You’re walking down Professor Avenue in Tremont, and you see the massive stone face of an old bank building. That’s Dante, the flagship. It’s intimidating, beautiful, and definitely a "nice shoes" kind of place. But if you look just to the side, there’s this other door. People get confused. They think it’s just the overflow room or maybe a waiting area for the main restaurant.
Honestly? It’s arguably the most interesting thing Chef Dante Boccuzzi has done in Cleveland, and it’s called Dante Next Door.
While the main restaurant is all about Michelin-level precision and multi-course tastings, the "Next Door" space is where the rules kinda fly out the window. It’s basically Boccuzzi’s love letter to the casual Italian joints he saw while working in Milan and London, but with a weird, wonderful Cleveland twist. It’s the kind of place where you can get a $10 Margherita pizza or, if you’re feeling particularly wild, add a $25 slab of foie gras to your French toast.
Yes, really. Foie gras on French toast.
Why Dante Next Door is the Neighborhood’s Worst Kept Secret
Most people in Tremont know it as a brunch spot, but that’s a bit of an oversimplification. Originally opened in 2014, it took over an old art gallery space. The vibe is different from the flagship—brighter, louder, with those two massive wood-burning pizza ovens staring you down.
Here is the thing: Dante Boccuzzi isn't just some guy who likes pizza. He’s a guy who earned a Michelin star at Aureole in New York and worked at Nobu in Milan. When he opens a "casual" spot, the technique is still there. You’ve got a chef who knows how to make a perfect $99 tasting menu across the hall, applying that same brain to a carbonara frittata.
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The Brunch Identity
If you’ve ever tried to get a table here on a Sunday morning, you know the struggle. It’s packed. People are there for the "Occhio di Bue"—those tomato-braised eggs with ceci beans—and the blueberry sausage links.
It’s not just "eggs and bacon" food. It’s more like "what would a high-end Italian chef eat if he had a hangover?" food.
- The Carbonara Frittata: Spaghetti, pancetta, and Parmesan all baked into an egg dish. It’s heavy, salty, and perfect.
- French Toast Napoleon: Pecan pie and vanilla cream. It’s basically dessert masquerading as breakfast.
- The Pizza Factor: This is what really separates it. Most brunch places give you a side of toast. Here, you get a 10-inch hand-tossed pizza.
The "Next Door" Pizza Philosophy
The pizza at Dante Next Door is a specific beast. It’s thin-crust, wood-fired, and often uses ingredients that feel a little "extra." Take the Bianco, for example. It’s got goat cheese, red onion, pistachio nuts, and truffle honey. Most places would mess that up by adding too much honey. Here, the balance is just right.
Then there’s the Everything Bagel and Lox pizza. It’s exactly what it sounds like: smoked salmon, capers, red onions, and cream cheese on a pizza crust. It sounds like a gimmick, but it works because the dough is actually good.
Private Events: The Secret Phase
A lot of people don't realize that during the week, Dante Next Door mostly functions as a private event space. It holds about 80 people for a sit-down dinner and up to 125 for a cocktail reception. Because it’s connected to the main Dante kitchen, the catering isn't your standard "chicken or fish" wedding fare.
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I’ve seen menus there that range from simple pizza parties to full-blown five-course Italian feasts. It’s a smart move for the neighborhood because Tremont has plenty of tiny bars, but not many spaces that can handle a 100-person rehearsal dinner without feeling like a sterile banquet hall.
Real Talk: The Pros and Cons
Look, no place is perfect. If you’re looking for a quiet, romantic candlelit dinner where you can hear a pin drop, this isn't it. Especially during peak brunch hours, the acoustics in that room—with the hard surfaces and the open kitchen—can get pretty loud.
And the parking? It’s Tremont. You either pay for the valet or you circle the block for twenty minutes hoping someone leaves their spot near Prosperity Social Club. That’s just the tax you pay for eating in this part of town.
But honestly, the food makes up for it. The price point is also surprisingly accessible compared to the flagship. You can get a solid meal and a drink for under $30, which is getting harder to find in Cleveland’s "celebrity chef" circles.
What Most People Miss
The coffee. Seriously. Boccuzzi started his own roasting company, Nirvana Coffee, and they serve it here. It’s easily some of the best coffee in Tremont. Most people just gulp it down while waiting for their eggs, but it’s actually sourced and roasted with the same level of care as the wine list next door.
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The Boccuzzi Empire Context
To really understand why Dante Next Door matters, you have to look at the whole block. You’ve got Dante (Fine Dining), Ginko (High-end Sushi), Coda (Live Music Venue downstairs), and Dante Next Door. It’s basically a culinary campus.
When you eat at Next Door, you’re getting the benefit of that entire infrastructure. The same guy sourcing the high-end flour for the pasta at Dante is sourcing the flour for your pizza. The same pastry team making the elaborate desserts for the tasting menus is probably making your cinnamon bun.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you're planning to go, don't just wing it.
- Check the Calendar: They do specific ticketed events, like the "Valentine's Dinner and a Show" or charity fundraisers. These often sell out weeks in advance.
- The "Add Foie" Trick: If you want the "Dante Experience" without the $150 wine pairing bill, go for brunch and add the foie gras to the waffles or French toast. It’s a $25 splurge, but it’s a Michelin-quality ingredient in a $12 setting.
- Gluten-Free Options: Surprisingly, they can make almost any of their pizzas gluten-free. In a wood-fired oven environment, that’s actually a bit of a feat to do without cross-contamination.
- Timing is Everything: If you hate crowds, try to go right when they open (usually 10:30 AM for brunch) or later in the afternoon. The noon rush is real and it’s loud.
Dante Next Door isn't trying to be the "best restaurant in Cleveland." It’s trying to be the best neighborhood spot that happens to be run by a world-class chef. It’s casual, a little bit chaotic, and consistently high-quality. Whether you're there for a private wedding reception or just a really weird breakfast pizza, it’s a foundational piece of why Tremont's food scene still holds up in 2026.
Final Tip: If you're hosting a small group, ask about the "Pizza Kitchen" VIP options for private events. Sometimes they let you get back there and throw some dough with the chefs, which is a lot more fun than sitting at a boardroom table.