Cleveland eats off three currents: Eastern European immigrant cooking laid down between 1880 and 1920, Lake Erie's perch and walleye seasons, and a Little Italy that has not moved off Mayfield Road since the 1890s. The Polish Boy sandwich, kielbasa with French fries, coleslaw and BBQ sauce stacked into one bun, is the city's defining street food, plated at Seti's food truck and Mt Pleasant Bar-B-Q on Kinsman Road. Pierogi cross every menu from Prosperity Social Club in Tremont to West Side Market food stalls in Ohio City. The market has run on West 25th since 1912; the 1912 brick clock-tower hall and outdoor produce stands anchor Ohio City. Slyman's has stacked corned beef on rye at 3106 St Clair Avenue since 1964. Cordelia on East 4th Street, Mabel's BBQ next door and Fahrenheit at 55 Public Square carry the modern restaurant tier, while Great Lakes Brewing on Market Avenue has poured Edmund Fitzgerald porter since 1988.

Where to eat in Cleveland

All 22 restaurants

  1. Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar

    Order A bone-in ribeye plus a half plateau from the raw bar to start.

  2. Fahrenheit

    Order Whatever the kitchen is firing on the wood grill that night, plus a hand-rolled pasta to share.

  3. Pier W

    Order Whatever fresh-fish preparation the kitchen is leading the dinner menu with, plus the Sunday brunch buffet.

  4. Cordelia

    Order Whatever pasta the kitchen is leading the menu with that week, plus a Midwest-Nice cocktail.

  5. Mabel's BBQ

    Order The four-meat tray with smoked kielbasa, plus an order of the spicy pickled vegetables.

  6. Red the Steakhouse

    Order Bone-in ribeye and the tableside Caesar prepared in front of you.

Fine dining

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Food festivals coming up in Cleveland

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Where to stay in Cleveland

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Getting there and around Cleveland

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Signature dishes in Cleveland

All 11 dishes
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Where to eat by neighborhood

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Food tour in Tremont

Tremont Neighborhood Food Tour

★ 4.8 (41)3 hfrom USD 79

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Also in Cleveland: tickets for the sights

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Map of Cleveland

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Cleveland, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

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When to come hungry in Cleveland

Peak food season
April through November for Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye. June through October for tomatoes, sweet corn and the North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square. Apple season runs September into November across Geauga and Lorain orchards. The Feast of the Assumption pulls Little Italy crowds August 13 to 16 each year. Cassata cake season at Presti's and Corbo's runs year-round but peaks for First Communions in May.
Local dining hours
Lunch 11:30-14:00. Dinner 17:00-21:30, last seating often 21:00 on weeknights. Friday and Saturday dinner runs to 22:30 downtown and Tremont. The Sunday brunch peak runs 09:00-14:00 across Tremont, Ohio City and Cleveland Heights. West Side Market trades Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 08:00-17:00 plus Sunday 10:00-16:00, closed Tuesday and Thursday.
Tipping
Tip 18 to 22 percent on the pre-tax total at sit-down restaurants. Counter and bar tips run $1 to $2 per drink or 18 to 20 percent. Slyman's takeout window and West Side Market vendors do not expect tips beyond the tip jar. Tasting menus at Marble Room and Pier W bill service at the table; add nothing extra unless the check explicitly excludes service.

Cleveland food, FAQ

What food is Cleveland known for?

Cleveland's signature dishes include Polish Boy, Cleveland-style cassata cake, Pierogi, Kielbasa, Slyman's-style corned beef sandwich. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Cleveland?

TableJourney editors map Cleveland by district. Ohio City, Tremont, Downtown, Little Italy are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Cleveland?

Editor picks in Cleveland include Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar, Pier W, Fahrenheit, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Cleveland?

TableJourney covers 3 editor-picked food tours in Cleveland, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Cleveland have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Cleveland dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.