Stephen B.
Yelp
Let's start with the idea that this place is set up as though it thinks it is a hip, exclusive, New York city night club. Velvet rope at the front door. Really?!
It's not. It is a nice restaurant in downtown Cleveland.
With that as back drop, the room is very, very impressive... former bank lobby turned into a cavernous space...with high enough ceilings that the noise level, while high, is manageable.
And our server was nothing short of outstanding. Read the table, personable, professional, knew the menu, knew the cocktails, knew the wines. Bravo.
As a restaurant, it is a good steakhouse. Steaks, seafood, great sides (would like to have seen more than asparagus and creamed spinach as green sides ... there were four of five different kinds of potatoes!!), and a nice selection of wines by the glass.
We had a few steaks, a poke bowl, a couple of salmons, and a crab cake...all really good...all really fully priced...but that's what you expect at a steakhouse.
The food was quite good. Most everything was well prepared, although the Cesar salad was massively overdressed to the point of being virtually inedible.
Finally, the cotton candy dessert that you see running around is a lovely, fun, shareable touch. Nice signature.
Sadly, the meal service was excruciatingly slow (as was as the valet, which was astonishingly bad). Perhaps a consequence of the labor shortage or the kitchen being slammed. They do manage their seatings to manage capacity...so who knows.
For this globally, experienced diner, however, the self important, tragically hip attitude on the way in is a disappointment and is wildly out of place. Off putting even.
Once you're in, though. Nice.
If you are planning a large business outing, birthday party, or special event, it may very well be the best place in Cleveland to go.
But be prepared for some attitude ... and to wait... (n.b this was more than the obligatory "we're trying to let you enjoy the evening and have a good chat" ... )
And I'm still waiting for my car...