Happy New Year 2026 I pray all is well I ventured out to The Taste restaurant in Cleveland heights Ohio. I had not been there in a very long time maybe a couple of years I wanted to take my daughter for her birthday somewhere different As I remembered the Taste restaurant was still top of the line for a great cuisine the food was still amazing as I remembered two years ago Unfortunately , restaurants sometimes turn over for waiters or waitresses is frequent Unfortunately none of the great people that were there some years ago were there. But there was a very beautiful young lady who was the hostess quite gorgeous and a beautiful personality. Unfortunately the gentleman who was our waiter Did not have the personality for the job at hand He was very bland no conversation nothing to help or add to your experience to the restaurant I had raved to my daughter how fantastic this place was but I also told her it was 2 years ago. To me the wonderful waiters and waitress who attend I think it's important that they have a beautiful personality and outgoing with people because that's what they're going to be doing is working with all sorts of people and when you don't have that asset it makes it difficult in that field So unfortunately we did not stay long of course the meal the food was amazing as always but we were not made to feel warm or welcome at all from our waiter He just did the bare minimum come take our order come bring our food and very seldom did he come check to see if we were in need of anything else Maybe he was having a bad day but in life when you work certain jobs you need to know how to turn that off and turn on what you need to work or stay at home until your day is better. So I'm praying that if I ever go back there again I'll see some of the bubbly waiters and waitress who make your dining experience amazing. But as far as Taste the restaurant is still amazing the cuisine is fantastic the atmosphere was wonderful there was live music of a pianist who was amazing so that's still there. Peace n Blessings read more

I did everything right. I used the reservation system as instructed. I specified my preferences clearly: dining room, no bar, no high tops. I followed the rules -- their rules -- to the letter. I showed up on time. The hostess greeted me with an offer of the bar or a high top. I reminded her of my reservation and its stated requirements. What followed was not an apology, not a solution, not even an acknowledgment that a commitment had been made and broken. What followed was the punishment table -- the one tucked by the front door, the one that gets a gust of cold air every time it opens, the one they keep in reserve for walk-ins who couldn't be bothered to plan ahead. That table was my reward for planning ahead. The food is good. The service staff is attentive and professional. They are not the problem. The problem lives at the front of the house, where someone decided that a confirmed reservation with documented preferences was merely a suggestion -- and that a guest who politely insisted otherwise deserved to be seated accordingly. This is not a mistake. A mistake is forgetting to note a preference. What happened here was a choice -- to ignore the request, and then to seat me in a manner that made the power dynamic unmistakably clear. I was being told, without a word being spoken, that my preferences were an inconvenience. I won't be back. Not because of the food. Not because of the servers who do their jobs with grace. But because a restaurant that treats a reservation as an obligation only when it's convenient has made its values plain. My patronage apparently required more courtesy than they were prepared to extend. The food deserves better management. Lee Road deserves better options. You've been warned. read more

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

Food was great. Stuffed peppers are usually my go to here (and no where else) but were underdone this last time. Drinks were tasty. Rest of the meal was great (duck, ribs, desserts). Service was great. Location started off slow but then filled up for a weeknight pretty fast.... read more

Amazing food! Everything was cooked to perfection and seasoned really well. Our waiter was very friendly, even though it was super busy because it was restaurant week. He answered and entertained all of our questions about each course and even recommended some of his faves. It's a medium sized restaurant with a nice bar and patio area. During a warm weekend, I would recommend making a reservation. Street parking is hard to come by and because there are so many restaurants on the strip sometimes you might have to circle around a few lots on the side streets to find parking. If you wind up, finding parking across the street from the library, but behind taste, you can go in through the back entrance. All of our food came out fairly quick considering how busy it was. The duck with mushrooms and noodles with my absolute favorite. It was cooked perfectly and it honestly was the best Duck I've ever had. Very tender. The stuffed salmon was also good. Can't go wrong with mussels as an appetizer. I tried a variety of desserts and it's honestly hard for me to rank them, but the warm chocolate cake and ice cream was probably at the top, followed by a tie between the chocolate mousse and the white chocolate crème brûlée. The cheesecake also gets an honorable mention. read more

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A nice upscale restaurant. The Airline chicken was very good. Other people in my group enjoyed the chicken Marsala and the filet. Definitely expensive, but you do receive pretty high quality/fresh food for the price. A nice place for a date. Staff was very nice. read more

