I was on the fence about whether or not to actually take the time to update my review of The Willeyville. After all, we had only been there once before well over a year ago. Unfortunately, the disappointment we experienced during our last visit warranted at least a brief write-up. I still stand by my previous review when it comes to most of the aspects of service and location. Neither of those experiences have changed in any noticeable fashion, although the service was quite, how to put it nicely, stretched out. We were essentially the only couple in the restaurant and it took about 20 minutes for us to receive our appetizer. Where they really fell short this time was with the food. When you visit a restaurant knowing full well that you'll be spending somewhere around $100 for dinner and drinks, you've got certain expectations for nearly everything. This is especially the case when it comes to the food. Our first course started out great. We ordered the Hot Arse Spinach Dip ($11.50). A bowl of blazing hot (temperature, not spice heat) cheesy goodness surrounded by crispy, fried tortilla chips. It was sinfully good. Little did we know things were about to veer terribly off course. The Willey Caeser Salad ($9.50) that my wife ordered was not what we expected at all. First, it's loaded with sliced jalapeno peppers. If you are even remotely sensitive to heat in your food, steer clear of this salad. Second, the fried egg served atop the salad doesn't really work, Once you break the yolk it essentially turns the salad into a soppy, yolky mess and the type of bowl it's served in makes it awkward to eat. The disappointment continues... The Local Grass-Fed Beef Cheek Mac and Cheese ($18.50) was just not good. Not good at all. Oh, and you read that price right. For nearly $20 I received a small bowl of pasta tossed with asparagus. Creamy it was not. The beef cheek was basically four small chewy, fatty pieces of meat buried under the pasta. I felt like this was a dish that I could have made at home. Sounded so good on paper. The biggest disappointment of the evening was the Grilled Salmon Fish Tacos ($19.50). Wow. My wife and I couldn't even believe how bad this dish was. The flour tortillas tasted raw. The slaw made them wet and the portion size of the actual fish - what I can only assume is the reason for the insane pricetag - was ridiculously small. Three tiny pieces, barely enough for an appetizer. My wife ate the fish and left everything else on the plate, untouched. Those of you that read my reviews know that I am not normally one to complain about price. I know before I visit a restaurant how much I'll probably be spending and I also believe that you really do get what you pay for...most of the time. This visit to Willeyville was just such a stark contrast to our first visit that it didn't even seem like the same place. I'm sorry to say that I just don't think we'll be back.
(2)
Tony I.
I thought the food was great here. The place was dead empty. I'd expect most places to be slow on a Monday night, but we were literally the only ones in there. I had the gnudi dish and it was phenomenal (very rich). Not the best beer list, but I managed. I have high hopes for this revamped area. For starters we had the poutine which was great and the calamari which was meh. All in all a great restaurant
(4)
Regina S.
I had not heard anything good about The Willeyville, so dining here was a low priority. I am now regretting all of the times I could have been here enjoying the delicious food! PROS *Poutine, my new favorite app. We started off with the Proper Poutine, a heaping plate of artery-clogging goodness. Yes, it's not the best for you. Yes, you will enjoy every bite. Fries, gravy, curds, hot sauce, and whatever cracklins' are. Make sure to share. *Pasta. Typically at a new restaurant I would order meat for my entree, but I was just digging the description of the ricotta gnudi. And when the order came out, it exceeded all of my expectations. Little, fluffy balls of doughy goodness, covered in a rich white sauce, mixed with brussel sprouts and bacon bits. You cannot go wrong with this dish! *The menu. Based on the flimsy white paper that the menu was on along with their online menu not matching the menu we got at the restaurant, I'm assuming they change up their menu quite a bit. I like that in a restaurant - they know what works and they try new things when something isn't working *Decor and Ambiance. We came during the day, which was fine, but as I looked around, I decided that the ambiance would be much more dramatic at night. The industrial decorations and lighting gives it a trendy, urban look. *A lemonade-cider drink. I cannot remember what it's called, but it was basically like a summer lemonade mated with an autumn cider and had a baby. I approve. CONS *If you are walking here, you'll have an easy time going down the hill to get to the East Bank of the Flats...but good luck trying to walk back up after you've stuffed yourself silly. My advice - call an uber. *The restaurant was smaller than I thought it was going to be, which is not necessarily a con...unless you bring a large group. I would limit the group to 8. BOTTOM LINE I will be back to try some other creations on the menu. And gorge on poutine and pasta.
(5)
Ashley O.
I ordered a hot dog here and wasn't impressed. The hot dog was so tough that I could barely cut it with a fork and knife. The bun was also a bit dried out and hard. The space is beautiful though and in a great new location.
(3)
Eric C.
If you haven't been here for dinner in a while, it's time you stopped back in. This place is impressive. And if something isn't to your liking, tell your server. This place will bend over backwards to make things perfect. So, now onto the review (it's long but I got a lot to rave about today)... I've held off on reviewing this place for a year because I'm friends with everyone there. I didn't want that to impact my ability to be as honest as possible. After a full year of eating and drinking here more times than I can count, I feel very comfortable calling this one of my top spots in Cleveland. I think it's had a few hiccups here and there, but I'm 100% confident that this is a consistent 5-star spot. It's been that way for a while. The service is always top notch -- it's exceptional. The staff is very well versed in the food, preparations, ingredients, and plating. They know exactly what's going on in the kitchen. This is incredibly important given the food and the ingredients are made in-house. This also comes in handy if you walk in with a child or a crazy dietary restrictions. No kids menu? Trust me, they can take care of your child's whim. Or perhaps your vegan or paleo and you don't see a damn thing on the menu that works fully to your needs. No problem. Find what you want on the menu and they will make it work. I've never seen waitstaff and kitchen staff go to such lengths to ensure everyone is happy and full. But it all starts with that friendly and knowledgeable service. The bar is damn good too. Cocktail wise, they make really great craft cocktails at a reasonable price given the quality of ingredients and the attention placed on doing it right. I don't see how $11 or $12 bucks for a craft cocktail is even a bit pricey given the recipes. You're not getting anything close to well drinks. But, if you want cheap, they do have well drinks available. All you need to do is ask. I will say they bar had some problems in the first six months of operations, but that's just not an issue anymore. Service and quality of product are great at the bar. What about the food? The food is the star. It doesn't get any better--it's creative and delicious. How do they make it so damn good? They not only make the food from scratch, they make the ingredients from scratch. They grind their own flour, grow their own yeast, ferment their vinegar... they even make their own tofu and miso! They do the same thing for the bar ingredients too! A lot of places around Cleveland play the "farm to table" card, but when a restaurant goes to the trouble of actually crafting the raw ingredients, they are doing it right. Of course, someone could go through all the trouble and still make junk food. Not here; not at The Willeyville. This place makes damn good food. The charcuterie is my favorite. In the past year they have come a long way and I find this to be some of the best charcuterie in the city. I also love the hanger steak. Hanger steaks are a dime a dozen in Cleveland, but the way The Willeyville uses a quick cure and sous vide creates the most flavorful and tender hanger in town. The current adobo hanger prep with hominy, pickled jalapenos, tres pepper sauces, fried shishito peppers, crispy tortillas strips is the best version of their hanger to date. I could honestly talk about this menu for hours. You may see a smattering of Asian, Italian, and European dishes. While that might seem confused, remember that the focus is about true from-scratch cooking. America is diverse, shoot Cleveland is diverse. These are all the kinds of foods Clevelanders love, just under one roof and done really freaking well. Personally, the ricotta gnudi is better than some of the stuff I've had at famous Italian restaurants in very big cities. The smoked pork belly ramen (yes they even make the noodles in house) is the best bowl of ramen I've had from a restaurant not run by Japanese people. And the "proper poutine" while not the traditional poutine I get in Montreal, I just can't hate on it -- the thing makes my mouth and my belly beyond happy. Don't like fancy things, then get one of the hot dogs or sausages known as "Willey Wieners" during lunch or happy hour at the bar. They grind, season, and stuff these things all in house to great success. The Korean and the German variants are my favorite, but they got the traditional Polish boy that does the trick too. The burgers (traditional and veggie) don't disappoint either. I'm not a vegetarian, but that veggie burger is something I would eat regardless. I don't have a huge sweet tooth these days, but I make sure to get desert every time I stop in. This place does the trick for me, time and time again. At this point in time, I can't say a bad thing about the joint. Stop in for dinner and discover one of the best restaurants in town. If you aren't like me and you do find something not to your liking, trust me, they will take care of you.
(5)
Stephanie C.
AMAZING. Everything is super fresh, the atmosphere is a casual chic, and the staff who work here are friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a more pricey night out, but it is well worth it. Also, they have a fantastic happy hour menu that helps you stay within a decent budget. We ordered Chicken Pate as an appetizer, and it was a wonderful portion. Fed the table of 4 nicely and no one had to fight over the last bite- everyone was satisfied. The portion filled a small mason jar and it came with crostini. As meals we had the Salmon (if you love fish- get this. Amazingly fresh), beef brisket, meatloaf, and the pork belly ramen. Everyone at the table sampled every dish and everyone loved everything. Drinks were also superb, decently priced, and high quality.
(5)
Lana K.
Ate at The Willeyville and was surprised at how nice the place was. The name sounds like a rowdy bar with hotdogs, but it's anything but. We ordered the 'big plate of meat', poutine, cheeseboard, and for my entree ordered the meatloaf. The big plate of meat was very good and it's the first time I've seen chicken on a meat plate. Out of the cheeses, the smoked ricotta was my favorite. It was delicious. The cheese plate is served with a small bowl of rhubarb which was another first I've seen. The meatloaf presentation itself is a spectacle. It's served inside of a big bone with breaded bone marrow balls and sweet catsup all over the plate. It was very good, but honestly the catsup is what made the meatloaf really good. The service was very good and it was very prompt. There weren't many people there, but I am sure that will change on weekends and once The Flats get more built up. Edited to add I forgot we also ordered calamari and poutine. The poutine was unlike any poutine I had in Canada, but I would order it ANYTIME! Very good. The best poutine in Cleveland so far. I don't care for calamari, but the three people I was with polished it off happily and raved about the sweet peppers that came with it.
(4)
Scott B.
Recent dinner here before heading out for some fun in downtown Cleveland. The service was good - the server did mention she was new, but she was fairly attentive and took care of us. I think she could have done better with drink service as our drinks came out one by one and she wasn't exactly sure which drink belonged to each person. And she spilled a little bit of just about everything she handed to us. The food was average at best. We started with a few appetizers and enjoyed the meat platter, which had a good selection. We also tried the calamari and pickled fried veggies. The calamari had a good flavor, but the portion size was extremely small. I think we each (6 of us) had one or two pieces of calamari. The veggies were super salty. The dinners were an assortment across the menu and I don't believe anyone in the group was impressed with the food. One ordered hummus which was bland. I and another ordered the burger, which was also very bland. Fish tacos were left 1/2 uneaten. Overall I would have expected better food. Nothing was horrible - it just wasn't good and certainly wasn't great. The drinks were the biggest disappointment. As mentioned before - the drinks came out randomly and we had a hard time telling what each drink was. I ordered a sazerac and mistakenly gave it to someone else thinking it was the Birthplace of Aviation (gin, lemon, grenadine, bitters). I got the sazerac back after she brought out the real Birthplace, which didn't look anything like we guessed and was not very good. Another person ordered the Tinker Tonic (gin/tonic, cucumber, basil) which tasted only like lemon juice and was so bitter she sent it back. The others in the group fortunately stuck to beers and bourbon on rocks. The cocktail drinkers ordered beers for the second serving.
(2)
Danielle Z.
I loved the vibe here. It's a bit smaller than I thought it was going to be, but lots of character :) The food was phenomenal! I had the ramen bowl with hoisin tofu and it's hands down, the best tofu I've had to date. Everything is homemade...which the staff will be sure to plug a few times, and that's ok, it's a nice reminder. It's in an up and coming part of the flats...and if it wasn't for the Ernst and Young crowd, chances are they wouldn't have stayed in business this long. Come on people....let's hit up the flats for a night out...or even just a lunch ;)
(4)
Bri P.
Went here for a lunch and service was extremely slow- it took over an hour and a half! I ordered the boxer hot dog which was good, but overpriced.
(3)
Sheena W.
Went here with some fellow Yelpers after an event at Lago. I loved the ambiance inside and the lighting was really cool. I got the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with ice cream on top which was just okay. Actually for $8.50 I was a bit disappointed. I did sample some Proper Poutine from a friends plate and I thought this was a good appetizer, but who wouldn't enjoy fries covered in cheese and gravy?! Overall I think this place is pricey and would be best for just drinks.
(3)
Jeev D.
My wife and I stopped in for a couple of drinks. There was only 4 other people at the bar and two small tables. The bartender dropped off our waters and then went MIA for 15 minutes (- no where to be seen). We almost walked out. Finally we got our drinks ordered. I ordered a Moscow Mule, which was decent. It was made with their own home made ginger beer and oh boy was It gingery! My wife asked for an Amstel Light and the bartender didn't know what that was. We thought he was joking, but he wasn't. We know its high end bar and most likely only carry micro brews, but come on man. The food did look good, from what we saw. We'll go back to try the food and next time we won't order anything fancy like an Amstel light.
(3)
Laurie J.
Excellent service. Seems to have a nice selection of food options...something for everyone. I had the meatloaf. It had too much cheese on the potato for my liking but the meatloaf was great.
(3)
Sean P.
So very good, I love the homemade charcuterie plate, though american cheese jerky is an odd one. Great drinks and a big focus on local food and drink. Unfortunately the surrounding neighborhood was leveled for a project that never took off, but I still like sitting on the patio in the post-apocalyptic landscape.
(5)
Amanda L.
First visit to this place; the ambiance is sophisticated without being too high-brow. As for the food, I ordered the poutine, and friends ordered the berry cobbler. Service was good. Food was nothing special, and I was not offered a box for the leftovers.
(3)
Fiona L.
I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the ribs. The salmon is amazing and perfectly cooked. It came with a delicious farro mix and was perfectly seasoned. My boyfriends ribs weren't the best ribs I ever had, but they were still tasty and moist. I would definitely come back on another casual dinner date.
(5)
Veronique D.
I know this place just opened, so they may improve in the next 6-9 months. The food was cold and not that good. The food was presented like an "at-home practicing type presentation." They had too many servers standing around in corners just waiting, Im not sure for what. The servers were not aware, at all. I think since we went so early in the evening they hadn't warmed up yet. Honestly, I would have preffered to eat in the Warehouse district than at this place or try the Italian restaurant in the hotel next door. The fire alarm was going off during half of our visit. The manager did not come up to the tables & apologize for the annoying noise during the first half of our visit. The hostess did advise us that there was not a fire. In addition, she sure did bark orders at one of the servers in front of us. As I made my way to the one stall restroom, I saw an employee eating food with his bare hands out of a bowl in the kitchen, where they were preparing food for customers. You can park on the street, paid parking lot or garages.
(2)
Sharmeela S.
My meal here was so good. I tried the pork belly ramen and gnudi and both were exceptional. The tofu and the pork belly were the best I have had - excellently prepared. They have outdoor seating. The indoor portion would seat about 50. Very pretty bar area. The cocktails are excellent. The peanut butter nutella ice cream was also delicious. The parking lot and valet were 10$. I think budget about 50$ a person for dinner/drink minimum but everything you consume will be thoughtfully executed.
(5)
Sue T.
The outdoor seating is on a street corner -- breezy and a great way to enjoy a summer's evening. However it posed a challenge for the kitchen. If our food was hot when it left the kitchen, it wasn't by the time it made it to table. They need to heat the plates more. The poutine appetizer lacked gravy but was ok. If it had been more than lukewarm it would have been better. The gnudi featured the tenderest, delicious pasta with slices of brussels sprouts and oodles of creamy cheese sauce. Decadent. Service was friendly.
(3)
Phil T.
Ambiance: 3. Very close to a 4, Wileyville was warm and inviting on the corner of Flats East Bank project. Nice views of construction... Open view kitchen, which I'm always a fan. Cost: 3. Yelp has Wiley as $$, but that's a stretch at least for dinner - most drinks are ~$10, and all entrees $20+. Layer on any other snacks are you're firmly at $30-50 a head. Admittedly, lunch looks more reasonable. Food Quality: 4. Great appetizers - try the smoked chicken wings (best I've had in Cleveland outside of Greenhouse Tavern) or phat popcorn. Poutine also looked very good. Appetizers stole the show, although dessert was good (PBJ jellies). Both Hanger and Flank steaks were ok as dinners but fairly unmemorable. Service: 3. Service was very helpful but restaurant was essentially dead on a Friday and our meal tended to drag on. At times it was "feast or famine" early on if waiter was around or not - make a decision. When to return: Happy hour / for a snack. For handcrafted drinks. To spend far less money than you would at Ken Stewart's next door.
(3)
Angela K.
Wow! Love the wings. Crispy and fantastic smoke flavor. Definitely try them. They're a must!
(5)
Jessica I.
I always worry about this place when I go, but not because of the great food and service. As one of the handful of places on the new west bank of the flats, and the one farthest from the hotel, it is all-too-often slow in here. That's a shame because it's worth the trip down there. Very creative new American food using local ingredients that are all house made. I can't keep this place going on my own, so I hope more people start finding it. It's well worth a visit.
(4)
Say P.
Perfect. Unique, original, fresh, from scratch. Need I say more? We had the meatloaf and hanger steak and it was amazing. Also the root beer with real beer and the ice cream cookie sandwich. Decent wine list. Fried pickled veggies and wings were in point. Yum.
(5)
Shawn S.
Simply amazing! After a weeklong stay in Cleveland and looking for healthy organic restaurants who care about what they serve....the best one I ate at was right next to my hotel. Willeyville is one I will return to again and again. The variety is fantastic and my salmon tacos were the perfect dinner accompanied by a kale and beet salad. The staff was very accommodating even though the kitchen was closing in a few minutes. Simply put...they know and care about where their food is coming from and its is all presented in a very creative and flavorful way. A hidden gem located on the edge of downtown Cleveland. Willeyville is a must.
(5)
Katie B.
This place was just okay. The menu attempts to be "eclectic," but verges into unappetizing most of the time. I ordered the ramen, which was good, not great. And my dining partner ordered the fried veggie appetizer that had an odd taste in the breading. In general, the menu seemed overpriced ($7 for a basic salad that consisted of lettuce and carrots). Service was solid, but slow. Overall just a mediocre experience.
I've been here twice so far and I can't wait for my third time. I've had the oysters, rigatoni, and I think it was duck carnitas with flour tortillas. All three were absolutely delicious. Our servers were knowledgeable and very attentive and couldn't have been better. Their food and beer recommendations were spot on. The bread is baked in house with their homemade flavored butters which vary by the day and both are spectacular. I don't think it's possible to have bad food in this establishment. It looks like they are always changing the menu, so I can't wait to try any new additions.
(5)
Jenn D.
I recently had lunch with a colleague and was excited to try this restaurant as I've heard many good things. Both of us ordered salads. I went with the Chef's Salad and my colleague went with the Wedgie. All I can say is that the restaurant should be embarrassed. Each salad was $14 or more and neither filled the small plate. I don't mind overpaying for a good salad but I at least expect to be semi-full when I leave. I won't go back. Other places in town (i.e. Crop, Greehouse, Hodges) have figured this out, very dissapointed.
(1)
Lauren S.
Service was pretty uneven. Our waitress seemed to never get our drink order right for our party of 8. She seemed overwhelmed, they could of had someone helping her rather than all standing around at the bar. The food was pretty good, nothing super special. The building is pretty cool, I like how it is decorated. Would go back for drinks.
(3)
Maggie B.
I was excited to see places coming back to The Flats, but honestly I was underwhelmed with the restaurant. The food was just okay, some seemed a little confused at times with TOO many flavors working against each other. The wait staff were not friendly and were not interested in answering any questions about the menu- quite honestly they seemed annoyed. I would be willing to give it another chance though.
(3)
Sharmeela S.
My meal here was so good. I tried the pork belly ramen and gnudi and both were exceptional. The tofu and the pork belly were the best I have had - excellently prepared. They have outdoor seating. The indoor portion would seat about 50. Very pretty bar area. The cocktails are excellent. The peanut butter nutella ice cream was also delicious. The parking lot and valet were 10$. I think budget about 50$ a person for dinner/drink minimum but everything you consume will be thoughtfully executed.
(5)
Sue T.
The outdoor seating is on a street corner -- breezy and a great way to enjoy a summer's evening. However it posed a challenge for the kitchen. If our food was hot when it left the kitchen, it wasn't by the time it made it to table. They need to heat the plates more. The poutine appetizer lacked gravy but was ok. If it had been more than lukewarm it would have been better. The gnudi featured the tenderest, delicious pasta with slices of brussels sprouts and oodles of creamy cheese sauce. Decadent. Service was friendly.
(3)
Lana K.
Ate at The Willeyville and was surprised at how nice the place was. The name sounds like a rowdy bar with hotdogs, but it's anything but. We ordered the 'big plate of meat', poutine, cheeseboard, and for my entree ordered the meatloaf. The big plate of meat was very good and it's the first time I've seen chicken on a meat plate. Out of the cheeses, the smoked ricotta was my favorite. It was delicious. The cheese plate is served with a small bowl of rhubarb which was another first I've seen. The meatloaf presentation itself is a spectacle. It's served inside of a big bone with breaded bone marrow balls and sweet catsup all over the plate. It was very good, but honestly the catsup is what made the meatloaf really good. The service was very good and it was very prompt. There weren't many people there, but I am sure that will change on weekends and once The Flats get more built up. Edited to add I forgot we also ordered calamari and poutine. The poutine was unlike any poutine I had in Canada, but I would order it ANYTIME! Very good. The best poutine in Cleveland so far. I don't care for calamari, but the three people I was with polished it off happily and raved about the sweet peppers that came with it.
(4)
Bob L.
I was on the fence about whether or not to actually take the time to update my review of The Willeyville. After all, we had only been there once before well over a year ago. Unfortunately, the disappointment we experienced during our last visit warranted at least a brief write-up. I still stand by my previous review when it comes to most of the aspects of service and location. Neither of those experiences have changed in any noticeable fashion, although the service was quite, how to put it nicely, stretched out. We were essentially the only couple in the restaurant and it took about 20 minutes for us to receive our appetizer. Where they really fell short this time was with the food. When you visit a restaurant knowing full well that you'll be spending somewhere around $100 for dinner and drinks, you've got certain expectations for nearly everything. This is especially the case when it comes to the food. Our first course started out great. We ordered the Hot Arse Spinach Dip ($11.50). A bowl of blazing hot (temperature, not spice heat) cheesy goodness surrounded by crispy, fried tortilla chips. It was sinfully good. Little did we know things were about to veer terribly off course. The Willey Caeser Salad ($9.50) that my wife ordered was not what we expected at all. First, it's loaded with sliced jalapeno peppers. If you are even remotely sensitive to heat in your food, steer clear of this salad. Second, the fried egg served atop the salad doesn't really work, Once you break the yolk it essentially turns the salad into a soppy, yolky mess and the type of bowl it's served in makes it awkward to eat. The disappointment continues... The Local Grass-Fed Beef Cheek Mac and Cheese ($18.50) was just not good. Not good at all. Oh, and you read that price right. For nearly $20 I received a small bowl of pasta tossed with asparagus. Creamy it was not. The beef cheek was basically four small chewy, fatty pieces of meat buried under the pasta. I felt like this was a dish that I could have made at home. Sounded so good on paper. The biggest disappointment of the evening was the Grilled Salmon Fish Tacos ($19.50). Wow. My wife and I couldn't even believe how bad this dish was. The flour tortillas tasted raw. The slaw made them wet and the portion size of the actual fish - what I can only assume is the reason for the insane pricetag - was ridiculously small. Three tiny pieces, barely enough for an appetizer. My wife ate the fish and left everything else on the plate, untouched. Those of you that read my reviews know that I am not normally one to complain about price. I know before I visit a restaurant how much I'll probably be spending and I also believe that you really do get what you pay for...most of the time. This visit to Willeyville was just such a stark contrast to our first visit that it didn't even seem like the same place. I'm sorry to say that I just don't think we'll be back.
(2)
Tony I.
I thought the food was great here. The place was dead empty. I'd expect most places to be slow on a Monday night, but we were literally the only ones in there. I had the gnudi dish and it was phenomenal (very rich). Not the best beer list, but I managed. I have high hopes for this revamped area. For starters we had the poutine which was great and the calamari which was meh. All in all a great restaurant
(4)
Stephanie C.
AMAZING. Everything is super fresh, the atmosphere is a casual chic, and the staff who work here are friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a more pricey night out, but it is well worth it. Also, they have a fantastic happy hour menu that helps you stay within a decent budget. We ordered Chicken Pate as an appetizer, and it was a wonderful portion. Fed the table of 4 nicely and no one had to fight over the last bite- everyone was satisfied. The portion filled a small mason jar and it came with crostini. As meals we had the Salmon (if you love fish- get this. Amazingly fresh), beef brisket, meatloaf, and the pork belly ramen. Everyone at the table sampled every dish and everyone loved everything. Drinks were also superb, decently priced, and high quality.
