Your Go-To Culinary Guide Across Lake County
If you’re having trouble deciding where to eat in Lake County, Ohio, don’t worry—you’re not alone! With so many restaurants and wineries to choose from, it can be overwhelming! But we’re here to help! From that first sip of coffee, to that last bite of the night, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide of the best places to eat and drink in the area. Join Meghan Baker-Chapin @FoodinCleveland on a journey through some of Lake County’s most delicious bites.
Laurentia Winery
… But First Coffee
Looking to start your day the caffeinated way or for a midday pick-me-up? Lake County has a coffee shop for every occasion.
Arabica Coffee House
Established in 1996, Arabica Coffee House has been a Willoughby staple for over 25 years. Located in Historic Downtown Willoughby, this coffeehouse offers the perfect balance of relaxation and charm.
Arabica is known for its specialty coffee, which is roasted and blended from coffee beans from over 40 countries around the world. Stop in for a cup of coffee or one of their signature mochas, which pair perfectly with any of their fresh-baked treats. You'll find jumbo cookies, cakes, and muffins; their Cranberry Orange Muffin is a fan favorite!
In the heart of Downtown Willougby, Fiona's Coffee Bar & Bakery is serving handcrafted coffee, espresso, and tea beverages. Located in the former Willoughby Hardware building, Fiona's makes house-made bagels and mini donuts daily. Fiona's utilizes locally sourced products throughout their menu, like Rising Star Coffee and Hartlzer Dairy. This cozy coffee shop, equipped with a fireplace, is a great work-from-home alternative or spot to grab a quick sandwich for lunch, like their Meg Chix Salad or Turk Avocado BLMT.
If you're looking for coffee and cocktails, look no further than 1922 Coffee and Brew! Inside this Painesville coffee shop and lounge, find a prohibition-era motif, which is only fitting with the name "1922.” For coffee drinkers, you'll find a variety of hot and cold drinks, like their Carm Macchiato. If something on the boozy side is calling your name, 1922 offers beer on tap, wine, and cocktails – Espresso Martini, anyone? Make sure to come hungry, as they offer All-Day Breakfast, Sandwiches, and Sunday Brunch.
Julbean's Coffee and Crêpes
Fairport Harbor's Julbean's Coffee and Crêpes is serving up welcoming vibes, delicious crêpes, specialty coffee, and teas, like their Thai Tea. Julbean's made-to-order crêpes can be prepared with a variety of fillings, both savory and sweet. Craving something savory? Try the Figgy Piggy (prosciutto, fig jam, and goat cheese). If you're feeling sweet, treat yourself to the Queen Elizabeth (lemon curd, blueberries, and powdered sugar). If you have your dream crêpe creation in mind, you can always create your own!
Stop into CouchLand Coffee and enjoy your coffee on one of their many, comfortable couches. Located in Wickliffe, this ultra-relaxed coffee house, which uses Portland's Stumptown coffee, offers beverages like house-drip coffee, cold brew, and lattes. Their Honey Lavender Latte comes highly recommended. In a hurry? Order your coffee and pick it up in their drive-thru window.
Up And At ‘Em
Sweet or Savory? Scrambled or Fried? Lake County has a Breakfast destination for any craving!
Willoughby has several delectable diners to choose from. JT's Diner serves casual, affordable breakfast food classics. It is evident that JT’s prioritizes humor, as their motto is "Eat and Get Out!” To satisfy a sweet tooth, their Mixed Berry Stuffed Hotcakes are a great balance of fruity and creamy.
Donuts
Donuts are the perfect food, as they can be enjoyed properly any time of day: for breakfast with coffee, as an afternoon snack, or as a sweet treat to end the day. Lake County has its fair share of donut shops and bakeries, so consider this your sign to try them all!
Biagio's Donut Shop has been an Eastlake landmark for over 60 years. Their donuts are fried, filled, and glazed in-house daily; everything is made in-house fresh. Classic Biagio flavors include glazed and chocolate iced. For a more adventurous choice, try their Maple Pecan Apple Fritter. Pro-tip, Biagio's also offers pizza, so bring a slice home to enjoy with your donuts. Gartman Model Bakery, which is an old-world-style Painesville bakery established in 1898, makes donuts using high-quality ingredients and no preservatives. Try a Danish Kruller or Glazed Apple Cinnamon Donut. Tasty and crave-worthy donuts can also be found at Maggie's Doughnuts (Madison), T&T Bakery (Painesville), and Golden Crust Bakery (Mentor).
Gartman Model Bakery
The Spot on Lakeshore
Kleifeld's Restaurant is an old-fashioned diner that has been in Willoughby since 1928; you'll know you have arrived when you see the "Good Coffee ALWAYS" mural outside. For a modern choice, try their Philly Cheesesteak Omelet. Chagrin River Diner’s scratch kitchen offers breakfast favorites, most of which can be made vegetarian and/or gluten-free. This diner's Eggs Benedict, which is made with pork tenderloin, offers a twist on the classic.
