Cleveland Plus Steakhouses
Cleveland Plus offers a multitude of steakhouses from which to choose, many of which also carry fresh seafood. Now your only problem is deciding amongst all these incredible restaurants!
Benihana Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse
23611 Chagrin Blvd, Cleveland, 216.464.7575
This is not your ordinary steakhouse by any stretch. Benihana offers delectable steak and chicken prepared right before your eyes on a traditional Japanese hibachi grill. But many are surprised to learn that they also hand-rolled sushi, sashimi and other Japanese favorites. It’s most fun to experience Benihana with a group.
Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse
1300 West 9th Street, Cleveland, 216.575.0699
Start your dinner off the Brasa way – with a trip to their salad bar (which is more like a buffet with pasta, fish, cocktail shrimp and mussels). Then, Brazilian Gauchos come right to your table and slice cuts of meat right in front of you. Not much of meat fan? Check out Brasa’s full sushi menu.
Bucci’s
Six various locations throughout Cleveland Plus, 440.826.4500
Bucci’s is a name that’s been in Northeast Ohio for what feels like forever. And, they continue to offer consistently good food. Their extensive menus are filled with seafood, steaks, chops, veal, chicken, pizzas and pasta. You’ll have a fabulous time whether you’re looking to dine with the family, with the boss or just your sweetheart.
CK’s Steakhouse
Quail Hollow Resort, 11080 Concord-Hambden Road, Painesville, 440.497.1100
While dining in this rustic, lodge-themed restaurant, guests can choose from any of their mouth-watering filet mignon, bone-in ribeye and strip steaks. When you’re finished, enjoy a romantic overnight stay in Quail Hollow Resort, which houses the restaurant.
Cleveland ChopHouse + Brewery
824 West Saint Clair, Cleveland, 216.623.0909
Enjoy the casual elegance of the 1940s at the Cleveland ChopHouse + Brewery, which specializes in delicious steaks, chops, burgers and veal. Don’t leave without trying their hand-crafted beer and white cheddar mashed potatoes!
David’s Restaurant
Marriott at Key Center, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, 216.696.9200
Renowned by locals, visitors shouldn’t pass up the fresh seafood, chops and Black Angus steaks at David’s Restaurant located inside the Marriott at Key Center downtown. Large group? No problem – they can accommodate groups up to thirty people in a semi-private atmosphere.
Delmonico’s Steakhouse
6001 Quarry Lane, Independence, 216.573.1991
Conveniently located in Independence, this retro-styled steakhouse features prime steaks, fresh seafood and great Italian classics. But what makes this place so special is that all the servers are trained wine stewards who can help you pair the perfect wine with your dish.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
28869 Chagrin Boulevard, Woodmere, 216.896.9000
4000 Medina Road, Akron, 330.670.5200
Flemings, which has a winning reputation across the country, knows the way to a perfect steak. And, with 100 wines by the glass, this is a must-visit restaurant for the avid wine connoisseur. Make sure to try their “5 For $6 ’Til 7” bar menu, featuring five tempting appetizers, premium cocktails and unique wines by the glass – each priced at $6 and served nightly until 7pm. Two locations in Cleveland Plus.
Hyde Park Steakhouse
123 W. Prospect Avenue, Downtown, 216.344.2444
26300 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, 216.464.0688
21 Main Street, Westlake, 440.892.HYDE
4073 Medina Road, Akron, 330.670.6303
A trip to one of Hyde Park Steakhouses is an experience all its own. This upscale, white-gloved restaurant was rate rated among the best steakhouses in America by the Zagat Guide and is known for going above and beyond the traditional steakhouse offerings. For all the wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to check out their extensive wine list.
John Q’s Steakhouse
55 Public Square, Cleveland, 216.861.0900
Warm lighting, cozy booths and a menu featuring the finest in steaks, lamb, pork and seafood create an exquisite setting to enjoy food comfortably. The menu features only Certified Angus Beef including its porterhouse, strip steak, bone-in filet and rib eyes.
Lockkeepers
8001 Rockside Road, Valley View, 216.524.9404
Located right on the cusp of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this upscale restaurant has a quaint and quiet ambiance that is relaxing after a long day. You know you’re in for a treat as soon as you bite into their warm bread and peruse their Italian-based menu featuring pastas, steaks and seafood.
