Jo Jo Carloni's Italian Restaurant & Pizzaria

One of the best Italian restaurants in town! The pizza is DELICIOUS and the home-made desserts are a must-try! The staff, the owner, and the entire atmosphere is incredibly welcoming and warm. A meal here is always a great idea!

Had a great lunch at Jo Jo's today. We had their Meatballs, Wings, and Meat Lovers Pizza (definitely a must 😋). We even got the opportunity to meet the owner. That was a wonderful experience. God willing our son can make this area his home and we will be back to Jo Jo's more regularly 🙏

Absolutely authentic homemade Italian food! A casual, upscale dining experience you'll keep coming back for! The food is amazing and delicious! Each and every dish has a signature taste. The BEST chicken marsala I have ever had! The Tomahawk Veal was beyond words! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and experienced. We had the pleasure of having Nick wait on us again tonight and when my husband inquired about pairing a wine with the veal Nick suggested a different wine, then took the time to explain the components of the two different wines and why the wine he suggested would pair better with the veal than my husband's original idea. He went further to bring two samples of wine to our table for my husband to try! My husband confirmed Nick's explanation was spot-on as he took Nick's recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed both the wine and food! Be sure to save room for dessert - but if you don't, you can always get your dessert to go! If you see the owner John walking around, be sure to say Hello!

My Fruitti de Mare was supposed to be served with a marinara, but it was so damn hot with red pepper flakes that my nose was running into my food. Not to mention, we waited a very long time long time for the bread. So long, that the Homecoming couple next to us had their entrees before we even had our bread, despite arriving a full 10 minutes prior to their seating. Then the entrees were delivered a hot minute after the bread, so poorly timed. And the mussel shells were broken and scattered throughout each bite. So disappointed. Update: the manager comped the entree, so I ordered Pasta Carbonara to replace it. They rushed the order, and unfortunately, it was evident in the worst carbonara I’ve ever tried. Very bland , watery sauce. No evidence of Parmesan cheese. So I dumped the entire jar of powdered (fake) Parmesan into my plate, and it was a small improvement. It was not at all an authentic Carbonara. Doubt they used any eggs. At least they ended up comping the entire meal. Small redemption, so we left a tip for poor Sophia, our waitress. First time ever, walking out of a restaurant without having to pay for anything. Also: no water refills offered, despite the cutest little itty bitty water glass being empty most of my meal.

Service was great food was very good. I was hoping for veal but couldn't wrap my head around $55 for it.

A dinner for two ran $200+. Yes we had 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts plus drinks. The meatball appetizer was too sweet tasting, the meat not the sauce. The Gnocchi had too much sauce that made it undesirable after several bites. The Carbonara sauce was runny and soupy. You don't even get complimentary bread, you have to pay for it. For dishes that average $23+ I would expect better portions. ITS PASTA! I've been to way lesser establishments that gave bread or more. The drink prices are thru the roof. The service was good, but not enough to justify the prices. Rather go to a chain Italian restaurant. If you responed with let's us know more at our email address, you can forget it. Respond here truly where everyone can see it.

My favorite lunch spot to get great Italian food. This time I tried their pickle pizza, which wasn’t the best I’ve ever had but still good, but I also order the chicken marsella which was the best of that dish I’ve ever had. Their dessert case is always so tempting to start with before my meal- love their tiramisu and cheesecakes. My service was excellent, even after I watched her deal with a table that was more than rude and entitled during the lunch rush. She stayed calm and respectful and didn’t let it mess with her attitude serving other tables. Jo Jo’s is great.

Very nice experience. A little overpriced. Meat Lovers Pasta was very good. Speaking of the Chicken Marsala, everyone's tastes are different and a personal choice. It was interesting but the Marsala cream sauce was more like a stroganoff. We feel it had too much cream. Our opinion. Maybe the chef's twist. Judging by other reviews, it is popular, just not our cup of tea.

I come every week and the service and food is extraordinary every time. Best Italian place I've ever been to!

It was an amazing experience with wonderful service and great Italian culinary dishes! A large menu and a full bar made our evening experience special.

