The best brunches in Ohio? These four restaurants among the Top 100 in national ranking


Got plans for Mother’s Day yet? A new list of the best brunches may have you changing that reservation.

OpenTable recently released it’s Top 100 brunch restaurants in America for 2024, and four in Ohio have made the cut. The website — which helps users find restaurants, book reservations and leave reviews — used its own diner metrics and 14 million reviews to narrow down the list of restaurants where people “rave about brunch,” according to OpenTable.

Mother’s Day brunch restaurants 2024:See OpenTable’s top 100 picks for where to treat mom

“People are increasingly choosing to celebrate the mothers and special women in their lives with a meal out, bypassing breakfast in bed – and they’re going all out, too,” Steve Sintra, senior vice president, Americas Restaurant Sales & Services said in an OpenTable statement. “Mother’s Day festivities now include dining out multiple times all weekend long, and diners are planning to spend more than last year, with Gen Z more likely to splurge than any generation.”

So, which Ohio restaurants are really cooking for brunch? Here are the ones OpenTable highlights:

A server tends to diners at Forno Kitchen + Bar in Columbus' Short North neighborhood.

Forno Kitchen + Bar

  • Address: 721 N. High St., Columbus
  • Phone: (614) 469-0053

Located in the Short North Arts District, Forno Kitchen and Bar offers the “best atmosphere and contemporary cuisine in the city with alluring views of our custom stone-fired oven and High Street happenings,” according to its website.

Its most popular dishes, according to OpenTable, are the Forno pasta with 52 reviews, followed by warm ricotta and linguini and clams.

Restaurant review | Forno:Oven-baked brunch rich and yummy

Waiter Frank Todaro cleans tables on the patio at Lindey's Restaurant in German Village in preparation of opening.

Lindey’s

  • Address: 169 E. Beck St., Columbus
  • Phone: (614) 228-4343

Consistently voted one of Columbus’ top restaurants for the past 38 years, Lindey’s is a high-energy, white tablecloth restaurant with the feel of a New York bistro but located in historic German Village, according to OpenTable.

The restaurant has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, the New York Times, Gourmet Magazine, The Big Ten Network and the book “As the Tables Turn” by Lindey’s founder Sue Doody & Michael Rosen. Its most popular dishes, according to OpenTable, are the lobster bisque with 54 reviews, steak frites and calamari and shrimp.

Eight things to know:Lindey’s is a 40-year fixture in German Village

Crimson umbrellas offer shade on the brick piazza at Gervasi Vineyard & Italian Bistro in Canton. Yard toss, a bocce court (rear) and raised stone fire pit (bottom center) are part of the outdoor appeal.

The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard

  • Address: 1700 55th St. NE, Canton
  • Phone: (330) 497-1000

The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard features rustic, upscale Italian cuisine including antipasti, salads, brick-fired pizzas, pastas, entrées and desserts, according to its website.

Highlights of Gervasi Vineyard include a marketplace specialty store, event pavilion, walking paths, outdoor dining and yard games, according to OpenTable. Its most popular dishes, as listed on OpenTable, are the chicken piccata with 37 reviews, pesto salmon and crème brûlée.

Gervasi Bistro:A rustic barn is setting for scrumptious food and fine service

Pier W

  • Address: 12700 Lake Ave., Cleveland
  • Phone: (216) 228-2250

A landmark since 1965, Pier W’s architecture resembles the hull of a cruise ship. Set within a cliff overlooking Lake Erie, guests dine with a view of Cleveland. The menu features fresh seafood and prime meats, and the restaurant bills its Sunday brunch as “not to be missed,” according to its website.

Its best dishes, according to OpenTable, are the lobster bisque with 94 reviews, diver scallops and walleye tempura.

OpenTable: Moms plan to dine out more this year, and plan to spend more this Mother’s Day

According to OpenTable, Mother’s Day was the biggest dining day of 2023 and the Saturday before (May 13) took the No. 2 spot. The website’s research suggests the trend will continue this year, as nearly a third (31%) of American moms will consider dining out multiple times for the occasion. This includes without the kids: 31% of moms will consider dining out with friends, 21% will consider a date night sans kids and 10% may dine out solo.

In other findings, while 54% of Americans plan to dine out for Mother’s Day, that figure includes more Gen Zers (65%) and Millennials (64%) than Gen Xers (49%) and Baby Boomers (39%).

Also, while 62% of people plan to spend more this Mother’s Day, Gen Zers (71%) and Millennials (68%) are more likely to splurge than Gen Xers (58%) and Baby Boomers (44%).


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