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!

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.

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!

I greatly appreciate this coming into the area and I hope they are successful. If you are in the…read morearea it's solid to try out. Pros: free parking lot, many menu options in different genres, nice ambiance, outside seating. Salads are really ample and the pewter mug one is really good. We two strange experiences here with drinks taking 30 mins and super slow service twice when they first opened that has turned us off from visiting again but to be fair to them it may have been a learning curve and they probably have it sorted out by now. We will give it another shot at some point and I will up my review if warranted.

Gigi's is fantastic and has amazing vibes inside and out. They even keep music piping outside even…read morewhen they're not open and the ambiance is the best in the area from my experience. It is definitely on the formal side. The food is top notch and some of our favorite items are the bruschettas and salads. Very nice spot for a date night or special occasion or out of town guests. I appreciate greatly from them that you can select in your reservation which zone of the restaurant you want to sit in. Service has been very good when we've been there most recently Corinne I believe her name was was very friendly and helpful and did an amazing job managing many tables some with difficult customers. One note, NOT a negative to me but may be noteworthy for some: I don't think Gigi's is a spot for kids or large family events with kids, unless they have a private dining space I'm unaware of. Space between tables is tight and the space overall is not huge but they make great use of the space. The staff are extremely efficient and there are many of them moving with trays at any given time, it's absolutely not a spot to walk around with a toddler if they get bored at the table. The chairs for example are also small so don't expect a giant family size booth here. Again these are positives to me but just notes!

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!

Delicious wines such as the Rose and peach Chardonnay. Many made in house which is amazing. Super…read morefresh. Love the flight option!

One of our favorite date spots! Lovely patio area for a summer evening and the service is fast (:read more

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!

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.

Taste cancelled my Valentines reservation without notice about 24 hours before the date, because…read morethey had an issue with their OpenTable application. I gave a number of calls and kept trying to get in touch with a manager, but they would never call back. I finally received a call months later from the owner (Raj) and asked how they'd make it right. He offered me 25% off which I didn't think was good enough, and he told me "nothings good enough for you, nothings good enough in this country" and then hung up on me. I've seen plenty of bad reviews on this owner, seems like he's a pretty shitty dude who also doesn't pay his live entertainment either, good luck to this place.

My family and I had the most wonderful time at The Capital Grille celebrating my parents' 50th…read morewedding anniversary. I made our reservation through OpenTable and included a few special requests. Every one of them was honored, including providing mocktails for the celebratory toast since my parents don't drink alcohol. The staff truly helped make their evening extra special. Our waitress, Sara, was exceptional! She was personable, warm, knowledgeable, and attentive. She went above and beyond effortlessly, making us feel genuinely cared for throughout the evening. She is truly a gem at The Capital Grille. The food was absolutely delicious! We enjoyed everything we ordered, and everyone had wonderful things to say about their meal. Even the mocktail was fantastic. I usually order an alcoholic drink when I dine out, but I would happily order that mocktail again. To top off the evening, they surprised us with celebratory desserts, which made the night even more special. If you're looking for the perfect restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, choose The Capital Grille. From the outstanding service to the delicious food and thoughtful attention to detail, they helped create an unforgettable evening for my parents' milestone celebration. You'll be glad you did!

This used to be one of my favorite steak houses. The food was always great, the customer service…read morewas top tier, and it felt like a true night out. Unfortunately, it just does not feel like the same place anymore. First, the addition of high tops really changes the atmosphere. What once felt upscale and classic now leans more "sports bar with expensive steaks." Maybe that is just me, but part of the appeal was the elegance and experience. Then came the steaks. We ordered three expensive steaks medium, and before they even came out, the waiter realized the kitchen heard "well done." We politely asked for it to be corrected before the food hit the table. Somehow, one still arrived well done anyway. Thankfully, someone at the table took one for the team and ate it, but when dinner runs around $600, you hope the steaks and the temperatures are both memorable for the right reasons. At one point, a side dish was dropped on the floor. Accidents happen, no big deal. But we did have to gently clarify that yes, we would still like the dish... just preferably not the "farm to floor" version. The disappointing part is that I had promised a fantastic worker and his amazing wife a really special night out. This unfortunately was not it. I genuinely hope this was just an off night, because this place used to set the standard. For now though, we will probably try another steakhouse next time.

Agostino's is my favorite spot in Little Italy. Originally came on a whim on some random Thursday…read morenight post Grog Shop show and was met with some of the best food I've had on this side of Cleveland. Service is a bit slow but every time I've come I'm not looking to dine as quickly as possible, they are attentive and friendly. The red sauce is immaculate, sweet and rich. Every dish I've tried is so flavorful. I love the bread service they give as an option, as well as the pasta. You can really taste the care and love they have for the food. Valentines Day was spectacular. Incredible live performances and singing. It was packed but the dining room was beautiful and bustling. Had a great time and will be back for countless more meals. Thank yall so much

Our server was super attentive and fun. If not for her, we would have left before ordering. We had…read morereservations for 6. The table was ready. That is the highlight of the night. It took an hour, an hour, an hour to get our drinks which consisted of two bottles of wine, a beer and a spritz. An hour. I am not exaggerating. After AN HOUR we placed our order. The mains were not anything special. Honestly, this was ridiculous. There are so many good places to dine in CLE Little Italy. This is not one of them.

Was there for lunch and they have a nice menu with bbq chicken and brisket. I ordered the brisket…read moresandwich and it was very good. If I hadn't need to drive, I would have tried one of their bourbon offerings. The restaurant is decorated nicely and service was excellent. Food came out pretty quickly. Do recommend this place.

To me, this place is a mix of good, bad, and ugly…read more The good: I went with my family a couple weeks ago and spent close to $200 on trying pretty much one of everything on their menu. We had a brisket sandwich, two of their burgers, a polish boy, fries, onion rings, and their bbq sundae. Safe to say their food is some of the best BBQ I've ever had the opportunity to try. The seasoning, temperature, and flavor were all on point. These people know what they're doing in the kitchen. The bad: Notice how I said they know what they're doing in the kitchen. In terms of customer service, it was a different story. They make it extremely hard for you to obtain a reservation and they are mostly full when they do decide to open. I had been trying to get a reservation at this place or even order online for weeks now and I could not manage to. I called every time I wanted to at least order some food to go and the phone went to voicemail every single time. Apple Maps has hours posted, as well as google and yelp, however none of them are consistent. They seem to open whenever they please and make the customer feel like they have to hunt for them, like the customer needs their brisket more than they need your money (it is a business, after all.) The ugly; I have managed to sit and eat at this place a total of two times out of an attempted estimated 15. When I picked up food, they said they replaced my mashed potatoes with fries because they did not have mashed potatoes. It was not the end of the night. The second time they were out of their mushroom Swiss burger for some reason. Lastly, their food is NOT cheap at all. One sandwich and fries costs $25-40. Their taste delivers and justifies such an expensive price point however the journey to get the dish you want from them in front of you is a horrible experience.