Reopenings
Market Garden Brewery (July 1)
The Ohio City brewery ushered in its new normal on July 1 when the restaurant opened with limited hours, opening at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday. In addition to the new hours, the spacious restaurant is implementing social distancing and mask wearing. But even with these changes, customers can still enjoy their favorite cold drinks and gastropub grub. 1947 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 216-621-4000, marketgardenbrewery.com
Nighttown (July 1)
While we’re still waiting on the return of live, in-person music, Cleveland Heights’ popular bar, restaurant and jazz club welcomed customers back at the start of the month. Serving its usual menu of hearty, classic delicacies, there is an increased focus on sanitizing stations and social distancing is required in the restaurant, which is also selling branded masks. If you still don’t want to dine in, Nighttown is continuing takeout and delivery — all while offering occasional live music on Facebook Live. 12383 Cedar Road, Cleveland, 216-795-0550, nighttowncleveland.com
Punch Bowl (July 13)
The employees at this Flats favorite are working hard to ensure the restaurant is meeting safety protocols, and they ask that you do too by wearing a mask when not eating, keeping social distance and making reservations. It’ll be worth it to kick back again on that rooftop pad sipping craft cocktails and chowing down on some delectable treats from the scratch-kitchen menu. 1086 W. 11th St., Cleveland, 216-239-1508, punchbowlsocial.com
Nano Brew (July 15)
Get the summer back on track July 15 with Nano’s fresh, local brews and mouth-watering burgers. Masked customers can enjoy the indoor tables and bar and outdoor beer garden Wednesday through Sunday to allow time for deep cleanings. 1859 West 25th St., Cleveland, 216-862-6631, nanobrewcleveland.com
Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club (July 16)
After three months, East Fourth’s comedy club is ready to bring the laughs again. Local comedian John Caparulo kicks off the first weekend, so grab a seat at a socially distanced tables and choose your favorite dish from a variety of options, and get ready to have some fun. 2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com
Pinstripes (July 17)
The 30,000-square-foot bistro, bowling and bocce spot had plenty of space to work with when reimagining its dining experience, which reopens on Friday. The Crocker Park favorite offers daily food and beverage specials, including Tuesday Beer Buckets and Thursday Night Socials. The usual bowling and bocce games are available, too, just with more safety procedures, such as increased sanitization and reservations to play. You can also bring home the yum with the new Take & Bake menu, a package of to-go ribs or lasagna for the family. 111 Park Ave., Suite 105, Beachwood, 216-415-8010, pinstripes.com
Closings
Zaytoon Lebanese Kitchen
With no traffic coming through Playhouse Square due to COVID-19, this family-owned cafe suffered along with the rest of the theater district. Though you may be mourning the loss of your pre-show favorites like shawarma, spinach pies, and falafel, you won’t have to wait long for a replacement. The Ina family is working on a new concept to launch in early fall with soups, salads and sandwiches. 1150 Huron Road E., Cleveland, 216-795-5000, zaytoonlebanesekitchen.com
Yours Truly (Shaker Square)
After nearly 30 years, the local chain’s Shaker Square location closed its doors on July 6, claiming the current space was not suited for the renovations happening at other Yours Truly locations to align with safety precautions. Check out the newly remodeled Kitchen & Bar concepts in other local areas such as Beachwood, Mentor, or Chagrin Falls to get your fill on their meals such as the popular omelets. 13228 Shaker Square, Cleveland, 216-751-8646, ytr.com
New Spots to Watch For
Bar Oni (Takeout July 3)
Opening a bar in the midst of a pandemic isn’t the easiest thing to do, but Bar Oni is in it for the long haul. Catch a sneak preview of the Japanese bar menu from July 3-25 by ordering takeout. 2173 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-713-1741, exploretock.com/ushabu
LouieQ (July 8)
Debuting July 8, this Tex-Mex barbecue-style kitchen is the first of two themed food concepts that Chef Michael Schoen has infused into BottleHouse Brewery & Meadery. At its start, the food will mainly be served takeout style, with main dishes such as tamales or barbecue chicken tacos and sides such as Mexican-spiced heirloom popcorn. 2050 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-214-2120, bottlehouse.co
UJerk (July 17)
Get a taste of the islands at this new Jamaican eatery opening downtown on July 17. From first-time restaurateur Jon Manning, the restaurant will center around traditional jerk chicken as the base for salads, sliders, sandwiches, and wraps. 850 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-675-0022, facebook.com/UJerkNation
Home Bistro (Aug. 1)
Husband-and-wife duo Victor Morenz and Emily Gilbert have waited months to revive their former Chicago-owned restaurant on the streets of Little Italy. But while the food — described as New American with roots in Italian, Dutch, and American cooking — is certainly the main attraction, the old-world atmosphere of the two-room-plus-patio restaurant will certainly keep people coming back for more. 12022 Mayfield Road, Floor 1, Cleveland, 216-795-5582, facebook.com/HB-Home-Bistro
Eugene (Aug. 1)
If you liked LouieQ, watch out for Schoen’s other new kitchen, Eugene. The partnership with BottleHouse Brewery is expected to hit Lakewood Aug. 1. The famed Tinman burger, a double cheeseburger which claimed star power at Ohio City Galley, will be featured along other backyard barbecue menu items such as three-cheese mac and cheese and vegan sloppy Joes. Just as with LouieQ, meals will be packaged for takeout with online ordering and contactless transactions. 13368 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-926-0025, bottlehouse.co
Hibachi Japan Steak House
Morgan Yagi, son of Hibachi Japan Steak House founder Paul Goetz, is expanding his popular restaurant into the former site of Akira in Solon. Keeping the same name, concept and menu as his other eatery in Cuyahoga Falls, customers can expect their favorite, flashy food prepared in front of customers on the teppanyaki grills, as well as some scrumptious sushi. 6025 Kruse Dr., Solon, 330-928-3333, hibachijapansteakhouse.com
Cleveland Breakfast and Vegan Club
Moving into the space left behind by Yours Truly, Akin Affrica of Angie’s Soul Café is creating two separate concepts in one building. The Cleveland Breakfast Club will serve healthy and flavorful breakfast, brunch and lunch, including some beverage pairings such as mimosas and bloody marys. As that winds down in the afternoon, the Cleveland Vegan Club will kick off with smoothies, sandwiches and wraps for pickup or delivery. 13228 Shaker Square, Cleveland, 216-751-8646
Cute For Coffee/Sandrine
This coffee-bar double concept is coming to the ground floor of Harbor Verandas at the end of the summer. The luxury apartment building, which will host the 4,000-square-feet double concept, is located on the East Ninth Street Pier near the Rock Hall. 1050 East Ninth St., Cleveland, 216-407-7580, harborverandas.com
