Etna

This cozy corner Italian restaurant offers a great menu of staple Italian dishes along with a rotation of delicious specials, accompanied by a solid wine menu. The staff is friendly and helpful. The place is small, so make sure to call ahead for reservations to ensure there’s room for you and your party. My family of 6 ate here for a birthday dinner and had a great experience overall. Everyone left happy. The only caveat I’ll add is to give yourself time to sit and enjoy if you have a larger party because it may take a bit longer to get through your dining experience. We were there for just over 2 hours, partly due to some slower eaters in our party, but also due to lengthier periods of time between service.

Great food and excellent service and wine. They had a great selection of fish dishes. Super cozy atmosphere 👌👌👌

The four of us were very impressed with the menu selections. My squid ink pasta with shrimp was wonderful. My choice of lemon sorbet turned out to be an elegant surprise! A hollowed out lemon was packed with the sorbet! Lovely presentation. This tiny ristorante is well worth a visit!

One of my favorite places in Cleveland. Authentic food and people from Italy. Make a reservation.

Impeccably-prepared food. Great service. A gem on the hill and a cut above most. Reserve early- they get busy fast!

One of the only places in little Italy with a real Italian owner, and you can tell. Authentic Italian food like I’ve never had before. You have to try this place at least once.

Dee-licious and very cozy place! Suggest you make reservations ahead of time because it’s a small dining area. Servers were friendly. Fave place so far in Little Italy.

Our server and everyone there was very professional, courteous, and kind. The food was absolutely delicious! Loved the meal, which was a Chef's specialty of Cod with lemon & capers, asparagus, and roasted potatoes! The salad was delicious too with baby spinach added to the mixed greens and artichoke hearts; and loved their homemade balsamic dressing! The homemade tiramisu was delicious also! My husband loved his Pasta Bolognese & Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato too. Would highly recommend for deliciously prepared Italian cuisine and beautiful ambience. Thank you for giving us a very relaxing evening. Grazie

We tried Etna for the first time last night on Valentine's Day and it was absolutely amazing. Cleveland's Little Italy has a lot of really great places and ETNA was incredible. We started with a buffalo mozzarella, olive and thick sliced prosciutto appetizer. Absolutely amazing. I had a squid ink pasta special with shrimp and scampi and my wife had their veal. Both were absolutely fantastic. For desert the tiramisu is beyond description. Light, fluffy, incredibly flavorful. This place is LEGIT. Our server was originally from Italy and took great care of us. She was amazing. We visited Italy years ago and this place really brought us back to those amazing memories. We will absolutely be back. Make sure to get a reservation because the dining room is rather small but very nice and cozy.

Overall 9.6/10 My personal favorite restaurant in Little Italy. Not in the "Heart" of little Italy as it's on the edge, this restaurant has some of the best food I have had in Cleveland. Ive been here multiple times and it has never disappointed in any aspect. I would also call the restaurant in advance for a reservation. Food: All the food here is amazing. From the roasted duck which had crispy skin and a juicy inside, seasoned to perfection to the amazing seafood risotto that was so filling and fresh. The food just doesn't miss. I have had their sautéed calamari which is wonderful with the bread they give complementary. Everything tastes so fresh and flavorful. The portion size is great and leaves you filled and it comes at respectable prices. Service: Amazing service. The restaurant is on the smaller size so seating is limited, but because of that you pretty much have attentive staff open to helping you at all times. In addition to the restaurant being smaller, the setting is much more intimate as it has dimmed lights and a bar on the side. The staff is kind and very informative of the menu and special too. Overall: I would come here everyday if I could. One or the best restaurants in Cleveland from my experience. I would come here for special occasions/ dates or if you're craving amazing food.

This bar is my happy place in Cleveland. Really cool old school Italian restaurant. Every dish is great but the trout is on another level!

Good food but limited menu. Not much we liked on it. High prices. Service was ok. Bathroom was terrifying.

