sea bass to a
simple seared sushi-grade ahi. The oysters are top-grade, natch, and steaks
are on hand for non-fish eaters. Reservations highly recommended. Â Â Â

Metropolitan ( Ex-Piccolo Mondo )Â Â Â (216) 216-241-7655 Address:- 1352 West
Sixth ST Â Â Â Cleveland, Ohio. "....
They say still good, but I haven't been there since they changed to
"Metropolitan.

Il Circo Â - Address: 1300 W. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44113 - 216-575-0699.
The cityâ€™s best looking contemporary restaurant. One of the Warehouse
District's newer restaurants, Il Circo is also one of the city's most
interesting looking. Nearly all of the Warehouse District's buildings are
among the oldest in town, so creating a contemporary look can be challenging.
One of the most striking visual elements is the collection of fifteen glass
panels that separates the restaurant from Zibibbo, its popular bar. The
panels are composed of glass chips that are illuminated by constantly
changing colors passing through fiber optic wires in the glass. The cuisine
successfully combines the traditional and contemporary. Most Italian places
serve calamari-usually breaded and fried rings. Here, though, calamari
bistecca, a hearty appetizer, consists of two nicely seasoned sautÃ©ed
calamari steaks with roasted tomatoes and spinach between them and
stone-ground mustard butter over them. Another amazing appetizer is
carciofunghi ragout con tartufi, breaded artichokes stuffed with goat cheese,
served with wild mushrooms, chicken sausage and roasted red peppers laced
with truffle oil. Typical of the entrÃ©e standouts are vitello T-osso, a
12-ounce veal T-bone with a Cognac and morel mushroom sauce served with
smoked mozzarella ravioli, asparagus and pearl onions; and rospo rostini
Gambatese (named for the chef), a Carolina black grouper filet served in
layers with prosciutto and goat cheese, ratatouille, basil vinaigrette and a
Parmesan tuile; and scallops alla Parma, several large scallops wrapped in
prosciutto and pan seared, and served over artichoke hearts, crimini
mushrooms and arborio rice with a tomato- basil butter.

Shuhei Restaurant of Japan - Best Sushi - 23360 Chagrin Boulevard -Cleveland
OH, 44122 - Phone: 216-464-1720. My friends in Cleveland agreed as the best
Sushi ! Hiroshi Tsuji previously owned Shujiro, one of Cleveland's top-rated
restaurant, and he's keeping up the tradition at this "stylish" Japanese
serving "excellent sushi" - be sure to book - most nights it's packed and
"noisy". Tucked into the lower level of a small office building in this strip
of upscale Chagrin Boulevard, Shuhei is a small, tastefully understated room
with blond wood tables and sushi bar, pretty Japanese art on the walls,
Japanese artifacts around the room and servers in Japanese garb. More than 50
varieties of sushi include such delicacies as eel and cucumber, grilled
smoked salmon and sesame seeds, tempura shrimp and avocado, crab and flying
fish roe, plum paste and oba leaf. The double-size (cut into eight slices)
rainbow roll, includes tuna, whitefish, smoked salmon, yellowtail and shrimp.
More than 20 other appetizers include frog legs sautÃ©ed in hot peppers,
garlic and sake; and seasoned hijiki seaweed simmered with tofu and carrots.
The many entrÃ©es include terrific renditions of Japanese favorites, and
adapted dishes, such as marinated, grilled lamb chops, roast duck with plum
wine sauce, roasted and grilled garlic-marinated steak. Service is not only
professional, but, traditionally Japanese, unfailingly polite and helpful.

Kosta's - (Historic Tremont, area of Cleveland) - 2179 West 11th Street -
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Phone 216.622.0011. Kosta's is located in Tremont, a
inner suburb of Cleveland. Approx. drive time is 4-5 minutes from public
square. Brandt Evans, the executive chef, trained at the Culinary Institute
of America in Hyde Park. Food is eclectic and fantastic. Directions: Take
route 90 west out of Cleveland from downtown. Most locals call this the
interbelt. Travel only a mile or so and exit at the west 14th Abbey Road
ramp. (to the right of roadway) The exit is on an elevated highway, so keep
your eyes open! The exit immediately splits to the left and right. Take the
exit to the left. You travel under an overpass and will hit a light right
away. Go straight thru first light and take a left at the next light. (.02
mile You will see Franklin Park at this second light) Continue to the stop
sign and take a left(.01 mile). Continue to the next stop sign.(.01 mile)
Kosta's will be directly in front of you across the street on the right hand
side. Parking is only available on the street.

Morton's of Chicago Â Â Â The Steakhouse Â Â Â (216) 621-6200 - The Avenue at Tower
City - Â Â Â 230 Huron Rd NW Cleveland, OH . "....With service beyond compare
and an elegant, club-like setting, Morton's of Chicago offers a truly
memorable dining experience. Famous for USDA prime aged beef, Morton's
signature 24-ounce Porterhouse, succulent New York Strip and whole baked
Maine lobsters are legendary. The classic interiors, celebrity wall of fame,
open exhibition kitchens and verbal menu presentations are steakhouse
standards...." The Critics' Choice . 1997 GOURMET MAGAZINE AWARDSTOP
STEAKHOUSE TOP 20 RESTAURANT TOPS FOR BUSINESS

Hyde Park Grill 1825 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights Phone 216-321-6444.
Here's the original and, by most accounts, best of Cleveland's Hyde Park
Steakhouse trio, offering consistently excellent food and service" in a "very
New York City" atmosphere; the dark paneled bar is where many regulars prefer
to eat.

