Julia's 1902 is located on the ground floor of the historic Willoughby House, is a refreshing addition to the local dining scene. The restaurant shares this beautifully restored landmark estate with an inn featuring ten unique suites on the upper floors, creating a destination that feels both elegant and intimate. The dining space is laid out across several rooms filled with antiques, floor-to-ceiling bookcases, and fireplaces. This layout not only adds to the sophisticated, fine-dining aesthetic but also helps significantly reduce noise, making for a much more intimate experience. The atmosphere is further elevated by the live music, which strikes the perfect volume to complement the mood without overpowering conversation. The menu, led by Executive Chef Jose Coronado, is interesting because it blends his Guatemalan heritage with Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American influences. It doesn't feel forced, though; the dishes are creative but remain approachable. What stood out to me most was the kitchen's commitment to preparation. Everything is made from scratch on-site, including things you don't always think about--like their house-made ketchup and custom-pickled olives. They also source locally from Kirtland, Willoughby, and Mentor whenever possible, and the seafood and meats tasted noticeably fresh, not frozen. The staff is truly spectacular; you can tell they genuinely enjoy working here, and they were super attentive throughout our visit. One detail I appreciated is their no-tipping policy; they include a 20% service charge on every bill, which goes toward providing their staff with a living wage, health benefits, and paid time off. It makes for a stress-free experience at the end of the meal. The highlights from our meal: * Drinks:Velvet Island Old Fashioned, Enchanted Garden, and the Cherry Royal. * Small Plates:Lightly Cured Halibut, Smoked Royal Miyagi Oysters (the standout for me), Short Rib Croquettes, the seasonal Unagi Smoked Eel, and the house-made focaccia. * Entrées: Yakitori Surf & Turf and the Seared Alaskan Halibut. The setting is unique, and whether you're local or just passing through Northeast Ohio, this is definitely worth a visit if you appreciate scratch-made food, thoughtful hospitality, and a refined atmosphere. I'm looking forward to going back. read more

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If you have not been to Julia's 1902 - put this restaurant on your list. If you had read my previous reviews (2), you have seen me rave about this place. This is our 3rd visit (this time with one of our kids) and another absolute perfection (to the point that my daughter indicated that it is in top 5 places she has ever eaten in, and she has been to some great places). For appetizers, we shared Short Rib Croquettes (our absolute favorite dish of the night), Delicate Fried Eggplant, Roasted Rainbow Carrots and Crispy Broccoli (in peanut sauce). Main Courses, my wife and I split Alaskan Halibut and our daughter had Butternut Squash Raviolli. We finish the night off with Lemon Tart and Chocolate Mascarpone Mouse. Absolutely fabulous evening, great atmostpher, great food. Keep it up! read more

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HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Went here yesterday and truly enjoyed our meal and the service was awesome! They don't do tips, automatic 20% service charge added to your check. The restaurant had tons of character, dining is split across several rooms, which reduces noise. I'd make sure you have a reservation and arrive early. Parking is tough. Our food was great, the Asiago bread was a bit of a stretch, felt like its grocery dinner rolls sprinkled with cheese then toasted. Desert was awesome, maybe share it, unless you love your sweets. Wife got the crème brûlée and I got the bread pudding (maybe more ice cream). We weren't able to finish them, but it was so good. Everything was great quality and super tasty. I don't think you can go wrong ordering anything (other than the Asiago bread ). Enjoy! read more

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Waited until our second visit to leave a review, thinking maybe the first was a fluke. It wasn't. Each visit has been absolutely EXCELLENT across the board. Walking in, the staff and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Julia's has a no tipping policy and adds a service charge to pay their staff god wages, which is great, but you never know how well the service will be in absence of a tip. Both visits our service has been excellent. Our server last night, Ann, was the perfect mix of attentiveness at the right times balanced with letting us enjoy our meal. The food (and the drinks) were the star, though. Julia's is one of those restaurants where literally everything we've tasted, from the first cocktail through dessert, has been absolutely wonderful. The handcrafted seasonal cocktails are perfectly made. The menu is so creative, with food elements that pair perfectly together. There is a clear difference when locally sourced fresh food marries with the imagination of an excellent chef - it makes for a truly memorable evening out. read more

