Small plates inspired by the Adriatic Coast and neighboring Central European nations — think Croatia and Slovakia — were in rotation across tables at ROSY, one of the newest restaurants in Cleveland: celery with ricotta, a salted lemon and chili mint mixture; crunchy salad, a mix of veggies, lemon, raisins and marcona almonds; and grilled fennel with anchovies.

The chef behind this space is Vinnie Cimino, an Akron native and James Beard finalist. ROSY is scheduled to open Thursday.  

At a recent soft opening, friends and family sat at hightops, on barstools and window seats, connecting over appetizers and other recipes that date back to Cimino’s grandparents’ grandparents. No wonder the opening menu is inspired by Old World techniques and forgotten flavors that Cimino and his business partner, Andrew Watts, made their own. 

“We’re calling this European or ancestral European kind of cuisine,” said Cimino, who grew up in the Akron neighborhood of Ellet. “Really, what that means is that we’re celebrating just kind of how most everybody in the U.S. is an immigrant.”

Cimino completed a deep dive into his heritage, hence much of the rotating menu being craved by his elder family members. Menu items pair well with wine. Options include a sweet, white s̄krlet from Croatia and an orange riesling from Germany.

ROSY, located in Hingetown — in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood — aims to offer a communal, elevated dining experience. The restaurant fits cozily on Church Avenue, casting shades of red and pink onto the street. 

Chef Vinnie Cimino, of Akron, and his business partner, Andrew Watts, are opening ROSY, a new restaurant in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.
Chef Vinnie Cimino, of Akron, and his business partner, Andrew Watts, are opening ROSY, a new restaurant in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Hinckley resident Madeline Kosek, who co-runs the Instagram account ohio_munchies, (left) and her friend Sean McCarthy raise their glasses during a "friends and family" night at ROSY.
Hinckley resident Madeline Kosek, who co-runs the Instagram account ohio_munchies, (left) and her friend Sean McCarthy raise their glasses during a “friends and family” night at ROSY. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Cimino and Watts created a gathering spot that’s more intimate than small; its compact size encourages diners to mingle with neighboring tables, even pass a few plates. Underneath the sounds of menu questions and pleasantries, diners can hear an open fire searing wagyu, matches being struck to light candles in the center of tables and the chiming of a bell that signals food is ready. 

“It’s all about community. It always has been for us,” said Watts, who also owns Cordelia with Cimino. “We adore and live for collaboration — with friends and folks and artists. Whether it be other restaurants or chefs or DJs or vocalists or any type of creative, period, in town, we want to help uplift one another by working with one another.

“And ROSY is an extension of that.” 

One menu item — a ROSY BOY — meshes ancestral flavor with modern taste. It’s wagyu beef, raw sweet onions, anchovy mayo and pepper relish on a seeded bun. This Monday night special is limited to about 20 to 25 each night.

A celery and ricotta salad, with salted lemon, chili and mint, at ROSY, a new restaurant in Cleveland that's being opened by Chef Vinnie Cimino and business partner Andrew Watts.
A celery and ricotta salad, with salted lemon, chili and mint, at ROSY, a new restaurant in Cleveland that’s being opened by Chef Vinnie Cimino and business partner Andrew Watts. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Approximately 80% of ROSY’s ingredients are sourced from regional farmers, which shape the restaurant's rotating menu.
Approximately 80% of ROSY’s ingredients are sourced from regional farmers, which shape the restaurant’s rotating menu. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Cimino’s journey from Ken Stewart’s Grille to restaurant owner in Cleveland

Cimino has always loved food. So much so that he had to figure out why. It’s a journey that led him to accept his first sous chef position at Ken Stewart’s Grille in Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood. 

Cimino then moved to Greenhouse Tavern, a popular restaurant in downtown Cleveland that has since closed. The restaurant was owned by a James Beard award winner, Chef Jonathon Sawyer. There, Cimino said, experience taught him how to elevate his culinary skills, including how ingredients and flavor profiles impact cuisine. Cimino was promoted up the back-of-the-house food chain to become the restaurant’s corporate chef before leaving in 2022 to open Cordelia, his first eatery. 

“I will forever be a student when it comes to cooking and food,” he said. “So, I just love to learn as much as I can and think about food and any new life that I really can.”

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Dining experiences: ROSY versus Cordelia

ROSY and Cordelia — located on East Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland — are different, yet they have the same goal: bring people together.

“Both locations are a dream come true,” Watts said. “So, we want to add to it, bring to it. And honor everybody who made it such a rad place to be.” 

While menu items at Cordelia are derived from personal, childhood meals, ROSY’s menu is multi-generational and heavily relies on what regional farmers produce, down to wine pairings. 

At least 80% of ROSY’s ingredients are sourced from farmers within a 200-mile radius.

“I think it’s kind of the fun nature of what we do — we get inspirations from everywhere,” Cimino said. “A lot of those inspirations come from our experiences with our farmers, and then we riff on what we’re going to do.”

Guests patronize ROSY, a new Cleveland restaurant by Chef Vinnie Cimino and business partner Andrew Watts, during a "friends and family" night at the establishment.
Guests patronize ROSY, a new Cleveland restaurant by Chef Vinnie Cimino and business partner Andrew Watts, during a “friends and family” night at the establishment on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Chef Vinnie Cimino, of Akron, and his business partner Andrew Watts are opening ROSY, a new restaurant in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.
Chef Vinnie Cimino, of Akron, and his business partner Andrew Watts are opening ROSY, a new restaurant in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Culture and Arts Reporter (she/her)
Kelsei centers arts and culture, food and identity in her storytelling. She uses her professional experience and editorial skills to focus a community-first mindset and a strategic approach to her reporting. Kelsei’s previous reporting experiences include food, community and culture coverage at 225 Magazine in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kelsei is a recent alumna of Northwestern University and a 2023 graduate of Jackson State University.