THE RACCOON DIARIES JUNE 18 > 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
6/18/20266 min read
WHAZZZUPPPP Foodies!!!
It's Jamie the Raccoon, back in the Diaries and absolutely thriving in peak patio season! This week is all about Juneteenth celebrations, strawberry and rib festivals, a brand-new urban winery, fresh Lakewood openings, and one bittersweet bit of James Beard news from Monday night. Bib on, pen ready, let's write it down — deals first, always!
DEALS AND STEALS — BEST GRABS IN CLEVELAND
Melted Wings Winery: Brand-New Urban Winery with Wine Slushies
The Land's newest place to sip just opened in Old Brooklyn at 4861 Broadview Road. Melted Wings Winery makes its wines right here in Cleveland — sauvignon blanc, semi-dry riesling, chardonnay, sparkling rosé, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo, and merlot — and here's the fun part: the old-vine zinfandel goes into a slushy machine and comes out frozen. A Greek-American family operation where everything is done by hand, with both indoor and outdoor seating. A new, low-key spot to start your evening. Worth getting in early before everyone discovers the wine slushy.
CLE Urban Winery: Cleveland Heights Tasting Room
Staying on the wine train: CLE Urban Winery in the Cedar-Lee neighborhood of Cleveland Heights is a fun, casual working winery and tasting room that regularly runs tasting events and live music nights. A great patio-season hang on the east side. Check cleurbanwinery.com for this week's events and tasting flights.
Cleveland FoodieCards: $15 for $500+ in Dining Value
Repeating this one because it's still one of the best low-cost ways to try a bunch of new spots: the Cleveland-area FoodieCards run 50% off at $15 (normally $30), with a $10-off voucher at each participating restaurant — more than $500 in total value. Search "FoodieCards Cleveland."
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 70-plus local food trucks across five downtown locations and live music daily:
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
North Union Farmers Markets are running this week : now with Legacy Village fully in the mix:
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
EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
Juneteenth: Thursday June 19
A big week of celebration across Greater Cleveland marking Juneteenth. A few of the gatherings with food, music, and community:
Walter Stinson Community Park (2301 Fenwick Road): Friday June 19, 5 to 9 p.m. Free, family-friendly, with two stages of live music, dance, a talent show, vendors, artists, and food.
Dunham Tavern Museum & Gardens (6709 Euclid Ave.): Saturday June 20, noon to 4 p.m. A free event hosted by neighbors from Hough with live performances, vendors, and food. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Hale Farm & Village (Bath): A living-history Juneteenth celebration running June 17 through 20.
Black Music in Cleveland: Past, Present, and Future: June 18 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
University Heights and Elyria also host their own Juneteenth celebrations: June 19 and 20.
Kirtland Kiwanis Strawberry Festival: June 18 to 20
Strawberry season is here. The Kirtland Kiwanis Strawberry Festival runs June 18 through 20: strawberry shortcake, rides, food, and family fun just east of the city.
Strongsville City Club Rib Burnoff: June. 18 to 20
Calling all rib fiends. The Strongsville Rib Burnoff brings competition barbecue, live music, and a smoky good time to the southwest suburbs June 18 through 20. Pair it with a nap.
BAYarts Art and Music Festival: Saturday, June 20 in Bay Village
A lovely west-side Saturday option: art, live music, and food vendors at BAYarts in Bay Village on June 20. Free to wander.
Wildwood Fine Arts and Wine Festival: Saturday, June 20 in Mentor
Art plus wine plus a lakefront setting at Wildwood in Mentor on June 20. A relaxed way to spend a summer Saturday on the east side.
78th Street Studios Third Friday: Friday, June 19
The monthly art-and-food open house in Gordon Square runs 5 to 9 p.m. on June 19, with live music, Local West (a Gordon Square sandwich shop) serving food, and BARneo pouring drinks. Free admission. Great for a casual evening of art and bites.
NEW OPENINGS — FRESH
SPOTS AND WHAT'S COMING
Proof Public House — NOW OPEN in Ohio City
Matt Fish's punk-rock comeback is officially open. Proof Public House opened Monday June 15 at 4116 Lorain Ave. in Ohio City, in the former Proof BBQ space. The roughly 50-seat spot serves lunch and dinner seven days a week on an all-day menu that changes seasonally — sometimes weekly. The inherited wood-fueled Southern Pride smoker turns out wings, pork butts, and smoked tofu. Look for half-pound pub burgers on challah buns, a crispy fried chicken sandwich, a shaved ribeye cheesesteak, a ma po tofu burger, and the resurrected Melt Parmageddon with pierogi, braised cabbage, and sharp cheddar. The legendary Melt tattoo discount still applies. The walls are covered in glowing murals by tattoo artist Sean Jason Kelly, vintage Cleveland concert flyers, and the original Jake Kelly cartoon murals from the old Melt locations.
Melted Wings Winery — Now Open in Old Brooklyn
Covered in deals above, but worth flagging as one of this week's freshest openings. Cleveland's newest urban winery opened June 11 at 4861 Broadview Road in Old Brooklyn, adding to that neighborhood's growing food and drink scene. Wine slushies included.
Battr — Second Location Opening Late June in Lakewood
Battr is opening its second store in Lakewood later this month with an all-new design. Watch their socials for the exact opening date. A nice addition to the always-busy Lakewood food strip.
Arthur Treacher's — Coming to Lakewood in July
The resurrection of Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips continues. A fourth location is slated to open in July in the former Joe's Deli spot at the corner of West 117th and Madison in Lakewood. Owner George Simon and his team have already revived locations in Cuyahoga Falls, Garfield Heights, and Cleveland Heights. These newer shops stick to the original recipes, seasonings, and specifications thanks to a relationship with longtime former owner Ben Vittoria. The Lakewood spot will have a few tables but focus mostly on carry-out.
The Galley at Cleveland Metroparks Sailing Center — Now Open
A new lakeside dining option, The Galley at the Cleveland Metroparks Sailing Center, opened in early June. A scenic spot for a bite by the water as the weather warms up.
ROSY — Still a Must
Vinnie Cimino and Andrew Watts' 50-seat live-fire bistro at 2912 Church Ave. in Ohio City's Hingetown continues to be one of the most exciting tables in town — at least 80 percent of ingredients sourced within 200 miles, 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. Follow @rosy.restaurant on Instagram.
ON JAMIE'S RADAR — COMING SOON
Sundaybird — Rotisserie Chicken Coming to Lakewood Late Summer
The Frazees' fast-casual rotisserie chicken concept is slated for late summer in Lakewood, with dine-in, carryout, beers on tap, and draft cocktails. Built with chef Andrew Gorski. A strong addition to Lakewood's lineup.
Arthur Treacher's Lakewood — July
As above — the West 117th and Madison carry-out location is targeted for July. Fish-and-chips nostalgia incoming.
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.
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! Big week, Land — celebrate Juneteenth, chase some strawberry shortcake in Kirtland, get smoky at the Strongsville Rib Burnoff, try a wine slushy in Old Brooklyn, and go welcome Proof to Ohio City. 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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