Mama Santa's is an italian restaurant in Little Italy, Cleveland.
Mama Santa's on Mayfield Road in Little Italy, the family-owned Sicilian pizzeria since 1961, anchors the Italian-American block with hand-tossed pies and homemade pasta dishes.
Signature dishes: Sicilian pizza, Homemade manicotti
Must order: Sicilian sausage pizza and a plate of the manicotti to share.
Tip: Takes reservations and walk-ins; the patio opens in warm months. Closed Sunday.
Address: 12301 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Trattoria on the Hill on Mayfield Road in Little Italy, an Italian-American dining room since 1988, runs hearty traditional pasta plates and veal mains with a parking lot.
Signature: Eggplant parmesan, Chicken piccata
Order: Eggplant parmesan and chicken piccata, plus a slice of cassata cake to finish.
Tip: First-come, first-served seating most nights. Little Italy parking is tight outside the lot.
Trattoria on the Hill on Mayfield Road in Little Italy, an Italian-American dining room since 1988, runs hearty traditional pasta plates and veal mains with a parking lot.
Signature: Eggplant parmesan, Chicken piccata
Order: Eggplant parmesan and chicken piccata, plus a slice of cassata cake to finish.
Tip: First-come, first-served seating most nights. Little Italy parking is tight outside the lot.
Vero Pizza Napoletana on Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights, a 900-degree wood-fired Neapolitan room with imported Italian flour and Vesuvius tomatoes.
Signature: Margherita pizza, House gelato
Order: A Margherita from the wood-fired oven plus two scoops of locally made gelato.
Tip: Walk-ins only; arrive by 17:30 Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Li Wah inside Asia Plaza on Payne Avenue in AsiaTown, Cleveland's longest-running Cantonese dim sum room, runs weekend cart service and a full menu through the week.
Signature: Cart-service dim sum, Peking duck
Order: Cart-service har gow, siu mai and BBQ pork buns; pre-order Peking duck a day ahead.
Tip: Saturday and Sunday cart service from 10:00 is the move; weekday lunch is menu only.
Astoria Cafe and Market on Detroit Avenue in the Gordon Square Arts District, a Mediterranean restaurant and import shop since December 2016, runs mezze.
Signature: Mezze plates, Cured meat board
Order: A cured meat and cheese board plus three to four mezze plates for the table.
Tip: Walk-ins seated at the bar; the dining room takes reservations for Friday and Saturday.
Le Petit Triangle Cafe on Fulton Road in Ohio City, a small Parisian-style cafe in a triangular corner building, runs French brunch and dinner plates with a heated outdoor patio.
Signature: Croque monsieur, Escargot
Order: Croque monsieur with bechamel and the classic escargot to start.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; brunch on weekends runs busy from 10:00 onward.
Lucky's Cafe on Starkweather Avenue in Tremont, the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives brunch room often voted Cleveland's best, runs farm-driven breakfast and lunch daily 09:00 to 15:00.
Signature: Shrimp and grits, House biscuits
Order: Shrimp and grits and an order of the house biscuits with house jam.
Tip: Reservations only for parties of six or more; arrive by 09:15 on weekends to skip the queue.