(5)
Amanda B.
I wasn't Yelping last year when Willeyville opened, but our first experience there was one of the most memorable of 2013. It was within a few weeks of opening, and while our waiter didn't know *exactly* what type of cured meats he had served us, he was so attentive, congenial and welcoming, I didn't care. Since then we've come back for date night and with several large parties, and our service experience has been equally professional and easygoing. Three things are a must here: the charcuterie, the cocktails and the desserts. That's not to say I haven't had other awesome entrees and apps here, because I certainly have. But I've also had some plates that seemed like they might not have been perfected yet, or were the result of someone feeling extra adventurous that day. I'm completely ok with it, because I appreciate a restaurant that can take locally-sourced, house-made ingredients that don't seem to fit and make them work. This weekend I had gnocchi with mushrooms, brussel sprouts and bacon. A tad salty, maybe, but the Brussels were nicely grilled (& not mushy at all!) and I really couldn't stop myself from eating every single one of the ricotta gnocchis. The cocktails: strong yet well-balanced. They don't shy away from savory stuff or unique combinations. The charcuterie: willeyville has by far the most varied and delicious selection in town. And they do it all themselves! The desserts: when summer comes, I just hope they bust out their ice cream sandwich with sweet corn ice cream and chipotle (poblano?) sugar cookie. So. Damn. Good. That being said, I'm worried people are put off by the location? The parking? The fact that they aren't pretentious about all of their homemade goods? Who knows. For my part, I'm always impressed when I come here and look at the menu. It's always changing, and it's always a bit more fearless than some other similarly-branded restaurants in town. It remains the only place that has ever served me cheese jerky, for crying out loud.
(5)
Ms. E.
Come on down to Willeyville! (After seeing JT's skit on SNL...I just can't help thinking of that jingle when I see the name! ;-) ) Seriously though... The Willeyville is a GREAT new restaurant in the recently developed East Bank (Flats) region! The servers are very knowledgeable when it comes to describing the various menu items/wine list and making recommendations. The food is so delicious that it can stop conversation for a few moments (while taking in the flavor combinations that have been created by the chefs). In addition, they use high quality ingredients from local farms/businesses and in my mind ...that means that they care about the quality of the food that they serve. We started our meal with a fabulous bottle of wine, the fresh bread/herb butter and the Potted Smoked Salmon, which was a smoked salmon spread served with crostini, and what we liked most was that the smoked salmon flavor did not get lost when combined with the other ingredients. It was scrumptious! For our main courses, I had the Seared Salmon, which was delicious and beautifully prepared. My boyfriend had the Hanger Steak, which our server had recommended, and it was "to die for"...extremely tender, flavorful and definitely a conversation stopper. (I was glad my boyfriend offered me a bite of his meal! :-) ) We didn't actually have room for dessert, but we were so tempted by the list of options...that we decided to split the ricotta cheesecake and each enjoyed a glass of the limoncello. We didn't just "have dinner" at The Willeyville. Instead, it was a dining experience and I would go there again in a heartbeat. (I actually just joined Yelp, so that I could write this review! ) I hope people will start venturing over to the East Bank, because this new restaurant is *worth* it!
(5)
Emily P.
A nice clean, spacious restaurant and bar! The food has never disappointed me (I'd recommend the poutine), and they have a great bar menu. The staff has also been super friendly and helpful any time I'm in! Definitely not hoity toity, but classy for as laid back as it is! Also, good for groups.
(5)
Regina S.
I had not heard anything good about The Willeyville, so dining here was a low priority. I am now regretting all of the times I could have been here enjoying the delicious food! PROS *Poutine, my new favorite app. We started off with the Proper Poutine, a heaping plate of artery-clogging goodness. Yes, it's not the best for you. Yes, you will enjoy every bite. Fries, gravy, curds, hot sauce, and whatever cracklins' are. Make sure to share. *Pasta. Typically at a new restaurant I would order meat for my entree, but I was just digging the description of the ricotta gnudi. And when the order came out, it exceeded all of my expectations. Little, fluffy balls of doughy goodness, covered in a rich white sauce, mixed with brussel sprouts and bacon bits. You cannot go wrong with this dish! *The menu. Based on the flimsy white paper that the menu was on along with their online menu not matching the menu we got at the restaurant, I'm assuming they change up their menu quite a bit. I like that in a restaurant - they know what works and they try new things when something isn't working *Decor and Ambiance. We came during the day, which was fine, but as I looked around, I decided that the ambiance would be much more dramatic at night. The industrial decorations and lighting gives it a trendy, urban look. *A lemonade-cider drink. I cannot remember what it's called, but it was basically like a summer lemonade mated with an autumn cider and had a baby. I approve. CONS *If you are walking here, you'll have an easy time going down the hill to get to the East Bank of the Flats...but good luck trying to walk back up after you've stuffed yourself silly. My advice - call an uber. *The restaurant was smaller than I thought it was going to be, which is not necessarily a con...unless you bring a large group. I would limit the group to 8. BOTTOM LINE I will be back to try some other creations on the menu. And gorge on poutine and pasta.
(5)
Ashley O.
I ordered a hot dog here and wasn't impressed. The hot dog was so tough that I could barely cut it with a fork and knife. The bun was also a bit dried out and hard. The space is beautiful though and in a great new location.
(3)
Eric C.
If you haven't been here for dinner in a while, it's time you stopped back in. This place is impressive. And if something isn't to your liking, tell your server. This place will bend over backwards to make things perfect. So, now onto the review (it's long but I got a lot to rave about today)... I've held off on reviewing this place for a year because I'm friends with everyone there. I didn't want that to impact my ability to be as honest as possible. After a full year of eating and drinking here more times than I can count, I feel very comfortable calling this one of my top spots in Cleveland. I think it's had a few hiccups here and there, but I'm 100% confident that this is a consistent 5-star spot. It's been that way for a while. The service is always top notch -- it's exceptional. The staff is very well versed in the food, preparations, ingredients, and plating. They know exactly what's going on in the kitchen. This is incredibly important given the food and the ingredients are made in-house. This also comes in handy if you walk in with a child or a crazy dietary restrictions. No kids menu? Trust me, they can take care of your child's whim. Or perhaps your vegan or paleo and you don't see a damn thing on the menu that works fully to your needs. No problem. Find what you want on the menu and they will make it work. I've never seen waitstaff and kitchen staff go to such lengths to ensure everyone is happy and full. But it all starts with that friendly and knowledgeable service. The bar is damn good too. Cocktail wise, they make really great craft cocktails at a reasonable price given the quality of ingredients and the attention placed on doing it right. I don't see how $11 or $12 bucks for a craft cocktail is even a bit pricey given the recipes. You're not getting anything close to well drinks. But, if you want cheap, they do have well drinks available. All you need to do is ask. I will say they bar had some problems in the first six months of operations, but that's just not an issue anymore. Service and quality of product are great at the bar. What about the food? The food is the star. It doesn't get any better--it's creative and delicious. How do they make it so damn good? They not only make the food from scratch, they make the ingredients from scratch. They grind their own flour, grow their own yeast, ferment their vinegar... they even make their own tofu and miso! They do the same thing for the bar ingredients too! A lot of places around Cleveland play the "farm to table" card, but when a restaurant goes to the trouble of actually crafting the raw ingredients, they are doing it right. Of course, someone could go through all the trouble and still make junk food. Not here; not at The Willeyville. This place makes damn good food. The charcuterie is my favorite. In the past year they have come a long way and I find this to be some of the best charcuterie in the city. I also love the hanger steak. Hanger steaks are a dime a dozen in Cleveland, but the way The Willeyville uses a quick cure and sous vide creates the most flavorful and tender hanger in town. The current adobo hanger prep with hominy, pickled jalapenos, tres pepper sauces, fried shishito peppers, crispy tortillas strips is the best version of their hanger to date. I could honestly talk about this menu for hours. You may see a smattering of Asian, Italian, and European dishes. While that might seem confused, remember that the focus is about true from-scratch cooking. America is diverse, shoot Cleveland is diverse. These are all the kinds of foods Clevelanders love, just under one roof and done really freaking well. Personally, the ricotta gnudi is better than some of the stuff I've had at famous Italian restaurants in very big cities. The smoked pork belly ramen (yes they even make the noodles in house) is the best bowl of ramen I've had from a restaurant not run by Japanese people. And the "proper poutine" while not the traditional poutine I get in Montreal, I just can't hate on it -- the thing makes my mouth and my belly beyond happy. Don't like fancy things, then get one of the hot dogs or sausages known as "Willey Wieners" during lunch or happy hour at the bar. They grind, season, and stuff these things all in house to great success. The Korean and the German variants are my favorite, but they got the traditional Polish boy that does the trick too. The burgers (traditional and veggie) don't disappoint either. I'm not a vegetarian, but that veggie burger is something I would eat regardless. I don't have a huge sweet tooth these days, but I make sure to get desert every time I stop in. This place does the trick for me, time and time again. At this point in time, I can't say a bad thing about the joint. Stop in for dinner and discover one of the best restaurants in town. If you aren't like me and you do find something not to your liking, trust me, they will take care of you.
(5)
Matt A.
Got an extra special treat with my fries that accompanied my way over priced Big Mac....A long female hair. Never going back. Ever. And judging by the emptiness of the restaurant on a warm Saturday night, I'm not the first to have a bad experience there.
The is Cleveland's Hidden gem I started with the chicken wings which were really really good I had the hanger steak which was out of this world My partner had the pork shoulder which was really good also The price was very reasonable. You can feel the chefs heart his creations
(5)
Cory R.
Very cool place! I was visiting from out of town and went with my boyfriend and his dad. I am super allergic to gluten and the chef came over and pointed out everything that I could eat ( almost the entire menu btw). I had fresh veggies with pesto while the bf had bread and we ordered the calamari gluten free as an app. It's been years since I've had fried calamari and it was amazing! They used an almond flour (it may have been rice flour :) ) covering to make it breaded. I had the 1/2 chicken and it was quite tasty. My bf had the homemade pasta and meatballs and he wouldn't stop talking about how good it was! Overall I highly recommend! Incredibly gluten free friendly with tasty food and a fun atmosphere. I will be back if in Cleveland again!
(5)
Rick T.
First off, any place with decent poutine scores in my book. The poutine here rocks - the hot sauce and the cracklin's put it into the awesome category. I had a smoked trout special - awesome. My wife had salmon fish tacos. Good but not great. Missed the crispness of a SoCal fish taco. The kale pesto with the bread was also a nice spin on traditional pesto. Everything tasted fresh. Very good service.
(4)
Mike P.
Good place for drinks, not food. Corn dog sounded so good when I was viewing the menu. Unfortunately, fell way short expectations. Took one bite and that was it. The batter was fine, the weiner was awful.
(2)
Joe C.
Okay, I'm glad I had a terrible experience at Lago, 'cause I wound up over here instead. This is one of the best random finds I've had in a while! As far as the interior goes, I sat at the bar and thought the atmosphere was spot on. I could see the feeling of being cramped if this place was busy and I was at a table, but on a Monday night it was nice and relaxed so you couldn't go wrong no matter where you sat. The bartender was super friendly and knew his stuff, and I soon had the Holy Elixir in my hand. Holy god was it delicious. And strong. For food I followed it up with the Perfect Poutine, and I should qualify this by saying I've never had poutine before, but wow was this tasty (and a sizeable portion). I talked with some of the other serving staff while eating and everyone was friendly without so much as a hint of pretense. For a place with food and drinks this good, that was a pleasant surprise. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because I haven't tried any of the major entrees. (If you just want poutine and delicious cocktails then yes, easily 5 stars.) Prices aren't bad, especially for a kitchen that's 100% from scratch, but on my social worker salary this qualifies as expensive. The menu is relatively small but changes with the seasons, which goes in line with their made-from-scratch kitchen. I'm super excited to come back and give the rest of the menu a try! Definitely check this place out.
(4)
Deborah L.
I'm horribly jet lagged and still trying to adjust after flying in super late last night at 11 PM. Feeling pretty out of it and not really wanting to walk too far from my hotel at the Aloft, I saw this place on Yelp on the same block and headed on down. Being Monday night after 4th of July, it was very, very quiet inside - which I was extremely grateful for. The modern decor is highlighted with vibrant colors and some quirky touches (like the Edison bulb light fixtures). Services was amazingly quick, friendly and attentive. Feeling like something light and healthy, I ordered the sugar snap peas salad (on the recommendation of my waiter) and the smoked pork belly ramen (with the sambal on the side because I am a wimp who can't handle spicy foods). Both were delicious and obviously made fresh in house (they are not kidding when they say they are seriously farm to table). Can definitely foresee myself visiting again to try some of the other things on the menu!
(4)
Lama B.
This was an area I was sad to discover when I was leaving Cleveland. According to the locals who were with us at dinner, this area used to be very dead. Well, not anymore. This place takes the farm to table concept and adds a twist. The cocktails were to die for and I had two Moscow mules. Needless to say, I always plan accordingly, and was not driving, so I enjoyed every drop of their home made ginger beer. The starters were excellent, and I loved the poutine. Like LOVED it. My crusted sesame tuna was the hit of the table. That's not to say that every other dish, from the pasta to the pork, wasn't perfect. We skipped dessert because I was craving some local ice cream before leaving the city I have called home for one year, but if I'm every visiting the Cleve, I will definitely pass by Willeyville for drinks and lots and lots of yummy food.
(4)
Sharon C.
Delicious drinks, great food, excellent service. We came for dinner and trivia: the salmon was perfect, and drinks perfect.
(5)
Kara J.
The Willeyville is excellent. A small group of us went during Restaurant Week and ordered both from the special and regular menus. Everything we tried was delicious, particularly the poutine, mac & cheese, and what we deemed were quite possibly the best chicken wings we'd ever had. The service was also super -- attentive but not overwhelming -- and the view of the kitchen was very fun. More people need to go to this place! It truly is wonderful.
(4)
Ralph M.
Wow, excellent dinner and service. The ribs special was meaty ( not skimpy) cooked to perfection and spiced right. If they have that special and you like ribs consider that dish. The ricotta gnudi with their own special sausage and marinara sauce was delightful. Our tall Hendricks and tonics with cucumber were spot on.
(5)
Keith G.
One of the many reasons we love Cleveland is the selection of interesting restaurants in cool spaces. Willeyville was not one of them. Located on the East Bank of the flats, the location is really cool but the new building (A-Loft Hotel) is without history, personality or creative design. The food and service were very good but the menu was a little too heavy for our liking. Overall, there was nothing memorable about the atmosphere, menu or service. Probably would not return.
(2)
Rachael N.
Willeyville- surprised me up the wahoo. I had heard of how "great" the Flats were, but as I moved into Cleveland 3 years ago, I never got to see the Flats in its greatness. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see that they're building up the area with an Aloft hotel, and some new great restaurants, like Willeyville. I made reservations for 6 people at 8pm on a Saturday night. For a new place, I thought it would be pretty empty...but man, it was packed! Their menu boasts "handcrafted consumables" and man, is it unique. Our friends ordered the "chicken ate my chicken"- a stuffed sausage in chicken dish- which they claimed was excellent. The menu also had an extensive cocktail list and also a lot of unique delectable dishes. My bf and I split a few dishes to get the most bang for our buck. First, we got the mussel poutine. Yes, poutine, and yes, we are not in Canada. The mussels were great, with a slightly cheesy flavorful sauce drizzled on top of some nicely fried fries. Mmmmm. We also ordered the gnocchi, which came with summer squash as well. We were a bit surprised at how it came- we had originally thought gnocchi were little pasta balls..and was surprised when it came out as a flat folded noodle. We bit into it- and yep, it was definitely gnocchi- it was deceivingly small, but heavy and oh so good! We also ordered their special- a beef heart chili cheese dog. As I loved the chili cheese dogs from Detroit's coney islands, I didn't think it could match. Oh, it definitely matched and was GOOD. It had that special "snap" to it that hot dogs should, when you bite into it, and the beef heart chili was so hearty (no pun intended) and savory, it was pretty amazing. Willeyville has great food and a great atmosphere. The only downside is that the parking lot is $6- as for the area (there's like nothing around it), I didn't think was worth it. We parked on the street...but yeah, besides that, the food was excellent, and I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
JP B.
Gluten free friendly! We spoke with Chris, the chef, and he said most of the menu can be made gluten free - so ask! The calamari was made gluten free with rice flour and tasted fantastic. I had the tagliatelle with meatballs; not gluten free, but the meatballs are absolutely amazing!! This is my new favorite restaurant in Cleveland.
(5)
Jeff B.
All we had were drinks. The shady lane was great. Everything was made from scratch down to the bitters and simple syrup. My dirty was pretty good, house made vermouth and blue cheese stuffed olives. I think I could live on blue cheese stuffed olives with the occasional gin to wash them down. I was impressed by the menu only like 6 or 7 large plates, that means everything should perfect!
(4)
Amanda F.
First visit was through a Yelp event and I was so entranced by this place I had to come back. The drinks were fantastic. They had a Moscow Mule in a copper cup, as it should be consumed. The bartender told us that they used to serve it with a copper straw too, but people kept stealing the straws..... The food was fantastic as well. I love the idea that they had the seasonal food. At the Yelp event there was a Jack O Lantern pumpkin soup that I ordered to go. The soup was fantastic, but I was told to come back because the soup normally comes in an actual pumpkin! I dragged the boy there to have some, but they no longer had the Jack O Lantern soup, as they had moved on. While the food and drinks were wonderful, the ambience of the place is what keeps this place from being 4 stars for me. If you sit at the bar or a couple of the booths near the bar I assume it's fine, but we sat closer to the back of the restaurant and I just felt intrusive. As it was date night we were sitting at one of the 2 top tables along the wall. We were SO close to the couple next to us, almost awkwardly so. The waiters inputted orders right in front of us and had side conversations with each other, which I am fine with, but normally it's an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. Also, from the back the restaurant loses its hipster, chic look and resembles more of a Chipotle restaurant layout. If you only get their food and, well maybe not drinks, to go? 5 stars.
(3)
Patty M.
Best Yelp event we've been to! The waitstaff were SUPER attentive, the restaurant itself was lovely and the drinks...oh, my, the mixed drinks. The MUST HAVE beverage of the evening was the Moscow Mull served in a copper mug. Get one.
(5)
Nina G.
Great food, very interesting menu as we as everything apparently is made in house. Great for vegans. A but on be pricey side but certainly well worth it! A Must go to in downtown Cleveland!
(4)
Tim F.
One of the best Bloody Mary's that I've ever had. Food was great. Easy parking to and from the Browns game. Excellent service as well.
(5)
Erik N.
Nice atmosphere. Dined solo at the bar. Friendly staff, creative menu, decent beer/wine selection.
(4)
Dianna Z.
This is my new favorite restaurant! Our first dinner here was a completely random choice with no reservations. We walked in and were seated immediately. We were greeted by the most amazing waiter and our order was taken promptly. The smoked wings we ordered for the appetizer were the best I ever ate, filled with flavor. The Bibb salad I ordered was also excellent. The homemade dressing was very good. The pork shank I ordered was very tender and full of delicious flavor. It fell right off the bone. The creme brulee we had for dessert was definitely the perfect ending to our meal. Overall a delightful dining experience. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Nick P.
Very unique menu. They emphasized that everything was homemade, from the cheese to the pasta, to the drinks. I ordered something on the safer side - rigatoni with meat sauce and was amazed at how awesome it was! It just had a lot of flavor and was really simple. I couldn't get enough! Definitely will be back.
(4)
Sheila B.
We went there in the evening for some after dinner drinks and dessert. My guest had the Willey's Jamaican Planter's Punch, which was especially delicious. Definitely worth getting again. I got the Bitter Sweet, which was really much more bitter than sweet. At times, it felt like I was trying to take medicine instead of enjoying a drink. They were a little pricey for Cleveland ($11) a drink, but they definitely had a good dose of liquor in them. The bread itself was pretty good, but the beet butter was eh. It would have been really good butter if it was sold to us as just that, but the fact it had some sort of beets mixed in made it taste absolutely no different than normal butter. We ordered the Ohio Apple Crisp with the house-made cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. The crisp was absolutely delicious. Apples had a great flavor and were soft but not yucky applesauce mush. The ice cream had a wonderful mild flavor to it, but tasted more like vanilla ice cream than like a cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. Overall not a bad experience, food was pretty good and depending on the drink you ordered, the drinks weren't bad either. A bit pricey for what you got and for its location. I would go back, but let's just say I wouldn't be dying for the chance to go back.
(3)
Rob S.
The pork shank entree was fantastic. The meat just fell off the bone. The gnocchi was also very good but the portion size was disappointing. The atmosphere was very quaint and enjoyable. The hummus appetizer was good but the potato chips were extremely salty. The pita chips were perfect with good texture. I would recommend this place to friends.
(4)
Jen M.
Damn, I had high hopes for this place. Here is how it fell apart for me on Saturday August 17, 2013. 1. Major disconnect between how the food is described on the menu and what is actually served. For example, we ordered the "popcorn." On the menu it is described as "curried popcorn/ peanuts / coconut / chili // ". Lo and behold what comes out of the kitchen is more of a chewy peanut brittle like Crunch n Munch. When you advertise popcorn, I expect popcorn (see: Crop, they get it right). This brittle was way, way too sweet to be served as an appetizer. It paralyzed my palate. Very Mild hints of curry. Whoever wrote the description needs to rework that. And either dial up the savory hints...or put it on the dessert menu. 2. Food was not cooked properly. I ordered the hanger steak which the server assured me I would not need a knife to cut. I asked for it to be prepared medium. No kidding, it came out completely raw (now I know why I wouldn't need a knife to cut it). Back to the kitchen it went. In the meantime, a server brought me a serving of sorbet to cleanse my palate (nice touch...but again, it was something sweet before my entree) and it didn't really taste like anything. Hmph. My hanger steak arrives and it is barely cooked more than it was last time. 3. The cucumber salad with the hanger steak was very salty and too cold. Again, the concept of the dish was good but the execution failed, especially against raw meat. 4. Desserts are a HUGE miss. See #1 above. The chocolate "sugar" cookie was neither chocolate nor sugar. It tasted like a bitter, unsweetened cocoa cookie. And raspberry ice cream? Raspberry according to whose palate? The blueberry sorbet was closer to its description but still not quite right. 5. We never received bread. Our server came back and asked us if we wanted more bread. We said, "Uh, we never received my bread to start with." Zoinks. And it is allegedly served with "melon" butter. Again, the taste delivery was off. Bread is very good...rustic and delicious. 6. Service was slow. Come on. The place wasn't packed AND it is not that big of a restaurant. 7. Saving grace of the night? The cocktails! The Shady Lane and the Smash made with Maker's Mark were both killer good drinks. Bravo on that. I really, really wanted to dig this place. I love that everything is house-made. But there appears to be disconnects and missed executions on the food, not to mention confusion as to what the restaurant concept really is. Blasting the Black Keys and Rolling Stones at high volume made it difficult to have conversation. Sorry, Willeyville, but you have some kinks to work out.
(2)
Eldridge C.
I dined here two nights in a row - there was definitely a reason for my going back the second night! The service was impeccable, the ambience was fantastic (the space, the music, the atmosphere, etc.), the food was insanely good, and the cocktails were out of this world. I have eaten in a lot of restaurants in a lot of different cities and this easily stacks up with the best of them when you take everything into consideration (including price). If I am ever in Cleveland again this is where I'm headed...no question
(5)
Emily S.
The Flats are making a comeback, and The Willeyville is out front! This is a great addition to the new area. The decor is very chic and relaxing. There are large windows that let in a lot of natural light, so it is great place to go on a sunny Cleveland day. I love the open kitchen lay out, so you can always see whats going on. My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 7:30. We were able to make reservations on Open Table, which was a good thing, because this place was packed! The word is out that The Willeyville is the next restaurant to try in Cleveland. There was a mix of mid twenty somethings all of the way to people in their 50's and 60's. We started with the shrimp ceviche, and it was the perfect amount to get us started. It came with some pita chips that were very complementary. We each ordered a drink... a glass of chardonnay for myself and a moscow mule for my man. I always love when a moscow mule comes in the traditional copper mug!! I ordered the bucatini alla matriciana and only needed the small size. It was the perfect amount of food. It had a slight spice to it from the chili, and it was absolutely delicious! The other meal for the table was the hanger steak, which the boyfriend gobbled up immediately. This restaurant is going to be a great addition to the Flats and Cleveland. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Carmel C.
I love this place!! It's my new fave downtown eatery. They serve an amazing chef's salad with delicious humus, crostini, and succulent chicken that's a fave lunch. I had the pasta special last night with a creamy vodka sauce over a thick, tubular lpasta that was AMAZING. And though I'd RARELY eat anything like a chili dog (not a big meat person) their chili dog and schnitzel is to die for. LOVE WILlEYVILLE!! You will too!
(5)
Michael J.
