16 Cleveland-area restaurants, dishes, drinks tied to NFL cities
CLEVELAND, Ohio – With the NFL Draft being held this week in Cleveland, we thought we would have a little fun and pair local restaurants, dishes or drinks associated with NFL cities. For fans in from out of town, this week’s dining guide serves up some tasty connections. Bon appetit!

Antonio’s
Antonio’s Pizza
Dish: Deep-dish pizza
NFL team: Chicago Bears
The Windy City’s flagship ‘za is deep dish – one of six styles offered at Antonio’s.
Multiple locations

Bourbon Street Barrel Room Marc Bona, cleveland.com
Bourbon Street Barrel Room
Dish: Everything.
NFL team: New Orleans Saints
If the menu doesn’t get you (SW Louisiana Cajun jumbalaya, Who Dat cheese bites) the Mardi Gras ambiance will.
2393 Professor St., Cleveland

The Brew KettleMarc Bona, cleveland.com
The Brew Kettle
Dish: Wisconsin Bratburger
NFL team: Green Bay Packers
Brats and Green Bay are synonymous, and The Brew Kettle at Progressive Field has the heavy-as-a-baseball butterflied brat on a hearty bun. If you want a more traditional German Bratwurst, the BK’s entrée is infused with Big Woody lager and a beef Hot Link, smoked to perfection.
Locations in Strongsville, Amherst, Hudson and Mentor.
Saucy Brew WorksMarc Bona, cleveland.com
Coffee!
Drink: Coffee!
NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
So many locally based places offer great coffee – Rising Star, Duck Rabbit, Phoenix and others. Saucy Brew Works’ Pinecrest taproom and coffeehouse in Orange Village offers fresh-made java in the morning.
Multiple locations

Dave’s Cosmic Subs
Dave’s Cosmic Subs
Dish: Sub sandwiches
NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles
They say ‘hoagie’ in Philly, we say ‘subs’ here. The locally based restaurant serves up several two-hands-required options, including the Big Dave – pepperoni, salami, prosciutto, capicola, ham, Dave’s Cosmic Sauce, romaine lettuce, extra tomatoes and onion, provolone cheese, banana and hot peppers, all topped with a pickle. Eat one of these and you’ll be napping through a few rounds of the Draft.
Multiple locations

Diamond Grille
Diamond Grille
Dish: Boston Strip.
NFL team: New England Patriots
The classic steakhouse offers the well-marbled Boston Strips – as well as an extra-cut version. Boston Strip is “a cross-cut from the bottom sirloin flap,” South Shore Meats says. And we bet you thought we’d go with traditional New England clam chowder. …
77 W. Market St., Akron
Dina’s Pizza & Pub
Dish: Buffalo wings.
NFL team: Buffalo Bills
Dina’s ranked favorably in a previous cleveland.com best-of wings contest winner. Several sauces are offered, including Buffalo-style.
5701 Memphis Ave., Cleveland

Don’s Lighthouse Grille David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Don’s Lighthouse Grille
Dish: Maryland crab cake
NFL team: Baltimore Ravens.
Don’s Lighthouse Grille serves Maryland crab cake – Jumbo lump, roasted corn relish, remoulade and chipotle honey.
8905 Lake Ave., Cleveland

Mabel’s BBQMarc Bona, cleveland.com
Mabel’s BBQ
Drink: Boulevard Brewing Co. of Kansas City
NFL team: Kansas City Chiefs
Michael Symon’s restaurant on E. 4th Street has Boulevard Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Quad, an American Wild Ale weighing in at 11.8% alcohol, and Boulevard’s Restless Nights, a collaboration with Modern Times. The Bourbon-barrel-aged Coffee Porter is 7.5% alcohol. And while Kansas City-style barbecue is tasty, this place is all about Cleveland’s own spin.
2050 E. 4th St., Cleveland
Melt Bar and GrilledMarc Bona, cleveland.com
Melt Bar and Grilled
Dish: Any sandwich on the menu.
NFL team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Hey Steeler fans, you like sandwiches from Primanti’s? You probably should try Melt and its massive gourmet grilled-cheese (and other) offerings. We are as sure you will love it as we are confident about the Cleveland Browns edge rushers being able to sack Big Ben this year.
Multiple locations

Oak & Embers Marc Bona, cleveland.com
Oak and Embers Tavern
Dish: Carolina sauce for barbecue.
NFL team: Carolina Panthers
The place is all about barbecue, Bourbon and beer (and a few other tasty bites). You have to like a place that offers four sauces – including the tangy, vinegar-based Carolina sauce.
Locations in Chesterland, Hudson, Pinecrest in Orange Village
Sauce the City Cleveland
Sauce the City Cleveland
Dish: Cleveland Hot Chicken
NFL team: Tennessee Titans
Move over Nashville Hot Chicken, Vic Searcy offers his own spin with hot sauce, slaw and herbs from all over.
1400 W. 25th St., Cleveland
Shula’s 2 Steak and Sports
Dish: The restaurant.
NFL team: Miami Dolphins
How appropriate: Longtime Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula hailed from Grand River, attended school in Painesville and went to John Carroll University. And – as head coach of the Baltimore Colts – lost in the 1964 championship in Cleveland.
6200 Quarry Lane, Independence
Skyline Chili
Dish: Cincinnati Chili
NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
What’s not to love about a platter full of pasta covered by chili covered by shredded cheese?
Lyndhurst, Stow, Mansfield

The Stone Oven Bakery and CafeThe Plain Dealer
The Stone Oven Bakery & Café
Dish: Sourdough bread.
NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
The folks at Stone Oven have their own starter they pride themselves in for this delicious bread.
2267 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights; 28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere.

Velvet Tango RoomThe Plain Dealer
Velvet Tango Room
Drink: Manhattans
NFL team: New York Giants / New York Jets
The high-end cocktail bar, which takes pride in its meticulous crafting of drinks, offers a trio of Manhattans – Perfect, Tango and Classic (barrel-aged).
2095 Columbus Road, Cleveland
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I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.
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