So you've just moved to Cleveland—welcome! You've found yourself in one of the best cities on the planet, full of things to do, eat and see. But before you settle in, there are a few things you should know. 1) We prefer brown mustard to yellow. 2) We love craft beer. 3) We are a city full of sports fanatics.
That's right! Cleveland is definitely a sports city, home to the Browns, the Cavaliers and the Cleveland Indians, so don't be surprised if you start painting your face and collecting jerseys—it's expected when you live here.
It can be hard to eat out with a family—trust us, we know. And while it may seem tempting to head directly to the drive-thru or a fast-casual spot, you don't have to anymore! There are plenty of restaurants in Cleveland that now offer specially designed kids' menus, specials and fun atmospheres that make dining with the kids easier than ever.
To help make your dinner selection a bit easier, we rounded up some of our favorite restaurants in the Cleveland area that are 100% kid-approved. Happy eating!
20920 Brookpark Road, Cleveland
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This unique dining destination is located right across from the runways of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Your kids will be entertained—and well-fed—as they watch the planes take off and land at the airport. Plus, the adults should be pretty happy too! The food at 100th Bomb Group is just as good as the view, from decadent brunch staples like French toast to upscale dinner options like filet mignon.
When looking for a family-friendly spot to feed your little rascals, you can't go wrong with Bearden's. They offer juicy steakburgers (including one with peanut butter on it!) along with grilled cheese, fried clams, sandwiches and much more in their retro diner. So head over to Rocky River and get a blast from the past, or you can find their food truck roaming the streets of Cleveland with plenty of burger goodness in stock.

Visit Corner Alley downtown for a family outing you won't soon forget. Before you eat, you can entertain the kids with a round of bowling in the posh alley. With its delicious menu options, craft beer on tap and invigorating cocktails, the Corner Alley is anything but your typical bowling experience—it even made the Food Network's list of 15 Great Bars for Fun and Games.
2258 Professor Avenue, Cleveland | 3000 St. Clair Avenue NE, Cleveland
Not only does Crust have some of the best pizza in town, but they also happen to be a fantastic place to dine with the family. Their pizza dough is made every morning in-house, resulting in a perfect thick crust that your entire entourage will love. Plus the sheer magnitude of pizza toppings that they offer—from pepperoni to fried eggs—will please even the pickiest of eaters.
5801 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland

Photo courtesy of Happy Dog
Do you have a hotdog aficionado in your family? Then you definitely don't want to miss Happy Dog. This neighborhood corner bar is the epitome of the Cleveland experience, offering a hip and friendly atmosphere, live music, beer on tap and hot dogs (of course). Pick your dog, and then smother it with any combination of 50 topping choices—including some quirky ones like Froot Loops, Cheetos and chunky peanut butter.
Five Locations Around Cleveland
We couldn't create a list of kid-approved restaurants in Cleveland without including at least one fabulous ice cream spot! Honey Hut Ice Cream is a Cleveland staple, offering delicious ice cream in a multitude of flavors at their five different locations around the city. While you definitely can't go wrong with any choice at Honey Hut, we recommend their signature Honey Pecan flavor which will ruin all other butter pecan ice creams for you forever.
14600 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood

Photo courtesy of Forage Public House
While many restaurants dumb down the kids' menu, at Forage Public House, you won't find a chicken finger in sight. Instead, kids can order from a selection of Amish chicken wings, Great Lakes Grilled Cheese, New Creations Sirloin Steak and Roasted Scottish Salmon. The adult menu is even more exceptional, boasting options like poutine and mushroom fettuccine with seasonally foraged mushrooms.
Just because you're eating with the kids, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your sense of culinary adventure! This colorful Ohio City dining spot offers food that spans the globe, with a menu of wholesome and healthy food. They serve everything from Caribbean fried plantains, fried rice and Bangkok barbequed chicken to vegan and gluten-free options like nachos or fried tofu.
12301 Mayfield Road, Cleveland

Mamma Santa's has been cooking up delicious and authentic Sicilian dishes since 1961. Still settled in their original location, in a building that is over 100 years old, Mamma Santa's offers a variety of tantalizing options from pizza to handmade pastas. Because the restaurant is still family-owned, they have a family focus and work hard to ensure that every guest, regardless of age, is happy.
Located on the waterfront in Cleveland's Flats, Merwin Wharf is a casual eatery featuring some of the best views of the Cuyahoga River around. Your little ones will love to sit outside and take in the views of the boats and natural beauty that surrounds the restaurant. The large menu is almost as impressive as the view, offering homestyle eats like fish tacos and an enormous pretzel—perfect for sharing.
1086 West 11th Street, Cleveland

