What a surprise, right here in Cleveland Heights, the place I grew up. I've been parking in the…read moreback lot for years and never ventured inside. Now, I know what I was missing and will be back for more visits. My daughter and I enjoyed a charcuterie board and each had a glass of wine: Vermentino for me, orange wine for my daughter. As we sat at the table, we watched a constant stream of shoppers selecting wines from the extensive collection from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France and more. The place is spacious and inviting.

Wine Spot is a versatile space in Cedar Lee neighborhood in Cleveland Heights. The spot allows you…read moreto shop for wine, gifts, or linger with a lovely glass of wine. It's like a wine shop meets date spot. I've been here multiple times over the years for dates, solo evenings, and Cleveland Heights Neighborhood Beer Crawl. Wine Spot was a nice backdrop for all these days. INVENTORY: You'll find an entire long wall of various wines organized by the type of wine. You'll find Dom Perignon and wines under $35 coexisting in the same space. You'll also find beers, THC drinks, sake, and a lot more. You'll also find so much beyond wine - sardines, chocolate, and gift baskets. It's an ideal location to shop for gifts and build a basket. I don't have any particular recommendations. I usually ask staff for recommendations and gravitate toward white wines. Except during CLE Beer week I tried two different beers here - Executive Decision by the Butcher and the Brewer, Yakima Chief Forward from Fat Heads Brewery. AMBIANCE: Market vibes with tables and bar available for guests. The ambiance is nice, casual, quiet enough for a date. There is a lot of space for groups including a private room. SERVICE: Service is pretty friendly but tends to be slower. What I love about here is that they can chill wine bottles upon purchase. You can immediately go home with a chilled bottle of wine and get into your evening. Aside from this reason, there are plenty to do at the winery - events, monthly wine club, and more. Long story short, visit!

New restaurant for me! I love it when I find a fresh dinner spot! 56 Social is located in Shaker…read moreHeights in the former J. Pistone Market. I'm glad the space is flourishing. For brunch on a Saturday, I chose the Sweet & Spicy Avocado, served beautifully on a rectangular dish. The $10 item includes smashed avocado, marinated tomato, radish, spicy agave drizzle, on toasted harvest grain. I plan to return soon!

The restaurant was very clean and pleasant. The service was fantastic. Our waitress and everyone we…read morecame in contact with was very nice and super helpful. The value was not there. I was with my wife, my sister, her boyfriend, and my young nephew. Because we were celebrating a special occasion, we shared a couple of apps, and we each got an entree and a pastry of some kind for dessert. Slightly extra. The bill was about $50 per person. The food was fine, but not notable in any way. The desserts were very tasty. I suspect that if I return it will be for a night cap on a date night with my wife - coffee and a pastry or whatever.

We used Gigi's for our wedding venue, with 25 guests in the Blue Room. The room is eclectic and…read morelovely and accommodated space for the ceremony, for dining tables and for dancing. The food was phenomenal. Kate O'Rourke was so wonderful to work with. We chose appetizers for a cocktail hour, then a salad course and 3 different entrees that were served family style, followed by desserts. Our guests were greeted with champagne to sip while waiting for the ceremony to start; and we also chose 4 different wines and beer for the evening. The serving staff were outstanding! They were professional and attentive. Lastly, Kate O'Rourke was a joy to work with from start to finish, both in planning our wedding with her and for the actual day itself. Our guests are still raving about how awesome the evening was.

Gigi's has been on my bucket list for years. I finally made a reservation for my birthday and…read moreenjoyed every bit of it. Atmosphere inside Gigi's may be one of the best parts about it. We were fortunate enough to sit by the front window and had a clear view of the restaurant and the street. The staff was very friendly and very helpful and they did a great job. We started off with their famous bruschetta and we're not disappointed. So many choices and so hard to pick, but we loved every bit of it. For entrees, we had the signature lasagna that was fantastic and a special from what I remember was short rib and couscous. Everything was very delicious. The only downside coming to this wonderful restaurant is parking. I had to park two streets over and walking on icy and snowy sidewalks was not pleasant.

This was my first time at CLE Urban Winery, although I've know about this destination for a long…read moretime. YELP Elites held an event there tonight, and the vibes were rockin'! The venue is decorated in Cleveland art. There are couches, chairs, a long bar and tables of varying sizes for cozy get togethers. We started with a mini charcuterie. We then learned that 50 types of wine are made on the premises! We were treated to a wine flight of 4 varieties. I chose the Buckeye Blackberry Merlot. The Elite event included a DIY terrarium bar, hosted by Peace Lily Boutique Plant Shop. I finally have a new plant in my house after the long winter. It was great meeting YELP Elites. Thanks for hosting the event!

Loved this gem in the middle of the city. Great place to chill and sip some wine and chat with the…read moreowner.

