Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

35 of Cleveland's best small restaurants and bars: 2017 guide

Good things come in small packages, says the cliché. Well, cliché it may be, but it’s true in Cleveland. The restaurant and bar scene is rich with tiny gems, from old-school diners to corner bars, waffle bars, taco stands and even a “dog house.” Many are in the city limits or inner- ring suburbs, where mom-and-pop establishments, not cookie-cutter chains, continue to thrive. Others are in more far-flung locales.

Read on for the 2017 guide to Cleveland’s best small restaurants and bars — where tiny is mighty and flavor and style is big.

Story by Laura DeMarco, Plain Dealer Reporter

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Close Quarters

31953 Lake Road, Avon Lake; 440-933-5217: The name says it all. This beloved Avon Lake roadhouse has about 20 barstools, just a narrow aisle behind them and a lovingly worn wood bar. Every inch of the walls and ceiling is covered, making it all the cozier — from old beach signs to hanging mermaids to pennants, family photos, T-shirts, shells, license plates, calendars, travel photos, beer signs, stuffed animals and lanterns.

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Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer

Charlie's Dog House

2102 Brookpark Road, Cleveland; 216-661-4873: There are just 19 stools at the L-shaped bar, and one tiny two-top table crammed into the corner of the midcentury red-and-white eatery. From "Gidget" on the TV to the retro napkin holders and ketchup on the counter to the biscuits frying on the grill to the prices, the Dog House is a blast from the past. It's a meeting-and-eating house from another era, tucked into the corner of a parking lot on Brookpark Road.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Sabor Miami

4848 Broadview Road; 440-714-0202: I have found the best coffee in town — and, believe me, I have done years of research. It's at this delightful, tropical café, opened last year in Old Brooklyn by Honduran native Mariela Paz. Not only is the coffee amazing in the pequeño café. The food is, too, from the key lime pancakes to the Cuban sandwich and the Tropichop plate.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Steve's Dog House/Sal's Menu Restaurant

3850 Pearl Road, Cleveland; 216-398-1446: The spirit and flavor of dearly departed Steve's Lunch lives on at this tiny, West Side 24-hour diner. Former Steve's owner Ed Salzgerber bought the cute little spot that opened in 1984 from Sal Monsour last year. It's tiny, like Steve's was, with an old-school lunch counter and just a few booths. Salzgerber kept Sal's popular breakfast and sandwiches all-day menu, and topped them off with Steve's famous chili dogs for a marriage made in late-night food heaven.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Barroco

12906 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 216-221-8107: This minuscule Colombian eatery is best known for its arepa — flat, round corn bread pattys filled with grilled meat or vegetables. They also make knockout Empanadas Colombianas and Huevos Rancheros — and some of the coolest ice cream drinks in town. And it's all served with a welcoming family vibe and eclectic devotion to local art on the walls. In 2012 Food Network Magazine even named the named the Chorizo Arepa sandwich the must-try sandwich of Ohio.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Tony's Southside

2193 Professor Ave., Cleveland; 216-771-0515: It's one of Cleveland's most unexpected and intimate restaurants, a tiny, exquisite upscale Italian-Greek restaurant only masquerading as a pizza parlor. Oh yes, they do serve pies in this lovely wood-paneled room that looks like something out of a 1940s Hollywood romance, with its sleek bar and just five tiny high-top tables. But these tiny artisan pies are anything but ordinary.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Johnny's Little Bar

614 Frankfort Ave., Cleveland; 216-861-2166: Tucked down little Frankfort Ave. alley, with only a tiny awning on the plain door to alert you what's behind the brick façade, Little Bar is a downtown oasis. Far from the partying crowds, it's a cozy corner bar in the city – with a standout menu from Johnny's next door. The tiny bar has only a handful of tables, making it all the more intimate. The classic dark wood interior and brick walls make it feel like you've stepped back in time, too.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Coquette Patisserie

11607 Euclid Ave., Cleveland; 216-331-2841: If there's a prettier cafe in Cleveland than this tiny, charmingly French-accented spot in Euclid Avenue, I have yet to find it. Petite Coquette — just six small tables and one large one that can be reserved — has established itself as a must-stop University Circle destination. And no wonder, from its impressive wine and champagne list to the fizzy French pop that fills the air to its chic Montmartre-meets-Cleveland decor, it's a wonderful respite from the hustle-bustle of University Circle. But make no mistake, it's what's in the pastry case that's the main draw: gorgeous miniature works of edible art, from French macarons to candied grapefruit tarts to chevre cheesecakes, eclairs and savory quiches. Fantastique!