While this Flats lounge is considered a hotspot for adults at night, it is certainly a kid-friendly oasis during the day. The kids' menu features a plethora of delicious items like a banana almond butter sandwich, chicken tacos, mac n' cheese and flatbreads. Before or after you eat, explore all of the activities at Punch Bowl Social, such as putt-putt golf, bowling, arcade games and private karaoke!
1201 University Road, Cleveland
Cleveland's oldest family-owned restaurant was established in 1923, and since has drawn in a wide array of big names, including celebrities, presidents and musicians. Sokolowski's specializes in Polish and Eastern European cuisine, including Salisbury steak, chicken paprikash and pierogis. Here, you'll find hipsters and suburban families sitting side by side with tourists and steelworkers, all lured in by comforting dishes—just like you will be.
14510 Cedar Road, University Heights and seven other locations

Photo courtesy of Swenson's Drive-In
Swensons is actually known as basketball star LeBron James' favorite burger joint in town, and we're not surprised in the least. The old-school drive-in eatery serves a simple menu of burgers, fried dishes, sides and shakes, and although the venue doesn't take itself too seriously, the food is nothing to scoff at! So treat yourself and the family to an old-school dining experience and make sure to grab the Galley Boy, which is an award-winning and mouthwatering double cheeseburger topped with two special sauces.
1909 West 25th Street, Cleveland
Townhall believes that healthy does not mean perfect but that balance is the key to a happy and healthy life. They are committed to being completely GMO-free and serving mostly organic food to their customers. Their kids' menu is one of the best in town—tasty and fun enough to impress your little ones and healthy enough to make you feel good too! Choices include grilled chicken strips, Kobe burgers and cheese flatbread all served with a choice of fresh fruit or fries.
Tell us all about your favorite family-friendly dining spots in the comments!
When it comes to world records, Ohio is an old pro. Our incredible state is full of famous record holders—including many of the "World's Largest Things". We have everything from the world's largest cornfield to the biggest set of drumsticks, each with their own interesting story.
We rounded up some of our favorite unique "Biggest Things" in Ohio. Whether you're looking for quirky stops to put on your next road trip or want to learn more about our state's wacky side, you'll find something that'll pique your interest!
Click the city link accompanying each destination to see its location and photos taken by curious visitors.
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This Cleveland landmark, which was originally commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio (now Amoco), stands 28 feet tall and 48 feet long. The massive sculpture has the word "Free" written across the bottom to commemorate the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, which honors soldiers from the Civil War and freedom from slavery. Today, you can find it in Willard Park in Downtown Cleveland!
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The Field of Giant Cobs, or "Cornhenge", is located in Dublin, Ohio and features 109, people-sized ears of concrete corn in an eclectic art display. The installation was created as a salute to Sam Frantz, former Dublin farmer, who worked on developing hybrid corn seeds with Ohio State University from 1935 to 1963 on the very land where the large sculptures now reside.
You can find the world's largest washboard hanging on the side of the Columbus Washboard Company building in Logan. If you can, we recommend taking a tour of the factory, where you can watch them make washboards and other antique equipment. And that giant washboard isn't the only thing Logan is known for; they also host the annual Washboard Fest. At "Ohio's Most Unique Festival" clothes are hung out across the street in lieu of banners, you can listen to local artists perform, enjoy tasty treats from food vendors and participate in the parade!View this post on Instagram
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On the outskirts of Napoleon, at the side of the Campbell's Soup plant, you'll find an enormous soup can adorned with a traditional Campbell's label. There's a small gravel spot where you can pull over, take a photo and, according to visitors, actually enjoy the smell of soup wafting through the air!
Cleveland's Playhouse Square is the largest theater district in the country outside of New York City's Lincoln Center, hosting thousands of fantastic shows and performances each year. But the dazzling events aren't the only thing huge about this neighborhood—it also happens to be home to the world's largest outdoor chandelier. The already iconic fixture was installed in 2014 and holds over 4,200 acrylic crystals.View this post on Instagram
This massive hammer of justice is located in front of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus. The 30-foot long gavel was created by artist Andrew Scott in 2008 to honor the Ohio Supreme Court and is settled on top of a large reflecting pool.View this post on Instagram