Eight (!) years ago my friend recommended her favorite place - The Fairmount. She emphasized that…read morethe ambiance and cocktails are something to experience. Eight years worth of Fairmount moments later, this review is well overdue. AMBIANCE: The ambiance allows you to slow down and enjoy your company. The restaurant is dim lit, has fireplaces, and loungey atmosphere. It somehow feels warm and I heard a lot of people refer to it as a second home (people are always so friendly here!). There is ample space - three bars, main dining space, and huge outdoor oasis bar. Nestled in Cedar Fairmount neighborhood, you'll also be able to enjoy historic neighborhood. There are seating arrangements if you're craving company or want to enjoy your date. Seating options include couches by the fireplace, tables, and high tops. Fairmount is delightful during every season. During the summer you can enjoy the bar and patio. In the winter you can dine at the igloos. I prefer all seasons here. FOOD/DRINKS: The menu at Fairmount is impressive and has exciting seasonal/weekly additions. You'll never get bored. The cocktails here are refined, very boozy, and very well crafted. The food is seriously delicious, and consistent every single time. I've been impressed with every dish. The dishes and drinks frequently follow the seasons. During my latest visit I enjoyed Butter Pecan Warm Cider with bourbon ($12, so bold and boozy, tastes like fall). I also ordered Fig Trouble Little China ($15, a more rich version of Old Fashioned, so delicious). I also tasted Short Rib & Risotto for the very first time ($28, such a delicious dish, every bite was just amazing). My favorites? Ah, so hard! I'll go with the Fairmount Burger! It's angus beef burger with bacon-fig chutney. It's so delicious! I can't even be serious about meat at the other burger places, this is easily the best burger in the city. My seasonal favorite? Kevin McCallister seasonal drink that resembles coquito or eggnog. The drink is topped with rice paper that includes the design of Kevin from Home Alone. It's such a fun tradition! I look forward to this drink all year and always tell the world about it! SERVICE: The service is excellent. I haven't been anywhere where service is right on point every single time. Everyone is nice - the owner, hosts, and waitstaff. You truly feel seen and like the most important guest. I've visited previously while on dates and frequently dine here solo, always had the most pleasant service. EVENTS: Many people book events here for their non-profits or companies. As far as individual events, Fairmount hosts a fun NYE party every year! PARKING: Onsite parking lot is available at the back of the building. You can enter through the front doors on Cedar or right through the parking lot door. There are numerous reasons why I love the Fairmount. I consider it to be the best dining experience in the Cedar Fairmount neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. I also love how the owner Jake is very engaged in the community and is incredibly friendly with the surrounding business owners. I'll choose this place again and again for calming ambiance, crafted cocktails, and delicious food. To many more years of Fairmount and at Fairmount!

Great food and service! The burger was juicy. The sticky rice bowl with tuna was fantastic!read more

Happy New Year 2026 I pray all is well…read moreI ventured out to The Taste restaurant in Cleveland heights Ohio. I had not been there in a very long time maybe a couple of years I wanted to take my daughter for her birthday somewhere different As I remembered the Taste restaurant was still top of the line for a great cuisine the food was still amazing as I remembered two years ago Unfortunately , restaurants sometimes turn over for waiters or waitresses is frequent Unfortunately none of the great people that were there some years ago were there. But there was a very beautiful young lady who was the hostess quite gorgeous and a beautiful personality. Unfortunately the gentleman who was our waiter Did not have the personality for the job at hand He was very bland no conversation nothing to help or add to your experience to the restaurant I had raved to my daughter how fantastic this place was but I also told her it was 2 years ago. To me the wonderful waiters and waitress who attend I think it's important that they have a beautiful personality and outgoing with people because that's what they're going to be doing is working with all sorts of people and when you don't have that asset it makes it difficult in that field So unfortunately we did not stay long of course the meal the food was amazing as always but we were not made to feel warm or welcome at all from our waiter He just did the bare minimum come take our order come bring our food and very seldom did he come check to see if we were in need of anything else Maybe he was having a bad day but in life when you work certain jobs you need to know how to turn that off and turn on what you need to work or stay at home until your day is better. So I'm praying that if I ever go back there again I'll see some of the bubbly waiters and waitress who make your dining experience amazing. But as far as Taste the restaurant is still amazing the cuisine is fantastic the atmosphere was wonderful there was live music of a pianist who was amazing so that's still there. Peace n Blessings

I did everything right. I used the reservation system as instructed. I specified my preferences…read moreclearly: dining room, no bar, no high tops. I followed the rules -- their rules -- to the letter. I showed up on time. The hostess greeted me with an offer of the bar or a high top. I reminded her of my reservation and its stated requirements. What followed was not an apology, not a solution, not even an acknowledgment that a commitment had been made and broken. What followed was the punishment table -- the one tucked by the front door, the one that gets a gust of cold air every time it opens, the one they keep in reserve for walk-ins who couldn't be bothered to plan ahead. That table was my reward for planning ahead. The food is good. The service staff is attentive and professional. They are not the problem. The problem lives at the front of the house, where someone decided that a confirmed reservation with documented preferences was merely a suggestion -- and that a guest who politely insisted otherwise deserved to be seated accordingly. This is not a mistake. A mistake is forgetting to note a preference. What happened here was a choice -- to ignore the request, and then to seat me in a manner that made the power dynamic unmistakably clear. I was being told, without a word being spoken, that my preferences were an inconvenience. I won't be back. Not because of the food. Not because of the servers who do their jobs with grace. But because a restaurant that treats a reservation as an obligation only when it's convenient has made its values plain. My patronage apparently required more courtesy than they were prepared to extend. The food deserves better management. Lee Road deserves better options. You've been warned.

