What restaurants opened, closed in Greater Akron in 2023? Here's the list

It's been a busy year for Akron-area restaurants, with dozens of new openings enriching the local foodie scene in 2023. Choices run the gamut from a ramen and bao bar, cafes and a new brewery to finer dining with craft cocktails downtown and beyond. That means there's something new in the local restaurant scene for everyone.

Along with the new and exciting, some businesses — both newer and old — closed in greater Akron this year. Like any year, it's out with the old and in with the new. Here's a sampling of restaurant openings and closings in the Akron area for 2023.

2023 restaurant openings in Akron area

● Meow Bao, Akron. Square Scullery's rebranded Highland Square eatery officially opened as Meow Bao Nov. 29 after running as a pop-up ramen and bao bar since March. The pop-up started at 783 W. Market St. while Square Scullery owners Matt and Heather Ulichney have been renovating their new, larger Square Scullery restaurant in Akron's North Hill. Meow Bao hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. See meowbaoakron.com or call 330-983-9387.

Meow Bao closes abruptly Dec. 23, 2023: Owners say they're spread thin with new Square Scullery opening

● Circle of 5ths, Akron. The 50-seat restaurant that focuses on classic cocktails and small plates had its grand opening Nov. 22 above BLU Jazz+ at 45 E. Market St., where BLU Plate used to be. The restaurant's name refers to both a music theory term — in homage to the jazz club downstairs — and the owners' favorite spirits being measured in fifth gallons. The restaurant's goal is to offer a metropolitan vibe at a more casual fine dining price. Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday-Saturday. See The Circle of 5ths on Facebook.

More on Circle of 5ths: Newest restaurant in downtown Akron with cocktails, small plates

● United States Potato Service (U.S.P.S.), downtown Akron. Owner Danny Basone's newest concept for the space next to his Lockview restaurant at 209 S. Main St. — which formerly housed Funny Noodle and El Gato Taqueria — is all about potatoes. Basone, a longtime Akron musician and former owner of the Lime Spider music venue (now Lockview), made a special nod to Devo on Facebook regarding the new U.S.P.S. saying, "Akron is all about Spuds!" The menu features a variety of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, hand-cut fries and poutine. U.S.P.S. opened Nov. 20 for DoorDash and is now open from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday for carryout orders, too. See www.unitedstatespotatoservice.com or @united_states_potato_service on Instagram.

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● Ryes and Shine, Cuyahoga Falls. This all-day breakfast bar opened Nov. 17 at 2704 Front St., a space that once housed longtime restaurant The Silver Swan. Patrons can choose from their bourbon collection, classic breakfast items and sweeter plates like peanut butter and jelly French toast. Ryes and Shine also serves a solid meatloaf and reuben after 11 a.m.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. See ryesnshinefalls.com or call 234-208-9828.

● Ki Asian Cuisine, Fairlawn. The restaurant at 2717 W. Market St., which opened Nov. 1 in the space where House of Hunan was housed for nearly 40 years, has a new look and a modern, clean vibe with its neutral decor. The owners of the the new restaurant, the Lin family, offer Chinese and Japanese food. There's a sushi bar, separate bar area, a dining room and private back room. The owners are waiting for a liquor permit.

The menu includes numerous sushi choices and lot of traditional Chinese dishes and chef's specials. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. See www.kiasiancuisine.com or call 330-805-4888.

Local Flavor: New Ki Asian Cuisine in Fairlawn offers Chinese dishes, serene vibe

● Peninsula Coffee House, Peninsula. Owners Mark and Deb Anzelc opened their business in late October at 1653 Main St. on the ground floor of the historic Peninsula Banking Company Building, built circa 1910. The boutique cafe, nestled in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, provides a view of the Cuyahoga River while offering coffee, light food and a sundry market.

The accompanying Peninsula Wine Cellar also opened Dec. 14 downstairs offering wine, charcuterie, beers and seltzers.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. See peninsulacoffeehouse.com or call 330-242-2661.

● Green Valley Brewing Co., Hudson. Couples John and Emily McGroarty and Nick and Beth Speck opened the new brewpub Oct. 28 at 53 Milford Drive. The brewpub features 10 craft beers on tap — seven by brewmaster John and three of which are collaborations with other local breweries. Wood-fired pizzas are the stars of the small menu, which also includes sandwiches, salads and appetizers. The taproom also offers cocktails and wine. Hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. See greenvalley.beer or call 234-602-2006.

