Greater Cleveland's hottest new restaurants

New restaurants come and go in Cleveland, but a few recent additions stand out from the group. From Melt Bar and Grilled, which just opened an East Side location on May 21, to the newly opened Metro Bar + Kitchen (site of the former Metropolitan Cafe), the city offers selections notable for their talented chefs and their delicious and innovative food.

Melt Bar and Grilled
13463 Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights
216-965-0988
MeltBarAndGrilled.com

You might think that a restaurant that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches is rather childish. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Matt Fish's Melt Bar and Grilled, in Lakewood and most recently in Cleveland Heights, serves hearty grilled cheese sandwiches with surprising combinations like bratwurst, sauerkraut, peppers and cheese; bacon, egg and cheese; and a quintessentially Cleveland creation - walleye, cheese and jalapeno tartar sauce. All sandwiches are accompanied by delicious, hand-cut French fries, and the restaurant's extensive beer selection is one of the best in town. Melt also serves salads, desserts and appetizers, and features brunch on Sundays with egg dishes and waffles from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Melt is open for lunch and dinner. The kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until midnight, and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. The bar is open until 2 a.m. daily.

Metro Bar + Kitchen
1352 W. Sixth St. in downtown Cleveland
216-241-1300
MetroBarAndKitchen.com

The southwest corner of West St. Clair and West Sixth Street in downtown Cleveland has been home to a trendy restaurant for decades now. First it was Piccolo Mondo, then the Metropolitan Café, and now Metro Bar + Kitchen - a restyled version of the Metropolitan. The new fare is simpler, the atmosphere more relaxed and the prices less expensive. Metro's menu features burgers, rustic oven pizzas, small dishes to share, milkshakes and full entrees for hungrier guests. Some of the best menu items are the creative sandwiches, such as the chorizo sausage, cheese, egg and potato combination and the braised short rib sandwich with bleu cheese and onion straws. The restaurant offers a variety of cozy dining areas, from the overstuffed sofas to the roaring fireplace to the outdoor patio, one of the largest in downtown Cleveland.

Metro Bar + Kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m until 1 a.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m, and Saturday from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m.

The Greenhouse Tavern
2038 E. Fourth Street in Cleveland
216-443-0511
TheGreenhouseTavern.com

Cleveland's East Fourth Street entertainment district got a new star in 2009 with the opening of Jonathon Sawyer's The Greenhouse Tavern. The restaurant, named one of Bon Appetit magazine's best new restaurants, is devoted to sustainability. Translated, that means that The Greenhouse Tavern uses ingredients from local farms and purveyors, recycles aggressively, and conserves energy and water. They even used reclaimed barn wood for the restaurant's flooring.

The food is fresh, creative and tasty. The menu changes seasonally, but recent highlights include chicken in brioche (bread) and pork chops saltimbocca (with ham and cheese). They also have a varied list of affordable wines. The Greenhouse Tavern is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday from 2-9 p.m.

Michael Symon's B-Spot
28699 Chagrin Blvd. in Woodmere
216-292-5567
BSpotBurgers.com

Cleveland's "Iron Chef" star Michael Symon added a new Cleveland eatery to his resume in 2009 with the B-Spot at Woodmere's Eton shopping center. The eatery specializes in sandwiches, especially hamburgers, but these are definitely not your mother's hamburgers. For one thing, the beef is naturally raised and custom blended for the restaurant. For another, selections include such offerings as the Fat Doug (a burger with pastrami, coleslaw, Swiss cheese and mustard) and the Breuben (a burger with - you guessed it - corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese). B-Spot also offers a nice choice of bratwurst and bologna sandwiches, salads, shakes and bar food.

B-Spot is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant does not take reservations.

L'Albatros
11401 Bellflower Road in Cleveland
216-791-7880
AlbatrosBrasserie.com

Another new restaurant from a favorite and talented Cleveland chef is Zack Bruell's L'Albatros. Located in the heart of University Circle in a former carriage house, this traditional French bistro delights with such offerings as pork rillettes, excellent cheese platters, bouillabaisse and cassoulet. In the warmer months, L'Albatros has a charming, secluded patio behind the restaurant.

L'Albatros is open Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Reservations are encouraged.

Etna
11919 Mayfield Road in Cleveland
216-791-7670
EtnaLittleItaly.com

Situated in a cozy storefront, just steps away from Holy Rosary Church and the shops and art galleries of Little Italy, the neighborhood's newest eatery dazzles with its authentic Italian creations and intimate, white-linen-clad tables. Reminiscent of restaurants in New York's Little Italy, Etna's menu features a selection of chicken, veal and beef entrees as well as fresh seafood and pasta dishes (including the delicious lobster ravioli). On warmer days, tables spill out onto the sidewalk in front of the restaurant - a great place to watch the Little Italy action.

Etna is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5-10 p.m.; Friday from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday from 4-11 p.m.; Sunday from 1-9:30 p.m.

Felice's Urban Cafe
12502 Larchmere Blvd. in Cleveland
216-791-0918
CoolPlacesToEat.com/felice

Located just north of Shaker Square, within walking distance of the Larchmere Boulevard antiques district, Felice is an unpretentious and affordable restaurant, housed in a restored early 20th century arts and crafts home. The menu deftly combines Spanish and American cuisine with such offerings as sea scallops with chorizo (spicy sausage) and salsa verde, spicy seafood stew and grilled chicken with Spanish potatoes.

Felice is closed on Monday. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday 4-10 p.m.; Friday 4 to midnight; Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.