Breakfast classics and unique, mouthwatering specialties can both be found at The Spot on Lakeshore in Mentor. Their English Breakfast (braised white beans, smoked sausage, red skin potatoes, goat cheese gravy, and toast) is a dish not typically seen in northeast Ohio, which makes this an automatic must-try! Concord's Sunny Street Cafe is known for its made-from-scratch breakfast fare that will brighten your day. When ordering Sunny Street's pancakes, waffles, or French toast, make sure to add local Chardon maple syrup! Classic breakfast favorites can also be found at Sidewalk Café (Painesville), Petie's Family Restaurant’s (Willowick), and Anthony's Family Restaurant (Eastlake).
Wild Burrito
Lunch Like a Local
Located near Mentor Headlands Beach, Scooter's World Famous Dawg House is known for its Dawgs (hot dogs). With more than 20 Dawg House Specialties, Scooter's has something for everyone's tastes. Also in Mentor, The Brew Kettle serves cold brews and BBQ. Having over 30 beers on tap, they have a beer to complement any meal. Order The Pitmaster (pulled pork, smoked chicken wings, and spicy beef sausage) for a well-rounded BBQ experience. Happy Moose is known as Mentor's favorite neighborhood sports bar; it's the go-to spot to watch sports, drink a beer, and eat some tasty American food! Stop in for a juicy burger, jumbo wings, or homemade Buffalo Chicken Dip.
In 1936 Silvestro's Depot Café opened its doors as an Italian restaurant and bar, serving railroad workers and travelers using the Painesville train station. Experience their Italian comfort with spaghetti with meatballs, veal parmigiana, or eggplant parmigiana. Italian favorites can also be found at Mama Roberto’s pizzeria in Mentor, such as Mama’s Tour of Italy (lasagna, linguine aglio y olio, and chicken or veal parmigiano). Mama Roberto’s, which is carryout only, boasts the title of the Original Cleveland-Style Pizza, too.
Hola Tacos in Willoughby is serving scratch-made Mexican cuisine alongside their in-house brewery, Pulpo Beer Company. This Brewpub makes divine Birria Tacos (braised beef, melted Chihuahua cheese, and crispy consome grilled tortillas). Fusion dishes featuring their popular Birria, like their Mexican Ramen and Birria Pizza, are also offered. Tasty Mexican dishes can also be found at Wild Burrito in Madison, offering lunch-sized portions of the restaurant's favorites.
Kirtland's rustic and charming Tavern Six offers elevated pub-style food. If warm and cozy is what you are craving, their Mac n Cheese will do the job! Take your Mac to the next level by adding Pulled Pork with Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce. Flagship-Craft Cocktails & Eatery has a passion for using the freshest ingredients to artfully craft their food and cocktails. Located in Madison, their cocktail (and mocktail) menu changes with the seasons.
In Downtown Willoughby, Sage Karma Kitchen is providing the community with a healthier dining option, focusing on using organic foods and fresh produce throughout. On Sage's menu, most items can be prepared to accommodate a vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free lifestyle.
Dinner
Dinner and Drinks
The Pompadour
Located minutes from the Fairport Harbor beach, The Pompadour offers small plates and hand-crafted cocktails. This cozy, vibey oasis is a great spot for an intimate night out with friends or date night. Their tapas are meant to be shared, so order a selection for the table! The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday and reservations are highly recommended.
If a martini is your drink of choice, Billy's - A Cappelli Martini Bar is your destination! This Mentor bar/restaurant has more than 40 martinis to choose from, including their Chocolate Covered Cherry and The Dirty Pickle.
Noosa Bistro, also in Mentor, is a fine-dining wine and martini bar. Creative, modern dishes deliver a memorable meal, such their Shrimp N Grits (jumbo shrimp, cheesy grits, crispy pulled BBQ pork, Cajun cream sauce, and sunny side up egg).
Visit Red, Wine, & Brew to eat, drink, and be social! This Mentor dining, drinking, and shopping establishment offers craft beers, fine wines, and a contemporary, scratch-made menu; look for pairing suggestions on their menu.
International Fare
Downtown Willoughby's Young's Sushi is a casual, neighborhood sushi restaurant serving sashimi, nigiri, and hand-rolled sushi. Dine at the counter bar to watch your sushi being prepared to order.
Thai 999 Express is dishing up authentic, aromatic, and artfully spiced traditional Thai cuisine in Mentor. Choose from Wok, Noodle, Curry, and Fried Rice Dishes.
