John Cleveland

The Climb

Since 2019, Post & Beam has tracked John Cleveland through a sequence of titles — chef, co-owner, Head Chef, owner — that reads less like a ladder than a gradual consolidation of responsibility. Each step marks a deeper claim on the same restaurant, with the work accumulating through time rather than changing direction.

Today

Cleveland has described the menu in direct terms, and that directness suits a kitchen built on crowd favorites. “We’re also bringing back some of our other crowd favorites, like the jerk-marinated fried catfish and slow-braised short ribs.” The dishes point toward comfort food with recognizable weight, the kind of cooking meant to land with familiarity. He has spoken just as plainly about service, treating hospitality as something practical and immediate. “Get something to drink with it. Since we’re full service, with a full liquor license, we made these combo specials like a pizza and a cocktail for $20.” The setup is straightforward: a full-service room, a drink alongside the plate, and a price built for easy ordering.

Signature

John’s signature dishes include jerk-marinated fried catfish, slow-braised short ribs, pizza, tender, delicate, and lightly sweet mincemeat cookies. Taken together, they show a kitchen working across savory depth and a softer finish, with pizza carrying the broad, familiar center of the menu and the cookies landing on the delicate side of the register.

In Their Words “We got heavy into pizza this year. It’s my son’s favorite food to eat, and it works for us as a family. We probably eat at least a pizza a day.” “We’re also bringing back some of our other crowd favorites, like the jerk-marinated fried catfish and slow-braised short ribs.”

Recognition

The clearest markers of Cleveland’s progress are his roles at Post & Beam: chef and co-owner in 2021 and Head Chef and owner in 2024. Those dates show how the restaurant’s authority has gathered around his work, moving from shared stewardship to the top kitchen role without changing the address or the name on the door.