Taste - Airline Chicken - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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We went during restaurant week and everything was wonderful. We started with the Caesar salad and mussels. Both were excellent. Our main course was the Pappardelle pasta and the veal francaise- excellent. We ended with the chocolate mousse and the flourless chocolate cake, both came with ice cream. The hazelnut ice cream was wonderful and the flourless chocolate cake was perfect - warm and moist. Definitely a place to revisit! read more

Taste - Pappardelle pasta - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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Always liked the food here in spite of how pricey this place is. Have always loved their lamb chop dinner but tonight it was truly bad. I couldn't even hardly chew the chops. They were horribly tough. My green beans were so crunchy they were essentially raw. Some friends told me they had both been there a month ago, both ordered the lamb chops & said they were bad too & they'd never order them again there. Also, I ordered them cooked medium & they arrived rare. At $46 it was a huge & expensive disappointment. Our Caesar salads seemed to have no dressing so we had to ask for some. Something is clearly amiss there. read more

Taste - A Perfect Pre-Show Dining Spot Near Dobama Our group of six had dinner at Taste before a performance at Dobama, and it could not have set a better tone for the evening. Every plate showcased fresh ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and seasoning that was confident without ever tipping into excess. We ordered a range of entrées -- scallops, veal, and halibut -- and not a single dish disappointed. The scallops were beautifully seared with tender centers, the veal was rich and delicate, and the halibut was fresh, flaky, and bright. We started with the Bibb salad with pears, which was crisp, clean, and lightly dressed, allowing the produce to actually taste like itself. Cocktails were excellent, especially the espresso martini, which hit the rare balance of bold and smooth without veering into sugary dessert territory. Service was equally impressive. Our server kept a perfect pace for a pre-show dinner -- attentive, organized, and unfussy -- and never made us feel rushed even as curtain time approached. All six of us left saying the same thing: we'd go back to Taste in a heartbeat. Fresh food, great flavors, and effortless hospitality -- exactly what a neighborhood gem should be. read more

I would not advise anyone of African American decent to patronize this restaurant. Hector, the bartender is an asshole. He was very rude to my guest and called him a bitch because he got called out in serving me burnt food . Although I paid for it and tipped generously, my guest suggested that I should be compensated with another glass of wine. Hector poured it but presented a bill because he felt as if replacing my fries was enough. Not sure why he took it personal but he was upset that we requested to speak to the owner. He called my guest a bitch and said Judy pay the bill .. mind you that wasn't a problem but the disrespect was. Hector even proceeded to come from behind the bar and rolled up his sleeves as if he wanted to fight. The owner tried to brush it off but it was clear that he had his employees back . Needless to say , they also had no heat and put space heaters everywhere but in my section and I was the first guest of the night. Never had an experience like this with the previous bartender that left but I guess I know why. Integrity is a mf! I will never step a foot in this place again. I'd advise anyone else to think twice about patronizing such an entitled and rude as staff. They only care about the money and not the customer service . They literally stayed that my food may have been overcooked/burnt but it was ok to serve it to me that way. Wow! read more

My friend picked Taste for her birthday dinner. It's a small, cute spot that had live piano music playing, which I really enjoyed. Like most places, they were understaffed, so everyone was running around like crazy. The wine list was great. My friend asked for a mocktail. They made a drink that was basically fancy orange juice, but it was nice of them to try to do something for her! It's definitely one of those cozy places where you are basically on top of your table neighbors, and you can either hear their conversations or you can't hear anything because it's so loud in there. My crab stuffed salmon was amazing! I really enjoyed the mushroom risotto. The roasted zucchini it came with was also delicious. My friend enjoyed the lasagna. I am picky about my red sauces, so I wasn't a big fan personally. But that's just me! Despite the busy night and the lack of a host, the service never really lacked, and it was an overall good experience. My friend said she probably wouldn't go back because the menu was small and she didn't like how loud, but overall, it's worth the visit, in my opinion. read more

Taste - Menu & Wine - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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Came on a Thursday night with friends. Server was very nice. We shared a bottle of wine. We started with the stuffed peppers and really enjoyed them. I got the scallops and they were tender and well cooked. My husband got the lasagna and he enjoyed the taste just was a small portion. We all enjoyed our food just wasn't expected to pay as much as we did. read more

