We stopped by Laughing Bomb Brewery on a whim, curious to see what had taken over the former John Christ Winery location. The concept--part winery, part brewery--definitely intrigued us, and I'll say right off the bat: the service staff was truly fantastic. Friendly, attentive, and clearly putting in the effort to make guests feel welcome. That said, the overall experience was a bit of a mixed bag. The seasonal mixed drinks were creative and fun, and the fries were surprisingly solid. Unfortunately, the spicy chicken sandwich was underwhelming--bland, without much heat or flavor--and the buffalo chicken dip was just decent. With a pretty limited food menu, we found ourselves wishing for a few more standout options to round out the visit. To be fair, we didn't sample any of their craft beers, which could very well be the highlight of the place. But for a Friday happy hour at 5:30, the sparse crowd (just eight people, including us) made the atmosphere feel more quiet than energetic. I genuinely want to root for a local spot like this, and I admire what they're trying to build. But based on our experience, this feels like a one-and-done for us. I'm still giving it 3 stars , largely because the staff really did make the best impression of the night--and that counts for a lot. read more

See all

It has been a bit since I reviewed this amazing place, and given their updated menu, I felt now was a great time. We have certainly become a "regular" here. We love the events they have, especially Thursday Trivia. And I also love their fun seasonal drinks. As vegetarians, we love that there are great food options for us, especially the new Mediterranean board we just tried. And they also have amazing homemade veggie burgers. If you haven't been here for awhile, you should definitely stop in! read more

John Christ Winery - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

See all

A winery and a brewery. Inside and outside seating. We went on a Thursday and played trivia. Very fun atmosphere. Food and beverages are ordered at the bar. I had the burger and it was very good. The raspberry blush wine is amazing and definitely check out the wine slushies. Staff is very friendly. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

Overall a great little spot, but it would be so helpful to young families if they got some high chairs for the main dining room and PLEASE BRING BACK THE CHEESE CURDS!!! read more

Started coming once of month for a meeting up with the girls. We love sitting outside when its warm and the inside is cozy. Everyone is super friendly with great good and drinks. read more

John Christ Winery - Mimosa - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

I am so glad they reopened, after being closed for a few months! The winery is a bit of a drive for me, but it is worth it for the good wine, friendly atmosphere, and Thursday trivia nights! I had one glass of delicious and sweet blackberry wine ($6 a glass). Yum! I didn't really get anything from their very limited food menu (just small bites, really) but I picked up a small bag of locally made, buttered popcorn to help me curb my late-night munchies ($5). Then, after an hour and a half of trivia, we were declared the winners! Locally made wine and a chance to feel smart? Sounds like a good night to me! read more

John Christ Winery - Buttered popcorn - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

See all

During our Labor Day weekend trip, we unexpectedly stumbled upon John Christ Winery's pig roast and decided to join the fun. The atmosphere was lively, with enthusiastic first-time patrons enjoying themselves. The wine was fantastic, and a Jimmy Buffet tribute band provided great entertainment. However, service was entirely self-serve, which meant that once we grabbed our drinks, they stayed on our table indefinitely--bottles from previous guests were pushed aside without anyone clearing them up. While waiting for the pig, we enjoyed a charcuterie that arrived in a quirky to-go box; the meats and cheeses were decent, though better suited for beer, which they had plenty of, considering the German-themed decor. The artichoke dip was unique and memorable. I would not recommend. When the pig was finally ready, I opted for the pork with mac & cheese instead of a full plate. The mac was delicious, but the pork serving was scant--just a small portion of crispy roast. Our experience had its highs and lows, and while I'd return, I'd stick to bratwurst, hotdogs, pretzels, and, of course, beer! read more

John Christ Winery - Pig Roast - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

Atmosphere is lovely, but the food is overpriced and underwhelming. I ordered the Swiss cheeseburger with mushrooms and onions. It was a frozen patty that had been overcooked despite my medium request. Wish I spent my $16 on a smash burger at Quinn's in Bay Village instead. If I go back, it won't be for the menu. read more

Very good service and vibe. Whenever we've been here, they have Live music. Fun place in the heart of Avon Lake!

