CLEVELAND, Ohio - From Heinen's to the Hofbrauhaus, the most celebrated recent openings in Cleveland have been big - big places, big parties, big news, big crowds.
But bigger isn't always better. Some of Cleveland's most interesting local destinations are small - in size. But not in style, or flavor or flair. Our local tapestry is filled with unique and cool corner bars, tiny cafes, ethnic diners, breakfast joints and other cozy destinations.
They range from a hidden Italian treasure masquerading as a pizza joint to a Thai masterpiece with just seven tables; from a stylish, new juice bar to a Salvadoran pupuseria; from craft cocktails served under stained glass to a hot dog hot spot.
Call them cozy. Little. Petite. Compact. Diminutive. Maybe even a little tight, or cramped. But the only thing small about the joints listed below is size.
Read on for our second annual look at some of Cleveland's top, tiny restaurants and bars. (Click here for a look at 2014's guide, which included Close Quarters, Charlie's Dog House and more.) And be sure to share your small treasures in the comments section. (Click here for a longer list of reader suggestions, too.)
11607 Euclid Ave., Cleveland; 216-331-2841
If there's a prettier cafe in Cleveland than this tiny, charmingly French-accented spot in Euclid Avenue, I have yet to find it. Opened in January 2014 to much fanfare, petite Coquette - just six small tables and one large one that can be reserved - has established itself as a must-stop University Circle destination. And no wonder, from its impressive wine and champagne list to the fizzy French pop that fills the air to its chic-sleek tulip-and-vintage prints Montmartre-meets-Cleveland decor, it's a wonderful diversion from the hustle-bustle of Uptown and Case Western Reserve University. But make no mistake, it's what's in the pastry case that's the main draw: gorgeous miniature works of edible art, from French macarons to candied grapefruit tarts to Chevre cheesecakes, eclairs, St. Honore cakes and savory quiches. Fantastique!
6604 Detroit Ave., Cleveland; 440-554-3498
Gordon Square's newest resident, the tiny Daily Press juice and smoothie cafe is a welcome addition to the growing entertainment district. Located in a delightful, sunny spot filled with lovely, modern pastel tables and chairs - enough room for seven or eight people - the cafe that opened in early 2015 serves made-to-order smoothies and juices and a small menu of salads, soups and sandwiches. The emphasis is on the organic and locally sourced. A small fridge has some prepackaged juices and meals (including a tasty quinoa salad) for those on the go, but part of the appeal here is watching all the fresh ingredients get blended into your "Beauty Revival" - acai, chia seeds, flax seeds, strawberries, banana and more; "Green" - kale, spinach, banana, strawberries, chai seeds, etc.; and other energizing smoothies. I'll raise a healthy glass to that!
11637 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland; 216-521-5003
For decades, when it was known as Clifton Lunch, the snug spot at the corner of West 117th Street and Clifton Boulevard was a greasy spoon frequented by night owls and neighborhood types. In 1999, a new owner broke with the past, changing the name and updating the interior. They called it "A '50s diner with a new millennium feel." Today, the Diner on Clifton retains its appealing balance of sleek modern decor, a traditional lunch counter and a menu that includes all the comforting diner faves you could want plus some diverse entrees. Choices range from an excellent BLT and mac-and-cheese to an unexpectedly good Asian chicken salad and wild mushroom Fontina ravioli. For the full diner experience, grab one of the retro-cool bottlecap stools at the small counter where yesterday-meets-today in a very good way.
11919 Mayfield Road, Cleveland's Little Italy;
216-791-7670
It's named after a big volcano, but Etna Ristorante and Wine Bar is one of Little Italy's tiniest joints. Just 10 small tables and a handful of bar stools fill the compact corner cafe on Mayfield Road. Fortunately, the cozy Sicilian restaurant has flavor as big as its name. It's always crowded, so reservations are recommended if you'd like to try their beloved spinach and ricotta ravioli, or pork tenderloin in rosemary and cream, or gnocchi with diced eggplant. Or grab a seat at the bar and pair a glass of wine with something from the tasty appetizer menu, from grilled calamari to their signature Vulcano (pecorino cheese, spiced soprossati, sun-dried tomatoes, anchovies and olives).
