Without doubt, this place exists by going against the grain of a declining restaurant scene. The food is better than good, the wait staff truly hustles, They make the best Rusty Nail in a 20 mile radius maybe more. It's clean and the prices seem pre-Covid. I don't really think 5 stars are close to the reality of what you get for what you give. read more

TJ's On The Avenue - Tiramisu and what left of my Rusty Nail, mmmmm - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

Came back to this hometown, Italian restaurant and really enjoyed it. This time around I indulged in a pizza as well as their lunch size chicken marsala which both were fantastic. I will say it did take quite a bit of time for the Pizza to come out so if you're going to order a pizza for an appetizer order it as soon as you walk in. The chicken marsala was great and came with a side of any type of pasta you wanted, I chose Angel hair with half meat sauce and half Alfredo, which was perfect. The appetizers were fantastic as well and totally worth it. Probably could've just eaten the appetizers by themselves and been full. Definitely ordered too much! Don't miss this place! read more

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Friendly staff. Absolutely delicious food! well prepared and you will not be starving at the end! Pizza, pasta and salads are very, very good! read more

Let me say, Best meal I've had in maybe, ever. The service was Fast & Friendly. Everyone was polite and pleasant. They were near full but we were sat right away. Almost immediately we had a basket of the garlic rolls (Tremendous) and our waitress took our drink orders. Boom, they were there. My wife had the Chicken Marsala with broccoli and she couldn't stop raving about it. I had the Chicken Madison (their creation I believe) with a side of spaghetti. The Marinara on the spaghetti was fantastic, I loved it. The Chicken Madison was flavorful and fantastic. The dining room felt like we were in an authentic Italian restaurant. Probably because we were. We skipped desert because we were so satisfied with our meal. And the price was very affordable. Put this on your list to try! read more

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Haven't visited in some time, and was happy that nothing has changed-still a great Italian restaurant. Perfect sized portions of both spaghetti and eggplant parm (which was prepared perfectly). Delicious sauce, and among the best calamari I have had. Bread was great too. Glad we decided to order from TJ's again, and will definitely be returning. (Also, we did "to go" and it was all packaged nicely) read more

This was my first time trying the meatball sub . I asked for light sauce which I did not get my French fries were hard my bun was burnt and they put the pickles up under my sandwich which made my bun soggy I was very very displeased with this meal read more

i ordered via Uber eats. I got the chicken and mushroom fettuccine. It also came with a side salad or soup. I picked the salad and it came with three garlic bread rolls.. I also got a slice of the tiramisu. The side salad was nice, they have my favorite style of ranch dressing, which was appreciated. Pasta and the chicken was cooked well but in my opinion, it was lacking Salt. Size was great. I'll definitely get a couple meals out of it. I will update my review when I taste my tiramisu but overall, I will definitely try this place again . read more

TJ's On The Avenue - Chicken and mushroom fettuccine - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Love the food but your take out lacks. $52.00 order, &10.00 Tip and they forgot the soup!!! Not the first time with your take out missing something food. Please work on filling your take orders! read more

Love love loveee! This place. The food is always good and the atmosphere is always peaceful and they always welcome you in with a warm smile. read more

Always a favorite and has been for years. We don't come here often, but when we do the food is of amazing quality and the service is great. This last time we ordered the chicken piccata and chicken fettuccini Alfredo. Both dishes were delicious (and I am a huge fan of their house salad/dressing w crumbled blue cheese). Admittingly neither of us was a fan of the marinara sauce (and it was a bit heavy on the side of pasta), but personal taste, I'm sure. Our waitress (Nicole) was very friendly and attentive! Highly recommend for constistant and delicious Italian food. read more

TJ's On The Avenue - Chicken Piccata - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

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Service is always friendly and food is consistently good. Don't forget to try the garlic breadsticks - they delicious!!

