Mallorca is a spanish restaurant in Downtown, Cleveland.
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 dishes: Paella Mallorquina, Flaming Spanish coffee
Must 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.
Address: 1390 W 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
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.
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.
Signature: Homemade pasta, Veal piccata
Order: Eggplant parmesan and the chicken piccata, plus a slice of cassata cake to finish.
Tip: Reserves through Tock; the patio opens in warm months and Little Italy parking is tight outside the lot.
Vero Pizza Napoletana on Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights, a 900-degree wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria with imported Italian flour and Vesuvius tomatoes.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Locally made 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 to avoid the wait. 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 full-menu ordering throughout the day.
Signature: Cart-service dim sum, Peking duck
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.
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.
