In a few short years, brunch has steadily progressed from the exception to the rule. What has long been sneered at by management as a culinary P.I.T.A. has blossomed into one of the most sought after and enjoyable meals of the week. These days, it seems, if the restaurant has a kitchen, it’s serving brunch. Given the embarrassment of riches when it comes to brunch, we thought it was time to survey the landscape and round up a few of our favorite places.
If you haven’t noticed, brunch is a damn near essential slot in the weekly calendar in Cleveland (during normal times, which are returning again).
It’s time for our annual look at the best and brightest on the brunch landscape, because Cleveland really enjoys an embarrassment of riches and options you should be exploring the rest of the year.
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Photo via Douglas Trattner
Barroco Grill
Multiple Locations
What began as a diminutive Latin-themed cafe dispensing crisp, corny arepas has developed into an ambitious, wide-ranging and spirited restaurant on both sides of town. Given the eatery’s propensity to broaden our culinary horizons, it’s no surprise that weekend brunches come with a side of discovery. On weekends here you’ll get to know — and love — cachapas, Venezuelan-style sweet corn pancakes stuffed with cheese, braised beef or bacon and eggs. The brunch menu also offers build-your-own egg plates with Colombian sides like rice and beans, crunchy tostones, or soft, sweet plantains.
Photo via Brewnuts/Instagram
Brewnuts
6501 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Brewnuts might not technically “serve brunch,” but they do sell donuts and coffee, which is about as close to the ideal breakfast as one can get. This Detroit Shoreway donut bar serves up delicious drip and espresso-based coffees from local legend Phoenix Coffee. You can also tuck into a hot cocoa or a soothing hot toddy to pair with your mocha-glazed fry cake, salted caramel donut with pecans, or rum-soaked pina colada confection. Ah, who are we kidding? Skip the java and knock back a few pints of a local IPA and call it a morning.
Photo via clevelandvegancateringandcafe/Instagram
Cleveland Vegan
17112 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Vegans love brunch too, we assume. Good thing for them there’s Cleveland Vegan, a pioneer in the meat-free dining scene. Saying “no” to bacon, sausage, ham, Scrapple … (sorry, we got carried away) has never been easier thanks to this Lakewood eatery, where guests enjoy a savory three-course breakfast for around $20. Start with a bagel and a schmear before moving on to avocado toast or cheesy mashed potato cakes. Cap it all off with housemade biscuits with pepper gravy or a creative shitake Benedict. To drink, there’s coffee, tea and fresh fruit smoothies.
Photo via LuckysCafe/Instagram
Lucky’s Café
777 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland
Perennial Best of Cleveland “Best Brunch” winner, Lucky’s Cafe cleans up annually thanks in large part to chef Heather Haviland’s heavenly cheddar-scallion biscuits with scrambled eggs and sausage gravy, a category killer if ever there was one. Bleary-eyed diners also flock to this Tremont coffee house for honey-coated granola, gingerbread waffles topped with maple-roasted apples, breakfast burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs, and the ever-famous Shipwreck, a dizzying mish-mosh of eggs, hash browns, bacon and cheddar. Hit up Lucky’s during the week for the same great food; there’s no rule that says brunch can only happen on weekends.
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Le Petit Triangle Cafe
1881 Fulton Rd., Cleveland
This little French-inspired spot is an Ohio City jewel, a hidden lair with a locals-only vibe that truly is “easy like Sunday morning.” Kickstart your day with a frothy cappuccino — or a glass of champagne — and peruse the European influenced menu. Crepes, like the ham and d’Affinois, are always a great idea, but so too are fluffy omelets, sunny quiches and tangy lemon curd French toast. If you’re feeling more “unch” than “br,” dig into a salad Nicoise with salmon, egg, potato and olives or the roast chicken sandwich, an airy croissant layered with meat, goat cheese and mango chutney.
Big Al’s Diner
12600 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland
Big Al’s doesn’t do brunch. It does breakfast all day. No booze. No flowers. No frippery. But whatever you call it, the results are the same: heart-warming plates of diner-style fare that are guaranteed to set you right. Folks go gaga over the satellite dish-size pancakes but we can’t seem to pry ourselves away from the biscuits and gravy, a pair of multilayered dough cakes drowning in sausage-studded gravy, gilded with a pair of over-easy eggs, and sided by a mountain of onion-laced hash browns. Our No. 2 is the corned beef hash, with sauteed potatoes and peppers also topped with a pair of huevos. A makeover has given this classic Larchmere spot a fresh new look.
