Vietnamese$$asiatownTue-Sat 10:30-20:00; Sun 10:30-19:00; closed Mon
Superior Pho on Superior Avenue inside Superior Square in AsiaTown, an award-winning Vietnamese family restaurant, anchors Cleveland's pho and banh mi scene.
Signature: Pho tai, Banh mi
Order: Pho tai with raw beef plus a banh mi with house pate and roast pork.
Tip: Cash and card; the small dining room turns fast at lunch.
Ice cream parlour$ohio-cityMon-Thu 11:00-21:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:30; Sun 11:00-21:30
Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream flagship on West 25th Street, the Ohio City kitchen and shop in a restored old movie theater, hand-crafts every batch and runs vegan options daily.
Signature: Homemade ice cream, Seasonal vegan scoops
Order: Two scoops of the seasonal flavour the kitchen is leading with, plus the kitchen tour on weekends.
Tip: Tours run by appointment on weekends; weekday afternoons stay quietest. Free Bridge Avenue parking lot behind the building.
Ice cream and ramen$$ohio-cityTue-Sat 16:00-21:00; Sun 13:00-18:00; closed Mon
Mason's Creamery on Bridge Avenue in Ohio City, the Jesse Mason and Helen Qin ice cream shop since 2013, runs small-batch scoops year-round plus a winter ramen pop-up.
Signature: Small-batch ice cream, Winter pork tonkotsu ramen
Order: Two scoops of small-batch ice cream in summer, a pork tonkotsu ramen in winter.
Tip: Ramen runs winter into spring; ice cream year-round. Cash and card accepted.
American diner$cleveland-heightsMon-Fri 07:00-13:30; Sat-Sun 08:00-13:30
Inn on Coventry on Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights, a Coventry-adjacent breakfast and brunch diner for over 40 years, runs the bottomless mimosa brunch and pancake stacks.
Signature: Chocolate chip pancakes, Lemon ricotta pancakes
Order: Lemon ricotta pancakes plus a bottomless mimosa, or the breakfast burrito on a slower day.
Tip: Arrive by 09:00 for Sunday brunch to skip the line; the diner closes 13:30 daily.
Vegan$$lakewoodTue-Sat 09:00-21:00; Sun 09:00-15:00; closed Mon
Cleveland Vegan on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, a plant-based restaurant and bakery since 2012, runs breakfast through dinner and full-service vegan catering.
Signature: Vegan fried chicken sandwich, Oreo milkshake
Order: The fried chicken sandwich and the Oreo milkshake.
Tip: Closed Mondays; brunch on weekends runs through 15:00.
Vegan and raw food$$ohio-cityTue-Fri 07:00-15:00; Sat-Sun 08:00-15:00; closed Mon
Beet Jar Juicebar and Takeaway on Detroit Avenue in Ohio City, a vegan-owned juice bar and raw food shop since 2013, runs organic cold-pressed juices and creative raw plates.
Signature: Cold-pressed juice, Bravocado sandwich
Order: The Bravocado sandwich and a green cold-pressed juice.
Tip: Counter ordering; the Van Aken District branch is the second location.
