What a lovely restaurant with a nice view. We came around lunch time when they opened. My mother chose this restaurant to come for her birthday and we were pretty pleased with our experience. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly. The food was good and overall we had a nice time. Now to the food - we were served homemade baked bread with herbed whipped butter. Nothing as good as homemade bread. It was crusty on the outside and soft in the center. There was plenty left to take home. My sister and I both ordered the french onion soup. Soooo good and filling. The broth was flavorful with bits of onion and brown bread in each bite. The cheese was plentiful and melted just right. The soup was a meal in itself. I had to stop myself from eating the entire bowl to make room for my lunch. This soup is a winner. We all order the beer battered fried cod and shrimp dinner. I had fries and my mother and sister had fingerling potatoes. The coating didn't really have a beer batter flavor. I thought the coating was bland, but the fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly. The cod was meaty and the tiger shrimp were huge. The fries were crisp and cole slaw was freshly made. The fingerling potatoes were just okay. i didn't taste for myself, but that was my sister and mother's opinion. My mother and I also had a margarita on the rocks. To be honest, I didn't like my drink. I didn't see it prepared, but it tasted like it was perhaps made with club soda. It was slightly carbonated. It was not as tart and sweet as I like and just didn't have as much flavor as I expected. Not something I would order again. I also tried the diet root beer. I didn't get the brand name, but it was very good and refreshing. Overall, as mentioned we had a lovely time and I would certainly consider coming here again when visiting Cleveland. read more

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Don's Lighthouse is one of our three favorite venues on the West Side. We go there for lunch, for the ambiance, for the excellent friendly service, and great seafood. Sure, the price point is a bit higher, but so are our expectations...and they are always met. Today, a great Martini, great bread, terrific salads with salmon (trying to be healthy). Stop in and get to know the staff-they work hard. read more

Don's Lighthouse - Caesar Salad with grilled Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

We stopped in here on a Sunday evening and ate in the bar area. We decided to order tapas style and had: Walleye small bites for a starter, soup, escargot, beef & crab sliders and a Caesar salad. Everything was very good, but perhaps we enjoyed the Walleye small bites the most because they appear to be a local specialty and were quite tasty. All was washed down with an Argentine Malbec and a Reisling. A delightful place. The service was excellent as was the ambiance. read more

While visiting, my sister brought me here for Restaurant Week. The Restaurant Week listed lobster tail as an option, but we were told it had gotten too expensive. So we opted for the salmon and sirloin steak. The New England Clam Chowder was very good, salmon was good but not great, but the top sirloin was a total fail. I've spent years in the wholesale meat business, and although this steak was cooked medium rare it was tough. I did not say anything since it was obvious to me it had no age on it. A restaurant in their price range should have strict standards on steak quality and aging. Finally, the deserts were good. Ironically as we left there was a sign near the entrance hyping a special on the lobster at $10 off for Sunday and Thursday nights. read more

Don's Lighthouse provided a relaxed atmosphere, great wine and delicious dinner with a large portion. My Filet and Shrimp scampi were so delicious and well seasoned I almost didn't notice the asparagus and buttery mashed potato sides. I was put off when entering the place with a fishy smell and kitschy decor but once seated in the dining room our server was prompt and pleasant. I can't wait to come back and try another favorite dish. read more

Don's Lighthouse - Perfect medium in demi-glacé Filet and shrimp scampi - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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A co-worker and myself met for happy hour at this location after work one afternoon. I had arrived first so I went in and got us a table. Upon walking in the hostess was very friendly with a big smile on her face. She asked if I preferred dining room or lounge seating, I chose lounge seating so we could take advantage of Happy Hour. After getting seated I waited and waited and waited for someone to come over to me. After someone brought me water then I waited and waited and waited for the server to come take my drink order. About 10-12 minutes later the server finally came to me to ask me what I wanted to drink. This is the reason why I didn't give the place 5 stars. The food was great! We had the: Spinach & Artichoke Dip Smoked Gouda, cheddar and cream cheese, served hot with pita chips $3.75 We both thought it was amazing (and we've tried a lot of different restaurants around Cleveland) Stuffed Mushrooms Spinach, sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, sherry cream, Asiago cheese $4.25 Personally I wasn't too crazy about these mushrooms. Prince Edward Island Mussels Sautéed with sherry and garlic butter $5 AMAZING! Probably the best mussels I've ever had. Overall, the food was amazing, the drinks were good, the service was OK. read more