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Photo by Emanuel Wallace
The South Side
2207 West 11th St., Cleveland
Wait, that clock can’t be right. You mean to tell me that we’ve been rolling clear through till sunrise? Birds don’t lie, bro. Birds don’t lie. If you can somehow manage to make it to 10:30 a.m., you’re golden, because that’s when the South Side in Tremont starts pouring its legendary Bloody Marys (including the overstuffed Mother Mary, a one-stop drink/meal stuffed and skewered with everything but the kitchen sink) and dishing out its heavenly chicken and waffles. Of course, when it comes to mopping up last night’s mess, nothing does the job better than fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits buried beneath creamy sausage gravy. Also on tap: bennies, enchiladas, frittatas and more.
Photo by Emanuel Wallace
West Side Market Cafe
1979 West 25th St., Cleveland
Most folks breeze right by this cafe en route to the main event — shoppng at the West Side Market —but that’s foolish. For starters, there are Bloody Marys inside waiting for you. And second, the food is always reliable, consistent and affordable. One thin Lincoln nets a diner a square breakfast of two eggs any style, home fries and toast. For a couple bucks more a shopper can grab the eggs Benedict or huevos rancheros, a Latin stack of tortillas, refried beans, fried eggs, queso fresco and ranchero sauce. If you’re in a hurry to head next door, order the fried egg sandwich to go, a soft roll stuffed with a fried egg, spicy bacon and cheese. The doors open bright and early for those in search of the worm.
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Beachland Ballroom and Tavern
15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland
You know and love this east-side concert club for its unbridled devotion to hosting the world’s best musicians, but did you know that they also make a mean chilaquile? The come-as-you-are vibe and the live DJ combine to make this “rockin’ brunch” one of the illest, chillest in town. Start with a kicky chapula cocktail, a south-of-the-border eye-opener of tequila, orange juice and sour cherry, a fired-up coffee drink, or any one of six different takes on the Bloody Mary. Those chilaquiles consist of crunchy tortilla chips topped with chicken (or beans), over-easy eggs and queso fresco. A 180-degree departure from those are the potato latkes with lox and applesauce. People rightly adore the fried chicken and waffles, buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy, and the sturdy corned beef hash and eggs.
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Tommy’s
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights
Since 1972, hippies with the munchies have been beating feet to Tommy’s for wholesome fare that runs the gamut from Middle Eastern falafel to Middle American tuna salad. In the a.m. it’s all about the pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelets and “breakfast creations” that range from humdrum to downright wacky. The Crudley, por exemplo, consists of scrambled eggs, ham, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and cheese, while the Elsie is a triple-decker sandwich saddled with two fried eggs, bacon, cheese, peanut butter (what?!) and mayo. Be sure to tack on an order of hash browns and an old-fashioned milkshake, the breakfast beverage of winners.
Photo via stashstyle/Facebook
Astoria Cafe and Market
5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Sunday brunch at Astoria is every bit as pleasant as lunch on Tuesday and dinner on Thursday. Given the cafe and marketplace’s Mediterranean bent, it’s no surprise to see the menu populated with items like Tortilla Espanola, the frittata-like pie fortified with potato and onion. Here, it’s capped with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce because why not? I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the gyro omelet ever since typing those two words, and I’m pretty certain that the duck confit hash and eggs is in my immediate future. If you haven’t yet popped into this sunny spot, we recommend you remedy that forthwith.
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Pier W
12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood
If you don’t think of Pier W when you think of brunch, you’re doing it wrong. Despite being precariously perched on a precipice overlooking Lake Erie, this Lakewood landmark has survived for more than 50 years thanks to spotless seafood, professional service and those dramatic views. Sunday’s grand brunch buffet is old school meets new, with sparkling raw bar selections like shrimp and oysters joining poached Atlantic salmon and smoked salmon with all the accoutrements. A carving station turns out thin-sliced roast sirloin — with horseradish cream and au jus, of course — and staples like eggs Benedict, breakfast meats, and green and fresh-fruit salads are on hand and plentiful.