We just happen to be in the area for another event. We were staying at the Willoughby Inn and decided to try their restaurant. What a lovely surprise! The alcoholic beverages were delicious. We each tried a cocktail. Both did not disappoint. We also ordered the cheddar cheese biscuits. Maybe a tad salty for me, but I don't salt my food, but I soon got over that issue. :) I don't like to drink on an empty stomach so we had that with the cheddar biscuits. It came with three and their herbed butter. I would order it again. We ordered these in the bar area while we waited for our table. The bar is old school and the bartenders very friendly. Instead of a full dinner, we ordered appetizers. I got the tomato ricotta salad - - yummy. My friend got the mixed salad with feta, avocado, and all sorts of other things in it. He said it was very good. The beef croquettes were unique and tasty. The wagyu beef skewers were also very tender and delicious. To finish it off, we shared the coconut ice cream that had blueberry sauce. Excellent. They add a 20% gratuity automatically. Our young server was delight We were not there for a special occasion, but I can certainly see where this would be a restaurant you would go to for a special event. We sat near a nonworking, at least while we were there, fireplace. Very cute atmosphere. If we are ever in the area again, which we hope to be, we will definitely try to get a reservation at this restaurant again. By the way, all 150 seats were booked in the Saturday night we visited. read more

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My husband and I finally visited Julia for an early Valentine's Day celebration. We live nearby and this spot has been on our list for a while and it absolutely did not disappoint. Every dish and drink was excellent but the octopus was the standout for me. It is not easy to get octopus right and they nailed it. Highly recommend! read more

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The food was good and came out very fast. This could have used a bit more flavor but the presentation was nice and they were interesting choices. Servers were almost too attentive, and there were like a lot of them helping the table. The vibe of Julia was on the fancier side, but it was modern and chic and very comfortable. They had a lot of nice details. It's great for a date night meeting with friends or family. There's also indoor outdoor seating. Parking is a little bit annoying because there's not that much and valet is $10. I decided to just drive across the street and park on a side street rather than valet my car. read more

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I visited Julia's recently and unfortunately the experience wasn't great. It was my first time dining at the restaurant, although my parents had been before about a year ago and had rave reviews for their previous meal. Sadly, that not the case for us this time, to the point where my mother was wondering if perhaps they got a different chef because it was such a disconnect from their previous experience. Service was overall wonky and the bar was slow getting our drinks to us--I was halfway through my meal before my dinner cocktail arrived, and when it did show up it was incorrect. To the bar's credit when they realized the mistake they were very quick to fix the drink. Most of our food was extremely mediocre and not worth the price. I tried the shrimp risotto special and it was just ok, my mom said the veggies that accompanied her halibut were way too salty. Again, to the restaurant's credit, they gave her a 50% discount on her meal. I was incredibly disappointed in my dessert--the banana bread pudding sounded interesting, but they didn't cook or puree the banana so you were biting into raw bits of banana which completely threw off the composition of the dessert. On a positive note, my dad got the bouillabaisse and chocolate cake and thought both were good. Ambience was nice. The restaurant is in an old house and there's lots of interesting architectural details. They had a live musician playing the keyboard, although I thought it was weird that he went through the entire score of Les Miserables before moving onto other musicals. Maybe mix it up a bit? I want Julia's to succeed and I'm glad that they exist, but for the price our dining experience was not the five star meal that I was expecting it to be. read more

Julia’s 1902 - Banana bread pudding. - Mediterranean Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

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Julia's 1902 - phenomenal. Take your partners and go for one of the best meals you'll ever have in the Cleveland area. As someone who used to live in South America, I've long missed the beautiful flavor profiles from there. This restaurant beautifully incorporates those flavors with American favorites. The quality of the food is matched only by its meticulous preparation. Get there before Michelin finds it and it becomes impossible to get a reservation. The only negative was the lack of parking and no spoons on the table for the sauces. It was so good I forgot to take a picture of my food except this one! read more

Celebrated our 22nd anniversary and wanted a Nice place. And boy did we pick the right spot. Located in a former estate home, the setting and ambiance couldn't more perfect. We were created promptly by the valet and again by the hostess. Slightly snafu with our reservation, which may have been my error, but quickly handled. They couldn't have been more gracious After we were seated I started with a Whiskey lemonade and my wife had the Jungle Bird. Both great cocktails For apps, we had the fried goat cheese and the cheddar bread. Great start to our meal. I had the Picanha steak and my wife had the Venison strip steak. Both prepared and presented perfectly. We enjoyed too much to order dessert but I have a sneaking suspicion it would have been amazing It's a non-tipping establishment, they add a 20% service charge to the bill but it was well earned. Definitely a memorable experience read more

