Oh my gosh! Who-da-thunk it in Old Brooklyn? Knew nothing of this place until recently. Had a…read moreburger. Awesome. One of the best around. Great char flavor with great pickles. As a sour dill pickle lover, I really loved the cucumber-flavor pickles. They are great for the burger -- adds even more flavor without overwhelming like some pickles can. The pickles taste how I imagine they would when only half through pickling process -- a combo of discernible cucumber with a mild dill flavor. Very nice. I was disappointed with the octopus. It was delicious and uber tender, but only one small tentacle -- not enough to share with anyone. My husband and I can share a meatball at most places but this tentacle was too small. The gnocchi that accompanied it could be a dish all its own. The gnocchi with the potato alone would make a great app. or entree. We were really impressed with the food and are looking forward to round 2.

The concept is great. The execution...not so much…read more They killed great main ingredients by overpowering them with other secondary ingredients. Example: Ketchup Martini had anchovy and herb oil. Confusing on the palate...and nothing stood out. Octopus dish was smothered a spicy chorizo. Had to scrap the chorizo off just to find the octopus...which had no chance of standing out after the other oils and spices. Shared fried chicken. A bit undercooked. What we could eat was ok...not extraordinary. Wine selection was abysmal. One red wine....in a can. Ceviche was excellent. Service was good.

Now this place is a quintessential representation of the term "hidden gem" if I do say so myself…read more It's tucked away in a corner of Tremont on an unassuming street with an all black exterior sitting between apartments and ordinary homes in the neighborhood. It definitely gives off a mysterious vibe, kinda gets you curious as to what's inside. The moment you open the door there's splashes or color in every corner, a sexy marble bar with under lighting, a neon sign lighting up the phrase "forget me not," and as you weave your way through towards the back patio, each room greets you with a fun surprise of unique decor. Butterfly wallpaper, funky art, feather boas, and more. It honestly felt like we weren't in Cleveland anymore. As for the service, our bartender was awesome. He asked if it was our first time in and since it was, he explained the menu in detail and gave us suggestions based on what we tend to like. My friend went with a custom mocktail and I landed on the calla lily cocktail. It came with Watershed gin, lemon bitters, a sparkling white wine, and a few other ingredients I'm not privy to. It was strong, but smooth. It definitely left me curious to try more of the menu but alas, I don't live in Cleveland, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to return. This is 100% a place to take a date if you're wanting to impress, a spot to grab a drink with a small group of friends, or a cool bar to explore if you're visiting from out of town and enjoy a wonderful craft cocktail. I know they are fairly new and I have no doubt that they'll be sticking around.

Flower on Freeman is a super chic cocktail bar on the edge of Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. It…read moreis impeccably decorated and designed and could easily be in found in someplace like LA or New York. The space is pretty cozy and intimate, which was especially felt as I came in on a cold, snowy December day. The bar had maybe 6 or so seats and the marble on it is beautiful and has awesome underlighting. Their cocktail menu is pretty expansive, with lots of really descriptive drink options. You can choose a drink based on a desired flavor profile and base alcohol. The bartender was super nice and helpful. I wanted to get a mocktail, they had a few on the menu to choose from, but the bartender ended up making me something. The space is small and cozy up front, but they also have another area in the back for a small group. They also seem to have a really nice patio. I'm looking forward to returning in warmer weather to check that out.

A friend and I were visiting from out of town and stopped here to kill some time before we checked…read morein to our hotel. As we were getting comfortable at the bar, the bartender greeted us with "welcome shots"- immediate five stars - and was as friendly as could be. Our drinks were made quickly, enthusiastically and never went empty during our visit. I tried two drinks on the menu (I cannot recall their names) and while they were creative, I wasn't a fan of either. Despite this though, Cloak and Dagger gets five stars for atmosphere and service.

This cocktail bar was able to seat us without a reservation. The drinks were all incredible (do…read morenote that they change their menu up every 2-3 months). This current menu is designed as a DND campaign where you can drink and play with friends through the entire menu. I got the Heretics cocktail which is tequila based and it was herbaceous and delicious.

Not a fan of leaving negative reviews at all. This review is also a long time coming and debated…read moreposting it. This was during Covid on two separate occasions where this establishment and its staff were absolute militant about masking up between bites and drinks. Someone (not with me) stood up without masking up on another occasion and was called out loudly by two staff. Not to mention you also had to show proof of vaccine to even enter this place. Pretty sure this was the only place in Lakewood requiring this. Well aware it is up to owner/management but I also saw them literally turn people away who tried to enter because they didn't have their papers.

The geeks and goths grew up and became cool. They realized they had good taste. And then they…read moreopened up a bar with some of the best bar bites around. I should note first that if you're not partial to loud metal music, then a viking bar like LBM is not the right place for you. Otherwise, highly recommend coming to check out the macabre and tongue-in-cheek decor, cocktails, and food. All seating is first come first serve, and your best bet is to come with one other person and sit at the bar, where you can still enjoy their food menu. And watch whatever cult classic movie they're playing on the TV behind the bar. Employees were all friendly and quirky (in the best way) and happy to answer any questions. Menu changes seasonally, but I have to say my favorite dish I've had there is the bone marrow which came with frightfully good jam and bread. Don't sleep on this.

