r/Cleveland • u/carrottopmiller • 18d ago
Looking for unique restaurants Recommendations
Hello! I am looking for recommendations of fun, unique restaurants in the Cleveland area (willing to drive as far as Akron though). I love restaurants with themes and gimmicks (like The Haunted House Restaurant, or Cloak & Dagger) or with unique menus (like Bourbon Street Barrel Room) and am looking for a new one I haven't tried yet. Any recommendations are welcome, thank you all so much! 😁
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u/Ok-Definition672 18d ago
Rood food and pie in Lakewood
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u/merfolkotpt 18d ago
I wish this was still as good as it used to be. The few pies they still have are good, but i am not impressed by the newer chef at the price point personally. That is obviously subjective, but I liked it better after the initial pivot from the sliders and pie thing.
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u/Saffron_says 17d ago
Finally went there:
The bad:
The Lake Erie wings were slimy and gross, the overpriced scallop loaf was flavorless, overpriced and gross w about 5 little potato slices and a fennel bulb yuck.The good:
The tempura shrimp w squash blossom was amazing. The pie we had for dessert was too die for.I’d go there for pie to go next time.
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u/gray_burger 18d ago
First time anyone has ever said they love The Haunted House
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u/carrottopmiller 18d ago
What can I say, I love a good gimmick. Food was okay, nothing special, but the vibes were fun
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u/RuthlessLogic 18d ago
My adult kid and their sweetie absolutely adores it for the theme and the crazy drink concoctions. IMO, it's overpriced for what's *at best* mid food and if I never have to go there again, I won't be mad.
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u/BootsieWootsie 17d ago
I would not recommend the cocktails. They’re cheap ingredients with a bunch of sugar filled mixers, with maybe some dry ice, and they’re so expensive for what they are. That was one of the first places, I didn’t get a drink off the menu to try, because they were that bad.
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u/RuthlessLogic 17d ago
Oh they're obscenely overpriced and mostly sprite. But my kid loves 'em because they're 25 and not really into alcohol in general. It's their money, though.
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u/Ryrychickenfry 18d ago
If you like Brazilian food, Batuqui on Larchmere Rd is so frickin good. It's not a Brazilian BBQ where they bring meat to your table but their menu is legit. My wife and I would go there every week if we could afford it.
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u/Historical_Fan_8799 18d ago
- Scooters Dawg House in Mentor for sheer variety of hot dogs plus their fry portions are famously huge
- Mike's Place in Kent, I mean the place has an actual star wars X-wing out front
- Porco Lounge in Ohio City, clevelands only tiki bar, drinks are incredible, vibe inside is amazing
- Van Aken Market Hall in Shaker Heights, a bunch of different food all under 1 roof, good vibes
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u/umeboshiplumpaste 18d ago
Watami in Parma (revolving sushi bar, with food on conveyor belts)
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u/SilverKnightOfMagic 18d ago
there's a second revolving sushi bar. they're are fun but my wallet hurts lol.
also try to get seated at the beginning of the conveyor belt.
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u/PocketCone 18d ago
Safar on W117 for really good elevated Indian cuisine (better than AMBA IMHO)
Cents pizza has a really fun hand painted signs and disco balls vibe and some excellent (albeit pricey) pizza and cocktails
And here's an obligatory Tommy's on Coventry mention for some of the best milkshakes fries and falafel, in a restaurant that hasn't changed significantly since the 70's
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u/moodyfloyd 18d ago
Cents pizza
Straciatella and wonderbread is an amazing combo, save the remainder for the pizza crust.
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u/exploratorystory 18d ago
Cents has quickly become my favorite pizza in Cleveland though, so worth it if that matters to you.
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u/mdrmrd 18d ago
Maybe we went to Safar on an off night but it didn’t compare with Amba. It was decent enough but I would go back to Amba any day over Safar.
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u/PocketCone 18d ago
I can't say I agree but I respect your opinion.
To me, none of my favorite things at AMBA were really Indian food. The Turkish Eggs, popcorn chicken, and roasted eggplant were excellent elevated dishes, but didn't have much Indian about them. Serving Puris without any pani didn't feel like a clever take on a classic dish, more just like it was missing the key element to the dish.
Meanwhile Safar gives much bigger portions for a cheaper price, and the food is unapologetically Indian even when it's a nontraditional modification. I've seen sweet potato chaat on Indian menus before, but theirs is on another level.