Later Saturday night visit either friends. Service was excellent. I enjoyed the house salad and then fusilli pasta dish. Dressing in salad, a savory italian, different and great. Sauce on fusilli was excellent anchovies replacing meat or sausage brings a different flavor to the dish. Its small, tables are right next to one another, don't plan a super private conversation agenda. Definitely going back.

This is a gem of a restaurant on Murray Hill. Barely 10 tables inside, you need to make a reservation if you want one of them. We decided to go same-day but were fortunate to book 2 seats at the bar. Two of us split an app, pasta, and main, which was enough food to feel full but not stuffed. Prices were reasonable and portions were moderate. The gnocchi was savory and the grilled fish was tasty. We split a reasonable priced bottle of white wine. The place was bustling on a Saturday night without being overwhelmingly loud. We'll be back!

Wonderful sidewalk dining during the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2024. Located just before the madness of THE FEAST, excellent typical Italian fare is to be had at Etna. Salad and pasta and meatball were very enjoyable. Partner's gnocchi was described as bland sauce and dumpling too dense, but they are a gnocchi connoisseur. "Lacked flavor". As usual, we disagreed as my plate was fine. Service was excellent.

This is a cute, very intimate, Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Highly recommend making reservations, even for a party of two. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and they weren't able to accommodate us, which wasn't an issue, and we just headed to Presti's in the meantime. I had the shrimp scampi with squid ink pasta, which was absolutely delicious. The shrimp were huge and juicy, and the pasta was perfectly al dente. I had one of the white wines that was recommended by our waiter, though I honestly don't remember which one. It was very delicious, and really appreciate his suggestions based off of my preferences. I definitely think that this is a great place for an intimate date night or a dinner with parents. This would not be the place to go if you have a large party. The service is a little bit on the slower side, but the wait staff generally give you space to do your own thing, even though there isn't much space in the restaurant itself. While their menu isn't the most extensive, I would consider returning if I'm craving Italian food.

SO SO good. came for a date night and we tried the mussels, gnocchi with eggplant, and the steak. We also started off with a glass of moscato each, but it was so good that we ordered the whole bottle. The mussels came first. The sauce that it's in is absolutely incredible. We kept dipping our bread in it and had to force ourselves to stop so that we could save room for the rest of the food. Probably my favorite part of the meal. Then we got the steak, I believe called the bistecca all'olio di toscana. Very juicy and yummy. And the gnocchi alla normana was so good, especially the eggplant. Felt very rich and flavorful. Only negative was that I was really looking forward to the tiramisu and they were out of it :( I guess that just means we need to come back! Tried half the Little Italy restaurants so far and this was our favorite.

I would come back just for the tiramisu. Homemade cream and authentic serving style -- it was devoured. Cute, quaint spot in little Italy on the corner. We called in 45 minutes prior and we're able to get a table for 3 at 7pm on a Sunday night. Besides the tiramisu, the gnocchi and enta salad were among our favorites. Next time would want to plan ahead so we could sit outside!

We visited on 4/19 and I could not have imagined a better birthday dinner for my spouse. They offered valet for the Friday night which was perfect. It's a cute cozy place, with Italian decor, there's something to see on every wall and we loved soaking it in during dinner. It's a small place but it's low lit and still feels so intimate. The service was impeccable, they were so nice, attentive, quick. We were very impressed when we ordered Prosecco to celebrate and the table service was a nice touch which to me gives the fine dining feel that we don't need but still enjoy. I tried the Gorgonzola Ravioli which I still dream about weeks later. I loved it so much, it was decadent but in the best way. I believe my husband ordered the scallopini dish, I'm not 100% sure how it was because he devoured it and I did not try it. We had a small dessert which was the perfect size after such a great meal and it was just a sweet touch to celebrate his birthday. We will definitely be back again.

Very nice ambiance. You walk in and suddenly it feels like you are transported into someone's home. It was a busy weekend evening and the place was packed. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of other patrons and servers walking by. Small busy restaurants are buzzing with life and conversation. It is romantic to have to lean in to hear your date. Its places like these that are intimate and lively ... a personal yet shared experience all at once. The staff were all very nice and patient. As for the food, I found it to be mediocre. The octopus salad special we had was a little too gummy and bland for my liking. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the servings are huge, but the sauce tasted a little lack luster. The star of the show was the tiramisu and decaf coffee.

