A lovely old restaurant in Westlake walking distance from Bay Village. We met another couple on New Year's Eve for dinner. A good crowd and very snowy, but staff were pleasant and efficient and we were seated quickly. We were in a cute side room with an array of windows that featured blowing snow. Beautiful. It was a festive night so I chose the surf and turf special: lobster tail and filet. Both were cooked perfectly and tasted great. The table enjoyed mixed drinks and wine. I was the driver, so water for me. The server made a good push in desserts, showing us a tray. All looked but we were all sated and passed. Great place for a special dinner. read more

Rang in the New Year here with another couple and had such a cozy, memorable night. With the snowstorm outside, we were especially grateful for the valet parking -- a great start to the evening. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and we were fortunate to be seated in the back room, which was surrounded by windows and featured a live fire in the fireplace. The spotlights outside really highlighted the snowfall, making it feel extra festive and magical. Drinks and food did not disappoint. The Holiday Mule was delicious, and the filet with twice-baked potatoes was perfectly done and very satisfying. read more

White Oaks - Filet - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

I can see why the review is so low on this place. The place itself makes it feel like you're in a cabin and if you get seated in the right place, you have a beautiful view. The waitress was very nice and the staff was attentive at refilling our waters and removing finished plates. We have been looking for a place with good beef Wellington and we were hopeful this would be the place but I rate the food a 5/10. The one thing that we both loved was the crème Brûlée. I'm glad we at least tried it once. read more

We had a birthday celebrations for my sister's here on Saturday. What a lovely experience! The service staff was professional and friendly and the atmosphere was classy. We sat by the windows and were able to watch the ducks on the creek and even a wild turkey! The food was outstanding. My sister had the lobster tails, her friend had the duck, my husband had the chicken Marsala and I had the pasta and shrimp. Everything was cooked perfectly and very tasty. With crème brûlée for dessert! Perfect evening. read more

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The legendary, and ancient White Oaks was enjoyed by me and partner on our 20th anniversary. Partner's prime rib - the classic Saturday night special - was cooked perfectly. A great $48 deal including salad and sides, unheard of at steak houses with their "family style" $14 baked potatoes and $16 asparagus. My Delmonico was excellent also. Service is old fashioned and fine. Only problem is the place needs to close down for 2 to 4 weeks, scrub everything down, new carpet and tables and chairs. Bar area is a beautiful throwback. read more

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Ok, this is my follow up with another review on our 26th anniversary Fantastic meal, we both had the Beef Wellington which is a filet mignon inside of a pastry puff with a moonlight mushroom deme glaze. We had lobster bisque and a bottle of wine Our Server was very pleasant and food came out timely. The ambience is a trip back in time. Add to it the old fashioned decor and beautiful nature view with a large glass windows overlooking a creek/nature type setting. We saw deer, a fox, ducks and many other animals while dining. I'd recommend you check it out, it's worth a drive for a excellent dinner. Our tradition will continue with #27 next year, god willing! read more

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For twenty years we have been coming to White Oaks for our aniversary and sometimes just because we wanted a really good meal. Oh what just happened? Our meal started off fine with the warm crusty bread and delicious soft garlic chive butter. Our drinks came and I remembered they use to bring a vegetable platter. My husband asked three waiters and it was finally brought out with another tabels. My husband ordered prime rib and I ordered surf & turf. I was told they had no more lobster and when my husband asked to substitute it with shrimp the waiter said " No substitution " buy it could have grilled garlic shrimp as a side dish. The prime rib was small, overcooked and tasteless. Instead of a really baked potato they now have the half cheddar twice baked that comes frozen. Vegetables were still on the raw side. My filet was smothered in demi glaze sauce, and completely inedible. I left it for the garbage. The manager was notified and didn't even bother to come out to talk to us about the food. . My filet was taken off the bill but I would have rather had my meal. The shrimp had a strong fish taste and was $13.99. We noticed a lot of diners had coupons...White Oaks rarely advertised coupons, I wonder if it's because it draws in diners now that the food quality has diminished. So heartbreaking. read more

White Oaks - A tasteless fliet - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

