CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s common for many of us to start asking people around us, both in-person and on social media, what restaurants are best to celebrate milestone events.

Whether it’s a birthday, new job, or any other occasion worth celebrating, many of us enjoy championing the better parts of life with a commemorative meal. There’s something distinct about a celebration meal that sets it apart, from upscale service to coveted Menu items that aren’t commonly found in Northeast Ohio.

Instead of clogging your Facebook feed to ask for suggestions, here are 35 restaurants in Northeast Ohio that are perfect for special occasion celebrations.

17 River Grill

17 River St., Chagrin Falls

The view at 17 River Grill in Chagrin Falls is nearly as captivating as the food on its dining menus. The curved dining room glittered with white tablecloths and leather booths provides prime views of the waterfall from where the city gets its name. The menu features a mix of high-class and approachable dishes, from sushi rolls and house-butchered prime steaks to burgers and deviled eggs. No meal is complete without an order of Heavenly Biscuits with honey butter or one of the chef’s signature seasonal desserts.

Aldo’s Italian Restaurant

8459 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn

Aldo’s in Brooklyn is a time-honored classic for no-nonsense Italian American cuisine made the authentic way. It may not seem like much from its appearance as a strip mall restaurant, but there’s a reason that Aldo’s dishes like veal cacciatore Zuppa di Pesce have stood the test of time.

ALEA

2912 Church Ave., Cleveland

ALEA in Ohio City took the feeling of an intimate fireside dinner and made it the vibe of its entire restaurant. The limited-capacity restaurant features creative takes on Mediterranean-inspired dishes cooked over a wood fire. No matter how simple the dish, like marinated olives, or complex, like a clambake dinner for one, ALEA prepares it with care for culinary excellence that’s more than worth celebrating.

Batuqui

12706 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland

17 E. Orange St., Chagrin Falls

Batuqui isn’t your average Brazilian steakhouse with oversized portions of grilled meat. The two locations in Greater Cleveland celebrate the complete culinary culture of the South American country with an elevated menu. Batuqui is worth visiting for a drink alone, such as its Caipirinha cocktail or Passion Fruit Bellini. However, dishes like Sarava Key Lime Chicken and Pasta de Mariscos take the experience over the top.

Bistro on the Falls

8134 Columbia Rd., Olmsted Falls

Bistro on the Falls feels like a restaurant set in another time, from its décor to its classic steakhouse offerings. It’s the ideal place to order old-school favorites like shrimp cocktail, Filet Oscar with shrimp, and a French 75 while leisurely dining with people you love.

Blue Point Grille

700 W. St. Clair Ave., Cleveland

Speaking of classics, Blue Point Grille in downtown Cleveland is a gem that every local needs to check off of their must-visit list. Blue Point is a seafood lovers’ paradise with menu standouts like Alaskan crab claws, lobster Bolognese, and tuna tartare. Meat-centric options that are worth exploring include the Wagyu beef meatballs or the bone-in cowboy ribeye steak.

Cabin Club

30651 Detroit Rd., Westlake

West Siders have flocked to Westlake’s Cabin Club for years, which is housed in a former World War II-era hunting lodge. Cabin Club has a homey vibe that makes its upscale atmosphere feel more approachable. Steak is key at Cabin Club, especially if you order it with a side of the restaurant’s famous sizzling skillet of mushrooms.

Chez Francois

555 Main St., Vermilion

Chez Francois brings authentic French cuisine with Napa Valley-quality wine to its Vermillion restaurant that’s been a special occasion location for years. The sister restaurant Touche is worth a stop, but the main restaurant truly gives off the celebration feel. It’s the ideal spot to order the Prix Fixe menu and let the chef’s imagination take your tastebuds on a flavorful journey.

Cordelia

2058 E. 4th St., Cleveland

Cordelia is the East Fourth spot to take someone that you want to celebrate who ultimately prefers comfort food over steakhouse entrees or small plates. Cordelia is a celebration of Midwest cuisine, with its sharable relish trays perfect for sharing. Its menu is always changing, but some celebratory items include the 1920s-style burner box and the daily catch from Kate’s Fish.

Cru Uncorked

34300 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills

Cru Uncorked is another must-go for French foodies who also have an appreciation for fine wine. The restaurant uses produce grown on-site and locally in its scratch-made menu items, like escargot bourguignonne and bone marrow-crusted filet mignon.