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Collision Bend Brewery
1250 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Have brunch on the river courtesy of Collison Bend, the year-old brewery from Zack Bruell and company. In addition to the regular lengthy menu, diners have a choice of a half-dozen breakfast-themed items to enjoy alongside those watery views. Eggs in Purgatory — eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce — is showered with feta and accompanied by grilled flatbread for soaking up all that angry gravy. The tantalizing French Toast Bake consists of brioche layers intermingled with sweet cream cheese, berries, Nutella, egg custard and vanilla maple bourbon syrup. A knife-and-fork-style Breakfast Pizza is weighed down with house-cured bacon, caramelized onions, tomato, mozzarella, cheddar and a sunny egg. A list of boilermakers pairs house brews with compatible shots of booze.
Photo via Flour Restaurant/Facebook
Flour
34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills
Flour’s star of the Sunday brunch — the eggs Benedict — nearly ruins diners for all other versions. Maybe it’s the crisp-edged English muffin, or the thick but supple slice of mortadella; not to be overlooked are the perfectly poached eggs and the creamy, decadent hollandaise. This attractive suburban bistro always manages to fluff our sails, even after a long, rough night. Diners can go simple with a fluffy veggie frittata or whole hog with a sausage pizza. We prefer the breakfast pie, thin, crisp and dotted with spinach, feta, sunny-side-up eggs and sweet and sour peperonata.
Photo via rootedhomedesign/Instagram
Lemon Falls
95 North Main St., Chagrin Falls
Cute as a button — and not much larger, to be honest — Lemon Falls is a cheery ray of sunshine in the heart of the Village. From quick-serve pastries like muffins, scones and Russian tea biscuits to full breakfasts, this New England-style gourmet market is as convenient as it is on trend. Pop in on a Saturday morning and enjoy a mug of cappuccino or chai latte and a plate of poached eggs with prosciutto and Parmesan. A fried egg sandwich consists of two eggs, bacon, tomato and gruyere on an airy brioche bun. Before you leave, grab some housemade granola for later in the week.
Photo via gin_norikolmt/Instagram
Blue Door Cafe and Bakery
1970 State Rd., Cuyahoga Falls
Given that bread and breakfast are closely intertwined, it’s always wise to brunch at a bakery. And when that bakery is the Blue Door Cafe, all the better. Whenever we have plans that take us south of the turnpike, we begin our travels early enough to stop here for an exceptional meal. Decanters of French-press coffee give way to summery mimosas. Any item that includes house-made English muffins or fresh-baked croissants is a win, as is the Croque Madame, a sandwich-like meal with rosemary-scented ham, gruyere and eggs dripping with lush bechamel. Chicken and waffles gets an upgrade thanks to pepper-brined fried chicken, jalapeno-and-cheddar waffles, bourbon butter and housemade hot sauce.
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El Carnicero
16918 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Desayuno, as they in Mexico, is the most important meal of the day. As one might expect, the folks at El C give brunch a Latin flair, which is the most delicious flair of all if you ask us. Taking its name from the cryptozoological wonder that is the “goat sucker,” the Chupacabra cocktail is a blood-red lid lifter made with bacon-infused vodka, spicy tomato juice and a rim dusting of chile-lime salt. You can’t go wrong with the huevos rancheros, but consider taking the blue corn breakfast enchiladas for a spin. Inside the blue corn tortillas is tender ancho chile-braised beef brisket, scrambled eggs, black beans and Chihuahua cheese. Savory, corny griddle cakes are paired with Mexican Coke-glazed bacon, while Las Gachas is a comforting porridge of cheesy grits topped with shredded mole-braised lamb and sunny-side-up eggs. Don’t forget the churros!
Photo by Douglas Trattner
Landmark Smokehouse
11637 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland
This so-called “fine-casual” arrangement satisfies our desire for unfussy efficiency without stooping to the level of steam-table chow. Sure, guests order and pay at the counter, help themselves to condiments, and seat themselves, but the food on the other end of that transaction is every bit as good as that found in a traditional sit-down cafe. Also included in the bargain are alcoholic beverages, well-composed plates, real tableware and utensils, and an attractive dining room in which to enjoy them. During brunch, find Landmark’s outstanding Montreal smoked brisket in hashes and latkes, diner-style breakfasts, burritos, and satisfying rice bowls with options of chicken and salmon.
