First look: Fahrenheit opens stunning new restaurant in Public Square

Fahrenheit is more than a restaurant.

It’s a labor of love. A vote of confidence in the city – and in downtown. And, yes, a gorgeous, 15,000-square-foot New American cuisine restaurant run by one of Cleveland’s most lauded chefs, Rocco Whalen.

It opens today, Thursday, July 13, at 55 Public Square in the former John Q’s space– one of Cleveland’s most anticipated openings in years, by both the public and chef-owner.

“We're hometown kids. We went to John Q’s in our twenties and thirties, we know who Vernon Stouffer was. This endeavor has been amazing. It's been a two-year ride,” says Whalen, who recently sat down with GCP, and his wife and business partner Alexis Dankovich, to discuss his two-story space in the K&D owned high-rise – right next to the upcoming Sherwin Williams tower.

 

 

“Rocco has been approached over the years by many different investors and restaurateurs who wanted to go into business with him and presented all sorts of other properties,” says Dankovich. “Nothing fit right until this space became available. We jumped at it.”

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Whalen, who also runs a restaurant in Charlotte, his beloved food truck and locations at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Browns Stadium, is best known for his 21-year stint at the original Fahrenheit in Tremont. Though the new location shares a name, and some (but not all) menu items, similarities end there. This sprawling multi-floor space can seat 700 people at once. It includes a sleek, airy downstairs dining room with a sophisticated retro vibe, lots natural lighting and sleek, rust-red chrome-and-leather chairs, charred wood “yakisugi” wall accents, and swooping Cambria “marble” bars.  Unique touches like purse perches and narrow bars to rest your drink while standing take things to the next level. A glass-wall encased wine rack literally takes things to the next level as you walk up the stairs.

 

 

Upstairs, a sleek patio, complete with mod firepits, artificial turf and front row views of the Terminal Tower and Sherwin Williams can seat 150 people. There is also a smaller street level patio below, a private dining room that includes the restores Stouffers wood bar, and a chef’s table that can seat up to 14 in the walk-through kitchen.  Historic Tax Credits were used for the construction, meaning that although the space looks radically different than John Q’s, the bones and layout are mostly preserved. Vocon was the lead interior designer, and Beradi+ was the building's exterior architect and historic renovation consultant. 

It’s a stunning mix of old and new that pays homage to classic Cleveland – while appealing to contemporary crowds with fresh ideas.

“We wanted to make a space that everybody can enjoy. We wanted to have rooftop spaces. And for us – we're real estate partners and entrepreneurs – we like rooftop spaces with a chef ingredient,” says Whalen. “Kudos to Vocon for building a legendary space.”

 

The new space has also inspired new ideas in the kitchen.

“It's all in our wheelhouse. New menu opportunities, new ideas. You’ll only find about 30% of the menu from the old place. And then you'll have some things that Lexi and I have been committed to for over the years. We see new opportunities here.  I've got a great young culinary team and they're all really hungry, and that was the easiest part of our job,” says Whalen.

“A lot of people have changed their eating habits as well. So we wanted to diversify the menu so we could take into consideration the number of people who are vegans or who have gluten intolerances or allergies. We looked at our menu in a in a way that enabled us to accommodate all of those.”

 

 

Fahrenheit is beginning with dinner and bar service, but soon plans to add lunch – and Sunday brunch, an homage to John Q’s legendary offering, done with Fahrenheit flair. They currently have 79 staff members at the space, though expect to be over 100 soon.

Whalen is committed to downtown.

“What better opportunity than for us to put a restaurant right in the middle of everything?” he asks. “Cleveland has gone through all sorts of highs and lows and openings and closings. But now there are lot of young people that are attracted to downtown. And with Sherwin-Williams commitment to the city, that really helped us seal the deal.” 

“I'm as Cleveland as it gets without saying Cleveland every day. This is our hometown flagship. We've built this to retire on this because I'm not doing a project of this magnitude ever again. I've always believed in this city. I never believed in the negative narrative. It's our home.”

 

 

Greater Cleveland Partnership’s All In vision for a Great Region on a Great Lake has five key priorities: Dynamic Business, Abundant Talent, Inclusive Opportunity, Appealing Community and Business Confidence. All of our work ties back to these values. This story relates to Dynamic Business and Business Confidence.

For more information on Fahrenheit: About Fahrenheit Restaurant Cleveland (chefroccowhalen.com)