Diamond Grille

77 W. Market St., Akron

Diamond Grill has been an upscale eatery on Market Street in Akron since the 1930s, and little has changed about its menu since then. Flame-broiled steaks, fresh-caught fish, and famous shrimp cocktail are just a few of the standouts at Diamond Grill, which has a menu that will take more than one visit to truly explore.

Don’s Pomeroy House

13664 Pearl Rd., Strongsville

Don’s Pomeroy House is another steak and seafood establishment where many Clevelanders have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and beyond since it opened in 1980. The restaurant is set in a restored mansion, which makes it feel like even more of a fancy dining experience. Don’s also has a robust dessert list for putting the actual cherry on top of any celebratory dinner.

Downtown 140

140 N. Main St., Hudson

Downtown 140 is Hudson’s local wine bar that also has a drool-worthy food menu. The menu features plenty of plates for sharing, from beef tartare to caviar-topped deviled eggs. The entrees are just as interesting with items like charred octopus and crispy pork pierogis.

Edwins

13101 Shaker Sq., Cleveland

Edwins has such a stellar reputation as a culinary institution and destination for good reason, which makes it more than a stellar place to celebrate a milestone. The main menu sways French with a few items you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the area. The experience can even be more over-the-top if you opt for menu items like Canard a la Rouennaise, which is pressed duck with blood sauce prepared tableside, that requires a 24-hour notice before it’s ordered.

Ginko or Goma

2247 Professor Ave. B, Cleveland

2079 E. 4th St., Cleveland

Really any restaurant by Dante Boccuzzi features a celebration-worthy menu, but his two sushi restaurants Ginko and Goma particularly have an upscale atmosphere. Both have Omakase tasting menus that can be paired with sake, which elevates that specialty sushi dinner even more.

Giovanni’s Ristorante

25550 Chagrin Blvd., Cleveland

Another time-honored Cleveland restaurant is Giovanni’s Ristorante, established in 1976. Aside from its rich history, Giovanni’s is also a timeless place to take any date night or work dinner to the next level. Horseradish-crusted halibut, pappardelle with lamb ragout, and a seafood board adorned with lobster and shrimp are a few of Giovanni’s many exceptional dishes.

Hook and Hoof

4125 Erie St., Willoughby

Downtown Willoughby’s scratch kitchen and craft cocktail bar Hook and Hoof is always a good idea when gathering for a special night out. The “hook” and “hoof” concept is shown in its seafood and meat-centered menu, but that’s far from everything offered. Some of the best menu items include smokey clams and mussels, beef cheek, and Piquillo cheese spread.

Il Venetian

100 St. Clair NE., Cleveland

Il Venetian sounds like a regal establishment, which pretty much describes this downtown Cleveland Italian dining destination. The wine list is extensive, the pasta is made fresh daily, and the passion for modern Italian cooking exudes from every dish. A few can’t-miss dishes include wagyu beef carpaccio, veal-stuffed agnolotti, and pistachio-crusted yellowfin tuna.

Jaja Cleveland

2050 Gehring Ave., Cleveland

Jaja is one of Ohio City’s hottest restaurants for a reason, as it’s a unique take on the classic steakhouse concept, and the brunch buffet is not to be missed. For dinner, the menu includes a variety of entrees and sharable plates, from whole branzino fish to lamb lollipops. The Parillada is a shared plate for four people including meats, seafood, and sides that is as Instagram-worthy as it is delicious.

Johnny’s on Fulton

3164 Fulton Rd., Cleveland

Johnny’s on Fulton, as we know it, has been serving customers since the 1950s and the classic classy feeling hasn’t left the fine dining establishment. The menu is inspired by North Italian dishes, featuring homemade gnocchi, sauteed stuffed calamari, and veal and shrimp scallopini.

The Last Page

100 Park Ave. Suite 128, Cleveland

The Last Page is another eclectic menu that puts culinary excellence at the forefront, with dishes inspired by a variety of global cuisines. Even the traditional bread and “butter” gets a twist as the homemade bread is served with bone marrow for spreading. The entrees are just as playfully familiar with entrees like “The Last Chicken Sandwich” or truffle orecchiette pasta.