They make the best pizzas and the ambiance of the place of perfect. It makes you feel like your at home with your family

We love coming to JoJo's! We usually sit at the bar, where there are also some high tops, but the dining room is nice too. I'd recommend reservations for groups of 6+ (note that 20% gratuity is automatically added). They have a great selection of wine as well as rotating draft beers and craft cocktails. There's always a daily special too. We like going for their discounted small pizzas, and they have a great happy hour.

As we entered the restaurant, there was a funky musk, chemical smell lingering... kinda threw me off. We were seated and well accommodated. The waitress/staff were very professional and provided great service. This kinda compensated for the funky smell as we entered. So, we had a party of 8, automatically... parties of 6 get charged 20% for service... wow... automatic. Kinda can't really complain because they were helpful and provided great service. They had a BYO pasta, super pricey at a whopping 28$ for a thin spaghetti pesto and grilled salmon... def was lacking flavor... maybe a bit more salt? The salmon did not have the fish/umami. My significant other felt "meh" about the meat lovers pasta. It was lacking and he wasn't a fan for the small pepperoni... it wasn't aesthetically pleasing. Was lacking flavor too. Original company was great and everyone was having an awesome time, even the FLY that would not leave our table... I did enjoy the chewy rolls they had, no sarcasm. They were flavorful, warmed to perfection with EVOO and balsamic vinaigrette. All in all, off putting, food was a hit or miss... but service was great!

My husband and I got takeout during pizza week. It was a Friday night and they were really busy inside! We shared the lasagna and a pepperoni pizza. We loved them both! The pizza crust was perfectly crisp but still a little thick. We would definitely come back to try more.

Great lunch spot. I've been here twice for lunch with friends. It's a great spot with lots of convenient parking. Relaxed but classy atmosphere and servers are friendly, competent and enthusiastic. The menu has a lot to offer from traditional Italian fare to excellent salads. Lunch specials daily are an affordable option for such tasty dishes. I have tried the Chicken JOJo and a meatball Calzone. Servings are big so it's like two meals for the price of one. I always get an order to go for my daughter. She loves the Vodka Penne. They have bar service as well.

My daughter did a web search and we chose this place due to the ratings. Amazing dining experience. Five stars across the board. Family owned business. Great staff, atmosphere and of course the food. Warm bread. We requested oil and fresh basil to dip the bread. We both ordered salads, chicken parm and spaghetti. Great chef. Definitely recommend and we'll be back again.

We have ordered pizza from this restaurant three times so far and haven't had any complaints yet. As a matter of fact we love this place so far. This place certainly isn't for "cheap pizza". There is no shortage of cheap pizza in this area. This pizza on the expensive side but it is not overpriced. Always hesitant to give a 5 star review to a place I haven't had a lot of experience with but if anything changes I'll update my review.

Followed up via email as requested. And...crickets. Unfortunately that's what I expected.

We have been here for dinner before, but this time we came for happy hour. On Tuesdays, Happy Hour is ALL DAY!!!! Wednesday - Saturday it's 3-6pm. There is a VERY nice drink selection for Happy Hour. The drinks we had (Cosmo and Manhattan) were both delicious We had the garlic bread and cheese (yummy), the stuffed eggplant (so good), the calamari (very good), and a Mexican pizza (very spicy and VERY good) This was our first time for Happy Hour and it definitely will NOT be our last!!!

This was a nice-looking place. You could tell, no feel, the family vibe. Like it! The service was solid. We started with a soup. I went Mexican soup (can't remember the name) and it was really tasty. I was impressed. Moved to salmon for my main meal. The salmon was good but cooked medium, not mid-rare, which improves the flavor! I did enjoy it. Finished with tiramisu! The only issue and it hit hard.... the bartender doesn't know how to make an Old Fashion! He muddled an orange peel, MUDDLED?! WTF?! It's only a twist of orange peel, rind, for the oil. I had to send it back . He made a second correctly but what's with doing that and how did that mistake start? It's like pouring orange juice into an old fashion. Nooooooooo.

