THE RACCOON DIARIES JUNE 4 > CLEVELAND'S WEEKLY FOODIE NEWSLETTER
Each week, savor handpicked food gems from five buzzing cities, served with a side of cheeky humor and vibrant stories that make your taste buds dance.
Jamie the Raccoon
6/4/20267 min read
WHAZZZUPPPP Foodies!!!
It's Jamie the Raccoon, back in the alley with a fresh batch of Land food news for you! Summer is officially rolling, the patios are full, the markets are open, and there's a TON happening this week — a brand-new farmers market launching, a beloved brewpub finally back open, James Beard buzz building, and some big restaurant news from the last few days. Bib on, claws out, let's dig in ,deals first, always!
DEALS AND STEALS — BEST GRABS IN CLEVELAND
STEAK Tremont — The Best Fixed Price Deal in the City
Still unbeatable. STEAK at 2179 W. 11th Street in Tremont serves a $30 prix fixe: an 8-oz Certified Angus Beef Coulotte steak, salad, house-made rolls, and hand-cut fries. Vegan option is a $30 cauliflower steak prix fixe. Open daily from 4 p.m. A second location, STEAK Chagrin Falls, is coming this year in the former Burntwood Tavern space on Washington Street. Call 216-331-2724 or book at steakcle.com. Always confirm hours before you go.
Great Lakes Brewing Company — Happy Hour Every Weekday, Bar Only
The OG Ohio City brewery at 2516 Market Ave runs happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the bar. On Guardians home game days, GLBC runs gameday specials and a free shuttle from the brewpub to the ballpark with any purchase. The Guardians are home this week hosting a series, so it's a great week to take advantage. Follow @glbcbrewpub on Instagram for current weekly specials. 216-771-4404.
Barrio — Tacos and Margs, Happy Hour Across Multiple Locations
Barrio runs happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at all seating in Tremont, Downtown, Cleveland Heights, and Willoughby, with $2 off tacos and $2 off margaritas. Deals may not apply on game and event days at some locations, so call ahead. One of the best build-your-own-taco happy hour values in the city.
Downtown Food Truck Series — 70+ Trucks, Free Live Music, Weekday Lunches
Running every weekday through September 30, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with more than 70 local food trucks rotating through five downtown locations and live music daily. Here's the schedule from Downtown Cleveland Inc.:
Monday — Fort Huntington Park, W. 3rd and Lakeside Ave Tuesday — Public Square, Ontario and Rockwell Wednesday — Ralph J. Perk Plaza, E. 12th and Chester Thursday — One Cleveland Center Plaza, E. 9th and St. Clair Friday — Willard Park, E. 9th and Lakeside
Standout trucks include Hatfield's Goode Grub, Squash the Beef, and Thai It Up. Mission-driven trucks in the rotation: Metro45 Café (a Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry job-training social enterprise) and Executive Grille on the Go (staffed by CMSD Culinary Arts students). Bring cash.
North Union Farmers Markets running this week:
Shaker Square — Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, through December 19; Crocker Park, Westlake — Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through December 19; Cleveland Clinic Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. University Hospitals — Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., through October 15 City of Lakewood — Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (now open) Chagrin Falls — Sundays, 9 a.m. to noon (opened June 7, so Sunday, June 7 is the first weekend!) Legacy Village — Sundays, 9 a.m. to noon, starts June 14. Van Aken District, Shaker Heights — Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m., starts June 11
EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
Public Square Farmers Market — LAUNCHES THURSDAY, JUNE 11
The big one this week. Downtown Cleveland's brand-new weekly Public Square Farmers Market kicks off Thursday June 11, running every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. through August 27. Fresh seasonal produce, handmade goods, a pop-up bar, and live music, right on Public Square. Free to attend. Bring your tote bags. downtowncleveland.com.
Little Italy Summer Art Walk — June 5, 6, and 7
Cleveland's iconic Little Italy neighborhood hosts its Summer Art Walk this weekend, June 5 through 7 — three days of art, culture, and community. And while you're there, you're surrounded by some of the best Italian food in the city. Make a night of it. Free to walk around.
Pride in the CLE — Saturday June 6
Cleveland's Pride celebration takes over downtown on Saturday June 6 with the parade, festival, food vendors, and a whole lot of energy. A great day to be downtown, eat from local vendors, and celebrate. Check the Pride in the CLE socials for the route and schedule.
Lakewood Taco and Tequila Bar Crawl — Saturday June 6
The 2nd Annual Lakewood Taco and Tequila Bar Crawl rolls through Lakewood on Saturday June 6 — tacos, margs, tequila, and more across multiple Lakewood spots. Tickets on Eventbrite. Perfect for the taco-obsessed (so, everyone).
Sazón Latin Food Festival — Cleveland's Taste of Latin American Food
The Sazón Latin Food Festival is on the Cleveland events calendar this season celebrating Latin American cuisine across the city. Check Eventbrite Cleveland for the exact date, location, and tickets.
