Who makes the best tacos in Greater Cleveland? Nominate your favorite taco establishment now Crunchy, soft, corn or flour, it doesn’t matter: they’ve become such a gastronomic favorite that they have a whole day of the week devoted exclusively to them. Yes. Let’s talk about tacos. Who makes the best of the best tacos in Northeast Ohio? Which place(s) have earned (and keep) your business when you feel the craving for this compact comfort food hit? The Best of Cleveland team is on the hunt for the best in town. Nominate you favorite now. READ MORE Cordelia Chef Vinnie Cimino is a James Beard Award finalist Chef Vinnie Cimino of Cleveland’s Cordelia restaurant on East 4th Street was named as a finalist in the 2024 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards. He’s one of five Great Lakes chefs -- Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois -- who made it into the Top 5 and one of only two in Ohio. The other Ohio chef is Jose Salazar from Mita’s in Cincinnati. Cordelia is less than two years old. READ MORE Visitors guide to 50+ places for food, dining, drinks, entertainment near Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for Women's Final Four If you’re coming in for the Women’s Final Four, we offer a roundup of restaurants, bars and entertainment options of places within walking distance of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It’s organized by whatever you want – casual sports bars, swanky restaurants, entertainment places, late-night spots and more. READ MORE Hidden restaurant gem in Garfield Heights serves carnival food with 21+ twist (photos) When patrons visit It’s A Must Café Feat. 21+, they’re greeted with whimsical décor and playful accents, all adorned in a mostly pink, white and black color scheme. The menu boasts a tantalizing array of carnival-inspired street food with liquor-infused over-the-top sweets that are hard to come by. Cleveland.com’s Josh Duke has the story. READ MORE Getting to know your Dine Drink CLE Team The most recent “5 for Friday” column introduced you to the Dine Drink CLE Team. In the weeks ahead, you’ll get to meet each of them, learn more about what makes them tick and walk through favorite dishes and dining spots. This week, we ask them for a favorite spot and learned some surprising things. READ MORE Chardon Restaurant Week is April 15-21, just before Maple Festival Sixteen local restaurants are participating in Chardon Restaurant Week, April 15-21. They are scattered around the town square and as far away as Brown Barn Tavern on Mayfield Road. The week kicks off at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, April 10, with a launch party at Eleventhree Brewing Company. The party, which includes food samples from participating restaurants, is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. READ MORE Dyngus Day kicks of festival season in Cleveland with polka, pierogi and Piwo (photos) Dyngus Day took back the streets of Gordon Square for its 2024 celebration. Despite the chilly, grey weather, folks still showed up in stride for the Monday morning Polish party, wearing red and ready to eat pierogi. READ MORE Classic CLE Eats & Drinks talks Pierogi nostalgia With Dyngus Day in mind and nostalgia in heart, we explore the delightful stuffed pillows and what makes them so delectable and versatile. READ MORE. |
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Mister Brisket celebrates 50 years Mister Brisket turns 50 this year. The small, unassuming storefront on the corner of Cedar and South Taylor roads has been one of the region’s top butcher shops for decades. That’s because Mister Brisket sells both prime grade and Imperial Wagyu breed beef. Translation, the most marbled and thus juicy, flavorful beef. READ MORE Former Ohio Sen. Capri Cafaro explores American history and culture through food in new PBS show Former Ohio Sen. Capri Cafaro has channeled her passion for all-things-food into “America the Bountiful” -- a 13-episode food and travel series for public television. The show is distributed nationally on public TV stations. It debuts locally at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6, on Cleveland’s WVIZ/Ideastram and starts airing at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, on PBS Western Reserve. In the series, Cafaro explores America’s history and culture through food found in small towns nationwide. Paris Wolfe talked with Cafaro about the show. READ MORE 2 Cleveland restaurants get new names Luca Italian Cuisine is now Casa La Luna, and Acqua di Luca is Acqua di Dea. Both restaurants are owned by Lola Jacaj, who also is planning to open an Italian steakhouse called Oliva in downtown Cleveland. The changes were precipitated by a