We dined here last night for my brother's birthday. I would have to say this is some of the best seafood in Cleveland. The calamari was outstanding; cooked to perfection, nice portion size, great for a starter. The seafood chowder was INCREDIBLE; hearty, fresh, and honestly left me wanting more. The Portuguese Stew was a really nice balance of scallops; mussels, and shrimp. I was really impressed by the quality of the scallops. Overall a nice place, our server was knowledgeable and professional. read more

Don's Lighthouse - Portuguese seafood stew - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Went last Sunday for dinner - very pleased. We walked in around 1800 and were seated immediately. Service was very good and the waiter was knowledgable about the menu, specials and wine list. Food was prompt and very good. I had the Steak and Lobster special, cooked to order, tasty and the lobster was done to perfection. Everyone else's food was very good as well. Overall, nice atmosphere - bit dated and if it weren't that I've had some of the best steaks Texas and Japan has to offer, this place would have rated a fifth star. I would recommend and go again. read more

Just an overall three star experience. I had the Miner Viognier wine and it was really good (very crisp and fruity--as described). I also had a great crab cake the honey that is served with it really made all the difference, but the clam chowder is bland and very potato heavy, and the bread is so thick and unruly. It's very crusty and hard to manage, crumbs get everywhere and it's just not a great dining experience. Also the service was slow, I felt ignored for a long time before we got to place a drink order and then again before we could place a food order. Might revisit for takeout. A lot of people around me were ordering lobster tails that looked good and the seafood stew was a hit with another member of my party. The decor is more of a miss for me, but I don't know that 20 somethings are really the target audience around here. read more

My husband and I were visiting Cleveland this past week. We had dinner on Tuesday September 14, 2021 at Don's Lighthouse. It was a very enjoyable evening. Mary O. was our waitress and she did a great job. She helped us with the menu, she did not rush us and conversed with us about Cleveland. The food was very nice, I had the stew and my husband had the walleye. I would definitely eat there again and would also recommend it to others. My only negative comment is the young ladies sitting at the bar, they were very loud and distracting, their party should have been in a back room. You could hear them throughout the restaurant. Thank you for the great dinner Emma from Indiana read more

Love the location and building. Near the lake. Great looking bar. We ordered dirty Martinis and they were very decent! Sunday night is their $4.50 a dozen special. They tasted sooo good. Very fresh and not covered in garlic or weird sauce. We also ordered the calamari. That too was delicious. It came with a mustard-type of dip, which was ok. I like a spicy red sausce myself. The service was excellent. I'd go back again! read more

I've got to start by saying I don't often write a review, but the experience I had at lunch required the praise. My parents used to dine at Don's Lighthouse when I was a child. I heard of the place growing up but have never had the privilege of dining there until recently (moved away for 15 years). A friend and I had both been wanting to try it so we decided to go in for lunch. We started with a bottle of the Paco & Lola Albarino. The wine is delicious, not too floral like some Albarino's but just the right balance of sweetness and minerality. Our first dish was the Calamari and what a delight! It was FANTASTIC! The Calamari was very tender and is served with a delicious lemon curry aioli, a definite win. Secondly we tried the Escargot... Though not our thing, I think it was more our personal taste and not the dish it self. The dish was tasty none the less, lots of garlic and parmesan. For my main dish I ordered the Portuguese Seafood Stew. I think by saying that I can't wait to go back and have it again says enough. It was filled with homemade pasta and a generous portion of seafood. I can't wrap this up without mentioning our incredible server, Laurie. Laurie went above and beyond to make our lunch a great experience. She knew the menu very well, offered suggestions and answered our questions in detail and with excitement. Thanks again Laurie for the awesome time! I hope you get to read this and know how much special you made our lunch! read more

Don's Lighthouse - Portuguese Seafood Stew - awesome! - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Got takeout during Cleveland Independents Restaurant week with my wife. Seafood chowder was rich and flavorful. Steak and lobster were perfectly cooked. Entree also came with mashed potatoes and either broccolini or green beans. (Large serving) . To top if off there was warm bread and a compound butter. Also included a chocolate mousse, sorbet or vanilla bean ice cream. To go containers were packed well. Hot with hot and cold with cold. read more

First time there; seating was available on Sat night (9/18) at 7:00! We had planned to eat at restaurant in Flats but it had a two hour wait! Menu and specials were enticing; we came there for seafood. Swordfish, Chilean Sea Bass, and Scallops were all superb with tasty side dishes and sauces. The crispy sourdough bread was devine and the wine selection perfect. A busy waiter took good care of us and included a delicious eclair for a birthday that we all shared. We will go back for sure! read more

