Will be spending two nights in downtown Cleveland in a week or so (staying at the Renaissance). We will have a car and know the area fairly well. Need some suggestions.

So far I like the Metropolitan Cafe andBlue Point Grill. Husband is Slovenian in origin, so we have looked at Frank Sterle Slovenian Country House and Balaton.

Would like your comments on these, any other recommendations, and especially something in the Italian area.

Thanks

Any ideas, anybody?

Johnny's Bar on Fulton Rd.
Phnom Penh on Lorain
Blue Point Grille
Sergio's (near Cleveland Clinic)

rncheryl, i have found that there aren't many people on this forum from Cleveland, therefore the information is limited. If you are looking for Italian restaurants, click on my name and you'll find an old post where I'm looking for a restaurant in the "Little Italy" section of town to take my college age son and friends. There is some good info there.

i topped my old post. We ate at Mama Santa's which was good, but very casual, not sure what you're looking for.

There's a fabulous little place in Little Italy called Guarinos - their Alfredo sauce was out of this world! Just did a search and found this link - lots of good info. It also mentions a Slovenian place although i'm not personally familiar with it. We always enjoy our time in Cleveland; there's lots to do especially in the summer.

http://www.moderncleveland.com/restaurants/

Three *terrific* restaurants in Cleveland:
1. Farenheit in the Tremont area. FANTASTIC!!!

2. Fire, Food, and Drink in Shaker Square

3. Classics restaurant in the Interncontinental Hotel (in the Cleveland Clinic complex).

We just ate at all three this past weekend -- we live in San Francisco area and are pretty spoiled. We loved these restaurants!

In downtown Cleveland there are many good places to eat, several in the West 6 area. I love Blue Pointe Grille. Balaton is Hungarian, I find it too heavy for summer, but I prfer it over Country house which may have been sold. (I am not sure.)
For truly upscale Italian try the Bericelli Inn in Little Italy. Most all of the restaroaunts in Little Italy are good. Mama Santa is cheap eats Italian, good food large portions, noisy crowded atmosphere (lots of college kids and families)

If you are out of downtown there are many other local places to try. As mentioned earlier Tremont is a hot area now.

For a truly ethnic experience try the West side Market and purchase from the stalls.

Great Lakes Brewery is the best local microbrewery.

In Rocky River try Salmon Daves or very casual Max's Deli for lunch.

In Beachwood try Moxie

In Shaker Square try Balaton (Hungarian, better in the winter) Sarava (Brazilian - just opened by owners of Sergios in University Circle) Fire, and the more casual Luchita's

Nighttown at the top of Cedar Hill.

On Coventry in Cleveland Heights try Pacific East (Sushi, Japanese, and other pacific cousine), casual: Thai-Mint Cafe, vegetarian funky Tommy's (which has the best milkshakes) Grums- take out subs.

Another upscale with a great winelist is Lockkeepers in Independence

There are many more these are off the top of my head.

Colleen

Try www.chowhound.com. I haven't checked the Cleveland posts specifically, but there may be some useful info there.

Two more in downtown Cleveland- Johnny's Downtown and Mallorca

We were sorry to miss Johnny's -- I had reservations made on line but we arrived from the airport too late & had to cancel.

annw
Did you make it to Pier W for Sunday Brunch? Just curious.

Tried, but never did -- we got in later than planned and ended up getting up later than planned with brunch at the intercontinental -- which was good, but I had really hoped to get to the Pier. We'll just have to have a return visit, and hit Pier W and Johnny's (and Farenheit, again! Thanks for the tip though cd.