This was one of the best meals I've had in Cleveland this year. Before giving a review it should be noted that the dining experience here for lunch is completely different than dinner. The menu changes dramatically for the two periods. Dinner was a culinary masterpiece. Every item ordered was thoughtfully crafted and elegantly displayed. I ordered the duck squared. The dish was phenomenal. Crispy duck served two ways. It was drizzled with whipped strawberries and other fruits. The super sweet was perfectly balanced by salty napa cabbage served in a pastry. The calamari appetizer was one of the best calamari dishes I've ever had. The flavor combinations were delicious with an emphasis on candied ginger. We also ordered the chilled peach soup. This could have doubled as a dessert. It was a very sweet soup, perfect on a hot summer day. Instead of veggies, it was bursting with pureed fruits in a peachy cream broth. All in all the food was amazing at prices $10-15 less than comparable entrees in restaurants in Tremont or on East 4th. You really get a great value for some incredibly thought out dishes.
(5)
Alex A.
This is a saturday night dinner review. 3 of us for dinner. Started out with dark and stormy which was pretty good and the big ben...was ok. appetizers...popcorn..whatever they sprinkled on this was super spicy and irritating, all of us were coughing. also the poutin...was fine, hard to mess up bacon and french fries, house made ricotta and toast...again, was ok, nothing new. dinner...salmon....average. i had the asian short rib...didnt taste marinated, was chewy, and cold. came with rice which wasnt seasoned at all. wife had gnocchi which werent gnocchi...just two triangles of dough that tasted like nothing. This place was good for drinks but the food was below average.
(2)
Trevor C.
Overall excellent experience. Another guy in the office and I headed down there for lunch today. We had a lot of loose ends to tidy up so we made it a point to order apps, desserts, and drinks, just of course to buy us some time! Anyhow, overall excellent. I'll break it down. Wait Staff: The waiter was very well informed about what the kitchen was doing. He explained to us how they made many items in house, including the vinegar, all the sauces and dressings, and their own fermented and pickled items. He was also attentive to the small details, such as new flatware and wiping the table clean after each course. Very nice touch. Menu: The menu was short, sweet, and had a little bit of something for everyone. There were meaty options like the large pastrami sandwich and today's special, a duck confit crepe. There were also attractive salads and meatless entrees. I mostly like that the menu is short because you know that they are using the freshest ingredients possible. The waiter also pointed that out and the menu also indicates their devotion to local farmers. The Food: We started with the smoked chicken wings and the calamari. Both were amazing. I usually shy away from calamari at restaurants but ordered this just to see if the chef could win me over. He did. The combination of sauces he used to dress them really stood out. I had the duck and pork shoulder confit crepe for lunch. It was served in a deep casserole-like plate with a light yogurt based sauce and sliced, pickled radishes on top. The dish was very nice. Not too fatty or too rich (considering that confit duck and pork could be) and the quality of the meat really stood out. My business colleague had the pastrami. I had a piece of that and besides the house-made pastrami being moist and tender, the choice of cheese and pickle was also nice. The house made bread buttered and toasted was also appropriate. For dessert, I had the house made smores. It was a little difficult to eat, but I can't remember the last time I had a non-messy smores. Well worth a try with a cup of coffee. The Drinks: The names of both drinks we ordered are out of my vocabulary. Both were quite good but unfortunately they featured homemade names that now escape me. Overall: I'm looking forward to going back for dinner service. Trevor
(5)
Jill M.
This was an excellent place for lunch. Knowledgable and attentive staff, many organic items, all house made condiments, light yet satisfying. Some very complex dishes. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kelly R.
Overall this was pretty good. I went for Happy Hour. The HH menu is limited and the wine list is $2 off. I went on a Friday afternoon, right after work, there were a few other patrons seated in the bar area. Madeline, the bartender, was attentive without being overbearing. I proceeded in ordering a glass of wine, an order of fries and the bratwurst sandwich. The sandwich and fries arrived shortly thereafter. The fries were good, crispy and seasoned on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. They were served with a side of housemade ketchup and malt vinegar. The sandwich was a little bit small. The bratwurst link was tasty by itself, but the massive bun and sauerkraut/slaw completely masked the bratwurst. Each component by itself was tasty but just couldn't really taste the meat. The selling point for Willeyville is the housemade concept related to condiments, drink mix-ins etc I would return, just wouldn't be my go-to for Happy Hour....maybe dinner. .
(3)
Aaron M.
Ok so I know I have been handing out a few 5 star reviews lately. But understand I go out three to five times a week! I only write reviews when something really stands out. The Willeyville really stands out! This was my fifth time there and I am consistently impressed. Everything is made in house...everything. Bread, cheese, charcuterie, ice cream, EVERYTHING. It is quickly becoming one of my new favorite places. Atmosphere is great. Though I will agree with my friends phase two of the flats will really enhance the experience. Right now it's still kind of a destination. Though The Willeyville is worth it! My highlights are the Proper Poutine, the Hanger Steak, and anything pork! I have tasted about 3/4 of the menu and everything has been exceptional. Don't leave without trying the sticky bun!
(5)
Lisa W.
We are so glad this area of town is getting some great places to eat. We went here on a weekday for lunch. The calamari was to die for! Crispy, hot , with a sweet Thai sauce - light on ginger! We then had the chop salad - great dressing and crisp greens and the Bibb salad - so good! Great fresh hot bread with herbed butter! Love the fact that they try to use local foods! Nice to be able to watch the kitchen in action! Good beer selection! Beautiful decor! The service was prompt without being intrusive! We will return for dinner or drinks! Nice addition to the Cleveland food scene!
(5)
Krystal C.
Go here. Seriously, this place should always be packed. The gracious and flexible hosts, to the wonderful cocktails, to the amazing service and last but not least the awesome food. I had the pork belly ramen which was very flavorful and just what one should have on a chilly cleveland night. We even stayed at the restaurant late, and Never once felt pressured to leave.
(5)
Matt K.
If you want to pay $13 for a breakfast sandwich this is your place. I would have been more satisfied with a McD's breakfast sandwich. The other sandwiches are average in taste, but locally sourced ingredients make them more appealing.
(2)
PJ N.
i so wanted this to be a GREAT restaurant......such a cool location, neat interior, but food, just OK.......yeah, i get the relaxed, casual vibe but a hostess waltzing around the diningroom in black flip-flop......seemed like she stopped in from the pool to seat a few people........servers are friendly but a bit unpolished and untrained. they want to help, but just don't know what to do. and what's with the "bananarama doo-rags" in al lthe girls' hair? decor is snazzy, comfortable and current......the menu feels a bit confused. is it home-stlye comfort or upscale hip? i don't know, i don't think that the kitchen knew. cocktails were great......had a couple of rounds. for apps we had the rock shrimp ceviche and the chacutterie (sp?) board. the ceviche was served with flour tortilla chips, yuck, and the ceviche lacked any bit of acidity, despite the lime wedge garnish. i wouldn't order this again. the chacutterie board/plate was large with a wide variety of house cured meats....many of which were lack-lustre and seemed to be made by a meat curing trainee that hadn't quite figured it out yet. the liver pate was delicious, the other stuff- mortadella (not even close to being), some terrible pork belly that seemed like boiled bacon sans the smoke and an "almost" proscuitto were gross, but the knockwurst....HEAVEN!!! so delicious, i could have eaten plates of this!!! our salads were a golden beet salad.......sounded good but disappointing! the beets were buried in a heavy layer of green weeds with sprinkles of tarragon topped with a smoked cheese of some sort. no acidity to balance the dish, just a bunch of mish-mash ingredients thrown into a weird shaped bowl a la 1999. one slice of wonderful bread was given with cocktails, why? before i even had a chance to ask for a second slice with our salads, our butter, plates and silverware were scooped up. for dinner we had the duck squared and the city chicken. i was confused by both. the carrot mash was delicious but the city chicken meat seemed over fried until hard and dry. the duck squared was duck confit, a breast wrapped in bacon and thigh with leg served with some foamy carrot juice and traces of some sauce a feta cabbage strudel (which was the highlight of this dish) and beets. both entrees had the makings of a great dinner but never got there. homestyle seemed to be trumped by highbrow thoughts trumped by homestyle......food was good, but NOT great, nothing memorable! the highlight of the entire meal was dessert, even thought i really didn't want anything, i was talked into it and glad that i was!!! the chile sugar cookie ice cream sandwich, WOW!!! they could make a mint on selling this out of a truck for sure!!! a slightly spicy sugar cookie filled with a sweet corn ice cream......what an original idea that came to fruition!!! i could have eaten bowls full of that ice cream!!! we also had a rhubarb cumble topped with chamomile ice cream......the crumble, meh, not so good, but that chamomile ice cream, to die for!!!!! the real star of the night was the person responsible for the house made ice creams!!!!!! i think i would come here for drinks and dessert and skip the stuff in the middle........don't lose the ice cream "chef"----they're genius!!!
(2)
Nick C.
Crazy good stuff - everything made from scratch...i mean everything.(ketchup - really? yes - even ketchup.) Got to try the Duck MacMuffin - with house made English muffins cooked in duck fat - amazing topped with a house made duck sausage patty with some sweet maple syrup, fresh arugula and an over easy egg. Surprised by the Ricotta sampler - never been a fan - but the variety had so much flavor(smoked paprika, merlot soaked and whipped with EVOO). Hope this place does awesome ! Great cocktails too - homemade ginger beer, vermouths, etc...very knowledgeable (and personable) staff. Cool specialty beer list and cocktail/wine list.
(5)
Elana B.
Must start with the fries (listed on menu as proper poutine)- they were amazing- spicy and flavorful with all sorts of textures! You should have seen the look I gave to one of the staffers that tried to take that plate away when there were still 5 fries on it. I mean- really?! The pork and duck tacos were perfect too. Great flavor and the tortillas were a cross between naan and matzah- so yummy! My husband wasn't thrilled with his ciopinno, but he did just get back from san fran and just no comparison. The cheeses on the cheese plate were all very mild, would be nice to have one stronger type. The whoopie pie was like, whatever. The apple crisp brought it! Oh- and so right after we paid we saw the waitress come out with cotton candy for another table and we were all, "why you no tell US about cotton candy?" and she said the people were friends with the owner. But then what did she do next?! Brought some out for us! Plus- she was awesome from the start. Oh- and great music/playlist. I will be going back.
(4)
Taylor S.
We had drinks, dinner, and dessert and it was excellent. We ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer which was good not great. Main courses ordered were the mahi mahi, duck, gnocchi, and the gnudi. All were delicious. Above all else, the service was outstanding. We never had a water glass even half full and when someone went to the restroom the waiter took their dish and put it under the heater to keep it warm. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Jessica I.
I always worry about this place when I go, but not because of the great food and service. As one of the handful of places on the new west bank of the flats, and the one farthest from the hotel, it is all-too-often slow in here. That's a shame because it's worth the trip down there. Very creative new American food using local ingredients that are all house made. I can't keep this place going on my own, so I hope more people start finding it. It's well worth a visit.
(4)
Say P.
Perfect. Unique, original, fresh, from scratch. Need I say more? We had the meatloaf and hanger steak and it was amazing. Also the root beer with real beer and the ice cream cookie sandwich. Decent wine list. Fried pickled veggies and wings were in point. Yum.
The is Cleveland's Hidden gem I started with the chicken wings which were really really good I had the hanger steak which was out of this world My partner had the pork shoulder which was really good also The price was very reasonable. You can feel the chefs heart his creations
(5)
Shawn S.
Simply amazing! After a weeklong stay in Cleveland and looking for healthy organic restaurants who care about what they serve....the best one I ate at was right next to my hotel. Willeyville is one I will return to again and again. The variety is fantastic and my salmon tacos were the perfect dinner accompanied by a kale and beet salad. The staff was very accommodating even though the kitchen was closing in a few minutes. Simply put...they know and care about where their food is coming from and its is all presented in a very creative and flavorful way. A hidden gem located on the edge of downtown Cleveland. Willeyville is a must.
(5)
Amanda B.
I wasn't Yelping last year when Willeyville opened, but our first experience there was one of the most memorable of 2013. It was within a few weeks of opening, and while our waiter didn't know *exactly* what type of cured meats he had served us, he was so attentive, congenial and welcoming, I didn't care. Since then we've come back for date night and with several large parties, and our service experience has been equally professional and easygoing. Three things are a must here: the charcuterie, the cocktails and the desserts. That's not to say I haven't had other awesome entrees and apps here, because I certainly have. But I've also had some plates that seemed like they might not have been perfected yet, or were the result of someone feeling extra adventurous that day. I'm completely ok with it, because I appreciate a restaurant that can take locally-sourced, house-made ingredients that don't seem to fit and make them work. This weekend I had gnocchi with mushrooms, brussel sprouts and bacon. A tad salty, maybe, but the Brussels were nicely grilled (& not mushy at all!) and I really couldn't stop myself from eating every single one of the ricotta gnocchis. The cocktails: strong yet well-balanced. They don't shy away from savory stuff or unique combinations. The charcuterie: willeyville has by far the most varied and delicious selection in town. And they do it all themselves! The desserts: when summer comes, I just hope they bust out their ice cream sandwich with sweet corn ice cream and chipotle (poblano?) sugar cookie. So. Damn. Good. That being said, I'm worried people are put off by the location? The parking? The fact that they aren't pretentious about all of their homemade goods? Who knows. For my part, I'm always impressed when I come here and look at the menu. It's always changing, and it's always a bit more fearless than some other similarly-branded restaurants in town. It remains the only place that has ever served me cheese jerky, for crying out loud.
(5)
Katie B.
This place was just okay. The menu attempts to be "eclectic," but verges into unappetizing most of the time. I ordered the ramen, which was good, not great. And my dining partner ordered the fried veggie appetizer that had an odd taste in the breading. In general, the menu seemed overpriced ($7 for a basic salad that consisted of lettuce and carrots). Service was solid, but slow. Overall just a mediocre experience.
(2)
Matt A.
Got an extra special treat with my fries that accompanied my way over priced Big Mac....A long female hair. Never going back. Ever. And judging by the emptiness of the restaurant on a warm Saturday night, I'm not the first to have a bad experience there.
(1)
Scott B.
Recent dinner here before heading out for some fun in downtown Cleveland. The service was good - the server did mention she was new, but she was fairly attentive and took care of us. I think she could have done better with drink service as our drinks came out one by one and she wasn't exactly sure which drink belonged to each person. And she spilled a little bit of just about everything she handed to us. The food was average at best. We started with a few appetizers and enjoyed the meat platter, which had a good selection. We also tried the calamari and pickled fried veggies. The calamari had a good flavor, but the portion size was extremely small. I think we each (6 of us) had one or two pieces of calamari. The veggies were super salty. The dinners were an assortment across the menu and I don't believe anyone in the group was impressed with the food. One ordered hummus which was bland. I and another ordered the burger, which was also very bland. Fish tacos were left 1/2 uneaten. Overall I would have expected better food. Nothing was horrible - it just wasn't good and certainly wasn't great. The drinks were the biggest disappointment. As mentioned before - the drinks came out randomly and we had a hard time telling what each drink was. I ordered a sazerac and mistakenly gave it to someone else thinking it was the Birthplace of Aviation (gin, lemon, grenadine, bitters). I got the sazerac back after she brought out the real Birthplace, which didn't look anything like we guessed and was not very good. Another person ordered the Tinker Tonic (gin/tonic, cucumber, basil) which tasted only like lemon juice and was so bitter she sent it back. The others in the group fortunately stuck to beers and bourbon on rocks. The cocktail drinkers ordered beers for the second serving.
(2)
Danielle Z.
I loved the vibe here. It's a bit smaller than I thought it was going to be, but lots of character :) The food was phenomenal! I had the ramen bowl with hoisin tofu and it's hands down, the best tofu I've had to date. Everything is homemade...which the staff will be sure to plug a few times, and that's ok, it's a nice reminder. It's in an up and coming part of the flats...and if it wasn't for the Ernst and Young crowd, chances are they wouldn't have stayed in business this long. Come on people....let's hit up the flats for a night out...or even just a lunch ;)
(4)
Bri P.
Went here for a lunch and service was extremely slow- it took over an hour and a half! I ordered the boxer hot dog which was good, but overpriced.
(3)
Sheena W.
Went here with some fellow Yelpers after an event at Lago. I loved the ambiance inside and the lighting was really cool. I got the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with ice cream on top which was just okay. Actually for $8.50 I was a bit disappointed. I did sample some Proper Poutine from a friends plate and I thought this was a good appetizer, but who wouldn't enjoy fries covered in cheese and gravy?! Overall I think this place is pricey and would be best for just drinks.
(3)
Jeev D.
My wife and I stopped in for a couple of drinks. There was only 4 other people at the bar and two small tables. The bartender dropped off our waters and then went MIA for 15 minutes (- no where to be seen). We almost walked out. Finally we got our drinks ordered. I ordered a Moscow Mule, which was decent. It was made with their own home made ginger beer and oh boy was It gingery! My wife asked for an Amstel Light and the bartender didn't know what that was. We thought he was joking, but he wasn't. We know its high end bar and most likely only carry micro brews, but come on man. The food did look good, from what we saw. We'll go back to try the food and next time we won't order anything fancy like an Amstel light.
(3)
Laurie J.
Excellent service. Seems to have a nice selection of food options...something for everyone. I had the meatloaf. It had too much cheese on the potato for my liking but the meatloaf was great.
(3)
Sean P.
So very good, I love the homemade charcuterie plate, though american cheese jerky is an odd one. Great drinks and a big focus on local food and drink. Unfortunately the surrounding neighborhood was leveled for a project that never took off, but I still like sitting on the patio in the post-apocalyptic landscape.
(5)
Amanda L.
First visit to this place; the ambiance is sophisticated without being too high-brow. As for the food, I ordered the poutine, and friends ordered the berry cobbler. Service was good. Food was nothing special, and I was not offered a box for the leftovers.
(3)
Fiona L.
I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the ribs. The salmon is amazing and perfectly cooked. It came with a delicious farro mix and was perfectly seasoned. My boyfriends ribs weren't the best ribs I ever had, but they were still tasty and moist. I would definitely come back on another casual dinner date.
(5)
Phil T.
Ambiance: 3. Very close to a 4, Wileyville was warm and inviting on the corner of Flats East Bank project. Nice views of construction... Open view kitchen, which I'm always a fan. Cost: 3. Yelp has Wiley as $$, but that's a stretch at least for dinner - most drinks are ~$10, and all entrees $20+. Layer on any other snacks are you're firmly at $30-50 a head. Admittedly, lunch looks more reasonable. Food Quality: 4. Great appetizers - try the smoked chicken wings (best I've had in Cleveland outside of Greenhouse Tavern) or phat popcorn. Poutine also looked very good. Appetizers stole the show, although dessert was good (PBJ jellies). Both Hanger and Flank steaks were ok as dinners but fairly unmemorable. Service: 3. Service was very helpful but restaurant was essentially dead on a Friday and our meal tended to drag on. At times it was "feast or famine" early on if waiter was around or not - make a decision. When to return: Happy hour / for a snack. For handcrafted drinks. To spend far less money than you would at Ken Stewart's next door.
(3)
Angela K.
Wow! Love the wings. Crispy and fantastic smoke flavor. Definitely try them. They're a must!
(5)
Cory R.
Very cool place! I was visiting from out of town and went with my boyfriend and his dad. I am super allergic to gluten and the chef came over and pointed out everything that I could eat ( almost the entire menu btw). I had fresh veggies with pesto while the bf had bread and we ordered the calamari gluten free as an app. It's been years since I've had fried calamari and it was amazing! They used an almond flour (it may have been rice flour :) ) covering to make it breaded. I had the 1/2 chicken and it was quite tasty. My bf had the homemade pasta and meatballs and he wouldn't stop talking about how good it was! Overall I highly recommend! Incredibly gluten free friendly with tasty food and a fun atmosphere. I will be back if in Cleveland again!
(5)
Joe C.
Okay, I'm glad I had a terrible experience at Lago, 'cause I wound up over here instead. This is one of the best random finds I've had in a while! As far as the interior goes, I sat at the bar and thought the atmosphere was spot on. I could see the feeling of being cramped if this place was busy and I was at a table, but on a Monday night it was nice and relaxed so you couldn't go wrong no matter where you sat. The bartender was super friendly and knew his stuff, and I soon had the Holy Elixir in my hand. Holy god was it delicious. And strong. For food I followed it up with the Perfect Poutine, and I should qualify this by saying I've never had poutine before, but wow was this tasty (and a sizeable portion). I talked with some of the other serving staff while eating and everyone was friendly without so much as a hint of pretense. For a place with food and drinks this good, that was a pleasant surprise. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because I haven't tried any of the major entrees. (If you just want poutine and delicious cocktails then yes, easily 5 stars.) Prices aren't bad, especially for a kitchen that's 100% from scratch, but on my social worker salary this qualifies as expensive. The menu is relatively small but changes with the seasons, which goes in line with their made-from-scratch kitchen. I'm super excited to come back and give the rest of the menu a try! Definitely check this place out.
(4)
Deborah L.
I'm horribly jet lagged and still trying to adjust after flying in super late last night at 11 PM. Feeling pretty out of it and not really wanting to walk too far from my hotel at the Aloft, I saw this place on Yelp on the same block and headed on down. Being Monday night after 4th of July, it was very, very quiet inside - which I was extremely grateful for. The modern decor is highlighted with vibrant colors and some quirky touches (like the Edison bulb light fixtures). Services was amazingly quick, friendly and attentive. Feeling like something light and healthy, I ordered the sugar snap peas salad (on the recommendation of my waiter) and the smoked pork belly ramen (with the sambal on the side because I am a wimp who can't handle spicy foods). Both were delicious and obviously made fresh in house (they are not kidding when they say they are seriously farm to table). Can definitely foresee myself visiting again to try some of the other things on the menu!
(4)
Lama B.
This was an area I was sad to discover when I was leaving Cleveland. According to the locals who were with us at dinner, this area used to be very dead. Well, not anymore. This place takes the farm to table concept and adds a twist. The cocktails were to die for and I had two Moscow mules. Needless to say, I always plan accordingly, and was not driving, so I enjoyed every drop of their home made ginger beer. The starters were excellent, and I loved the poutine. Like LOVED it. My crusted sesame tuna was the hit of the table. That's not to say that every other dish, from the pasta to the pork, wasn't perfect. We skipped dessert because I was craving some local ice cream before leaving the city I have called home for one year, but if I'm every visiting the Cleve, I will definitely pass by Willeyville for drinks and lots and lots of yummy food.
(4)
Sharon C.
Delicious drinks, great food, excellent service. We came for dinner and trivia: the salmon was perfect, and drinks perfect.
(5)
Rick T.
First off, any place with decent poutine scores in my book. The poutine here rocks - the hot sauce and the cracklin's put it into the awesome category. I had a smoked trout special - awesome. My wife had salmon fish tacos. Good but not great. Missed the crispness of a SoCal fish taco. The kale pesto with the bread was also a nice spin on traditional pesto. Everything tasted fresh. Very good service.
(4)
Mike P.
Good place for drinks, not food. Corn dog sounded so good when I was viewing the menu. Unfortunately, fell way short expectations. Took one bite and that was it. The batter was fine, the weiner was awful.
(2)
Kara J.
The Willeyville is excellent. A small group of us went during Restaurant Week and ordered both from the special and regular menus. Everything we tried was delicious, particularly the poutine, mac & cheese, and what we deemed were quite possibly the best chicken wings we'd ever had. The service was also super -- attentive but not overwhelming -- and the view of the kitchen was very fun. More people need to go to this place! It truly is wonderful.
(4)
Ralph M.
Wow, excellent dinner and service. The ribs special was meaty ( not skimpy) cooked to perfection and spiced right. If they have that special and you like ribs consider that dish. The ricotta gnudi with their own special sausage and marinara sauce was delightful. Our tall Hendricks and tonics with cucumber were spot on.
(5)
Dianna Z.
This is my new favorite restaurant! Our first dinner here was a completely random choice with no reservations. We walked in and were seated immediately. We were greeted by the most amazing waiter and our order was taken promptly. The smoked wings we ordered for the appetizer were the best I ever ate, filled with flavor. The Bibb salad I ordered was also excellent. The homemade dressing was very good. The pork shank I ordered was very tender and full of delicious flavor. It fell right off the bone. The creme brulee we had for dessert was definitely the perfect ending to our meal. Overall a delightful dining experience. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Rachael N.
Willeyville- surprised me up the wahoo. I had heard of how "great" the Flats were, but as I moved into Cleveland 3 years ago, I never got to see the Flats in its greatness. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see that they're building up the area with an Aloft hotel, and some new great restaurants, like Willeyville. I made reservations for 6 people at 8pm on a Saturday night. For a new place, I thought it would be pretty empty...but man, it was packed! Their menu boasts "handcrafted consumables" and man, is it unique. Our friends ordered the "chicken ate my chicken"- a stuffed sausage in chicken dish- which they claimed was excellent. The menu also had an extensive cocktail list and also a lot of unique delectable dishes. My bf and I split a few dishes to get the most bang for our buck. First, we got the mussel poutine. Yes, poutine, and yes, we are not in Canada. The mussels were great, with a slightly cheesy flavorful sauce drizzled on top of some nicely fried fries. Mmmmm. We also ordered the gnocchi, which came with summer squash as well. We were a bit surprised at how it came- we had originally thought gnocchi were little pasta balls..and was surprised when it came out as a flat folded noodle. We bit into it- and yep, it was definitely gnocchi- it was deceivingly small, but heavy and oh so good! We also ordered their special- a beef heart chili cheese dog. As I loved the chili cheese dogs from Detroit's coney islands, I didn't think it could match. Oh, it definitely matched and was GOOD. It had that special "snap" to it that hot dogs should, when you bite into it, and the beef heart chili was so hearty (no pun intended) and savory, it was pretty amazing. Willeyville has great food and a great atmosphere. The only downside is that the parking lot is $6- as for the area (there's like nothing around it), I didn't think was worth it. We parked on the street...but yeah, besides that, the food was excellent, and I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
JP B.
