American Brunch$$tremontMon 09:00-14:00; Wed-Sun 09:00-14:00; closed Tue
Lucky's Cafe on Starkweather Avenue in Tremont, the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives brunch room often voted Cleveland's best, runs farm-driven breakfast and lunch.
Signature: Shrimp and grits, House biscuits
Order: Shrimp and grits and an order of the house biscuits with house jam.
Tip: Reservations only for parties of six or more; smaller groups walk in. Arrive by 09:15 on weekends.
Eastern European$$tremontMon-Thu 16:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 16:00-01:00; Sun 10:30-22:00
Prosperity Social Club on Starkweather Avenue in Tremont, an Eastern European tavern open since 1938, runs pierogi, cabbage and craft beer with karaoke.
Signature: Pierogi plate, Stuffed cabbage
Order: The pierogi plate and a brandy Old Fashioned at the bar before sitting.
Tip: First Monday of the month is Prosperaoke; the original wood-paneled barroom has stayed unchanged since 1938.
German$$downtownMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00; Sun 10:00-20:00
Hofbrauhaus Cleveland on Chester Avenue downtown, the German beer hall licensee of the Munich brand, runs imported Bavarian beer with schnitzel and sausage.
Signature: Wiener schnitzel, Bavarian sausage plate
Order: Wiener schnitzel with potato salad and a half-liter of Hofbrau Original on tap.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable for Oktoberfest weekends; the communal tables turn faster than the booths.
Italian-american$$$ohio-cityWed-Thu 16:00-00:00; Fri 16:00-02:30; Sat 11:00-02:30; Sun 11:00-18:00; closed Mon-Tue
Bright Side on West 25th Street in Ohio City, Sam McNulty and Mark Priemer's reimagining of the old Bar Cento space since June 2022, runs Sunnyside egg pizza.
Signature: Sunnyside pizza, Rosemary garlic frites
Order: The Sunnyside pizza with runny-yolk egg and pancetta, plus a basket of rosemary garlic frites.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable. The basement Bird of Paradise tropical-themed bar opens after dinner service.
New American Small Plates$$$shaker-squareTue-Sat 17:00-22:00; closed Sun-Mon
Poppy on Larchmere Boulevard, Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison's small-plates room since March 2023 in a turn-of-century house, carries Salt Lakewood's legacy.
Signature: Rotating small plates, Seasonal mains
Order: Order four to five small plates per pair from the rotating menu, plus one entree to share.
Tip: Reserve on Tock; the dining room sits small. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Vietnamese$$asiatownTue-Sat 10:30-20:00; Sun 10:30-19:00; closed Mon
Superior Pho on Superior Avenue inside the Superior Square plaza in AsiaTown, an award-winning Vietnamese family restaurant, anchors Cleveland's pho and banh.
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 Booking recommended for weekends.