I came for Scene Magazine's Cleveland Pizza week. The pizza was a real pizza, fresh made etc... they are located on Bagley Road on the Olmsted Falls/Berea border. The dining room had a nice modern, but not too cluttered feel.

Four of us went based on the recommendation of one person who was local. He does a lot of takeout. He raved about several dishes but they were no longer in the menu. They had a Special Mac and cheese but wouldn't do a half order. Most Italian restaurants will do 1/2 orders of pasta because that is typically a first course in Italy. This place was more Italian american versus Italian. I got the margherita pizza with mushrooms and arugula. Thin crust pizza not very good. I specifically asked for raw arugula but it was partially cooked. I wanted to add grated cheese but could not get anyone's attention. Seriously, No one looked up. I was almost done the pizza by the time my frantic arm waving got someone's attention. The guy who got the burger said it was bad. The woman who got the walla walla was not pleased. My other friend got the chicken parm. She said it was good and ate the whole thing. She did not like the side of pasta that came with it and did not eat it. I ended with the spumoni ice cream and it was delicious! Music loud and not a great sound system.

I was in town visiting family and my buddy told me about this place. Think they closed at 9 and we got there at about 8:10. So ordered a supreme or deluxe or equivalent. Came out 30 minutes later burnt, I was hungry so I said no worries my buddy had the server take it back. Another pizza came out in about 8 minutes about 80% done. We ended up eating it even though it was a little bit doughy. My buddy contacted the place by email the next day about the experience saying he understands things happen he had never gotten anything bad before. They didn't even have the decently to even reply.

Just came in for the wine flight and charcuterie board. Felt I had to bundle it with a salad to make it healthy. OMG, it was all simply outstanding! Loved all 4 Chardonnays I tried. Can't wait to add a few to my collection at home. The charcuterie board was most excellent, and in addition to meat and cheese, included a mini cannoli which made my day! Service is always pleasant and prompt. Only downside is they took away the Frank Sinatra music and replaced it with Christmas music. I love Christmas, but let me get through Thanksgiving first!

Came here on a recent weekday for lunch with a work colleague. First time at this new location since they moved from their old spot over on Cook Road. My previous review still stands firm...overall decent Italian fare within a much larger, nicer space. Service was great, enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was reasonably good. I loved the rolls they brought out before the meal started, served warm and pillowy with butter on the side. My chicken parmesan meal was quite filling, just wish the sauce had a bit more "umph" to it, was just not enough seasonings for my liking but everything was cooked just right including the pasta.

I thought the food was really good.. a step or two above average and the portions were huge. However I do think it's a bit over priced but nothing outrageous due to the large portions. My only complaint was the service. We felt rushed and we were asked if we wanted boxes before we were even done eating. Once we got everything packed and ready to leave our server spent over ten minutes socializing with her friends that had a table. We had to ask another server for the check who said she couldn't because we weren't her table. She eventually had to go and literally tell our server that people were waiting for her... a little silly but overall the experience was average.

Food is absolutely delicious, service is outstanding, and the pricing is fair. Great place for a night out or a family dinner.

We ate dinner here before going to a BW musical performance on a Friday night. We made reservations and were happy we did as there were people waiting for a table when we arrived. We were seated immediately. Reasonably priced menu dinners. We were provide warm rosemary dinner rolls with olive oil and balsamic dipping. Very lovely bread. My friend had lasagna and I had meat lovers pasta. Portions were generous. I had enough food for lunch the next day. We enjoyed our meals and the service. We finished our dinners with plenty of time to get to the BW theater. Great evening.

Food was amazing.... always is.. We like to sit at the bar it's a great vibe! The last time we were there, they had live entertainment in the bar. Oh, and don't forget to order the cupcakes to go!

No complaints here - jojos is always very accommodating, especially for larger parties. Everyone is always happy with their meal!

No complaints here - Jojos is always very accommodating especially for larger parties. Everyone is always happy with their food!