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Food was outstanding! Service by Olivia was excellent! Scallops perfect, tenderloin wonderful! Pork belly cooked so fat inside looked white and mysterious in texture. Taste was excellent, but pure fat inside when I took it home. Most know that is an unhealthy choice. I would change the surf and turf menu item to more scallops or bigger tenderloin, rather than addition of pork belly. Lemon blueberry cheesecake is the stuff of dreams many days later! Martinis excellent and good wine selection. Friday night in dining room perfect for conversation. Highly recommend!! read more

When writing reviews, I hesitate to focus too much on ambiance; I generally think it's the most superficial (and exploitable) aspect of the restaurant experience. At Julia 1902, however, the ambiance is anything but superficial. Instead, the restored 20th century manor inspires the rest of the experience by demanding the food and service rise to meet it at its level, which they both more than do. While there, we had the octopus, halibut, short rib pasta, panna cotta, and raspberry creme brûlée. Each dish was not only fantastic, but unique--there weren't any repeated sides or sauces, which is a flaw I've found in similar restaurants. The service was great, but of course (as alluded to above) the true main character of Julia 1902 is the building itself. I have yet to find a more romantic spot in the greater Cleveland conurbation, with each room of the manor having a unique personality (I loved the sunroom in the back of the restaurant, with stone walls and windows looking out over the green spaces behind the building) that makes any visitor feel like nobility for a night. The check being delivered inside an antique book from the home's collection is the final aesthetic flourish, sealing the warm and elevated experience. read more

Julia’s 1902 - Mediterranean Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

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If you haven't been to Julia's 1902 yet, make the trip! The food is mind-blowing. We had the Ahi Tuna appetizer, the Curry Halibut, and the Tempura Broccolini--everything was 10/10. The staff really makes the vibe, they were so amazing and made our night even better. I'll definitely be back! read more

Per its own website, Julia's 1902 hopes to provide guests with an "exceptional experience." Sadly, it does not. The architecture of this 1902 mansion is impressive both inside & out which only adds to one's initial excitement. The staff is courteous but no more attentive than what you will find in most good, well-established restaurants. The conversion of the former mansion's 1st floor living spaces into cozy dining areas should have resulted in a fairly intimate dining experience. But shouting from staff in the kitchen & servers navigating the corridors was more consistent with the ambience of a roadside truck stop than a fine dining establishment. Service from the bar was quite slow as noted in other reviews. My wife found her scallops dinner to be disappointing. I had the Big Mike Burger with fries, both of which were good but not particularly noteworthy. While the price points may be consistent with many 5-star restaurants, our overall experience was inconsistent with such a rating. I initially considered posting a 2-star review but decided against it as our experience was not poor. It simply fell well short of our expectations. ________ Fellow Yelpers! If you have read my review to this point & found it to be helpful, please take a moment to respond. Thank you! read more

Absolutely gorgeous and delicious! Celebrated my mom's 81st birthday. Ann, our server, was wonderful: made my mom feel very special and provider excellent service, suggesting entrees and timing out our courses beautifully. The restoration is breathtaking, every detail exceptional. The menu is wonderful. Perfect spot for a special occasion! read more

This is one of the best restaurants my wife and I have been to. The ambiance is so nice and charming. The service was amazing. The food is to die for. We got the bay scallops as an appetizer and a steak to share with a side of mashed potatoes. Everything was seasoned well and tender. We live two hours away and considered driving back in the future just to visit again, it was that good! read more

We did like the ambiance but didn't think the food matched the price. Steak was really thin and salmon dish came out with everything lukewarm. Crab cakes were fine and the Caesar salad was delicious! Service was great. read more

Wow, great service, ambiance and most importantly, expertly prepared food! My husband and I visited on a Saturday night, definitely make a reservation, the earliest reservation we were able to get a few days before, was 7:45. There was mandatory valet parking ($10), out front. There was a sign stating that lot parking was full. We were warmly greeted by each and every staff member that we encountered from the valet, to the host stand, and subsequently to our table. Our water glasses were filled, as soon as we were seated. Our server, Clare, approached our table and proceeded to take our order. We ordered wine, to start. We then ordered bread and split a Caesar salad. The bread was fresh and warm, served with an olive spread and herb butter on the side. The salad was freshly made made, and included anchovies (optional) and roasted tomatoes, which was a nice touch. We proceeded to order entrees. I opted for the broken rice with shrimp. My husband ordered the Angus burger with fries. He was leaning toward the chicken diavolo, but changed his mind, when told the chicken was bone-in. Our entrees arrived a short time later. The broken rice was prepared perfectly. Nice ratio of veggies to rice, flavorful, topped with a soy cured egg yolk, and accompanied by 4 large shrimp. The serving was more than generous. My husband's burger was perfectly cooked, accompanied by hand-cut fries and a side of tomato aioli. I opted for dessert. The dessert options were plentiful, I chose the bread pudding which was just ok. I am a baker and a bit of a dessert snob. The bread pudding was underwhelming for me. The serving was small for $14, and there was just not the flavor that I had hoped for. Just a quick note, 20% gratuity is automatically added to the bill, and no additional tipping allowed for valet or for service. The best part of our visit, the service! Clare was an outstanding server, she was attentive without being overbearing. The downside of our visit, the dessert. I highly recommend Julia's, we'll be back!! read more

