Cleveland Restaurants

  1. Johnny Mango

    The Caribbean-influenced food and drinks are as flavorful as the interior is colorful. Mr Mango has a hearty vegetarian selection along with his meat dishes, all begging to be complemented by tropical drinks like sangria or Cuban mojitos (rum cocktail). Try the killer french fries made of plantains.

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  2. Lola

    Famous for his piercings, Food Channel TV appearances and multiple national awards, local boy Michael Symon has put Cleveland on the foodie map with Lola. The lunch dishes are the most fun, say coconut-and-lime-tinged scallop ceviche, macaroni and goat cheese, or the show-stopper - a fried bologna sandwich with smoked Wisconsin cheddar, topped by a fried egg.

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  3. Lucky's Café

    Lucky's grows its own produce and herbs in its adjacent garden, then uses the goods in its soups and wrap sandwiches. Weekend brunch with gingerbread waffles and cheddar scallion scones wins big flavor points.

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  4. Sokolowski's University Inn

    The portions are huge, enough to fuel the hungriest steelworker. It's cafeteria style, so grab a tray and fill it with plump pierogies, cabbage rolls and other rib-sticking Polish fare. Home cooked meals away from home are where it's at.

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  5. Tommy's

    A neighborhood standout with a broad, veggie-heavy menu harking back to the seventies (opened in 1972) for its mix of soups, vegie burgers, potato pie and salad; don't miss the Mary Lynn spinach pie.

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  7. Town Fryer

    Town Fryer offers deeply unhealthy Cajun and Southern comfort foods, like fried catfish and maple-bacon mashed potatoes, but aren't we all really here for the fried Twinkies and Oreos? It's located between downtown and University Circle.

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  8. West Side Market Café

    This is a smart stop if you're craving well-made breakfast and lunch fare, and cheap fish and chicken mains. The café is inside West Side Market itself, which overflows with fresh produce and prepared foods that are handy for picnicking or road-tripping.

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  9. Winking Lizard Tavern

    This hugely popular pub-grub outlet, named for its caged iguana, is a logical downtown stop before or after a sporting event (Cleveland is a serious jock town with three modern downtown sports venues).

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