Love the food. Spot on every time, especially the fillet and lobster tail. Old School restaurant with fabulous old world charm. Highly recommend. read more

Highly recommend. Food and service were excellent, beautiful space and ambiance. We've gone back twice since our first time. Only issue is the hostess is not very welcoming. read more

The worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant. Server didn't come to our table when we sat down until 15 minutes. My gf ordered the beef Wellington they say they only cook it medium rare. Look at this picture!!!! We ordered an appetizer of fondue and it was an hour before I asked the server where it was and he said "oh I thought that came out already to you" The manager just walked over to our table and stared at us, didn't even say a word. I had to explain our situation and he said he could just make us another one. No thanks, our food took 45 minutes! Gave us some crappy 1/2 off an entree next time we come in. Not good enough b/c I'm never coming back in! I cut my steak in half and split it with my lady, then we paid and left. Atrocious read more

White Oaks - Beef Wellington - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

Last Friday, service was awful. Food was ok but wait staff was terrible, never followed up, had to ask 3 times for water. After we finished, took 20 minutes before we we asked about coffee or desert. The 3 % charge for credit card is ridiculous. Which their prices dinner for four with drinks and desert easily tops $500. Do they really expect customers to carry that much cash? I didn't feel bad leaving a token very small tip. read more

I love the bar/lounge here. It's old school upscale but still comfortable. The service feels very high end and they are super attentive. Dark wood, cool woods and stream out the back windows. I watched a deer cross the river. Best best best lobster bisque in town!!!!! Great cocktails and clubby style seats in loung. The menu and food I. The restaurant is great too, a little old fashioned. Super place for a romantic night out or just a relaxed cocktail date. read more

White Oaks - Bar/lounge area. - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

Husband and I have a tradition of celebrating our anniversary at a popular west-side steakhouse. We love it and my husband waits all year for their special tomahawk steak. The price of that steak went from $88 to $140 in a year and money is a little tighter this year, so we wanted to check out a new, old spot. We had a restaurant.com certificate to White Oaks, so we made a reservation for a Thursday evening. I cant believe I'd never been here before, because this is my kind of place. Old, authentic, full of character and classic charm. My heart fills thinking of all the things that must have been celebrated here over the years- what a rich and treasured history! I love the decorations- 6 fireplaces, wood trim/ panels/ bannisters, antique photos on the walls. We were seated in the looney bin, which is a room at the back overlooking the river. It was lovely. I mean, looney. We started with the baked brie appetizer, which was missing a little something, but I couldn't quite determine what. It was warm and gooey, so that's not so bad, right? Husband ordered a Milky Way cocktail which he really liked. My fresh brewed iced tea hit the spot. They bring a small relish plate of olives, carrots, celery, and cottage cheese. I thought this was strange, but maybe it's an olden day traditional starter? I also ordered a lobster bisque soup. It was to die for. Perfect, flavorful broth. Nice chunks of actual lobster meat. This is one of the best lobster bisques I've had. Very impressive. White Oaks also serves a lovely baked garlic bread. The butter was a little sweet for the bread, but separately they were both satisfying. I ordered the bacon-wrapped filet with a lobster tail. The filet was very nice- seasoned well and cooked exactly how it should be. The lobster tail was a true stand out. It was so plump and fresh and delicious. Really made my day. It was served with a creamy, delicious twice-baked potato and a medley of vegetables. Everything on my plate was superb. Husband ordered the steak au poive, which I was jealous of (he always orders a better steak than me!). The sauce was so good,he was sopping it up with potato. After the certificate we had, we ended up paying a little more than what his tomahawk Waygu would have cost at the other place. I was very pleased with the value, ambiance, and taste. Our server was excellent- we never had to look around for a server or refill. She was a true professional and contributed to us having a fantastic anniversary meal. We can't wait to go back. read more

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Let me say that the appearance on the outside is terrible for the inside is very nice and homey and pricey. So clean the outside up! Looks as though it is falling apart and no care at all. You have to be making money by prices you charge, Lets clean up your act!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