Mackenzie’s Grille
Holiday Inn Cleveland Airport, 4181 West 150th Street, Cleveland, 216.252.7700
Head to the Holiday Inn Airport to check out this relaxed bistro bar that knows delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated. They offer American-Italian fare, ranging from their “chubby” sandwiches to their traditional Italian pasta and wonderfully prepared steaks.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Tower City, 1600 W. 2nd Street, Cleveland; 216.621.6200
Nationally recognized, Morton’s is a name you can trust. This upscale steakhouse specializes in amazing cuts of beef, family-style sides and mouthwatering desserts. But don’t forget to check out their bar, which is known for serving scrumptious “bar bites” like mini cheeseburger sliders, mini crab cake BLTs and iceberg wedge bites. Perfect spot to hit before a sporting event or a romantic night out on the town.
Porter’s Seafood & Steakhouse
Hilton Hotel, 3663 Park East Drive, Beachwood, 216.464.5950
Whether you are looking for steak or seafood, you will find what you’re looking for here, where the classic American steakhouse meets the traditional seafood restaurant.
Red, The Steakhouse
3355 Richmond Road, Beachwood, 216.831.2252
Recognized by Playboy, Esquire and Gourmet Magazine, Red, The Steakhouse provides a steakhouse experience guests are not likely to find anywhere else. Exceptional food (everything fresh, everything from scratch) is served in a sleek, yet intimate setting. Enjoy a trendy night out in Beachwood at this renowned spot.
Sergio’s SARAVA
13225 Shaker Square, Cleveland, 216.295.1200
Sergio’s, one of Cleveland’s most notable chefs, never ceases to amaze his guests with a Brazilian cross-cultural menu featuring main entrees and an array of small plates that encourage diners to discover new taste sensations in a relaxing, fun environment.
But that’s not all. Check out these other locations serving up a perfect steak in Cleveland Plus.
- Austin’s Smokin’ Steakhouse (Mayfield Village)
- Big City Chophouse (Canton and Warren)
- Cabin Club (Westlake)
- Ferris Steak House (Detroit-Shoreway Neighborhood)
- Ken Stewart (Akron)
- Market (Rocky River)
- Shula’s 2 (Independence)
- Strip (Avon)
- XO Prime Steaks (downtown)
– Submitted by E.H.
Cleveland Plus Drive-Ins
Pop a few bags of popcorn, swing by b.a.Sweeties for some Swedish fish and put on the most comfortable pair of pajamas you own. It’s time to load the kids into the family vehicle that most closely resembles a station wagon and partake in a summer tradition that conjures up memories from “back in the day.”
When searching for something family-friendly and nostalgic, look to the wide variety of drive-in theater options sprinkled around the Cleveland Plus region.
Cleveland West:
Aut-o-Rama Outdoor Theatre (about 30 minutes west of downtown)
33395 Lorain Road, Elyria
440. 327.9595
www.autoramadrivein.com
Cleveland East:
Mayfield Road Drive-In Theatre (about 45 minutes east of downtown)
12010 Mayfield Road, Chardon
440) 286-7173
www.funflick.com
Skyway Drive-In Theatre (about 1 hour southeast of downtown)
1805 North Leavitt Road Northwest, Warren
330.989.3059
www.skywaydrivein.com
Elm Road Twin Drive-In Theatre (about 1 hour, 15 minutes southeast of downtown)
1895 Elm Road Northeast, Warren
330.372.9732
www.elmroadtripledrivein.com
Pymatuning Lake Drive-In (about 1.5 hours east of downtown)
State Route 7 & Marvin Road, Andover
440.293.7757
Near Akron:
Magic City Drive-In (about 20 minutes south of Akron)
5602 Cleveland Massillon Road, Barberton
330.825.4333
www.magiccitydrive-in.com
Blue Sky Drive-In Theater (about 20 minutes west of Akron)
959 Broad Street, Wadsworth
330.334.1809
www.blueskydrive-in.com
Midway Drive-In Theatre (about 30 minutes east of Akron)
State Rt. 59, Ravenna
330.296.9829
www.funflick.com
Springmill Drive-In Theatre (about 1 hour southeast of Akron)
1040 Springmill Street, Mansfield
419.747.2156
www.greateasterntheatres.com/springmillhome.asp
Sunset Drive-In Theatre (about 1 hour southwest of Akron)
4018 Park Ave West, Mansfield
419.529.5986
While the car is packed, you should roll into one of the area’s authentic drive-in restaurants:
Skyway Drive-In Restaurants (three locations)
www.skywaydrive-in.com
- 951 East Turkeyfoot Road (Rt. 619), Green
- 330.896.9350
- 2781 West Market Street, Fairlawn
- 330.836.2806
- 3296 Medina Road (Rt. 18), Medina
- 330.721.8561
Swenson’s Cheeseburgers (seven locations)
www.swensonsdriveins.com
- 40 S. Hawkins Avenue, Akron
- 330.864.8416
- 658 E. Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, Akron
- 330.928.8515
- 4466 Kent Road (rt.59), Stow
- 330.678.7775
- 40 Brookmont Road, Akron
- 330.665.1858
- 7635 Broadview Road, Seven Hills
- 216.986.1934
- 5815 Wales Avenue, Massillon
- 330.833.5454
- 1558 N Main Street, North Canton
- 330.499.9494
Sonic Drive-In (three locations)
www.northcoastdriveins.com
- 3280 Center Road, Brunswick
- 330.273.6836
- 1842 Snow Road Midtown Plaza, Parma
- 216.661.7561
- 9780 State Route 14, Streetsboro
- 330. 626.9601
– Submitted by A.I.
