31 Essential Seafood Restaurants In Cleveland

Acqua Di Luca

500 West St. Clair Ave., Cleveland

Many consider the Warehouse District hallowed ground with respect to Cleveland’s dining renaissance. Now, 30 years later, Lola and Luca Sema are picking up the mantle by bucking trends, taking risks and doing their best to keep diners excited and well fed despite very difficult circumstances. The walk-in coolers are filled to the brim with top quality shellfish and fin fish. Those luxe foodstuffs are gilded with saffron, brown butter, Nebbiolo wine reductions and everything in between, making this a seafood and fish experience unlike any other in town.

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Lobster Pot

2749 SOM Center Rd., Willoughby Hills

Cooking a live lobster isn’t the most difficult task in the world. For something so decadent, so delicious, it really is remarkable that all a home cook needs to know how to do is boil water and set a timer. The real hassle, as anybody who has done the deed can attest, is everything else, from sourcing a fresh specimen to cleaning up the bloody mess afterwards. Fortunately, there are places like the Lobster Pot, where diners can enjoy all of the good while leaving most of the bad to others.

Photo via Scene Archives

The Sauce Boiling Seafood Express

Multiple Locations

In University Heights, this spot has perfected the to-go seafood boil in a bag and has quickly become a beloved spot for locals. Getting your hands dirty is totally worth it for this deliciousness.

Photo via The Sauce BSE/Facebook

Dante

2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland

Native Clevelander Dante Boccuzzi worked his way around the globe, with stints in London, Milan, Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York. But he’s been settled in Tremont since 2010 and his contemporary bistro borrows from Italian, American and Asian cuisines and knocks it out of the park when it comes to food from the ocean (see Ginko and Goma). Still, no meal is complete without a sample of the chef's killer pasta, polenta or risotto, all available by the taste. Head to Dante’s Next Door for weekend brunch and to Coda, his music club, for great live music.

Photo via Dante/Facebook

Mizu Japanese Sushi Restaurant

10219 Brookpark Rd., Parma

In Parma, you’ll find Mizu, one of the more popular sushi joints in town. If you want a sampling of some of the delicious sashimi served here, try the chirashi bowl and you won’t be disappointed.

Photo via Mizu Japanese Sushi Restaurant/Facebook

Batuqui

17 East Orange St., Chagrin Falls and 12706 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland

One of the only Brazillian restaurants in town fits perfectly into the dining scene of Larchmere. Set in a 120-year old Victorian house, it feels more like you’re sitting in someone’s house more than it feels like a restaurant. They recently expanded to a second location in Chagrin Falls, in a similar setting to the original. Their seafood stews, like the mariscada, an ocean mixture including calamari, mussels, fish, crabmeat, shrimp and a touch of sweet plantains cooked in organic coconut milk and olive oil, served with rice and vatapa, are like nothing else in town.

Photo via Scene Archives

Blu, the Restaurant

3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood

Svelte and sophisticated, Blu, formerly Moxie, is where you take your significant other to impress them with your good taste. The heavily seafood menu has recently been updated and is artfully presented by professional servers. Finish your meal with the baked hot chocolate and you are guaranteed to leave happy.

Photo via Blu, The Restaurant/Facebook

Chez Francois

555 Main St., Vermilion

If you're looking for a romantic destination restaurant for a special occasion, bring your date to Chez Francois in Vermillion. Upscale French seafood and fish, like their sea bass filet, soft-shell crabs, seafood medley and other awesome oceanic dishes are served up with a great waterfront view. They're also known for their excellent selection of fine wines.

Photo via Scene Archives

Don’s Lighthouse Grille

8905 Lake Ave., Cleveland

The unique atmosphere, bustling lounge scene, and reasonably priced food at Don’s make it a popular destination for generous portions of seafood. Located in Edgewater right across the street from the Lake, Don’s has been a staple of the near West Side since 1972. Their Portuguese seafood stew is a total knockout dish.

Photo via Don’s Lighthouse Grille/Facebook

Hako

13603 Madison Ave., Lakewood

Sapporo Sushi has been a downtown mainstay for 15 years. The small shop on the alleyway, beloved for its sushi, sashimi, rolls, noodle bowls and teriyaki dishes, rolled down the shutters for good on August 1. But fans of the owners and food won't have to wait long to enjoy both again as they are relocating the shop to Lakewood. The new restaurant is called Hako, and it ran as a partnership with Jackie Kim, the owner of Ohashi in North Olmsted. The space formerly was home to Kim's Aji Noodle Bar and, before that, Yuzu. In addition to nigiri sushi, sashimi and dozens of traditional and eclectic rolls, the menu features "pan sushi." Popular in Hawaii, pan sushi is a more carefree style of sushi that features layers of rice, fish, roe and sauces, which are pressed and then cut into tidy squares.

Photo via Scene Archives