Very authentic experience! Ordered the squid ink pasta, a seafood dish & tiramisu; it was delicious food! Pictures of Pepe's, the owner, time in Sicily throughout & he even sat at the bar next to us. Highlight of Cleveland!

Very cute and classy spot. The dining area is tiny, cramped, cozy, and classic all in one.... It definitely felt like a very cool secret five-star dinner party at a wealthy persons home. I absolutely loved it. We chose to sit at the bar, as that was really the only option available; the place was full on a weekday evening and we figured that was a pretty good sign. The bartender was very professional yet down to earth, he was very helpful in all aspects of our experience, and he was nice to talk to. We started with the salmon carpaccio, which was so light and fresh, served with arugula and capers and fresh lemon. We were also given complimentary sliced Italian bread with butter, which is my guilty pleasure (my Italian grandmother would buy so much fresh Italian bread when I'd come to visit her). We could not decide between the squid ink pasta or the seafood risotto entrees to split so we told the bartender to pick his favorite. To our surprise, he had asked the chef to put the seafood from the risotto into the squid ink pasta and sauce. This was absolutely amazing and such a nice and much appreciated gesture. The portions are generous, but not overwhelming, and the food is so thoughtfully prepared. The chef really knows what he's doing. We ordered the tiramisu to take home, and when we tried it later that evening, it too was amazing. I would love to return many more times to try everything on the menu. Wonderful first experience!

Had a wonderful meal , such nice service . And cute little restaurant . I Listened to our server's suggestions and they were spot on. Reasonably priced wine bottles . Food also Great prices for The quality . We split the Gorgonzola sauced ravioli : would be heavy for a meal but great to split as appetizer . Also Split the squid ink pasta w shrimp Scampi and the shrimp tasted like lobster . I had the cioppino seafood special with lots of seafood and a yummy broth sauce . I don't like salmon but the salmon in this dish was delicious , best salmon I ever had . My friend had the cod special and loved it . Two others had steak from menu and were pleased . Overall , thumbs way up .

Food is delish. Saturday night very busy. Ambiance is on point for this small place. It can get loud but not too loud that you can't enjoy the company you are with. Highly recommend.

Absolutely fantastically cozy inside. Beautiful warm wine-smelling cottage like feel right at the edge of Little Italy. Very small but no wonder I always see families and couples dining here all year. Calamari and a caprese salad totaled $22. The caprese salad was the best I've had outside of a farmer's market. Incredibly fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella with the perfect amount of salt and pepper. The calamari is what threw me. It was five small grilled pieces for $13!!! The photo shows the calamari right after I opened it at home. The horror of paying $13 for this insane insultingly small amount of squid is haunting. Never again.

This was a very quiet low key old world restaurant. They are being Covid respectful. Their seafood and main courses are quite delicious. The service was nice and friendly. The do offer seating outside if you make a reset or it. They have minimal street parking available and a simple wine menu to choose from. They often have specials which I haven't tried but sound delicious. This is a quiet little gem tucked in little Italy which I would recommend trying

I love Cleveland's little Italy and have been trying to eat at every establishment. I have had my eye on Etna for 5 years. Tonight the wait is over and I have a new little Italy favorite. We had gorgonzola ravioli- Chicken Picatta and Veal with mushrooms- we had a Etna salad with fresh fennel and a blood orange. We drank the Etna Rosso and water. The service was efficient and friendly- the atmosphere was cozy and intimate. It was a little loud and next to us were some seriously loud talkers- one fish was better than the next. I wish we started with an antipasto- we ended the wonderful meal with a tiramisu- this was good but not great- too much whipped cream and not enough tiramisu. The the raviloi the piccata and the veal were all excellent. I can't wait to return

We had dinner here last week while passing through Cleveland. I had duck and my companion had swordfish. Both were very good, as was the wine. The service was also very good, friendly and attentive, but not too attentive. We will make a point of going there again if we are ever back in Cleveland.

