THE RACCOON DIARIES JUNE 11 > 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
6/11/20267 min read
WHAZZZUPPPP Foodies!!!
It's Jamie the Raccoon, scribbling in the Diaries from a shady spot behind a West Side patio because it is officially patio season in The Land! This is a STACKED week, a punk-rock restaurant opening from a Cleveland legend, the James Beard Awards finally happening Monday, a BBQ and hot sauce festival, a wine fest, a strawberry fest, and the new Public Square market in full swing. Bib on, pen out, let's write it down, deals first, always!
DEALS AND STEALS — BEST GRABS IN CLEVELAND
Mabel's BBQ — Downtown Smoke on East 4th
Let's talk Cleveland-style barbecue while the BBQ festival is in town this week. Michael Symon's Mabel's BBQ at 2050 East 4th Street downtown is the closest thing there is to a true "Cleveland barbecue" — kielbasa sausage instead of the usual hot link, a coriander-and-spice rub on the ribs that's distinct from Memphis or Kansas City, and plenty of local ingredients. A great anchor for a downtown food night this week. Always check hours before you go.
The Proper Pig Smokehouse — Lakewood's BBQ Star
Staying on the barbecue theme: The Proper Pig Smokehouse in Lakewood is consistently named one of the best barbecue spots in all of Greater Cleveland. Brisket, ribs, smoked everything. West Side BBQ done right. A perfect stop the same week as the hot sauce fest if you'd rather sit down than stand in a festival line.
Great Lakes Brewing Company — Half-Off Wine Wednesday
A different GLBC deal than last week: every Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m. the Ohio City brewery at 2516 Market Ave does half off bottles of wine. They also run their regular weekday bar happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. With the Guardians in the mix this summer, watch for gameday specials and the free ballpark shuttle on home game days. 216-771-4404.
Cleveland FoodieCards — $15 for $500+ in Dining Value
A deal worth repeating because it's that good. The Cleveland-area FoodieCards are available at 50% off — $15 instead of $30 — with a $10-off voucher at each participating restaurant, adding up to more than $500 in total dining value. A low-cost way to try a bunch of new spots all summer. Search "FoodieCards Cleveland" to grab one.
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., 70-plus local food trucks across five downtown locations with live music daily. 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
Bring cash.
North Union Farmers Markets running this week:
Shaker Square, Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon; Crocker Park, Westlake, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Cleveland Clinic , Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. University Hospitals, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. City of Lakewood — Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Madison Park, 13029 Madison Avenue (free parking in the two park lots) Chagrin Falls — Sundays, 9 a.m. to noon Van Aken District, Shaker Heights, Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m. Legacy Village — Sundays, 9 a.m. to noon, starting June 14 (this Sunday is the first one!)
EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
Everybody's Favorite Barbecue and Hot Sauce Festival — June 12 to 14
The food event of the week. The barbecue and hot sauce festival lands in Cleveland June 12 through 14 with pitmasters, hot sauce vendors, fiery competitions, and live music. If you like your weekend smoky and spicy, this is your spot. Jamie has stocked up on milk in advance (raccoon does not handle ghost pepper well, lesson learned). Check the festival's socials for the location and hours.
Public Square Farmers Market, Every Thursday, 4 to 7 p.m.
Now in full swing after last week's launch. Downtown Cleveland's weekly Public Square Farmers Market runs every Thursday through August 27, 4 to 7 p.m., with seasonal produce, handmade goods, a pop-up bar, and live music. Free. downtowncleveland.com.
Taste of River, Saturday June 13 in Rocky River
A West Side favorite. Taste of River brings together Rocky River's best restaurants for a day of sampling, music, and community on June 13. A great low-key way to graze your way through a bunch of local spots in one afternoon.
Uncorked Wine Festival, Saturday June 13
Cleveland's Uncorked Wine Festival pours on June 13 — wine sampling, food, and music. Check the event's socials and ticket pages for the location and time. Pair it with Parade the Circle the same day in University Circle for a full Saturday out.
The Hooley, Saturday June 13
The Hooley Irish festival hits Cleveland on June 13 with food from the pubs and eateries along the street, two entertainment stages, Irish dancers, pipes and drums, and family fun. Admission is free.
Larchmere PorchFest, Saturday June 13
The free, family-friendly Larchmere PorchFest features local musicians across a wide range of genres on porches throughout the neighborhood, plus food and activities for kids. A lovely way to eat, stroll, and listen on a summer Saturday. Free.