Went here for a friend's birthday dinner and the ambiance is very nice great mood for a nice date. The food was average. The black grouper and potatoes were salty and the portion size was small especially for the price. The service is amazing though! Our waitress was very nice and attentive making this an enjoyable visit. read more

Don's Lighthouse - Black grouper - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Great food and great service. Our server was very nice and it was my birthdays so they gave complimentary dessert. I really enjoyed myself would def recommend read more

I think this restaurant was a very charming place. The food was awesome, the price was great and you got your money's worth . Plus our waitress was the best ever, just added great flavor to the restaurant Patty you get a 10+ in our book. My daughter flew in from LA for her birthday to be with family. Next trip to Cleveland I will definitely eat here again! read more

Had 0ver $200 in take out for the super bowl. Had a conflict, asked to speak to manager, who wanted to make sure I knew her name was LISA . she is a bully. I have been going here for 30 years and after this run in I will not be back. PETE I'm sure this is not how you would want customers to feel look into this person who is the face of your business. read more

Absolutely amazing! Their 1/2 price appetizer for happy hour is phenomenal. I had an order of crab cakes, mussels, stuffed mushrooms, and a bowl of seafood chowder. Some places will give out half portions or smaller versions during their happy hour, but not Don's. The mussels were on the smaller side, but there were probably two dozen of them! It was wonderfully flavored in garlic wine sauce and only cost me five bucks at half price. Seriously, what a steal. I'm not sure that my photo does it justice. The crab cakes ($6.95, half price) were also very good. They were on a sweeter side (drizzled honey I think?) but very well balanced with the creamy sauce. The mini salad also went well with it. The stuffed mushrooms had sun dried tomatoes and artichoke in them, covered in cheese, and sat in a sherry cream sauce ($4.50, half off). Again, amazing. It got to the point where I made my way to the ginormous bowl of seafood chowder ($7, not part of happy hour) and was too full to eat anymore. No worries, I had it wrapped up to-go. I can't believe that I walked away with all that food for under $30. Everything was very flavorful and I highly, highly recommend the mussels appetizer. The mussels are completely worth it at the full price of $10 too. Sherrie was my waiter and she was fantastic. Super friendly and great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Cleveland. read more

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Everything I've tried here is a 10/10... can't go wrong here. Sunday muscles with the surf and turf is amazing.

I chose this place because of the ambiance and location; also because of all the positive reviews. We were seated in a cramped corner; there were 6 of us. We were there celebrating a birthday and no one had been to this particular restaurant. The server was nice enough, not overly attentive or very personable. I had asked for someone to come to our table to give us a little history on the building; we were handed a printed out fact sheet. Now, the food was on point. Everyone enjoyed and mostly finished their dishes. I ordered the lemon caper salmon with mashed potatos and saute'ed spinach. I have not had a better cooked/tasting piece of salmon; it was divine. My S.O. had the filet and scampi; he said it was delicious. The only disappointment with the food was another table guest took the server's suggestion and ordered the pretzel coated walleye. It was dry and virtually tasteless sans the mustard aoli drizzled on top; the brussel sprouts saved his meal/experience. Over all, it was a great meal served in a cramped atmosphere with above average service. We decided we would give it another try if we are planning on coming back to that area in the future. read more

This is definitely an iconic restaurant in Cleveland. Living here all my life, I have visited Don's many times over the years. This particular visit was my first in about two years. The place still has that old school polished restaurant vibe to it. There are so few restaurants left that are like that so it is charming. It was Restaurant Week but we had to ask for the RW menu, which really irritates me as I think it should automatically be offered. Several Cleveland restaurants do this though and I'm not sure why. My tilapia seemed a little overcooked. However, the salmon and scrod were both done to perfection according to my dining companions. read more

Don's Lighthouse - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

I found Don's Lighthouse to be pretty OK. Parts of my meal were good and other parts of my experience were not. I opted for the three course meal special. I had the Brie and crackers, served with nuts and dried fruit, as an appetizer. That was good/hard to mess up. My entree was good too. I had the salmon, which perfectly crisped on the outside and tender on the inside. It was served with a healthy portion of sweet mashed potatoes. Dessert was a delectable cup of chocolate mousse. Now the not so good, our party included a vegan. They were out of seitan, vegan sour cream and made her vegan veggie stroganoff super watery. Ultimately, she just asked for a plate of veggies. The nice thing, though, is they owned up to their vegan shortcomings and comp'd her meal. read more