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Adega
2017 East Ninth St., Cleveland
Weekend brunch is the ultimate relaxation, and no one knows how to take a load off quite like the coastal Europeans of Spain, Italy, Greece and France. Adega’s modern Mediterranean cuisine taps into that leisurely vibe with dishes like iberico Benedicts, lamb burgers, veal cutlet breakfast sammies and Spanish chorizo croque madames. Adega also has one of the best Bloody Mary bars around and, most importantly, starts serving them up at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, which is a blessing for everyone who just can’t wait till 11 to get the weekend started right.
Photo by Karin McKenna
Dinerbar on Clifton
11801 Clifton Blvd., Lakewood
Loyal fans of the original Diner on Clifton, which operated for 17 years just 160 meters away from the new Dinerbar on Clifton, will quickly observe how much has changed. But they will also appreciate how much has stayed the same. And they’re packing them in on weekends for brunch, thanks to full bar service and reliable breakfast fare served all day. Well-made corned beef hash ($9.95) is delicious any time of day, especially when it features fat and salty chunks of meat, tender potatoes and sweet sauteed onions beneath a roof of over-easy eggs. The dish is joined by a handful of other egg dishes that can be ordered clear up till close. Items such as French toast, pancakes and eggs Benedict are reserved for mornings and weekend brunch only. One of the brightest storylines at Dinerbar is the sweets program, overseen by pastry chef Annabella Andricks. A glass-fronted display case taunts guests with mile-high salted caramel cheesecakes, giant swirled Ho-Hos and rainbow-colored “funfetti” cakes fit for a unicorn.
Photo courtesy of Ohio Pie Co.
Ohio Pie Co.
1315 1/2 Pearl Rd., Brunswick and 19565 Detroit Rd., Rocky River
Qualities like a thin-but-not-too-thin crust, subtly sweet sauce, edge-to-edge cheese, and square-cut round pie combine to form Ohio-style pie, christened and now being dished up by the Ohio Pie Co. in Brunswick. Leftover pizza for breakfast is a trusty weekend remedy, but why settle for day-old when you can nab fresh pie early Saturday and Sunday mornings designed specifically for the occasion. Weekend mornings usher in a roster of brunch pies starring toppings like bacon, egg and potato on an everything-bagel-seasoning-style crust with a cream cheese white sauce.
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The Sleepy Rooster
5210 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls
Following nine months of work, the majority of which was completed by family, Craig and Sarah Fitzgerald recently opened The Sleepy Rooster in Chagrin Falls. The attractive diner is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday. Biscuit fans will appreciate the fresh-baked ones served here. They land in dishes like breakfast biscuits, biscuits and gravy, and eggs Benedict. The Sleepy Rooster is one of the only Northeast Ohio restaurants to make and serve goetta, the German breakfast meat made with pork, beef, steel-cut oats, onions and spices. Some breakfast items, like a section of toasts topped with arrangements like avocado and sea salt, chorizo and goat cheese, and smoked salmon, dill cream cheese and onion, are available all day. The arrival of lunchtime ushers in sandwiches like a griddled PB&J, fried bologna and onion, and a BLT with pork belly.
Photo via Borderline Cafe/Facebook
Borderline Cafe
18508 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Nothing but breakfast served sunny side up Wednesday through Sunday at this popular West End café. Huge stuffed omelets, chewy buttermilk pancakes, and breakfast burritos are freshly prepared and restorative in nature. Don’t be put off by the line out the door; it just proves that people have good taste.
Photo via Dante Next Door/Facebook
Dante Next Door
2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland
Everything Dante Boccuzzi touches turns to gold so it’s no surprise that his breakfast spot is a success. They’re only open on Sundays right now but the food is so good that it had to be on this list.
Photo via @LarderB/Instagram
Larder
1455 West 29th St., Cleveland
At its heart, Larder, which was recently nominated for a James Beard award, is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, and flaky fruit-filled rugelach. But their weekend brunch offerings are so good that we had to include it here.
Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Luxe Kitchen & Lounge
6605 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Before there was Toast, Brewnuts, Spice, Astoria, XYZ Tavern and sweet, Sweet Moses there was Luxe Kitchen, an early speculator in the then up-and-coming neighborhood of Detroit Shoreway. When it opened a little over a decade ago, the oh-so-haute bistro joined area mainstays like Rincon Criollo, Happy Dog, Latitude 41 and Gypsy Beans, which perhaps was the first piece on the chessboard of this so-called urban renaissance. Since opening day there have been ups and downs, chefs shifts and menu re-dos – even ownership tweaks – but throughout it all, the restaurant has managed to remain an anchor in this dynamic arts-fueled district, especially when it comes to their awesome brunch.