5494 Pearl Road, Parma; 440-886-3647
Happy Dog gets all the press, but they're not the only dog house in town. For more than a decade, this West Side eatery has served up some of the tastiest dogs - and burgers, chicken sandwiches and gyros - in town. Located in a former Taco Bell and decorated with famous hot dog sayings - really - there's no live music or booze here, just good old-fashioned dogs done right. Options include the classic, snappy, jumbo and kielbasa, with such specials as the sauerkraut dog, hillbilly dog (with coleslaw and chili) and firecracker (hot relish, spicy mustard and more). Sides include tater tots, fresh-cut fries, pierogi dippers and onion rings. And they may not have 100 toppings, but they have more than enough, from ketchup and mustard to onions, jalapenos, chili, cheese, chipotle mayo and sour cream. Hot dog!
House of Swing
4490 Mayfield Road, South Euclid; 216-382-2771
Even when there's not live music in this compact South Euclid mainstay - and there's live music A LOT - it's a music lover's haven from the time you swing open the door under that retro-cool "House of Swing" sign. You can't miss the stacks of more than 15,000 vinyl jazz LPs by the turntable, or the vintage photos and posters that cover almost every inch of ceiling. Sure, the beer list is pretty standard, and there's no fancy martini menu, and they don't serve food or take credit cards. But there's nothing ordinary about this friendly and oh-so-cool East Side dive bar, where jazz and blues live on and on and on . . .
549 Ridge Road, Parma; 440- 842-7724
This teeny Parma corner restaurant is the definition of no-frills. With just six utilitarian card tables and a worn-looking slip-covered couch, it looks like someone's basement. Albeit, a basement with nice Indian wall art. But people don't come to this Parma diner for the decor - they come for the Indian food, arguably some of the best in town. Whether you do takeout or eat in, it's all served in Styrofoam containers - containers that hold delectable and quite hot vegetable samosas, creamy paneer, meaty chicken biryani and other favorites. Want to eat in? They also offer several weekly buffets, including a new chat (snack food) buffet from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays, with Bhelpuri, Pani Puri, Kachori, Samosa Chat and more. It's just $6.99, so it's no surprise the tiny space gets quite crowded.
3900 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; 216-961-5199
Cleveland isn't much of a weekday breakfast town, but this trendy yet welcoming eatery is doing its best to change that. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and REALLY busy on weekends, diminutive Jack Flaps serves its delectable pancakes, waffles and savory breakfasts in a more relaxed atmosphere in its bright Ohio City space on weekdays. The six tables and nine counter stools hosted an array of Clevelanders from elderly locals to business lunchers to 20-something hipsters on a recent Wednesday. They were all enjoying Jack Flaps' treats, from their famous buckwheat pancakes with Ohio honey to their carrot-cake waffles with butternut squash cream and their piquant root-vegetable hash. Music from the Kinks to the Black Keys provided the backdrop, and, in a nice touch, coffee is served in to-go cups so you can take one for the road.
1404 West 29th St., Cleveland; 216- 206-7699
Great tunes plus great beers plus pierogi ... even chocolate and buffalo chickpea pierogi? What could be more perfectly "New Cleveland" than a night at one of Ohio City's newest watering holes, the compact but rocking Jukebox? Opened last fall, Jukebox bills itself as "a music-centric bar with a neighborhood tavern feel." And so the jukebox takes center stage in this chic-industrial bar, with its mix of indie rock, classic rock, old soul, R&B and much more. Except on Tuesdays, vinyl nights, when patrons are welcome to bring in their own LPs to spin as they sip craft beers or cocktails like the summery Cucumber Collins, made with local Ohio City Soda. The night we visited, King Crimson was spinning in the cozy club as nouveau pierogi were served. Only in Cleveland ...
5772 Ridge Road, Parma; 440-842-8212
Good home-cooking like Baba made has lured Clevelanders out of their homes to this tiny Parma diner since 2006. The narrow, no-frills space decorated with Polish bric-a-brac and fliers for neighborhood events has just five small tables and six stools. There's barely room to move when it's full, and it's never busier than on Fridays during Lent. But a wait of 40-plus minutes doesn't stop diner devotees from waiting for their homemade potato pierogi, cabbage and noodles, breaded perch and potato pancakes. Other days, chicken, beef or pork are the draws. But no matter what the day, the Tour of Poland (stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and pierogi) is on the menu - and the Little Polish Diner is guaranteed to be full.