Gluten free friendly! We spoke with Chris, the chef, and he said most of the menu can be made gluten free - so ask! The calamari was made gluten free with rice flour and tasted fantastic. I had the tagliatelle with meatballs; not gluten free, but the meatballs are absolutely amazing!! This is my new favorite restaurant in Cleveland.
(5)
Jeff B.
All we had were drinks. The shady lane was great. Everything was made from scratch down to the bitters and simple syrup. My dirty was pretty good, house made vermouth and blue cheese stuffed olives. I think I could live on blue cheese stuffed olives with the occasional gin to wash them down. I was impressed by the menu only like 6 or 7 large plates, that means everything should perfect!
(4)
Lisa W.
We are so glad this area of town is getting some great places to eat. We went here on a weekday for lunch. The calamari was to die for! Crispy, hot , with a sweet Thai sauce - light on ginger! We then had the chop salad - great dressing and crisp greens and the Bibb salad - so good! Great fresh hot bread with herbed butter! Love the fact that they try to use local foods! Nice to be able to watch the kitchen in action! Good beer selection! Beautiful decor! The service was prompt without being intrusive! We will return for dinner or drinks! Nice addition to the Cleveland food scene!
(5)
Amanda F.
First visit was through a Yelp event and I was so entranced by this place I had to come back. The drinks were fantastic. They had a Moscow Mule in a copper cup, as it should be consumed. The bartender told us that they used to serve it with a copper straw too, but people kept stealing the straws..... The food was fantastic as well. I love the idea that they had the seasonal food. At the Yelp event there was a Jack O Lantern pumpkin soup that I ordered to go. The soup was fantastic, but I was told to come back because the soup normally comes in an actual pumpkin! I dragged the boy there to have some, but they no longer had the Jack O Lantern soup, as they had moved on. While the food and drinks were wonderful, the ambience of the place is what keeps this place from being 4 stars for me. If you sit at the bar or a couple of the booths near the bar I assume it's fine, but we sat closer to the back of the restaurant and I just felt intrusive. As it was date night we were sitting at one of the 2 top tables along the wall. We were SO close to the couple next to us, almost awkwardly so. The waiters inputted orders right in front of us and had side conversations with each other, which I am fine with, but normally it's an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. Also, from the back the restaurant loses its hipster, chic look and resembles more of a Chipotle restaurant layout. If you only get their food and, well maybe not drinks, to go? 5 stars.
(3)
Patty M.
Best Yelp event we've been to! The waitstaff were SUPER attentive, the restaurant itself was lovely and the drinks...oh, my, the mixed drinks. The MUST HAVE beverage of the evening was the Moscow Mull served in a copper mug. Get one.
(5)
Nina G.
Great food, very interesting menu as we as everything apparently is made in house. Great for vegans. A but on be pricey side but certainly well worth it! A Must go to in downtown Cleveland!
(4)
Nick P.
Very unique menu. They emphasized that everything was homemade, from the cheese to the pasta, to the drinks. I ordered something on the safer side - rigatoni with meat sauce and was amazed at how awesome it was! It just had a lot of flavor and was really simple. I couldn't get enough! Definitely will be back.
(4)
Eldridge C.
I dined here two nights in a row - there was definitely a reason for my going back the second night! The service was impeccable, the ambience was fantastic (the space, the music, the atmosphere, etc.), the food was insanely good, and the cocktails were out of this world. I have eaten in a lot of restaurants in a lot of different cities and this easily stacks up with the best of them when you take everything into consideration (including price). If I am ever in Cleveland again this is where I'm headed...no question
(5)
Jen M.
Damn, I had high hopes for this place. Here is how it fell apart for me on Saturday August 17, 2013. 1. Major disconnect between how the food is described on the menu and what is actually served. For example, we ordered the "popcorn." On the menu it is described as "curried popcorn/ peanuts / coconut / chili // ". Lo and behold what comes out of the kitchen is more of a chewy peanut brittle like Crunch n Munch. When you advertise popcorn, I expect popcorn (see: Crop, they get it right). This brittle was way, way too sweet to be served as an appetizer. It paralyzed my palate. Very Mild hints of curry. Whoever wrote the description needs to rework that. And either dial up the savory hints...or put it on the dessert menu. 2. Food was not cooked properly. I ordered the hanger steak which the server assured me I would not need a knife to cut. I asked for it to be prepared medium. No kidding, it came out completely raw (now I know why I wouldn't need a knife to cut it). Back to the kitchen it went. In the meantime, a server brought me a serving of sorbet to cleanse my palate (nice touch...but again, it was something sweet before my entree) and it didn't really taste like anything. Hmph. My hanger steak arrives and it is barely cooked more than it was last time. 3. The cucumber salad with the hanger steak was very salty and too cold. Again, the concept of the dish was good but the execution failed, especially against raw meat. 4. Desserts are a HUGE miss. See #1 above. The chocolate "sugar" cookie was neither chocolate nor sugar. It tasted like a bitter, unsweetened cocoa cookie. And raspberry ice cream? Raspberry according to whose palate? The blueberry sorbet was closer to its description but still not quite right. 5. We never received bread. Our server came back and asked us if we wanted more bread. We said, "Uh, we never received my bread to start with." Zoinks. And it is allegedly served with "melon" butter. Again, the taste delivery was off. Bread is very good...rustic and delicious. 6. Service was slow. Come on. The place wasn't packed AND it is not that big of a restaurant. 7. Saving grace of the night? The cocktails! The Shady Lane and the Smash made with Maker's Mark were both killer good drinks. Bravo on that. I really, really wanted to dig this place. I love that everything is house-made. But there appears to be disconnects and missed executions on the food, not to mention confusion as to what the restaurant concept really is. Blasting the Black Keys and Rolling Stones at high volume made it difficult to have conversation. Sorry, Willeyville, but you have some kinks to work out.
(2)
Keith G.
One of the many reasons we love Cleveland is the selection of interesting restaurants in cool spaces. Willeyville was not one of them. Located on the East Bank of the flats, the location is really cool but the new building (A-Loft Hotel) is without history, personality or creative design. The food and service were very good but the menu was a little too heavy for our liking. Overall, there was nothing memorable about the atmosphere, menu or service. Probably would not return.
(2)
Trevor C.
Overall excellent experience. Another guy in the office and I headed down there for lunch today. We had a lot of loose ends to tidy up so we made it a point to order apps, desserts, and drinks, just of course to buy us some time! Anyhow, overall excellent. I'll break it down. Wait Staff: The waiter was very well informed about what the kitchen was doing. He explained to us how they made many items in house, including the vinegar, all the sauces and dressings, and their own fermented and pickled items. He was also attentive to the small details, such as new flatware and wiping the table clean after each course. Very nice touch. Menu: The menu was short, sweet, and had a little bit of something for everyone. There were meaty options like the large pastrami sandwich and today's special, a duck confit crepe. There were also attractive salads and meatless entrees. I mostly like that the menu is short because you know that they are using the freshest ingredients possible. The waiter also pointed that out and the menu also indicates their devotion to local farmers. The Food: We started with the smoked chicken wings and the calamari. Both were amazing. I usually shy away from calamari at restaurants but ordered this just to see if the chef could win me over. He did. The combination of sauces he used to dress them really stood out. I had the duck and pork shoulder confit crepe for lunch. It was served in a deep casserole-like plate with a light yogurt based sauce and sliced, pickled radishes on top. The dish was very nice. Not too fatty or too rich (considering that confit duck and pork could be) and the quality of the meat really stood out. My business colleague had the pastrami. I had a piece of that and besides the house-made pastrami being moist and tender, the choice of cheese and pickle was also nice. The house made bread buttered and toasted was also appropriate. For dessert, I had the house made smores. It was a little difficult to eat, but I can't remember the last time I had a non-messy smores. Well worth a try with a cup of coffee. The Drinks: The names of both drinks we ordered are out of my vocabulary. Both were quite good but unfortunately they featured homemade names that now escape me. Overall: I'm looking forward to going back for dinner service. Trevor
(5)
Jill M.
This was an excellent place for lunch. Knowledgable and attentive staff, many organic items, all house made condiments, light yet satisfying. Some very complex dishes. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kelly R.
Overall this was pretty good. I went for Happy Hour. The HH menu is limited and the wine list is $2 off. I went on a Friday afternoon, right after work, there were a few other patrons seated in the bar area. Madeline, the bartender, was attentive without being overbearing. I proceeded in ordering a glass of wine, an order of fries and the bratwurst sandwich. The sandwich and fries arrived shortly thereafter. The fries were good, crispy and seasoned on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. They were served with a side of housemade ketchup and malt vinegar. The sandwich was a little bit small. The bratwurst link was tasty by itself, but the massive bun and sauerkraut/slaw completely masked the bratwurst. Each component by itself was tasty but just couldn't really taste the meat. The selling point for Willeyville is the housemade concept related to condiments, drink mix-ins etc I would return, just wouldn't be my go-to for Happy Hour....maybe dinner. .
(3)
Michael J.
This was one of the best meals I've had in Cleveland this year. Before giving a review it should be noted that the dining experience here for lunch is completely different than dinner. The menu changes dramatically for the two periods. Dinner was a culinary masterpiece. Every item ordered was thoughtfully crafted and elegantly displayed. I ordered the duck squared. The dish was phenomenal. Crispy duck served two ways. It was drizzled with whipped strawberries and other fruits. The super sweet was perfectly balanced by salty napa cabbage served in a pastry. The calamari appetizer was one of the best calamari dishes I've ever had. The flavor combinations were delicious with an emphasis on candied ginger. We also ordered the chilled peach soup. This could have doubled as a dessert. It was a very sweet soup, perfect on a hot summer day. Instead of veggies, it was bursting with pureed fruits in a peachy cream broth. All in all the food was amazing at prices $10-15 less than comparable entrees in restaurants in Tremont or on East 4th. You really get a great value for some incredibly thought out dishes.
(5)
Alex A.
This is a saturday night dinner review. 3 of us for dinner. Started out with dark and stormy which was pretty good and the big ben...was ok. appetizers...popcorn..whatever they sprinkled on this was super spicy and irritating, all of us were coughing. also the poutin...was fine, hard to mess up bacon and french fries, house made ricotta and toast...again, was ok, nothing new. dinner...salmon....average. i had the asian short rib...didnt taste marinated, was chewy, and cold. came with rice which wasnt seasoned at all. wife had gnocchi which werent gnocchi...just two triangles of dough that tasted like nothing. This place was good for drinks but the food was below average.
(2)
Rob S.
The pork shank entree was fantastic. The meat just fell off the bone. The gnocchi was also very good but the portion size was disappointing. The atmosphere was very quaint and enjoyable. The hummus appetizer was good but the potato chips were extremely salty. The pita chips were perfect with good texture. I would recommend this place to friends.
(4)
Aaron M.
Ok so I know I have been handing out a few 5 star reviews lately. But understand I go out three to five times a week! I only write reviews when something really stands out. The Willeyville really stands out! This was my fifth time there and I am consistently impressed. Everything is made in house...everything. Bread, cheese, charcuterie, ice cream, EVERYTHING. It is quickly becoming one of my new favorite places. Atmosphere is great. Though I will agree with my friends phase two of the flats will really enhance the experience. Right now it's still kind of a destination. Though The Willeyville is worth it! My highlights are the Proper Poutine, the Hanger Steak, and anything pork! I have tasted about 3/4 of the menu and everything has been exceptional. Don't leave without trying the sticky bun!
I've been here twice so far and I can't wait for my third time. I've had the oysters, rigatoni, and I think it was duck carnitas with flour tortillas. All three were absolutely delicious. Our servers were knowledgeable and very attentive and couldn't have been better. Their food and beer recommendations were spot on. The bread is baked in house with their homemade flavored butters which vary by the day and both are spectacular. I don't think it's possible to have bad food in this establishment. It looks like they are always changing the menu, so I can't wait to try any new additions.
(5)
Jenn D.
I recently had lunch with a colleague and was excited to try this restaurant as I've heard many good things. Both of us ordered salads. I went with the Chef's Salad and my colleague went with the Wedgie. All I can say is that the restaurant should be embarrassed. Each salad was $14 or more and neither filled the small plate. I don't mind overpaying for a good salad but I at least expect to be semi-full when I leave. I won't go back. Other places in town (i.e. Crop, Greehouse, Hodges) have figured this out, very dissapointed.
(1)
Lauren S.
Service was pretty uneven. Our waitress seemed to never get our drink order right for our party of 8. She seemed overwhelmed, they could of had someone helping her rather than all standing around at the bar. The food was pretty good, nothing super special. The building is pretty cool, I like how it is decorated. Would go back for drinks.
(3)
Maggie B.
I was excited to see places coming back to The Flats, but honestly I was underwhelmed with the restaurant. The food was just okay, some seemed a little confused at times with TOO many flavors working against each other. The wait staff were not friendly and were not interested in answering any questions about the menu- quite honestly they seemed annoyed. I would be willing to give it another chance though.
(3)
Krystal C.
Go here. Seriously, this place should always be packed. The gracious and flexible hosts, to the wonderful cocktails, to the amazing service and last but not least the awesome food. I had the pork belly ramen which was very flavorful and just what one should have on a chilly cleveland night. We even stayed at the restaurant late, and Never once felt pressured to leave.
(5)
Matt K.
If you want to pay $13 for a breakfast sandwich this is your place. I would have been more satisfied with a McD's breakfast sandwich. The other sandwiches are average in taste, but locally sourced ingredients make them more appealing.
(2)
Ms. E.
Come on down to Willeyville! (After seeing JT's skit on SNL...I just can't help thinking of that jingle when I see the name! ;-) ) Seriously though... The Willeyville is a GREAT new restaurant in the recently developed East Bank (Flats) region! The servers are very knowledgeable when it comes to describing the various menu items/wine list and making recommendations. The food is so delicious that it can stop conversation for a few moments (while taking in the flavor combinations that have been created by the chefs). In addition, they use high quality ingredients from local farms/businesses and in my mind ...that means that they care about the quality of the food that they serve. We started our meal with a fabulous bottle of wine, the fresh bread/herb butter and the Potted Smoked Salmon, which was a smoked salmon spread served with crostini, and what we liked most was that the smoked salmon flavor did not get lost when combined with the other ingredients. It was scrumptious! For our main courses, I had the Seared Salmon, which was delicious and beautifully prepared. My boyfriend had the Hanger Steak, which our server had recommended, and it was "to die for"...extremely tender, flavorful and definitely a conversation stopper. (I was glad my boyfriend offered me a bite of his meal! :-) ) We didn't actually have room for dessert, but we were so tempted by the list of options...that we decided to split the ricotta cheesecake and each enjoyed a glass of the limoncello. We didn't just "have dinner" at The Willeyville. Instead, it was a dining experience and I would go there again in a heartbeat. (I actually just joined Yelp, so that I could write this review! ) I hope people will start venturing over to the East Bank, because this new restaurant is *worth* it!
(5)
Nick C.
Crazy good stuff - everything made from scratch...i mean everything.(ketchup - really? yes - even ketchup.) Got to try the Duck MacMuffin - with house made English muffins cooked in duck fat - amazing topped with a house made duck sausage patty with some sweet maple syrup, fresh arugula and an over easy egg. Surprised by the Ricotta sampler - never been a fan - but the variety had so much flavor(smoked paprika, merlot soaked and whipped with EVOO). Hope this place does awesome ! Great cocktails too - homemade ginger beer, vermouths, etc...very knowledgeable (and personable) staff. Cool specialty beer list and cocktail/wine list.
(5)
PJ N.
i so wanted this to be a GREAT restaurant......such a cool location, neat interior, but food, just OK.......yeah, i get the relaxed, casual vibe but a hostess waltzing around the diningroom in black flip-flop......seemed like she stopped in from the pool to seat a few people........servers are friendly but a bit unpolished and untrained. they want to help, but just don't know what to do. and what's with the "bananarama doo-rags" in al lthe girls' hair? decor is snazzy, comfortable and current......the menu feels a bit confused. is it home-stlye comfort or upscale hip? i don't know, i don't think that the kitchen knew. cocktails were great......had a couple of rounds. for apps we had the rock shrimp ceviche and the chacutterie (sp?) board. the ceviche was served with flour tortilla chips, yuck, and the ceviche lacked any bit of acidity, despite the lime wedge garnish. i wouldn't order this again. the chacutterie board/plate was large with a wide variety of house cured meats....many of which were lack-lustre and seemed to be made by a meat curing trainee that hadn't quite figured it out yet. the liver pate was delicious, the other stuff- mortadella (not even close to being), some terrible pork belly that seemed like boiled bacon sans the smoke and an "almost" proscuitto were gross, but the knockwurst....HEAVEN!!! so delicious, i could have eaten plates of this!!! our salads were a golden beet salad.......sounded good but disappointing! the beets were buried in a heavy layer of green weeds with sprinkles of tarragon topped with a smoked cheese of some sort. no acidity to balance the dish, just a bunch of mish-mash ingredients thrown into a weird shaped bowl a la 1999. one slice of wonderful bread was given with cocktails, why? before i even had a chance to ask for a second slice with our salads, our butter, plates and silverware were scooped up. for dinner we had the duck squared and the city chicken. i was confused by both. the carrot mash was delicious but the city chicken meat seemed over fried until hard and dry. the duck squared was duck confit, a breast wrapped in bacon and thigh with leg served with some foamy carrot juice and traces of some sauce a feta cabbage strudel (which was the highlight of this dish) and beets. both entrees had the makings of a great dinner but never got there. homestyle seemed to be trumped by highbrow thoughts trumped by homestyle......food was good, but NOT great, nothing memorable! the highlight of the entire meal was dessert, even thought i really didn't want anything, i was talked into it and glad that i was!!! the chile sugar cookie ice cream sandwich, WOW!!! they could make a mint on selling this out of a truck for sure!!! a slightly spicy sugar cookie filled with a sweet corn ice cream......what an original idea that came to fruition!!! i could have eaten bowls full of that ice cream!!! we also had a rhubarb cumble topped with chamomile ice cream......the crumble, meh, not so good, but that chamomile ice cream, to die for!!!!! the real star of the night was the person responsible for the house made ice creams!!!!!! i think i would come here for drinks and dessert and skip the stuff in the middle........don't lose the ice cream "chef"----they're genius!!!
(2)
Emily P.
A nice clean, spacious restaurant and bar! The food has never disappointed me (I'd recommend the poutine), and they have a great bar menu. The staff has also been super friendly and helpful any time I'm in! Definitely not hoity toity, but classy for as laid back as it is! Also, good for groups.
(5)
Elana B.
Must start with the fries (listed on menu as proper poutine)- they were amazing- spicy and flavorful with all sorts of textures! You should have seen the look I gave to one of the staffers that tried to take that plate away when there were still 5 fries on it. I mean- really?! The pork and duck tacos were perfect too. Great flavor and the tortillas were a cross between naan and matzah- so yummy! My husband wasn't thrilled with his ciopinno, but he did just get back from san fran and just no comparison. The cheeses on the cheese plate were all very mild, would be nice to have one stronger type. The whoopie pie was like, whatever. The apple crisp brought it! Oh- and so right after we paid we saw the waitress come out with cotton candy for another table and we were all, "why you no tell US about cotton candy?" and she said the people were friends with the owner. But then what did she do next?! Brought some out for us! Plus- she was awesome from the start. Oh- and great music/playlist. I will be going back.
(4)
Taylor S.
We had drinks, dinner, and dessert and it was excellent. We ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer which was good not great. Main courses ordered were the mahi mahi, duck, gnocchi, and the gnudi. All were delicious. Above all else, the service was outstanding. We never had a water glass even half full and when someone went to the restroom the waiter took their dish and put it under the heater to keep it warm. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Veronique D.
I know this place just opened, so they may improve in the next 6-9 months. The food was cold and not that good. The food was presented like an "at-home practicing type presentation." They had too many servers standing around in corners just waiting, Im not sure for what. The servers were not aware, at all. I think since we went so early in the evening they hadn't warmed up yet. Honestly, I would have preffered to eat in the Warehouse district than at this place or try the Italian restaurant in the hotel next door. The fire alarm was going off during half of our visit. The manager did not come up to the tables & apologize for the annoying noise during the first half of our visit. The hostess did advise us that there was not a fire. In addition, she sure did bark orders at one of the servers in front of us. As I made my way to the one stall restroom, I saw an employee eating food with his bare hands out of a bowl in the kitchen, where they were preparing food for customers. You can park on the street, paid parking lot or garages.
(2)
Tim F.
One of the best Bloody Mary's that I've ever had. Food was great. Easy parking to and from the Browns game. Excellent service as well.
(5)
Erik N.
Nice atmosphere. Dined solo at the bar. Friendly staff, creative menu, decent beer/wine selection.
(4)
Sheila B.
We went there in the evening for some after dinner drinks and dessert. My guest had the Willey's Jamaican Planter's Punch, which was especially delicious. Definitely worth getting again. I got the Bitter Sweet, which was really much more bitter than sweet. At times, it felt like I was trying to take medicine instead of enjoying a drink. They were a little pricey for Cleveland ($11) a drink, but they definitely had a good dose of liquor in them. The bread itself was pretty good, but the beet butter was eh. It would have been really good butter if it was sold to us as just that, but the fact it had some sort of beets mixed in made it taste absolutely no different than normal butter. We ordered the Ohio Apple Crisp with the house-made cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. The crisp was absolutely delicious. Apples had a great flavor and were soft but not yucky applesauce mush. The ice cream had a wonderful mild flavor to it, but tasted more like vanilla ice cream than like a cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. Overall not a bad experience, food was pretty good and depending on the drink you ordered, the drinks weren't bad either. A bit pricey for what you got and for its location. I would go back, but let's just say I wouldn't be dying for the chance to go back.
(3)
Emily S.
The Flats are making a comeback, and The Willeyville is out front! This is a great addition to the new area. The decor is very chic and relaxing. There are large windows that let in a lot of natural light, so it is great place to go on a sunny Cleveland day. I love the open kitchen lay out, so you can always see whats going on. My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 7:30. We were able to make reservations on Open Table, which was a good thing, because this place was packed! The word is out that The Willeyville is the next restaurant to try in Cleveland. There was a mix of mid twenty somethings all of the way to people in their 50's and 60's. We started with the shrimp ceviche, and it was the perfect amount to get us started. It came with some pita chips that were very complementary. We each ordered a drink... a glass of chardonnay for myself and a moscow mule for my man. I always love when a moscow mule comes in the traditional copper mug!! I ordered the bucatini alla matriciana and only needed the small size. It was the perfect amount of food. It had a slight spice to it from the chili, and it was absolutely delicious! The other meal for the table was the hanger steak, which the boyfriend gobbled up immediately. This restaurant is going to be a great addition to the Flats and Cleveland. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Carmel C.
I love this place!! It's my new fave downtown eatery. They serve an amazing chef's salad with delicious humus, crostini, and succulent chicken that's a fave lunch. I had the pasta special last night with a creamy vodka sauce over a thick, tubular lpasta that was AMAZING. And though I'd RARELY eat anything like a chili dog (not a big meat person) their chili dog and schnitzel is to die for. LOVE WILlEYVILLE!! You will too!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Bob L.
I was on the fence about whether or not to actually take the time to update my review of The Willeyville. After all, we had only been there once before well over a year ago. Unfortunately, the disappointment we experienced during our last visit warranted at least a brief write-up. I still stand by my previous review when it comes to most of the aspects of service and location. Neither of those experiences have changed in any noticeable fashion, although the service was quite, how to put it nicely, stretched out. We were essentially the only couple in the restaurant and it took about 20 minutes for us to receive our appetizer. Where they really fell short this time was with the food. When you visit a restaurant knowing full well that you'll be spending somewhere around $100 for dinner and drinks, you've got certain expectations for nearly everything. This is especially the case when it comes to the food. Our first course started out great. We ordered the Hot Arse Spinach Dip ($11.50). A bowl of blazing hot (temperature, not spice heat) cheesy goodness surrounded by crispy, fried tortilla chips. It was sinfully good. Little did we know things were about to veer terribly off course. The Willey Caeser Salad ($9.50) that my wife ordered was not what we expected at all. First, it's loaded with sliced jalapeno peppers. If you are even remotely sensitive to heat in your food, steer clear of this salad. Second, the fried egg served atop the salad doesn't really work, Once you break the yolk it essentially turns the salad into a soppy, yolky mess and the type of bowl it's served in makes it awkward to eat. The disappointment continues... The Local Grass-Fed Beef Cheek Mac and Cheese ($18.50) was just not good. Not good at all. Oh, and you read that price right. For nearly $20 I received a small bowl of pasta tossed with asparagus. Creamy it was not. The beef cheek was basically four small chewy, fatty pieces of meat buried under the pasta. I felt like this was a dish that I could have made at home. Sounded so good on paper. The biggest disappointment of the evening was the Grilled Salmon Fish Tacos ($19.50). Wow. My wife and I couldn't even believe how bad this dish was. The flour tortillas tasted raw. The slaw made them wet and the portion size of the actual fish - what I can only assume is the reason for the insane pricetag - was ridiculously small. Three tiny pieces, barely enough for an appetizer. My wife ate the fish and left everything else on the plate, untouched. Those of you that read my reviews know that I am not normally one to complain about price. I know before I visit a restaurant how much I'll probably be spending and I also believe that you really do get what you pay for...most of the time. This visit to Willeyville was just such a stark contrast to our first visit that it didn't even seem like the same place. I'm sorry to say that I just don't think we'll be back.