We had a lovely table by the window overlooking the creek below. Our waitress, Jen, was so pleasant and super efficient. The salmon special for the evening and the chicken piccata from the regular menu were both absolutely delicious. The small touches like complementary fresh cottage cheese with vegetables and olives as well as a basket of delicious bread were very nice. My only suggestion would be to serve the wine in a pretty stem rather than a stemless glass. Otherwise, well done! Will definitely be back. read more

I think they have fallen to exist on reputation over quality and service. Waitress was a bit inattentive and overall slacking tho no major mistakes other than not seeing needed coke refills most of the evening. The duck was not good. We do it better at home and i would put it amongst the worst duck ive tried in a restaurant. Prime rib was very good but not seasoned like fine dining typically would offer (no salt or rosemary or so on just the beef, but the beef cooked well). Twice baked potato still yummy. Sides lacked in oresentation and unimpressive. Soggy and sad vegetable medley maybe boiled or over cooked steamed. Got the bacon wrapped scallops appetizer. It was 75%bacon with tiny lik scallop in the middle. Could barely tell there was anything more than bacon and not even a little bit of the scallop taste came through. Mosdef charging for fine dining but delivery is nowhere near it. Maybe it used to be better because i know so many people say it was "the place" for date night many decades ago. read more

We celebrated a special birthday here on a Tuesday evening around 5:45 PM. It was quite crowded for a Tuesday night (which is a good sign). We requested a table near the windows to enjoy the creek view and was happy we arrived early to be seated at one. It was so very special and nice. Our server was friendly and welcoming. Her nice attitude and professional behavior made our dinner extra special. We ordered the chicken Marsala and lobster bisque soup. All were delicious. The complimentary cottage cheese vegetable plate was a pleasant surprise. The warm bread was tasty and delicious. During the cold winter months I heard they have all of the multiple fire places lit for extra ambiance. I can imagine it's beautiful. The restaurant is in need of some repairs since it's almost over 100 years old. Years & years ago the maitre d' used to greet you in his tuxedo but that era is long gone. Parking can be limited when the restaurant is crowded. I was told that you can order sandwiches if you sit at the bar. We enjoyed our evening and delicious dinners. It was nice to celebrate a special occasion at this legendary restaurant, read more

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Food and service were great. Called 8 weeks before out celebration. Disinterested young call taker blew off my requested table. Calked 4 weeks before event to update numbers and time. Again, disinterested young person blew off my request. Got there the day of the event. No reservation!!! White Oaks has good food and service. They are ignoring the most important... front office reservations! Total turn off. I almost took our group of 9 to Rosewood! They wanted the business! Happy to talk to owner or manager! Call me. 4407858155. Or call me if you want info about booking there! read more

(As a note,l, I almost never give a five star rating. I'd have to be blown away. Don't think 4 is a bad review) Got there for our reservation and was almost immediately seated. It was a cold day and was very busy. Our orders Beef Wellington was what my wife ordered. It was awesome. I had their lobster tail / filet. I enjoyed thoroughly. Both are pictured. Cooked to our specifications and was served hot. I also had the lobster bisque. It was decent. No lumps. Mainly a good broth with a fair amount of shredded lobster meat in it We ate in front of a fireplace with Christian as our waiter. He did a good job. Wife enjoyed her wine and I had a bottled beer. Some of you ask, "why not five stars"? 1. Beer selection 2. Large holes and rips in the furniture 3. Don't serve the man menus and plates first. Sorry if that makes me old school. Beyond that everything met or exceeded expectation. I WILL be back. read more

White Oaks - Beef Wellington - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

