Club Isabella
The fare at this upscale Little Italy destination reflects chef and owner Fabio Moto's French training, an interest in world cuisines and a desire to go beyond the ordinary. The spring menu features braised short ribs with hoisin sauce, roasted chicken with preserved lemon pistou and sweet potato agnolotti with arugula pesto. But happily, tartars of beef, salmon and tuna — served with intriguing soft-centered, deep-fried eggs — are all-year staples. 2175 Cornell Road, 216-229-1111, clubisabella.com
Flour
The guiding principal is Italian peasant cooking, but chef and owner Paul Minnillo and his right-hand chef, Matt Mytro, bring a sophisticated New World sensibility to every plate of pasta. Local goat cheese is added to the cavatelli, while the cacciatori is served with fingerling potatoes and crimini mushrooms. You can match and mix antipasti dishes for a small-plate feast. Try the veal meatballs, roasted pork belly skewers, house-made salumi and chorizo-stuffed dates wrapped in pancetta. Their signature items are thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven. 34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills, 216-464-3700, flourrestaurant.com
Ginko
It's Tokyo, Tremont-style. This sushi bar in a snug basement room has a modern, playful look, but there's no fooling around when it comes to fish and rice. The concept is chef Dante Boccuzzi's, while the flawless execution is courtesy of Taishi Noma. Seafood, whether raw, cooked, sliced, wrapped or rolled, is the centerpiece of the culinary action. Classic preparations are the norm, but there are more inventive selections — spicy scallops on Pringles anyone? 2247 Professor Ave., 216-274-1202, restaurantdante.us
Jammy Buggars
If you're getting a sense of deja-vu about this year's Best New Restaurant, that's because fellow Lakewood comfort-food superstar Deagan's Kitchen & Bar took the title in 2011. Jammy Buggars owner Jim Sprenger has created a comfy, homey spot but with a beer list that'll shame those stray Bud Lights hanging out in the back of your fridge. Creative but never too cute with its menu, Jammy Buggars merges high-quality ingredients with time-tested classics such as half-pound burgers, hand-cut fries, chicken pot pie and beef stroganoff. 15625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-767-5922, jammybuggars.com
Map of Thailand
The pretty little room has lots of upscale touches, such as cloth linens and fresh flowers on every table. Everything, from soups to spring rolls, is made from scratch at this Thai eatery. Freshly squeezed lemon juice and fermented fish sauce imported from Thailand give Som Tum, a spicy cold salad of green papaya and string beans, an exceptional flavor. 3710 Payne Ave., 216-361-2220, mapofthailandrestaurant.net
Market Garden Brewery ( )
Pick your pint and then select your dish, because chefs Michael Nowak and Adam Lambert's food is all about what goes well with beer, from the stuff brewed on premise to plenty of other craft labels. They cure, smoke and pickle in-house and make their own tortilla chips. For a true pub experience, order currywurst or Scotch eggs. Snack, graze or go for a full meal. 1947 W. 25th St., 216-621-4000, marketgardenbrewery.com
Noodlecat ( )
Suck up some soba at this cool Asian-inspired downtown hot spot. Chef and owner Jonathon Sawyer and his team do variations of noodles and broth. Kyoto Udon honors tradition, but fried chicken ramen is one of the stars of the bowl combinations. Check out the steam buns and the pickle sampler. The restaurant has a lighthearted vibe and casual atmosphere, but is all about serious food featuring locally sourced ingredients. 234 Euclid Ave., 216-589-0007, noodlecat.com
Pura Vida
Chef and owner Brandt Evans ( ) established his rep with Blue Canyon but takes more creative liberty here. His cross-cultural dishes are characterized by bold flavors and edgy mash-ups: crab falafel, portobello gyro, salmon with wheatberry and edamame succotash. Trust him and try the meat and potatoes of the day. 170 Euclid Ave., 216-987-0100, puravidabybrandt.com
Rockefeller's
Everything executive chef Jill Vedaa does has an unexpected element. The calamari gets a coconut milk and coriander glaze and the risotto is made with barley. Her pulled-pork tacos with citrus crème fraiche are among our favorites. The dramatic space, once a bank and built to resemble the great hall in a castle, has a comfy lounge and huge dining area. 3099 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-0477, rockefellers-restaurant.com
SoHo Kitchen & Bar
Fun and funky meet fine dining. At chef Nolan Konkoski's first place that he has called his own, he has opted for a Southern state of mind and menu. The young chef gives shrimp and grits, mac-n-cheese, crawfish fritters and everything else a personal spin and some Midwest soul. 1889 W. 25th St., 216-298-9090, sohocleveland.com
( ) Denotes Silver Spoon 2012 Award winner
