Ethnic European Restaurants in Cleveland (Parma, Mentor: university, pierogies, prices)

[kpl1228]

In recent news, Balaton and its Hungarian food is leaving Shaker Square for the Geauga County 'burbs. I hated it when they left Buckeye for Shaker Square, so I truly hate this. Like the closure of other ethnic Cleveland restaurants as discussed elsewhere on this forum (University Inn, Sterle's, etc.), this one stings. Can probably count the "older" established European immigrant restaurants (that aren't ethnic banquet halls or bars that serve food) in the city proper and the inner ring suburbs on two hands now.
I'm gonna try:
Der Braumeister
Marie's
Bruno's
Little Polish Diner
Guarino's
Dubrovnik Gardens (not open all week though)
Red Chimney
Mirabile's
Sachsenheim Hall
Donauschwaben (though more of an ethnic social club than a restaurant)
Trattoria
Do I count Mama Santa's?
So, which ones did I miss?

[ohioaninsc]

Originally Posted by kpl1228

In recent news, Balaton and its Hungarian food is leaving Shaker Square for the Geauga County 'burbs. I hated it when they left Buckeye for Shaker Square, so I truly hate this. Like the closure of other ethnic Cleveland restaurants as discussed elsewhere on this forum (University Inn, Sterle's, etc.), this one stings. Can probably count the "older" established European immigrant restaurants (that aren't ethnic banquet halls or bars that serve food) in the city proper and the inner ring suburbs on two hands now.
I'm gonna try:
Der Braumeister
Marie's
Bruno's
Little Polish Diner
Guarino's
Dubrovnik Gardens (not open all week though)
Red Chimney
Mirabile's
Sachsenheim Hall
Donauschwaben (though more of an ethnic social club than a restaurant)
Trattoria
Do I count Mama Santa's?
So, which ones did I miss?

I loved Balaton...but its been closed over a year...have the reopened in Geauga County? If so, I'll have a reason to go out there at least.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by ohioaninsc

I loved Balaton...but its been closed over a year...have the reopened in Geauga County? If so, I'll have a reason to go out there at least.

Yes, it has reopened in Bainbridge, southeast of Chagrin Falls. See post 157 in this thread.


https://www.city-data.com/forum/clev...t-news-16.html



Just called, and service is by reservation only, and it's booked pretty solidly for the next several days. Probably lots of catch-up business!


Prices apparently are up 30-40 percent from three years ago, based on my inquiries and my memory. Seemingly typical of most restaurants.


https://www.clevescene.com/food-drin...today-41511704

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by kpl1228

In recent news, Balaton and its Hungarian food is leaving Shaker Square for the Geauga County 'burbs. I hated it when they left Buckeye for Shaker Square, so I truly hate this. Like the closure of other ethnic Cleveland restaurants as discussed elsewhere on this forum (University Inn, Sterle's, etc.), this one stings. Can probably count the "older" established European immigrant restaurants (that aren't ethnic banquet halls or bars that serve food) in the city proper and the inner ring suburbs on two hands now.
I'm gonna try:
Der Braumeister
Marie's
Bruno's
Little Polish Diner
Guarino's
Dubrovnik Gardens (not open all week though)
Red Chimney
Mirabile's
Sachsenheim Hall
Donauschwaben (though more of an ethnic social club than a restaurant)
Trattoria
Do I count Mama Santa's?
So, which ones did I miss?

I love Bruno's, but it's not that old. Likely several of the restaurants not listed in Little Italy, such as Mia Bella and Michaelangelo's, have been around longer.


https://www.yelp.com/search?find_des...leveland%2C+OH


There are many well-regarded Italian restaurants in Greater Cleveland that are older than Bruno's, including in Lake County TJ's on the Avenue in Mentor and Mario Fazio's in Willoughby, Giovanni's (perhaps over a half century old as it was in Mentor before moving to Beachwood), and Aldo's in Brooklyn. I'm not certain if cleveland.com still has its Cleveland Classics list, as it was obliterated to some degree by the pandemic.



https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...land_Ohio.html
.

Shuhei has been serving authentic Japanese cuisine on Chagrin Blvd. for at east 30 years.


https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-c...ing-guide.html


Of course there are Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and many other ethnic restaurants in Cleveland. Tripadvisor.com in its left margin allows searches of restaurants by type of cuisine.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...land_Ohio.html



The Harp also may be only slightly newer on the Cleveland scene than Bruno's. The Harp regularly is rated as one of the nation's best Irish pubs.



https://www.cleveland.com/best/2016/...c_irish_p.html


MENUS | The Harp


https://www.tastingtable.com/968768/...bs-in-america/


Larder in Ohio City and Jack's in University Heights have been ranked as among the top 20 Jewish delis in the U.S.


https://www.tastingtable.com/956737/...lis-in-the-us/


EDWINS is a French restaurant.


https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-d...ard-semifinals



The Flat Iron Cafe is likely Cleveland's oldest, still existing restaurant (based on my research, it's older than Guarino's, which often makes that claim). It was originally an Irish pub, and it still has some Irish items on the menu, as well as pierogies and fried perch.


https://www.flatironcafe.com/


Newer restaurants, such as Hofbrauhaus Cleveland in Playhouse Square and Das Schnitzel Haus in Parma, belong on any list of ethnic restaurants. When I was last at the Hofbrauhaus, about a year ago, the menu was much improved.


Thanks for the list. I've yet to visit many of the restaurants listed, most notably Marie's.


https://www.clevescene.com/food-drin...es-in-39399367

[kpl1228]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Thanks for the list. I've yet to visit many of the restaurants listed, most notably Marie's.


https://www.clevescene.com/food-drin...es-in-39399367

All my years spent in Cleveland and I've never done Marie's. I absolutely need to.