The latest collaboration from Northeast Ohio’s favorite drive-in brings another Cleveland favorite onto Swensons menu for the month of August.

Guardian Cold Brew is the latest business to partner up with the iconic Akron-born burger joint for monthly specials.

The limited-edition drinks include the Cold Brew Shake (Guardian Cold Brew, caramel, soft serve, whipped cream) and the Cold Brew Whip (Guardian Cold Brew, root beer, soft serve).

Previous iterations have included Cordelia, Larder, Black Cap Hot Sauce and Akron Honey.

“We really enjoy the opportunity to celebrate what’s around us and things that are special to our state and our regions – our unique flavors, unique personalities,” Charles Craig, SVP of Culinary at Swensons, told us last year. “I don’t foresee us ever really stopping any of the limited time offerings, and we are always looking for great partners.”

Grab the Guardian Cold Brew drinks at any of Swensons’ 21 locations through August 31.

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The post Swensons Unveils Guardian Cold Brew Collab for August appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

In episode two of Back of the House with Cleveland Scene, dining editor Doug Trattner sits down with Jenice Contreras, founder of CentroVilla25.

Contreras talks about the long journey to opening the Hispanic food hall and business center in Clark-Fulton, the identity and branding of the neighborhood, all the delicious restaurants that call CentroVilla25 home, and future plans to bring even more activity to the space.

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The post Video: Jenice Contreras on Building CentroVilla25, the Identity and Branding of the Neighborhood, and Future Plans appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

When Jose Pagan heard that Papo Ruiz, the owner of Rincon Criollo, was looking to move on from the Puerto Rican mainstay’s original location on Detroit in Gordon Square, he jumped at the chance to grow his business.

Pagan has been operating El Kiosquito Boricua out of a stall at CentroVilla25, dishing up his own takes on Puerto Rican classics. He wasn’t exactly looking to expand quite yet, he admits. But the opportunity was too good to pass up and he was bolstered by the response from diners at the Hispanic food hall in Clark-Fulton.

“I’m blessed,” he says. “CentroVilla gave me a place to start my restaurant, something I dreamed of. Videos started going viral. It started blowing up little by little.”

The CentroVilla stall isn’t going anywhere but Pagan this month debuted El Kiosquito on Detroit, a full-service restaurant, after Rincon Criollo closed two months ago. (Rincon Criollo Take 2 is still open on Denison.)

Fans of Rincon will find some of the same Puerto Rican fare on the menu but Pagan says he tries to bring something a little different to the table, including chuletas fritas, a pan-fried pork chop. Pina coladas are also available thanks to a new liquor license.

“CentroVilla gave us a place where people found out about us,” he says. “There are a lot of us, small businesses with a dream.”

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Gia and James Patch haven’t sat still much since opening Gigi’s on Fairmount (3477 Fairmount Blvd.) 12 years ago.

After quickly building a devoted following, the pair expanded next door with Gigi’s After Dark in 2014 and five years later expanded again into a corner property with Gigi’s Blu, which added seating and a private event space.

This month, they debuted their newest addition in The James at Gigi’s.

The intimate lounge is a “quaint, kind of cozy little place,” with Great Gatsby vibes, James said.

Savory and seasonal cocktails are joined by amaros, spritzes, apertivos, a tidy wine list and nightcap elixirs. A small menu of snacks is also available.

The new real estate also provides some much-needed space for the kitchen crew.

This latest expansion brings the total number of indoor seats up to 120 – a far cry from the diminutive 45-seat wine bar that opened in 2013 — with 60 more seats outside on a sidewalk patio.

The James at Gigi’s is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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The post The James at Gigi’s Now Open in Cleveland Heights appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Operators Dhruv, Pratik and Viral Patel have expanded the Naf Naf chain with their newest opening in downtown Cleveland off Public Square.

Years after Taco Bell Cantina shuttered its doors, the fast-casual Middle Eastern grill opened this week.

Motivated by the center city market and the new Sherwin Williams HQ, the Patels set their sights on the shores of Lake Erie in addition to other regional markets.

Coming from the phrase that means “fan the flame,” Naf Naf sells stuffed pitas, rice bowls and hearty meat-and-rice trays in a Chipotle-style format. The restaurant blends “comfort-food familiarity with its authentic Middle Eastern roots,” its website reads.