(2)Tony I.
I thought the food was great here. The place was dead empty. I'd expect most places to be slow on a Monday night, but we were literally the only ones in there. I had the gnudi dish and it was phenomenal (very rich). Not the best beer list, but I managed. I have high hopes for this revamped area. For starters we had the poutine which was great and the calamari which was meh. All in all a great restaurant
(4)Regina S.
I had not heard anything good about The Willeyville, so dining here was a low priority. I am now regretting all of the times I could have been here enjoying the delicious food! PROS *Poutine, my new favorite app. We started off with the Proper Poutine, a heaping plate of artery-clogging goodness. Yes, it's not the best for you. Yes, you will enjoy every bite. Fries, gravy, curds, hot sauce, and whatever cracklins' are. Make sure to share. *Pasta. Typically at a new restaurant I would order meat for my entree, but I was just digging the description of the ricotta gnudi. And when the order came out, it exceeded all of my expectations. Little, fluffy balls of doughy goodness, covered in a rich white sauce, mixed with brussel sprouts and bacon bits. You cannot go wrong with this dish! *The menu. Based on the flimsy white paper that the menu was on along with their online menu not matching the menu we got at the restaurant, I'm assuming they change up their menu quite a bit. I like that in a restaurant - they know what works and they try new things when something isn't working *Decor and Ambiance. We came during the day, which was fine, but as I looked around, I decided that the ambiance would be much more dramatic at night. The industrial decorations and lighting gives it a trendy, urban look. *A lemonade-cider drink. I cannot remember what it's called, but it was basically like a summer lemonade mated with an autumn cider and had a baby. I approve. CONS *If you are walking here, you'll have an easy time going down the hill to get to the East Bank of the Flats...but good luck trying to walk back up after you've stuffed yourself silly. My advice - call an uber. *The restaurant was smaller than I thought it was going to be, which is not necessarily a con...unless you bring a large group. I would limit the group to 8. BOTTOM LINE I will be back to try some other creations on the menu. And gorge on poutine and pasta.
(5)Ashley O.
I ordered a hot dog here and wasn't impressed. The hot dog was so tough that I could barely cut it with a fork and knife. The bun was also a bit dried out and hard. The space is beautiful though and in a great new location.
(3)Eric C.
If you haven't been here for dinner in a while, it's time you stopped back in. This place is impressive. And if something isn't to your liking, tell your server. This place will bend over backwards to make things perfect. So, now onto the review (it's long but I got a lot to rave about today)... I've held off on reviewing this place for a year because I'm friends with everyone there. I didn't want that to impact my ability to be as honest as possible. After a full year of eating and drinking here more times than I can count, I feel very comfortable calling this one of my top spots in Cleveland. I think it's had a few hiccups here and there, but I'm 100% confident that this is a consistent 5-star spot. It's been that way for a while. The service is always top notch -- it's exceptional. The staff is very well versed in the food, preparations, ingredients, and plating. They know exactly what's going on in the kitchen. This is incredibly important given the food and the ingredients are made in-house. This also comes in handy if you walk in with a child or a crazy dietary restrictions. No kids menu? Trust me, they can take care of your child's whim. Or perhaps your vegan or paleo and you don't see a damn thing on the menu that works fully to your needs. No problem. Find what you want on the menu and they will make it work. I've never seen waitstaff and kitchen staff go to such lengths to ensure everyone is happy and full. But it all starts with that friendly and knowledgeable service. The bar is damn good too. Cocktail wise, they make really great craft cocktails at a reasonable price given the quality of ingredients and the attention placed on doing it right. I don't see how $11 or $12 bucks for a craft cocktail is even a bit pricey given the recipes. You're not getting anything close to well drinks. But, if you want cheap, they do have well drinks available. All you need to do is ask. I will say they bar had some problems in the first six months of operations, but that's just not an issue anymore. Service and quality of product are great at the bar. What about the food? The food is the star. It doesn't get any better--it's creative and delicious. How do they make it so damn good? They not only make the food from scratch, they make the ingredients from scratch. They grind their own flour, grow their own yeast, ferment their vinegar... they even make their own tofu and miso! They do the same thing for the bar ingredients too! A lot of places around Cleveland play the "farm to table" card, but when a restaurant goes to the trouble of actually crafting the raw ingredients, they are doing it right. Of course, someone could go through all the trouble and still make junk food. Not here; not at The Willeyville. This place makes damn good food. The charcuterie is my favorite. In the past year they have come a long way and I find this to be some of the best charcuterie in the city. I also love the hanger steak. Hanger steaks are a dime a dozen in Cleveland, but the way The Willeyville uses a quick cure and sous vide creates the most flavorful and tender hanger in town. The current adobo hanger prep with hominy, pickled jalapenos, tres pepper sauces, fried shishito peppers, crispy tortillas strips is the best version of their hanger to date. I could honestly talk about this menu for hours. You may see a smattering of Asian, Italian, and European dishes. While that might seem confused, remember that the focus is about true from-scratch cooking. America is diverse, shoot Cleveland is diverse. These are all the kinds of foods Clevelanders love, just under one roof and done really freaking well. Personally, the ricotta gnudi is better than some of the stuff I've had at famous Italian restaurants in very big cities. The smoked pork belly ramen (yes they even make the noodles in house) is the best bowl of ramen I've had from a restaurant not run by Japanese people. And the "proper poutine" while not the traditional poutine I get in Montreal, I just can't hate on it -- the thing makes my mouth and my belly beyond happy. Don't like fancy things, then get one of the hot dogs or sausages known as "Willey Wieners" during lunch or happy hour at the bar. They grind, season, and stuff these things all in house to great success. The Korean and the German variants are my favorite, but they got the traditional Polish boy that does the trick too. The burgers (traditional and veggie) don't disappoint either. I'm not a vegetarian, but that veggie burger is something I would eat regardless. I don't have a huge sweet tooth these days, but I make sure to get desert every time I stop in. This place does the trick for me, time and time again. At this point in time, I can't say a bad thing about the joint. Stop in for dinner and discover one of the best restaurants in town. If you aren't like me and you do find something not to your liking, trust me, they will take care of you.
(5)Stephanie C.
AMAZING. Everything is super fresh, the atmosphere is a casual chic, and the staff who work here are friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a more pricey night out, but it is well worth it. Also, they have a fantastic happy hour menu that helps you stay within a decent budget. We ordered Chicken Pate as an appetizer, and it was a wonderful portion. Fed the table of 4 nicely and no one had to fight over the last bite- everyone was satisfied. The portion filled a small mason jar and it came with crostini. As meals we had the Salmon (if you love fish- get this. Amazingly fresh), beef brisket, meatloaf, and the pork belly ramen. Everyone at the table sampled every dish and everyone loved everything. Drinks were also superb, decently priced, and high quality.
(5)Lana K.
Ate at The Willeyville and was surprised at how nice the place was. The name sounds like a rowdy bar with hotdogs, but it's anything but. We ordered the 'big plate of meat', poutine, cheeseboard, and for my entree ordered the meatloaf. The big plate of meat was very good and it's the first time I've seen chicken on a meat plate. Out of the cheeses, the smoked ricotta was my favorite. It was delicious. The cheese plate is served with a small bowl of rhubarb which was another first I've seen. The meatloaf presentation itself is a spectacle. It's served inside of a big bone with breaded bone marrow balls and sweet catsup all over the plate. It was very good, but honestly the catsup is what made the meatloaf really good. The service was very good and it was very prompt. There weren't many people there, but I am sure that will change on weekends and once The Flats get more built up. Edited to add I forgot we also ordered calamari and poutine. The poutine was unlike any poutine I had in Canada, but I would order it ANYTIME! Very good. The best poutine in Cleveland so far. I don't care for calamari, but the three people I was with polished it off happily and raved about the sweet peppers that came with it.
(4)Scott B.
Recent dinner here before heading out for some fun in downtown Cleveland. The service was good - the server did mention she was new, but she was fairly attentive and took care of us. I think she could have done better with drink service as our drinks came out one by one and she wasn't exactly sure which drink belonged to each person. And she spilled a little bit of just about everything she handed to us. The food was average at best. We started with a few appetizers and enjoyed the meat platter, which had a good selection. We also tried the calamari and pickled fried veggies. The calamari had a good flavor, but the portion size was extremely small. I think we each (6 of us) had one or two pieces of calamari. The veggies were super salty. The dinners were an assortment across the menu and I don't believe anyone in the group was impressed with the food. One ordered hummus which was bland. I and another ordered the burger, which was also very bland. Fish tacos were left 1/2 uneaten. Overall I would have expected better food. Nothing was horrible - it just wasn't good and certainly wasn't great. The drinks were the biggest disappointment. As mentioned before - the drinks came out randomly and we had a hard time telling what each drink was. I ordered a sazerac and mistakenly gave it to someone else thinking it was the Birthplace of Aviation (gin, lemon, grenadine, bitters). I got the sazerac back after she brought out the real Birthplace, which didn't look anything like we guessed and was not very good. Another person ordered the Tinker Tonic (gin/tonic, cucumber, basil) which tasted only like lemon juice and was so bitter she sent it back. The others in the group fortunately stuck to beers and bourbon on rocks. The cocktail drinkers ordered beers for the second serving.
(2)Danielle Z.
I loved the vibe here. It's a bit smaller than I thought it was going to be, but lots of character :) The food was phenomenal! I had the ramen bowl with hoisin tofu and it's hands down, the best tofu I've had to date. Everything is homemade...which the staff will be sure to plug a few times, and that's ok, it's a nice reminder. It's in an up and coming part of the flats...and if it wasn't for the Ernst and Young crowd, chances are they wouldn't have stayed in business this long. Come on people....let's hit up the flats for a night out...or even just a lunch ;)
(4)Bri P.
Went here for a lunch and service was extremely slow- it took over an hour and a half! I ordered the boxer hot dog which was good, but overpriced.
(3)Sheena W.
Went here with some fellow Yelpers after an event at Lago. I loved the ambiance inside and the lighting was really cool. I got the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with ice cream on top which was just okay. Actually for $8.50 I was a bit disappointed. I did sample some Proper Poutine from a friends plate and I thought this was a good appetizer, but who wouldn't enjoy fries covered in cheese and gravy?! Overall I think this place is pricey and would be best for just drinks.
(3)Jeev D.
My wife and I stopped in for a couple of drinks. There was only 4 other people at the bar and two small tables. The bartender dropped off our waters and then went MIA for 15 minutes (- no where to be seen). We almost walked out. Finally we got our drinks ordered. I ordered a Moscow Mule, which was decent. It was made with their own home made ginger beer and oh boy was It gingery! My wife asked for an Amstel Light and the bartender didn't know what that was. We thought he was joking, but he wasn't. We know its high end bar and most likely only carry micro brews, but come on man. The food did look good, from what we saw. We'll go back to try the food and next time we won't order anything fancy like an Amstel light.
(3)Laurie J.
Excellent service. Seems to have a nice selection of food options...something for everyone. I had the meatloaf. It had too much cheese on the potato for my liking but the meatloaf was great.
(3)Sean P.
So very good, I love the homemade charcuterie plate, though american cheese jerky is an odd one. Great drinks and a big focus on local food and drink. Unfortunately the surrounding neighborhood was leveled for a project that never took off, but I still like sitting on the patio in the post-apocalyptic landscape.
(5)Amanda L.
First visit to this place; the ambiance is sophisticated without being too high-brow. As for the food, I ordered the poutine, and friends ordered the berry cobbler. Service was good. Food was nothing special, and I was not offered a box for the leftovers.
(3)Fiona L.
I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the ribs. The salmon is amazing and perfectly cooked. It came with a delicious farro mix and was perfectly seasoned. My boyfriends ribs weren't the best ribs I ever had, but they were still tasty and moist. I would definitely come back on another casual dinner date.
(5)Veronique D.
I know this place just opened, so they may improve in the next 6-9 months. The food was cold and not that good. The food was presented like an "at-home practicing type presentation." They had too many servers standing around in corners just waiting, Im not sure for what. The servers were not aware, at all. I think since we went so early in the evening they hadn't warmed up yet. Honestly, I would have preffered to eat in the Warehouse district than at this place or try the Italian restaurant in the hotel next door. The fire alarm was going off during half of our visit. The manager did not come up to the tables & apologize for the annoying noise during the first half of our visit. The hostess did advise us that there was not a fire. In addition, she sure did bark orders at one of the servers in front of us. As I made my way to the one stall restroom, I saw an employee eating food with his bare hands out of a bowl in the kitchen, where they were preparing food for customers. You can park on the street, paid parking lot or garages.
(2)Sharmeela S.
My meal here was so good. I tried the pork belly ramen and gnudi and both were exceptional. The tofu and the pork belly were the best I have had - excellently prepared. They have outdoor seating. The indoor portion would seat about 50. Very pretty bar area. The cocktails are excellent. The peanut butter nutella ice cream was also delicious. The parking lot and valet were 10$. I think budget about 50$ a person for dinner/drink minimum but everything you consume will be thoughtfully executed.
(5)Sue T.
The outdoor seating is on a street corner -- breezy and a great way to enjoy a summer's evening. However it posed a challenge for the kitchen. If our food was hot when it left the kitchen, it wasn't by the time it made it to table. They need to heat the plates more. The poutine appetizer lacked gravy but was ok. If it had been more than lukewarm it would have been better. The gnudi featured the tenderest, delicious pasta with slices of brussels sprouts and oodles of creamy cheese sauce. Decadent. Service was friendly.
(3)Phil T.
Ambiance: 3. Very close to a 4, Wileyville was warm and inviting on the corner of Flats East Bank project. Nice views of construction... Open view kitchen, which I'm always a fan. Cost: 3. Yelp has Wiley as $$, but that's a stretch at least for dinner - most drinks are ~$10, and all entrees $20+. Layer on any other snacks are you're firmly at $30-50 a head. Admittedly, lunch looks more reasonable. Food Quality: 4. Great appetizers - try the smoked chicken wings (best I've had in Cleveland outside of Greenhouse Tavern) or phat popcorn. Poutine also looked very good. Appetizers stole the show, although dessert was good (PBJ jellies). Both Hanger and Flank steaks were ok as dinners but fairly unmemorable. Service: 3. Service was very helpful but restaurant was essentially dead on a Friday and our meal tended to drag on. At times it was "feast or famine" early on if waiter was around or not - make a decision. When to return: Happy hour / for a snack. For handcrafted drinks. To spend far less money than you would at Ken Stewart's next door.
(3)Angela K.
Wow! Love the wings. Crispy and fantastic smoke flavor. Definitely try them. They're a must!
(5)Jessica I.
I always worry about this place when I go, but not because of the great food and service. As one of the handful of places on the new west bank of the flats, and the one farthest from the hotel, it is all-too-often slow in here. That's a shame because it's worth the trip down there. Very creative new American food using local ingredients that are all house made. I can't keep this place going on my own, so I hope more people start finding it. It's well worth a visit.
(4)Say P.
Perfect. Unique, original, fresh, from scratch. Need I say more? We had the meatloaf and hanger steak and it was amazing. Also the root beer with real beer and the ice cream cookie sandwich. Decent wine list. Fried pickled veggies and wings were in point. Yum.
(5)Shawn S.
Simply amazing! After a weeklong stay in Cleveland and looking for healthy organic restaurants who care about what they serve....the best one I ate at was right next to my hotel. Willeyville is one I will return to again and again. The variety is fantastic and my salmon tacos were the perfect dinner accompanied by a kale and beet salad. The staff was very accommodating even though the kitchen was closing in a few minutes. Simply put...they know and care about where their food is coming from and its is all presented in a very creative and flavorful way. A hidden gem located on the edge of downtown Cleveland. Willeyville is a must.
(5)Katie B.
This place was just okay. The menu attempts to be "eclectic," but verges into unappetizing most of the time. I ordered the ramen, which was good, not great. And my dining partner ordered the fried veggie appetizer that had an odd taste in the breading. In general, the menu seemed overpriced ($7 for a basic salad that consisted of lettuce and carrots). Service was solid, but slow. Overall just a mediocre experience.
(2)Steve S.
I think I'm being generous with 3 stars, was really leaning toward 2. Decided to go based on positive yelp reviews. It was Monday evening, the Indians had a home game so I get it, it was a bit slow. I sat at the bar for dinner. Nice conversation with the bartender to get things started but then it was kind of downhill. Calamari was good - not exceptional, but very good. Placed my order for salad (bibb salad - good, but needed some gorgonzola or something to counter too many cherries) and entrée (small bucatini - good but overcooked pasta - needed to be al dente). Never brought my glass of wine until I reminded the bartender that I ordered it and WTF, they only serve bread to certain customers? My bread plate sat empty all night while the bartender poured herself some chocolate Teddy Grahams (overheard her say to another customer "they don't serve us here") in between texting on her phone...service just fell off - it's about the customer experience and the food and Willeyville disappointed in the service department...who allows bartenders to openly text in front of paying customers when they should be asking I would like any bread at all!! Hard for me to recommend this place to be honest. A group of ladies seated behind me asked the hostess to remove some dead bugs from the area on their way out....someone better pay attention to the small things at Willeyville - it's not the customer's job.
(3)Brian M.
I've been here twice so far and I can't wait for my third time. I've had the oysters, rigatoni, and I think it was duck carnitas with flour tortillas. All three were absolutely delicious. Our servers were knowledgeable and very attentive and couldn't have been better. Their food and beer recommendations were spot on. The bread is baked in house with their homemade flavored butters which vary by the day and both are spectacular. I don't think it's possible to have bad food in this establishment. It looks like they are always changing the menu, so I can't wait to try any new additions.
(5)Jenn D.
I recently had lunch with a colleague and was excited to try this restaurant as I've heard many good things. Both of us ordered salads. I went with the Chef's Salad and my colleague went with the Wedgie. All I can say is that the restaurant should be embarrassed. Each salad was $14 or more and neither filled the small plate. I don't mind overpaying for a good salad but I at least expect to be semi-full when I leave. I won't go back. Other places in town (i.e. Crop, Greehouse, Hodges) have figured this out, very dissapointed.
(1)Lauren S.
Service was pretty uneven. Our waitress seemed to never get our drink order right for our party of 8. She seemed overwhelmed, they could of had someone helping her rather than all standing around at the bar. The food was pretty good, nothing super special. The building is pretty cool, I like how it is decorated. Would go back for drinks.
(3)Maggie B.
I was excited to see places coming back to The Flats, but honestly I was underwhelmed with the restaurant. The food was just okay, some seemed a little confused at times with TOO many flavors working against each other. The wait staff were not friendly and were not interested in answering any questions about the menu- quite honestly they seemed annoyed. I would be willing to give it another chance though.
(3)Sharmeela S.
My meal here was so good. I tried the pork belly ramen and gnudi and both were exceptional. The tofu and the pork belly were the best I have had - excellently prepared. They have outdoor seating. The indoor portion would seat about 50. Very pretty bar area. The cocktails are excellent. The peanut butter nutella ice cream was also delicious. The parking lot and valet were 10$. I think budget about 50$ a person for dinner/drink minimum but everything you consume will be thoughtfully executed.
(5)Sue T.
The outdoor seating is on a street corner -- breezy and a great way to enjoy a summer's evening. However it posed a challenge for the kitchen. If our food was hot when it left the kitchen, it wasn't by the time it made it to table. They need to heat the plates more. The poutine appetizer lacked gravy but was ok. If it had been more than lukewarm it would have been better. The gnudi featured the tenderest, delicious pasta with slices of brussels sprouts and oodles of creamy cheese sauce. Decadent. Service was friendly.
(3)Lana K.
Ate at The Willeyville and was surprised at how nice the place was. The name sounds like a rowdy bar with hotdogs, but it's anything but. We ordered the 'big plate of meat', poutine, cheeseboard, and for my entree ordered the meatloaf. The big plate of meat was very good and it's the first time I've seen chicken on a meat plate. Out of the cheeses, the smoked ricotta was my favorite. It was delicious. The cheese plate is served with a small bowl of rhubarb which was another first I've seen. The meatloaf presentation itself is a spectacle. It's served inside of a big bone with breaded bone marrow balls and sweet catsup all over the plate. It was very good, but honestly the catsup is what made the meatloaf really good. The service was very good and it was very prompt. There weren't many people there, but I am sure that will change on weekends and once The Flats get more built up. Edited to add I forgot we also ordered calamari and poutine. The poutine was unlike any poutine I had in Canada, but I would order it ANYTIME! Very good. The best poutine in Cleveland so far. I don't care for calamari, but the three people I was with polished it off happily and raved about the sweet peppers that came with it.
(4)Bob L.
I was on the fence about whether or not to actually take the time to update my review of The Willeyville. After all, we had only been there once before well over a year ago. Unfortunately, the disappointment we experienced during our last visit warranted at least a brief write-up. I still stand by my previous review when it comes to most of the aspects of service and location. Neither of those experiences have changed in any noticeable fashion, although the service was quite, how to put it nicely, stretched out. We were essentially the only couple in the restaurant and it took about 20 minutes for us to receive our appetizer. Where they really fell short this time was with the food. When you visit a restaurant knowing full well that you'll be spending somewhere around $100 for dinner and drinks, you've got certain expectations for nearly everything. This is especially the case when it comes to the food. Our first course started out great. We ordered the Hot Arse Spinach Dip ($11.50). A bowl of blazing hot (temperature, not spice heat) cheesy goodness surrounded by crispy, fried tortilla chips. It was sinfully good. Little did we know things were about to veer terribly off course. The Willey Caeser Salad ($9.50) that my wife ordered was not what we expected at all. First, it's loaded with sliced jalapeno peppers. If you are even remotely sensitive to heat in your food, steer clear of this salad. Second, the fried egg served atop the salad doesn't really work, Once you break the yolk it essentially turns the salad into a soppy, yolky mess and the type of bowl it's served in makes it awkward to eat. The disappointment continues... The Local Grass-Fed Beef Cheek Mac and Cheese ($18.50) was just not good. Not good at all. Oh, and you read that price right. For nearly $20 I received a small bowl of pasta tossed with asparagus. Creamy it was not. The beef cheek was basically four small chewy, fatty pieces of meat buried under the pasta. I felt like this was a dish that I could have made at home. Sounded so good on paper. The biggest disappointment of the evening was the Grilled Salmon Fish Tacos ($19.50). Wow. My wife and I couldn't even believe how bad this dish was. The flour tortillas tasted raw. The slaw made them wet and the portion size of the actual fish - what I can only assume is the reason for the insane pricetag - was ridiculously small. Three tiny pieces, barely enough for an appetizer. My wife ate the fish and left everything else on the plate, untouched. Those of you that read my reviews know that I am not normally one to complain about price. I know before I visit a restaurant how much I'll probably be spending and I also believe that you really do get what you pay for...most of the time. This visit to Willeyville was just such a stark contrast to our first visit that it didn't even seem like the same place. I'm sorry to say that I just don't think we'll be back.
(2)Tony I.
I thought the food was great here. The place was dead empty. I'd expect most places to be slow on a Monday night, but we were literally the only ones in there. I had the gnudi dish and it was phenomenal (very rich). Not the best beer list, but I managed. I have high hopes for this revamped area. For starters we had the poutine which was great and the calamari which was meh. All in all a great restaurant
(4)Stephanie C.
AMAZING. Everything is super fresh, the atmosphere is a casual chic, and the staff who work here are friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a more pricey night out, but it is well worth it. Also, they have a fantastic happy hour menu that helps you stay within a decent budget. We ordered Chicken Pate as an appetizer, and it was a wonderful portion. Fed the table of 4 nicely and no one had to fight over the last bite- everyone was satisfied. The portion filled a small mason jar and it came with crostini. As meals we had the Salmon (if you love fish- get this. Amazingly fresh), beef brisket, meatloaf, and the pork belly ramen. Everyone at the table sampled every dish and everyone loved everything. Drinks were also superb, decently priced, and high quality.
(5)Amanda B.