Disgusting marinara sauce, so sweet that it was inedible. I did everything I could to doctor it up, but if I was diabetic I would have had an episode. I called the restaurant and Sophia was unable to help, as she said no one else complained, so apparently my dissatisfaction didn't count. And since I told her I was going to post my disappointment, she wouldn't share my comments with the kitchen. My husband tried it and felt the same but thought sugar was also added to the meatballs. Yecch. Waste of money. I loved loved loved this place in the past, but something horrible happened there, not sure why.

Best authentic Italian food on the west side. My first choice if going to the Berea area.

Great food, great service, fun bar, and wonderful staff. Wine by the bottle special on Wednesdays is a great deal too.

Fantastic service. Bartenders Rock! The food is delicious. One of the very best Italian restaurants in Cleveland. Highly recommend.

Food good; staff was rude. We had two adults with developmental disabilities in wheelchairs in our group. We asked about happy hour specials and told we couldn't get them; had to be seated in the bar area. I checked, there was room so we asked to be re-seated in the bar area. Told "no" that wheelchairs would be in the way. The parents of the folks in wheelchairs were embarrassed by my insistence with the staff. I suggested we leave, but they said we'd just stay and eat, since we had already ordered. I have worked with folks with disability for over 40 years and this is not the first time I've experienced such rudeness--from staff and managers--but, after each experience, it was the last time I patronized that venue. (One Berea restaurant took my name, phone and address and reached out via phone. They mailed a letter of apology and gift certificate for all of us to return--and we did!)

I'm embarrassed to say that we've lived in Berea for 4 years and have never been to Jo Jo's but rest assured this will not be the last time we eat here. The atmosphere was very pleasant and not overly loud. Our waitress, Alysa, was exceptionally friendly and efficient. We started with bowls of Italian wedding soup, moved on to calamari and mussels, then our entrees were the lobster mac and cheese and lasagna, and both were absolutely fantastic. The portions were more than ample and we needed boxes to take home the leftovers. To find a restaurant of this caliber almost within walking distance of our home guarantees that we will be coming again and again. The menu has many delicious sounding options and will be trying many different items. Giving Jo Jo Carloni's five stars is one of the easiest decisions we've made regarding a restaurant in quite some time.

This is one of our favorite restaurants; the only problem is deciding which of the dishes I like, that I'm going to order. Usually, their specials are amazing. Do I get an appetizer or a salad or skip those and hope I have room for one of their huge cupcakes (enough for two). I know I shouldn't fill up on the warm bread and dip, but it's so good. This place isn't cheap but the portions are enough for 2 meals so the value is there. We always make reservations and are seated immediately; service is usually good. The small patio is nice in the summer; it doesn't feel like it's in the middle of the parking lot, which it is. This is also our go to place for take out pizza; there are so many cheap pizza places, this is a very good pizza place.

JoJo Carloni's used to be Primo's Pizza in Olmsted Township on Cook Road in the Greenbrooke Plaza. JoJo purchased this tiny pizza place from a truck driver and his wife, who both worked their regular jobs in addition to run this restaurant in the evening. It turned out to be too much for them, and they sold to JoJo. That's when the pizza and the pasta dishes used to be awesome. We have been regular customers from day one we moved to Olmsted Township, which was in 2004. JoJo worked the kitchen, his wife took the orders, the kids and their friends took phone orders and delivered, it was the perfect small-town restaurant with specials and discounts for the locals, take-out and even delivery. The only thing we always said was: "JoJo, you need a larger place". I regret saying that from the day he made it happen. And then came JoJo Carloni's in Berea, and everything changed. We had been excited to try the new place. We waited for big rush at the beginning after opening, and then we came in on a regular not so busy week day, and to our surprise we were immediately lectured that from now on you need a reservation. Well, the place was empty, so what is the problem? But they seated us with a sour face. Then came the menu, and everything was different, mostly the prices, and that was way before anyone talked about pandemic, inflation etc. Yes, his wife was still managing the dining room, I still saw at least one of the daughters serving, the rest, including my favorite dish "Penne Vodka", had changed. That dish used to be a heaven of creamy sauce and pasta, now it was so spicy that I couldn't even eat it. I asked for JoJo and pointed out to him how my favorite dish had changed, all he said was "well, they finally cook it the way I wanted it, too bad you don't like it", then he walked away. We never came back. Until yesterday, my sister-in-law made a reservation for six yesterday for a casual family get together, unfortunately she did not tell me ahead of time, so I could have warned her, so we went along. JoJo's website indicates this: "As soon as you walk in the door, you will be greeted with a smile. Family members are here working all aspects of the business from the kitchen to the table and bar. Our team will take you on a hand-guided culinary tour of Italy as we know it. and presented with professionalism and the warmth of your grandmother's dining room table." No JoJo, there was no smile, the hostess seemed overwhelmed, our waitress must have had a bad day as well, every request seemed to aggravate her, some of the orders came out wrong or additions missing, the bread came after the appetizers, and my "Penne Vodka" is now in the menu as "spicy", needless to say I did not order that, but "Pasta Carbonara". While everyone at the table agreed that prices have gone up everywhere, we have been shocked when the waitress handed out the checks, and while I never mind paying good money for good food, I was shocked when my bill showed $75 for two people. No, we had not ordered the highest priced dish from the menu, we had ordered: 1 dinner salad 1 Meat Lovers Pasta 1 Pasta Carbonara 1 diet Pepsi 1 glass of water How that adds up to $75, even with the required 20% gratuity for parties of 6 or more is beyond me, but my final words: This food (including the amount of food) was definitely not worth $75, and we are never coming back.

