The Cleveland Restaurants and Bars You Should Be Excited For in 2018

By Scene Staff on Wed, Feb 14, 2018 at 8:55 am

The number of exciting bar, restaurant and brewery projects that have our attention is nothing short of impressive. From Lakewood to Chagrin Falls to Canton and all points in between, there are heaps of new ventures presently taking shape.

Let's get this out of the way from the jump: We likely will not be dining anytime soon at Sherla's Chicken and Oysters, Michael Symon's casual neighborhood spot slowly taking shape in the former home of Lolita in Tremont, which suffered a catastrophic fire more than two years ago. When it does open — this summer, next fall, or just in time for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland — it will offer a casual mix of raw oysters, smoked seafood boards, fried chicken and wood-roasted chicken and veggies.

That said, the number of other exciting bar, restaurant and brewery projects that have our attention is nothing short of impressive. From Lakewood to Chagrin Falls to Canton and all points in between, there are heaps of new ventures presently taking shape.

By Douglas Trattner

Bomba Tacos & Rum

La Place Center, 2101 Richmond Rd., Beachwood
Paladar Latin Kitchen served its first mojito in Woodmere a decade ago. Since then, owner Andy Himmel has added locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Next up for Himmel was Bomba Tacos & Rum, which started in Rocky River and has spread to Fairlawn. Those two Latin-themed taco and rum joints will soon be joined by a third, this one at La Place at the intersection of Richmond and Cedar roads. Once home to Cooker and Sushi Rock, that corner spot has since been demolished and rebuilt.

Photo Provided

Judd's City Tavern

10323 Madison Ave.
Judd's City Tavern sits near the border of Cleveland and Lakewood, in a sort of no-man's land between Birdtown and Detroit Shoreway. It doesn't really matter where it sits because what's inside will likely lure curious imbibers from all corners of the city. Step inside the whimsical interior and you're immersed in a remarkable collection of beer, sports, toy, automotive, postal and first-responder memorabilia.

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Bookhouse Brewing

1526 W. 25th St.
How fortuitous for partners Vaughn Stewart and Luke Brevoort to secure space for their new brewery not just in Ohio City, the ganglion of Cleveland brewing, but on the very site of a productive, significant old brewery. Where once Baehr Brewing crafted lagers kept cool by blocks of Lake Erie ice, Bookhouse Brewing is currently coming together. Stewart, a brewer, and Brevoort, a former bookshop operator, hope to create a low-key neighborhood pub that serves as "the calm within the storm."

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Kate's Fish

West Side Market
Change comes slowly to the West Side Market, and when it does arrive, it typically is modest in scope and ambition. Tom McIntyre's plans for a choice corner spot, which hasn't seen a major upgrade for decades, are anything but meek. Long home to Dani's Seafood — but a fishmonger's space since 1912 — Stand H14 soon will have a completely new look and mission. While Kate's Fish will continue to focus on fresh, seasonal fish and seafood, the new venture will offer "seafood shack" style items like fried whole clams, lobster rolls, peel-and-eat shrimp, Hawaiian poke, and fried fish sandwiches and dinners.

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Fat Head's Brewery

Whipple Ave. and Everhard Rd., Canton
In March, Matt Cole will unveil a 10,000-square-foot Fat Head's Brewery in Canton, at the Venue at Belden. The 225-seat restaurant and brewery features an exposed 10-barrel brewhouse and tank farm separated from the public by little more than a drink rail with seats. The food menu will be nearly identical to the one in North Olmsted.

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Cleveland Bagel

Carnegie Ave. at E. 77th
In just four years' time, Cleveland Bagel has progressed from a home-based business to a thriving brick-and-mortar storefront and production kitchen in Ohio City. But owners Dan Herbst and Geoff Hardman aren't content to coast. Next up for the bagel boys is an eastside location that will closely mirror the original one in terms of size and scope. The 2,800-square-foot spot sits adjacent to Souper Market on Carnegie Avenue and will serve as both a production facility and retail shop.

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Marble Room Sushi and Il Venetian

Key Center
Marble Room has been leaving diners speechless thanks to an interior ripped from the Beaux Arts era. The massive sushi and steak restaurant is one of the most grand and ambitious establishments downtown, but that isn't stopping owners Frank and Malisse Sinito from pushing ahead with plans to open two new ventures. Il Venetian, an upscale Italian restaurant, and Marble Room Sushi, a carry-out concept, will both open at Key Center.

Photo courtesy of TRG Realty

Birdtown Brewery

2035 Quail St.
The team behind Barrio is not slowing down. They recently opened the fifth location of their popular taco-and-margarita chain, this one in Willoughby. They will soon add Birdtown Brewery, a casual eatery and brewery that has been slowly taking shape in the old St. Gregory Catholic Church in Lakewood's Birdtown neighborhood.

Photo by Douglas Trattner

Larder

1455 W. 29th St.
We've been fans of Jeremy Umansky ever since he brought his unique bag of culinary skills — wild-edible foraging, ferments, charcuterie, koji-culturing — to town. All those weapons will be employed at Larder, a modern delicatessen currently taking shape in an old firehouse next door to Rising Star Coffee. It's been two years since Umansky announced his plans, but the delicious finish line is just months away.

Photo by Barney Taxel

BrewDog

TBD location
BrewDog recently stormed the United States by planting a very big flag in Columbus with the opening of its new 100,000-square-foot brewery in Canal Winchester, just outside the city, but this Scotland-based brewery has been making a lot of noise for a decade. The company recently confirmed to Scene that its next move will involve opening a Cleveland-based BrewDog Bar in an as-yet-unannounced location.

Photo via BrewDogOfficial/Instagram