Chef Heather Haviland’s Favorite Cleveland Cafes, Comforts and Local Finds: Word of Mouth
From her kitchen at Lucky’s Cafe, Heather Haviland has spent nearly two decades nourishing Cleveland through intention and care. Here, she shares what fuels her love of the city.
by Christina Rufo | Dec. 10, 2025 | 5:00 AM
COURTESY HEATHER HAVILAND
Raised in a catering family and shaped by early kitchen experience, Heather Haviland has always found a sense of home in cooking. She studied activism at Kent State University, but felt a true calling to building community through scratch-made, locally sourced meals. Since starting Lucky’s Cafe in Tremont in 2005, Haviland has become a fierce advocate for Cleveland’s food scene, local farmers and intentional cooking.
Cozy Coffee: I love Rising Star Coffee Roasters in Ohio City. I get their pour-over coffee with nothing else, just because the quality of the coffee is amazing. You just want to be able to savor every nuance about it. But anytime I get an hour to myself, my favorite place to have coffee is at a friend’s kitchen table or on their front stoop. They named a coffee after me at Lucky’s. It’s a mocha with two extra shots of espresso and a dash of vanilla syrup served over ice. It’s my go-to; it makes me super happy and gives me that burst of energy.
Craving Coventry: I love Tommy’s. I like to get a light chocolate, heavy malt milkshake with french fries. My absolute favorite is the Ripp. It’s a grilled cheese with Muenster, sunflower seeds, lettuce and tomato. It’s absolute perfection. It has all the right things inside, and it just works. Also, High Thai’d Cafe does this tofu dish with peanut sauce that’s to die for.
Touring Tremont: Leavened is my favorite. I probably go there twice, if not three times a week, and they have this amazing olive loaf that I get. We make chocolate chip cookies at Lucky’s, and it’s my recipe. I’m a fan of it. But there’s something about Leavened’s chocolate chip cookies that is insane. They know that I like them a little bit light and with less chocolate chips, and they make this cinnamon twist puff pastry that’s crazy good. Banyan Tree is right across the street from Lucky’s, and they’re my go-to if I ever need a present. I like that they represent local artists’ jewelry.
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Christina Rufo
Christina is a passionate reporter on Cleveland's culture and dining scene, compiling Cleveland Magazine's monthly dining guide. A graduate of West Virginia University's journalism school and the New York University Publishing Institute, her work celebrates the people, plates and parties that make Northeast Ohio shine.
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