The Most Anticipated Restaurants Opening in Cleveland the Rest of 2023 and Beyond

Charter House

991 East 185th St., Cleveland

The beloved Bistro 185 closed four and a half years ago. Marc and Ruth Levine, the original owners, operated the Collinwood restaurant for 10 years before selling the business to their chef, Ryan Kaston, in 2016. After sitting fallow for nearly three years, the property finally has a new owner in Chris King. King, a versatile entrepreneur with businesses in the hospitality and transportation fields, will open Charter House. He has been working on the property for about four months and expects to have the restaurant ready to welcome its first guests this summer. King describes the cuisine as “classic American, with something for everyone.” To go with the food will be a great wine list and creative cocktails. “When people see it, they’ll love the décor and atmosphere,” he explains. “We want to attract the professionals and locals in the neighborhood that want someplace where they can go that’s safe, reliable, consistent and just a good atmosphere.”

Scorpacciata

13051 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland

Back in 2021, we shared news that the former Larchmere Tavern, which had closed after nearly 30 years, was being converted into a high-end cocktail lounge and restaurant. Those plans never came to fruition. But that proved to be fortuitous for Peter Reuter, who was in search of a permanent home for Scorpacciata. In 2018, Reuter opened Scorpacciata Pasta Company in the Market Hall at Van Aken District. The success of the Market Hall in general and his shop in particular took him a little by surprise, he admits. He opened a second location in the Market Hall became home to Scorpacciata Pizza, which also has been drawing rave reviews. Snagging the Larchmere Tavern space, which has been home to a restaurant since at least the 1950s, plays right into Reuter’s well-laid plans. The full-service restaurant will offer pizza and pasta, naturally, but Reuter is eager to flex his culinary muscles. “We’ll have pizza and pasta, but we’ll also have a wider variety of options,” he says. “Appetizers, charcuterie, some steaks, more handmade pasta dishes, cocktails, a wine list, the whole nine.” Reuter says that he is completely renovating the property. When it’s done, it will have pasta-making room on display, a 12-seat bar and seating for approximately 75.

Heritage Steak and Whiskey

28869 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere

For the past year, Doug Petkovic has been quietly working to transform the former Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse at Eton Collection, which closed in 2019 after 15 years, into Heritage Steak and Whiskey. This is a solo project for Petkovic, who is a partner in Michael Symon Restaurants. As for the bill of fare, Heritage will specialize in grilled steaks and chops. As a second-generation restaurant, the property already had everything it needed with respect to infrastructure; the main task was to completely renovate the bar and dining room, which are swaddled in `80s-style mahogany paneling.

Artis Restaurant

17900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Andrew Mansour has taken possession of the former SideQuest property in Lakewood. The chef, formerly of Zhug and Edwins, is planning to open Artis Restaurant, which he describes as a contemporary, shareable steakhouse. Mansour says that Artis will be fine dining, but without the white tablecloths. Inside, the bar and dining room will sport a Miami Art Deco Revival décor, with `80s colors like coral and teal. “We’re going to be a steakhouse but absolutely not what you think about, where you get a big-old slab of meat and everybody ordering their own thing," he explains. "We’ll be very shareable and approachable – a steakhouse that’s not a steakhouse. We’re putting a new spin on America’s favorite concept.”

Oliva

408 W. St. Clair Ave., Cleveland

For 20 years, Osteria offered diners a taste of Italy from its underground lair on W. St. Clair. The restaurant closed in 2020 and reopened in a new space (Walnut Ave., 1801 E. 9th St., Cleveland). Lola and Luca Sema, owners of Acqua di Luca, Luca and Luca West have taken possession of the property in the Warehouse District. Lola Sema says that she and her husband plan to open Oliva, an Italian-themed steakhouse, in the space, which sits immediately east of Acqua di Luca. The initial timeframe puts opening day in late summer or early fall.

Agave and Rye

28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere

Agave & Rye opened its first Cleveland restaurant last summer in the former Bar Louie (1352 W. 6th St.) space in the Warehouse District. The Covington, Kentucky-based company is experiencing tremendous growth, with more than 15 restaurants scattered throughout five states. Today the company revealed its plans to open a second Northeast Ohio location, this one in the former Paladar space at Eton Chagrin Blvd. The new restaurant is projected to open next spring. Agave & Rye is billed as a modern tequila and bourbon hall that serves “epic tacos.” The restaurant is known for its double-shelled tacos, which feature crunchy corn and soft flour shells sandwiched together by beans, queso, pimento or guacamole.

Boss ChickNBeer

120 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls

Location number four is in the works for Boss ChickNBeer, the justly praised chicken and beer restaurant owned by Heather Doeberling and Emily Moes. The pair opened the first shop in Berea back in 2018, added a spot in Bay Village in 2021, and expanded to Seven Hills the year after that. Next up is Front Street in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. The restaurant will be located in the recently approved DORA district, which allows pedestrians to walk around with alcoholic beverages. The new restaurant will be open sometime this fall. When it does, it will be the largest location to date, with seating for 48 indoors, a 24-seat patio, and the signature penny-topped bar.

Colina

12104 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland

Adrien Aeschliman, who attained success in Baltimore with his restaurants Bottega and Colette, will attempt to do the same in Cleveland. Along with his wife Margaret and chef-partner Stefano Porcile, Aeschliman will open Colina on the western end of Larchmere Boulevard. The plan is to have the doors open sometime this fall. Colina will be an intimate wine bar with chef-driven, ingredient-focused small and large plates that will change frequently. Diners can look forward to South American and Northern Italian influences on the menu – a style they are calling “Gaucho Italian.” The double storefront will seat approximately 35 guests in two rooms, one for walk-ins, the other for those with reservations.

Gogi En

6025 Kruse Dr., Solon

Hibachi Japan Steak House closed last summer after just two years, but its predecessor, Akira Sushi and Hibachi, called that Solon space home for more than 20 years. In a couple months, a new restaurant will open up in that attractive property, this one specializing in Korean barbecue. It is part of the small but growing family of restaurants that includes Sushi En location in Columbus, Cleveland and Twinsburg. In typical Korean barbecue fashion, the tables will be outfitted with grills for cook-it-yourself adventures. Owner Mark Chun says that the restaurant likely will shy away from all-you-can-eat options in favor of packages that bundle various proteins like poultry, pork and beef. The menu will also offer starters like kimbap, those Korean-style rice rolls, noodle bowls, rice dishes and plenty of banchan.

Lekko Coffee

4298 Pearl Rd., Cleveland

Since opening Lekko Coffee (2529 Detroit Ave.) in Ohio City two years ago, owner Matt Ashton says that the reception has been so positive that it motivated him to expand the brand. Shop number two currently is taking shape in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood, specifically the intersection of State and Pearl. On the petite side, the new cafe will seat approximately 15 indoors and another 20 or so on the enclosed patio. “The new shop will feature many of the hallmarks of our brand that you already know and love, such as our locally roasted coffees and house-made syrups, as well as continued partnerships with local artists,” adds Ashton. “We are also bringing a large portion of our food and pastry production inhouse and are working on an expanded menu with new food options to fit the Old Brooklyn community.” Ashton says that the new cafe is on pace to open this fall.