BEAUTIFUL PLACE Wow, the architecture in there I really like it. I took some pictures. I think they will show up at the bottom of this review of what used to be the front door. Fascinating space. I looked it up. It used to be retail when it was built in the 30s, and then it was renovated in the 60s and now it looks like they took all three storefronts for the restaurant. I was sitting there admiring the Cherrywood floor and thinking what used to be here. That display window I wonder if it was a little department store. They were very busy, the bartender was working it! Nice guy. Outside was packed. That's where I wanted to sit, but I sat in the dining room. The Lamb burger was excellent, handcrafted almost like a lamb meatloaf but very firm like a burger. It was great. My brother had the pasta and he loved it. I had an old Forrester and one of the house beers and my brother had a house beer. The whole tab out the door was $97 for the two of us. Next time I'll make a reservation and try to sit outside on a nice day. Very nice place five stars. read more

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Went to Sofia's Kitchen for Valentine's Day with a reservation. We were seated pretty quickly after arriving. We waited briefly near the bar. It is not really set up as a standing or social bar space, but the wait was short so it was fine. The menu is fairly small but has some interesting selections. It feels curated, though limited. Service felt slightly off throughout the night. Our waiter's style felt more casual than the setting called for. The tone and pacing did not fully match a Valentine's dinner atmosphere. It is possible they were overwhelmed by the holiday rush, which may have contributed. I ordered the ribeye rare. It came out closer to medium. The steak itself was decent, but not cooked to request. It was served directly on top of vegetables with very little open space on the plate, which made cutting into it awkward. I also ordered the crispy potatoes as a side because they were described as crispy, but they were not crispy at all. Additionally, the steak already came with potatoes, which was not clearly stated on the menu, and the waiter did not mention it, so we ended up with a duplicate side unnecessarily. The cocktails were good and probably the strongest part of the meal. We had a couple and both were well made. Overall, it felt like a 3.5 star experience. Not bad, but not memorable. It is possible Valentine's Day volume impacted execution. There were solid elements, but not enough to make it somewhere we would actively plan to return to. read more

The food was superb and seasoned to perfection. The roasted beets and carrot salad was extremely tasty. Our server was excellent and even suggested an off menu Tequila cocktail with Mezcal. We easily got a Friday night reservation, it could have been because we were getting some snow this evening. I highly recommend if you are a foodie. read more

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We heard about Sofia's replacing the old Salt Restaurant in Lakewood. Made reservations for our party and went out Saturday night. The establishment seems bigger and more comfortable. They clearly did a nice remodel. Plenty of easy parking was available. The menu is not expansive but certainly sufficient to create a wonderful meal. I was just a bit disappointed they did not have Amaretto at the bar and they had no lemonade to make an Arnold Palmer. But beyond that dinner was very nice. I started with "Deviled Eggs" which were marvelous. Then went with "Lamb Pappardelle" as my entre... Excellent. I finished with a good cup of coffee and "Bay Custard with Fresh Berries" which was very light and flavorful without being too sweet. I say this is a keeper. We will be back and you should definitely go. read more

Sofia's Kitchen Bar - Bay Custard with Fresh Berries and coffee - American Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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Come and get taken care of by Sofia's Kitchen, and particularly, her staff. Lakewood's newest restaurant mixes woodsy lounge with sports bar, and tops it off with the most charming front of house staff ever. We came on a busy Friday night and got to enjoy a corner table, where we could fully appreciate the luxurious heavy curtains framing the giant windows. The hefty silverware and warm windows add to a vintage lounge feel. But on the opposite side of the dining room, two large TVs and modern lighting offer those who enjoy sports bars a home as well. The theme seems just to be "keep it fun" - look to the bathroom stalls for a cute use of quirky porcelain doorknobs as coat hooks, and a seahorse wall ornament, just because. Everyone we met, from the hostess to the servers keeping our waters constantly topped off and especially our server who had the best comeback lines, was a treat to talk to. The menu is short and sweet, with lamb-lovers getting a particular nod. Gluten-free and vegan options are clearly labeled. Drinks (including non-alcoholic cocktails) are on the back of the main menu, and a separate wine menu was provided on seating. I especially liked their inclusion of orange/natural wines. The starters were our favorites, with tasty Mussels and Chickpea Battered Veggies (that crunch!) shining through. The Deviled Eggs and Shepard's Fries were a little on the saltier side, which was a theme that continued into the entrees. While my Spice Rubbed Charred Chicken Thighs were super moist and tender, they were overseasoned and the arugula drowned in balsamic to the point that I found it hard to finish my dishes. The Lamb and Anna Burgers were good, not great, and Pork Prime Rib an oversized attempt at winning stomachs over from a traditional beef prime rib. Portions were decent, but we found ourselves not being able to drink enough water to keep the salt-induced cottonmouths away. Lots of promise with Sofia's, especially with their staff making every moment feel like home. Hoping that they change around the menu and adjust the sauce levels for future dining. read more

