Top 25 places to eat and drink in Lakewood After embarking on our search to determine the best places to eat and drink in Lakewood, we came to one conclusion – the options are seemingly endless. We asked and you answered – a lot. You still have until 5 p.m. on April 28, to let us know who should win the crown for the best restaurant in town. In the meantime, check out the top 25 places to eat and drink in Lakewood and see why each one stands out from the crowd. READ MORE Cavs unveil postseason food offerings Cavs fans can enjoy new postseason menu items created by local chefs, including a spicy cavatelli vodka pesto pizza, a 12-inch fried mozzarella stick, spicy spinach artichoke dip and short rib nachos. The arena also recently rebranded Loudville into Corona Cantina and opened Gilly's, a bar honoring Nick Gilbert, the late son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Story + photos: READ MORE Spice Catering takes over Cleveland Botanical Garden cafe & catering Spice Catering Co., is taking over the cafe and event catering at the Cleveland Botanical Garden starting September 2025. The introduction of Spice Catering’s food and culinary philosophy will change guest experiences of both food and nature. Under the new partnership, Spice will completely reimagine the guest café and offer new event menus. READ MORE Chesterland chefs advance on Food Network’s ‘Chopped’ Hedy and Talia Trovato, chefs at Coppia in Chesterland (soon to be in Willoughby), weren’t “chopped” from their first appearance on the “Hungry for Love” tournament in the Food Network’s “Chopped.” Taped months ago, the second episode in the series aired Tuesday, April 15. The Trovatos, a married couple, competed with three other married couples to determine which duo would advance to the final competition on May 6. READ MORE Eleventhree Brewing is expanding Eleventhree Brewing Co. in Chardon is more than doubling its size after just two years in business. The expansion adds 1,750 square feet to their existing space, plus a 1,200-square-foot alley patio. Owners Chelsea and Dave Wickman are adding a private event space, expanded kitchen and beer garden to accommodate growing demand. READ MORE North Union Farmers Market truck destroyed in arson fire at Shaker Square A fire deliberately set in a box truck at Shaker Square early Saturday destroyed the North Union Farmers Market vehicle and damaged a storage pod containing essential market equipment. The organization now faces an estimated $45,000 loss and is fundraising to replace the truck before their busy summer season begins. Paris Wolfe reports that while surveillance cameras were present, they didn't capture the incident. READ MORE Honeygrow to open third Ohio location in Akron this week Philadelphia-based eatery Honeygrow opens its third Ohio location in Akron this Friday, offering customizable stir-fry and salad platters with various proteins and noodle options. The first 50 customers will receive swag bags with merchandise and coupons. Marc Bona reports the company plans additional locations in Mentor and Avon later this year. READ MORE Happy Hour Project: The Aviator Event Center’s 747 specials beat Cleveland airport dining The Aviator Event Center and Pub near Cleveland Hopkins Airport offers a "747" happy hour menu with $7.47 drinks and small plates from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Located in the former 100th Bomb Group space, it features aviation-themed decor and standout options like meatballs in spicy vodka sauce and Mega Crunch Fries. Alex Darus and Paris Wolfe report the venue provides an alternative to expensive airport food. READ MORE |
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Four of the best cheese shops in Northeast Ohio Northeast Ohio cheese-o-philes have at least four more dedicated boutiques where cheese rules. These carry broad selections of international, U.S.- and Ohio-made cheeses. They offer cheese made from cow, sheep and goat milk or all three combined. They offer fresh or aged cheeses, soft or hard cheeses. All four are treasures to a cheesehead. Our favorite cheese shops are listed here. READ MORE Medina Beer Fest is coming up The annual beer tasting – which is Saturday, May 10, at Medina County Fairgrounds - will feature more than 70 beers from 30+ breweries, with wine tasting added this year. Barbecue will be available in addition to games, a photo booth, a DJ and cigar lounge. Admission and VIP ticket levels are offered. READ MORE Pull Tab Palooza is set at 3 NE Ohio locations Ronald McDonald House Charities is hosting its annual Pull Tab Palooza at three Northeast Ohio locations in early May. Residents can drop off aluminum pull tabs from cans to support the charity's Family Fund, which provides special experiences for families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses while their children receive hospital treatment. READ MORE Brewers Association’s top craft breweries list is out Four Ohio breweries made the Brewers Association's annual list of top 50 craft brewery producers, with Fat Head's Brewery making the list for the first time. Rhinegeist (No. 16), Great Lakes Brewing Co. (No. 18), BrewDog (No. 30) and Fat Head's (No. 48) represent Ohio in the rankings, even as the total number of craft breweries nationwide declined for the first time since 2005. The report also addresses the overall number of breweries and openings and closings across the country. READ MORE Mitchell’s Ice Cream teams up with Cuyahoga Valley National Park for anniversary flavor Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream is releasing a limited-edition flavor in celebration of 50 years of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The local ice cream brand teamed up with the national park for its Cuyahoga Valley Crunch flavor. The milk chocolate ice cream base is loaded with chocolate-coated salted almond pieces, fair-trade dark chocolate chunks and homemade marshmallow ribbon. READ MORE Cleveland’s Porco Lounge receives national bartending honor Porco Lounge & Tiki Room has received national recognition for having some of the best bartenders in the U.S. The bar at 2527 W. 25th Street has been recognized by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation as one of the top honorees for its annual Spirited Awards. Porco was one of 11 nominees for the Best U.S. Bar Team in the central U.S. region. READ MORE |