I wasn't Yelping last year when Willeyville opened, but our first experience there was one of the most memorable of 2013. It was within a few weeks of opening, and while our waiter didn't know *exactly* what type of cured meats he had served us, he was so attentive, congenial and welcoming, I didn't care. Since then we've come back for date night and with several large parties, and our service experience has been equally professional and easygoing. Three things are a must here: the charcuterie, the cocktails and the desserts. That's not to say I haven't had other awesome entrees and apps here, because I certainly have. But I've also had some plates that seemed like they might not have been perfected yet, or were the result of someone feeling extra adventurous that day. I'm completely ok with it, because I appreciate a restaurant that can take locally-sourced, house-made ingredients that don't seem to fit and make them work. This weekend I had gnocchi with mushrooms, brussel sprouts and bacon. A tad salty, maybe, but the Brussels were nicely grilled (& not mushy at all!) and I really couldn't stop myself from eating every single one of the ricotta gnocchis. The cocktails: strong yet well-balanced. They don't shy away from savory stuff or unique combinations. The charcuterie: willeyville has by far the most varied and delicious selection in town. And they do it all themselves! The desserts: when summer comes, I just hope they bust out their ice cream sandwich with sweet corn ice cream and chipotle (poblano?) sugar cookie. So. Damn. Good. That being said, I'm worried people are put off by the location? The parking? The fact that they aren't pretentious about all of their homemade goods? Who knows. For my part, I'm always impressed when I come here and look at the menu. It's always changing, and it's always a bit more fearless than some other similarly-branded restaurants in town. It remains the only place that has ever served me cheese jerky, for crying out loud.
(5)Ms. E.
Come on down to Willeyville! (After seeing JT's skit on SNL...I just can't help thinking of that jingle when I see the name! ;-) ) Seriously though... The Willeyville is a GREAT new restaurant in the recently developed East Bank (Flats) region! The servers are very knowledgeable when it comes to describing the various menu items/wine list and making recommendations. The food is so delicious that it can stop conversation for a few moments (while taking in the flavor combinations that have been created by the chefs). In addition, they use high quality ingredients from local farms/businesses and in my mind ...that means that they care about the quality of the food that they serve. We started our meal with a fabulous bottle of wine, the fresh bread/herb butter and the Potted Smoked Salmon, which was a smoked salmon spread served with crostini, and what we liked most was that the smoked salmon flavor did not get lost when combined with the other ingredients. It was scrumptious! For our main courses, I had the Seared Salmon, which was delicious and beautifully prepared. My boyfriend had the Hanger Steak, which our server had recommended, and it was "to die for"...extremely tender, flavorful and definitely a conversation stopper. (I was glad my boyfriend offered me a bite of his meal! :-) ) We didn't actually have room for dessert, but we were so tempted by the list of options...that we decided to split the ricotta cheesecake and each enjoyed a glass of the limoncello. We didn't just "have dinner" at The Willeyville. Instead, it was a dining experience and I would go there again in a heartbeat. (I actually just joined Yelp, so that I could write this review! ) I hope people will start venturing over to the East Bank, because this new restaurant is *worth* it!
(5)Emily P.
A nice clean, spacious restaurant and bar! The food has never disappointed me (I'd recommend the poutine), and they have a great bar menu. The staff has also been super friendly and helpful any time I'm in! Definitely not hoity toity, but classy for as laid back as it is! Also, good for groups.
(5)Regina S.
I had not heard anything good about The Willeyville, so dining here was a low priority. I am now regretting all of the times I could have been here enjoying the delicious food! PROS *Poutine, my new favorite app. We started off with the Proper Poutine, a heaping plate of artery-clogging goodness. Yes, it's not the best for you. Yes, you will enjoy every bite. Fries, gravy, curds, hot sauce, and whatever cracklins' are. Make sure to share. *Pasta. Typically at a new restaurant I would order meat for my entree, but I was just digging the description of the ricotta gnudi. And when the order came out, it exceeded all of my expectations. Little, fluffy balls of doughy goodness, covered in a rich white sauce, mixed with brussel sprouts and bacon bits. You cannot go wrong with this dish! *The menu. Based on the flimsy white paper that the menu was on along with their online menu not matching the menu we got at the restaurant, I'm assuming they change up their menu quite a bit. I like that in a restaurant - they know what works and they try new things when something isn't working *Decor and Ambiance. We came during the day, which was fine, but as I looked around, I decided that the ambiance would be much more dramatic at night. The industrial decorations and lighting gives it a trendy, urban look. *A lemonade-cider drink. I cannot remember what it's called, but it was basically like a summer lemonade mated with an autumn cider and had a baby. I approve. CONS *If you are walking here, you'll have an easy time going down the hill to get to the East Bank of the Flats...but good luck trying to walk back up after you've stuffed yourself silly. My advice - call an uber. *The restaurant was smaller than I thought it was going to be, which is not necessarily a con...unless you bring a large group. I would limit the group to 8. BOTTOM LINE I will be back to try some other creations on the menu. And gorge on poutine and pasta.
(5)Ashley O.
I ordered a hot dog here and wasn't impressed. The hot dog was so tough that I could barely cut it with a fork and knife. The bun was also a bit dried out and hard. The space is beautiful though and in a great new location.
(3)Eric C.
If you haven't been here for dinner in a while, it's time you stopped back in. This place is impressive. And if something isn't to your liking, tell your server. This place will bend over backwards to make things perfect. So, now onto the review (it's long but I got a lot to rave about today)... I've held off on reviewing this place for a year because I'm friends with everyone there. I didn't want that to impact my ability to be as honest as possible. After a full year of eating and drinking here more times than I can count, I feel very comfortable calling this one of my top spots in Cleveland. I think it's had a few hiccups here and there, but I'm 100% confident that this is a consistent 5-star spot. It's been that way for a while. The service is always top notch -- it's exceptional. The staff is very well versed in the food, preparations, ingredients, and plating. They know exactly what's going on in the kitchen. This is incredibly important given the food and the ingredients are made in-house. This also comes in handy if you walk in with a child or a crazy dietary restrictions. No kids menu? Trust me, they can take care of your child's whim. Or perhaps your vegan or paleo and you don't see a damn thing on the menu that works fully to your needs. No problem. Find what you want on the menu and they will make it work. I've never seen waitstaff and kitchen staff go to such lengths to ensure everyone is happy and full. But it all starts with that friendly and knowledgeable service. The bar is damn good too. Cocktail wise, they make really great craft cocktails at a reasonable price given the quality of ingredients and the attention placed on doing it right. I don't see how $11 or $12 bucks for a craft cocktail is even a bit pricey given the recipes. You're not getting anything close to well drinks. But, if you want cheap, they do have well drinks available. All you need to do is ask. I will say they bar had some problems in the first six months of operations, but that's just not an issue anymore. Service and quality of product are great at the bar. What about the food? The food is the star. It doesn't get any better--it's creative and delicious. How do they make it so damn good? They not only make the food from scratch, they make the ingredients from scratch. They grind their own flour, grow their own yeast, ferment their vinegar... they even make their own tofu and miso! They do the same thing for the bar ingredients too! A lot of places around Cleveland play the "farm to table" card, but when a restaurant goes to the trouble of actually crafting the raw ingredients, they are doing it right. Of course, someone could go through all the trouble and still make junk food. Not here; not at The Willeyville. This place makes damn good food. The charcuterie is my favorite. In the past year they have come a long way and I find this to be some of the best charcuterie in the city. I also love the hanger steak. Hanger steaks are a dime a dozen in Cleveland, but the way The Willeyville uses a quick cure and sous vide creates the most flavorful and tender hanger in town. The current adobo hanger prep with hominy, pickled jalapenos, tres pepper sauces, fried shishito peppers, crispy tortillas strips is the best version of their hanger to date. I could honestly talk about this menu for hours. You may see a smattering of Asian, Italian, and European dishes. While that might seem confused, remember that the focus is about true from-scratch cooking. America is diverse, shoot Cleveland is diverse. These are all the kinds of foods Clevelanders love, just under one roof and done really freaking well. Personally, the ricotta gnudi is better than some of the stuff I've had at famous Italian restaurants in very big cities. The smoked pork belly ramen (yes they even make the noodles in house) is the best bowl of ramen I've had from a restaurant not run by Japanese people. And the "proper poutine" while not the traditional poutine I get in Montreal, I just can't hate on it -- the thing makes my mouth and my belly beyond happy. Don't like fancy things, then get one of the hot dogs or sausages known as "Willey Wieners" during lunch or happy hour at the bar. They grind, season, and stuff these things all in house to great success. The Korean and the German variants are my favorite, but they got the traditional Polish boy that does the trick too. The burgers (traditional and veggie) don't disappoint either. I'm not a vegetarian, but that veggie burger is something I would eat regardless. I don't have a huge sweet tooth these days, but I make sure to get desert every time I stop in. This place does the trick for me, time and time again. At this point in time, I can't say a bad thing about the joint. Stop in for dinner and discover one of the best restaurants in town. If you aren't like me and you do find something not to your liking, trust me, they will take care of you.
(5)Matt A.
Got an extra special treat with my fries that accompanied my way over priced Big Mac....A long female hair. Never going back. Ever. And judging by the emptiness of the restaurant on a warm Saturday night, I'm not the first to have a bad experience there.
(1)Megan B.
This is the best restaurant in Cleveland. The menu changes seasonally and there are tons of great entrées. I had the whipped ricotta for an appetizer which was delicious and my boyfriend and I shared the flank steak and the shrimp macaroni and cheese. Everything was delicious and I will definitely be back.
(5)Alex J.
The is Cleveland's Hidden gem I started with the chicken wings which were really really good I had the hanger steak which was out of this world My partner had the pork shoulder which was really good also The price was very reasonable. You can feel the chefs heart his creations
(5)Cory R.
Very cool place! I was visiting from out of town and went with my boyfriend and his dad. I am super allergic to gluten and the chef came over and pointed out everything that I could eat ( almost the entire menu btw). I had fresh veggies with pesto while the bf had bread and we ordered the calamari gluten free as an app. It's been years since I've had fried calamari and it was amazing! They used an almond flour (it may have been rice flour :) ) covering to make it breaded. I had the 1/2 chicken and it was quite tasty. My bf had the homemade pasta and meatballs and he wouldn't stop talking about how good it was! Overall I highly recommend! Incredibly gluten free friendly with tasty food and a fun atmosphere. I will be back if in Cleveland again!
(5)Rick T.
First off, any place with decent poutine scores in my book. The poutine here rocks - the hot sauce and the cracklin's put it into the awesome category. I had a smoked trout special - awesome. My wife had salmon fish tacos. Good but not great. Missed the crispness of a SoCal fish taco. The kale pesto with the bread was also a nice spin on traditional pesto. Everything tasted fresh. Very good service.
(4)Mike P.
Good place for drinks, not food. Corn dog sounded so good when I was viewing the menu. Unfortunately, fell way short expectations. Took one bite and that was it. The batter was fine, the weiner was awful.
(2)Joe C.
Okay, I'm glad I had a terrible experience at Lago, 'cause I wound up over here instead. This is one of the best random finds I've had in a while! As far as the interior goes, I sat at the bar and thought the atmosphere was spot on. I could see the feeling of being cramped if this place was busy and I was at a table, but on a Monday night it was nice and relaxed so you couldn't go wrong no matter where you sat. The bartender was super friendly and knew his stuff, and I soon had the Holy Elixir in my hand. Holy god was it delicious. And strong. For food I followed it up with the Perfect Poutine, and I should qualify this by saying I've never had poutine before, but wow was this tasty (and a sizeable portion). I talked with some of the other serving staff while eating and everyone was friendly without so much as a hint of pretense. For a place with food and drinks this good, that was a pleasant surprise. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because I haven't tried any of the major entrees. (If you just want poutine and delicious cocktails then yes, easily 5 stars.) Prices aren't bad, especially for a kitchen that's 100% from scratch, but on my social worker salary this qualifies as expensive. The menu is relatively small but changes with the seasons, which goes in line with their made-from-scratch kitchen. I'm super excited to come back and give the rest of the menu a try! Definitely check this place out.
(4)Deborah L.
I'm horribly jet lagged and still trying to adjust after flying in super late last night at 11 PM. Feeling pretty out of it and not really wanting to walk too far from my hotel at the Aloft, I saw this place on Yelp on the same block and headed on down. Being Monday night after 4th of July, it was very, very quiet inside - which I was extremely grateful for. The modern decor is highlighted with vibrant colors and some quirky touches (like the Edison bulb light fixtures). Services was amazingly quick, friendly and attentive. Feeling like something light and healthy, I ordered the sugar snap peas salad (on the recommendation of my waiter) and the smoked pork belly ramen (with the sambal on the side because I am a wimp who can't handle spicy foods). Both were delicious and obviously made fresh in house (they are not kidding when they say they are seriously farm to table). Can definitely foresee myself visiting again to try some of the other things on the menu!
(4)Lama B.
This was an area I was sad to discover when I was leaving Cleveland. According to the locals who were with us at dinner, this area used to be very dead. Well, not anymore. This place takes the farm to table concept and adds a twist. The cocktails were to die for and I had two Moscow mules. Needless to say, I always plan accordingly, and was not driving, so I enjoyed every drop of their home made ginger beer. The starters were excellent, and I loved the poutine. Like LOVED it. My crusted sesame tuna was the hit of the table. That's not to say that every other dish, from the pasta to the pork, wasn't perfect. We skipped dessert because I was craving some local ice cream before leaving the city I have called home for one year, but if I'm every visiting the Cleve, I will definitely pass by Willeyville for drinks and lots and lots of yummy food.
(4)Sharon C.
Delicious drinks, great food, excellent service. We came for dinner and trivia: the salmon was perfect, and drinks perfect.
(5)Kara J.
The Willeyville is excellent. A small group of us went during Restaurant Week and ordered both from the special and regular menus. Everything we tried was delicious, particularly the poutine, mac & cheese, and what we deemed were quite possibly the best chicken wings we'd ever had. The service was also super -- attentive but not overwhelming -- and the view of the kitchen was very fun. More people need to go to this place! It truly is wonderful.
(4)Ralph M.
Wow, excellent dinner and service. The ribs special was meaty ( not skimpy) cooked to perfection and spiced right. If they have that special and you like ribs consider that dish. The ricotta gnudi with their own special sausage and marinara sauce was delightful. Our tall Hendricks and tonics with cucumber were spot on.
(5)Keith G.
One of the many reasons we love Cleveland is the selection of interesting restaurants in cool spaces. Willeyville was not one of them. Located on the East Bank of the flats, the location is really cool but the new building (A-Loft Hotel) is without history, personality or creative design. The food and service were very good but the menu was a little too heavy for our liking. Overall, there was nothing memorable about the atmosphere, menu or service. Probably would not return.
(2)Rachael N.
Willeyville- surprised me up the wahoo. I had heard of how "great" the Flats were, but as I moved into Cleveland 3 years ago, I never got to see the Flats in its greatness. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see that they're building up the area with an Aloft hotel, and some new great restaurants, like Willeyville. I made reservations for 6 people at 8pm on a Saturday night. For a new place, I thought it would be pretty empty...but man, it was packed! Their menu boasts "handcrafted consumables" and man, is it unique. Our friends ordered the "chicken ate my chicken"- a stuffed sausage in chicken dish- which they claimed was excellent. The menu also had an extensive cocktail list and also a lot of unique delectable dishes. My bf and I split a few dishes to get the most bang for our buck. First, we got the mussel poutine. Yes, poutine, and yes, we are not in Canada. The mussels were great, with a slightly cheesy flavorful sauce drizzled on top of some nicely fried fries. Mmmmm. We also ordered the gnocchi, which came with summer squash as well. We were a bit surprised at how it came- we had originally thought gnocchi were little pasta balls..and was surprised when it came out as a flat folded noodle. We bit into it- and yep, it was definitely gnocchi- it was deceivingly small, but heavy and oh so good! We also ordered their special- a beef heart chili cheese dog. As I loved the chili cheese dogs from Detroit's coney islands, I didn't think it could match. Oh, it definitely matched and was GOOD. It had that special "snap" to it that hot dogs should, when you bite into it, and the beef heart chili was so hearty (no pun intended) and savory, it was pretty amazing. Willeyville has great food and a great atmosphere. The only downside is that the parking lot is $6- as for the area (there's like nothing around it), I didn't think was worth it. We parked on the street...but yeah, besides that, the food was excellent, and I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)JP B.
Gluten free friendly! We spoke with Chris, the chef, and he said most of the menu can be made gluten free - so ask! The calamari was made gluten free with rice flour and tasted fantastic. I had the tagliatelle with meatballs; not gluten free, but the meatballs are absolutely amazing!! This is my new favorite restaurant in Cleveland.
(5)Jeff B.
All we had were drinks. The shady lane was great. Everything was made from scratch down to the bitters and simple syrup. My dirty was pretty good, house made vermouth and blue cheese stuffed olives. I think I could live on blue cheese stuffed olives with the occasional gin to wash them down. I was impressed by the menu only like 6 or 7 large plates, that means everything should perfect!
(4)Amanda F.
First visit was through a Yelp event and I was so entranced by this place I had to come back. The drinks were fantastic. They had a Moscow Mule in a copper cup, as it should be consumed. The bartender told us that they used to serve it with a copper straw too, but people kept stealing the straws..... The food was fantastic as well. I love the idea that they had the seasonal food. At the Yelp event there was a Jack O Lantern pumpkin soup that I ordered to go. The soup was fantastic, but I was told to come back because the soup normally comes in an actual pumpkin! I dragged the boy there to have some, but they no longer had the Jack O Lantern soup, as they had moved on. While the food and drinks were wonderful, the ambience of the place is what keeps this place from being 4 stars for me. If you sit at the bar or a couple of the booths near the bar I assume it's fine, but we sat closer to the back of the restaurant and I just felt intrusive. As it was date night we were sitting at one of the 2 top tables along the wall. We were SO close to the couple next to us, almost awkwardly so. The waiters inputted orders right in front of us and had side conversations with each other, which I am fine with, but normally it's an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. Also, from the back the restaurant loses its hipster, chic look and resembles more of a Chipotle restaurant layout. If you only get their food and, well maybe not drinks, to go? 5 stars.
(3)Patty M.
Best Yelp event we've been to! The waitstaff were SUPER attentive, the restaurant itself was lovely and the drinks...oh, my, the mixed drinks. The MUST HAVE beverage of the evening was the Moscow Mull served in a copper mug. Get one.
(5)Nina G.
Great food, very interesting menu as we as everything apparently is made in house. Great for vegans. A but on be pricey side but certainly well worth it! A Must go to in downtown Cleveland!
(4)Tim F.
One of the best Bloody Mary's that I've ever had. Food was great. Easy parking to and from the Browns game. Excellent service as well.
(5)Erik N.
Nice atmosphere. Dined solo at the bar. Friendly staff, creative menu, decent beer/wine selection.
(4)Dianna Z.
This is my new favorite restaurant! Our first dinner here was a completely random choice with no reservations. We walked in and were seated immediately. We were greeted by the most amazing waiter and our order was taken promptly. The smoked wings we ordered for the appetizer were the best I ever ate, filled with flavor. The Bibb salad I ordered was also excellent. The homemade dressing was very good. The pork shank I ordered was very tender and full of delicious flavor. It fell right off the bone. The creme brulee we had for dessert was definitely the perfect ending to our meal. Overall a delightful dining experience. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Nick P.
Very unique menu. They emphasized that everything was homemade, from the cheese to the pasta, to the drinks. I ordered something on the safer side - rigatoni with meat sauce and was amazed at how awesome it was! It just had a lot of flavor and was really simple. I couldn't get enough! Definitely will be back.
(4)Sheila B.
We went there in the evening for some after dinner drinks and dessert. My guest had the Willey's Jamaican Planter's Punch, which was especially delicious. Definitely worth getting again. I got the Bitter Sweet, which was really much more bitter than sweet. At times, it felt like I was trying to take medicine instead of enjoying a drink. They were a little pricey for Cleveland ($11) a drink, but they definitely had a good dose of liquor in them. The bread itself was pretty good, but the beet butter was eh. It would have been really good butter if it was sold to us as just that, but the fact it had some sort of beets mixed in made it taste absolutely no different than normal butter. We ordered the Ohio Apple Crisp with the house-made cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. The crisp was absolutely delicious. Apples had a great flavor and were soft but not yucky applesauce mush. The ice cream had a wonderful mild flavor to it, but tasted more like vanilla ice cream than like a cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. Overall not a bad experience, food was pretty good and depending on the drink you ordered, the drinks weren't bad either. A bit pricey for what you got and for its location. I would go back, but let's just say I wouldn't be dying for the chance to go back.
(3)Rob S.
The pork shank entree was fantastic. The meat just fell off the bone. The gnocchi was also very good but the portion size was disappointing. The atmosphere was very quaint and enjoyable. The hummus appetizer was good but the potato chips were extremely salty. The pita chips were perfect with good texture. I would recommend this place to friends.
(4)Jen M.
Damn, I had high hopes for this place. Here is how it fell apart for me on Saturday August 17, 2013. 1. Major disconnect between how the food is described on the menu and what is actually served. For example, we ordered the "popcorn." On the menu it is described as "curried popcorn/ peanuts / coconut / chili // ". Lo and behold what comes out of the kitchen is more of a chewy peanut brittle like Crunch n Munch. When you advertise popcorn, I expect popcorn (see: Crop, they get it right). This brittle was way, way too sweet to be served as an appetizer. It paralyzed my palate. Very Mild hints of curry. Whoever wrote the description needs to rework that. And either dial up the savory hints...or put it on the dessert menu. 2. Food was not cooked properly. I ordered the hanger steak which the server assured me I would not need a knife to cut. I asked for it to be prepared medium. No kidding, it came out completely raw (now I know why I wouldn't need a knife to cut it). Back to the kitchen it went. In the meantime, a server brought me a serving of sorbet to cleanse my palate (nice touch...but again, it was something sweet before my entree) and it didn't really taste like anything. Hmph. My hanger steak arrives and it is barely cooked more than it was last time. 3. The cucumber salad with the hanger steak was very salty and too cold. Again, the concept of the dish was good but the execution failed, especially against raw meat. 4. Desserts are a HUGE miss. See #1 above. The chocolate "sugar" cookie was neither chocolate nor sugar. It tasted like a bitter, unsweetened cocoa cookie. And raspberry ice cream? Raspberry according to whose palate? The blueberry sorbet was closer to its description but still not quite right. 5. We never received bread. Our server came back and asked us if we wanted more bread. We said, "Uh, we never received my bread to start with." Zoinks. And it is allegedly served with "melon" butter. Again, the taste delivery was off. Bread is very good...rustic and delicious. 6. Service was slow. Come on. The place wasn't packed AND it is not that big of a restaurant. 7. Saving grace of the night? The cocktails! The Shady Lane and the Smash made with Maker's Mark were both killer good drinks. Bravo on that. I really, really wanted to dig this place. I love that everything is house-made. But there appears to be disconnects and missed executions on the food, not to mention confusion as to what the restaurant concept really is. Blasting the Black Keys and Rolling Stones at high volume made it difficult to have conversation. Sorry, Willeyville, but you have some kinks to work out.
(2)Eldridge C.
I dined here two nights in a row - there was definitely a reason for my going back the second night! The service was impeccable, the ambience was fantastic (the space, the music, the atmosphere, etc.), the food was insanely good, and the cocktails were out of this world. I have eaten in a lot of restaurants in a lot of different cities and this easily stacks up with the best of them when you take everything into consideration (including price). If I am ever in Cleveland again this is where I'm headed...no question
(5)Emily S.
The Flats are making a comeback, and The Willeyville is out front! This is a great addition to the new area. The decor is very chic and relaxing. There are large windows that let in a lot of natural light, so it is great place to go on a sunny Cleveland day. I love the open kitchen lay out, so you can always see whats going on. My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 7:30. We were able to make reservations on Open Table, which was a good thing, because this place was packed! The word is out that The Willeyville is the next restaurant to try in Cleveland. There was a mix of mid twenty somethings all of the way to people in their 50's and 60's. We started with the shrimp ceviche, and it was the perfect amount to get us started. It came with some pita chips that were very complementary. We each ordered a drink... a glass of chardonnay for myself and a moscow mule for my man. I always love when a moscow mule comes in the traditional copper mug!! I ordered the bucatini alla matriciana and only needed the small size. It was the perfect amount of food. It had a slight spice to it from the chili, and it was absolutely delicious! The other meal for the table was the hanger steak, which the boyfriend gobbled up immediately. This restaurant is going to be a great addition to the Flats and Cleveland. We will definitely be back!
(5)Carmel C.
I love this place!! It's my new fave downtown eatery. They serve an amazing chef's salad with delicious humus, crostini, and succulent chicken that's a fave lunch. I had the pasta special last night with a creamy vodka sauce over a thick, tubular lpasta that was AMAZING. And though I'd RARELY eat anything like a chili dog (not a big meat person) their chili dog and schnitzel is to die for. LOVE WILlEYVILLE!! You will too!
(5)Michael J.