Waiter did a fantastic job discussing the menu. Discussing how they made specials and certain dishes. Nander two was one of the best drinks I've ever had. Dinner was amazing with the starter of the chickpea vegetables and mains of the pork chop and ribeye. read more

Sofia's Kitchen Bar - Ribeye - American Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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Excellent.....we were visiting some friends that live in Lakewood they took us here for dinner. What a pleasant experience good food good service and you could actually carry on a conversation without yelling. We got there early and sat at the bar for Happy Hour I want to give a special thanks to the Bar Tenders.... read more

Sofia's is a great addition to the Lakewood dining scene. It's slightly more upscale than the brewery, but prices are not too unreasonable. I am a vegetarian and appreciated that they had a couple options for me to pick from. I had the sesame noodle bowl, which was good but I wished it was warm rather than a cold dish. They had a charred eggplant dip as an appetizer special for the night and it was incredible. Our server was very kind and we didn't have to wait long. I enjoyed the ambiance and would definitely come back! read more

Sofia's Kitchen Bar - Sesame noodle bowl - American Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

I came here on the second day it was opened, so I was excited to try it out but also open minded that there might be some kinks to work out. But everything went smoothly! We made a reservation online, although probably not necessary as we were one of the only tables occupied when we got there at 5:30 on a Wednesday. It did fill up by the time we left though. The hostess was very nice. We were seated in a booth, but the seats were very uncomfortable. You cannot sit back because the bench is too long, so my back was kind of hurting. Almost immediately after we sat down, our waitress asked what bottle of wine we were having. I thought that was odd, but I didn't know if they had those as a special on Wednesday nights or something (they didn't, she just really liked wine). We replied that since we just sat down, we didn't know what we wanted to drink yet, and she said oh sure we can start with cocktails and then get a bottle of wine after. She joked that one bottle of wine was really only two glasses. This was really off putting. I've honestly never been pressured to drink before. I know she was half joking, half salesperson, but it made me really uncomfortable. Not to mention, no way my husband and I could drive home if we drank all that! Anyway, we decided on a Blueberry Patch and a Blackberry Smash cocktail ( a gin and a whiskey drink) both were absolutely delicious! We love getting an appetizer, but nothing really stood out to us. We got the roasted nuts, which were very good! But heads up would only be a good app for two people as it was very small. For our meal, I got the veggie sub. It was pretty good. Tasted like caramelized onions mostly, not in a bad way. Some of the fancy broccoli pieces were too tough to chew though. So kinda awkward to spit those out. And the bread was good but so thick and hard to eat as a sandwhich. The potatoes were good they were served with. My husband got a beef dip or something like that. He said it was good, but wasn't really impressed. Various people kept a filling up our water glasses throughout the night (no ice, small cups). And while I do love having a full glass of water, it was a little distracting how often they came over. Perhaps bigger glasses or leaving a water pitcher at the table would help. Lastly, dessert! We got the Apple torte which was soo delicious!!! Overall, it was a nice date night out and I would definitely come back again! read more

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I was immediately greeted by the hostess when we walked in. We were celebrating my wife's birthday. The vibe and atmosphere seemed fresh, trendy, and new. Sue our server was excellent. She explained the drink menu. I went with the bourbon blueberry cocktail and she had my wife sample the pinot gris to make sure she would like it. Started with the burrata and melon, then deviled eggs. Good blend of flavors on both starters. And all was eaten immediately. I got the pork prime rib: so juicy, tender, and flavorful. Wife ordered the rigatoni. The tomato sauce with pork and beef was a great take on the familiar pasta. Kids got the lamb burger and pork dip. Both cooked perfectly and flavored and seasoned well. They couldn't get enough of the fingerling potato fries. For dessert, we went with the stuffed brownie and apple torte. Again, great balance of sweetness, richness, and flavor. They even put lighted candle on the brownie for my wife. We had a great time. I would highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

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My friend's and I tried the new Sofia's in Lakewood and had an amazing experience. Our server, John, and the rest of the team were great. Waters always filled, table always cleared, nicely coursed out our meal. The food was delicious. Local ingredients, cooked well and served hot. Did not disappoint! read more

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This is a relatively new place that has been open for about four months. I went online to book a reservation and it showed as fully booked. I called and there is a glitch with the online listing showing them as being fully booked when they have availability. (You should call if they look fully booked.) Every person we interacted with was both incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu offerings and food and drink pairings. The service was perfect with the perfect balance between service attentiveness and friendliness, timing between courses, and menu recommendations. Our meals were excellent and I apologize for only getting a pic of the dessert. The beef was cooked perfectly and paired very well with their Pinot Noir. The chicken thighs and the dry rub were dynamite. The creme brûlée was just enough to share for two to finish the night. If you're looking for a place with a trendy but relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a great meal, then this could be a place you'd want to try. I'd highly recommend it! Here's a link to their website: https://www.sofiaskitchenandbar.com/food-menu# read more

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Underwhelming at best. The chicken thighs were way too salty. This place used to be called salt which is ironic. The lamb burger was maybe the only saving grace for the tomato jam but even then the rigatoni was lacking any sort of flavor profile. No herbs like in the picture read more

Excellent food and service. Nice portion sizes. Everything was just delicious Nice decor.

