Riverfront Restaurant

Clevelanders can get a glimpse of the past, present and future all from the patio of Merwin's Wharf. With gorgeous views of the Cuyahoga River and the city's skyline, the new Cleveland Metroparks Rivergate Park restaurant can be accessed from a path that will connect to the Lake Link Trail, a 1.3-mile route that will tie the Towpath Trail to Wendy Park by 2017. "We are really trying to find a nice balance and blend for folks to reconnect with the river and the waterfront," says Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman. Perched on the river's second bend, the restaurant's 3,000-square-foot patio let's you do just that with plenty of seating, including comfortable sectional couches in front of a massive outdoor fireplace. Whether you're dining on a burger or just drinking out on the patio, you'll be entertained by waterborne crafts ranging from kayaks to the Goodtime III and freighters. 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland, 216-664-5696, clevelandmetroparks.com