Heart & Soul Little Italy Celebrates Both with its Classic Sense of Neighborhood

Photo by Scott Meivogel
Culture can widen the mind and spirit, but it takes a community to bring the two together. Just look at an enclave like Little Italy, where mind and spirit have never been closer. As the Italian cultural center of northeast Ohio — located at the base of Murray Hill, between University Circle and Cleveland Heights on the east side — Little Italy is a place where art, food, faith and frame of mind congregate in the spirit of a classic neighborhood.
“I enjoy the true sense of community and the warmth of the people,” says Father Philip Racco, pastor at the Holy Rosary Church (Little Italy’s epicenter for catholic culture). “For newcomers, it still has that sense of a neighborhood. You walk out the door and you don’t feel estranged. You feel connection.”
Community spirit certainly starts at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church (216.421.2995), the Baroque-styled house of worship, founded in 1892, that still celebrates mass daily. The parish has hosted Little Italy’s biggest celebration for the last 112 years — The Feast of the Assumption — that is a mixture of faith and fun that includes a four-day street fair with rides, food and live music.
“You might say the celebration that happens in the church pours out in the street,” says Father Racco. “The Feast of the Assumption is a celebration of life. Therefore celebrating at the height of summer with the bounty of summer — the food, the festivities and the music — is most appropriate.”
The church’s old-world charm spills out into the community as well, a blend of well-preserved homes, neighborhood bistros and more than 55 artist studios, galleries and boutique shops.
“The neighborhood certainly has its color,” says Jerry Keller of Keller Art Glass (216.721.0314 or http://www.kellerartglass.com) who’s been redefining the warm glass art world for the past 37 years with his glass guitars, mirrors and stained and etched glass windows. “The brick street has turn-of-the-century buildings made of stone with long-standing inhabitants that mix with college students and the newly hip.”
Whether it’s framing, photography, sculpture, painting or glass, Little Italy can probably satisfy your distinctive taste. But, speaking of tastes, what probably draws the most visitors to Little Italy all year around is its amazing variety of bakeries, cafés, bistros and cantinas. Chef Boyardee opened his first restaurant, Il Giardino d’Italia, in Little Italy in the 1940s, and today the neighborhood still has some of the best Italian eateries in Ohio, including the oldest restaurant in Cleveland, Guarino’s established in 1918 (216.231.3100).
“Our cooking today is as it was 90 years ago,” says owner Nancy Phillips, long time family friend of the original Guarinos and owner for 25 years. “And the [décor] style is still Victorian — much as it looked in 1918. One of my seven children tells me I should change it. I said I’m not changing anything. This is the way it was when I was a little girl and it’s staying this way. Sometimes people like to step back in history. Sometimes we’re in too much of a hurry to black-and-white tile everything — to glass everything — to polyurethane everything. People forget about the old woods and the antiques. And here it’s all still this way.”
Visiting Little Italy today is not so different than when immigrant stone cutters, masons and bricklayers, carving local streets and cemetery stones, started the community in 1885. The people have changed, the businesses have evolved, the church has receded and grown, but Little Italy still retains its nostalgic neighborhood charm and spirit. – Submitted by guest blogger Keith Gribbins
Mmmm . . . It Hit the (B) Spot
I went to celeb chef/restaurateur Michael Symon’s B Spot Burgers on Saturday, and let me tell you it was a throwback comfort food moment. When I looked at the menu and saw fried bologna sandwiches and real milk shakes, I knew that a salad was not an option.