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| OPENINGS/CLOSINGS Flower on Freeman: Cleveland’s chic new cocktail bar Flower on Freeman is the latest cocktail bar to sprout up in the Greater Cleveland scene, nestled between Ohio City and Tremont in the former Duck Island Club. The eye-catching cocktail bar and lounge at 2102 Freeman Avenue is the latest project from Melissa Cole, who has owned Cleveland’s Luxe Kitchen and Lounge, 6605 Detroit Avenue, for 17 years. READ MORE New Ole Tapas Bar brings European sophistication to Solon Ole Tapas Bar opened in a Solon strip center in March. The menu offers international tapa as well as entrées like Moroccan-style chicken tagine, a Turkish coffee-crusted filet mignon finished with a tart cherry demi-glace and a mushroom and saffron risotto. READ MORE Cleveland’s Ninja City temporarily closes for ‘major glow up’ renovation, menu changes Ninja City Kitchen + Bar in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood closed on Tuesday for a week-long renovation. The Asian-fusion urban pub at 6706 Detroit Avenue posted the news on its social media platforms. Ninja City plans to introduce new dishes alongside some old favorites on its menu. A new interior look and “fresh energy” are also a part of the rebrand. READ MORE |
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EVENTS/TASTINGS Geauga County Maple Festival The oldest maple festival in the United States returns to Northeast Ohio with parades, rides, pancakes, a lumberjack competition and more. Free admission. Chardon Square, Chardon. April 24-27. DETAILS Ramp Up Peninsula festival celebrates wild onions The Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the the wild onion known as a ramp with the Ramp Up Peninsula festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 26. The festival includes a number of food vendors selling everything from Bloody Stink’ Marys to pickled ramps, bread, scones and much more. Check out the bounty as Purplebrown Farm Store. READ MORE Female Foodie Spring Market Enjoy a night of sampling, mingling and shopping as Wonder Women of Food CLE showcases women-led food businesses at the Hildebrandt Building in the Clark-Fulton Neighborhood. Tickets, $15. 3619 Walton Ave., Cleveland. 5-8 p.m., April 26. DETAILS Bunny Hop Wine and Cocktail Trail Northeast Ohio’s Grand River Valley wine region is hosting a six-stop trail through April 30. Participants can stop by each of the four wineries, distillery and restaurant for two wine/cocktail samples with an appetizer or dessert for $8 per person. Grand River Valley wine region. Through April 30. READ MORE Goma Restaurant announces third Lee-Makase exclusive omakase dinner Dante Boccuzzi’s Goma Restaurant is hosting its annual omakase experience that’s a dream dinner for sushi lovers. The third Lee-Makase Experience with Chef Lee, Goma’s head sushi chef, is set for April 27 at Goma, 2079 East 4th Street. Two seatings are available for this 8-course tasting dinner at the sushi bar. READ MORE Blind tasting coming up M Cellars in Geneva is hosting a blind white-wine tasting with two sessions each over two days this month. The tasting,s taking place Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, will focus on white wines at the Geneva winery, which regularly holds educational and entertaining tastings. READ MORE Cleveland’s downtown Food Truck Series returns for summer 2025 Downtown Cleveland food trucks roll into the city center starting May 1 through September 30. Weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., hungry visitors can find mobile eateries at five downtown locations, with more than 50 different food trucks rotating throughout the season. Paris Wolfe reports that the popular series will also feature live local music at each location. READ MORE Beer dinner set in Chardon Eleventhree Brewing Co. and Cremona Scratch Italian – a pair of Chardon businesses - are partnering for a five-course beer dinner Monday, April 28. The $100 event will pair dishes like fried oysters and grilled hangar steak with craft beers including a Hazy DIPA and West Coast IPA. Both Chardon businesses opened in 2023. READ MORE |
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PICKS OF THE WEEK Landmark Smokehouse It’s hard not to drive through the intersection of W. 117th Street and Clifton Avenue on the border of Cleveland and Lakewood and not ask, what’s that awesome smell? The answer is always Landmark Smokehouse, the corner restaurant serving some of the best barbecue in town. Both Landmark and its sister establishment Twist Social Club serve classic barbecue, from smoked brisket to pork ribs. Landmark offers the staples like meat with cornbread, mac and cheese or coleslaw, but that’s just the beginning. Sharables like the Bao Swirl Buns with pork belly or the BBQ Bruschetta are the kinds of dishes that everyone at the table will be happy that someone ordered. Plus, Landmark has a mean bourbon list. Landmark Smokehouse is at 11637 Clifton Boulevard in Cleveland – Alex Darus DETAILS The Achor Lorain The Anchor Lorain opened on April 2. Chef Mark Wilson is making a new name for himself with an upscale, yet affordable, dining experience. His goal now is to offer resort quality food to diners. A hands-on chef in the kitchen, he thoughtfully sources ingredients. Wilson is a stickler for quality. At one of his earlier restaurant gigs the chef even ground the wheat for some bread products. – Paris Wolfe – DETAILS |
SPOTLIGHT West Side Market secures $28 million in tax credits Cleveland Public Market Corporation, which operates the West Side Market, is wrapping up the financial package to begin the $53 million first phase of the market’s planned $68 million transformation. CPMC just closed on a $28 million package of tax credits, the largest ever issued by Cleveland Development Advisors, an economic development affiliate of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. READ MORE |
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