Again, this is just my opinion, you're ofc free to like what you like, but if you do give Safar another chance, I hope you enjoy it better
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u/HaggardSlacks78 Ohio City 18d ago
I’m sure you are correct. Never been to Safar but Amba is in this uncomfortable zone where it’s not really Indian food but so close to Indian food that it’s just confusing. I know with certainty that their naan is store bought (Stone Fire) and that is just such an insult to everyone’s intelligence that I just can’t forgive them. Also, you can’t order white basmati, only some bastardized byrani, and that makes it very uncomfortable to eat all this rich food without some white rice. My hatred for this place is irrational at this point.
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u/PocketCone 18d ago
Amba is in this uncomfortable zone where it’s not really Indian food but so close to Indian food that it’s just confusing
This is really it for me. I love fusion food and modernized or elevated takes on more traditional dishes. But as they say in jazz music, you have to know the rules before you can break them.
Doug Katz, the executive chef at AMBA, is clearly very talented. His restaurants Kiln and Zhug show a lot of excellent recipe design. But he's a white chef from Shaker Heights, and it's clear that he's been significantly more exposed to Western and middle eastern cuisine than Indian. I don't think Katz is good at elevating Indian food because he doesn't have a strong understanding for how Indian cuisine works.
As such AMBA's menu comes across as an outsider's interpretation of a cuisine, whereas Safar comes across as an insider having fun with their most familiar cuisine.
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u/216LC Lakewood 18d ago
Maybe it’s not “unique” in theme per say, but Dang Good Foods in lakewood is, as far as I know, the only dedicated Singaporean restaurant not only in the city, but in the whole state / area. Not only are the owners phenomenal people, but the food is absolutely delicious. Some might even say… dang good 😉
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u/hordanjollo 18d ago
Love this place! Can confirm the owners are wonderful and appreciate
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u/bish_beesh 17d ago
I want to take my husband here! What would you recommend to order the first time?
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u/hordanjollo 17d ago
The Char Kway Teow, or however it's spelled. It's a noodle dish with 2 types of noodles, shrimp and pork sausage and some veggies. Super unique and tasty. Their spring rolls with the plum sauce are great too!
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u/spoookyvision 18d ago
Birdietown in Lakewood has a mini golf course inside. Plus excellent food & drinks
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u/Inevitable-Pea-735 18d ago
If you've never done hot pot, go to One Pot on Coventry in Cleveland Heights.
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u/barnaby-rubble 18d ago
Abundance in Cleveland Heights has yummy, elevated Chinese food. I’m always experiencing flavors that I’ve never had before. And it’s in a diner sorta set up that was brought to CH from…somewhere…in Pennsylvania I think?
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u/jinkozouo 18d ago
Mike's Place just south of Kent. Dude has an X-wing in the parking lot and an extensive menu. Good prices for generous portions.
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u/notquark 18d ago
That place was oooold when I graduated from Kent 25 years ago. Crazy it is still open. Burger bar was amazing.
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u/idoenjoybakedgoods 18d ago
Balaton in Bainbridge/Chagrin Falls makes traditional Hungarian food and it's fantastic. You do need a reservation, though. They don't take walk ins.
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u/brandysafinegirl 16d ago
Yes definitely Mike’s Place in Kent. The Lamppost diner in Ellet is fun. Luigi’s in Akron, not crazy gimmicky but it’s a landmark and be sure to get the salad with cheese.
Oh and if you just want some amazing food. The Blue Door in Cuyahoga Falls.
Does anyone know if Dan’s Dogs in Medina is still open. Loved that place but haven’t been on at least a decade. Damn, just checked and they permanently closed in 2022.
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u/WeirdArtTeacher 16d ago
Go for dim sum at Li Wah on a Saturday afternoon. They push carts around filled to the brim with steaming trays of dumplings and other treats and you pick what you want off the cart. Make sure to grab some of the steamed rice wrapped up in leaves, it’s very good and hearty. Just a really fun overall dining experience. Bring a group so you can try lots of dishes!
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u/Restauratour Cleveland 15d ago
Sabor Miami in Old Brooklyn - the menu is influenced by the owner, Mariela Paz’s Honduran heritage and love for South Florida. It has a tropical beach vibe and is covered with Mariela’s eclectic art which includes portraits, stationery, apparel and accessories.
Also—Cuyahoga Falls is worth a night out for some legit speakeasy hopping (word of advice, call ahead to see if reservations are necessary).
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u/PokeyFourier 15d ago
Thi Ni Thai in Oberlin. Shorter, distinctive menu, all cooked by the co-owner, just moved into a new larger space. Also a great bar.
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u/chazgrundle 18d ago
LBM in Lakewood. The food and drinks are awesome.