25 Best Restaurants: Cork & Cleaver Social Kitchen

You'll be mystified by this suburban wonder's sleight of hand.

by Jason Brill | Apr. 19, 2016 | 4:00 AM

Cork & Cleaver Social Kitchen defies belief at every turn. From an unassuming suburban shopping plaza location with an approachable family-friendly vibe, Adam Bostwick and brother-in-law Brian Okin have changed how fine dining looks. "We are not stuffy," Bostwick says. "We have people coming in, in T-shirts and shorts." The menu at the 3-year-old spot hides its own sleights of hand. Close your eyes when you take your first bite of the house-made potato gnocchi ($19) served with braised lamb, cucumber, radish and tzatziki sauce, and you'll taste a savory, velvety gyro. Bostwick's favorite menu trick, the Reuben ribs ($10) are brined to taste like corned beef and served with Thousand Island slaw and shaved Gruyere. "It's like eating a Reuben sandwich but you are eating ribs," he says, "which is trippy." But the real magic is how quickly we make anything at Cork and Cleaver disappear. Don't miss: Nothing represents Cork and Cleaver's meat-lovers menu like the Board's ($17) drool-worthy collection of seared foie gras, roasted bone marrow and braised pork belly. shake up: The restaurant's 43-bottle wine selection has some legs, but don't sleep on signature cocktails such as the refreshing Mason's Mule ($9) with vanilla bean-infused rye whiskey, fresh muddled oranges and ginger beer. 8130 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, 440-627-6449, ccsocialkitchen.com