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A Magical Dining Experience - From First Note to Final Bite From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. We were greeted by the warm sounds of live music ( a cello player, I believe it was) adding a beautiful and unexpected ambiance to an already charming space. The dining room was cozy and elegant, with large windows that offered lovely views of lush plants surrounding the property. We started with cocktails, and I have to give a special shoutout to the Jungle Bird. It was not only delicious but delightfully whimsical--served in two separate glasses, one shaped like a bird and the other like a bird bath. We couldn't stop smiling at the presentation (and of course, took pictures!). For our entrées, we had the salmon with risotto and the scallops. Both dishes were beautifully plated and even better to eat. The salmon was perfectly cooked with a creamy, flavorful risotto. The scallops were tender and seared to perfection--rich yet delicate. We truly savored every bite. Dessert was just as memorable. We had the cobbler. Honestly, there wasn't a single miss the whole night. From service to setting to the unforgettable food and drink, we left beyond impressed. Highly recommend--this is the kind of place that feels like a hidden gem you want to tell everyone about, but also keep to yourself. read more

Julia’s 1902 - Mediterranean Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

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Food and ambience was incredible and staff was excellent. Got the oysters, olives, beets, venison, and mousse which were incredible. However, has anyone else gotten sick? Both of us have had digestive issues all day, guessing from the oysters. We arrived at 8:15 for an 8PM reservation, and felt rushed--they brought our entree while eating the appetizers, and the dessert while eating the entree, and began vacuuming and cleaning while we were sting the entree, which felt like they were pushing us out. They offered a gift card for the inconvenience, which we appreciated. All in all, we loved the food. read more

1. Vesper martini. Class 2. Heirloom tomato salad. Refreshing 3. Short ribs croquette. Decadent 3. Smash burger. Old school 4. Did I need the apple and peach cobbler? No. Would I order it again? I might make it the main course. Really great meal and in an awesome setting. And part of the Andrews Osborne Heritage. Kudos Julia's!! I'll be back. read more

We ate here for the first time tonight and wow. It was one of the finest dining experiences we've had in a long time. We both ordered from the prix fixe menu, which is something we don't generally do, but it looked too good to pass up. We're so glad we did. Every course was delicious, from the citrus salad to the Cacio e pepe, to my shrimp and his short ribs, to the lemon tart. Our dining area, a glassed-in stone porch, was elegant, bright, and quiet. In the background, some croony jazz was playing--I didn't know the artists, but the genre was very Diana Krall, and I loved it. The staff were welcoming, knowledgeable, and attentive. You can sense the pride they have in their work. We will definitely be back and next time we'll be bringing our foodie friends because they will absolutely love it too. read more

Husband and I went to celebrate our anniversary and had an exceptional meal and a very memorable evening. We started with the appetizer of Buratta with meats and tasty masa pan (type of gluten free bread?) along with pistachio butter. Our main course of filet was the star of the evening, grilled to perfection. I chose another appetizer called Anna's Tlayud which had avocado and vegetables and though it sounds simple, it was delicious. My husband enjoyed his wine, and I enjoyed an espresso martini. We heard cello music throughout dinner, and was surprised to find that it was being played live just out in the entryway. Our server was attentive, but not intrusive. She was friendly, and efficient. We were so impressed. We shared the information with friends, who've already been to Julia's, and reported back their pleasure as well. read more

We had an absolutely wonderful evening last night at Julia's 1902! The food was spectacular, from creative appetizers to a wonderful dessert! Our 2 mains were once again, creative and scrumptious!! For those who like nice sized portions, Julia's gives you a plateful! What made the evening extra special was each and every person in the restaurant from the hostess to server to assistants, couldn't be friendlier and more engaging! Our first time wax 5 stars and last night, our second visit was even better! Julia's a real gem! read more

