Cleveland's Best Restaurants of 2020, As Chosen By Our Readers

 

It's that most glorious and positive time of the year when we take a step back and recognize the absolute best restaurants of Cleveland, as chosen by Scene's readers. 2020 has sucked, and it's been a particularly rough year for the restaurant industry. But that doesn't mean Cleveland restaurants aren't still putting out kick-ass meals worthy of your dollars and attention.

Be sure to visit and support all of the worthy recipients, because we've already lost too many good ones this year. Let's keep the rest of these places, and all the others, open.

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 Larder
1455 West 29th St., Cleveland 
At its heart, Larder is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, out of this world fried chicken sandwiches and awesome baked goods. But there's so much more going on here than that. Chef-owner Jeremy Umansky utilizes techniques like koji (a Japanese mold) curing, foraging for wild edibles, cold and hot smoking, and fermentation and pickling to produce an ever-shifting roster of seasonal plates.
Photo via @LarderB/Instagram

Larder

1455 West 29th St., Cleveland

At its heart, Larder is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, out of this world fried chicken sandwiches and awesome baked goods. But there's so much more going on here than that. Chef-owner Jeremy Umansky utilizes techniques like koji (a Japanese mold) curing, foraging for wild edibles, cold and hot smoking, and fermentation and pickling to produce an ever-shifting roster of seasonal plates.

Photo via @LarderB/Instagram
 Best Restaurant: Barroco
12906 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 287 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake and 3941 Erie St., Willoughby,   barrocoarepabar.com, Lakewood - 216-221-8127, Westlake - 440-641-1283 and Willoughby - 440-527-8125
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Restaurant: Barroco

12906 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 287 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake and 3941 Erie St., Willoughby, barrocoarepabar.com, Lakewood - 216-221-8127, Westlake - 440-641-1283 and Willoughby - 440-527-8125

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best Local Snack: Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.
4464 Broadview Rd., Cleveland and 3441 Tuttle Rd., Ste. 101, Shaker Heights,  oldbrooklyncheesecompany.com, 216-321-7757
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Local Snack: Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.

4464 Broadview Rd., Cleveland and 3441 Tuttle Rd., Ste. 101, Shaker Heights, oldbrooklyncheesecompany.com, 216-321-7757

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best Seafood Market: Kate’s Fish
1979 West 25th St., Cleveland,   facebook.com/katesfishmarket/, 216-621-7675
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Seafood Market: Kate’s Fish

1979 West 25th St., Cleveland, facebook.com/katesfishmarket/, 216-621-7675

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best New Restaurant: Hola Tacos
12718 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 12102 Madison Ave., Lakewood and 3941 Erie St., Willoughby,  hola-tacos.com, Lakewood - 216-801-4666, Cleveland - 216-938-9301 and Willoughby - 440-527-8101
Photo via Scene Archives

Best New Restaurant: Hola Tacos

12718 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 12102 Madison Ave., Lakewood and 3941 Erie St., Willoughby, hola-tacos.com, Lakewood - 216-801-4666, Cleveland - 216-938-9301 and Willoughby - 440-527-8101

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best Coffee: Rising Star
Multiple Locations,   risingstarcoffee.com
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Coffee: Rising Star

Multiple Locations, risingstarcoffee.com

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best Teahouse: Cleveland Tea Revival
1434 West 29th St., Cleveland,   clevelandtearevival.com, 216-321-7757
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Teahouse: Cleveland Tea Revival

1434 West 29th St., Cleveland, clevelandtearevival.com, 216-321-7757

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best Chef: Jill Vedaa (Salt+)
17625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood,  saltcleveland.com, 216-221-4866
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Chef: Jill Vedaa (Salt+)

17625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, saltcleveland.com, 216-221-4866

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best French Fries and Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Tommy’s Restaurant
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights,   tommyscoventry.com, 216-321-7757
Photo via Scene Archives

Best French Fries and Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Tommy’s Restaurant

1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights, tommyscoventry.com, 216-321-7757

Photo via Scene Archives
 Best Jamaican Restaurant: IRIE Jamaican Kitchen
621 East 185th St., and 4162 Pearl Rd., Cleveland,  iriejakitchen.com, Pearl Rd. - 216-291-7488, East 185th St. - 216-350-6112
Photo via Scene Archives

Best Jamaican Restaurant: IRIE Jamaican Kitchen

621 East 185th St., and 4162 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, iriejakitchen.com, Pearl Rd. - 216-291-7488, East 185th St. - 216-350-6112

Photo via Scene Archives
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