Gastronomy meets the galaxy at Tower City Center’s newest addition, The Astro Restaurant, which is now open at 230 W. Huron Rd. in the former home of the Hard Rock Cafe.

Billed as a “cosmic dining experience,” The Astro blends sci-fi decor with a “stellar” menu named after cinematic characters, ships, and planets.

Think silver barstools gleaming under futuristic lighting, servers gliding past diners in flight suits, and even Darth Vader himself pacing the restaurant floor—all while the bar staff crafts cocktails dressed as characters from the 1997 classic film "Men in Black," a fitting homage for the aptly-named MIB Bar.

“It's a vibe,” says managing partner Andre Scott. “We’re giving you a dining experience. A lot of people give you good food, but we're going to give you good food, good customer service, and an experience while you're dining in the downtown atmosphere.”

Astro logo on the front doorScott is one-quarter of the creative and dynamic hospitality group behind The Astro, alongside fellow Clevelanders Ryan Gullatt, Christopher Thomas, and Jeremiah Burks. They're also the creative minds behind the popular Haunted House Restaurant in Cleveland Heights, with plans for a second location soon to open in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Sleep isn’t really in my forecast right now,” Scott laughs.

With a 9,000-square-foot space, the partners had a lot of work to do to transform the former Hard Rock Cafe into The Astro after it had sat vacant for seven years.

To help with the transformation, Scott and his team sourced some local artistic talent. brought in Cleveland mural artist Isaiah “Starbeing” Williams, whose work is already featured in Haunted House, and he worked with the Cleveland Metroparks and LAND studio last year on the mural “The Emerald Necklace,” which can be seen in the Flats near Merwin’s Wharf.

The group also brought on up-and-coming artist Derek Walker to paint floor-to-ceiling murals featuring iconic characters from The Jetsons, Star Wars, Superman, and the Transformers—just to name a few classics.

While planning the theme and looking for the space, Scott says the biggest challenge was figuring out how to paint the large stairway leading downstairs to the bathrooms. To accomplish the task, they had to bring in a lift and temporarily tear out a wall. The project took almost two months.

“That was probably the biggest hurdle, but it was still, like, it wasn't a bad hurdle,” Scott reflects. “The space is huge—we had the two artists working together at the same time to get it done, and they both did an amazing job. [The murals are] iconic.”

The restaurant now has seating for just under 200 guests, plus 30 barstools in the MIB Bar, and an additional private space to accommodate larger parties.

Patrons can enjoy a diverse menu that blends contemporary American cuisine with international flavors, all with a playful space-themed twist. The team put a lot of thought into planning the menu, says Scott, making sure to cater to a variety of tastes, including kids.

Dishes range from salads and seafood to pasta and gourmet burgers, including George's Grits and Shrimp ($24.99), Spaghetti in Space ($24.99), and Loki's Lime Pie ($10.99). Adding to the fun, each burger bun is uniquely charred with The Astro's logo.

“My favorite from the appetizer side is our lobster rolls,” shares Scott. “They're hot buttered, toasted buns. From the entree side, the peach Hennessy ribs are called the Mon-Star. They're tender. They fall off the bone. Those are really good.”

Drinks at the MIB bar, with names like Tatooine Sunset and 3rd Rock from the Sun, are also on theme. The latter is a sight to see—it’s served in a globe-like glass and looks like planet Earth. Not surprisingly, Men in Black fan Scott's personal drink of choice is called The Nebulizer.

The Astro Restaurant muralScott says there is really something for everyone at The Astro. “You don't find a lot of places downtown that are also family-friendly,” he affirms. “You can bring your kids down here. Date night, girl’s night out, anniversary, family night—you can’t do all of these things at a lot of the restaurants downtown. You can at The Astro.”

The central Downtown location—particularly in the landmark Tower City—is especially thrilling for Scott and the team.

“I'm an 80s baby. I used to go to Shaker Square and take the Blue Line rapid down [to Tower City],” he shares. “Seeing that it’s starting to get that heartbeat back and we're going to be a part of that heartbeat with a dope concept and a great vibe, we love it.”

The Astro team has a birthday party package in the work that features light sabers and visits from Darth Vader. There is also the imminent launch of weekend brunch later this month, The Astro's journey has only just begun.

“We want diners to feel like they got what they came for," Scott concludes. “From the artistry to the feel-good music to the good food to the service—I think you're going to feel good leaving and want to come back.”

The Astro Restaurant welcomes diners Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Walk-ins and reservations are accepted. Valet parking is available in front of the restaurant.