38 Ohio Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards

OHIO — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in Ohio. Despite the hardships, several were still able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.

The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in the Buckeye State. This year, 38 restaurants in our state earned a nod from Wine Spectator.

More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners,

Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.

Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan's in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California.

Check out the restaurants in Ohio that earned nods for excellence this year:

• Chez Francois in Vermillion
• Edwins Restaurant in Cleveland
• Cru Uncorked in Moreland Hills
• Cellar 59 Wine Bar and Wine Shop in Stow
• Galaxy Restaurant in Wadsworth
• Bender's Tavern in Canton
• Station Square Ristorante in Liberty
• The Refectory in Columbus
• Barcelona Restaurant and Bar in Columbus
• Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Columbus
• Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Cincinnati
• Jeff Ruby's Carlo and Johnny in Montgomery
• 20 Brix in Milford
• Dear Restaurant & Butchery in Cincinnati
• The Precinct in Cincinnati
• Final Cut Steakhouse in Toledo
• Grapes in a Glass in Canton
• Basil Pizza & Wine Bar in Perrysburg
• Beirut Restaurant in Toledo
• Benchmark in Perrysburg
• Bistro 83 in North Ridgeville
• Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville
• Corleone's Ristorante & Bar in Parma
• Crush Winebar in Sandusky
• Element 112 in Sylvania
• Fratellos in Avon Lake
• Hen Quarter in Dublin
• Morton's, The Steakhouse in Cincinnati
• Morton's, The Steakhouse in Cleveland
• Pier W in Lakewood
• Season 52 in Cincinnati
• Smith & Wollensky in Columbus
• Tartine Bistro in Rocky River
• The Capital Grille in Cincinnati
• The Capital Grille in Lyndhurst
• The River Merchant in Kent
• Veritas in Columbus
• Zinc Brassiere in Sandusky

See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.