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My wife and I were very excited to go to White Oaks for dinner tonight and we ordered a very nice bottle of Ridge red wine to go with our dinner. When the bottle arrived the server brought to us 2 very small glasses to accompany the bottle. I asked her if she had any larger glasses with stems and 5 minutes later she returned with 2 white wine smaller glasses with stems. I then said I can't believe you guys don't have any larger red wine glasses with stems and went to the bar to check it out and at that point our server said " Are you calling me a liar?" and I said "Fine just bring us the first glasses'. The next thing I know the manager of the restaurant comes to our table and said"You must leave now!" I grew up in Bay Village,Ohio and White Oaks has always been one of my favorite dining destinations. Everyone I have spoken to in Cleveland recently has told me that White Oaks is OVER! they say they advertise on groupon and it's dirty and run down and appeals to only old people. My wife and I went there for drinks yesterday and loved it and had a great tme with Nichole the bartender and requested a window seat for Sunday for an early dinner. When we arrived we had a drink at the bar and were seated by the window where we saw deers and ducks dining in the creek below. Next thing this wine glass misunderstanding thing happens and we are forced to leave. We were very hurt and left as we were told ( very strange) and went to Bonefish for dinner. Later I decided to call White Oaks back to complain to the owner and was told he would call me back. The guy who called my phone back claiming to be the owner(MikeSmall?) had a coversation with my wife and proceeded to call her a B###H! He said our server happened to be his wife and I have got to tell you she had some kind of attitude. So there you have it - go and have a good time and if you should have a problem - just have your wife talk to that piece of s### guy claiming to be the manager and he can insult her too. read more

We have family friends who like to go here for NYE. We reluctantly joined and our expectations were low. It was not humanly possible for it to have been a worse experience. In my mind, there are three legs to evaluate a restaurant: food, ambiance, and service. I'll address those in reverse order. Service: The menu stated to please limit your time to an hour and a half to an hour and forty five. We had an 8 pm seating. Our entrees didn't even hit the table until 10 pm. We didn't get out of there until after 11 pm. Ambiance: If you're looking for a time machine to take you back to 1980, this is the place for you. With an absolutely killer location, this place has rested on its laurels. Low ceilings, dark walls, weird step downs, tight rooms. It's beyond dated. They need to light the OUTSIDE so you can see it. When it's lit the way it is inside, you can't see their greatest asset. Food: Our bill for two was $200. I left hungry and unsatisfied. I will say that the escargots was quite good. Otherwise, again - dated. The wellington had zero flavor and the pastry was doughy. It came with a bordelaise sauce. Does anyone still make this stuff? White Oaks does. Even the salad was gross. The dressing was just apple cider vinegar. Immediate heartburn. The twice baked potatoes were dry and the size of a golf ball. I make better ones on a random Tuesday night. The veggie medley was oversteamed and the knife work was a joke. This lack of attention to detail says it all. Our creme brulee was literally yellow and scrambled eggs. Two other people at our table ordered it and theirs was good. In restaurant speak - bad process and standards. read more

First impression of hostess/server by Terry not so cordial. Rather snarky. My niece does not put up with rudeness. Made it apparent Terry was not a happy person.Perhaps she was having a bad day or after 31 yrs its time to retire girl... Akward silence... Have to say the Best Chicken sandwiches and burgers. Not to mention the Escargot. Moscow Mules the bomb. All in all we had a nice time. Perhaps Terry was just having a bad day! All in all she was accomodating.After the fact. read more

Great escargot! Bacon wrapped scallops also a great choice. I had both the other night and would highly recommend!!!!

Overall very bad experience. We drove over 45 minutes for a nice dinner at the "#1 best romantic dinner in Cleveland". We would have been better off at Applebees. The waiter (bless his heart) was an old gentleman who forgot everything...menus, drinks, order. He literally said, pardon me I'm old, did I take your order? The water/bread server did his best, but there is only so much he could do. The food may have been good, if we could have eaten it. We ordered an 18 oz. prime rib and went through FIVE knives before giving up. They were so dull that they may have not cut the bread. I asked the water boy for the manager and the elderly waiter came back. I explained my concerns over the knifes. He offered to take the prime rib off and give me a complimentary drink. The bill came and there is no way he took them off. I paid and tipped well resounding to never be back again. Do not come here! read more

Really enjoyed this place with our friends. Our food was delicious and so were our drinks. Our waitress knew a lot of history about the place which was nice because we were able to learn a lot about it. We got a seat near the window which was really nice because the view was incredible. read more

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great ambiance and the filet was cooked perfectly ! our server was knowledgeable, and made great recommendations on pairings. read more