Had the seafood alfresco and was impressed. Not today. Crab seemed like imitation( and a poor one at that). Spoke to manager and said they have used the same supplier for 10 years. Sever offered to get me another dish. Still a tasty dish and what a value on the 4-6 early bird menu. Next time I will say, " hold the crab" AL generated comments; TJ's on the Avenue advertises their Seafood Alfredo as containing "Generous amount of fresh sea scallops, crabmeat and shrimp, sautéed in our creamy alfredo sauce, over homemade fettuccine". While it doesn't explicitly state "real crab meat," the use of the term "crabmeat" combined with the absence of phrases like "imitation crab" or "krab" on their menu suggests they use real crab. read more

Stopped for lunch. Heard good things about from a local. I had a cup of Italian wedding soup and the chicken cacciatore. It was very good. The service was good and the kitchen was very fast that day. Seems to be a popular place that has been around for a while. Will go back for sure . read more

Well another excellent meal in the books at TJ's. My wife ordered the lasagna with a cup of their wedding soup. I had the zucchini sticks appetizer for my dinner. Let me just say that our waitress Gracie J was exceptional. She showed up right away to take our drink orders, and then asked if we were ready to order, which we were. She was very friendly and accommodating. Kudos to Gracie. The wedding soup was very good, loaded with meatballs, vegetables and Pastina. The Lasagna was excellent. A huge portion that will be enough for probably two more meals. My Zucchini sticks were excellent. It came with a cup of tomato sauce and a cup of ranch dressing which was very tasty. We both took home better than half of our meals. One thing is for sure, you will never leave hungry and not satisfied. Excellent value. read more

TJ's On The Avenue - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

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This place was always a favorite of ours but this time was different. The sauce tasted burnt, the bread was dry, no fresh grated Parmesan, etc. Other friend have also had the same experience with the food lately. Good points were good service and not overly pricey. :( read more

Our food was ok. I had eggplant parm - eggplant was good Hubs had a pizza. It was ok We never received more bread or salad Our service was fair, at best. She was nice, but not attentive at all We probably won't come back read more

TJ's On The Avenue - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

I took my daughter to TJ's last night. I used to go there as a teenager (I'm 51 now) so I went for nostalgia more than anything else. The food was basic, which is what I remember, and the prices were reasonable. The staff were friendly enough, no complaints there. But... the restaurant itself was incredibly dirty. There was trash piled up under every single table. Dirty napkins, broken crayons, food scraps. It really grossed me out. It was so bad that I wanted to take pictures with my phone but I didn't want to be rude. The menus were sticky and felt as if they hadn't been wiped down in weeks. I don't know who is responsible for cleaning throughout the shift, I would assume bussing staff, but whoever it was obviously did NOT take pride in his/her work. I'm posting this review as a courtesy to whoever owns the restaurant. You really need to have a talk with your staff about keeping the restaurant cleaner! read more

We have probably driven past here a thousand times but it never really caught our attention. But our son suggested we all meet there for dinner and we are happy he introduced us to TJ's! It has a no fuss kind of atmosphere that is welcoming to all. Adults and kids are comfortable eating here because the menu has familiar American Italian fare that everyone enjoys. Although the restaurant was packed, the service was good. We will be back. read more

Went here for my twin son's 15th birthday, and the food was amazing. We had a party of six and they started off with a basket of garlic bread rolls, which were a bit average in my opinion, but from there everything was dialed up to awesomeness. Our server, Nicole, was excellent and brought our drinks and salad promptly. The salads were delicious, especially with the shredded mozzarella on top however, the only dressing that appeared to be fresh was the house Italian. All the other flavors were served in shelf stable large foil packets. Next came the main courses all which were excellent, including pizza with pepperoni and Italian sausage, cheese ravioli, chicken, marsala, eggplant Parmesan and chicken Madison. The chicken dishes all came with a side of pasta, or you can choose broccoli as a vegetable. we had a mix of both, and the broccoli was done perfectly and the portions were large. Be advised if you're going to have the pasta on the side the automatic default is to have your pasta with red sauce, so if you want something different, you have to ask for it ahead of time and I think you could get it with garlic butter or Alfredo sauce instead Portions were large, and we all ended up taking small boxes home with leftovers I like this place a lot and will be back. They have a full bar and here is one other tip. We made a reservation via phone around lunchtime for 5:30 PM and when we got there at 5:20 they did not have our reservation on the list, however, they juggled a few things and still got us to our table within 20 minutes Lastly, they do a very large takeout business as we saw many pizzas and meals, heading out the front door while we were waiting for our table so take out is a great option from here read more