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Trolls are all the rage right now and there's no better place to be a troll enthusiast than the Troll Hole Museum. This Alliance treasure boasts more than 20,000 troll items—including a Guinness World Record troll collection. Here, you can learn everything about trolls, from ancient mythology to the modern dolls in pop culture that we have grown to know and love.
The city of Newark is home to a lot of baskets thanks to Longaberger Basket Company, which unfortunately went out of business in 2018. The world's largest basket, a seven-story structure that was created to replicate Longaberger's popular Medium Market Basket, was used to house the company's headquarters. You can still drive by the iconic building along with several of its sisters—including the world's largest apple basket and the house-sized picnic basket in nearby Dresden.View this post on Instagram
Photo courtesy of Pins Mechanical Company
The world record for the largest ping pong paddle is held by Pins Mechanical Company in Columbus. The 12-foot long behemoth is located next to one of the ping pong tables in this eclectic arcade-bar. Along with ping pong, Pins Mechanical also offers plenty of pinball machines, duckpin bowling, outdoor Jenga, and, of course, a great selection of food and drinks.
Pin Mechanical isn't the only bar in Ohio to have its own world record—Proto Build Bar in Dayton lays claim to the world's largest claw machine. This unique establishment is part 3D printing lab, part electronic maker space and part café. You can play the massive claw machine, design your own model at one of the many 3D printers around the space, or just sit with a cup of warm espresso while you watch others create!View this post on Instagram
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The largest geode in the world is a cave located in Put-in-Bay, 40 feet underneath Heineman's Winery. The winery discovered the cave, aptly named "Crystal Cave", when workers were attempting to dig a well on their property in 1897. Thanks to the cave, which is full of massive crystals that reach up to 18 inches long, the family-run winery was saved from demise during Prohibition. You can visit it today to see the incredible crystals (and to do some wine tasting) seven days a week, May through September.
The world's largest loaf of bread is located in Urbana. While it's not edible, it's still definitely worth a trip. The structure was constructed out of fiberglass and steel and can be found near the loading dock of the Bundy Baking Museum and Factory. The age and origin of the loaf are unknown and because it's pretty hard to find, it has become something of an urban (or should we say Urbana?) legend to locals.View this post on Instagram
Unbeknownst to many, David Grohl, the former drummer for Nirvana and the frontman for the Foo Fighters, was born in Warren, Ohio. While he isn't a lifelong resident, he did call the small town home for a while when he was a child. Former local police officer, Joe O'Grady wanted to encourage the young people in the community of Warren with the success story of David Grohl. He accomplished this by cleaning up a decrepit alley and giving local artists a place to showcase their work. The area became known as "David Grohl Alley" and features sculptures and murals dedicated to Grohl created by local artists—including the world's largest drumsticks, each of which weighs close to 900 pounds.View this post on Instagram
It's no secret that we adore Ohio's Amish country. There are so many delicious farm-to-table restaurants, hospitable inns and interesting things to see—including the world's largest horse and buggy! This quirky art installment is made completely out of 2x4s and is a total of 32 feet long and 14 feet tall. The sculpture is located in front of an Amish-style bulk grocery store, Beyond Measure Market.View this post on Instagram
We can't think of a better place for a massive pumpkin water tower than in Circleville, a city famous for its annual pumpkin festival. The Circleville Pumpkin Show is always completely free to attend and features a giant pumpkin weigh-in, a pumpkin pie auction, several parades, a Little Miss Pumpkin Show, fantastic live music, delicious fair food and so much more.View this post on Instagram
Photo courtesy of the Blue Tip Festival
The world's largest matchstick is erected one week a year, with a flaming torch head, as part of Wadsworth, Ohio's annual Blue Tip Festival. The festival was created to celebrate the town's former top employer: the Ohio Match Company. The company helped move Wadsworth from a coal mining town to an industrial community, opening up a factory in the area to make their famous "Ohio Blue Tip" strike-anywhere matches. While the corporation closed in the 1980s, the festival lives on, with the 17-foot-tall match being ceremoniously lit during the annual Blue Tip Parade.
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Cleveland has always had a thriving literary community. Not only have we been home to thousands of renowned writers, poets and even comic book illustrators, but our locals love to promote the benefits of reading through incredible bookstores, little free libraries and free bookish events. And if you're an inspiring author, Cleveland offers tons of helpful resources for publication and promotion as well.
To help us pay homage to our flourishing literary community, and to highlight some of our favorite book destinations, we rounded up some of our favorite bookstor...