New Hudson brewery: Green Valley Brewing in Hudson features 10 draft beers, homemade wood-fired pizzas

● Revival Room, Hudson. The new restaurant and bar opened Oct. 12 in Hudson's square at 200 N. Main St., in an 1834 building that originally was a general store. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The restaurant features classic cocktails and classic dishes with a twist. Seven Old Fashioned cocktails are inspired by the medieval trickster character Reynard the Fox. The menu features smaller dishes such as duck confit pot pie and appetizers including pickled scotch eggs that are meant to be shared.

Hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, which includes brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See revivalroomhudson.com or call 234-269-6600.

Revival Room: Restaurant owners have fun with historical aspect of Hudson building

● DeJuan's, downtown Akron. De'Juan Kelker II opened his first restaurant Sept. 1 at 1 W. Exchange St., offering casual dining with a fine dining feel. The restaurant is in the building at the corner of Main and Exchange where Bricco formerly was. The restaurant offers a variety of seafood from twin lobster tails to a whole red snapper entree. Also on the menu are six steak entrees ranging from $29 to $72 as well as lamb loin, pork chop and half chicken entrees. On the more casual end are pizzas, turkey burgers, soups and salads.

Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. See dejuansdining.com or call 234-334-0281.

September opening: DeJuan's is the place to be in downtown Akron

● Floods Urban Seafood, Akron. Floods, which specializes in seafood boils and other seafood plates, opened in September at 77 Westgate Circle. The most popular menu items are gator bites, fried green tomatoes, orange roughy and seafood alfredo.

Owner David Parker opened the local chain's first location in Warrensville Heights in 2019 and its Euclid site in 2021. Floods Urban Seafood also won the 2020 Taste of Black Cleveland. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday and noon to 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. See floodsurbanseafood.com.

Cleveland restaurant opens Akron site: Floods Urban Seafood makes a splash in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood

● Noodle King, Copley. This restaurant, opened Aug. 25 at Montrose Center plaza, offers Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese fare, namely ramen and pho. The ramen is pork-based and pho dishes are beef-based options. Vegetarian options also are available.

The full-service restaurant's also offers appetizers, including bao buns and gyoza dumplings and fun Chinese and Japanese sodas. Noodle King is owned by Eddy Wang, who also owns the adjoining Sakura Sushi. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday at 3900 Medina Road W. See noodlekingakron.com or call 330-576-3166.

Local Flavor: Noodle King offers journey through Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese fare in Copley

● Barrelhouse, Akron. Longtime bartender Nick Jones opened this eatery, his first restaurant, Aug. 23, after buying the former Arnie's Public House from retired owner Steve Arn. The restaurant, at 1682 W. Market St. in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood, has new decor with custom chandeliers and a wall featuring wood bourbon barrel lids. The menu features shareable small plates from casino oysters to cauliflower steak. The restaurant offers all-day brunch entrees for $10 to $16.

Kitchen hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. See barrelhouseakron.com or call 234-334-7800.

In former Arnie's: Barrelhouse opens in West Akron, emphasizing shareable small plates

● Town Tavern, Copley. Town Tavern's newest location, which opened Aug. 21, is in a beautifully renovated space on Restaurant Hill where TGI Fridays used to be. The eatery at 125 Montrose W. Ave. has a new 2,500-square-foot addition to the back of the original building, which features a four-season dining room with a wood cupola ceiling and accordion-style doors that open to a large patio.

The menu includes casual starters and higher-end entrees. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. Town Tavern, whose kitchen is open until 1 a.m. every day, serves lunch, dinner and an abbreviated late-night menu after 10 p.m. See towntavernohio.com or call 234-466-0227.

In former TGI Fridays: Bright, airy Town Tavern offers casual and upscale dining offerings in laid-back setting

● T-Bubbles, Stow. The bubble tea shop, which also offers smoothies, Vietnamese coffee and lemonade, had its grand opening on Aug. 15 at 3490 Hudson Drive. The Stow spot is the second for owner Vu Nguyen, who opened the original T-Bubbles location four years ago in Green. Customers can create their own bubble tea using a combination of 14 flavors and 15 toppings. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. See t-bubbles.com or call 234-208-9355.

● Twisted Tomato Pizzeria, Stow. The pizzeria at 3031 Graham Road, which opened Aug. 14, is the latest of three locations that the local chain has opened in as many years. Like the Cuyahoga Falls location, the Stow Twisted Tomato location is only open for takeout and delivery. The restaurant serves a variety of pizza, calzones, subs, pasta, wings, salads and desserts. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. See twisted-tomato.com or call 330-673-9410.