As someone who seems to be perpetually on a diet, there is usually nothing that can shake my resolve when I am on a mission to shed a few. That was until I saw the burger- laden baskets and savored the smells at this very comfortable, down-to-earth restaurant. B Spot is located at ETON: Chagrin Boulevard, one of the most upscale boutique malls in the area. This is a nice addition to the diverse mix of restaurants currently located at ETON. B Spot has excellent food where you can come in and watch a game at the bar or bring your family in to have a burger and fries.
Yes, Symon does have his signature Lola fries on the menu. My husband ordered some and of course I couldn’t let him eat those all by himself. My daughter had a regular cheeseburger and a chocolate milk shake. It was a real milk shake, and I know, because of course I couldn’t let her drink that all by herself. It was delicious. So chocolaty! ( Is that a word? If not, it should be.) I had the Thin Lizzy, well done, which when you read “Symon Says” will let you know what they think about people like me. It was seasoned so nicely that I practically inhaled it. It came with caramelized onions, cheddar, mayo and pickles. My husband had the Shroomage, with portabella mushrooms, blue cheese and Lola steak sauce.
They have a nice beer menu. The wine list is short, but I still found something to my liking. It was a pleasant time out with the family and I got to do some shopping too. – Submitted by SSM
Great Lakes Brewing Company’s “Pint Size Farm” at Hale Farm and Village
Take . . . make . . . make. This is how the Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) describes their sustainability initiatives. Everything that can be reused is . . . and when I say everything I mean everything. For example, GLBC owns the “fatty wagon,” an eco-friendly shuttle bus run on used vegetable oil. Eat at GLBC on game days (Indians or Cavs) and save on parking by purchasing a roundtrip ticket from the Ohio City brewery downtown to Progressive Field or Quicken Loans Arena for just $1.
The “fatty wagon” is merely the beginning of GLBC’s green efforts. Turns out, half the veggies served during the summer months are grown right here in Northeast Ohio. An unlikely partnership with Hale Farm and Village, a 19th century living history museum located about 45 minutes away in Bath, Ohio, provides the space needed to grow locally about 50% of the fresh ingredients used in Great Lakes’ popular dishes. But, the “Pint Size Farm” provides more than the culinary delights plated at GLBC. The location of the Pint Size Farm, directly next to a 19th century farm, allows visitors to Hale Farm an opportunity to observe the striking similarities between farming practices of yesteryear and those used today.
For more information about the Great Lakes Brewing Company, their food, their brews and their environmental sustainability efforts, visit www.greatlakesbrewing.com and follow @GLBC_Cleveland on Twitter. For more info about visiting Hale Farm and Village, visit www.halefarm.org. –Submitted by CA
Clyde’s Bistro & Ballroom
Since the retro diner cars parked in Cleveland Heights arrived several years ago on Lee Road, they have had multiple owners. Usually, they served up good old-fashioned diner food with some success, but never lasted all that long. So when we heard that a new owner was planning to reopen and in fact received a gift card for Christmas to the newly-opened diner (what – a gift card for a diner?!) we decided to check it out.
I’m telling you now that you need to wipe out any preconceptions of diner food when you visit Clyde’s (1975 Lee Road – 216.321.7100) . The first clue that this is no ordinary diner experience is their valet parking. The second clue is the décor when you step through the front doors. Bright yellows and reds greet you with comfy deco-style couches in the entry. Wall-to-wall zebra stripe carpeting lines the dining area and you can almost hear old blue eyes crooning in the lounge (nice use of the old counter space as a bar).
The menu features everything from steak and seafood to pasta and burgers. No kids’ menu, but they are willing to serve half portions of most items on the menu. Definitely not what you would expect from a diner, and definitely worth a visit. –Submitted by TB
EDITOR’S NOTE: Read more about Clyde’s and what they’re trying to do with the diner cars here.

Attention foodies who look at chefs like rock stars, people who want to see the state-of-the art teaching and demonstration facilities at Tri-C’s new downtown Hospitality Management Center and/or anyone interested in a fun night out, The Spirit of Cleveland, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local hospitality education and Cuyahoga Community College invite you to the second 
You may have noticed what appears to be a new restaurant located on the corner of West Sixth Street and St. Clair Avenue in the 


