"5"^^ . . . "2016-12-30T00:00:00"^^ . "13"^^ . "19"^^ . "18"^^ . . "People say this city sucks? They don't have a CLE.\n\nCleveland is one of the best and most underrated cities in the US. I have no hesitation whatsoever in giving it a glowing 5 star rating. It's my favourite city in Ohio, a little bit ahead of Columbus, and while Cinci is prettier than both of the aforementioned, there are some stunningly beautiful parts of Cleveland too, such as the industrial areas just south of downtown, The Flats, and the gorgeous lakeshore.\n\nYou have lovely leafy burbs such as Lakewood and Willowick. You have ethnic neighbourhoods, hipster districts, a cleaned-up rejuvinated downtown, and there's so much to do. The West Side Market is one of the best markets in the country with at least 5 unmissable food items inside. If you only go to one spot for a view of the city, go to Edgewater Park. So freaking pretty like my gf. Well not that pretty but close.\n\nLebron put this town back in the spotlight but it should always have been. It's got a lot of Chicago about it and some Buffalo too. In very good ways.\n\nAnd of course my favourite thing is that the food here is phenomenal. While Pitt is a more gorgeous city (than almost any other), and has some food gems, Cleveland has more \"must try\" spots than Pitt, Columbus, Cinci, Detroit and Toledo put together. Bold claim, I know, but there are just so many things in Cleveland that you need to, need to, need to eat. And yes I'm going to tell you what they are.\n\nAnd if you prefer a more spicy kind of city, then I suggest going to Cloveland instead.\n\nA few instances of unfriendliness, such as when I said a long time ago that Columbus had better food (because I didn't know better at the time), a few of the Cleveland yelpers were insulting a.f. to me. However, I met a bunch of them at a Cleveland Yelp event last year (when Cara was still the CM, and a great one, at that), and several of them were super friendly, especially P.W. and Jason and others whose names escape me (I'm like a jail, people are always trying to escape me).\n\nThe city is fairly mixed, ethnically, and people don't tend to live in enclaves. Otherwise it'd be named En-claveland.\n\nIn terms of music, Cleveland was always a very, very supportive city, and Akron even moreso. Some of my biggest and most long-lasting fans, and the people who helped out on my street teams and such, were from this area. Shout outs to KM, AD, AC, ML and IH among many others. NE Ohio is a whole world unto itself, it's a region, a destination, a little country that has little in common with the rest of Ohio. It's not nearly as Midwestern as other parts. I've probably performed 30 times in this region, often in places like Cleveland Heights and down in Cuyahoga Falls. Very good memories and I can't wait to do so again.\n\nOh and Mr. Owen and Mr. Barker are the 2 people this city is named after (Cliveland).\n\nNow let's get to the good part. THE FOOOOOD.\n\nHere are the mussssst tries when in Cleveland:\n\nThe 5 Must-Trys:\nAngelo's - the loaded baked potato pizza, deep dish, is one of the best 5 pizzas in usa\nBiagios - get crulers, but only when you get there at 4am so they're fresh, hot and gooey\nHartville Kitchen - Amish, way south, try Roast Beef, Dessert Pies, Chocolate Shakes\nPupuseria La Bendicion - maybe best pupusas & tamales in the usa, you must try it\nSwensons - get the Galley Boy. Local chain, maybe the best fast food burger in USA\n\n6 more Have-To-Trys:\nBarroco - the ropa vieja arepa is one of the best things i have ever eaten\nBest Gyros - best Gyro in town, both locations, one of USA's best\nCorky and Lennys - the sammy kay sandwich is incredible, so is the goulash\nHandel's - Youngstown ice cream chain - Chocolate Malt w/Caramel shake or i.c., lemonade\nRaddells - excellent hot hungarian sausage on bread at lunch time\nSetis - best Polish Boy in town, which is a cleveland classic, try it (Al & B's is good too)\n\nThe Best Of The Rest:\nBelgrade Gardens - down in Barberton, try fried chicken, or the dumplings in sauce\nBialy's Bagels - maybe my fave everything bagel outside NYC\nCrepes de Luxe - excellent lemon & sugar crepes inside west side market\nCzuchraj Meats - the best Jerky you'll ever have, also inside WSM\nEast Coast Custard - excellent vanilla custard, several locations\nEdgewater Park - beautiful place to walk and see the skyline and lake\nFrank's Bratwurst - also inside WSM, excellent brats\nFrank's Falafel House - good gyros & babaghanoush\nHoney Hut - best honey pecan ice cream\nHot dog diner - crazy hot dogs, burgers & a cool a.f. owner\nHot Sauce Williams - amazing fried chicken, get the sauce on the side\nJack Frost Donuts - crazy donuts that will blow your mind\nLa Plaza Supermarket - best real Mexican tacos in Cleveland from the stand inside\nMelt - crazy wild grilled cheese type wiches\nSokolowski's - maybe best pierogies ever, anywhere\nTommys - excellent shakes, try the banana\n\nAnd did you hear about the exploding shoreline? They found all the bits of beach, but one question remains: where did the Cliff land?"^^ .