John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

27 most-anticipated bars and restaurants opening in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland’s revival is a tale told over drinks and dinner amid the clanging of glasses and silverware.

The explosion in bar and restaurant openings has played a central role in the city’s economy, not to mention psychology.

Excitement and optimism fuels the 27 openings highlighted in this story. While most of the proprietors wondered whether the market was nearing saturation, they believed the waves of openings were an integral part in Cleveland’s comeback story.

The story continues through the summer with a number of new places set to open – coming on the heels of a number of places that have just opened. Here you go…

John Petkovic, Plain Dealer Reporter

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Marble Room Steak and Raw Bar

623 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland; 216) 523-7000; MarbleRoomCLE.com. Opening: August. What's more amazing: The scale or the décor? Well, both. Looking in the old National City Bank of the Garfield Building, Marble Room is a hulking architectural gem. From the balcony, you could imagine yourself as Marie Antoinette looking out over the opulence from another time. The menu and drink lists promise to be just as ambitious – with a wide range of entrees. Not enough space here to describe it. Let's just say it's a category killer. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Brewnuts

on the corner of West 65th Street and Detroit Avenue, facebook.com/brewnutscle. Opening: End-July/early-August. Like the neon sign says, DONUTS & BEER. The beer-based donut maker will roll out a donut bar featuring 16 taps and cans and bottles of beer to go with cocktails.. Brew Nuts will expand its offerings over time to include a weekend food menu along with donut-breaded chicken wings and donut sandwiches. (Photo courtesy Brewnuts)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville

1150 Front Ave, in the Flats East Bank; margaritavillecleveland.com. Opening: Late-June/early-July. No more wasting away: The Jimmy Buffett-themed spot will move into the 20,000-square-foot building that was supposed to house Toby Keith's. Margaritaville features a restaurant, multiple bars and a performance stage for live entertainment. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Il Rione Pizzeria

1303 West 65th Street, Gordon Square; facebook.com/ilrionepizzeria. Opening: Mid-August. The building dates back 100 years. Il Rione hopes to take pizza back to the classic New York-style. "We're concentrating on making great pizzas in a style you really can't find around here," says co-owner Brian Moss. The pizzeria comes with a full bar and a cozy vibe. "It only seats 35-40 people," says Moss. (Photo courtesy Il Rione)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

L.B.M.

12301 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, facebook.com/lbmbarcleveland . Opening: late-June/early-July. Hail, hail, Vikings have landed in Lakewood. The bar-restaurant rolls out a boatload of Norse mythology… heavy-metal music, Scandinavian elixirs and iron, metal and wood décor. LBM will also serve small plates and feature 200 bottles of alcohol. Raise your goblets! (Photo courtesy LBM)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Boiler 65

6410 Detroit Ave., in Gordon Square; 216-862-5515; facebook.com/theboiler65: Opening: June. The bar-eatery is part of the national seafood-in-a-bag trend. It rolls out 150 seats and a spacious patio, not to mention Cajun-style shellfish that is delivered to tables in bags, with bibs. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Citizen Pie

2144 West 25th St, in Ohio City; citizenpie.com; Opening: End-July. The motto of the Collinwood-based spot is “Pizza for the People.” Well, the people will soon include West Siders. “It’s about twice the size, so it will enable us to do more things,” says owner Claudia Young. Citizen Pie Ohio City will serve pies, beer and wine, yes, but also salads and “the best soft serve anywhere,” adds Young. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Literary Tavern

1031 Literary Road; 216-555-5555; literarytavern.com. Opening: Aug.-Sept. The storied Tremont bar has been getting a facelift and will feature a full-on kitchen. But expect the vibe to remain low-key, says new owner Ross Valenti. "I'm a longtime Tremont guy and want to keep it a spot where you can get away from the crowd," he says. The Lit will feature 43 seats and a Mediterranean menu similar to Valenti's popular Cantine bar-restaurant. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Bad Tom Smith Brewing

1836 W 25th St, in Ohio City; facebook.com/badtombrewing: Opening: Early-August. The Cincinnati brewery's arrival to Ohio City is a homecoming for Twinsburg native John Vojtush, who co-owns Bad Tom Smith with his fiance, Sheryl Gittins. "We gutted the inside and put in a 20-foot bar and open-air layout," says Vojtush. BTS, which boasts an outlaw motif, will sell beers brewed in Cincy alongside others crafted by local brewers on the premises. BTS will also serve food by working in concert with area vendors. The brewery is also a homecoming for its head brewer and original owner, Twinsburg native Sean Smith -- who will bring many of his recipes to West 25th. (Photo courtesy Bad Tom Smith Brewing)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Working Class Brewery and Taproom

17448 Lorain Ave, Kamm's Corners; 216-544-8703; workingclassbrewery.com. Opening: June. The whole working-class thing is about more than branding, says Carmen Rusoniello, co-owner of the 10-barrel brewhouse. "We picked this area because it is working class and that's what we're really about," he says. By that he means, a casual joint where you can sip brews in a bouge-free zone without having to pay through the nose. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Dante's Inferno

in the old Crop Sticks space in the Flats East Bank; danteboccuzzi.com: Opening: Late-summer. The bar and pizzeria would focus on beer, fast-casual dining and takeout and would be similar to the Dante's Inferno operated by Dante Boccuzzi at Progressive Field. (Image courtesy Flats East Bank)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Luca in Westlake

24600 Detroit Ave, Westlake; lucacleveland.com: Opening: Sept. Luca turned what was considered a tough location – Superior Viaduct – into a destination. Now, it will set out to do the same with the former Viva Fernando/Viva Barcelona spot. “It’s had mixed results, but we’re up for the challenge,” says Terry Uhl, of Luca. It will no doubt be easier with Luca’s northern Italian menu and classic cocktail list – both of which are stellar. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Boss Dog Brewery