Everything! Rude, ignorant staff who can prove you called but didn't write down your reservation! Absolutely the worst customer service ever!!! The kitchen is open to all the elements of the open air, so those with autoimmune beware! Will never go to this place again!! read more

This neighborhood landmark may not stand out much from the street, but there is more than meets the eye! TJ's is a family owned establishment that serves sizable portions of excellent Italian food in a warm, spacious setting. As you walk in you are greeted by an attentive hostess who promptly seats you at either a booth or a table. Upon being seated I was handed a menu, which listed an assortment of soups, salads, pizza, calzones, pasta, chicken, steak, and seafood! There are a plethora of reasonably priced, delectable options that are suitable for every taste. Since it was my first escapade I elected to get the Seafood Capellini Supreme, a delectable blend of scallops, shrimp, and blue mussels sauteed in an herb white wine sauce over angel hair! Even better, all entrees come with a side salad. The salad was a nice mix of romaine, onions, shredded provolone, cucumbers, and olives and paired well with the complementary garlic bread that was brought out. The seafood capellini was delicious and served in a generous portion. I would definitely get it again but will try a different dish next time since there are so many from which to choose. read more

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Way overrated, especially the sauce: very watered down and tasteless. The service was good, but she made a few mistakes. It's not authentic Italian food. I wouldn't go back. read more

Our family enjoyed our dinner. We had decent space for a party of 8. We tried the eggplant, calamari, and mozzarella sticks for appetizers. All were tasty and good portions. Salads were nice size and house dressing was great. Most of us had the fish fry for dinner. It's came with a side of dill sauce pasta or fries. The dill sauce was very light and perfect with fish. The fish was ok. Very fresh but lacked flavor. Couple of pizzas at the table which everyone loved. The eggplant dinner was a very large portion. Overall a great dinner experience. Kitchen got back up and our meals were scattered arriving to the table but the servers were hustling all night. read more

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Family atmosphere. Didn't enjoy hearing employees talking personal details. Seated right away by friendly hostess, waitress appeared quickly. Food delivered in reasonable time. Tomato sauce to me was too strong tasting, prefer milder taste. Prices reasonable. We may visit again read more

Nice family restaurant in Mentor close to Great Lakes Mall. We stopped by with friends after an event at the mall (Sistine Chapel). The interior and the room were good for talking. Staff spaced the tables, so good social distancing. The table shared calamari. The app was quite good. Rolled sticks of calamari instead of the ubiquitous rings. Very tasty and perfectly cooked. Dinners come with unlimited salad and garlicky rolls. Both were good but the rolls were loved by everyone at the table. I got veal cutlets as my main dish and the veal was great. My side of pasta was cooked al dente (good!) The sauce was a little sweet for my tastes, but I enjoyed the pasta. Portions were big, so each person went home with at least a lunch worth of food. Limited beer and wine list. Staff was very friendly and on top of things with water refills and offering suggestions. We'd return if in the area. read more

Oh, lordy! This place is in desperate need of an update. The color scheme of the interior hasn't changed since the late 1990's. The ceilings were filthy around the vents and cobwebs graced the gaudy window valances. There were extension cords crawling under carpets. It was super cringey. But, the restroom was clean. I'll give them that. The service was good at first, even though it took awhile for our server to acknowledge us. We put our orders in promptly. I went with dessert first and ordered a tiramisu. Though it was good, it was disgraced by being drowned in a pool Hershey's chocolate syrup. It covered up most of the wonderful flavors. And what's up with the false advertising with the cappuccino art on the wall above the bar? After seeing it, I wanted to order a cappuccino or espresso to go with my dessert. Most Italian restaurants offer those beverages. No no... A no a cappuccino for a you! (Then take your damn sign down!) Our server came around and asked how the tiramisu was. After that, she made herself scarce, except for the small moment in time when she delivered our subs and fries. She didn't give us any refills and didn't even ask us how everything was or if we needed anything else. Zero effs given. Wow! We ordered the chicken Philly sub and the eggplant Parmesan sub. Both came with fries. The subs were mediocre at best. No real wow factor with anything. The sauce wasn't flavorful whatsoever. Even my Italian Grammy would've been really pissed about that sauce because there was no love in it. My hubby and I noticed that our server was distracted with some coworker's drama. She was also busy kissing every other table's asses, like we were too young and poor to afford anything else on the menu, which is totally not true. That's the attitude that was reflected in our opinions. That's okay though. Fortunately, we live in an area where there are so many other wonderful Italian restaurants, with far better cuisine and much better service. Restaurants where you can feel the love in the food. I do not recommend this restaurant at all. read more