Hyde Park Downtown Â Â Â Steak House Extraordinary- 123 Prospect Ave NW
Cleveland, OH (216) 344-2444. Voted in the Top 10 "Best Steakhouses in
America" Voted "Best Steakhouse in Cleveland" 8 Years in a row! Voted in the
Top 150 "Best Restaurants in America" . Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence"
Recipient.Zagat Survey of American Top Restaurants

Greek Isles 500 West Saint Clair Avenue - Cleveland, Ohio 44113 - Ph:
216.861.1919. With focus on Greek dishes, this is a relaxed place. Expect the
average entrÃ©e to cost $12 to $20, and in general, people dress casual. When
weather permits, enjoy outdoor seating. Reminiscent of sunny Crete with its
airy white-stucco interior, this eye-catching restaurant serves authentic,
high-quality fare. Expect all your Greek favorites, including excellent
moussaka. The fish is always fresh, and the ample combo plates offer great
value.

Cleveland Chop House : ( I don't have the address - call 411) Bruce's Review
- I didn't realize that the Chop House is actually another one of the many
local breweries popping up in and around town. So initial impressions were
"oh another Diamond Back". The place has a real open feel with high wood
ceilings and rafters. Kinda noisy with wood floors, tables, and chairs. There
is a long bar that stretches the length of one wall on the way in and most of
the tables are in the back.
The menu was fairly traditional with fish, steaks, and chops as expected. All
the meals were served with an all you can eat tossed salad, brought to the
table in a large bowl. The salad was very fresh, cold, and delicious. I can't
recall the type of dressing the salad had on it, but it was excellent. I
ordered a herb grilled chicken with a side of pasta and fresh steamed
veggies. My partners had a broiled fish dish and a peppered strip steak, both
prepared to perfection with garlic mashed potatoes. Service was top shelf.
Very attentive but not pretentious. We had a great meal in a comfortable
setting with cocktails, wine, salad and main course for about $100 for three
people. I look forward to going back sometime soon. Try it.

One Walnut - another one that I don't have the address... but recommended

Watermark Â Â Â Contemporary Cuisine featuring Fresh Seafood 1250 Old River Road
Cleveland, Ohio.Tel.(216) 241-1600
"....With a water side location for enjoying river traffic while dining, this
place delivers good taste in both decor and food...." Ohio Magazine."High
marks to the Watermark, an upscale restaurant on the East bank..." Miami
Herald.PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD Cleveland Magazine.BEST OUTDOOR DINING Silver
Spoon Awards.AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Wine Spectator Magazine Â Â Â

Baricelli Inn Â Â Â European and American Cuisine - 2203 Cornell Road,
Cleveland, OH tel.(216) 791-6500 - Â Â Â Elegant & romantic old mansion in
Little Italy."....Paul Minillo is a chef with a great palate and a knack for
blending old world concepts with new world ingredients...." William Rice,
Chicago Tribune"....The seasonal menu is strongly influenced by the fine
restaurants of Europe, but the ingredients and style are American...." Best
of the Midwest .
Sushi Rock: 216 623-1212

Sans Souci Â Â Â Seafood 24 Public Sq.Cleveland , OH Â Â Â Cleveland tel.:
216/696-5600
Sophisticated seafood dishes and contemporary cuisine are served in a
comfortably elegant dining room overlooking Public Square. Reservations
essential..The prices are astonishingly low, give the exceptional quality of
the food and the beauty of the surroundings. Sans Souci may be casual, but
it's still classy...." Ohio Magazine"....Cleveland's perennial favorite
restaurant, Sans Souci offers the spirited atmosphere and exceptional cuisine
found along hte Mediterranean coastal areas of Italy, France, Spain and
Morocco...." The Critics' Choice Â Â Â

Luchita's Â Â Â Mexican 3456 W. 117th St.Cleveland , OH tel.: 216/252-1169
The menu changes every three months at this basic Mexican restaurant. It's
jammed on the weekends--and with good reason: great authentic Mexican fare in
generous portions, along with good margaritas and friendly service. What more
could you need? Hours: Closed Mon. Credit cards: AE, MC, V. Â Â Â
Fat Fish Blue FAT FISH BLUE 21 PROSPECT AVE E CLEVELAND OH (216) 875-6000 -
Great Seafood - that's all I know.

Mama Santa Restaurant & Pizzeria ..In The Heart Of Little Italy - 12305
Mayfield Rd Cleveland, OH 44106 (216) 231-9567
Delicious Pizza & Italian Food.

Geracis Pizza 2266 Warrensville Center Road - Cleveland, Ohio 44118 Ph:
216.371.5643
GREAT PIZZA.- that's all I was told.

Mexico Mi Pueblo - recommended for Mexican food- but I don't have the address.

See you in Cleveland - have a safe trip.
Ciao, Kika