25 Best Restaurants: Dante

Whether he's rocking his guitar onstage or rolling out dough in the kitchen, Dante Boccuzzi knows how to entertain. At the chef and owner's namesake Tremont spot Dante, an interactive chef's table in the kitchen and a behind-the-bar Cockpit table put us in the front row. "You see how smoothly everything runs, or sometimes it's not smoothly," he says. "You get to see a real restaurant." But the regular menu at Dante isn't so easily upstaged. It reads like a world tour — try the delicate, luxurious Hawaiian tuna tartare ($15) with a poached egg, olive caper remoulade and crispy potato nest or the stick-to-your-ribs pappardelle Bolognese ($19) made with a ragu of beef, veal and pork. Boccuzzi credits the eclectic offerings to previous gigs in Japan, China, Italy, France, England, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York City. "Most chefs in this town have never left Cleveland as a chef," he says. "It's a whole different playing field." Don't Miss: Inspired by French cheese and petit four carts, the candy cart is laden with Boccuzzi's favorites such as bubble gum, Dum Dums and Lemonheads. Table Games: The chef's table at Dante can seat anywhere from two to 10 people for a tasting menu that can go up to 21 courses. 2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-274-1200, dante.danteboccuzzi.com