A Lakewood brewpub is serving Hungarian lángos, chicken paprikás–stuffed pierogi, and a Cavaliers-themed IPA—and it's become one of the West Side's most talked-about destinations. Cleveland Magazine and Cleveland Scene covered Immigrant Son Brewing when it opened in October 2021. Owner Andrew Revy, a first-generation American whose parents fled Hungary just weeks before the 1956 revolution, named the brewery after himself and his family's immigrant story. The 9,000-square-foot space at 18120 Sloane Ave. pairs old-world technique with new-world style—and the response has been overwhelming.
Here's why Immigrant Son is worth the trip to Lakewood, what's on tap and on the menu, and what it says about the future of brewpub dining.
Lakewood Downtown Historic District—home to Immigrant Son Brewing on Sloane Avenue. (Catsmeowmeow, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Story Behind the Name
Immigrant Son is not just a place or a brand—it's an ongoing tale about coming to the table to break bread, share the best of ourselves, and toast to the road ahead. This is Cleveland captures the philosophy: "We are a culmination of our ancestors' wildest dreams. We have set our sights on creating an unequivocal, brighter present and future by honoring the best of our collective heritage and our roots."
Revy planned to open in summer 2021, but building delays—kicked off in March 2020, just as pandemic shutdowns hit—pushed the launch to October. "People have been waiting in anticipation, so I think the excitement is genuine," Revy told Cleveland Magazine. "We had to navigate disruptions to construction schedules, supplies and financing, but we stayed the course." The former Constantino's Market retained its towering wood beams and skylights while gaining an open dining room, a closed kitchen, and a glass-enclosed 10-barrel brewing system. The result is a space that feels both industrial and intimate—cathedral ceilings, exposed timber, and plenty of seating at standard tables, booths, high-tops, and a 15-seat bar.
Beer: Nearly 20 Varieties and a Cavs Legend
Brewmaster Erik Luli oversees a rotating selection of nearly 20 beers. The best way to get acquainted is by ordering a flight—four 5-ounce pours for $10. Classic styles like pilsner, saison, common ale, IPA, and stout are joined by seasonals like Festbier and Belgian dubbels. Cleveland Scene noted that "barflies around town will be seeing more and more tap handles devoted to ISB"—the brewery distributes cans to specialty beverage stores like Constantino's Market and Ross Beverage.
The standout is PerZverence IPA ($6), a citrusy 7.3% West Coast IPA named after Cleveland Cavaliers legend Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who soldiered on through near career-ending injuries to leave a storied legacy and lay roots in Northeast Ohio. Ten percent of proceeds go to a charity of Z and his wife's choosing. It's a nod to perseverance—and to Cleveland's immigrant and sports communities alike.
Hungarian lángos—the fried bread that Immigrant Son serves loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese curds, and chives. (Andrewszabo, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Food: Old World Comfort, Global Inspiration
Brewery menus typically consist of burgers and pretzels. Immigrant Son's menu attempts to represent the tastes of the world. "Both my parents immigrated here, so growing up as an immigrant son, the story of immigrants resonates with me," Revy told Cleveland Magazine. "Lángos and chicken paprikás are specific to my background, but I wasn't just looking to do Hungarian food. My wife is Greek, so the octopus is a nod to her. I wanted people to be able to come and enjoy options for all types of desires on a globally inspired menu."
Executive chef Rob Dippong, a Johnson & Wales grad who previously worked at Johnny's Downtown and Gigi's On Fairmount, delivers. The loaded lángos ($8)—three airy, crispy discs of Hungarian fried bread topped with butter, sour cream, cheese curds, and chives—are irresistible. A massive pierogi ($6) is stuffed with cheddar, pan-fried, and gilded with buttery onions and créme fraiche. For Cleveland Pierogi Week, the brewery offers chicken paprikash–stuffed pierogi with caramelized onions and Hungarian paprika creme fraiche. The chicken paprikás ($24) features skin-on, bone-in white meat and off-the-bone dark meat over luscious gravy-soaked spaetzle—immensely satisfying.