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Thai Thai

13735 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 216- 961-9655: This "Bangkok Street Food" restaurant opened last year is about as close to true Thai cooking as you'll find in Cleveland, say those who have lived in Asia. The small airy locale, decorated with orchids and Thai posters, features mason jars with chopsticks and silverware on each table for those dining in; takeout orders can be placed at the counter, which is backed by a colorful menu chalkboard. But though it may be casual, don't take Thai Thai lightly. The fantastic menu ranges from noodle soups and stir fries to "street" classics such as the Larb chicken salad, Som Tum Thai papaya salad and the Kra Praow with jasmine rice, egg, basil, fresh chile, garlic and your choice of meat. Their bubble teas are also divine.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Moriarty's Bar

1912 East Sixth St., Cleveland; 216-771-0211: Moriarty’s is a dying breed, an honest-to-goodness downtown pub with great Irish beers on draught, a full shelf of scotch, whiskey and any other liquor you could want — and no food but bags of chips. The narrow bar, with just 10 stools and five tables, has been a downtown staple since the 1930s — hosting decades of after-work and late-night banter in the heart of the city.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Eurowafel Bar

11457 Mayfield Road, Cleveland; 216-858-9443: EuroWafel Bar is hard to find, tucked into the back of an apartment building at the edge of Uptown and Little Italy. And it's only open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. But it's worth the effort to visit this tiny waffle-crepe-milkshake bar that mostly caters to CWRU students. The sweet and savory waffles and crepes are fantastic — and the creative milkshakes are even better. We sampled a delicious Liege-style Dame Blanche waffle with Oreo crumble, chocolate ice cream and whipped cream on a recent visit. I though that was decadent until the strawberry-cotton candy milkshake, covered in real candy stuck to icing around the glass, arrived. You can eat in a the small bar that lines the ordering counter, or three tables – or get a shake or waffle to go!

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

The Whip

6406 Pearl Road, Parma Heights; 440- 885-9849: The Whip has been serving breakfast all day — and lunch and dinner — since 1940 on busy Pearl Road in Parma Heights. Housed in a New England-y cottage, the small spot evokes another era on the inside, from the wood-paneled walls to specials like beef stew and strawberry shortcake — to the still-working pay phone. This is classic Cleveland.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

The Corned Beef Co.

5164 Pearl Road, Cleveland; 216-351-0010: A genuine, old-fashioned lunch counter, with 20 bottle-cap stools and napkins and condiments on the Formica top, is just one draw at this place that opened as Goodman's Sandwich Inn in 1970. But the main attractions are the huge corned beef sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, patty melts and hot pastrami.

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Jeff Piorkowski, Sun News

House of Swing

4490 Mayfield Road, South Euclid; 216-382-2771: Even when there's not live music in this compact South Euclid mainstay, it's a music lover's haven from the time you swing open the door under that retro-cool "House of Swing" sign. You can't miss the stacks of more than 15,000 vinyl jazz LPs by the turntable, or the vintage photos and posters that cover almost every inch of ceiling. Sure, the beer list is pretty ordinary – this is no fancy cocktail place. But there's nothing ordinary about this oh-so-cool East Side dive bar, where jazz and blues live on and on and on

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

La Plaza Supermarket

13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Cleveland; 216-476-8000: The holy grail of tacos in Cleveland is found inside this warm and inviting Mexican supermarket on the Lakewood-Cleveland border. Walk down the aisles of colorful drinks and fruit and snacks and baked goods and you'll find the cash-only stand selling tacos and tostadas made to order. Choices include carnitas, chorizo, barbacoa, chicken and al pastor. Everything is $2.50, served on a hot corn tortilla. A small stand features onion, cilantro, lime and salsas to top your meal. Many people choose to-go, but the Virgin Mary watches over a small eating area for those who just can't resist the temptation any longer.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Royal Donut

5759 State Road, Parma; 440-884-1131: Old-school donuts served in an old-school midcentury setting. This little Parma donut shop is retro Americana incarnate. And the sprinkle, coconut and cake donuts, and coffee, are pretty tasty, too.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Wonton Gourmet

3211 Payne Ave., Cleveland; 216-875-7000: This no-frills, often SRO-only AsiaTown favorite is known for serving some of the best, most authentic Chinese food in town. The easiest way to order is usually to just look at the pictures on the walls, point and enjoy.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Cap'N Taco

16099 Brookpark Road, Cleveland: For 40 years this old-school joint has been serving up tacos, burritos, Mexican pizzas, margaritas and more to those in the know. Some may drive by the nondescript eatery not realizing the flavors to be found inside the aviator-themed joint. Don't be one of those.

