Winking Lizard
1615 Main St, Peninsula, OH, 44264
Winking Lizard Menu
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Address :
1615 Main St
Peninsula, OH, 44264 - Phone (330) 657-2770
- Website https://www.winkinglizard.com/storelocator/stores/(zip)/%2044011
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Danny M.
I was in the area for business when I went here with some coworkers for dinner and a few drinks. There was a laid back atmosphere and the staff was friendly. Great wings and huge selection of beer. While not being too touristy or gimmicky, this place maintains the smaller chain family owned feel which is nice. Overall, good experience here.
(5)Kevin S.
If you like hiking, the valley is a great place for you. And you'll have to hike, as the Winking Lizard parking lot only holds a few dozen cars, and a few of those cars appear not to have budged since the place was the Peninsula Night Club during the Crimean War. The parking math simply does not add up. Factor in all the private parking surrounding Hunkerville and you'll more than likely end up just staying home rather than risk the merry-go-round search for a place that's legal. Once you do make it inside, it has that abandoned warehouse feel: sticky floors, kitch-y decor, a half dozen "employees" loitering about. Our server was great, which explains the second star, but the noise level is such that you'll be inches from her ear and have the following exchange: "Do you have a wheat beer?" "Yes we have a Murfle-Burfle-Purfle that is a white beer." So I get one of those ghost-like beers that tastes like someone filled last night's beer glass with lemonade, rather than what I had tried to order. The food wasn't especially horrible, which is faint praise; I had perch that may just have come from the Kah-Hooga just across the tracks, and downstream of Akron's toilet brush. The beer selection must be the draw; the place was and probably always is packed with shouting people. (If I were of dating age and status, this is where I would go if I either had nothing to say to my date, or merely wanted to pretend I was listening while watching one of the seven hundred huge tee-vees hanging from every available rafter.) I suppose they'll keep everything just as it is; a full house is the only review most bar owners read. I can't recommend this dump.
(2)Scott H.
Can't quite give you four stars, but this is definitely my favorite location of the Cleveland-area chain and a standby which has beckoned me back at least several dozen times! Let me start by saying that I was terribly disappointed when management decided to remove the vintage bar from the front room effectively killing much of the historic ambiance that came with visiting the old 'Peninsula Nite Club'. What was left was a historic shell surrounding a fairly standard sports bar atmosphere. I do enjoy the huge U-shaped bar in the ballroom area, but it doesn't come close to what used to be. I'm sure it was all about increasing capacity, but I still had to say my piece. That said, I still love returning to Winking Lizard and this location specifically. Now that I live out of state, heading down the the Valley to meet friends returning to NE Ohio over the holidays has been an annual tradition for at least 15 years. An inimitable beer list (there's my three stars) is a huge draw and the food is always pretty solid for 'pub grub' taken up half a notch. Free popcorn is a huge plus for any place and certainly pays dividends as free salty snacks lead me directly to the beer taps. Favorites include the Bo-Man's sandwiches, wings and virtually anything doused in their signature barbecue sauce. I buy multiple bottles to take back to Chicago. Just don't read the Nutrition Facts as I'm amazed that a barbecue sauce could be so bad for you! :) Keep it up, Winking Lizard! You're like a trusty friend who's pissed me off a few times, but I keep coming back because I love ya!
(3)Missy G.
Love the photos in the main bar, from back when the bar was the club. Only wish it could stay like the club. Very uneven experiences here, with food sometimes tasting good, but experiences being utterly painful due to the poor seating, noise and wait. Back in November, the hostess sat us next to a party of 10, when the place was empty. The floor shook for no apparent reason (is it getting ready to collapse)and we could not carry on a conversation due to the noise. In the summer, we went there for lunch and everything was perfect, service, food and atmosphere. Sinatra playing in the background, terrific server, great food. In August, we went on a Saturday nite and had to wait an hour. The motorcycles took over the place.They sat us outside where patience was the key.. wait to order, and wait a long time for food. I got a vegetarian sandwich that was loaded with red peppers and was a sloppy mess. The cook could not think of anything else to put in the vegan burger. This place could be the best restaurant in all of Northeast Ohio. But it is not meeting it's potential. It is the most gorgeous and magical drive to the restaurant. If only they could make it the magical club it used to be, once again. If I had a million dollars, I would sink a lot of cash into it and make it the magical, mystical and most romantic place it used to be. But for now, it is "The Lizard." I will go back like a hopeless romantic, hoping for better.
(4)Nicole W.
Pros: Amazing beer selection, shuffleboard, popcorn, and a boss lizard. Cons: Food is subpar bar food. I've had good and bad service, it depends on the waitress. Fun to go if you want to try a new beer - but nothing to write home about.
(3)Justin H.
Hey another Winking Lizard. Same food (its good). But I really like this one. The bar is really cool. Long and seating on both sides. Recommend about any of the Great Lakes Brew.