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Ambiance great! Staff wonderful! People you will meet as other customers that live in the area, a delight! I would skip the veal, heavy sigh. I was disappointed with that. But they have plenty of other dishes and desserts to delight. The veal was not awful but it did not pop. A new friend I met here thought I was eating salmon and I could see why. Not good if you are eating meet and someone asks if you are eating fish! They do a great job with their sauces and such. I may have also gotten them on an off night. Made better by a great glass of Malbec and great company! read more

Exceptionally tasty food. Nice ambiance. Definitely recommend. Everything on the menu is well crafted read more

I ordered the halibut dinner special and was blown away. It was the best halibut I've ever eaten! The fish was crispy on the outside, super flavorful and nice and firm but tender on the inside. It was so good I actually forgot what sides accompanied it haha But in this picture you will see the tastiest, most well blended chocolate martini you can get your hands on. It was cleverly smooth and well balanced and the amazing bartender gave us a different fun design every time (my party and I had a few..). Taste is well worth your hard earned money. Our server/hostess was incredibly sweet and attentive and made the experience even more enjoyable. The ambience in the restaurant is classy but not stuffy. TRY TASTE! I dont give out 5 stars unless they are earned. I cant wait to go back! read more

Taste - Chocolate martini (a little smudged cuz I had to take a sip!) - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

They were able to get us in new years eve portions and quality outstanding I had the sea scallops Service excellent Great atmosphere had a 2 pc music ensemble Amazing what 2 professional musicians can accomplish live. Perfect for the space read more

Came here on a romantic Valentine's date. I had a great time but I probably won't recommend this place given the vast number of better options in CLE. Pros: -portions were reasonable -dishes tasted great at a good temperature -decor was pretty and there were rose petals everywhere -violinist who went around and even took requests Cons: -I'm not into the whole narrow hallways, lots of corners, no open spaces, maze-like structure they have going on. They had high ceilings but just pockets of tiny spaces. I crave open concept, airiness and roomy spaces -the fare offered was fine but...nothing exciting. No complaints about the menu but...not one dish stood out. -service was fine but I felt like our young server kept rushing over every few minutes to ask the same question when there were no updates... -no parking -no curb appeal. I'm just a sucker for grand entrances and unique buildings and eye catching elements but Taste had none of that! The entrance was so nondescript I would've definitely missed it had I not been following someone in. I mean, it's an upscale restaurant, not a speakeasy! Flaunt your entrance! read more

Came here for a friend's dinner. The service was super nice and they were able to seat our large party of 10+ Unfortunately, I did not think their food was great. I had the roasted chicken with risotto. The cheesy sauce on the chicken was on the sweeter side and it really didn't go well at all. Another friend got the same dish and had a hard time finishing it as well (so I knew it wasn't just me who didn't like it). Another couple friends got the pizza- I tried this as well and found it unappetizing. I was also able to try the mac n cheese- I would recommend this! It was super garlicky and tasty. Unfortunately, I don't think I would go back just based on the dishes I tried. read more

Taste - Roasted Chicken Breast - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Not sure why I went back since the last time the service was bad and it was the same this time. The food was just average. The acoustics are bad so don't go with any expectation of having a conversation. read more

The food was excellent! Service outstanding and atmosphere great. We decided this would be our special intimate spot as long as the quality and taste of food remains high level. read more

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What a wonderful place. The food here was prepared and presented fabulously. The service was great and our server was very attentive. I went to the restaurant with another couple and our evening was very nice. The only reason I am not giving five starts is due to the price compared to what I believe was prepared. Pastas and wine menu were a little high compared to other places. All in all great place and I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice night out. read more

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Great food, loved the seafood soup. Pasta looks spectacular! Liked the feel of the place! read more

Taste - Pappardelle and Seafood Special Du Jour - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

I'm in Cleveland often, and as much as I'm there, I'd never seen or heard of Taste. It's located at the end of an area of the Heights where there is a strip of bars, shops and restaurants. I frequent this area often when in town, so this was an unexpected find. It's an intimate place that's perfect for the area it's in. I loved walking in and seeing the Cleveland artwork directly ahead. The service was excellent. There was so much on the menu that sounded good, but my love of seafood led me to the crab stuffed salmon which I'd definitely have again. It was served over wild mushroom risotto and roasted vegetables and was delicious. I will be back to try more things on another visit to town and could see this restaurant becoming one of my go tos when I'm there. read more