Very good and interesting plates. We had a group of six people and everybody like the food. It is located in a historic building and the ambiance is very nice. The service was acceptable. Note this restaurant has a fixed 20% tip. They won't accept or or less. I would definitely go back read more

Food was amazing from appetizers to beet salad to the best scallops I have ever had. And dessert was amazing and the drinks were innovative and amazing. Ann was our server and the service was a 15 out of 10!!! read more

Our server Ann was simply sublime!! She directed me to one of the best cocktails I've ever had, and I was sure to let her know she did so! She kept things swift with courses, she was cordial when it counted, and she even gave us some insider info on the building! read more

Cool castle outside with quaint inside. Excellent service by attentive staff. They earned their 20% included in bill. Appreciated the free special occasion dessert. Nice touch with little chocolate note wishing us a happy anniversary. This place is great for celebrating a special occasion. read more

2nd time coming here and this time was with my parents, my partner, and my partner's parents. They crushed it again with excellent food, excellent service, great vibes and a wonderful time all around. Our server was absolutely wonderful yet again but I was sad to not have mentally noted her name! Give her a raise! They even accommodated preparing the Scallop Risotto that they just took off the menu recently for me without any issue. I understand restaurants have bad nights sometimes as nobody is perfect 100% of the time but they are 2 for 2 with me. I'll keep coming back! People writing bad reviews for things aside from poorly cooked food need to check their egos at the door, you are not Martha Stewart and mistakes are unavoidable in this world, humble yourself with that information. I know this is a free country but stop throwing jabs at a great restaurant, it's honestly sad. People who get upset at waiting 'too long' for the bill or think their servers are untrained for minor inconveniences really need to re-think their priorities trying to mess with a great restaurant's business. I have ZERO issue with the 20% gratuity automatically added on as that avoids me having to do math after a large meal and their continued excellent service easily deserves that in my opinion. People complaining about that are obviously cheap and highfalutin and the restaurant clearly will do whatever it takes to rectify an issue if the food or service is not to a customer's liking. Thanks Julia's 1902! read more

I arranged a group dinner here in May for about 15 people. They gave us the patio area which worked out great. We all ordered whatever we wanted off the menu and I must say the food, service, and ambience were all topnotch. read more

My wife and I have eaten here a few times since they opened, and it has always been very good. But we just had dinner here (10/18/25) and, man, they have really taken the food up a notch - it is now 5 stars excellent. We shared two appetizers - lobster rolls with caviar and beef tartare with bone marrow and a lot of interesting flavors. We then each had a surf and turf yakitori with wagyu, scallops and pork belly. Too full for dessert. The wait staff has always been, and still is, excellent. They are competent and attentive without being either obsequious or condescending. And the restored mansion from the 1800's provides great ambiance. We eat at a lot of restaurants where we have a favorite dish that we always order. The "problem" with Julia's is that everything on the menu looks so good that we'll be forced to keep coming back to try it all. Highly recommended for special occasions or just a random Thursday night. read more

Great apps, great smoked old fashion. Both our meals were delicious. Claire our server did a great job!

In May of 2024 we had dinner at Julia's and it was excellent. The food and service were top notch. We took an out of town guest two days ago and were so disappointed. The food was underwhelming, to say the least. Definitely not worth over $200 for three people. I have no idea what happened. Did the original chef quit? Was he on vacation? This was going to be our local special occasion restaurant. I doubt if we will go back. read more

Great vegan options! My husband and I shared the brussel sprouts and the cauliflower for an appetizer. We both had the cashew crusted tofu for our entree. Yummy! Will definitely be back to try something else read more

My wife and I have been eating at Julia's once every couple of weeks since it has been open. Reasons: (1) Ambiance which is relatively quiet (easily distinguishable from Pranzo!, for example, which is very loud) and homey, leaning toward elegant, (2) Service which is knowledgeable, attentive and friendly (and no tipping), (3) Food which is seasonal and not the same as many other restaurants but is creative and accessible for a variety of diets (ours being vegan/pescatarian is easily accommodated - if you think you do not like tofu, their cashew crusted tofu might change your mind), (4) Drinks which are creatively made by a knowledgeable bartender, and (5) We do not have to clean up the kitchen afterwards :). Perhaps the best part is their chef who is from Guatemala and brings hints of his native cuisine in preparations that are fused with various other international styles. There are only a handful of restaurants in Lake County I would give a top rating and this is one of them. read more