Kitchen is nonexistent. Staff inattentive, had to wait at bar until she was off her phone. Horrible! read more

First time here as it was recommended. I absolutely cannot recommend. Not busy and it took 30 minutes for the food order. We all ordered the steak and my steak medium rare was burnt, and the medium well were well done. Also, too much salt on food and red potatoes were also burned. Nobody bothered to check on the food while we were eating as well. This place is a bust. read more

John Christ Winery - Burnt medium rare steak - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

I was really looking forward to visiting John Christ Winery, but unfortunately, my experience was deeply disappointing. What I expected to be an enjoyable outing turned into an upsetting situation when the bartender, George, informed us that he had been listening to our private conversation and decided, based solely on that, that we should not be served any more drinks. As an adult woman, I have never been treated this way before. Being refused service based on a personal, overheard conversation (which was not disruptive or inappropriate) was not only invasive but incredibly disrespectful. It was a judgment call that felt completely unjustified and frankly, appalling. I've been to many wineries and establishments over the years, and I've always felt welcomed and respected. This experience was the opposite. I left feeling embarrassed and disrespected, not because of anything I did, but because someone decided to cross a line and make a personal judgment without cause. I hope the management seriously reflects on how this situation was handled. No guest should be made to feel like they're being monitored or judged in a setting that's supposed to be warm and hospitable. I was with a group of 20 people and unfortunately none of us will be returning. read more

My wife, myself, and another couple had the pleasure of partaking in John Christ's Sunday Brunch. They offer bottomless bloody marys and mimosas! They also offer a mimosa flight. You can also purchase individual beverages. The buffet, itself, was impressive for the price. It had bacon, sausage, Denver eggs, biscuits with sausage gravely, pancakes and French toast. They also offered an extensive selection of fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. Employees were very attentive to all our needs and also ensured the buffet was stocked. An excellent dining experience. read more

2nd attempt to visit this winery and 2 strikes and you're out. First time only carry out service, second time no service at all. Stood at the bar for over 5 minutes waiting to be served and when another couple went to a different part of the bar they were helped right away. No acknowledgement from one of the people behind the bar. They will definitely not get to have a 3rd strike. We really wanted to try their wine but now they have lost our business. read more

My husband and I stopped by after dinner for a drink. Very rustic spot winery. They had games available to play with your group which I thought was a great idea. The wine was surprisingly good and affordable. The waitress was very nice. When we went, it was soon after new ownership and she shared the plans the new owner had. I am excited to see the place thrive for the community! read more

Great experience. Nice spot for a date night :) Had a good time. Highly recommend. Very friendly & welcoming. Ivette rocks! She was on top of everything & made sure we were well taken care of during our time there. read more

Great old style and school place, bar service, good beer. Simple but great. You do not need more than this :)

The 80's bingo was a blast. The atmosphere was festive and enjoyable. The venue is not big, but it was cozy with a "nature" outside scenery.If you're thinking of attending a special event don't hesitate to buy your tickets early because if you wait it might be sold out. read more

I tried .. went twice for one glass of wine at the bar . the first time they did not have my requested wine . I said okay I'll try something else .. not good fast forward , tried the iI'll have a glass of wine again . the wine was better service still awful .. I mean awful read more

First time here. We drive straight from our house to here before we went to eat and to check into the hotel. You read the reviews and it says that the customer service is terrible, but we arrived and the young lady was busy and said look over the menu and I will be back. While we were waiting I've noticed how the area was setup for Covid. They did a wonderful job. The lady was telling patrons about where to go at in Bethel Park, PA. It was so ironic because I told her we are from that area. We then tried some of the wines. All of the wines I tried were good. I got the Cab and Riesling. Good wine and will be back when we can stay. They had a wonderful and large outdoor location. read more

See all

Had our daughters bridal shower on the back porch. Absolutely beautiful setting, great service and even better wine. Such an amazing venue. Highly recommend! read more

John Christ Winery - Sangria - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