I was very disappointed with the food at Jo Jo Carlonis. This place gives off a very strong "chain" vibe. My drink (in fashion) was very tasty but extremely overpriced. All in all our group of 5 agreed we will try another Italian spot in the future

Tried this place last night for dinner with the wife... great vibe, great, somewhat upscale feel and decore. +1 Had a small pizza, small salad and the meatball suband fries (lunch menu). Food was all a bit above average. Our server left a LOT to be desired, but we noted other servers that were doing great work, and made us a bit jealous... Note, as of this review, everything is "A-la-cart" so the $20+ plate of pasta quickly becomes $35-$50 when you add soup or salad and a drink. Nice atmosphere, but we felt just about everything was quite overpriced compared to similar local places. We could have a similar meal at Santos for a little more than half the price ‍

Thought it was okay. Nothing exciting and was run of the mill Italian. Nice environment and clean.

One of my favorite local Italian restaurants. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Tonight I had the linguini w clams and it was perfect, just enough garlic. Appetizers are perfect for sharing and the desserts are fantastic, always an array of humongous cupcakes made fresh in house. The portions are huge and delicious. My only negative is if you want a second tea bag you have to pay for it...I'm not sure how a restaurant can charge you for a second tea bag...it's absurd!

Great Italian food! The service is good and the ambiance inside is nice! The parking is more than adequate

Nice little patio in the warmer months and a beautiful bar to sit at inside. Happy Hour app offerings are large portions - 2 for a couple is plenty. Dinners are excellent as well, on par with some of the "better" local Italian joints on the West Side.

New favorite.! Went with the family for a Valentine's Day dinner. Service was great, food was delicious and the wine selection is fantastic. We made reservations, but heard the wait was about 45mins. It is a small seating area inside, they take reservations so use them! We will be back.!

Food and service are unmatched. Great establishment all around! Every meal that I've had has been spectacular!

I went today for happy hour. I got the meatballs and marinara. The marinara sauce was gross. It was as sweet as candy. I tried the meatball alone and it too was ridiculously sweet. Do you guys add sugar to everything? I miss buccis!

Saturday night trued ordering online didn't accept orders, called 9:03pm they put me on hold for a minute just to tell me they stopped taking orders at 9pm , 95% chance I'll never be this area ever was recommended by locals I was willing to pick up or delivery she said no I will not take your order it's passed 9PM

Very good food, but watch the hot wings, really hot and I like hot. They were said to be Buffalo wings but these were on the atomic variety!

