Cordelia

Kira Jabri
Sep 19
2 min read

Updated: Sep 22

Burger Box Cordelia in Clevland, Ohio. — Burger Box

When we knew we’d be spending two nights in Cleveland, we did what we always do ask the locals (and a few trusted chef friends) where they would go. One of our favorite Detroit chefs with Ohio roots didn’t hesitate: Cordelia. Dante’s team cosigned the recommendation, so we knew we were in for something special.

Cordelia has been racking up recognition. Led by the vision of Chef Vinnie Cimino, the restaurant has earned accolades including Food & Wine naming Cimino one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America (2024), and a James Beard nod (just to name a few) that solidified Cordelia as a restaurant worth traveling for.

Carrot Muhammara, farmers cheese, pimento cheese

Now, in full transparency: this is comfort food, but comfort food with a twist, made to feel both familiar and completely new. We had never even heard of fried saltines before, and now we can’t imagine life without them. There’s plenty of thick, hearty bread, generous portions, and not a heat lamp in sight, dishes arrive as they’re ready, straight from the open kitchen, which only adds to the charm.

We sampled across the menu, starting with pantry snacks like Carrot Muhammara, Farmers Cheese, and Pimento Cheese, before diving into Beef Tartare, Tomato Toast, and the playful Popcorn Gnocchi.

The highlights? The Burger Box, featuring twin smash patties nestled in a milk bun with smoked cheddar straight from the flat top, and the Corned Lamb, smoky and fall-off-the-bone tender.

Dessert brought its own sense of nostalgia and fun. Carmine ordered the Almond Joy, his personal favorite, while Kira couldn’t resist the Bowl of Dirt—a throwback to childhood, complete with cookie crumble “soil” and whimsical presentation. (If your mom ever served dirt pudding in a flower pot with a plastic daisy, you know exactly the kind of joy this brings to the table.)

Cordelia captures exactly what we look for when dining: a sense of place, a little nostalgia, and food that makes you smile. Elevated comfort, done exceptionally well.