Etna is the quintessential hole in the wall. Located in a cramped little Italy half underground, it is a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The restaurant feels dated but that almost adds to the authenticity. Service was average speed but friendly but the food was the star. While I enjoy trying other venues in little Italy, I always come back to Etna and am never disappointed. Note: parking in little Italy is hell. Leave extra time and be prepared to walk. It's all street parking and even though the signs say permit parking you should be ok.

Highly recommended by friends but food was very disappointing. The salad was a bit wilted and the pasta I ordered was over cooked. Best part of the meal was the bread. Love the little Italy area but will go elsewhere next time around.

Our second time here was a little worse than the first, and that's disappointing. The place is small, even when compared to other restaurants in Little Italy. Know that going in - you will likely be crammed on top of someone. Didn't bother us too much, but we were sat directly next to the only other 2 parties there. Food is pretty solid and the menu is small, which to me is a good thing. They specialize in seafood and my girlfriend's scampi was good. Be warned, she asked to make a substitution (add tomatoes or eggplant) and the chef denied it. I had the tortellini in a bolognese and it was a healthy portion. Unspectacular, though when compared to some other restraints in the area. The bar seems like a quaint, homey spot to belly up and have a glass of wine and some appetizers. Next time, I'd do that instead.

Hubby remembered this place to be the one we visited 11 years ago during a visit with his mother. It wasn't, but it was delicious. As per usual we read reviews on Yelp and asked locals who visit Etna regularly their opinion. The restaurant didn't disappoint. We love the hole in the wall feel. It's clean, quaintly decorated with vintage objects and art, one small room with small tables almost but not quite "squeezed" into it. The food is delicious! The four of us ordered something different from the menu and shared bites. Flavors were authentic and satisfying. Our wait person was knowledgable, prompt, kind, and engaging. We enjoyed everything about the place.

Amazing food that's made even better with the wonderfully respectful and pleasant staff. This place is for those who want to enjoy wonderful food with a nostalgic sense of comfort. 1) Food - I had the mussels and veal which were top notch! Highly recommend the scallops appetizer as well. Additionally got dessert on the house which was beyond sweet (still don't know why lol!) 2) the staff - every person that walked through the door was recognized and welcomed by staff. Most customers come here frequently or were known long-term by staff. Truly gives you a sense of home.

Service was terrible. Bartender ignored me while sitting at the bar. I told him I was ready to order and he never got back to me. Gentleman who came in 10 minutes after me was completely taken care of before I was. Walked out of the restaurant and the bartender ran down the street asking me to pay for wine ($12) i didnt even drink. Gave him a $20 so he'd leave me alone and stop making a scene in the middle of the street and I went to Maxi's instead. This was a Wednesday night btw. Don't bother with this place.

Have been to every restaurant in little Italy except this one. It is always fully booked as it is a very small location. There are only a few tables available. Our waiter was a joy to have, as he was Very friendly and knowledgeable. He explained each special and local favorites, and helped us make excellent choices. We ordered the fresh mozzarella and it was amazing. They also provide fresh bread and butter so be ready to carb up. My daughter ordered the fresh fish of the day and my husband ordered the halibut. Both were happy with their meals. I ordered the tortellini with meat sauce and was not happy with it. It was too much meat in the sauce and it made the meal chewy and dry. I will order something more light next time. They had a great (large) wine list and the specialty martinis all looked amazing. We will definitely be back.

This little gem has limited seating and many regulars who sit at the bar. The service is very attentive and their Italian menu in the heart of Little Italy is fairly typical. My husband had trout with asparagus and it was excellent. We shared a Caprese salad which was flavorful. My red sauce gnocchi was good but not melt in your mouth good. I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise, a lovely small spot that will give you a taste of Italy in Cleveland!!