What a great little spot in Berea! So glad we stopped in for dinner! Our waitress, Alyssa, was lovely. She was friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. Each staff member we encountered was helpful and friendly as well. We had the calamari appetizer, which was very tasty, I loved the addition of the peppers in the dish. We had the Caesar salad and caprese, both were excellent. The Caesar was perfectly dressed and so flavorful. We also had the wedding soup, so hearty and delicious. For entrees, we had the veal Marsala and the gnocchi Gorgonzola....both were superb. Great portions and soooo mouthwatering! For dessert, we had the tiramisu. We also ordered the penne arribiata to take home, also amazing. Overall what a great place! We will definitely be back!!

Splendid Italian Eatery! I stopped in for a bite with a buddy and the inside had a great Tuscan vibe to it. Granted, I have admittedly never been to Tuscany, but I've seen some photos, ok? They have a lovely two-story stone wine case with glass doors and plenty of bottles to choose from. Even though I saw these, I opted for their Rye Manhattan and it was fantastic. But before we get to the drinks, let's talk about the food... I ordered the Chicken Jo Jo Carloni's entree with a bowl of Italian Wedding Soup to start. The wedding soup was very tasty with plenty of meatballs, vegetables, and chicken. Not very much Acini de Pepe pasta in there, but I actually preferred the low carb, high veg approach. Especially considering the amount of carbs I was about to get in the pasta from my entree. The Chicken Jo Jo was great! Two good sized chicken breasts with plenty of pasta, melted cheese, savory capers, peppers, and some mushrooms. Now, I'm a mushroom FREAK, so of course I could've used more and will ask for extra next time, but the ones I did get were delicious. The portion size was awesome and I easily had a 2nd full meal with my leftovers. With great service, a lovely warm interior, super clean restrooms, and an outdoor patio, this place hits all of the marks. I wouldn't have minded a slightly lower bill, but the food and drinks damn near made up for it. MANGIA!

The food was good but was I surprised when the $32 sea scallops and risotto had only 3 scallops????

Another in the long line of restaurants owned by my buddies. Easy 5 stars for the beautiful trendy hot new location in Berea. Plus Chelsea would kill me but it's true anyway. Pizza's are always great, salads fresh - go with the side salad (pictured) & add the cheese! Penne vodka w shrimp. Spaghetti & meat sauce. At the new locale I got the steak & it was fantastic with mashed & Italian long vegetable I forget what. Today the lasagna and I can't wait. 7:00 Thur and the joint is jumping. It's become the place to see & be seen so pop on in & tell John & Jen I said buongiorno. Here's a tip the soups are terrific. Stuffed pepper soup it was once, chicken paprikash I think the next. Get the desserts they are so good I cried.

The food is amazing for starters we had the cheese balls which are to die for. Along with their white sangria and penne pasta and meatballs put me over the edge. Our server Tianna was excellent, she was extremely personable, quick, professional. I couldn't have ask for a better experience. If your looking for a nice night out you've found your place.

Thursday's special is $5 off a large specialty pizza, so we decided to give it a try. Ordered a baked potato pizza that we had delivered for an extra $2 fee plus tip. Pizza was tasty. Mashed potatoes and crust were cooked well. A few complaints though: 1. It was advertised that it was served with an herb sour cream. It was not. It was plain. 2. It mentions red onions and scallions and it is a lot of both! Good for onion lovers, but a bit much for me personally.

Guess I didn't realize it was upscale Italian prices. Prices high for portion size ..just like Brio, but without the classy ambiance. Ended up w/ Pizza since we didn't want to drop 18-20 each on entrees. Pizza was just normal. Nothing stood out, about as plain as possible. Ave amount of sauce & cheese and crust was normal. $13 for Lg cheese. Specialties were over 20. $8 for 2 Stuffed Eggplants (app'r) which was good. Kids meal $6 for pasta + meatball. Rolls were complimentary but just ok. Decor was pretty plain but nice & new. Server was nice & very attentive! But long gap btwn app delivery & entree, pushing 25 mins. Overall JoJo was just Average Jo.

From start to finish this place is exceptional. Made reservations for 11 with a spot for a wheelchair. Perfect. The wait staff was so good never missed a beat. If you want some good food, give this place a try. Drinks were delicious. Not one of us had any complaints. Ordered the Birthday cake and served as Dessert. Thank you all for your great service.