Since the 1970s, Mario Fazio’s has been feeding the Willoughby Hills community comforting Italian dishes that make you feel at home! They offer homemade pizza and specialty pasta; their Sammy's Pasta with Sunday Sauce is outstanding. They have the option of family-style dining, and all entrees are served with a slice of Mario Fazio's Cassata Cake!
Pastina Rustic Italian
Pastina Rustic Italian in Mentor is known for its incredible, scratch-made Italian cuisine. Their pizzas are cooked in an artisan stone oven, and all of their pasta is made fresh in-house daily, such as their black truffle and ricotta filled ravioli.
El Palenque brings the flavors of Mexico to Eastlake with its authentic Mexican cuisine. Start your meal with their Tableside Guacamole and one of their famous Margaritas. El Palenque offers a variety of House Specialties, including their Los Margaritas Special (pork tamale, beef taco, chalupa, beef enchilada, and a chile relleno).
American Classics
Since 1994, Austin's Grill has been grilling high-quality meats over a wood fire. This Steakhouse is hand-cutting steaks and filleting fish in-house as well as baking fresh bread and desserts daily.
Located in Concord Township, Redhawk Grille offers both indoor and outdoor dining. Relax by the wood-burning fireplace with a cocktail or play a game of bocce or cornhole on their large, picturesque patio. Their menu showcases American dishes with global inspiration.
Stop by 528 Tavern for American fare a cold beer or cocktail when exploring Madison. This casual bar/restaurant offers American staples, like burgers, salads, and wings, all tossed in homemade sauces. Make sure to check out their specials that change every day of the week!
Brennan’s Fish House
Lakeside Dining
Brennan's Fish House has been serving Grand River its fresh seafood since 1973. This nautical-themed restaurant's specialties are fried walleye and yellow perch, which come right from Lake Erie. Brennan’s Fisherman's Platter has the supreme assortment (fried shrimp, scallops, Lake Erie yellow perch, whitefish, and a crab cake).
Pickle Bill's Lobster House is serving all-you-can-eat crab legs, shrimp, scallops, walleye, perch, and lobster year-round in Grand River. Visit during the warmer months and dine on Pickle Bill's carousel-style Floating Barge. No trip to Pickle Bill's is complete without an order of their Famous Deep-Fried Pickles!
Vincent William Wine is the Cleveland-area’s only boutique winery, hotel, and restaurant on the shores of Lake Erie. This Madison wine destination stems from Italian and Irish American Heritage, creating an intimate escape with picturesque views of the lake. Sip local wines in their tasting room, enjoy full-service dining in their restaurant, and experience the beauty of Lake Erie.
Something Sweet
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Lake County's finest ice cream, candies, chocolates, and baked treats.
Fairport Harbor Creamery
Just steps away from Fairport Harbor Marine Museum & Lighthouse, Fairport Harbor Creamery is making all its ice cream in-house. They offer their staple ice cream flavors as well as seasonal options; staple flavors include Strawberries & Cream, Mint Chocolate, and Cookies & Cream. If you can't decide which flavor to get, opt for their Sampler, which includes your choice of four ice cream flavors. For those 21+, Fairport Harbor Creamery's ice cream (and milkshakes) can be made boozy! (P.S. New putt-putt course coming soon right next door!)
Regardless of your preferred type of ice cream, Kirtland Creamery has something for everyone. With over 20+ hard scoop ice cream varieties, soft serve, milkshakes, and their signature Garbage Cans, the choices are endless. If you love S'mores, try the Campfire Garbage Can (vanilla soft serve, hot fudge, crushed graham cracker, and marshmallow creme). Enjoy your ice cream on their covered patio, and if you have a dog in your life, bring them and treat them to a Pup Cup!
Red Berry Candy, located in Madison, is home to over 2,000 unique candy options. The store is filled with classic, nostalgic candies as well as treats that you've never likely seen before. From chocolates to Saltwater Taffy to Jelly Belly to Bulk-Candies, you WILL feel like a kid in a candy store!
Heavenly Safe Chocolates is committed to making the BEST allergen-friendly chocolates available. This Madison chocolate shop makes chocolates that are free of the top 13 allergens, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO. Visit the shop for chocolate confectionaries, like chocolate bars, chocolate covered pretzels, and holiday / seasonal treats.
Looking for desserts that are vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free that taste incredible? The Sweets Geek is a scratch-made bakery in Willoughby creating desserts that meet the dietary needs and lifestyles of many without compromising their deliciousness. At The Sweets Geek, you will discover a variety of fresh-baked goods, such as cupcakes, cookies, individual bundt cakes, and cake rolls.
Are you interested in joining our culinary guide in Lake County, OH? Email elyse@tourlakecounty.com to learn more about how to partner with the Lake County Ohio Visitors Bureau.