Craving French food?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top French restaurants around Cleveland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture for foie gras, pâté, crispy chicken livers and other French fare.
1. L' Albatros
Topping the list is L' Albatros. Located at 11401 Bellflower Road in the University District, the upscale spot is the highest rated French restaurant in Cleveland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 575 reviews on Yelp.
This establishment features classic French cuisine like escargot, chicken livers, foie gras, veal and pork pâté, mussels with pomme frites, chicken confit, bouillabaisse for two, and braised white beans with lamb and pork belly.
2. Le Petit Triangle Café
Next up is Ohio City's Le Petit Triangle Café, situated at 1881 Fulton Road. With four stars out of 331 reviews on Yelp, the Parisian-style cafe has proven to be a local favorite. The Triangle invites patrons to stop in for a croissant or an espresso and utilize its space as a lunchtime meeting room or an evening hangout for wine and cocktails.
For brunch, there's a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes, lemon curd French toast and quiche. Other menu items include mussels in white wine and charcuterie platters for lunch, and smoked trout with capers and roasted duck cassoulet with white beans for dinner.
3. Cowell & Hubbard
Downtown's Cowell & Hubbard, located at 1305 Euclid Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the bar and French spot four stars out of 171 reviews.
This restaurant's bill of fare includes appetizers like mussels and frites, goat cheese gnudi and seafood dumplings; crispy chicken liver and Brussels sprouts salads; and dinner entrées like quinoa-crusted trout, beef shoulder bourguignon and grilled strip steak.
4. Cafe Bon Appetit
Over in Central, check out Cafe Bon Appetit, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 47 reviews on Yelp. You can find the crêperie and Mediterranean spot, which offers sandwiches and more, at 1900 Euclid Ave.
"Real neat little place," Yelper Kurt W. said. "Food was fast, hot and well priced — exactly what I needed as a broke college student. The workers there were kind as we chatted. A few regulars came in — the cook knew what they liked and they seemed pleased."
5. Merchant Street
Finally, there's Merchant Street, a Tremont favorite with 4.5 stars out of 46 reviews. Stop by 2399 W. 11th St. to hit up the wine bar and French and Mediterranean restaurant next time you're looking to satisfy your cravings.
Make sure you come hungry and ready to check out small plates like baked lemon-caper shrimp, spicy andouille and egg flatbread, and ricotta-stuffed poblano peppers. Then move on to dinner entrees like seared scallops with sweet corn succotash, sweet peas, bacon and smoked paprika oil; roasted chicken thighs with baby carrots and citrus and thyme chicken jus; and pan-roasted salmon with heirloom tomatoes and citrus basil butter.
