The Most Exciting Restaurants Opening in Cleveland This Fall

Birdtown Brewery

Quail St., Lakewood
It’s been two and a half years since we last reported on the Birdtown Brewery project taking form in the old St. Gregory Catholic Church in Lakewood's Birdtown neighborhood. But now things are getting started again, and the joint could possibly be open by the end of the year. The brewery will focus almost exclusively on beer for onsite consumption.

Photo via Douglas Trattner

Barrio in Willoughby

4061 Erie St, Willoughby
Barrio will be opening yet another location soon — this one in Willoughby this December in the former Olivor Twist location. It'll join Barrio's locations in Tremont, downtown Cleveland, Lakewood and Cleveland Heights.

Photo via Barrio/Facebook

Luca West

24600 Detroit Rd.
Since the summer of 2013, Luca Italian Cuisine has been attracting lovers of fine food and atmosphere to the Superior Viaduct, where magical skyline views combine with gourmet Italian food and wine to create truly memorable nights. Come (hopefully) by the end of the year, owners Luca and Lola Sema will open a second location, this one in Westlake at the former Viva Fernando/Viva Barcelona spot. Following a total renovation of the space, Luca West will debut with a similar menu and wine program to the downtown location.

Photo via Scene Archives

Larder

1455 W 29th
When it opens in fall, Larder will be from-scratch Eastern European deli that will utilize many of the practices and techniques Jeremy Umansky has been refining for years – techniques that include koji culturing, fermentation and foraging.

Photo via Douglas Trattner

Bigmouth Donut Co.

1418 W 29th St.
Courtney Bonning, chef-owner of the former BonBon Cafe in Ohio City, is teaming up with Kelly Brewer, formerly with the Cleveland Visitors Bureau and Ritz-Carlton to open the Bigmouth Donut Company. Together they will launch, “a truly unique donut experience never seen before by the donut-craving masses.” The spot should open in the next few months.

Photo via Bigmouth Donut Company/Facebook

BOMBA Tacos & Rum in Beachwood

2101 Richmond Rd., Beachwood
Like the BOMBA restaurants in River and Fairlawn, this one will feature Latin-themed snacks and starters, chef-driven tacos and a massive rum list set inside a smartly designed space outfitted with high-end finishes. The restaurant will occupy the corner spot, facing Cedar, in the portion of the La Place Center shopping mall that was demolished and rebuilt.

Exterior rendering

Swenson’s University Heights

14510 Cedar Rd., University Heights
In April, Scene broke the news that Swensons had plans to open an eighth location, this one in the Cleveland area. Now, with the approval of the University Heights City Council, LeBron James' favorite burger joint is officially coming to the east side and should be open by the end of the year.

Photo via kryden_ on/Instagram

Ohio City Burrito (Downtown)

526 Superior Ave.
Ohio City Burrito, on W. 25th, has been quietly chugging along for seven years, dishing up an affordable menu of satisfying tacos, burritos and salads. In November, they will open a downtown outpost of that popular spot, in the former home of Leader Bar and Grill

Photo via Ohio City Burrito/Facebook

Il Rione Pizzeria

1303 W. 65th St.
Most of us are familiar with Cleveland’s well-known Little Italy neighborhood on the east side of town. But few of us know the history behind Cleveland’s west side Little Italy, clustered north of Detroit between W. 65th and 69th streets, in what is now referred to as the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. And that area will soon have a New York-style pizza joint.

Photo via Scene Archives

Kensington Pub

2299 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
The owners intend for the Kensington Pub, which sits in the former Tavern Company space, to be an unpretentious American tavern offering familiar foods that are stepped up in terms of ingredient quality, technique and presentation. The goal is to open the doors by Thanksgiving.

Photo by Douglas Trattner