This was one of the best meals I've had in Cleveland this year. Before giving a review it should be noted that the dining experience here for lunch is completely different than dinner. The menu changes dramatically for the two periods. Dinner was a culinary masterpiece. Every item ordered was thoughtfully crafted and elegantly displayed. I ordered the duck squared. The dish was phenomenal. Crispy duck served two ways. It was drizzled with whipped strawberries and other fruits. The super sweet was perfectly balanced by salty napa cabbage served in a pastry. The calamari appetizer was one of the best calamari dishes I've ever had. The flavor combinations were delicious with an emphasis on candied ginger. We also ordered the chilled peach soup. This could have doubled as a dessert. It was a very sweet soup, perfect on a hot summer day. Instead of veggies, it was bursting with pureed fruits in a peachy cream broth. All in all the food was amazing at prices $10-15 less than comparable entrees in restaurants in Tremont or on East 4th. You really get a great value for some incredibly thought out dishes.
(5)Alex A.
This is a saturday night dinner review. 3 of us for dinner. Started out with dark and stormy which was pretty good and the big ben...was ok. appetizers...popcorn..whatever they sprinkled on this was super spicy and irritating, all of us were coughing. also the poutin...was fine, hard to mess up bacon and french fries, house made ricotta and toast...again, was ok, nothing new. dinner...salmon....average. i had the asian short rib...didnt taste marinated, was chewy, and cold. came with rice which wasnt seasoned at all. wife had gnocchi which werent gnocchi...just two triangles of dough that tasted like nothing. This place was good for drinks but the food was below average.
(2)Trevor C.
Overall excellent experience. Another guy in the office and I headed down there for lunch today. We had a lot of loose ends to tidy up so we made it a point to order apps, desserts, and drinks, just of course to buy us some time! Anyhow, overall excellent. I'll break it down. Wait Staff: The waiter was very well informed about what the kitchen was doing. He explained to us how they made many items in house, including the vinegar, all the sauces and dressings, and their own fermented and pickled items. He was also attentive to the small details, such as new flatware and wiping the table clean after each course. Very nice touch. Menu: The menu was short, sweet, and had a little bit of something for everyone. There were meaty options like the large pastrami sandwich and today's special, a duck confit crepe. There were also attractive salads and meatless entrees. I mostly like that the menu is short because you know that they are using the freshest ingredients possible. The waiter also pointed that out and the menu also indicates their devotion to local farmers. The Food: We started with the smoked chicken wings and the calamari. Both were amazing. I usually shy away from calamari at restaurants but ordered this just to see if the chef could win me over. He did. The combination of sauces he used to dress them really stood out. I had the duck and pork shoulder confit crepe for lunch. It was served in a deep casserole-like plate with a light yogurt based sauce and sliced, pickled radishes on top. The dish was very nice. Not too fatty or too rich (considering that confit duck and pork could be) and the quality of the meat really stood out. My business colleague had the pastrami. I had a piece of that and besides the house-made pastrami being moist and tender, the choice of cheese and pickle was also nice. The house made bread buttered and toasted was also appropriate. For dessert, I had the house made smores. It was a little difficult to eat, but I can't remember the last time I had a non-messy smores. Well worth a try with a cup of coffee. The Drinks: The names of both drinks we ordered are out of my vocabulary. Both were quite good but unfortunately they featured homemade names that now escape me. Overall: I'm looking forward to going back for dinner service. Trevor
(5)Jill M.
This was an excellent place for lunch. Knowledgable and attentive staff, many organic items, all house made condiments, light yet satisfying. Some very complex dishes. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Kelly R.
Overall this was pretty good. I went for Happy Hour. The HH menu is limited and the wine list is $2 off. I went on a Friday afternoon, right after work, there were a few other patrons seated in the bar area. Madeline, the bartender, was attentive without being overbearing. I proceeded in ordering a glass of wine, an order of fries and the bratwurst sandwich. The sandwich and fries arrived shortly thereafter. The fries were good, crispy and seasoned on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. They were served with a side of housemade ketchup and malt vinegar. The sandwich was a little bit small. The bratwurst link was tasty by itself, but the massive bun and sauerkraut/slaw completely masked the bratwurst. Each component by itself was tasty but just couldn't really taste the meat. The selling point for Willeyville is the housemade concept related to condiments, drink mix-ins etc I would return, just wouldn't be my go-to for Happy Hour....maybe dinner. .
(3)Aaron M.
Ok so I know I have been handing out a few 5 star reviews lately. But understand I go out three to five times a week! I only write reviews when something really stands out. The Willeyville really stands out! This was my fifth time there and I am consistently impressed. Everything is made in house...everything. Bread, cheese, charcuterie, ice cream, EVERYTHING. It is quickly becoming one of my new favorite places. Atmosphere is great. Though I will agree with my friends phase two of the flats will really enhance the experience. Right now it's still kind of a destination. Though The Willeyville is worth it! My highlights are the Proper Poutine, the Hanger Steak, and anything pork! I have tasted about 3/4 of the menu and everything has been exceptional. Don't leave without trying the sticky bun!
(5)Lisa W.
We are so glad this area of town is getting some great places to eat. We went here on a weekday for lunch. The calamari was to die for! Crispy, hot , with a sweet Thai sauce - light on ginger! We then had the chop salad - great dressing and crisp greens and the Bibb salad - so good! Great fresh hot bread with herbed butter! Love the fact that they try to use local foods! Nice to be able to watch the kitchen in action! Good beer selection! Beautiful decor! The service was prompt without being intrusive! We will return for dinner or drinks! Nice addition to the Cleveland food scene!
(5)Krystal C.
Go here. Seriously, this place should always be packed. The gracious and flexible hosts, to the wonderful cocktails, to the amazing service and last but not least the awesome food. I had the pork belly ramen which was very flavorful and just what one should have on a chilly cleveland night. We even stayed at the restaurant late, and Never once felt pressured to leave.
(5)Matt K.
If you want to pay $13 for a breakfast sandwich this is your place. I would have been more satisfied with a McD's breakfast sandwich. The other sandwiches are average in taste, but locally sourced ingredients make them more appealing.
(2)PJ N.
i so wanted this to be a GREAT restaurant......such a cool location, neat interior, but food, just OK.......yeah, i get the relaxed, casual vibe but a hostess waltzing around the diningroom in black flip-flop......seemed like she stopped in from the pool to seat a few people........servers are friendly but a bit unpolished and untrained. they want to help, but just don't know what to do. and what's with the "bananarama doo-rags" in al lthe girls' hair? decor is snazzy, comfortable and current......the menu feels a bit confused. is it home-stlye comfort or upscale hip? i don't know, i don't think that the kitchen knew. cocktails were great......had a couple of rounds. for apps we had the rock shrimp ceviche and the chacutterie (sp?) board. the ceviche was served with flour tortilla chips, yuck, and the ceviche lacked any bit of acidity, despite the lime wedge garnish. i wouldn't order this again. the chacutterie board/plate was large with a wide variety of house cured meats....many of which were lack-lustre and seemed to be made by a meat curing trainee that hadn't quite figured it out yet. the liver pate was delicious, the other stuff- mortadella (not even close to being), some terrible pork belly that seemed like boiled bacon sans the smoke and an "almost" proscuitto were gross, but the knockwurst....HEAVEN!!! so delicious, i could have eaten plates of this!!! our salads were a golden beet salad.......sounded good but disappointing! the beets were buried in a heavy layer of green weeds with sprinkles of tarragon topped with a smoked cheese of some sort. no acidity to balance the dish, just a bunch of mish-mash ingredients thrown into a weird shaped bowl a la 1999. one slice of wonderful bread was given with cocktails, why? before i even had a chance to ask for a second slice with our salads, our butter, plates and silverware were scooped up. for dinner we had the duck squared and the city chicken. i was confused by both. the carrot mash was delicious but the city chicken meat seemed over fried until hard and dry. the duck squared was duck confit, a breast wrapped in bacon and thigh with leg served with some foamy carrot juice and traces of some sauce a feta cabbage strudel (which was the highlight of this dish) and beets. both entrees had the makings of a great dinner but never got there. homestyle seemed to be trumped by highbrow thoughts trumped by homestyle......food was good, but NOT great, nothing memorable! the highlight of the entire meal was dessert, even thought i really didn't want anything, i was talked into it and glad that i was!!! the chile sugar cookie ice cream sandwich, WOW!!! they could make a mint on selling this out of a truck for sure!!! a slightly spicy sugar cookie filled with a sweet corn ice cream......what an original idea that came to fruition!!! i could have eaten bowls full of that ice cream!!! we also had a rhubarb cumble topped with chamomile ice cream......the crumble, meh, not so good, but that chamomile ice cream, to die for!!!!! the real star of the night was the person responsible for the house made ice creams!!!!!! i think i would come here for drinks and dessert and skip the stuff in the middle........don't lose the ice cream "chef"----they're genius!!!
(2)Nick C.
Crazy good stuff - everything made from scratch...i mean everything.(ketchup - really? yes - even ketchup.) Got to try the Duck MacMuffin - with house made English muffins cooked in duck fat - amazing topped with a house made duck sausage patty with some sweet maple syrup, fresh arugula and an over easy egg. Surprised by the Ricotta sampler - never been a fan - but the variety had so much flavor(smoked paprika, merlot soaked and whipped with EVOO). Hope this place does awesome ! Great cocktails too - homemade ginger beer, vermouths, etc...very knowledgeable (and personable) staff. Cool specialty beer list and cocktail/wine list.
(5)Elana B.
Must start with the fries (listed on menu as proper poutine)- they were amazing- spicy and flavorful with all sorts of textures! You should have seen the look I gave to one of the staffers that tried to take that plate away when there were still 5 fries on it. I mean- really?! The pork and duck tacos were perfect too. Great flavor and the tortillas were a cross between naan and matzah- so yummy! My husband wasn't thrilled with his ciopinno, but he did just get back from san fran and just no comparison. The cheeses on the cheese plate were all very mild, would be nice to have one stronger type. The whoopie pie was like, whatever. The apple crisp brought it! Oh- and so right after we paid we saw the waitress come out with cotton candy for another table and we were all, "why you no tell US about cotton candy?" and she said the people were friends with the owner. But then what did she do next?! Brought some out for us! Plus- she was awesome from the start. Oh- and great music/playlist. I will be going back.
(4)Taylor S.
We had drinks, dinner, and dessert and it was excellent. We ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer which was good not great. Main courses ordered were the mahi mahi, duck, gnocchi, and the gnudi. All were delicious. Above all else, the service was outstanding. We never had a water glass even half full and when someone went to the restroom the waiter took their dish and put it under the heater to keep it warm. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Jessica I.
I always worry about this place when I go, but not because of the great food and service. As one of the handful of places on the new west bank of the flats, and the one farthest from the hotel, it is all-too-often slow in here. That's a shame because it's worth the trip down there. Very creative new American food using local ingredients that are all house made. I can't keep this place going on my own, so I hope more people start finding it. It's well worth a visit.
(4)Say P.
Perfect. Unique, original, fresh, from scratch. Need I say more? We had the meatloaf and hanger steak and it was amazing. Also the root beer with real beer and the ice cream cookie sandwich. Decent wine list. Fried pickled veggies and wings were in point. Yum.
(5)Megan B.
This is the best restaurant in Cleveland. The menu changes seasonally and there are tons of great entrées. I had the whipped ricotta for an appetizer which was delicious and my boyfriend and I shared the flank steak and the shrimp macaroni and cheese. Everything was delicious and I will definitely be back.
(5)Alex J.
The is Cleveland's Hidden gem I started with the chicken wings which were really really good I had the hanger steak which was out of this world My partner had the pork shoulder which was really good also The price was very reasonable. You can feel the chefs heart his creations
(5)Shawn S.
Simply amazing! After a weeklong stay in Cleveland and looking for healthy organic restaurants who care about what they serve....the best one I ate at was right next to my hotel. Willeyville is one I will return to again and again. The variety is fantastic and my salmon tacos were the perfect dinner accompanied by a kale and beet salad. The staff was very accommodating even though the kitchen was closing in a few minutes. Simply put...they know and care about where their food is coming from and its is all presented in a very creative and flavorful way. A hidden gem located on the edge of downtown Cleveland. Willeyville is a must.
(5)Amanda B.
I wasn't Yelping last year when Willeyville opened, but our first experience there was one of the most memorable of 2013. It was within a few weeks of opening, and while our waiter didn't know *exactly* what type of cured meats he had served us, he was so attentive, congenial and welcoming, I didn't care. Since then we've come back for date night and with several large parties, and our service experience has been equally professional and easygoing. Three things are a must here: the charcuterie, the cocktails and the desserts. That's not to say I haven't had other awesome entrees and apps here, because I certainly have. But I've also had some plates that seemed like they might not have been perfected yet, or were the result of someone feeling extra adventurous that day. I'm completely ok with it, because I appreciate a restaurant that can take locally-sourced, house-made ingredients that don't seem to fit and make them work. This weekend I had gnocchi with mushrooms, brussel sprouts and bacon. A tad salty, maybe, but the Brussels were nicely grilled (& not mushy at all!) and I really couldn't stop myself from eating every single one of the ricotta gnocchis. The cocktails: strong yet well-balanced. They don't shy away from savory stuff or unique combinations. The charcuterie: willeyville has by far the most varied and delicious selection in town. And they do it all themselves! The desserts: when summer comes, I just hope they bust out their ice cream sandwich with sweet corn ice cream and chipotle (poblano?) sugar cookie. So. Damn. Good. That being said, I'm worried people are put off by the location? The parking? The fact that they aren't pretentious about all of their homemade goods? Who knows. For my part, I'm always impressed when I come here and look at the menu. It's always changing, and it's always a bit more fearless than some other similarly-branded restaurants in town. It remains the only place that has ever served me cheese jerky, for crying out loud.
(5)Katie B.
This place was just okay. The menu attempts to be "eclectic," but verges into unappetizing most of the time. I ordered the ramen, which was good, not great. And my dining partner ordered the fried veggie appetizer that had an odd taste in the breading. In general, the menu seemed overpriced ($7 for a basic salad that consisted of lettuce and carrots). Service was solid, but slow. Overall just a mediocre experience.
(2)Matt A.
Got an extra special treat with my fries that accompanied my way over priced Big Mac....A long female hair. Never going back. Ever. And judging by the emptiness of the restaurant on a warm Saturday night, I'm not the first to have a bad experience there.
(1)Scott B.
Recent dinner here before heading out for some fun in downtown Cleveland. The service was good - the server did mention she was new, but she was fairly attentive and took care of us. I think she could have done better with drink service as our drinks came out one by one and she wasn't exactly sure which drink belonged to each person. And she spilled a little bit of just about everything she handed to us. The food was average at best. We started with a few appetizers and enjoyed the meat platter, which had a good selection. We also tried the calamari and pickled fried veggies. The calamari had a good flavor, but the portion size was extremely small. I think we each (6 of us) had one or two pieces of calamari. The veggies were super salty. The dinners were an assortment across the menu and I don't believe anyone in the group was impressed with the food. One ordered hummus which was bland. I and another ordered the burger, which was also very bland. Fish tacos were left 1/2 uneaten. Overall I would have expected better food. Nothing was horrible - it just wasn't good and certainly wasn't great. The drinks were the biggest disappointment. As mentioned before - the drinks came out randomly and we had a hard time telling what each drink was. I ordered a sazerac and mistakenly gave it to someone else thinking it was the Birthplace of Aviation (gin, lemon, grenadine, bitters). I got the sazerac back after she brought out the real Birthplace, which didn't look anything like we guessed and was not very good. Another person ordered the Tinker Tonic (gin/tonic, cucumber, basil) which tasted only like lemon juice and was so bitter she sent it back. The others in the group fortunately stuck to beers and bourbon on rocks. The cocktail drinkers ordered beers for the second serving.
(2)Danielle Z.
I loved the vibe here. It's a bit smaller than I thought it was going to be, but lots of character :) The food was phenomenal! I had the ramen bowl with hoisin tofu and it's hands down, the best tofu I've had to date. Everything is homemade...which the staff will be sure to plug a few times, and that's ok, it's a nice reminder. It's in an up and coming part of the flats...and if it wasn't for the Ernst and Young crowd, chances are they wouldn't have stayed in business this long. Come on people....let's hit up the flats for a night out...or even just a lunch ;)
(4)Bri P.
Went here for a lunch and service was extremely slow- it took over an hour and a half! I ordered the boxer hot dog which was good, but overpriced.
(3)Sheena W.
Went here with some fellow Yelpers after an event at Lago. I loved the ambiance inside and the lighting was really cool. I got the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with ice cream on top which was just okay. Actually for $8.50 I was a bit disappointed. I did sample some Proper Poutine from a friends plate and I thought this was a good appetizer, but who wouldn't enjoy fries covered in cheese and gravy?! Overall I think this place is pricey and would be best for just drinks.
(3)Jeev D.
My wife and I stopped in for a couple of drinks. There was only 4 other people at the bar and two small tables. The bartender dropped off our waters and then went MIA for 15 minutes (- no where to be seen). We almost walked out. Finally we got our drinks ordered. I ordered a Moscow Mule, which was decent. It was made with their own home made ginger beer and oh boy was It gingery! My wife asked for an Amstel Light and the bartender didn't know what that was. We thought he was joking, but he wasn't. We know its high end bar and most likely only carry micro brews, but come on man. The food did look good, from what we saw. We'll go back to try the food and next time we won't order anything fancy like an Amstel light.
(3)Laurie J.
Excellent service. Seems to have a nice selection of food options...something for everyone. I had the meatloaf. It had too much cheese on the potato for my liking but the meatloaf was great.
(3)Sean P.
So very good, I love the homemade charcuterie plate, though american cheese jerky is an odd one. Great drinks and a big focus on local food and drink. Unfortunately the surrounding neighborhood was leveled for a project that never took off, but I still like sitting on the patio in the post-apocalyptic landscape.
(5)Amanda L.
First visit to this place; the ambiance is sophisticated without being too high-brow. As for the food, I ordered the poutine, and friends ordered the berry cobbler. Service was good. Food was nothing special, and I was not offered a box for the leftovers.
(3)Fiona L.
I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the ribs. The salmon is amazing and perfectly cooked. It came with a delicious farro mix and was perfectly seasoned. My boyfriends ribs weren't the best ribs I ever had, but they were still tasty and moist. I would definitely come back on another casual dinner date.
(5)Phil T.
Ambiance: 3. Very close to a 4, Wileyville was warm and inviting on the corner of Flats East Bank project. Nice views of construction... Open view kitchen, which I'm always a fan. Cost: 3. Yelp has Wiley as $$, but that's a stretch at least for dinner - most drinks are ~$10, and all entrees $20+. Layer on any other snacks are you're firmly at $30-50 a head. Admittedly, lunch looks more reasonable. Food Quality: 4. Great appetizers - try the smoked chicken wings (best I've had in Cleveland outside of Greenhouse Tavern) or phat popcorn. Poutine also looked very good. Appetizers stole the show, although dessert was good (PBJ jellies). Both Hanger and Flank steaks were ok as dinners but fairly unmemorable. Service: 3. Service was very helpful but restaurant was essentially dead on a Friday and our meal tended to drag on. At times it was "feast or famine" early on if waiter was around or not - make a decision. When to return: Happy hour / for a snack. For handcrafted drinks. To spend far less money than you would at Ken Stewart's next door.
(3)Angela K.
Wow! Love the wings. Crispy and fantastic smoke flavor. Definitely try them. They're a must!
(5)Cory R.
Very cool place! I was visiting from out of town and went with my boyfriend and his dad. I am super allergic to gluten and the chef came over and pointed out everything that I could eat ( almost the entire menu btw). I had fresh veggies with pesto while the bf had bread and we ordered the calamari gluten free as an app. It's been years since I've had fried calamari and it was amazing! They used an almond flour (it may have been rice flour :) ) covering to make it breaded. I had the 1/2 chicken and it was quite tasty. My bf had the homemade pasta and meatballs and he wouldn't stop talking about how good it was! Overall I highly recommend! Incredibly gluten free friendly with tasty food and a fun atmosphere. I will be back if in Cleveland again!
(5)Joe C.
Okay, I'm glad I had a terrible experience at Lago, 'cause I wound up over here instead. This is one of the best random finds I've had in a while! As far as the interior goes, I sat at the bar and thought the atmosphere was spot on. I could see the feeling of being cramped if this place was busy and I was at a table, but on a Monday night it was nice and relaxed so you couldn't go wrong no matter where you sat. The bartender was super friendly and knew his stuff, and I soon had the Holy Elixir in my hand. Holy god was it delicious. And strong. For food I followed it up with the Perfect Poutine, and I should qualify this by saying I've never had poutine before, but wow was this tasty (and a sizeable portion). I talked with some of the other serving staff while eating and everyone was friendly without so much as a hint of pretense. For a place with food and drinks this good, that was a pleasant surprise. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because I haven't tried any of the major entrees. (If you just want poutine and delicious cocktails then yes, easily 5 stars.) Prices aren't bad, especially for a kitchen that's 100% from scratch, but on my social worker salary this qualifies as expensive. The menu is relatively small but changes with the seasons, which goes in line with their made-from-scratch kitchen. I'm super excited to come back and give the rest of the menu a try! Definitely check this place out.
(4)Deborah L.
I'm horribly jet lagged and still trying to adjust after flying in super late last night at 11 PM. Feeling pretty out of it and not really wanting to walk too far from my hotel at the Aloft, I saw this place on Yelp on the same block and headed on down. Being Monday night after 4th of July, it was very, very quiet inside - which I was extremely grateful for. The modern decor is highlighted with vibrant colors and some quirky touches (like the Edison bulb light fixtures). Services was amazingly quick, friendly and attentive. Feeling like something light and healthy, I ordered the sugar snap peas salad (on the recommendation of my waiter) and the smoked pork belly ramen (with the sambal on the side because I am a wimp who can't handle spicy foods). Both were delicious and obviously made fresh in house (they are not kidding when they say they are seriously farm to table). Can definitely foresee myself visiting again to try some of the other things on the menu!
(4)Lama B.
This was an area I was sad to discover when I was leaving Cleveland. According to the locals who were with us at dinner, this area used to be very dead. Well, not anymore. This place takes the farm to table concept and adds a twist. The cocktails were to die for and I had two Moscow mules. Needless to say, I always plan accordingly, and was not driving, so I enjoyed every drop of their home made ginger beer. The starters were excellent, and I loved the poutine. Like LOVED it. My crusted sesame tuna was the hit of the table. That's not to say that every other dish, from the pasta to the pork, wasn't perfect. We skipped dessert because I was craving some local ice cream before leaving the city I have called home for one year, but if I'm every visiting the Cleve, I will definitely pass by Willeyville for drinks and lots and lots of yummy food.
(4)Sharon C.
Delicious drinks, great food, excellent service. We came for dinner and trivia: the salmon was perfect, and drinks perfect.
(5)Rick T.
First off, any place with decent poutine scores in my book. The poutine here rocks - the hot sauce and the cracklin's put it into the awesome category. I had a smoked trout special - awesome. My wife had salmon fish tacos. Good but not great. Missed the crispness of a SoCal fish taco. The kale pesto with the bread was also a nice spin on traditional pesto. Everything tasted fresh. Very good service.
(4)Mike P.
Good place for drinks, not food. Corn dog sounded so good when I was viewing the menu. Unfortunately, fell way short expectations. Took one bite and that was it. The batter was fine, the weiner was awful.
(2)Kara J.
The Willeyville is excellent. A small group of us went during Restaurant Week and ordered both from the special and regular menus. Everything we tried was delicious, particularly the poutine, mac & cheese, and what we deemed were quite possibly the best chicken wings we'd ever had. The service was also super -- attentive but not overwhelming -- and the view of the kitchen was very fun. More people need to go to this place! It truly is wonderful.
(4)Ralph M.
Wow, excellent dinner and service. The ribs special was meaty ( not skimpy) cooked to perfection and spiced right. If they have that special and you like ribs consider that dish. The ricotta gnudi with their own special sausage and marinara sauce was delightful. Our tall Hendricks and tonics with cucumber were spot on.
(5)Dianna Z.
This is my new favorite restaurant! Our first dinner here was a completely random choice with no reservations. We walked in and were seated immediately. We were greeted by the most amazing waiter and our order was taken promptly. The smoked wings we ordered for the appetizer were the best I ever ate, filled with flavor. The Bibb salad I ordered was also excellent. The homemade dressing was very good. The pork shank I ordered was very tender and full of delicious flavor. It fell right off the bone. The creme brulee we had for dessert was definitely the perfect ending to our meal. Overall a delightful dining experience. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Rachael N.