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Coming in, my expectations were low. Prior reviews, pics, menu, etc. all point towards a boomer-filled restaurant that easily had the chance to be on a Kitchen Nightmares episode. The first few minutes inside didn't change this impression too much. However, once the food was served, I was pleasantly surprised. For starters, we got the arancinis, which were crispy, cheesy, and so far a very promising sign. For the main, I got the Duck au vin. The meat was unbelievably tender and bathed in a super flavorful sauce. I normally hate carrots, but the sauce made them actually enjoyable! While the prices were on the higher side, the portion sizes definitely make up for it (easily enough for 2 meals). I wouldn't go as far as to call it a steal though. Overall, I was quite impressed by Taste. In fact, I'm happy to say that I would love to come again! read more

Horrible, rude bartender who literally made me wait for ten minutes without even acknowledging my presence. It was not busy. To top it off, he made a piss poor cocktail. read more

Still a favorite after five years. This better restaurant is comfortable and the staff is professional. Reservations are suggested, but you can walk in to check if there's seating availability. Some people were eating at the bar. Menus included mixed drinks, wine and beer, and main meals. The waitress took our drink order. Our friend ordered lemonade with grenadine. We had the German beer Hefeweizen and an Argentina Malbec. The waitress told about several nightly specials. One was Chilean sea bass. The salads and seafood stew were very nice. We all really like our entrees. They were Paella, Sea Bass and Duck. We took half home of the paella and Duck with noodles. We were not rushed. The restaurant is handicapped accessible. Very nice. Parking is in the back. read more

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One of my favorite Cleveland heights spots!! Come here often and always enjoy the food. Waitstaff is excellent. read more

Taste - Filet Mignon Napoleon - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Do not sleep on this restaurant! In my opinion, it is one of the best if not the best restaurant Cleveland has to offer! The staff is attentive and kind and the food is absolutely delicious! Best salmon dish I've ever had! Their ice cream for dessert is made in house and is soooo good! read more

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I really enjoyed the drink I got. It was thyme martini which was really delicious. The place was absolutely gorgeous and I really like the declaration and how everything was set up. so we didn't get an actual entre but we did get the cheese board and there was no meat on the cheeseboard but the bartender added chorizo onto ours and it was delicious. Our bartender was super friendly. We will definitely be going back there again just so we can have dinner this time. read more

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I have been coming to this restaurant for the last 20 years. Came this evening before going to the theater. Sat at the bar, ordered a salad, and then I ordered the wrong chicken dinner. I was prepared to eat the incorrect meal, however it tasted was quite bitter, and I asked if I could have the other chicken dinner. The owner literally came up to the bar and called me a liar three times (in front of everyone) saying you ordered the wrong meal, which I admitted to. He kept saying you are a liar, you are a liar. it is not bitter. You ordered the wrong food. I did admit that I ordered the wrong meal. never in my life have I had the owner of a restaurant embarrass me in front of other patrons. I just cannot believe he did this. Needless to say, I will never return to this establishment and I should have know better, because he has a terrible reputation in the industry. read more

As always a great spot for a nite cap. Friendly staff and good handcrafted cocktails.

First the positives. The atmosphere is really nice. Very posh and romantic. Very clean and the decor is well-thought out. The potato gnocchi was to die for. Decadent even. Worth the money. The wine and beer selection is unique. Our server was nice and attentive. The negatives. The rest of our meal was draaaastically overpriced and honestly not very good. We got one of their 3 salads and the house pizza du jour. The salad was a tiny plate of romaine with some pear slices and bleu cheese for $12. The pizza was little more that a thick tortilla shell with cheese and a few veggies for $15. Throw in a glass of wine and a couple beers and we dropped $100 (because we tip 25% standard). We left and went to Gigi's for a light snack and more cocktails. Sorry, if I'm paying $100 I'd better leave stuffed and satiated. My wife and I are fit and athletic so it's not as if we're looking for an all-u-can eat buffet. But come on...since when is $27 not enough for a decent, filling meal?! This is Cleveland. Maybe we'll drop in again and just sit at the bar for a drink. read more