A cute little winery I have been here several times, first let me start off by saying that the staff is wonderful, they are very friendly and provide awesome customer service. The fun thing about this winery is they allow you to bring in a picnic, or they do have a small menu to order from. The wines are tasty, and the staff is knowledgeable and was able to give us background information on each kind of wine that they serve. read more

Wonderful drinks and small plates. The host/owner is great and is very personable. Have him take you on a tour if he has time. LOVE this place! read more

I just had to send some love for this adorable little treasure where my guy and I will visit on a whim. A cute little rustic cottage, with a magical back area where you can find a small band or musician playing on warm summer nights. I'm primarily a dry red girl, so this place is out of the norm for me- as the attraction here is the sweet wines. They do them well- my fave is the peach! It's like biting into a big ripe juicy peach and should come with its own warning label! Lol. More "sweeties" abound- they have a raspberry, slushies, a strawberry, and various special sangria pitchers. They also feature Catawba, Niagara and Lambrusco! It's sweetie heaven. My beloved enjoyed the Chardonnay and I found the Pinot griogio good. The best part is friends we've come to know from becoming regulars- our bartendress has always been super awesome, and for summer- I've enjoyed many of their wines and I come back for the atmosphere- I even spent my birthday here this year. COVID closed their kitchen- but they allow you to bring food or have it delivered. I had been to this winery many years back for a snooty friends brunch- and I think it was the former friend who turned me off, this little winery is cute and special. It's close to my home, so it's an easy and relaxing night out. On Saturday nights in summer- if you're arriving late- bring camp chairs to guarantee you're seated and can watch the band play. read more

John Christ Winery - Out in John Christ's backyard! - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

We've been here three times on different wine trips. Today we stopped in all the seats at the bar are full you can get to the bar to order anything. The lady at bar paid zero attention to us so we sat at a table thinking maybe someone would come over nope. So we just left. The place is dingy and dark. Needs some major upkeep done and better service. Shame it was a nice place last time we stopped service wise. read more

This is a cute little place. They do a lot of parties out back, so just be aware that if you want to sit outside you might be competing with a little noise. The wine selection for a little mom and pop winery is good, if not a little on the sweet side. But I think that's kind of the routine for places like this. With our wine, we ordered meatballs and a cheese plate. They were excellent and really just about all we needed to put some food in our stomachs with the wine. We sat outside on a beautiful sunny but not too warm day, and the ambiance was great. read more

Have you ever visited a new place and been put off before you even begin? This was one of those disappointing experiences for my family & I. Although the doors were open, we weren't welcomed. All the lights were off and the place was completely empty except for the highly annoyed employee behind the bar. He was rude, uninviting and so obviously didn't want to be there. All four of us got the sampler (4 wines of your choice for a flat rate); nothing complicated but the end of the world for this guy. The wine itself was good and we even bought a few bottles and glasses before we left. But the awkward silence and pouting man will keep us from coming back. read more

Wine shushies, cute atmosphere. What more? I love stopping in here for a glass of wine or two on a summer evening or a cold winter night. It's cozy and great wine! read more

Unpretentious, super-fun local award-winning winery that goes out of it's way to make you feel welcome. Pick up your favorite carry out food, head over and grab a seasonal wine slushie, cocktail, sangria or bottle to wash it down. I love it. read more

The staff is always friendly and if I could could get the peach wine injected directly into my veins, I would. One of my favorite summer and fall time patio experiences. Who doesn't enjoy sipping a $10 happy hour sweet Ohio bottle of wine while watching middle aged Avon Lake dudes shank a few Pro V1's into a water hazard? My only critique would be to take the route of many of the local breweries that bring in food trucks on weekends. While I appreciate the ability to have a Marco's pizza delivered or bring in a variety of snacks, I think it would be great to have a local truck such as Thyme Traveler or Barrio available as well. Keep up the great work! read more