Willeyville- surprised me up the wahoo. I had heard of how "great" the Flats were, but as I moved into Cleveland 3 years ago, I never got to see the Flats in its greatness. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see that they're building up the area with an Aloft hotel, and some new great restaurants, like Willeyville. I made reservations for 6 people at 8pm on a Saturday night. For a new place, I thought it would be pretty empty...but man, it was packed! Their menu boasts "handcrafted consumables" and man, is it unique. Our friends ordered the "chicken ate my chicken"- a stuffed sausage in chicken dish- which they claimed was excellent. The menu also had an extensive cocktail list and also a lot of unique delectable dishes. My bf and I split a few dishes to get the most bang for our buck. First, we got the mussel poutine. Yes, poutine, and yes, we are not in Canada. The mussels were great, with a slightly cheesy flavorful sauce drizzled on top of some nicely fried fries. Mmmmm. We also ordered the gnocchi, which came with summer squash as well. We were a bit surprised at how it came- we had originally thought gnocchi were little pasta balls..and was surprised when it came out as a flat folded noodle. We bit into it- and yep, it was definitely gnocchi- it was deceivingly small, but heavy and oh so good! We also ordered their special- a beef heart chili cheese dog. As I loved the chili cheese dogs from Detroit's coney islands, I didn't think it could match. Oh, it definitely matched and was GOOD. It had that special "snap" to it that hot dogs should, when you bite into it, and the beef heart chili was so hearty (no pun intended) and savory, it was pretty amazing. Willeyville has great food and a great atmosphere. The only downside is that the parking lot is $6- as for the area (there's like nothing around it), I didn't think was worth it. We parked on the street...but yeah, besides that, the food was excellent, and I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)JP B.
Gluten free friendly! We spoke with Chris, the chef, and he said most of the menu can be made gluten free - so ask! The calamari was made gluten free with rice flour and tasted fantastic. I had the tagliatelle with meatballs; not gluten free, but the meatballs are absolutely amazing!! This is my new favorite restaurant in Cleveland.
(5)Jeff B.
All we had were drinks. The shady lane was great. Everything was made from scratch down to the bitters and simple syrup. My dirty was pretty good, house made vermouth and blue cheese stuffed olives. I think I could live on blue cheese stuffed olives with the occasional gin to wash them down. I was impressed by the menu only like 6 or 7 large plates, that means everything should perfect!
(4)Lisa W.
We are so glad this area of town is getting some great places to eat. We went here on a weekday for lunch. The calamari was to die for! Crispy, hot , with a sweet Thai sauce - light on ginger! We then had the chop salad - great dressing and crisp greens and the Bibb salad - so good! Great fresh hot bread with herbed butter! Love the fact that they try to use local foods! Nice to be able to watch the kitchen in action! Good beer selection! Beautiful decor! The service was prompt without being intrusive! We will return for dinner or drinks! Nice addition to the Cleveland food scene!
(5)Amanda F.
First visit was through a Yelp event and I was so entranced by this place I had to come back. The drinks were fantastic. They had a Moscow Mule in a copper cup, as it should be consumed. The bartender told us that they used to serve it with a copper straw too, but people kept stealing the straws..... The food was fantastic as well. I love the idea that they had the seasonal food. At the Yelp event there was a Jack O Lantern pumpkin soup that I ordered to go. The soup was fantastic, but I was told to come back because the soup normally comes in an actual pumpkin! I dragged the boy there to have some, but they no longer had the Jack O Lantern soup, as they had moved on. While the food and drinks were wonderful, the ambience of the place is what keeps this place from being 4 stars for me. If you sit at the bar or a couple of the booths near the bar I assume it's fine, but we sat closer to the back of the restaurant and I just felt intrusive. As it was date night we were sitting at one of the 2 top tables along the wall. We were SO close to the couple next to us, almost awkwardly so. The waiters inputted orders right in front of us and had side conversations with each other, which I am fine with, but normally it's an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. Also, from the back the restaurant loses its hipster, chic look and resembles more of a Chipotle restaurant layout. If you only get their food and, well maybe not drinks, to go? 5 stars.
(3)Patty M.
Best Yelp event we've been to! The waitstaff were SUPER attentive, the restaurant itself was lovely and the drinks...oh, my, the mixed drinks. The MUST HAVE beverage of the evening was the Moscow Mull served in a copper mug. Get one.
(5)Nina G.
Great food, very interesting menu as we as everything apparently is made in house. Great for vegans. A but on be pricey side but certainly well worth it! A Must go to in downtown Cleveland!
(4)Nick P.
Very unique menu. They emphasized that everything was homemade, from the cheese to the pasta, to the drinks. I ordered something on the safer side - rigatoni with meat sauce and was amazed at how awesome it was! It just had a lot of flavor and was really simple. I couldn't get enough! Definitely will be back.
(4)Eldridge C.
I dined here two nights in a row - there was definitely a reason for my going back the second night! The service was impeccable, the ambience was fantastic (the space, the music, the atmosphere, etc.), the food was insanely good, and the cocktails were out of this world. I have eaten in a lot of restaurants in a lot of different cities and this easily stacks up with the best of them when you take everything into consideration (including price). If I am ever in Cleveland again this is where I'm headed...no question
(5)Jen M.
Damn, I had high hopes for this place. Here is how it fell apart for me on Saturday August 17, 2013. 1. Major disconnect between how the food is described on the menu and what is actually served. For example, we ordered the "popcorn." On the menu it is described as "curried popcorn/ peanuts / coconut / chili // ". Lo and behold what comes out of the kitchen is more of a chewy peanut brittle like Crunch n Munch. When you advertise popcorn, I expect popcorn (see: Crop, they get it right). This brittle was way, way too sweet to be served as an appetizer. It paralyzed my palate. Very Mild hints of curry. Whoever wrote the description needs to rework that. And either dial up the savory hints...or put it on the dessert menu. 2. Food was not cooked properly. I ordered the hanger steak which the server assured me I would not need a knife to cut. I asked for it to be prepared medium. No kidding, it came out completely raw (now I know why I wouldn't need a knife to cut it). Back to the kitchen it went. In the meantime, a server brought me a serving of sorbet to cleanse my palate (nice touch...but again, it was something sweet before my entree) and it didn't really taste like anything. Hmph. My hanger steak arrives and it is barely cooked more than it was last time. 3. The cucumber salad with the hanger steak was very salty and too cold. Again, the concept of the dish was good but the execution failed, especially against raw meat. 4. Desserts are a HUGE miss. See #1 above. The chocolate "sugar" cookie was neither chocolate nor sugar. It tasted like a bitter, unsweetened cocoa cookie. And raspberry ice cream? Raspberry according to whose palate? The blueberry sorbet was closer to its description but still not quite right. 5. We never received bread. Our server came back and asked us if we wanted more bread. We said, "Uh, we never received my bread to start with." Zoinks. And it is allegedly served with "melon" butter. Again, the taste delivery was off. Bread is very good...rustic and delicious. 6. Service was slow. Come on. The place wasn't packed AND it is not that big of a restaurant. 7. Saving grace of the night? The cocktails! The Shady Lane and the Smash made with Maker's Mark were both killer good drinks. Bravo on that. I really, really wanted to dig this place. I love that everything is house-made. But there appears to be disconnects and missed executions on the food, not to mention confusion as to what the restaurant concept really is. Blasting the Black Keys and Rolling Stones at high volume made it difficult to have conversation. Sorry, Willeyville, but you have some kinks to work out.
(2)Keith G.
One of the many reasons we love Cleveland is the selection of interesting restaurants in cool spaces. Willeyville was not one of them. Located on the East Bank of the flats, the location is really cool but the new building (A-Loft Hotel) is without history, personality or creative design. The food and service were very good but the menu was a little too heavy for our liking. Overall, there was nothing memorable about the atmosphere, menu or service. Probably would not return.
(2)Trevor C.
Overall excellent experience. Another guy in the office and I headed down there for lunch today. We had a lot of loose ends to tidy up so we made it a point to order apps, desserts, and drinks, just of course to buy us some time! Anyhow, overall excellent. I'll break it down. Wait Staff: The waiter was very well informed about what the kitchen was doing. He explained to us how they made many items in house, including the vinegar, all the sauces and dressings, and their own fermented and pickled items. He was also attentive to the small details, such as new flatware and wiping the table clean after each course. Very nice touch. Menu: The menu was short, sweet, and had a little bit of something for everyone. There were meaty options like the large pastrami sandwich and today's special, a duck confit crepe. There were also attractive salads and meatless entrees. I mostly like that the menu is short because you know that they are using the freshest ingredients possible. The waiter also pointed that out and the menu also indicates their devotion to local farmers. The Food: We started with the smoked chicken wings and the calamari. Both were amazing. I usually shy away from calamari at restaurants but ordered this just to see if the chef could win me over. He did. The combination of sauces he used to dress them really stood out. I had the duck and pork shoulder confit crepe for lunch. It was served in a deep casserole-like plate with a light yogurt based sauce and sliced, pickled radishes on top. The dish was very nice. Not too fatty or too rich (considering that confit duck and pork could be) and the quality of the meat really stood out. My business colleague had the pastrami. I had a piece of that and besides the house-made pastrami being moist and tender, the choice of cheese and pickle was also nice. The house made bread buttered and toasted was also appropriate. For dessert, I had the house made smores. It was a little difficult to eat, but I can't remember the last time I had a non-messy smores. Well worth a try with a cup of coffee. The Drinks: The names of both drinks we ordered are out of my vocabulary. Both were quite good but unfortunately they featured homemade names that now escape me. Overall: I'm looking forward to going back for dinner service. Trevor
(5)Jill M.
This was an excellent place for lunch. Knowledgable and attentive staff, many organic items, all house made condiments, light yet satisfying. Some very complex dishes. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Kelly R.
Overall this was pretty good. I went for Happy Hour. The HH menu is limited and the wine list is $2 off. I went on a Friday afternoon, right after work, there were a few other patrons seated in the bar area. Madeline, the bartender, was attentive without being overbearing. I proceeded in ordering a glass of wine, an order of fries and the bratwurst sandwich. The sandwich and fries arrived shortly thereafter. The fries were good, crispy and seasoned on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. They were served with a side of housemade ketchup and malt vinegar. The sandwich was a little bit small. The bratwurst link was tasty by itself, but the massive bun and sauerkraut/slaw completely masked the bratwurst. Each component by itself was tasty but just couldn't really taste the meat. The selling point for Willeyville is the housemade concept related to condiments, drink mix-ins etc I would return, just wouldn't be my go-to for Happy Hour....maybe dinner. .
(3)Michael J.
This was one of the best meals I've had in Cleveland this year. Before giving a review it should be noted that the dining experience here for lunch is completely different than dinner. The menu changes dramatically for the two periods. Dinner was a culinary masterpiece. Every item ordered was thoughtfully crafted and elegantly displayed. I ordered the duck squared. The dish was phenomenal. Crispy duck served two ways. It was drizzled with whipped strawberries and other fruits. The super sweet was perfectly balanced by salty napa cabbage served in a pastry. The calamari appetizer was one of the best calamari dishes I've ever had. The flavor combinations were delicious with an emphasis on candied ginger. We also ordered the chilled peach soup. This could have doubled as a dessert. It was a very sweet soup, perfect on a hot summer day. Instead of veggies, it was bursting with pureed fruits in a peachy cream broth. All in all the food was amazing at prices $10-15 less than comparable entrees in restaurants in Tremont or on East 4th. You really get a great value for some incredibly thought out dishes.
(5)Alex A.
This is a saturday night dinner review. 3 of us for dinner. Started out with dark and stormy which was pretty good and the big ben...was ok. appetizers...popcorn..whatever they sprinkled on this was super spicy and irritating, all of us were coughing. also the poutin...was fine, hard to mess up bacon and french fries, house made ricotta and toast...again, was ok, nothing new. dinner...salmon....average. i had the asian short rib...didnt taste marinated, was chewy, and cold. came with rice which wasnt seasoned at all. wife had gnocchi which werent gnocchi...just two triangles of dough that tasted like nothing. This place was good for drinks but the food was below average.
(2)Rob S.
The pork shank entree was fantastic. The meat just fell off the bone. The gnocchi was also very good but the portion size was disappointing. The atmosphere was very quaint and enjoyable. The hummus appetizer was good but the potato chips were extremely salty. The pita chips were perfect with good texture. I would recommend this place to friends.
(4)Aaron M.
Ok so I know I have been handing out a few 5 star reviews lately. But understand I go out three to five times a week! I only write reviews when something really stands out. The Willeyville really stands out! This was my fifth time there and I am consistently impressed. Everything is made in house...everything. Bread, cheese, charcuterie, ice cream, EVERYTHING. It is quickly becoming one of my new favorite places. Atmosphere is great. Though I will agree with my friends phase two of the flats will really enhance the experience. Right now it's still kind of a destination. Though The Willeyville is worth it! My highlights are the Proper Poutine, the Hanger Steak, and anything pork! I have tasted about 3/4 of the menu and everything has been exceptional. Don't leave without trying the sticky bun!
(5)Steve S.
I think I'm being generous with 3 stars, was really leaning toward 2. Decided to go based on positive yelp reviews. It was Monday evening, the Indians had a home game so I get it, it was a bit slow. I sat at the bar for dinner. Nice conversation with the bartender to get things started but then it was kind of downhill. Calamari was good - not exceptional, but very good. Placed my order for salad (bibb salad - good, but needed some gorgonzola or something to counter too many cherries) and entrée (small bucatini - good but overcooked pasta - needed to be al dente). Never brought my glass of wine until I reminded the bartender that I ordered it and WTF, they only serve bread to certain customers? My bread plate sat empty all night while the bartender poured herself some chocolate Teddy Grahams (overheard her say to another customer "they don't serve us here") in between texting on her phone...service just fell off - it's about the customer experience and the food and Willeyville disappointed in the service department...who allows bartenders to openly text in front of paying customers when they should be asking I would like any bread at all!! Hard for me to recommend this place to be honest. A group of ladies seated behind me asked the hostess to remove some dead bugs from the area on their way out....someone better pay attention to the small things at Willeyville - it's not the customer's job.
(3)Brian M.
I've been here twice so far and I can't wait for my third time. I've had the oysters, rigatoni, and I think it was duck carnitas with flour tortillas. All three were absolutely delicious. Our servers were knowledgeable and very attentive and couldn't have been better. Their food and beer recommendations were spot on. The bread is baked in house with their homemade flavored butters which vary by the day and both are spectacular. I don't think it's possible to have bad food in this establishment. It looks like they are always changing the menu, so I can't wait to try any new additions.
(5)Jenn D.
I recently had lunch with a colleague and was excited to try this restaurant as I've heard many good things. Both of us ordered salads. I went with the Chef's Salad and my colleague went with the Wedgie. All I can say is that the restaurant should be embarrassed. Each salad was $14 or more and neither filled the small plate. I don't mind overpaying for a good salad but I at least expect to be semi-full when I leave. I won't go back. Other places in town (i.e. Crop, Greehouse, Hodges) have figured this out, very dissapointed.
(1)Lauren S.
Service was pretty uneven. Our waitress seemed to never get our drink order right for our party of 8. She seemed overwhelmed, they could of had someone helping her rather than all standing around at the bar. The food was pretty good, nothing super special. The building is pretty cool, I like how it is decorated. Would go back for drinks.
(3)Maggie B.
I was excited to see places coming back to The Flats, but honestly I was underwhelmed with the restaurant. The food was just okay, some seemed a little confused at times with TOO many flavors working against each other. The wait staff were not friendly and were not interested in answering any questions about the menu- quite honestly they seemed annoyed. I would be willing to give it another chance though.
(3)Krystal C.
Go here. Seriously, this place should always be packed. The gracious and flexible hosts, to the wonderful cocktails, to the amazing service and last but not least the awesome food. I had the pork belly ramen which was very flavorful and just what one should have on a chilly cleveland night. We even stayed at the restaurant late, and Never once felt pressured to leave.
(5)Matt K.
If you want to pay $13 for a breakfast sandwich this is your place. I would have been more satisfied with a McD's breakfast sandwich. The other sandwiches are average in taste, but locally sourced ingredients make them more appealing.
(2)Ms. E.
Come on down to Willeyville! (After seeing JT's skit on SNL...I just can't help thinking of that jingle when I see the name! ;-) ) Seriously though... The Willeyville is a GREAT new restaurant in the recently developed East Bank (Flats) region! The servers are very knowledgeable when it comes to describing the various menu items/wine list and making recommendations. The food is so delicious that it can stop conversation for a few moments (while taking in the flavor combinations that have been created by the chefs). In addition, they use high quality ingredients from local farms/businesses and in my mind ...that means that they care about the quality of the food that they serve. We started our meal with a fabulous bottle of wine, the fresh bread/herb butter and the Potted Smoked Salmon, which was a smoked salmon spread served with crostini, and what we liked most was that the smoked salmon flavor did not get lost when combined with the other ingredients. It was scrumptious! For our main courses, I had the Seared Salmon, which was delicious and beautifully prepared. My boyfriend had the Hanger Steak, which our server had recommended, and it was "to die for"...extremely tender, flavorful and definitely a conversation stopper. (I was glad my boyfriend offered me a bite of his meal! :-) ) We didn't actually have room for dessert, but we were so tempted by the list of options...that we decided to split the ricotta cheesecake and each enjoyed a glass of the limoncello. We didn't just "have dinner" at The Willeyville. Instead, it was a dining experience and I would go there again in a heartbeat. (I actually just joined Yelp, so that I could write this review! ) I hope people will start venturing over to the East Bank, because this new restaurant is *worth* it!
(5)Nick C.
Crazy good stuff - everything made from scratch...i mean everything.(ketchup - really? yes - even ketchup.) Got to try the Duck MacMuffin - with house made English muffins cooked in duck fat - amazing topped with a house made duck sausage patty with some sweet maple syrup, fresh arugula and an over easy egg. Surprised by the Ricotta sampler - never been a fan - but the variety had so much flavor(smoked paprika, merlot soaked and whipped with EVOO). Hope this place does awesome ! Great cocktails too - homemade ginger beer, vermouths, etc...very knowledgeable (and personable) staff. Cool specialty beer list and cocktail/wine list.
(5)PJ N.
i so wanted this to be a GREAT restaurant......such a cool location, neat interior, but food, just OK.......yeah, i get the relaxed, casual vibe but a hostess waltzing around the diningroom in black flip-flop......seemed like she stopped in from the pool to seat a few people........servers are friendly but a bit unpolished and untrained. they want to help, but just don't know what to do. and what's with the "bananarama doo-rags" in al lthe girls' hair? decor is snazzy, comfortable and current......the menu feels a bit confused. is it home-stlye comfort or upscale hip? i don't know, i don't think that the kitchen knew. cocktails were great......had a couple of rounds. for apps we had the rock shrimp ceviche and the chacutterie (sp?) board. the ceviche was served with flour tortilla chips, yuck, and the ceviche lacked any bit of acidity, despite the lime wedge garnish. i wouldn't order this again. the chacutterie board/plate was large with a wide variety of house cured meats....many of which were lack-lustre and seemed to be made by a meat curing trainee that hadn't quite figured it out yet. the liver pate was delicious, the other stuff- mortadella (not even close to being), some terrible pork belly that seemed like boiled bacon sans the smoke and an "almost" proscuitto were gross, but the knockwurst....HEAVEN!!! so delicious, i could have eaten plates of this!!! our salads were a golden beet salad.......sounded good but disappointing! the beets were buried in a heavy layer of green weeds with sprinkles of tarragon topped with a smoked cheese of some sort. no acidity to balance the dish, just a bunch of mish-mash ingredients thrown into a weird shaped bowl a la 1999. one slice of wonderful bread was given with cocktails, why? before i even had a chance to ask for a second slice with our salads, our butter, plates and silverware were scooped up. for dinner we had the duck squared and the city chicken. i was confused by both. the carrot mash was delicious but the city chicken meat seemed over fried until hard and dry. the duck squared was duck confit, a breast wrapped in bacon and thigh with leg served with some foamy carrot juice and traces of some sauce a feta cabbage strudel (which was the highlight of this dish) and beets. both entrees had the makings of a great dinner but never got there. homestyle seemed to be trumped by highbrow thoughts trumped by homestyle......food was good, but NOT great, nothing memorable! the highlight of the entire meal was dessert, even thought i really didn't want anything, i was talked into it and glad that i was!!! the chile sugar cookie ice cream sandwich, WOW!!! they could make a mint on selling this out of a truck for sure!!! a slightly spicy sugar cookie filled with a sweet corn ice cream......what an original idea that came to fruition!!! i could have eaten bowls full of that ice cream!!! we also had a rhubarb cumble topped with chamomile ice cream......the crumble, meh, not so good, but that chamomile ice cream, to die for!!!!! the real star of the night was the person responsible for the house made ice creams!!!!!! i think i would come here for drinks and dessert and skip the stuff in the middle........don't lose the ice cream "chef"----they're genius!!!
(2)Emily P.
A nice clean, spacious restaurant and bar! The food has never disappointed me (I'd recommend the poutine), and they have a great bar menu. The staff has also been super friendly and helpful any time I'm in! Definitely not hoity toity, but classy for as laid back as it is! Also, good for groups.
(5)Elana B.
Must start with the fries (listed on menu as proper poutine)- they were amazing- spicy and flavorful with all sorts of textures! You should have seen the look I gave to one of the staffers that tried to take that plate away when there were still 5 fries on it. I mean- really?! The pork and duck tacos were perfect too. Great flavor and the tortillas were a cross between naan and matzah- so yummy! My husband wasn't thrilled with his ciopinno, but he did just get back from san fran and just no comparison. The cheeses on the cheese plate were all very mild, would be nice to have one stronger type. The whoopie pie was like, whatever. The apple crisp brought it! Oh- and so right after we paid we saw the waitress come out with cotton candy for another table and we were all, "why you no tell US about cotton candy?" and she said the people were friends with the owner. But then what did she do next?! Brought some out for us! Plus- she was awesome from the start. Oh- and great music/playlist. I will be going back.
(4)Taylor S.
We had drinks, dinner, and dessert and it was excellent. We ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer which was good not great. Main courses ordered were the mahi mahi, duck, gnocchi, and the gnudi. All were delicious. Above all else, the service was outstanding. We never had a water glass even half full and when someone went to the restroom the waiter took their dish and put it under the heater to keep it warm. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Veronique D.
I know this place just opened, so they may improve in the next 6-9 months. The food was cold and not that good. The food was presented like an "at-home practicing type presentation." They had too many servers standing around in corners just waiting, Im not sure for what. The servers were not aware, at all. I think since we went so early in the evening they hadn't warmed up yet. Honestly, I would have preffered to eat in the Warehouse district than at this place or try the Italian restaurant in the hotel next door. The fire alarm was going off during half of our visit. The manager did not come up to the tables & apologize for the annoying noise during the first half of our visit. The hostess did advise us that there was not a fire. In addition, she sure did bark orders at one of the servers in front of us. As I made my way to the one stall restroom, I saw an employee eating food with his bare hands out of a bowl in the kitchen, where they were preparing food for customers. You can park on the street, paid parking lot or garages.
(2)Tim F.
One of the best Bloody Mary's that I've ever had. Food was great. Easy parking to and from the Browns game. Excellent service as well.
(5)Erik N.
Nice atmosphere. Dined solo at the bar. Friendly staff, creative menu, decent beer/wine selection.
(4)Sheila B.
We went there in the evening for some after dinner drinks and dessert. My guest had the Willey's Jamaican Planter's Punch, which was especially delicious. Definitely worth getting again. I got the Bitter Sweet, which was really much more bitter than sweet. At times, it felt like I was trying to take medicine instead of enjoying a drink. They were a little pricey for Cleveland ($11) a drink, but they definitely had a good dose of liquor in them. The bread itself was pretty good, but the beet butter was eh. It would have been really good butter if it was sold to us as just that, but the fact it had some sort of beets mixed in made it taste absolutely no different than normal butter. We ordered the Ohio Apple Crisp with the house-made cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. The crisp was absolutely delicious. Apples had a great flavor and were soft but not yucky applesauce mush. The ice cream had a wonderful mild flavor to it, but tasted more like vanilla ice cream than like a cinnamon sticky bun ice cream. Overall not a bad experience, food was pretty good and depending on the drink you ordered, the drinks weren't bad either. A bit pricey for what you got and for its location. I would go back, but let's just say I wouldn't be dying for the chance to go back.
(3)Emily S.
The Flats are making a comeback, and The Willeyville is out front! This is a great addition to the new area. The decor is very chic and relaxing. There are large windows that let in a lot of natural light, so it is great place to go on a sunny Cleveland day. I love the open kitchen lay out, so you can always see whats going on. My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 7:30. We were able to make reservations on Open Table, which was a good thing, because this place was packed! The word is out that The Willeyville is the next restaurant to try in Cleveland. There was a mix of mid twenty somethings all of the way to people in their 50's and 60's. We started with the shrimp ceviche, and it was the perfect amount to get us started. It came with some pita chips that were very complementary. We each ordered a drink... a glass of chardonnay for myself and a moscow mule for my man. I always love when a moscow mule comes in the traditional copper mug!! I ordered the bucatini alla matriciana and only needed the small size. It was the perfect amount of food. It had a slight spice to it from the chili, and it was absolutely delicious! The other meal for the table was the hanger steak, which the boyfriend gobbled up immediately. This restaurant is going to be a great addition to the Flats and Cleveland. We will definitely be back!
(5)Carmel C.
I love this place!! It's my new fave downtown eatery. They serve an amazing chef's salad with delicious humus, crostini, and succulent chicken that's a fave lunch. I had the pasta special last night with a creamy vodka sauce over a thick, tubular lpasta that was AMAZING. And though I'd RARELY eat anything like a chili dog (not a big meat person) their chili dog and schnitzel is to die for. LOVE WILlEYVILLE!! You will too!
(5)