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If you are in the mood for quality seafood this place has got it. The food was incredible! We shared the calamari and I ordered the twin lobster tails for my birthday entree, which affordable and delicious!! The atmosphere is classic and clean and I loved the updated decor! The gave me a complimentary birthday dessert. What a great meal for my birthday. I heard they have an awesome happy hour too! Can't wait to try it. read more

The ownership should be proud of the staff at this fine dining establishment. Such a professionally run business from the valet forward. Excellent wait staff at all levels. Met some associates for a formal business lunch. Yes, they still take place in this day and age. Attentive waitress kept the excellent coffee flowing after each last sip. The meatloaf, burger, salmon, and perch were all excellent meals and very well prepared and presented. Keep up the great work and traditions Don's lighthouse! read more

They are delicious and service was great Took my mother here for 75th Birthday 10/2019 Awesome restaurant read more

Very fancy with great service. Most of the food is overrated but not bad. Spanish Dip is amazing though.

Let me start with we were giving a $250 gift card as a gift . We used every bit of it We started with 20 raw oysters, then lobster bisque. Then we ordered king crab legs , and double large lobster tails. Having lived in Maine I will say I have never been to a seafood restaurant that was as spot on with serves and food as Don's lighthouse is. It took us back to our time in Maine . read more

Don's Lighthouse - Best raw oysters - Seafood Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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This place was delish! I have not been here in years, decided to gondurong restaurant week. What an amazing idea. A girlfriend and I made a reservation for 6, we arrived a little early at 530 and was seated right away. We both decided to do the three course special for restaurant week. It was ONLY $33.00. This did not disappoint. I started with a basic ceaser salad, my main course was a steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus, for dessert a chocolate mouse. We also ordered a crab cake as an appetizer (we are greedy) and it was delish as well. Our waitress was pleasant and very attentive. The atmosphere was nice and it was crowded however service was still top notch! I will surely visit again! Great job! read more

At first glance this place seemed nice. However, we were escorted to the back of the restaurant where it was smelly and damp. I thought the $32 6oz steak would melt in my mouth but instead it was chewy! My husband got $32 for 4 scallops, rice and spinach. That was just okay too! The server was very brief each time she stopped by our table. Overall, all the hype we heard was for nothing. I would not come here again. Once again, I will only go to Longhorn for my steaks. Ruth Chris, please open back up, we miss you! read more

Just pulling up, I knew I was going to like this place. It's cute and quaint from the outside, warm and inviting inside. My dining companion and I each got a soup and salad. My tomato bisque soup was wonderful, seasoned just right and served piping hot. The salad was fresh and the dressing not overdone. Our wait person was not overly attentive, but did answer all the questions we had and arrived exactly when we needed them. I wouldn't say there is anything overly special about Don's Lighthouse in terms of the menu, but it seems like a Cleveland Institution and for that I'm glad I stopped in. read more

Went for a bday dinner. Six people were in my party and it really started off so so. Drinks were offered and they came out. Food was ordered and everyone meal came out in about 15 mins, not bad for a Saturday night. I ordered one of the special entrees ( corn meal crusted perch = fried fish) broccolini and risotto. After eating a piece of fish I removed the stalk from the broccoli and hair was in my food. A lot of hair around the broccolini stalk. Yuck!!! The manager did comp the meal but never apologized and neither did the server, which he was subpar for the start and was not welcoming at all. This was not my first time there, but likely my last. One friend sent her steak back unprepared, the other four loves their meals. read more

This restaurant is extremely unfriendly to those new to Cleveland. We literally moved to Cleveland this weekend and wanted to have a nice meal out in our new city. The website allowed me to make the only available reservation at 9:45pm. We arrived just shy of 10pm due to being unfamiliar with our new city. The restaurant very clearly states that they have a 15 minute grace policy for late reservation arrivals, so arriving right before 10pm should be no problem. WRONG. We were seated but then immediately met by whom I assume was the manager who said that they close at 10pm and the kitchen was currently closed and if we wanted to order we had to order NOW. I said that we had a 9:45pm reservation but was just a few minutes late. She came back at me again and noted it was 10pm and they are technically closed. I said we're new to the area and that's why we were slightly late. She again said the kitchen was closed and we had to order NOW. At this point, we didn't stick around. Who wants to stay and have the entire staff stare you down for keeping them "late"? Of note: there were about 3-4 tables seated so we weren't the only customers. Pro tip #1 to Management: if your kitchen closes at 10pm, do not allow a 9:45pm reservation to be booked. Or call and ask to move it to an earlier time. This is Restaurant Bookings 101. Pro tip #2: the manager came over to our table and spoke extremely loudly and emphatically at us, drawing attention to the situation by every table around. A more professional approach would have been a low-toned conversation explaining the situation and offering a solution that meets both the needs of the staff and diners. Demanding we order NOW is not a solution that meets the needs of the diners. read more