Went one hour after the place opened. Food was good n hot. Staff not friendly guess you have to be a regular. Every time we tried to get someone's attention they couldn't hear us. No refills on water didn't ask if we wanted another drink. We were the only couple at the bar area. Can't imagine if the place was busy. Waited 45 minutes for dessert I believe they kept saying they are short staffed. We went for #Clevelandrestarauntweek. Won't go there again. Try #TheStandard185th Collinwood area. If you wanna spend this kind of money nice atmosphere mixed patrons. read more

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Went here for dinner on Friday night. They were busy but didn't make us wait too long. We got two apps, two dinners and a dessert. The beet salad was not bad, the fried rice balls was very good. The halibut on special was excellent and the salmon was very nice, but it's a misnomer to call it salmon stuffed carb as you got very little crab (but ever you got was very good). The creme brûlée was nice but we wanted berries with it and we asked for extra and we got one small strawberry, but it was still very good. Overall very nice. Will come come again bc we ate fish, but next time steak. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed Taste. Great service, excellent drinks, and incredible food. What more can you ever want from a restaurant. The Black Sidecar was one of the most memorable cocktails that I have had in a while. The quail appetizer was very good and the lamb chop entree. Fernando, the bartender, was quite responsive in terms of service and consistent with his drinks. read more

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I have come to this place twice now and I have really enjoyed it! The restaurant has a nice cozy ambiance that fits well for date night or dinner with friends and family. They sometimes have a pianist playing as well. The drink menu is larger than I expected with good variety. I tried the lychee martini and it was delicious! The menu is also varied and satisfying. While I wasn't a huge fan of their version of French onion soup, I especially love their arancini - I got it both times! Add this place to your list if you are in the area! read more

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The food was great! The arancini and stuffed chicken breast with the risotto light, filling and delicious! Peartini and beat salad perfect!! read more

We ordered off the happy hour menu after coming out from a play across the street. Happy hour is available daily at the bar and at the high tops. Appetizers are almost half price, and there are some good drink specials. We started off with a drink, which was delicious and by far my favorite part of the meal. We ordered a bunch of apps to share, which included the grilled shrimp piccata, stuffed peppers, mussels, and fried calamari. I was most excited to try the shrimp piccata that I had read about. However, I had 2 issues with it. The waiter forgot my instruction to have the sauce on the side for the shrimp, which made it difficult for me to eat since I am avoiding butter for health reasons. I did manage to cut a piece that didn't have any sauce on it to try, but it was still disappointing; it was described on the menu as being grilled but it was more heavily coated and basically deep fried and super greasy. The mussels were done well, but we had a bunch that were definitely not fresh. The stuffed peppers were pretty standard, and the calamari was done pretty nicely with a much lighter coating than the shrimp and not as greasy. I might return if I were in the area, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to go. Plus there are a ton of other places to try on the very same street! read more

Taste - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Went to this restaurant for food week, had reservations at 5:00. My wife and I were the second couple there for the evening. We were seated right away. after fifteen minutes the waitress finally came an took our drink order and dinner order, after an hour we finally received our appetizers. by this time quite a few more guest had arrived and I noticed that the received their food promptly and were eating their main dishes. my wife and I were still waiting. I brought this to the attention of the waitress who informed me that orders were prepaired in the order received. by now we had been there an hour and a half. I asked to speak to the owner who came over and promptly stated to yell at my wife and myself. I have never been so mistreated by a restaurant owner. I returned his insults right back to him which angered him further to the point he asked us to leave in a very load way. would never tell anyone to go there in fact I will tell everyone to stay away! read more

We had a great experience here for a Friday night date night. It's a smaller spot but they don't have the tables too close or anything, it's very comfortable. And you're immediately asked if you would like them to hang up your coat, so great customer service. Although we chose to keep ours with us. The service was great, it's a medium price point. Not as expensive as a steakhouse but more expensive then going to a traditional chain restaurant. My husband got the filet mignon which was serviced with shrimp. And I got the lamb chops. We were both completely satisfied with the medium cook ok those, which a lot of restaurants tend to mess up. And then we also loved the plating. We plan on coming back for happy hour. read more

Taste - Filet Mignon - New American Near Me - Cleveland Heights, Ohio

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