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Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer

Superior Pho

3030 Superior Ave., Cleveland; 216-781-7462: Inside a nondescript mall on Superior Avenue, in a compact room off an industrial-looking hallway, Superior Pho is worth the search. Their pho noodle soups are some of the best in town, especially the chicken. They also have knockout Vietnamese sandwiches, chicken cabbage salad, bubble tea and more. The flavorful food at this no-frills hidden gem will transport you to another world, at least for lunch.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Simply Greek

11454 Uptown Ave., Cleveland; 216-707-4976: It's an ingenious idea, sell made-to-order Greek food in a fast-casual setting that also features beer and wine near a college campus. Voila, one of the tastiest, fastest (and smallest) Greek restaurants in town. Many people do take-out here, but there are a handful of high-top tables to eat in, especially popular on weekend nights. Food ranges form standard gyros to far more exotic fare like kalamari, smelts, dolmathes, saganaki and delicious Greek salads.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Little Polish Diner

5772 Ridge Road, Parma; 440-842-8212: Good home-cooking like Baba made has lured Clevelanders out of their homes to this tiny Parma diner since 2006. The narrow, no-frills space decorated with Polish bric-a-brac and fliers for neighborhood events has just five small tables and six stools. There's barely room to move when it's full, and it's never busier than on Fridays during Lent. But a wait of 40-plus minutes doesn't stop devotees from waiting for their homemade potato pierogi, cabbage and noodles, breaded perch and potato pancakes. No matter the day, the Tour of Poland (stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and pierogi) is on the menu — and the Little Polish Diner is guaranteed to be full.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Joe Maxx

2207 Chester Ave., Cleveland; 216- 459-7408: This cozy little coffee shop opened last fall in the shadows of Cleveland State University. It's a perfect location for the shop that has a neat window bar where students can sip and study, and five more tables and booths. Done in sleek hardwood with white tiles in the serving area, the vibe is chic and cozy. The shop, named after a former World War II aviator who would do just about anything for his precious cargo of coffee, serves a wide array of fresh loose teas, coffees and specialty drinks such as the Viking Macchiato and Almond Joy. There are also flatbreads, bagels, salads and sandwiches. And plenty of outlets to plug in your laptop, or board games to pass the time if you need a break.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

Gus's Diner 185

797 East 185th St., Cleveland; 216-481-8781: It isn't just size that makes this cozy spot a comfortable nook. Gus's serves up a casual vibe to go with an old-fashioned look and menu. Speaking of the food: Gus's does full and eclectic breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings. Yes, the burgers are a big draw, but classics like the meatloaf, veal cutlet and liver and onions make it feel like a homespun time capsule.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Rocky's

6168 Broadview Road, Parma; 216-741-3530: Rocky's is old-school Italian: delicious pizzas and pastas served in cozy setting complete with checkered tablecloths, an indoor wine trellis and wine-cork art on the wall. But don't let the casual vibe fool you, this piccolo ristorante serves world-class fare, from classic ravioli and gnocchi to exotic pies like the seafood one topped with shrimp and crab and the chicken alfredo. Bravo!

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

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13603 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 440 -799-8343: This tiny Japanese-flavored locale calls itself an Izakaya-inspired bar. In Japan that translates to a casual after-work bar that also serves food. In Lakewood, that translates to one of the coolest new spots in town, where the creativity of the snacks, meat skewers and noodle and rice bowls is topped only by the fantastic cocktail list. And, the décor. "Godzilla" and "Karate Kid" were playing on the TVs the night we visited, and funky Asian lanterns and pop art graces the no-frills dining room and bar area.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Lounge Leo

2161 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland's Little Italy; 216-795-1670: Tucked among the restaurants and cafes and galleries and wine bars and bakeries of Cleveland's ethnic Italian enclave is this well-stocked compact corner bar in a former grocery store on Murray Hill Road. Just six bar stools and three tables fill the room, which has a sleek, modern ultra-lounge vibe. It's more of a locals spot — probably because they're the only ones who know about it — but is equally welcoming to casual visitors.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Caf Bon Appetit Whiskey Bar

2767 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland Heights; 216-321-1930: With just a simple chalk sign pointing down the stairs in the back of Bon Appetit Café on Coventry Road, this whiskey bar opened in 2016 has the feel of a true speakeasy. Add in the impressive whiskey list, live music and cozy vibe, and it's the kind of bar Cleveland has been missing. There are more than 50 whiskeys, dramatically lit on shelves behind the repurposed wood bar. They range from Irish to American to Japanese and English brands. The full bar also includes scotches and ryes and just about any and every other kind of liquor.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Marta's