● Double Shot Coffee Drive Thru, Stow. This drive-through opened Aug. 8 in Stow Towne Center at 1580 Norton Road. The shop offers hot and iced coffees, teas, fresh-squeezed lemonade, Red Bull energizers and various pastries. Double Shot’s churro americano and strawberry pop tarts are best sellers. Hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. See Double Shot Coffee on Facebook or call 440-479-3289.

More on Stow restaurants: 3 new restaurants opened in Stow in August. We tried them all and here's what we thought

● Pitchfork, Bath. The highly anticipated Bath restaurant launched its full menu in July after months of offering a raw bar, charcuterie and limited menu along with drinks from Eden wine bar. At this high-end restaurant, you can dine on open fire-grilled steaks from owners Mel and Jeff Brunty's Farmer's Rail Artisanal Meats and Butcher Shop or go for seafood, duck, chicken or other entrees. Guests can also sample 36 wines from Eden wine bar's self-serve wine dispensers inside the restaurant. You can also do a more casual visit with a burger or sandwich for lunch or hot or cold appetizers to share.

Pitchfork is located at Corner Provisions, 1070 Ghent Road. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. See visitcornerprovisions.com/pitchfork or call 330-754-2551.

Local Flavor: Long-awaited visit to Pitchfork a great evening in fine dining, wines

● Poke and Roll, Cuyahoga Falls. Build your own poke bowl or sushi burrito at this eatery, which first-time restaurant owner Michael Ren opened June 15 at 3464 Hudson Drive. The sushi burritos, wrapped in seaweed, are like a really big sushi roll that isn't cut into pieces. A wide variety of ultra fresh ingredients make for a great option for a healthy, high-quality lunch or dinner. The boba bar offers six milk teas, six fruit teas and eight add-ins.

Hours 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. See eatpokenroll.com or call 330-615-2666.

Local Flavor: Poke & Roll fun new spot to build poke bowl, sushi burrito in Cuyahoga Falls

● Wink's Drive-In, Barberton. This landmark joint, which reopened May 19, is known for its signature burgers, fries, shakes, hot dogs and hand-breaded, fried chicken sandwiches. The new owners have renovated the restaurant, which had been well-known since 1991 for its ’50s-style carhop and diner and closed in 2020. The eatery has an all-new menu but the original neon Wink's signs, now repaired, still grace the carhop area. Customers have the option of eating in their cars at the drive-in, dining in or, in warm weather, eating at the outside patio and bar at 75 Fifth St. SE.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. See winksdrive-in.com or call 234-334-7761.

Wink's Drive-In: Owners gear up for lots of burgers, outdoor fun in Barberton

● F.A.T.'S Backroom, Akron. Frank Anthony Todaro's Backroom is back by popular demand as of May 18 in Akron's Merriman Valley. Todaro opened the restaurant as a socially distanced option inside Todaro's Party Center from 2020 to 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic at 1820 Akron-Peninsula Road. Now it's reopened as an intimate, supper-club style restaurant in Todaro's smallest banquet room. The menu features moderately priced Italian cuisine, chop house items, specialty pastas and a large wine selection. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. See fatsbackroom.com or call 330-929-7875.

F.A.T.'S returns: F.A.T.'S restaurant is back by popular demand at Todaro's in Akron

● Sal's Gelato, Akron. Café Arnone co-owners Michael Maghes and Rocco LaRose's second eatery in the Akron area focuses on Italian ice cream as well as handmade artisanal chocolates, Italian pastries and an espresso menu. The cousins' gelateria and cafe opened May 7 in Akron's Merriman Valley at 1821 Merriman Road. Sal's offers up to 24 flavors of gelato made from scratch, sundaes, non-dairy gelato options, Italian ice and a flight of four flavors that can be shared. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. See salsgelato.com or call 234-312-9255.

Café Arnone expands: Café Arnone to spread wings with Sal's Gelato in Akron's Merriman Valley

● Crafty Steere, Fairlawn. The Crafty Steere artisanal food market opened March 24 in the former Pandora's Cupcakes location at 3571 Brookwall Drive in Copley. It sells West Point Market's beloved cheese spreads, brownies and cookies and deli salads, as well as Pandora’s Cupcakes. That includes four cheese spreads and five cookie varieties, including the former market's thumbprint cookies. Rick Vernon also makes 11 varieties of West Point's famous triple-layer brownie. West Point recipes are all from Vernon's father Russ' collection of 350 recipes he developed at the longtime West Akron store.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. See craftysteere.com or call 330-665-2253.