Another great evening at White Oaks. Since we hadn't been out for a while I dressed up for dinner at this old supper club-style establishment with excellent food. The patrons lean to an older group, but all ages are represented. We finished the specials getting the last prime rib and duck dinners. The beef Wellington was excellent, also. With each dinner is potato or rice, and a nice salad. The sweet and sour dressing is delicious. For apps we chose the escargot, Brie cheese in a puffed pastry and clam chowder. Everything was delicious. There is also beer and wine. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Groupons are available. Plan to spend $50 a person. A salad and appetizer make an excellent meal, also. read more

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Take a step back in time at this unique restaurant nestled at the top of a ravine. The scenery is gorgeous, looking over a creek. Hints of its past life as a speakeasy are found in the front door, with small windows to peek through. While it has a good atmosphere, the food leaves something to be desired. Boasting "farm raised salmon" and "blue bunny ice cream" on their menu, the food is not shockingly average. I got the lobster bisque which was delicious, beef Wellington which was just ok and the warm apple tart which was pretty good. The bar looked cozy and I would return for a night cap but probably not for dinner. read more

White Oaks - Warm Warmed Apple Tart - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

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This has been a family favorite for many years! The restaurant has been there since prohibition and used to be a speak easy. The old girl doesn't shine as bright as she once did, but that is part of the charm! The food is always good and the view of the creek and the animals below is always fun. The bar area is old wood and old craftsmanship. Service staff is normally friendly and consistent. read more

We were bummed, to say the least. Came in right at opening on a Sunday. We got seated right away, but quickly had to brush off the bread crumbs off the table and the ripped booth before we sat down. The younger gentleman who took care of the waters and bread was so polite and on top of his game. Our female server, however, was not. She seemed nice, but not attentive at all. We had to essentially ask for everything we needed...plates to me cleared, more drinks, ETA on food, by the gentleman mentioned above. The food was was wonderful, but I dont think I would go back again, not for $180. There was a time that this place seemed magical because of how old school and wondeful the experience was. I would rather keep those memories alive than have these current visit tarnish them. read more

The service was excellent and my husband's steak was good. Unfortunately, I ordered the duck. I was served two legs, one had no meat at all, the other had three forkfuls, tops. There was no breast meat, no thighs, just two leg bones. It's too bad because in the past I've had a good meal there. read more

A solid, unique menu, if somewhat overpriced. All the entrees are well-prepared and the complimentary bread, vegetables, and salad are also quite nice. It's not nearly as stuffy and formal as you might think. One table had a screaming toddler on this visit (which I could've done without) and there's no semblance of enforcement on the dress code (which I appreciate, as I often wear a t-shirt and shorts to restaurants, and I've worn that here several times with no one batting an eye). read more

How do you review a restaurant that's actually a time capsule? Like, all the complaints you will read about this place are entirely valid - it's stuffy and dark, the menu got one whiff of modern cuisine in the 1980s and then lapsed into a forty-year coma, the clientele feels like something out of The Shining. And yet... like, kids, this is how fine dining WAS in the 1970s. Pointing out this joint's flaws is like going to a historical reenactment and getting mad nobody's drinking Gatorade. Everything about the White Oaks was frozen in amber at some point and sealed in a TARDIS, and now it cruises effortlessly through the years being nothing but itself. And the food, though overpriced, is delicious for what it is. The Beef Wellington? Superb enough to make Gordon Ramsay shed a tear. The vichyssoise? Tasty and epic. Yet they also have these weirdie 1970s quirks like serving celery with cottage cheese before the meal, demanding business casual clothing, and that beautiful - or gloomy, take your choice - dark-wood design where everything looks like it was carved out of some forest in Germany. In the end, this is a good place as long as you know what to expect, and are willing to pay a (perhaps unwarranted) premium for the experience of knowing what your grandparents thought "swanky" looked like. The food is actually good, the service attentive, but if you mutter a modern word like "kombucha" several of the cooks may dry up and blow away. read more

