Nightlife in Cleveland Heights

The Mad Greek earned a finalist spot on CityVoter's 2011 Best of Fox8 Cleveland list for its Greek cuisine, but that’s only half the story. Executive chef Jesse Loury splits the menu between classic Greek and Indian dishes, whipping up a half-dozen fragrant coconut-and-tomato Indian curries alongside broiled chicken with tomato and feta and seafood simmered in bouillabaisse.

The environs prove as sprawling as the menu, welcoming diners into a dining room reminiscent of a Mediterranean greenhouse with its ample sunlight, potted ferns, and sky-high ceilings. Throughout the space, private enclaves prove ideal for romantic dinners with invisible significant others.

Few bars can boast a brunch menu as notable as their pours. But Around the Corner’s hot coconut cakes nabbed it a spot on _Cleveland Magazine_’s 30 Best Breakfast Dishes in 2012. Inspired by head chef Sonny Zarlis’s Indonesian upbringing, the light, crispy pancakes include coconut milk, a touch of Coco Lopez, and grated coconut on top—his mother’s recipe. But when morning fades to night and the sun becomes a mere puddle of butter in the sky, the eatery fills the brunch-shaped hole in customers’ bellies with a dinner menu of burgers, wings, and fajitas. Accompanied by local and craft beers, meals unfold amid live music and TV screens.

At Barley House, friends mingle over tasty libations while supping on juicy burgers, tender cuts of chicken, and satisfying soups and sandwiches. The ample bar spans an impressive 14,000 square feet—enough space to fit disc-spinning DJs to mix beats Friday and Saturday nights, a dance stage, and 4,617 bonsai trees. The kitchen proffers a smorgasbord of sliders, hoagies, pizzas, and wraps to hungry visitors refueling after jamming out to the seasonal live bands or those watching the bar’s numerous flat-screen TVs.

At Gillespie's Map Room, a glistening row of taps pours forth mouthwatering glassfuls of tasty suds while ovens roast cheesy discuses of thin-crust pizza to crispy perfection. Nestled in the Warehouse District, a stone's throw away from Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field, Gillespie's Map Room relishes in its location at the heart of Cleveland's bustling nightlife neighborhood, as well as the adrenaline gland of the city's boisterous sports center. A no-frills row-house façade decked in humming neon shamrocks and wood-lined glass panels exudes a heartwarming turn-of-the-century charm. Inside, an interior of rough brick walls, live acoustic music, and a roaring fireplace frames relaxing post-shift beers and hearty meals of chili-topped hot dogs or pollock-fillet fish 'n' chips with welcoming hominess.

When Herb and Bobbie Brugh opened Herb's Tavern in 1963, they couldn't have foreseen what an institution it would become. Over the course of the last half-century, the tavern has stayed true to its signature dish, the Herb burger, in which a 1/3-pound patty oozes with mushrooms and grilled onions as well as dozens of other topping options. The friendly, inviting ambiance hasn’t changed much either. The building, constructed in 1936, still maintains the same vintage feel it did in the ‘60s due to the bricks' regular use of anti-aging cream, and the restaurant still maintains a family-welcoming atmosphere. The menu’s hearty appetizers and entrees range from hot sandwiches to seafood dinners of perch and walleye, which can be enjoyed on the outdoor patio on warm days.

Upstairs from the bustling hair studio and spa, The Wine Bar at Solaire offers a quiet respite amid lush curtains and soft lighting. Beneath the undulating panels of the ceiling at the center of the dining room, bistro-inspired plates fill the air with the aromas of pan-seared scallops and fresh pasta.