A Night at Cheese School, June 2026
The cheese education event is on the calendar this month. Tasting, pairing, and cheese nerdery in a guided setting. Check Eventbrite Cleveland for the date and tickets. Jamie remains a tenured professor of cheese.
NEW OPENINGS — FRESH
SPOTS AND WHAT'S COMING
Proof Public House, OPENING MONDAY JUNE 15 in Ohio City
The big one. Melt founder Matt Fish makes his long-awaited return to the restaurant world, opening Proof Public House at 4116 Lorain Ave. in Ohio City on Monday June 15. Fish describes it as "a punk-rock bar with really good food" — a roughly 50-seat neighborhood spot in the former Proof BBQ space, open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with an all-day menu that changes seasonally, weekly, sometimes daily. At the heart of it is an inherited wood-fueled Southern Pride smoker turning out wings, pork butts, and even smoked tofu. Expect half-pound pub burgers on challah buns, a crispy fried chicken sandwich with slaw and roasted garlic aioli, a shaved ribeye cheesesteak, and a ma po tofu burger with spicy eggplant. For Melt fans, the Parmageddon is out of retirement — complete with pierogi, braised cabbage, and sharp cheddar — and the legendary Melt tattoo discount still applies for the 1,000-plus folks who have one. The walls are covered with glowing murals by tattoo artist Sean Jason Kelly, vintage Cleveland concert flyers, and the original Jake Kelly cartoon murals from the old Melt locations. 216-644-4292.
Rocky River Brewing Co. Back Open After the Fire
The West Side institution at 21290 Center Ridge Road in Rocky River has reopened following nearly a year of closure after last summer's fire. Owner Gary Cintron rebuilt nearly everything and brought on brewer Vaughn Stewart (formerly of Bookhouse Brewing). Open since 1998 and the last surviving brewpub from Cleveland's late-90s craft beer era. If you haven't been back yet, this is the week. 440-895-2739.
New Ohio City Farm Store, Now Open
A new farm store opened in Ohio City as of June 5, bringing fresh local goods to the neighborhood. A nice quick stop for produce and provisions if you're already in the area hitting West Side Market or the new Proof. Check Cleveland Scene's June 5 writeup for specifics.
ROSY, Still the Hottest Table in Town
Vinnie Cimino and Andrew Watts' 50-seat live-fire bistro at 2912 Church Ave. in Ohio City's Hingetown remains a must. At least 80 percent of ingredients sourced within 200 miles, the day's dishes chalked above the open kitchen, a communal prix-fixe starting with flatbread and seven dips. Walk-in friendly, with a few reservations released monthly on OpenTable. Extra reason to go this week — see the James Beard news below. Follow @rosy.restaurant on Instagram.
ON JAMIE'S RADAR — COMING SOON
James Beard Awards, MONDAY JUNE 15 in Chicago
The night Cleveland has been waiting for. Chef Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia and ROSY is a finalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois). The ceremony is Monday June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Cleveland's last Beard Chef winner was Jonathon Sawyer back in 2015 — so this would be a big deal. Two Cincinnati chefs (Sarah Dworak of Sudova and Jeffery Harris of Nolia Kitchen) are also finalists in the same category, so it's a true Ohio showdown. Raise a glass at Cordelia or ROSY on Monday to cheer Vinnie on.
Sundaybird, Fast-Casual Rotisserie Chicken Coming to Lakewood
The Frazees' next project, Sundaybird, is a fast-casual rotisserie chicken concept slated for late summer in Lakewood, built with chef Andrew Gorski of Edacious. Dine-in and carryout, with a few beers on tap, draft cocktails, and other drinks. Tim Frazee fell for the fast-casual rotisserie concept while living in Florida a decade ago. One to watch.
EVOO, Modern Greek at Legacy Village
EVOO, a modern Greek-Mediterranean concept from Cleveland Restaurant Management Group's Brad Friedlander and Michael DuBois, is on the way at 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, targeted for sometime in 2026. The original STEAK in Tremont still runs its $30 prix fixe (8-oz Coulotte, salad, rolls, hand-cut fries) daily from 4 p.m. if you want the deal now.
That's a wrap from Jamie the Raccoon!
That's a wrap from Jamie the Raccoon! Huge week, Land — go welcome Proof to Ohio City Monday, get smoky at the BBQ and hot sauce fest, graze the Taste of River, hit the new Legacy Village market Sunday, and raise a glass for Vinnie on the 15th. Support your locals, tip your servers, and write your own delicious chapter this week. 🧡
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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