From spicy chicken wings to salty pretzels, here’s how to fill up pre-flight

Whether you’re waiting to take off or lingering for a layover, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) has several solid options for dining within the airport. There’s a restaurant from Food Network stalwart Michael Symon, as well as a brewpub from the city’s most famous brewery, Great Lakes Brewing Company.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to the options available for dining, drinking, and relaxing while at CLE. (You can find an updated list of offerings on the airport’s website as well.)

Main Terminal

Best for a sit-down meal or drink: The Pub
A typical airport bar that gets the job done, the Pub has a mix of British dishes, like fish and chips, and more generic bar food, like burgers and Reubens.

Best quick bite: Currito

Currito offers a fresh option for burrito bowls with a global bent, as well as smoothies. There are plenty of ways for folks with dietary restrictions to adapt the menu to their needs.

The rest:

• Auntie Anne’s: The hot pretzel beloved by teens in shopping malls everywhere.
• Bruegger’s Bagels: Serviceable bagel sandwiches.
• Chick-fil-A: Chicken nuggets and sandwiches with a side of controversy.
• Cinnabon: Generic calorie-bomb breakfast pastries.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: Love-it-or-hate-it chain coffee, doughnuts, and mediocre breakfast sandwiches.
• Embers (across from central checkpoint): Newish sit-down option with an eclectic menu.
• Shake Shack: The New York favorite for smash burgers, shakes, and more has reopened.

Currito

Ticketing

Best to look elsewhere for food, but if necessary you’ll find:

• Euro Cafe: Basic to-go options like breakfast sandwiches.

Concourse A

This is the weakest of the three gated areas; here, options include:

• Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill: Islandy food and drink that’s skippable unless a mai tai craving hits. (Gate A1)
• Starbucks: Ubiquitous for coffee and pastries. (Gate A1)
• Panini’s: Overstuffed sandwiches. (Gate A6)

Concourse B

Best sit-down meal: Quaker Steak & Lube
This Pennsylvania chain has outposts around Ohio, including this airport location. The gas station-themed casual restaurant is best known for its chicken wings and more than 20 available sauces, such as ghost pepper and Asian lemongrass. Note: Quaker is closed at the moment. Those with some time to sit down should head to another concourse. (Gate B5)

Best for drinks: Vino Volo
Find cured meats, cheeses, and other snacks at this airport chain, as well as wine flights and pairings, all adding up to a reasonably civilized pre-flight bite. (Gate B2)

Quaker Steak & Lube

The rest:

• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: Frozen yogurt with various toppings. (across from Gate B6)
• Subway (across from Gate B6)
• Another Auntie Anne’s (Gate B6)
• Inca Tea: Coffee and tea, but fewer food options than the location in Concourse C (see below).

Concourse C

Best sit-down meal: Bar Symon
This casual restaurant from chef Michael Symon (Lola, B Spot) — who rose to national prominence after his turns on The Chew and various Food Network shows — offers drinks and bar food, with Symon’s own Cleveland-centric spin. The restaurant makes a better-than-expected bloody mary and some excellent dry-rub wings. Find burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and pierogies, too. (Between Gates C4-C6)

Best for drinks: Great Lakes Brewing Company
Cleveland’s most famous brewery now has an offshoot of its iconic brewpub at the airport. Expect the beers that have made the company beloved, from the Eliot Ness Amber Lager to the Burning River Pale Ale, plus a limited offering of Eastern European-influenced bar food (pretzel-crusted chicken, a sausage sampler, bratwurst, pierogi, and more). (Gate C14)

The rest:

• Potbelly: Sandwich chain, where the Italian’s a good bet. (Gate C28)
• Inca Tea Cafe: Coffee, tea, etc. (across from C28)
• Another Starbucks (Gate C22)
• Wow Bao: Bao buns, including breakfast versions (across from C8)

Bar Symon