800 East 222nd St., Euclid; 216-731-9596: This Euclid Czech restaurant in a 1920s-built bar is as Old World as it gets. Since 1995, the family-run restaurant has been serving Czech specialties such as roast pork loin, potato pancakes, roast duck, and dumplings as well as sauerbraten along with a year-round Friday fish fry and hearty pub burgers and sandwiches. Not to mention a stellar list of Czech beers such as Rebel, Pilsner Urquell and Primator. The Old World food fits the dining room. Marta's is located in the ground floor of a century house on busy East 222nd, where a bar has stood since the 1920s. The vintage bottle cap stools still spin next to the shiny wood bar-top, and the wood panel walls are decorated with photos of the Czech Republic, Czech sayings, old beer signs and wooden kegs. It's coziness personified.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

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2240 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights; 216- 465-3239: This exotic but cozy 49-seat eatery features a cuisine that is new to many Clevelanders — and one that stands out even on the diverse restaurant row that is Lee Road. With its simple, vegetarian and vegan-heavy menu, the Ethiopian restaurant is a perfect fit for modern, health-oriented diners. With vegetables so prominent in their cooking, Ethiopians have perfected wonderful spice combinations to enhance their deceptively simple dishes. Not that Zoma is exclusively vegetarian; there are also several beef, chicken, lamb and fish meals on the menu for carnivores. Diners can enjoy their trip to Ethiopia at the regular tables in the dining room, or the handful of straw mesob basket tables for those who want the fuller experience.

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Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer

Nick's Diner

4116 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; 216-631-7757: For more than three decades, this funky Ohio City establishment has been serving up tasty, quick and cheap weekend brunches to a diverse array of Clevelanders. Third-shifters, artists, rock 'n' rollers, cabbies, church ladies in their Sunday finery, longtime locals and young families line up for one of Nick's red "pleather" booths most weekends — often forming a line out the door. It's a truly urban, big city experience, one that can be hard to find in Cleveland. What's the draw? Nick's homey, hearty diner favorites, of course. And the daringly cheap prices and old-school diner vibe.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

A Taste of Europe

A Taste of Europe, 15512 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 216-521-9530: A Taste of Europe might be the smallest eatery in our guide. There’s just one small table. That’s because most people choose to do takeout from this charming little ethnic grocery that specializes in Balkan cuisine. It’s a full-service grocery with imported foods, cheese and meat deli cases and fresh baked goods such as burek, a phyllo-dough and feta cheese pastry. Every day, owner Dafina Bedini makes one daily special — to eat at that table, or to-go. The tasty specials include chicken paprikash with dumplings, stuffed cabbage with mashed potatoes and goulash, wienerschnitzel with potatoes, stuffed peppers and beef stroganoff. On Saturdays only, she makes crackling. All daily meals are just $6.

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University Circle

Algebra Tea House

2136 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland; 216-421-9007: Coffee usually gets all the attention, but at this artful spot nestled between Case Western Reserve University and Little Italy, the emphasis is on tea — hot, cold and loose and sold in bags. More than 30 black, white and herbal teas can be ordered, and there's a small savory menu. A wood-burning stove, art on the walls and a handful of tables made out of polished tree trunks add to the cozy ambience.

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Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Peace, Love and Little Donuts

3786 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland: This teeny but colorful shop at Kamm's Corners is what you would get if Peter Max made sweets — little, trippy, colorful donuts. The half-sized donuts come in "far out" frosted varieties, "groovy" sugar-topped donuts or their fantastic "funkadelic" donuts. The latter is the best, amazing little treats like the key lime pie donut, the chocolate covered pretzel donut, the S'mores and raspberry lemonade donuts made-to-order while you watch. The space is as wild as the cakes, decorated with Beatles, Rolling Stones and other classic rock images on the wall and a floor made out of old Cleveland show posters.

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David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

Hot Dog Diner

5494 Pearl Road, Parma; 440-886-3647: For more than a decade, this West Side eatery has served up some of the tastiest dogs — and burgers, chicken sandwiches and gyros — in town. The former Taco Bell is decorated with famous hot dog sayings, there's no live music or booze here, just good old-fashioned dogs done right. Options include the classic, snappy, jumbo and kielbasa, with such specials as the sauerkraut dog, hillbilly dog (with coleslaw and chili) and firecracker (hot relish, spicy mustard and more). Sides include tater tots, fresh-cut fries, pierogi dippers and onion rings.

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Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Aldo's

8459 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn, 216-749-7060: There's no waiting area or bar, but patrons from near and far don't mind – even when they end up waiting outside – at this Italian hole-in-the-strip-mall-wall. Italian favorites, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and seafood, such as shrimp, calamari and scallops, are the draw.