Lounge Leo
2161 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland's Little Italy;
216-795-1670
Tucked among the restaurants and cafes and galleries and wine bars and bakeries of Cleveland's ethnic Italian enclave is this compact corner bar in a former grocery store on Murray Hill Road. Just six bar stools and three tables fill the room, which has a sleek, modern ultra-lounge vibe. It's more of a locals spot - probably because they're the only ones who know about it - but is equally welcoming to casual visitors. There's no food, though you're welcome to bring in a slice, and the cocktail menu is small. But the bar is well-stocked, and the prices are right ($6.50 for a Stoli and tonic) - and it's a relaxing respite from the buzz on Mayfield Road.
Pupuseria Katarina
4848 Broadview Road, Cleveland; 216-331-6624
Opened last summer in a cheery but basic blue-and-white corner space in Old Brooklyn, Salvadoran Pupuseria Katarina filled a void in the local dining scene. The muy pequeno 10-table restaurant has introduced Clevelanders to pupusas: thick, handmade stuffed tortillas. Pupusas make up the majority of the menu, with fillings from cheese to chicken to beans, zucchini, garlic and edible loroco flowers. They also offer a plate-sized "loco pupusa" filled with all of the above. We opted to try several smaller pupusas, loving the exotic loroco entree. Accompanied with a fantastic oniony coleslaw and Salvadoran cashew apple juice, a meal in this welcoming space decorated with pictures of volcanoes and traditional dresses and set to a cumbia soundtrack was the perfect antidote to a brutal Cleveland winter. Note: Pupuseria Katarina will be moving to the former Mexican Village spot on Brookpark Road in April.
710 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland; 216-795-5595
Arrive early, make a reservation or be prepared to wait - and possibly even be turned away - at Cleveland's newest craft cocktail bar. Tucked into a renovated corner of an 1850s-built former Bible press, now the Tremont Place Lofts, the Owl is worth the wait. Not only are the cocktails on the small, curated menu little works of art - like the "Luxury Goods," with Four Roses Yellow bourbon, Zucca Rhubarb Amaro, Amaretto Disaronno, Pernod and orange peel - the space is, too, with its restored stained-glass windows, barn-door tables and reclaimed tables and stools.
12210 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 216-226-4450
Diminutive Thai Kitchen has seven tables - mostly two-tops - but the narrow, L-shaped space decorated with photographs of Thailand and elephant tablecloths is so tight, even that seems hard to believe. So be prepared to wait, or call ahead for takeout if you're in search of what many call the best Thai in town - for good reason. Opened more than two decades ago by Thai immigrants, this casual spot was one of the first to introduce Thai food to the area. Everything is made from scratch, even the tea, with an emphasis on vegetarian foods. With a huge menu including crispy spring rolls, lemongrass tea, creamy Tom Yum soup, grilled Kai Yang chicken, basil Pad Bai Gra-Praw rice and much, much more, it's no wonder there's never an empty seat in the house - or parking spot outside.
2193 Professor Ave., Cleveland; 216-771-0515
On the outside, it looks like a tired, old pizza parlor, with dingy wood paneling and a faded painting of a man carrying a pizza. But inside, Tony's Southside is anything but tired - or a pizza parlor. It's one of Cleveland's most unexpected and intimate restaurants, a tiny, exquisite upscale Italian-Greek restaurant only masquerading as a pizza parlor. Oh yes, they do serve pies in this lovely wood-paneled room that looks like something out of a 1940s Hollywood romance, with its sleek bar and just five tiny high-top tables. But these tiny artisan pies are anything but ordinary.
Each is handcrafted and made with fresh sauce and a fascinating array or ingredients, from the focaccia-style Iliad, made with artichokes, Pecorina Romano, provolone and mozzarella, to the Aphrodite, with fresh rosemary, honey and Parmigiano-Reggiano. They're all made to order by Tony Tuleta in the kitchen of what was once his dad's restaurant, which he now runs with his Greek wife, Eleny.
Entrees and pastas have both Greek and Italian accents, as does the wine and seasonal cocktail list. The menu is more than six pages, and the servers will walk you through it all, plus specials. Tony's, like their pies, is a place to be savored. But be sure to reserve ahead; the cash-only spot can only seat five parties and few singles at the bar, and they're only open on Fridays and Saturdays, beginning at 7 p.m.