The Warehouse District has a new upscale spot in town! Recently opening during NBA Allstar weekend…read morein CLE, it has already had the presence of many celebrities come through their doors. The setup has a wow factor as you enter the basement level of the building through a tunnel covered in plants and leading straight to your first photo opp! The circle with pink bench is a cute preview of what's inside. Once you check in with the hostess, enter through a door and welcome to the social club. Beautiful decor that mixes a level of sophistication with a little drama as you see the bright lights. Plenty of seating and even a private room that can be rented out. The drinks are phenomenal and the staff is friendly! The menu offers a mix of unique cocktails (and can be made as mocktail a too) and small bites. Upon recommendation, I tried the F.W. Marg drink. So good! The most unique aspect is the watermelon ice cube. As it melts the drink flavor changes. Creative & fun way to enjoy a cocktail. They open at 5pm, which would be a great spot for chill happy hour. Later in the evening, you'll experience more of a lounge/club vibe. Great edition to downtown CLE!

We hosted a Young Professional networking event here, which was new for me because typically I only…read morefind myself arriving late on a weekend. I'm so happy we did because Stella made sure we had a stellar time (she put the Stella in Stellar? Sorry, nerd status) and the food provided was super fresh and the staff was so attentive. We had a pretty large group all come in at once and they got us through quickly with our first round of drinks! The ambiance is intimate enough where you can step aside to a table for a nice convo or large enough to create a dancing space where we you're at... which was exactly what some of us did because the music was just too tempting. From a more organized event to a late night par-tay mentality, the subtle and eclectic vibes of Lost put you in the right head space. Highly recommend!

Amazonia is not a place that screams, "I'm here!" Like most bars and restaurants on Detroit or…read moreMadison. It's tucked away and even the entrance seems like a side door. I like the hidden aspect of it. We sat at the bar for one drink and their staff can make a cocktail! Not only were they delicious, but the one cocktail a friend had with cinnamon was lit on fire and it sparked twice when the bartender held a lighter to it. Pleasant surprise!

I would round up to 3.5 but just had a few things that didn't quite live up to the hype!…read more My drink was really good, and it was really really nice to get welcome shots for our first visit. Unfortunately, some of my friends did not love their drinks. We also ordered guac which was fine, nothing special and we ran out of chips pretty fast. Service was great but the inside, while super cool and unique, doesn't necessarily nail the same vibe as the menu. I also wish they printed out menus since they do put so much work into designing them.

CLE's best kept secret!…read more A few of my friends raved about Smoke & Mirrors, so I finally checked it out. I stopped in during Stargazers Ball hosted by YoreCraeft Productions. It was a fun cosmic costume party at Smoke & Mirrors. Smoke & Mirrors delivers on their promise, there are mirror accents and intermittent smoke. They also have a lot of silver accents that have a cool juxtaposition with the cave look. You can find this nightclub underground at Clandestina on West 25th. Enter the club by going through mezcalería (Clandestina) and going downstairs. The club calls themselves "subterranean catacomb club." I'd describe it as a nightclub giving off speakeasy vibes with some exposed brick, cave vibes, and sultry red illumination. It's a very mysterious dungeon looking club. It's raw and unusual for the local nightclub scene in the very best of ways. The coolest space in this club is the once upon a time coal room that serves as a little private nook to sip your cocktails. The rest of the club has one dance floor, some comfy seats against the wall, and a small bar. It's very intimate. The club is mostly known for its EDM DJs. Don't expect big names but expect good music. You can find their lineup on their IG @smokeandmirrorscle. They're open on Thursdays for karaoke, and Saturdays for DJ and dancing. The party that I attended had a lot of dancing and good vibes. The club seems to have a cover charge, but the amount is not shared on their socials. The menu consists of cocktails, craft beer, and wine, which is a generous selection for a night club. There were some themed cocktails during my visit ranging from $8-$14. I certainly plan to stop by during a regular weekend night to check out the full experience and DJ's. You should too. If you drop in, stop Clandestina bathroom for a selfie with flattering light. Can't wait for my next visit!

The basement bar has the best house/dance music in the city and never has a cover charge. The…read moreneighborhood is safe enough for groups to roam responsibly at night after a few drinks.

I love Mahalls/pins and needles. It's such a unique space, and feels like you're stepping into the…read morepast. The crowd changes quite a bit depending on who is playing a show for the night. The bartenders make good STRONG drinks. It's a cute date place and good for groups. Probably one of my favorite places in Ohio

I love this bar, but it's got a certain vibe you have to surrender to: that musty smell of old…read morethrift-store 1970s furniture, sprawling down on couches set so low they're made for short 1960s people who were starved of nutrients because their mothers only fed them shimmering Jell-O meat molds, and the sense that you're not in a bar so much as a place assembled from fragments of some exploded Doctor Who TARDIS where it somehow assembled every 1960s sitcom into one patchwork locale. But! If you're willing to overlook all that - or, like me, crave it - then the drinks are pretty nice and pleasingly off-kilter, the service a little slow but friendly, and the people watching is top-notch. Just be warned that the bar is at the same address as the Mahall's bar, but it's down the stairs by the bowling alley. Don't get confused; we did.