A Night at Cheese School — June 2026
The cheese education event returns this month. Learn to taste and pair like a pro. Check Eventbrite Cleveland for the date and tickets. Jamie remains, as always, a cheese professional.
NEW OPENINGS — FRESH
SPOTS AND WHAT'S COMING
Rocky River Brewing Co. — REOPENING EARLY JUNE
The big comeback is here. The beloved brewpub at 21290 Center Ridge Road in Rocky River — closed for nearly a year after a devastating fire in June 2025 that caused around $3 million in damage — is reopening in early June 2026. Owner Gary Cintron used the closure to rebuild and improve nearly everything, and brought on brewer Vaughn Stewart, who ran Bookhouse Brewing in Ohio City for seven years before it closed. Rocky River Brewing has been open since 1998 and is the last surviving brewpub from Cleveland's original late-90s craft beer era. Follow @rockyriverbrewco on Instagram for the exact reopening date. 440-895-2739.
Erie + Vine with Tony's Burger Shop — Opening Early June in Willoughby
Chef Anthony Zappola is opening the second location of his popular Tony's Burger Shop inside Erie + Vine, a new bar at 4027 Erie St. in Willoughby, on pace to open the first week of June. It's replacing the short-lived Dukes n' Boots. The original Tony's Burger Shop opened this past winter at Van Aken District. Zappola handles the food, his partners run the bar. Follow Tony's Burger Shop on Instagram for the opening confirmation.
Falafel Café — Next Generation Takes Over, Revamp Coming This Summer
Some lovely news from this week. Falafel Café, the Lebanese restaurant with nearly 30 years of history, is being taken over by Sirjoon Elassal, the next generation of the family, after his mother decided to step back. Elassal has signed a new lease and a menu and design revamp is slated for this summer. He told Scene: "I've been in the industry my whole life. I'm pretty equipped to take this restaurant over. And not in the way of just taking it over." A great example of a family business surviving into the next generation.
ROSY — Open and Still the Hottest Ticket in Town
Chef Vinnie Cimino and partner Andrew Watts opened ROSY at 2912 Church Ave. in Ohio City's Hingetown on February 26, 2026. The 50-seat live-fire bistro sources at least 80 percent of ingredients from within 200 miles, writes the day's dishes in chalk above the open kitchen, and offers a communal prix-fixe starting with flatbread and seven dips. ROSY is walk-in friendly, with a few reservations released monthly on OpenTable. Follow @rosy.restaurant on Instagram.
FrankieLynn Hotdogs — Old Brooklyn Brick-and-Mortar on the Way
Owner Rachel Ventura is moving the beloved FrankieLynn hot dog cart into a permanent home at 2023 Broadview Road in Old Brooklyn, targeting an opening before the end of 2026. The dogs come from J & J Czuchraj Meats with Cleveland Ketchup, Pop Mustards, and The Home Pantry hot pepper jam, with bread from Leavened Bakery. Follow @frankielynncle on Instagram.
ON JAMIE'S RADAR — COMING SOON
James Beard Awards — Monday, June 15 in Chicago
The Cleveland storyline of the summer. Chef Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia and ROSY is a finalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes (covering Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois). The ceremony is on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Cleveland's last Beard Chef winner was Jonathon Sawyer in 2015. Worth noting — two Cincinnati chefs (Sarah Dworak of Sudova and Jeffery Harris of Nolia Kitchen) are also finalists in the same category, so it's a big Ohio showdown. Raise a glass at Cordelia or ROSY on the 15th.
EVOO — Modern Greek Coming to Legacy Village
EVOO, a modern Greek-Mediterranean concept from Cleveland Restaurant Management Group's Brad Friedlander and Michael DuBois, is coming to Legacy Village in 2026, alongside a second concept called The Legacy. Watch for updates.
STEAK Chagrin Falls — Second Location in the Works
Hangry Brands' second STEAK location is coming to the former Burntwood Tavern space in Chagrin Falls, following a full building transformation, with a targeted opening in 2026.
That's a wrap from Jamie the Raccoon!
That's a wrap from Jamie the Raccoon! It's a huge week in The Land, go shop the markets, hit a patio, welcome Rocky River Brewing back, and get downtown for the new Public Square market launch Thursday. Support your locals, tip your servers, and eat something great this week. Cleveland forever. 🧡
Got a tip? A deal? A new opening? A chef on the move? Send it to the alley. Jamie finds everything.
Disclaimer: All information in this newsletter, including deals, hours, opening dates, prices, and event details, is sourced from publicly available information, official restaurant websites, social media accounts, and direct announcements at the time of publication. The Raccoon Diaries does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party information and strongly recommends calling ahead or checking official restaurant and event social media before visiting. The Raccoon Diaries is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any restaurant, business, or venue mentioned in this newsletter. Deals, happy hour times, and specials are subject to change without notice. The Raccoon Diaries accepts no liability for any inaccuracies, changes, or disappointments. All rights reserved. The Raccoon Diaries 2026.
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