Met with some coworkers for a business dinner. The location is beautiful and warm, with round…read morebooths perfect for a casual business gathering. Service was amazing as always, and we never had to ask for anything. We tried a few appetizers: calamari, bacon, truffle fries and salads. Everything was delicious, the calamari was especially perfectly light and crispy with cherry peppers. Chef's kiss! All our steaks and sides were cooked perfectly, though we felt the steaks could have been seasoned more. We had filets and a strip. Sides were all delicious: mashed, truffle fries, creamed spinach, and Brussels sprouts. Will definitely return to this location if I'm in the area again

I eat out fairly often for work, so I really appreciate when a place gets it right -- and this one…read moreabsolutely did. From the moment we sat down, the service stood out. It was attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling over the top. Truly exceptional. We were a small group and had a wonderful meal. The filet was cooked perfectly and incredibly tender. The scalloped potatoes and creamed corn were very good, and the cheesecake with fresh berries was absolutely delicious -- a perfect ending to the evening. Overall, a fantastic experience, and I'd happily return.

Amazing service !! Food was top tier and very authentic. Felt like I was sitting in someone's…read morekitchen !! Fried motz is next level and the best marinara I've ever had !!! SHANE is the best and took extra great care of us the entire time. Couldn't recommend him enough. Parmesan cream sauce and the grilled and fried chicken are both so great ! Drinks are tasty!

The bruschetta was amazing. Large crusty pieces of bread on the outside and tender bread in the…read morecenter. Tomatoes and basil had a delicious blend of flavors. Our chicken Marsala was a nice proportion and also very delicious. The waiter was polite and friendly. Would definitely eat here again . Price reasonable too!

Get a free 12 oz of coffee here with any coffee beans purchase!…read more Rising Star Roasters is my destination for a strong cup of coffee. It's by far my favorite local coffee shop chain. I frequent this location inside Van Aken Market Hall. This coffee stand is located right as you walk into the main doors of the market hall. You'll need to go to the counter, order your food and/or drinks, and wait for the order to be called (typical coffee shop experience). Wait can be a little long during peak hours but it's worth it! You can then select various seating options inside the market or outside. Various options are available inside - comfy leather-like couches, leather-like booths, individual or group tables, and high tops. Outside you'll find tables immediately outside of the Van Aken Market Hall or seasonally on the lawn. If you stop by during the right times, you'll find the district bustling with music and seasonal events. It's also always a good idea to pick up a cup of coffee then go cowork at AO or browse the local shops. The menu at this and other locations is concise and simple. You can get brewed coffee, tea, espresso, lattes, and seasonal drinks. The menu is straightforward and not confusing. My morning go-to's are usually perfectly strong iced coffees. I also always pick up something from the specials menu. All specialty drinks are very well made and consistently prepared. I have never had any drinks here that disappointed me. Small batch snacks are available at this location such as croissants and tea biscuits. I sometimes purchase a snack here or patronize other vendors at the market. All coffee beans at Rising Star are top notch. I recently learned that they have a dedicated coffee buyer who travels to coffee farms and brings coffee back to Cleveland. They're also incredibly serious about their roasting process and have a local roastery. How amazing is that especially for a local coffee shop?! You can pick up beans at their location that are named after regions of where the coffee farms are located. Each coffee bean bag has taste notes listed on the bag, choose your adventure! Coffee bean bag prices vary from $16-19. They'll roast them for you and tailor to your coffee preparation method (i.e. coffee press). If you purchase coffee beans in store, you can get free 12 oz drip coffee! You can also order them online and they'll be roasted within 48 hours of shipping. I love to explore their coffees, get something new every time. I highly recommend this location for your coffee cravings! While you're here, look out for notNeutral coffee mug - sleek, 12 oz, and must have. In the words of Rising Star, "a laser-etched Rising Star emblem adds a subtle, sophisticated touch to the side of each piece."

I usually wouldn't spent $6.25 on a coffee but rising star coffee is top notch. My usual cappuccino…read more(which is about $3.25) just wouldn't do when I saw that they had a Mayan mocha on special. Coffee + chocolate + cayenne? Say less! This has become a treat for me while it's in season. Once this special is over I'll return to my old ways. It's so worth every penny. I get it with whole milk. I also love the latte art they do. Check out rising star! Service is always quick and the workers are patient and sweet!