It's all good here. Located on one end of Cleveland's Little Italy this small restaurant will not disappoint. I had the tortellini ragu with bolognese - classic. My wife had the gnocchi with tomato / fresh basil, my daughter enjoyed the Cod special. All three dishes were spot-on. We split an antipasti plate with sun dried tomato, olive, artichoke & soprassata. Service was great as well as the prices. Add a bottle of good Italian red and two bottles of Italian beer and the bill was only $150. My only suggestion - in a beer town like Cleveland there were only 3 beer choices - all Italian imports. Great wine selection - but for a beer drinker like me I would like to see a selection from some of the great local brewers. More of a pet peeve than anything else - a great authentic Italian meal.

Fantastic food, particularly the squid ink pasta recommended by the chef and waiting staff. The restaurant is a bit small so I would recommend getting a reservation.

I love this restaurant! We brought an Italian friend who has been homesick! We all loved everything but octopus salad and squid ink pasta were exceptional! Service was also great!

This is the quaintest true Italian restaurant. True Italian food! The owners are immigrants from Italy! The food is amazing!!!!!!

Small in terms of the size of the restaurant and for that reason there isn't much to talk about the ambiance. The food portion/quantity was good and tastes a decent 7/10. Felt less authentic in my personal opinion.

Etnas is our regular once a week visit from the wonderfully delicious food Chef Pepe prepares to the absolutely fabulous cocktails Eli the Bartender serves! The ambiance at Etnas is always perfect! It's a little gem in Little Italy.

We were in town for my nephew's graduation from CWU and my sister-in-law made reservations at their favorite Italian place in Little Italy. The small space was hopping on this warm Saturday night. Our waiter was not the best since he was inattentive and his demeanor sour. Unfortunately for me it set the tone for the evening. My pasta dish with shrimp was just OK - definitely not worth the price. My wife salmon dish was good but nothing to rave about. The rest of the meal was forgettable. I am guessing there are better Italian places for the money along this street.

Went to Etna for the first time after a friend recommended it. It is small and intimate but in a good way. When you walk in you feel like you are entering a comfortable neighborhood establishment. Our friend told us to sit at the bar and we were not sorry. Eli is a master mixologist and very friendly. I normally would prefer a table but the bar is where we will sit next time we go. There appears to be a lot of regulars there which is a good sign. Everyone was very friendly. My husband had the tortellini and he said the bolognese sauce was the best he ever had. I had the manicotti which was outstanding. I like a lot of sauce and usually have to order extra. Not necessary here, they are very generous with the sauce. They only have one salad dressing which is an oil & balsamic blend. Very good. Just the right compliment to the fresh greens. Salads are very fresh. We got a tiramisu for dessert and it was incredible. We did place reservations and got there when they opened. As we left they were filling up. Definitely get a reservation. This place has to be one of Little Italy's best kept secrets. Can't wait to go back!

I had a late dinner with two friends I've known for the past 50 years, last Thursday, 2-1-2024, after seeing an exhibit at the Crawford Museum. . We did not have reservations, but they were able to sit us after about a 5 minute wait while they set the table. We shared the Caprese salad, which was excellent. I had the Ravioli al Gorgonzoli. The ravioli was cooked as one would have expected. The filling was ricotta cheese and portobello mushrooms. The sauce is what made the selection one that I would order over and over again! It was a white gorgonzoli cream sauce. I can not recall what my friends selected, but they commented that both choices were as they would have expected and enjoyed. The manager then brought us two complementary servings of the Tiramisu. The service was excellent. There was no pressure to 'flip' the table. We sat for about 30-45 minutes after dinner and just relived the past 50 years of our lives. It definitely brought back memories of my dinner experiences while I lived in Florence, Italy.

Absolutely delicious. A lot of the restaurants in Little Italy are really just Italian-American restaurant whereas Etna is a bona fide Italian restaurant. Great menu all the way from the starters through the deserts

We have been to this quaint Italian space that authentically takes you to Europe. Always fresh and homemade with a unique wine list that compliments the seafood forward dishes.

Authentic!!!!!! They can customize and have amazing selections. Fresh! Real Italian. Order a Godfather ;) beverage. Quaint atmosphere. Will come again!