Chef Sahar Sander opened up the first Naf Naf in Naperville, Illinois, in 2009. Since then, Naf Naf has gone on to open more than 40 stores in 13 states.

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The post Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill Now Open in Downtown Cleveland appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Plans for an Urban Meyer’s Pint House outpost in the former Winking Lizard space downtown are no more.

Brent Zimmerman, the founder of Saucy Brew Works, which purchased Urban Meyer’s Pint House in April 2024, made the announcement earlier this week, citing financial concerns.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision for our team,” he said in a statement. “From the very beginning, we believed in this project and the opportunity to become part of downtown Cleveland. We worked alongside an incredible group of partners and explored every avenue to bring this vision to life. In the end, we had to make the responsible business decision based on the project’s overall financial outlook. While we’re disappointed we won’t be opening our doors in Cleveland, we’re incredibly grateful for the support, collaboration, and encouragement we received throughout this journey. We sincerely appreciate everyone who believed in this project, and we remain optimistic about what the future holds.”

The original Urban Meyer’s Pint House opened in Columbus nine years ago.

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The post Urban Meyer’s Pint House No Longer Opening in Downtown Cleveland appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Downtown Cleveland’s continued struggles with retail and residential growth will take another blow this summer as Heinen’s announced it will close its downtown Cleveland location Friday, July 31.

The stunning grocery store — the only one in the city center — opened in 2015 in the former Cleveland Trust Building.

“We are proud to have been part of the downtown Cleveland community and grateful for the customers who chose to shop with us,” the company said in a statement. “The support and loyalty we received, along with the dedication of our associates, made this store truly special. While we wish the outcome had been different, we will always appreciate the relationships and memories created there.”

Heinen’s had already scaled back operations there in recent years, vacating the second floor rotunda in late 2024 to “reduce operating costs.”

It’s a seismic blow to those living and working downtown amid Mayor Justin Bibb’s 90-day action plan to activate and stabilize the area with a focus on retail, restaurants, and pedestrians.

“This was a difficult decision, and we appreciate the efforts of our associates and the support of our customers to make this store successful,” said Jeff Heinen in a statement. “We wish it would have been a more favorable outcome. Despite ongoing adjustments, the store did not reach the level of long-term sustainability needed to continue operating.”

Messages seeking further comment were not returned.

The post Heinen’s Closing Downtown Cleveland Location appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Everything is more expensive these days. Inflation continues apace. Groceries are skyrocketing. Filling up your gas tank takes a second mortgage.

Which is why the arrival of Cleveland Burger Week couldn’t come at a better time. Kick off summer with seven days of $10 burger deals at some of Northeast Ohio’s best restaurants from June 22 to June 28.

From traditional takes on the classic dish to gourmet chef blends, explore your hometown, try new places and save a few hard-earned bucks in the process.

Chart your delicious course at BurgerWeekCleveland.com or on the Cleveland Burger Week app. Check in at at least four participating locations for a chance to win $250 in local restaurant gift cards.

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The post Cleveland Burger Week Kicks Off Today appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

After tens of thousands of nominations, we’ve arrived at the finalists for Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2026.

Now it’s time to help choose the very best the city has to offer. From where to eat and drink to what to see, where to shop and who’s making Cleveland a better, brighter and more interesting place, your vote helps celebrate the people and places that make this city special.

Voting is now open through June 15, 2026. You can vote once per day until then.

So spread the love and lend your voice to the Best of Cleveland.

Vote here now.

The post Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2026 Finalist Voting Is Now Open appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Opened late last year by chef Kevin O’Connell in the space next to La Ville Lumière , Le Marché Clifton (10431 Clifton Blvd.) has permanently closed.

The Parisienne-themed cafe and market was a natural extension of the full-service restaurant next door, dishing up pastries, breakfast, sandwiches and an assortment of pantry and fresh items.

Sadly, the concept never reached full velocity.

“The idea was fun, fresh, and something we truly believed Cleveland needed. A place to slow down, gather, discover something new, and enjoy simple pleasures done well,” management announced on Monday. “Not every idea becomes a long-term success, but that doesn’t make it a failure.”

The space could evolve in the future. For now, it “will remain available for private events, celebrations, showers, corporate gatherings, and special occasions.”

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