CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cordelia, which opened this year in the former Lola Bistro spot in downtown Cleveland, has been named one of the 22 best new restaurants in the United States by Tasting Table.
The foodie-focused site, which has been around since 2008, lauded the East 4th spot – the only restaurant in Ohio on its list.
The site said the restaurant’s “dedication to serving incredible Midwestern-inspired plates has claimed everyone’s attention. Chef Vinnie Cimino paired up with owner Andrew Watts to create something magical with Cordelia. … Part of the eatery’s appeal lies in its down-home atmosphere, fostered by the hospitality skills of both Cimino and Watts.
“… There’s no way you can go wrong in choosing anything from the menu, but the jammy eggs, fried chicken, and burger box are considered some of the finest selections. Fans of pastrami are sure to fall for Cordelia’s “Tongue on Toast” platter, garnished with an array of jewellike mustard seeds.”
The 8,000-square foot space is a culinary promoter for Cleveland, with scores of references and photos of Clevelanders past and present.
Back in July, when we checked out Cordelia, Watts told us, “The whole space is a celebration of Cleveland, a celebration of the Midwest, a celebration of everything around us and how hard everyone has worked. My favorite bumper sticker for Cleveland is ‘Full City, Half Price.’ You know, there’s a tenacious grit to success here. You do have to work a little harder.”
Restaurants in 18 states made the list, with New York and Los Angeles leading the way with three apiece.
Here are summaries on all TT’s 22 restaurants.
Related coverage: Cordelia opens on East 4th Street, backed by history and a lot of Cleveland pride
I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Twitter: @mbona30.
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