Photo via Fat Cats/Facebook
Fat Cats
2061 West 10th St., Cleveland
Fat Cats is neither new nor flashy. For more than 20 years, this early-era Tremont bistro has lured diners to the far end of a quiet residential street by offering a cozy alternative to special occasion restaurants. We always find something on the menu, and especially during their brunch. Their Buckeye Burrito – sausage, scrambled egg, cheddar, pickled jalapeño, black beans, tomato, crema, onion, fat cat potatoes – is one of our favorite breakfast burritos in town.
Photo via Rowley Inn/Facebook
The Rowley Inn
1104 Rowley Ave., (216) 795-5345
This Tremont establishment is Cleveland through and through. What do we mean? Their traditional three-egg breakfast comes with kielbasa and bacon-wrapped tater tots instead of home fries. They have breakfast on weekdays and brunch on the weekends but whatever you call it, it’s all good. Breakfast poutine is on the menu for crying out loud!
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XYZ The Tavern
6419 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Westsiders looking for their early booze-egg combo fix head over to XYZ Tavern on Saturdays and Sundays. XYZ is the earliest open brunch spot on our list, open from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This place offers everything from eggs benedict to chicken and waffles. With your meal, their popular house made bloody marys and mimosas with fresh squeezed OJ are a must taste.
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Toast
1365 West 65th., Cleveland
Gordon Square’s Toast is one of the most fun and unique dining experiences in town. Farmhouse themed, with a highly curated wine list from owner Jillian Davis, an ever changing menu based on what’s fresh at the local farms, and a choice of one of three dining areas, this place is definitely worth checking out. It’s also the perfect spot if you like to try a bunch of different items. Their double sausage breakfast sandwich and cinnamon french toast are the stars of the show.
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Juneberry
3900 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
There is a silver lining to the 2019 closure of Jack Flaps, a popular breakfast diner in Ohio City. Chef Karen Small took the space over and finally opened a diner of her own after much anticipation. The bustling cafe serves breakfast-all-day. Small, who is also in the process of a new concept at the recently closed Flying Fig (2523 Market Ave.,) in the same neighborhood was motivated to grab the space because of what she believes is a gap in the marketplace. Juneberry features an all-day breakfast and lunch menu largely inspired by the chef’s decade spent living outside of Athens, Ohio.
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The Last Page
100 Park Ave. Ste. 128, Orange Village
Within a tsunami of fast-casual monotony, The Last Page at Pinecrest is a welcome detour. This modern-day supper club offers an immersive, upscale experience, from the luxuriously appointed waiting area to the grand bar in the rear of the drama-filled dining room. Their brunch matches up with the rest of the restaurant, with tasty offerings like their brûlée French toast, chilaquiles, steak and eggs, shakshuka and much more.
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17 River Grille
17 River St., Chagrin Falls
Located overlooking the waterfalls of the Chagrin River in quaint downtown Chagrin Falls, Jekyll’s Kitchen turned into 17 River in 2020. Owned by veteran restaurateur Rick Doody, founder of Brio and Bravo, 17 River not only has beautiful views but also the food to match and is a gorgeously designed restaurant. The highlights of their brunch menu include a steak eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles and a sourdough French toast.
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Yonder
3859 Superior Ave., Cleveland
This Asia Town breakfast spot is built around their awesome breakfast sammies like The Yonder, that comes with bacon, avocado, soft scrambled eggs, chives, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and chipotle mayo and other awesome sandwiches. They also have a whole section on their menu basically devoted to cereal french toast including a Fruity Pebbles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch french toast. Delicious.
Photo via The Spot on Lakeshore
The Spot on Lakeshore
7272 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor
Veteran chef Zachary Bond opened this spot in Mentor in 2021 and quickly turned it into one of the better brunch spots in town. In addition to all the classics, The Spot serves up items like breakfast sandwiches, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, three-egg omelets and platters containing eggs, meat, home fries and toast – Bond also whips up avocado toast, eggs in purgatory and a half dozen skillets starring redskin potatoes with various toppings. Those are joined by specialties like steak and eggs and country-fried chicken and waffles with black pepper gravy, creme brulee french toast and tiramisu pancakes.
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