Excellent service from Michael and everyone at Sofias, beautiful art by local photographer, versatile menu options, generous portions! Top quality food! read more

Sofia's Kitchen Bar - Pork Prime Rib,bone-in slow roasted rib loin, rosemary/salt/cracked pepper rub,potato mash with cabbage, leeks, garlic spinach, au jus - American Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

As a former customer of Salt+ (in mourning) we hadn't tried Sofia's yet until today, but we're glad we did, because while the physical space reminds us of their predecessor, the quality of their food and service allows them to stand tall on their own! We had excellent and attentive service from Liam, and started our evening with the shrimp & cheddar fritters, which were tasty, and for our mains chose some of the pasta dishes. The rigatoni was amazing, and the pork and beef ragu had such a rich and delicious flavor; we'll have this one again and again! We also tried the maffaldine, which had some zingy chicken sausage and a wonderfully earthy mushroom sauce. Dinner was topped off with one of their stuffed brownie desserts, rich and decadent! Add in some of their handcrafted cocktails, and it added up to a great meal. We're feeling guilty for not having tried them yet, but after this meal, we will definitely be back in the future! Another great restaurant for Lakewood! read more

Went there in a week night and a few tables. Chose to sit out back on their patio. Waited 10+minutes and no one came out. We left and noted to never return if there's a lack of communication within their front end of house, how's the back end?? read more

Great service; great food; fun atmosphere. Owner was there and found a spot for us at the bar.

This is my second time, and it was New Year's Eve, but better than the first time I was there. I think they've just added a few more options and our server, Liam, was very attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. He shared that he told the kitchen about my gluten allergy as well. We started off with the Mezze platter, although they have no gluten free bread or crackers, he brought vegetables for me. It was definitely shareable with all five of us. I also bring my own bread and crackers, so I was set. Three of us had the daily market fish, it was halibut, which was delicious along with seasonal accompaniments. read more

Four of us went for dinner. Appetizers and meals were good. We sat outside on the patio. Good addition to the restaurants in Lakewood. Close to Beck Center for theater goers. read more

Ben, our server, was very attentive and knowledgeable. The drinks were fantastic, menu was very interesting. Salad and dinner were wonderful! We will be definitely coming back. read more

Had a fine meal with family, table of four, on a Wednesday. Plenty of seating and waiter, Liam, was great. Very attentive and knowledgeable. Food was well prepared and presentation was great. Will definitely revisit. Hope they get business from the Beck Center theater crowd next door. read more

Party of 8 to celebrate a friends 70th birthday. We don't mind spending money at all. Food for the most part was ok. Service was good. What drives this review is, I had brought cupcakes from a bakery for the birthday. When our checks came, which our apps had been very kindly split among our party, I was charged $10 for bringing the cupcakes. I also brought plates and napkins. There was a total of 3 dessert items on the menu. One of us was told there was a $2.50 charge per PERSON, $20, to cut a cake. I wanted a cake, but I ordered too late, so I ordered the cupcakes. They didn't have to do a thing. We as a table spent probably close to $700 with the 22% tip automatically added to our individual checks, and I was CHARGED $10 FOR BRINGING THE CUPCAKES. On top of that, my friend paid with a card (I paid with cash so I did not see this until she showed me) there was a space that invited you to add an ADDITIONAL tip on top of the 22%, As I mentioned before, we do not balk at paying for meals at restaurants but those paying with cards declined. Absolutely ridiculous and they should be embarrassed for having that on their checks. We all always tip 20% so 22% didn't phase us as we were a larger party. Needless to say, we're not going back, wasn't that great anyway. read more

I've been to Sofia's twice now. Most recently I went solo after work during happy hour and had the lamb burger and No Sin Gin mocktail. The burger was delicious and the tzatziki is one of the best I've had. The atmosphere is light with friendly service. Last time I went for dinner with my son and some friends and we had the ribeye and chicken thigh as well as the chickpea battered veg. Our meal was excellent and perfectly cooked. read more

Besides the blatant racism from one of the staff members (short brunette woman) who very clearly treated me differently than the other nonblack patrons at my table and shot me dirty looks the whole meal, the food still wasn't great! read more