Li Wah is a cantonese dim sum restaurant in Asiatown, Cleveland.
Li Wah inside Asia Plaza on Payne Avenue in AsiaTown, Cleveland's longest-running Cantonese dim sum room, runs weekend cart service and full-menu ordering throughout the day.
Signature dishes: Cart-service dim sum, Peking duck
Must order: Cart-service har gow, siu mai and BBQ pork buns; order Peking duck a day ahead.
Tip: Saturday and Sunday 10:00 cart service is the move; weekday lunch runs menu only.
Address: 2999 Payne Ave Ste 102, Cleveland, OH 44114
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: Mediterranean small 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; reserve the dining room two weeks out 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; smaller groups walk in. Arrive by 09:15 on weekends.
Prosperity Social Club on Starkweather Avenue in Tremont, an Eastern European tavern in continuous operation since 1938, runs pierogi, stuffed cabbage and craft beer with karaoke nights.
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.
Hofbrauhaus Cleveland on Chester Avenue downtown, the German beer hall licensee of the Munich Hofbrauhaus brand, pours imported Bavarian beers and runs the schnitzel and sausage menu.
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.
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 house pasta and the signature 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.