Dippong looks farther afield than Eastern Europe: Greek salad, French onion soup, Spanish-style grilled octopus ($15), banh mi ($14), and pan-roasted branzino ($27). Beer makes its way into the food—Kölsch-steamed mussels frites, porter-brined pork porterhouse, stout pot de crème. The fish and chips ($23) replaces predictable beer batter with an uber-crunchy potato crust concealing sweet, flaky walleye—exceptional. Weekend brunch (Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–3 PM) offers avocado toast, banana pancakes, croque monsieur, lamb shakshuka, and eggs Benedict on lángos instead of an English muffin.
Why Immigrant Son Stands Out in a Crowded Brewery Market
If you land in the camp of critics who believe Cleveland has too many breweries, know this: Immigrant Son is not your typical brewery. Cleveland Scene put it plainly: "Equal attention has been paid to the four main elements of the operation – beer, food, service and setting – so that even if you don't happen to fancy a frosty pint of crisp, clean, straw-colored Kölsch, you needn't sit there and squawk."
Breweries are notorious for serving crappy wine; Immigrant Son's glass pours and bottles—including a dry riesling from Mosel, Germany that pairs perfectly with the food—should appease oenophiles. Basic cocktails are covered too. The space can get loud when packed, which is often; an enclosed porch and outdoor patio offer quieter options. The brewery is a Cleveland Brewery Passport participant and a Pierogi Week Cleveland stop. Tuesday trivia at 7 PM and happy hour Monday–Friday 3–6 PM round out the draw.
A brewpub interior with bar and dining—the kind of space Immigrant Son delivers in Lakewood. (Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0)
The Synthesis: What Immigrant Son Teaches Brewpubs
Here's the intersection of the sources: Immigrant Son succeeds because it refuses to be "just a brewery." In a market where craft beer faces declining volume and brewery closings outpace openings, the survivors are those that offer more than beer. Revy understood that from day one. "Chef Rob has a wealth of knowledge, and Eric is going to be in the discussion for top brewers in Northeast Ohio," he told Cleveland Magazine. "The love of the food comes through. We have equal attention to the beer and the food."
That balance—beer and food as co-equal—is the lesson. The Ohio Craft Brewers Association lists Immigrant Son with amenities: taproom, beer to go, food, outdoor seating, child-friendly. But the real differentiator is the narrative. Immigrant Son tells a story: immigrant heritage, Cleveland sports, community partnership, Old World technique meets New World style. That story resonates in a city built by immigrants and in a neighborhood like Lakewood, where diversity and local business are valued.
Revy has since expanded—Sofia's Kitchen + Bar opened in the former Salt space on Detroit Ave., bringing Greek-inspired seasonal eats to another Lakewood landmark. Cleveland Magazine's Kate Bigam Kaput praised Sofia's as "impressive with seasonal eats and new energy in an iconic Lakewood spot." The growth suggests that the model works: brewpub as gathering place, as cultural celebration, as more than the sum of its taps.
Lakewood itself is worth the trip. The city's downtown historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, lines Detroit Avenue with century-old storefronts, restaurants, and bars. Immigrant Son sits on Sloane Avenue in West Lakewood—a short drive from the West Side Market, Ohio City, and downtown Cleveland. The neighborhood is walkable, diverse, and fiercely supportive of local business. "We partner with our neighbors and local vendors whenever possible," the brewery notes, "to support their wisdoms and expertise to bring you the freshest and most unique creations."
Hours are Monday–Thursday 3–10 PM, Friday 3–11 PM, Saturday 10 AM–11 PM (brunch 10 AM–3 PM), and Sunday 10 AM–9 PM (brunch 10 AM–3 PM). Reservations are available online; walk-ins are welcome but the space fills up, especially on weekend brunch and Tuesday trivia nights. Order online for pickup, or stop in for a pint and a plate. Immigrant Son is a place to come and gather, enjoy friends and family, and lift a pint—or a plate of pierogi—to the road ahead.
Sources: Cleveland Magazine – First Look: Immigrant Son Brewery Opens in Lakewood; Cleveland Scene – Review: Immigrant Son Brewing Is Already Hitting on All Cylinders in Lakewood; This is Cleveland – Immigrant Son Brewery; Ohio Craft Brewers Association – Immigrant Son Brewery; Pierogi Week Cleveland – Immigrant Son Brewing.
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