Great happy hour here on Fridays. Excellent appetizers. Had The PEI Mussels, they were great! Bar tenders are very Friendly, will definitely be back. read more

So I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now and I was finally able to last night. Boy was I disappointed. First off the service was ok, the staff definitely had no life in them. Just the mood was very dull. Second, the food was bland, extremely bland. Between my girlfriend and I, we ordered the bruschetta which looked like the sorriest bruschetta I have ever seen. The bread barely had bruschetta on it! Not worth the price at all. We also ordered the lobster bisque which was bland as well. We have had better lobster bisque at Zoup. For our main course my girlfriend ordered the lobster tail and I had the sockeye salmon special. Both came out bland and we didn't even finish our meals. We were both very disappointed with the quality of food. If your gotta put out bad food at least lower the price tag Don's. Will not be going back unfortunately. read more

Upscale setting with responsive service. There are some enticing happy hour deals on appetizers and cocktails ($5.50 martinis), and after a very filling spinach/artichoke dip I ended up not staying for dinner. The menu is fairly seafood-heavy, slightly affecting the smell of the restaurant which will not be an issue for most people. read more

I've wanted to visit this restaurant for years and we finally made it there to try out their offerings for Cleveland Independent Restaurant Week. The place is nicely decorated and the service was very good. I started with the stuffed mushrooms and my husband had the seafood chowder. Both were good although my mushrooms were a little cold. We both had the steak Oscar for our entrees. The steak came with creamy mashed potatoes and asparagus. We both enjoyed the entrees but my steak was under cooked. I didn't send it back but it was fairly red for a medium well done steak. We both had the chocolate mousse for dessert and it was delicious! Very chocolatey! I'm not sure if we will head back to Don's Lighthouse anytime soon. Our meal was good and, since it was Restaurant Week, the price was great. But, based on the prices of the other offerings on the menu, there are a lot of other places I'd like to try in the same price point. read more

Extremely disappointed!!!!! Overpriced... My Calamari was too greasy and so salty I had to take a gulp of water with every bite I was forced to push down , since I was so hungry but the server did not offer to replace it and instead just shrugged it of and proceeded to tell my her own struggles with high blood pressure , implying that it was my fault for not requesting a NO salt order prior to placing it ... The place was literally a ghost town ... So it's not like they were swamped. That was just the appetizer . My $7.00 tiny cup of soup that was supposed to be seafood soup had absolutely no seafood .I just filled up on the bread that the server bragged the fact that it's from dread smith . I was so distrait that I just took my other appetizer ( crab cake that was swimming in some kind of sugary syrup to camouflage that fact that it was not fresh and that it was mostly corn and some other mysterious fillers .... Oh yeah I did actually take one single bite ) to go . At that point I just wanted to get the hell out so I ended up not ordering a main course and opting for just a miserable espresso that the server lady ( who was elderly and seemed extremely tired of work and life ) graciously announced that they don't have cappuccinos but she'll make for me ... And naturally serve I a cheap plasticy looking cup & saucer ... Any self respecting coffee connaisseur knows the importance of the CUP . Horrible experience... I know first hand why Cleveland, Ohio gets a bad rep . ... And it's only getting worse . Am definitely going back home to Casablanca, Morocco , where I can have all the fresh fish and seafood to my heart's content ... I can have it à La Marocaine or if am I the mood à La Carte ... The authentic French way . Where for $ 60.00 I can host a dinner party ... Instead of a half assed miserly lunch .... What a rip off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

The food was great. The reason for 4 stars is I wish they had more gluten free side dish items and appetizers. They bring bread out to the table and it would be nice if they had a gluten-free option for people with serious allergies. read more

Service and food were ok. I will come back only to try happy hour, but will pass on the special occasions. As a server myself, I will not elaborate and never wish to cause ill will on anyone, but just would have liked to have a nicer experience. Times like these make me become more aware of my own self and how I am perceived by guests at my job, making me a better server, so I thank them for that at least. read more