Jaja in Ohio City Returns to Its Roots With Chef Daniel del Prado and New Culinary Concepts

Jaja, Ohio City’s flagship restaurant, welcomes Chef Daniel del Prado back with bold plans, new menus, and inventive food and drink concepts.

If you’ve felt lost in the Ohio City restaurant shuffle lately, it’s time to put Jaja back on your radar. With celebrated chef Daniel del Prado returning to steer the ship, Jaja and the entire Intro complex are in for a much-needed reboot—think grill flames, Neapolitan pies, and a sparkling wine bar, all nestled in one of Cleveland’s most buzzworthy addresses.

Chef Daniel del Prado’s Cleveland Comeback

Del Prado—known for conquering Minneapolis’ food scene—originally launched Jaja with an eye toward his Argentinian and Italian heritage. After a brief hiatus, he’s back in control, determined to revive his signature vision for Intro. He’s bringing back the wood-fired grill, redesigning the kitchens, and dialing up the flavor and authenticity that made folks swoon in the first place. His creative approach? Give the neighborhood what it needs, not just what an out-of-town chef thinks it wants.

The All-New Jaja Menu: Fire and Flavor

Out with burger fatigue, in with drool-worthy dishes. Here’s a taste of what del Prado’s rebooted Jaja will bring:

Wood-fired steaks with that crave-able char
Handmade pastas inspired by his Italian roots
Fresh seafood that’s perfect for sharing
Small plates primed for passing among friends This isn’t your standard steakhouse or pasta joint—expect dishes that tell stories of Buenos Aires and Italian family tables, all with modern Cleveland flair.

A Fresh Spin on the Ohio City Dining Campus

Del Prado isn’t stopping with Jaja. The formerly splashy, now-shuttered Le Burger and Edda spaces are being revived into cool, crowd-pleasing concepts:

Olive Room: a cocktail bar opening in the three-season patio space, with panoramic views and a retractable roof for those blue-sky nights.
Trendy wine bar: taking over the old Edda Coffee Roasters spot, focusing strictly on great wine and elevated small plates (not your basic all-day café, thank you very much).
Dual casual food concepts: expect easygoing dishes for neighbors, commuters, and anyone craving an Italian-style pizza oven centerpiece. Bonus: you can order from two distinct menus while the energy buzzes around a shared bar.

Redesigning Spaces for Local Vibes

In true Cleveland fashion, the vibe shift isn’t just on the plate—it’s in the room. Expect fewer sterile-white walls and more warmth, color, and neighborhood personality in each reimagined concept. The idea is to break up the airy expanses of Intro into social, energetic hubs you’ll actually want to linger in. Whether you’re here for date night or a quick post-work bite, there’s a freshly-styled corner for you.

When and How You Can Experience the New Intro

Get your calendars ready:

New Jaja menu: Rolling out early fall 2024
Olive Room cocktail bar: Launching alongside Jaja’s new menu
Wine bar in former Edda space: Targeting October 2024 for opening
Two new food concepts: Details (and drool-worthy pizza) coming later in the year

These are destination spots, but you don’t have to be a reservation hawk or an Ohio City regular to get in. Just bring your appetite—and maybe a few friends who appreciate next-level cocktails and stellar small plates.

Why This Matters for Cleveland Food Fans

Sure, Cleveland has its share of local heroes, but a chef like del Prado brings fresh perspective and global flavor to our table. It’s about mixing Midwest warmth with South American fire and Italian tradition, all in a walkable, craveable Ohio City space. Intro’s new wave could be the catalyst our restaurant renaissance needs right now.

Ready for a new reason to revisit Ohio City? Keep your eyes on these spaces as they emerge—Jaja and its sister concepts are primed to steal the spotlight all over again.