Is the bubble bursting or just slowly leaking air?
After five to eight years of unabated growth, Cleveland's frothy restaurant scene appears to be reducing to a simmer. What's more, we're starting to see restaurants – both old and not-so-old – close their doors at a quickening pace. Places like Gamekeeper's Taverne, Rick's Café, Graffiti, 811, Roxu, Hansol, Noodlecat and Portside all have left us.
But those losses have been countered by gains. Over the past year or so, Cleveland diners have welcomed a complex stew of eating and drinking establishments, from high-end debuts like Turn Bar and Kitchen at the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton to the uber-chill Xinji Noodle Bar. Those restaurants were joined by places like Astoria, Hook & Hoof, Boiler 65, Il Rione Pizzeria, Seafood Shake, Cru, Marble Room, Zoma Ethiopian, Puente Viejo, Smokin' Q's, LBM, City Diner and Otani Noodle. Familiar names like Crust, Barroco, Melt, Barrio and Luca all added new spots. And let's not forget the suds: Masthead, Noble Beast, Saucy Brew Works, Terrestrial Brewing, Boss Dog Brewing and BRIM all have been newly tapped.
Here are some other projects that we are following with anticipation.
By Douglas Trattner