Wow wow wow!!! Was in town for a tennis tournament and I saw a "Little Italy" on the map and thought why not? Stumbled into Etna. Absolutely fantastic Italian meal from the appetizer to the salad to the main course. BUT- the lemon gelato dessert absolutely blew my doors off!!! The best desert I've ever had- ever!! Great service- very nice cozy atmosphere. This place deserves TEN stars!!

Omg. Best. Meal. Of. My. Trip. Had the salmon seafood cioppino at the recommendation of the sever and was not disappointed. Seafood was absolutely cooked to perfection. Over abundance of mussels, clams, shrimp some calamari and surprise lobster that wasn't mentioned!! So incredibly wonderful. I cannot wait to get back here again.

tl;dr: expensive as fuck, but the food is solid. I came to Etna for a dinner with my friend who's very fond of Cleveland's Little Italy, but has never heard of Etna until I mentioned it. It was super easy to make a reservation, although we were a little surprised when the hostess told us that we had to be out by 7:30 PM, due to another reservation after us. I thought that would make our meal super rushed, but given our amazingly attentive server, that wasn't the case. Just like my first experience dining in Little Italy (specifically, at Mia Bella), the server handed us the regular menus, as well as described the specials for the night, most of which were seafood. Given I wanted something on the lighter side, I settled for one of the special dishes, which was a grilled swordfish steak atop a bed of greens, tomatoes, and asparagus. When the food came out, I was impressed by how simple yet delicious the food was. The swordfish was grilled just right - not too raw or rubbery/overcooked. On the downside, when I got my check, I didn't realize that my entire meal came out to be $30! In my opinion, I thought that was way too overpriced for just a fish steak. However, as mentioned, I really appreciated the service from our waiter, as well as the intimacy the restaurant provided for my friend and me to catch up on all things life. Personally, I'd rather go back to Mia Bella if I were to dine out again at Little Italy. But overall, Etna wasn't a bad spot.

I was excited to dine in Etna after being away for a couple years, but unfortunately did not have a great experience. It was very loud and we were sat at the first table by the door on a cold, rainy night. In understand it's small so I can get over that. The ambiance is small and quaint, a nice friendly atmosphere. The daily specials on a a Lenten Friday were great with trout, swordfish, and cod all dishes up with delicious sides. I ordered the artichoke appetizer and it came out smoked salmon over greens.. the server was gracious and sent it back apologetic. It came back with the same look of smoked salmon... I said I ordered the artichoke appetizer and she said it is, it has smoked salmon on top.... Well I had never ordered artichoke with smoked salmon before but I thought ok I'll give it a try.... It bothered me all night so when I looked at the menu online it did read artichokes with pecorino, sun dried tomatoes and green olives... that sounds more Italian! So disappointed I didn't get to try it

Incredible selection of wine and food. Everything we ordered was spectacular and the attention to detail with meticulous. I can't wait to go back. Started with the scallops (which were a special)- Amazing and melted in your mouth. Had mussel spaghetti for entree- amazing sauce and pasta that was definitely homemade The one thing that caught me off guard was the interior. Definitely interesting, but I also loved how cozy it was. However, be prepared to be in close proximity to the tables that surround you!

Went here for my birthday tonight with my boyfriend. He got the scampi and I got the manicotti. Delicious! Our wine was great. The cáprese salad was so fresh. Tiramisu was to die for. Our server Lee was FANTASTIC. So sweet and went the extra mile to provide exceptional service and even brought out dessert with a fun trick candle We will definitely be back!

One of the best restaurants in Cleveland! The owner is one of the nicest people I've ever met. Also their specials are incredible!!

This is one of our absolute favorites. The food is consistently good. The service is prompt and friendly. The ambiance is warm and cozy. Would highly recommend.

Best authentic Italian in NE Ohio. Charming little spot. Peppe, the chef/owner hand prepares everything in his tiny kitchen. Friendly efficient staff. A star above all the other restaurants in Little Italy.