White Oaks has been where our family has dined for virtually every special occasion for the last 40 years, which is why it saddens me to have the service for one evening be so rude that it tarnishes decades of stellar experience and customer loyalty. I flew in from LA for Mother's Day, after not being back in Cleveland since the pandemic, and wanted to treat Mom to a special dinner the night before the holiday at her favorite fine dining restaurant. The service was generally inattentive at best. The server, whom we assumed to be new, dropped off the bill while we were still eating, then reached across Mom's face mid-meal trying to collect the unpaid bill - not once, but twice. I let him know that was unusually aggressive for a 7pm Sat night reservation and that we would pay when we were done. When we were finishing and the last ones in our dining room - there were still guests in the other dining rooms - a gentleman who looked like our server and 3 other staff members filed in and began loudly moving tables and chairs around us to set up a long table for the following day's reservations. Dropping the metal table leaf extension on the floor was the final straw in the disruption to the end of dinner. My Dad called out the rudeness and said he would like to speak to the manager. The gentlemen whom we initially thought was our server said he was the manager - and that my Dad was right. He then continued setting up for the next day. Never seen such cavalier disregard for customers at an Applebee's let alone a white tablecloth service. The food was on par, but the traditionally high level of service was absent Saturday and alienated some long-time customers. read more

Watch out for 3% added charge if you use a credit card! They are proud of their quaint old restaurant and that is what you get. A throwback to the past complete with a bit of a musty smell near the front door. The menu had a great selection of fine dishes and the food was very good at reasonable prices. The service was very good. The view near the windows create a nice ambiance. read more

Great food! Very helpful wait staff. Very romantic. Dress up when you go here. A little pricey, but worth it. I go here for special occasions. Best to call for reservations. Valet parking available. read more

We found a Groupon for this nice restaurant and used it for date night out. It was our first time here. It doesn't look like much from the outside but the ambiance inside was refreshing. Wood covers every room and luckily we were seated next a window. The views were beautiful of the woods and river below. Sean our server was great. He was very knowledgeable and had a friendly personality. Food was really really good! We will be back soon. Check them out. Better check Groupon too for a discount. read more

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Atmosphere - very nice. The outside is less than impressive. It looks like a modest house. The inside of the restaurant has an understated elegance. Rustic, yet comfortable, it feels a bit like a restaurant in a ski lodge. There is a decent sized room that appears to have a more than a dozen 4 tops. We were there on a quiet Monday evening and that room was mostly empty. Located on the left is a room with a bar that has some seating and tables for more informal dining. Directly toward the back is a relatively small room. This room is the dining area of choice. With about 10 or so 4 tops. The back wall has large windows that provides a nice few of a wooded area. There also is a wood burning fireplace in the room that provides warmth and atmosphere. Service - average. The hostess, server and others were not as warm and attentive as you might expect for a restaurant that is frequently designated as "most romantic". Also, I called 2 weeks prior for a reservation and mentioned that we were celebrating our anniversary. When we arrived, the hostess did not have our reservation. I explained that I had not only confirmed our reservation, but also noted that we were celebrating our anniversary. There was no apology, nor any attempt whatsoever to make amends. In fact, every staff member did the bare minimum in their service. Food - excellent. We each ordered a martini and they were very good. We had a glass of wine each with our dinner and the pour was generous. A relish tray and bread accompanied the meal. I ordered a ribeye and my wife had a fillet mignon. Both were absolutely amazing! They were cooked to order, tender and tasted wonderful. Overall - despite the somewhat disappointing service, the restaurant earns a high rating. In addition to the atmosphere and food, the prices are extremely reasonable given the quality. read more

Great place for a first date, we happen to be the youngest in the restaurant. Everyone was so nice and we ordered the duck and salmon. Duck was tough and hard to eat. Service was phenomenal. Has a country club feel to it but over all it was great to try something new. read more

White Oaks - two plates of food on a table - New American Near Me - Westlake, Ohio

Old school. You step back in time here. A lodge is the word that describes it the best. Wood walls and tables. Booths. Ovens in the room. Food is excellent. Service too. Nice pours amd not bad prices. Business or personal, I have done both. Have yet to be disappointed. Escargot was fantastic Filet Mignon was perfect Caesar salad was excellent Will be back! read more