2179 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights; facebook.com/Bossdogbrewing: Opening: August. Lee Road was dealt a blow when Lemongrass closed in 2015. Enter Jason and Josh Sweet – and their sprawling brewery, which comes with a gastropub menu. "We'll do 10 beers and a full menu," says Jason Sweet. "We also have space -- 5,600 square-feet upstairs and another 3,000 downstairs – to do lots of things. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Rascal Flatts

1109 Old River Road, in the Flats East Bank. flatseastbank.com . Opening: Late-summer. The band has a new club and bar-restaurant to go with its new album. The 10,000-square-foot space will serve some of the band’s favorite dishes and drinks and feature memorabilia and a stage for live music. (Cleveland City Planning Commission)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Crust

2258 Professor Ave., in Tremont; 216-583-0257; crusttremont.com. Opening. Early-July. Up for slice, a drink, some sweets and reading? Meet me on Professor Ave, when Crust pizza shop opens an expanded sit-down restaurant in a building that will also house the reborn Visible Voice book store. Both spots will work in tandem – with Crust rolling out a full liquor license and menu and Visible Voice serving dessert, beer, wine and coffee to go with books.

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Proper Pig BBQ in Mentor

9582 Diamond Centre Drive, Mentor; properpigsmokehouse.com. Opening: Mid-June. The Lakewood spot was overshadowed when it opened by Michael Symon’s Mabel’s. No more. Proper Pig has developed a cult following for its Central Texas barbecue and is set to take the rodeo to Mentor with a location that will pair food with beer. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Seafood Shake

1852 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights. Opening: Mid-June. The boiled seafood spot moves into the Winking Lizard spot. Ah, but this is about more than shellfish. The Shake will boast Cajun and Asian takes on the style and will roll out Thai ice cream and a full-on bar. (Photo courtesy of Seafood Shake)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Hi and Dry

2221 Professor Ave, in Tremont; 216-566-9463; facebook.com/HiAndDryCLE: Opening: June 7. Ready for some duckpin bowling? Duckpin bowling - an offshoot of bowling that features shorter pins and a smaller ball softball - is the main draw. The Tremont bar-restaurant will boast four lanes to go with classic arcade games, a sandwich menu, beers, wine and cocktails. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Smokin Q's BBQ and Beer House

718 Som Center Rd, Mayfield; 440-646-0411; smokinqbbq.com. Opening: June. The makeover of of the ancient Fisher’s Tavern is almost done. Smokin Q’s brings a taste Central Texas barbecue to the East Side. The latest spot by Carl Quagliata of Giovanni’s includes an extensive list of sides and beers and signature cocktails. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Carlyle building restaurant/Name TBD

in the Carlyle on the Lake condominium complex in Lakewood. Opening: December. Noted restaurateur Tony George is finalizing a concept for the spot, which is located in the beloved Swingos on the Lake location and, before that, the Silver Quill (seen here in this 1971 photo). (Plain Dealer file photo by Mitchael J. Zaremba)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Backyard Bocce

in the old Crop Rocks space in the Flats East Bank; flatseastbank.com: Opening: Late summer. The BB will focus on bourbon, beer and Bocce – four courts, along with arcade-style games and Skee-ball. (Image courtesy Flats East Bank)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Zaytoon Lebanese Kitchen

1150 Huron Rd, Playhouse Square; 216-589-9223; facebook.com/ZaytoonLebaneseKitchen. Opening: June. David Ina has found himself in the middle of the Middle Eastern cuisine trend. The chef will open in Playhouse Square, where he will make fresh hummus, lentil soup, pastries, pita and coffees on a daily basis. "Everything is made from scratch, from shwarma to pickled turnips," he says. "People have turned to this food because it's healthy, quick and vegan-friendly – and we're not cutting corners, even when we're making juice or mint lemonade."

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Rood Food&Pie

17001 Madison Ave., Lakewood; facebook.com/ROODfoodandpie . Opening: summer. The café brings homespun cooking and homey vibes to the west end. It doubles as a bakery and will roll out everything from traditional breakfasts to chicken pot (and countless other) pies.

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Thirsty Dog Brewing

in the old Crop On Air spot, in the Flats East Bank. thirstydog.com. Opening: Late-summer. Akron-based Thirsty Dog, which has enjoyed dramatic growth and critical acclaim for its brews since its founding in 1997, would move into the On Air spot. (Image courtesy Flats East Bank)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Xinji Noodle Bar

4211 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; xinjinoodle.com. Opening: Summer. Former Momocho chef Shuxin Liu rolls out an eclectic menu on modern Asian cuisine – from Korean fried chicken to miso to steamed buns to green tea cheesecake to fusion cocktails. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Sherla's Chicken & Oysters

900 Literary Road, in Tremont; facebook.com/sherlaschickenandoysters . Opening: 2018. Michael Symon’s latest concept was poised for a 2017 opening in the old Lolita space (which was claimed in a fire, in Jan. 2016). But the opening of Angeline spot in Atlantic City has pushed things back.

Don't Edit

John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Saucy Brew Works

2885 Detroit Ave, Ohio City; saucybrewworks.com . Opening: July 5. A pizza is a pizza is a pizza. Not at Saucy Brew Works, which will specialize in the New Haven-style take on the Neapolitan pizza. Of course, this is also a brewery – headed up by Eric Anderson, formerly of Butcher and the Brewer. The 200-seater boasts a sprawling patio, a fireplace and a beer-and-pizza delivery service. (Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)