Cordelia is a new american restaurant in Downtown, Cleveland.
Cordelia on East 4th Street, chef Vinnie Cimino and Andrew Watts's Midwest-leaning dining room since 2022, runs comfort cooking and multiple James Beard Award nominations.
Signature dishes: Modern Grandma comfort plates, Heritage grain pastas
Must order: Whatever pasta the kitchen is leading the menu with that week, plus a Midwest-Nice cocktail.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable three weeks ahead; the East 4th pedestrian block stays busy from 18:00 onward.
Address: 2058 E 4th St, Cleveland, OH 44115
Mabel's BBQ on East 4th Street, Michael Symon's smokehouse since April 2016, builds Cleveland-style BBQ on locally sourced fruitwood and Bertman Ball Park mustard.
Signature: Cleveland-style BBQ, Smoked kielbasa
Order: The four-meat tray with smoked kielbasa, plus an order of the spicy pickled vegetables.
Tip: Walk-ins seated at the bar; the dining room takes reservations on OpenTable two weeks out.
Red the Steakhouse on Prospect Avenue downtown, the second-floor dining room since 2007, runs USDA Prime steaks and the tableside Caesar service.
Signature: USDA Prime steaks, Caesar tableside
Order: Bone-in ribeye and the tableside Caesar prepared in front of you.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable for 19:00 weeknights; weekends require two weeks notice. Pinecrest branch closed February 2026.
Mallorca on West 9th Street in the Warehouse District, the Spanish-Portuguese dining room a 2026 James Beard semifinalist, has poured the flaming Spanish coffee since 1997.
Signature: Paella Mallorquina, Flaming Spanish coffee
Order: Paella Mallorquina for two plus the tableside flaming Spanish coffee.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable a week ahead. The flaming coffee is $30 for two and worth the show.
Mabel's BBQ on East 4th Street, Michael Symon's smokehouse since April 2016, builds Cleveland-style BBQ on locally sourced fruitwood and Bertman Ball Park mustard.
Signature: Cleveland-style BBQ, Smoked kielbasa
Order: The four-meat tray with smoked kielbasa, plus an order of the spicy pickled vegetables.
Tip: Walk-ins seated at the bar; the dining room takes reservations on OpenTable two weeks out.
Red the Steakhouse on Prospect Avenue downtown, the second-floor dining room since 2007, runs USDA Prime steaks and the tableside Caesar service.
Signature: USDA Prime steaks, Caesar tableside
Order: Bone-in ribeye and the tableside Caesar prepared in front of you.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable for 19:00 weeknights; weekends require two weeks notice. Pinecrest branch closed February 2026.
EDWINS, Brandon Chrostowski's French restaurant and culinary school training formerly incarcerated students since 2007, moved into the old Nighttown space on Cedar Road in February 2025.
Signature: Classic French bistro plates, Steak frites
Order: Steak frites and a glass of Burgundy from the wine cellar.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable; arrive early to walk the expanded teaching kitchen and the new oyster bar.
Mallorca on West 9th Street in the Warehouse District, the Spanish-Portuguese dining room a 2026 James Beard semifinalist, has poured the flaming Spanish coffee since 1997.
Signature: Paella Mallorquina, Flaming Spanish coffee
Order: Paella Mallorquina for two plus the tableside flaming Spanish coffee.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable a week ahead. The flaming coffee is $30 for two and worth the show.
Zhug on Cedar Road at Cedar-Fairmount, chef Doug Katz's Middle Eastern mezze room named one of Esquire's best new restaurants, runs a casual high-energy dining experience.
Signature: Mediterranean mezze, Tagine
Order: Order four to five mezze for the table including the namesake zhug sauce.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable; small-plate dinners run faster than the prix fixe.
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.
Signature: Sicilian pizza, Handmade manicotti
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.