I wish I could write a better review, I really do. We walked in with the intent of it being a celebration of my birthday and it was the first winery we were going to that day. We walked in and counted exactly 7 people in the entire place... 4 at the bar and 3 at a smaller table in the back. Not slammed with business by any stretch. We sat and waited... and waited... and waited.. We literally sat there for 20+ minutes and not one person came up and asked if we wanted a glass, a tasting, nothing. We understand sometimes places get busy and even just an acknowledgement of "be with you in a minute" we get. I have worked in food service I know what it's like, but NOTHING. We finally got to the point where we weren't going to waste anymore of my birthday time and left. We drove from Columbus to be there and we left there completely empty-handed. Not sure what to say about it. I was so dissapointed that we didn't get to try it. read more

If you look at the reviews in date order it's obvious the person who knew anything or took care of everything has left. There are no knowledgeable people here. The place is dirty for one and the young female bartender did not smile, never not once. She didn't welcome us nor thank us. We had to ask to be served, every question I had to ask, there was no offering of information. And we were the only people in the tasting room on a Saturday afternoon. Wine was so-so, it was palatable but not by much. read more

John Christ Winery - Dining room. - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

"This place is great, other than the wine" - Husband I think that's true. I really loved the location. It was easy to get to, had ample outdoor options, was nestled within some vines and the actual building had a fun German atmosphere to it. Service was good too. My only complaint is the wine. Though the walls are adorned with awards they've won, they aren't for your typical pallet. I love wine, but often drink fairly cheap wine just because, it's...cheap. So though I've done many a tasting and love quality wine, I can hang with about anything. John Christ was a little tough to swallow though. Their "dry" wines were really sweet with an aftertaste that was barely wine-like. My mom who is can drink ice wine like water would probably love it, but everything we tried ended up being a hardly drinkable desert wine. Even still, check it out. Bring a group. I saw Sangria on some other tables and I think that might have been a good idea? I really wish I liked the wine better, I'd be back often! read more

John Christ Winery - Back patio - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

See all

The staff was very friendly and were generous when asked to sample different wines when I couldn't decide on one. If you like sweet wines, this is the place to go. I had the ice wine, blackberry and peach(which was my favorite) Very cute and cozy outdoor area! read more

John Christ Winery - Vidal Blanc Ice Wine - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

See all

This is the best place in this town to drink with your friends- I don't even like wine much but it's quick, cheap, and lots of nice seating. Very nice place for dates or even just your friends, they even have picnic tables outside and you can literally have a small party out there in the summer. read more

Great place to sit outside and enjoy a glass ( or bottle ) of wine. Same with Sangria, and they also have a few beer choices. Friendly staff and good prices. The wine was pretty tasty too. Lots of tables outside in a nice backyard type setting with people of all ages...couples, groups, friends. They don't really serve food on a regular basis but, you can bring your own in, which many people did...pizza, sushi, cheese and crackers. I think they serve a meat and cheese tray for about $10.00. Also they have a small bar inside and some additional tables if you prefer that. We really enjoyed our visit and will definitely return. read more

Friendly place, for sure! Dennine & Nicole are amazing hosts. We had an amazing time at this winery - just being us. The tastings were equally awesome. We loved 100% of the wines (really!) - well done!. Excellent wines at affordable prices. The atmosphere was fabulous too! read more

John Christ Winery - Get a souvenir glass to take home with you! - Wineries Near Me - Avon Lake, Ohio

See all

Cutest little winery with very nice people and I liked the wine selection. I am only giving 4 stars because of the lack of variety in their appetizers and beer selection, also seems outdated. A little investment could go a long way here. Overall, a good experience for my 40th Birthday party! read more

We had my daughter's bridal shower in one of the outdoor locations. The staff went above and beyond to make it a great day for us. Booking was so easy with Chris, very affordable and sangrias, white wine lemonade and wines were great. Thank you for everything! read more

So, the wine isn't top notch and is boderline watered down jam. However, you need an attitude adjustment if you can go to John Christ Winery and not fall in love with it. Bring in your own food, or order snacks from their menu; it doesn't matter to management. Wine costs in the lower teens. Discovering this place may be the best thing that I got out of my last relationship. read more