● Heera Indian Cuisine, downtown Akron. Owner Shailendra Sahu, who opened the restaurant in March at 117 E. Market St., said his menu offers the best of India. He serves a large variety of classic dishes from both north and south India, including 13 appetizers, 17 chaat (savory snacks) and 28 entrees. Entrees include vegetable, chicken, lamb, goat, shrimp or fish curry; matar paneer (cottage cheese with peas in onion tomato sauce); saag (fresh pureed spinach in creamy sauce) served vegan or with proteins; tandoori chicken and two types of marinated chicken kebabs.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. See heeraindiancuisine.com or call 330-400-4019.

Local Flavor: Heera in downtown Akron offers delicious blend of Indian flavors

● Mexibachi Grill, Cuyahoga Falls. The restaurant at 4065 State Road, which opened in March, has a menu full of Mexican and Japanese fare plus some dishes that fuse the two. That includes the Burrito Mexibachi with hibachi-style chicken, steak and shrimp, served with fried rice or noodles. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. See mexibachigrilloh.com or call 234-334-6755.

More: Cuyahoga Falls' Mexibachi Grill puts Japanese, Mexican cuisine fans in state of yum fusion

● Watson Speakeasy, Cuyahoga Falls. The 26-seat speakeasy, which opened March 10, is dark and elegant, evoking the Prohibition era while at the same time paying homage to inventors. The joint, located at 1846 Front St., has a secret entrance from a vestibule resembling an abandoned post office. The craft cocktail and bourbon bar focuses on creative cocktails and presentation, also offering light appetizers and several desserts.

Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday. See watsonspeakeasy.com.

● Daily Pressed, downtown Akron. The bistro and cocktail lounge opened Feb. 6 at 323 S. Main St. The restaurant features a breakfast menu served until 3 p.m., including build-your-own omelets and custard-dipped brioche filled with peanut butter and jelly. Sandwiches, wraps and salads also are offered, plus entrees ranging from Swedish meatballs to an Italian hamburger made from homemade pressed meatballs. Here, you can get everything from a French press coffee to elegant, speakeasy-style cocktails. The restaurant's current Miracle on Main Christmas pop-up bar with holiday cocktails will continue through mid-January.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. See The Daily Pressed on Facebook or call 330-535-4000.

● Mickey's Irish Pub, Cuyahoga Falls. The restaurant opened Jan. 25 at 1846 Front St., at the site of the former Craft Social, after Pavona's Pizza Joint and Mickey's Irish Pub were destroyed in a fire in Akron in October 2022. The reopened restaurant and bar had its grand opening on St. Patrick's Day. It serves everything from shepherd's pie and fish and chips to Italian wood-fired pizzas.

Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. See mickeysirish.pub or call 330-849-5089.

Akron-area restaurant closings in 2023

● Larry's Main Entrance, West Akron. Owner Alan Perella will close the West Akron institution Dec. 29 after his family has owned it for 21 years. His father Harry bought Larry's in 2002. Perella and his brother Anthony bought the restaurant/bar from their father nine years ago and ran it together a couple years before Alan became the sole owner. Bar-only service will be 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 27-28. Perella and his wife, Charlotte, will hold a going-away party 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 29 with drinks and a DJ. A going-out-of-business sale will be noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 30.

'End of an era': West Akron institution Larry's Main Entrance to bid adieu Dec. 29

● Big Mamma's Burritos, downtown Akron. The restaurant, which opened in May 2022, at 357 S. Main St., has permanently closed. It had previously closed shop in November 2022, six months after it opened, but reopened under new ownership in June.

● Bomba Tacos + Rum, Fairlawn. Bomba closed Sept. 17 at the Copley Township location after operating at the Montrose Center plaza at 3900 Medina Road since 2016. Its closing was coupled with the closing of the Chagrin Falls location the same day. The Beachwood location closed in May.

● Salsitas Mexican Restaurant, Tallmadge. Owner Oscar McBenttes, who converted his former Oscar's Place in Tallmadge into Salsitas Mexican restaurant in early January, closed Salsitas at 137 East Ave. in September.

● Funny Noodle, downtown Akron. Owner Danny Basone closed the eatery in April after not being able to find cooks to run the place. It had opened in December 2021. Basone has since opened United States Potato Service (U.S.P.S.) Akron in the space at 209 S. Main St.

● Arnie's Public House, West Akron. Longtime owner Steve Arn retired from the Westgate Plaza restaurant and bar at 1682 W. Market St. in late July. Arn had owned Arnie's Standing Room Only, which originally opened further west on West Market Street, since 1990. It underwent a makeover in 2015, when it was renamed Arnie's Public House.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Restaurant openings, closings in Greater Akron in 2023