The next trending meal at Cleveland-area restaurants originated exactly where you would expect it to: TikTok. It’s called Girl Dinner, and you probably already have everything you need to make it at home.
In fact, that’s the point.
The term popularized on TikTok in 2023 when influencer Olivia Maher posted a video sharing her unorganized spread of bread, cheese, pickles and fruit, eating on paper towels or directly out of the food’s container. She coined the term there, and it became a viral sensation, snowballing into whatever a girl was in the mood for.
“I find that I was kind of having Girl Dinner without it first being Girl Dinner,” says Julia Licastro, operating partner at STEAK in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. “I’m a big Mediterranean food fan, and I was like, ‘Olives, tinned fish, bread…That’s Girl Dinner?’”
“I actually started doing little Girl Dinners at my house with my friends,” she adds. “We would all bring over appetizer dishes, and we were really into the idea of just sitting around and not having this big, huge meal.”
The snack-forward dinner normalizes low-effort, small bites consisting of whatever you can find in your pantry or fridge. While the trend originated from charcuterie, it’s developed into mismatched pasta noodles with olive oil, random items from 7-Eleven and even just a plate of potato chips.
Most recently, it collided with the Caesar salad, which was simultaneously making a comeback on TikTok in 2023. The easy-to-prepare dish conveniently made the perfect Girl Dinner.
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By 2024, some Cleveland restaurants got in on the joint trend. Each place sticks to a basic formula: a salad paired with fries for a savory and salty combo, finished with the girls’ favorite slow-sipper for a treat: the martini. It’s palatable, satiable and light — a girl-approved dinner.
(Courtesy Georgetown Vosh)
Georgetown Vosh in Lakewood, owned by the Krivosh family, started offering its Girl Dinner last August. Available every Thursday night, the menu special is your choice of a Caesar or pear gorgonzola salad; french fries or truffle fries; and an espresso martini or dirty martini ($20). It’s almost foolproof, simply repurposing common menu items into something worth celebrating.
“It's really a thing for women of all ages,” the Krivosh family concedes. “I think, overall, what we're trying to accomplish is just bringing fresh ideas and entertainment to the Cleveland area. What is going to stick? What is gonna make things fun for people and get people to come out and enjoy themselves on a regular basis?”
Similarly, Lago East Bank keeps the menu simple but the occasion big. Every Monday through Friday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at happy hour, order the Girl Dinner for a half-size portion of a Caesar salad and truffle fries ($8), complete with either a dirty or espresso martini ($10).
Some places prefer a little more protein. Hi-5, the women-oriented sports bar in the heart of the Flats, hosts Girl Dinner every Thursday with a bite-friendly spread of mini kale Caesar salads and espresso martinis ($5), plus its specialty chicken tenders and Trio fries at half-price ($10).
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STEAK stays true to its brand, offering a heartier Girl Dinner at its recently implemented “Golden Hour” Mondays through Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. It pairs a 6-ounce steak, fish or plant-based filet with your choice of fries or a Caesar salad ($20).
“We want this to be filling and tasty, but we don't want it to be something that's all too serious,” Licastro says. “Our regular menu has a longer, drawn-out situation. It's still fun, but just sitting at the bar and doing happy hour felt more casual.”
(Courtesy Julia Lombardo)
Though the vibe is casual and the food is light, there’s still room to be extra. The Krivosh family is already exploring ways to make the most out of their Girl Dinner Thursdays, incorporating free facials, live music or pop-up markets into the evening.
Geraci’s Slice Shop, owned by Hangry Brands (which also owns STEAK, Lionheart Coffee, Society Lounge and more) also plans to unveil a “Girl Lunch,” pairing a personal pan-size Bianco pizza with Caesar salad.
“It's not just women ordering this, although it is a lot of women,” Licastro points out. “It's really fun to see anybody and everybody order something called Girl Dinner.”
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