divorce in the ownership. READ MORE Condado launches new line of burritos for National Burrito Day Condado Tacos is launching a new line of four burritos, starting April 2, just in time for National Burrito Day, April 4. Permanent menu additions, they can be purchased in store, on condadotacos.com website and on the Condado app. READ MORE Stir Studio Kitchen launches Youngstirs cooking camps for kids in Cleveland this summer Stir Studio Kitchen is expanding its umbrella to include Youngstirs, a business focusing on teaching cooking classes to kids, starting this summer. Unlike simplified classes aimed at teaching kids how to cook, Youngstirs is giving a full hands-on culinary 101 education. READ MORE 6-bottle Bourbon collection being auctioned Mention “Pappy Van Winkle,” and Bourbon lovers’ ears perk up. A six-bottle Pappy Van Winkle collection is being auctioned to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Only a certain number of tickets will be sold for $100. The auction is open until Wednesday, April 10. READ MORE |
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OPENINGS Barroco to replace Hola Tacos in return to Larchmere with new speakeasy next door After three years as Hola Tacos and Cantina in Cleveland, Juan Vergara is transitioning his restaurant at 12718 Larchmere Boulevard back to a Barroco Arepa Bar. Alongside the returning Barroco space, Vergara plans to open a separate and differently named cocktail bar and speakeasy next door later this year. READ MORE The Astro restaurant sets opening date in downtown Cleveland The Astro Restaurant, a science-fiction-themed restaurant set to go in the former Hard Rock Café downtown, has scheduled its opening date – Tuesday, April 23. The Tower City restaurant is owned by the team behind The Haunted House Restaurant in Cleveland Heights. That restaurant, which opened in 2021, features scary movies in its décor and menu approach. The Astro will feature movie characters roaming the floor with surprises at every turn in the restaurant, which seats 196 including a 30-person bar and private dining area. READ MORE Gunselman’s Steakhouse & Bar is set to open If you like the burgers from Gunselman’s Tavern in Fairview Park, you’ll be interested in this: Gunselman’s Steakhouse & Bar is set to open this year in an old library building in Olmsted Falls. Gunselman’s original location has been around since 1936. READ MORE |
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EVENTS/TASTINGS 'Ode to Julia Child’ dinner is scheduled The Rustic Grill at StoneWater in Highland Heights has scheduled a special, multi-course dinner as an homage to iconic chef and author Julia Child. The dinner, guided by executive chef Kathryn Neidus, is Friday, April 5. READ MORE CLE South breweries schedule 3rd annual crawl Five breweries within 12 miles of each other – four in Cuyahoga County and one in Medina County – are part of the CLE South brewery crawl. It runs through Sunday, April 7, and those who complete the crawl get a glass and a pair of solar eclipse-viewing glasses. READ MORE Carpe Raci to hold wine and cheese dinner Carpe Raci in Brecksville has scheduled a multi-course wine-and-cheese-themed dinner with a decidedly French and Italian flair to it. The dinner is coming up Wednesday, April 10, at the restaurant, which formerly was 750ml Wines. READ MORE Wild West Whiskey Fest coming up The Wild West Whiskey Fest is scheduled in Cleveland. Scores of whiskies will be available for tasting as well as for a raffle. The third annual tasting is a benefit for A Special Wish Foundation Northeast Ohio chapter. It’s Saturday, April 13, in downtown Cleveland. READ MORE Tequilas & Tapas Akron Civic Theatre is holding the first Tequilas & Tapas tasting fest. If you like margaritas and trying tequila, the fest will offer multiple stations and food from local restaurants. The tasting is in a cool setting – the venerable old theater in the heart of downtown Akron. The fest is Saturday, April 13. READ MORE Paso Robles, California, winery to be featured in multi-course dinner Vaccaro's Trattoria in Akron will feature wines from Le Vigne of Paso Robles, California. The region has been producing some good wines especially in the last decade. The Italian restaurant’s dinner is Wednesday, April 17. READ MORE The Aviator schedules Rodney Strong wines dinner The Aviator Event Center and Pub is holding a dinner featuring Rodney Strong wines of California. The multi-course dinner is Thursday, April 25, at the restaurant, which is adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Rodney Strong is a common name on many restaurant menus, and the dinner is a good way to familiarize yourself with the wines. READ MORE Books & Bites to bring in celebrity chef to Cleveland Books & Bites, a fundraiser for the Cuyahoga County Library Foundation, is coming up Thursday, May 2. Headlining the event this year will be Rocco DiSpirito, who has written more than a dozen books. His most recent book is “Everyday Delicious,” which focuses on 100 no-fuss weekday meals to help you cook like a chef in about 30 minutes. READ MORE 111 Bistro schedules dinner with Italian wines from Carpineto 111 Bistro is scheduled to hold a five-course dinner featuring Carpineto, an Italian winery. The dinner is Thursday, April 18. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. READ MORE Cleveland International Wine Festival is scheduled The Cleveland International Wine Festival is set for Saturday, April 20. Organizers say more than 100 wines will be available for tasting, plus there are multiple classes appropriate for wine beginners as well as established oenophiles. It’s at Landerhaven event center in Mayfield Heights. READ MORE Fahrenheit’s Rocco Whalen to host ‘One Night of Wellington’ cooking class in Cleveland Fahrenheit in Cleveland is hosting an upscale interactive cooking class where participants can learn firsthand from executive chef Rocco Whalen. Fahrenheit’s “One Night of Wellington” event is set for April 12 at the restaurant’s location at 55 Public Square in downtown Cleveland. READ MORE |
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PICKS OF THE WEEK Boss ChickNBeer Melissa Pattison (beverage director for the local wing/beer microchain) has dipped her toe into the world of batch cocktails on draught. She and Boss have teamed up with Western Reserve Distillers for The Juicy B.I.G.—a pineapple margarita with WR’s Reposado tequila as the anchor liquor and rapper Christopher Wallace as an inspiration. With a candied pineapple palate, tart lime edge and a subtle smokiness, it’s hardly surreptitious. Piquant but refreshing, you can get to-go pitcher pouches! DETAILS. Kitchen Social Kitchen Social has the East and West sides covered in Northeast Ohio, with locations in Pinecrest in Orange Village and Crocker Park in Westlake. A solid menu with an energetic feel (can’t wait till warm weather hits), the signature dish is cheddar and scallion biscuits. Served in a skillet with a dollop of butter that oozes its way into the shareable nosh. READ MORE The Spot on Lakeshore The Spot on Lakeshore in Mentor has a good buzz, as in reputation. A breakfast and lunch spot – dinners on Thursday to Saturday – it offers common diner fare like eggs benedict and tuna melt. But don’t miss specialty items like coffee-rubbed short rib hash. Follow them on social media for special events and collaborations. DETAILS Phoenix Coffee Co. Phoenix Coffee Co. Has exploded to become one of Greater Cleveland’s most well-known coffee businesses. With several cafe locations across Northeast Ohio, it’s worth stopping by one of the shops to order an expertly crafted coffee in a relaxing environment. Bonus points for the cafe location in Ohio City, where vinyl music soundtracks the peaceful cafe. DETAILS |
SPOTLIGHT Where to watch the eclipse in Northeast Ohio: Your guide to dozens of out-of-this-world events in Cleveland, nearby communities It’s been more than 200 years since the last total solar eclipse passed through northern Ohio. And it’ll be another 75 years before it happens again. So we better make the most of it. But how? There are numerous ways to experience an eclipse – with a crowd or in solitude, in the city, in the country or in your backyard. Numerous local communities, businesses, restaurants, bars and attractions have put together eclipse-watch parties and group gatherings to help people experience the eclipse in a variety of unique and interesting ways. Some feature NASA scientists, others musical performances and some fireworks. We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest and most interesting events taking place on April 8, as well as the days leading up to it. READ MORE What’s in the ‘Perfect Eclipse’ Margarita? Applebee’s is offering a unique concoction to celebrate the solar eclipse. The restaurant company is making and marketing a “Perfect Eclipse" Margarita with Patron Silver Tequila and a few other ingredients. It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill margarita, but hey, the solar eclipse doesn’t come along very often. READ MORE Wine Club launches Eclipse vino The North Coast Wine Club is releasing a red blend made from Ohio grapes to mark the eclipse and, in typical club fashion, they are having a party to do so. The club brings in grapes from all over the world and does the crushing here in Northeast Ohio. New members are welcomed. READ MORE |
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