Established 1910
1114 Center St., Cleveland
(216) 696-6968, flatironcafe.com
Nearly a century ago, the Flats were filled with hungry sailors and longshoremen who lived and worked along the Cuyahoga River. They chowed down on hearty meals like corned beef and cabbage, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and fried fish, and the Flat Iron was their hangout. We’re sure they’d be happy to see that despite river jobs drying up and the Flats’ numerous makeovers as a nightlife district, the place they loved is still going strong 98 years later. Now it’s businessmen, laborers and sports fans (the Flat Iron offers shuttle service to Browns games) who belly up to the bar, but what’s on the menu hasn’t changed all that much.