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Consistent high quality food. The soups and salads are great. My favorite entree is the stuffed sole. My favorite sandwich is the grilled chicken. The rolls are to die for read more

Chicken Parm Sandwich was excellent. Wife had a club that was also great. Quick and friendly service at lunch on a Thursday. Nice clean place with hearty food at a good value read more

Great food and love the bread. The service is always friendly and fast. Their salads are always fresh.

I've been coming here for years and the service is always top tier. The staff are so helpful and friendly and the food is never short of exceptional. This is a great place to get some classic home style, italian cuisine. read more

This place is a must every time I am home to visit my family!! The chicken parm is unmatched and be sure to ask which pastas have been made fresh in house. Great family/ small town atmosphere. read more

Great restaurant - it wasn't too loud or too quiet. Our waitress was very kind and attentive. The drinks were good and the food was great! It is a little on the pricey side... read more

TJ's On The Avenue - Chicken Mushroom Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

Wow, what an impressive meal! We walked in an I was thinking "oh great, one of those cheesy Italian restaurants that gets everything out of a can" but no! Everything was homemade and super flavorful. It's definitely a little dated, but the food was fresh and delicious. We started with an order of calamari, which was served in strips and battered and fried. It was so tender and no at all chewy like calamari sometimes is. I ordered the special, which was sauteed chicken with spinach and garlic in a basil parmesan cream sauce served with homemade spaghetti. It was so good! Nice and creamy without feeling heavy like alfredo sauce. Other people at our table got the veal parmesan, which was thin and crispy fried. The lasagna was also really tasty and very homemade tasting. Highly recommend! read more

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First time in a long time at TJs. Can't recommend though. Ordered the lasagna, which as it turned out was actually a thin pocket of pasta with a limited amount of meat and cheese inside. not sure why they called it lasagna. My wife had the Tuscan chicken, which was fine but had a very limited amount of chicken. So while a dinner for less than $20 is usually a deal these days, it's not if it's mostly just pasta. read more

I haven't even got my food yet and I wanted to write this review so quickly because how great this wine is! Highly recommend trying the wine out here! I cannot wait for the food! The salad came out extremely quick so service is not short here at all! Definitely will be returning again and I haven't even left yet! read more

TJ's On The Avenue - A very good red wine - Italian Near Me - Mentor, Ohio

Came two days straight in a row. Day 1 I got the chicken Parmesan lunch special and for a small price upgraded the pasta to cheese ravioli. And day 2 tonight I ordered the build your own calzone and had double pepperoni, provolone, ricotta cheese! I always get a garden salad with their creamy blue cheese dressing, and wedding soup! BREADSTICKS ARE TO DIE FOR! read more

We came here on a Tuesday night when all the other restaurants had a 45 minute wait. Our tables food included fettuccini Alfredo, taste of TJ's, and eggplant Parm. The bread was delicious. Our waitress was on top of it making sure we were taken care of. We always leave here stuffed and satisfied! read more

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always order takeout from this place and always order a piece of tiramisu. Every single time they package it the same way they put our piece of tiramisu right on top of our quart of wedding soup. Nothing in the bag is ever secure as soon as you take your first turn out of the parking lot, your soup containers tip over. read more

Always a classic. Our server was amazing. Food is always so good. It's fresh, never had a cold meal. Great place to bring kids as well. I've been coming here for over 20 years and it's still the same great quality read more

Was just there, had the chicken Madison. It was wonderful as always and they manager went out of he way to welcome us, and offers suggestions. read more