LockKeepers

8001 Rockside Rd., Valley View

LockKeepers is a steakhouse that meets an Italian restaurant with décor that honors its surrounding Cuyahoga Valley. The beloved restaurant is one to come to with an appetite, with sharable plates like eggplant rollatini and marinated sliced golden beets with smoked ricotta. The mains include homemade pasta, like spaghetti Fra Diavolo, or slow-cooked heritage breed pork.

Luca

2100 Superior Viaduct, Cleveland

Luca’s flagship restaurant at the Superior Viaduct is worth the visit for the view, although the downtown Acqua di Luca location might be preferred for seafood fans. The original Luca is another upscale Italian eatery serving items like white truffle and ricotta-stuffed Sacchetti and homemade tagliatelle with little neck clams and shrimp.

L’Albatros

11401 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland

L’Albatros is another eatery with an unconventional setting, as the French restaurant is housed in an old carriage house on Case Western Reserve University’s campus. Zack Bruell’s menu features classic hors-d’oeuvres like chicken liver and foie gras mousseline or braised leeks with Dijon mustard. Out of the main entrees, the roasted trout with almond crust and cassoulet are two options you can’t go wrong with.

Mallorca

1390 W. 9th St., Cleveland

Mallorca’s upscale Spanish restaurant is a slice of the Mediterranean in Cleveland. Anything with shrimp is good at Mallorca, from shrimp in garlic and smoked paprika or the Paella Valenciana, but that only scratches the surface of the extensive menu offerings.

Marble Room Steaks & Raw Bar

623 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Many locals will be quick to name Marble Room as the swankiest restaurant in Cleveland, and it’s not for no reason. The restaurant is set in the former city bank building that’s more than 100 years old, so it’s dripping in visible history. Both steaks and seafood are the stars of the menu. The raw bar includes one-of-a-kind sushi rolls and classic caviar service for those looking for something super upscale. Each steak can also be customized with sauces, kinds of butter, or add-ons like foie gras or buttery rock shrimp.

Nectar of the Tupelo Euclid

805 E. 222nd St., Euclid

Euclid’s Nectar of the Tupelo is a fine dining destination in Euclid serving up some of the most specialized dishes in the area. From in-house smoked Slovenian sausage to lobster pot pie, there’s no shortage of dishes that are delicately crafted yet heartily filling.

Osso Farm Restaurant

9145 Old State Rd., Hambden

Osso Farm Restaurant in Chardon implores a pasture-to-plate mentality with its home-grown ingredients. The restaurant’s scratch-made menu features hand-cut steaks, lamb lollipops, and charcuterie with a freshness that you have to taste to truly understand.

Pier W

12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood

Pier W is probably another popular answer from locals when asked about fancy date-night dining spots. The Lakewood seafood restaurant keeps its offerings classic, although the menus aren’t short by any means. It’s an ideal place to go to order daily oysters and select wines by the glass to kick off a meal that could include ribeye, lobster pasta, or nearly anything else your stomach could be craving.

The Pompadour

320 High St., Fairport Harbor

The Pompadour is a must-try tapas bar with a cozy atmosphere and unexpected small plates. The dishes range from simple and small, like stuffed dates, to larger and complex, like grilled octopus with honey-charred carrot romesco and black olive caviar. The house cocktail list is celebratory in itself, such as the revamped espresso martini made with Irish whiskey and a Guinness stout reduction before it’s garnished with a biscotti.

Poppy

12503 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland

Poppy is the sister to the popular Salt+ restaurant with similar service, but it’s worth a trip for the homey atmosphere. Poppy gets creative with its entrees like a confit turkey leg served with challah bread pudding or sturgeon served with onion soubise, caviar, and crispy mushrooms.

Strip Steakhouse

36840 Detroit Rd., Avon

Another west-side steakhouse worthy of a celebration dinner is Strip in Avon. Its location in a restored barn adds to the dramatic vibe of the restaurant with a menu made for big appetites. The appetizer menu includes lobster puff pastries, deep-fried alligator sirloin chunks, and almond prawns. The steaks pair perfectly with the sharable side menu, which includes options like lobster pasta or house-made pierogis.

The Standard

779 E. 185th St., Cleveland

The Standard is one place every foodie living