(4)Graeme J.
I've travelled around the States a fair bit, but I'd never heard of this place - part of a chain of American-style taverns scattered around Ohio. I was pleasantly surprised. The TVs are tuned to a number of sports stations, and the sheer amount of STUFF covering every conceivable surface adds to the sensory overload, but this merely impresses more of the Americana-charm. I had a burger. It's rare for an establishment such as this to ask how you'd like your burger cooked, much more so for them to actually get it right, but they did on both counts. I had a delicious Guinness-soaked burger, cooked medium, and, because I hadn't had enough alcohol, chose a local beer from their extensive selection. This is a relaxed, friendly, and charming place. Plus, there are arcade games, a real lizard, oh, and did I mention the free popcorn? Great fun for all the family.
(4)Rob G.
A popular place, great young energy, packed bar, upscale bar grub, probably the best spot in a 25 mile radius.
(4)Yvone R.
Great one to catch a good bite of food! This Lizard is large compared to others I've been to. The parking is horrendous, but worth it on a nice day. They have a wonderful outdoor area. Many TVs on the inside and decent food portions. Tasty.
(4)Tamara C.
We had a great server. I can tell you the food is good, but not fabulous, go out of our way good. The flight of beer option allowed us to try odd named beers (with a Halloween theme). I do like the barbeque sauce, we brought some home. This is a good place to go if you don't know what you want - many options. I had the barbeque ribs - which i have to say was good and my husband had the steak. The steak lacked flavor even after we had sent the food back to the chef. We did enjoy the loaded fries and roasted veges.
(4)Blaine H.
100's of beer choices and hiking? Seriously? Since I like good imported beer, hiking, biking, and a great view...what's not to like? Been here a few times, but always feel guilty when it's not coupled with exercise. LOL. The hot wings are better than BWW's, but it is the pints from around the world that get my attention. :o)
(4)Kathy J.
I have been going to the Lizard for over 10 years. This is my go-to restaurant and I can honestly say I have never had anything "bad" on the menu. The steak fries are amazing, the wings are fantastic, the selection of beer can't be beat. I also love their salads, burgers ... everything! Yes the parking situation is pretty bad. Come during off-hours to avoid the parking bottleneck.
(5)Brendan L.
Terrible service. Our waitress was unfamiliar with the special and told they did not have baby back ribs. I told her they were on the special board and she said she would check the seasonal menu ( if they were on there I would not have to ask about them). If people don't like to perform well at their jobs stay home. The service industry is in a sad state. Please read other reviews before you try this place.
(1)Amy T.
I like this Winking Lizard mostly because of Location! Location! Location! In the fall, their is nothing better than a hike/walk/ride through Peninsula.
(4)Charles M.
I've been to a number of Winking Lizard restaurants around Cleveland and my response is becoming, "what, another one?!" We drove into Peninsula after a hike by the deep lock and quarry, and I thought the town was very charming. And then, "what, another one?!" It boggles my mind that the area will support so many branches of this mediocre chain, but the awkward parking lot was overflowing. Bar food is bar food is bar food, and that's pretty much all you can get here. Unfortunately, I was not in the mood for deep-fried whatever the last time I was strong-armed into going here and found that even the salads are covered in meat and fried stuff. Add in running children, a loud videogame arcade, and more TVs than an appliance store and you've got what apparently passes for family entertainment in this area. If that's your thing, then godspeed to you. I'd rather not go back.
(2)Bob B.
Generic fried food, burgers. Lots of Beers. Loud. TVs. That about sums it up.
(1)Edward H.
First a rant re: a goofy dumbass cheap corporate policy: as of July 27th: in addition to charging you $0.50 for each two-ounce cup of extra salsa for their Mexican dishes, $0.40 for extra wing sauce, etc, the cheapskates at the Lizard are now charging $0.80 for each extra 2-3 oz of salad dressing. SUpposedly have "always been doing it" but never encountered it until this week in Peninsula--maybe the wait staff, being customer-oriented, have been evading this ridiculous policy. How many other restaurants do this? It is illogical; dressing for salads is like ketchup for fries, and some people use more while others use less, but no one is charged by the oz. Salsa is like ketchup for chips and mexican dishes. Their policy is not even internally consistent: hog up the ketchup and BBQ sauce for free if you want, but get out your checkbook if you actually want to see sauce on your buffalo wings. Suggest that others annoyed by this also rant, and better still, complain to the managers. As for me, I'm cutting back on my usual weekly visits and boycotting their salads. The rest of the review: One of a local chain, this branch is located in the scenic Cuyahoga Valley in a cute & tiny town. Lots of atmosphere in its old roadhouse setting. Occasional live music. Bar is active and loud--not a good place for conversation (or families unless they like lots of stimulation). Come between lunch and dinner hours if you want a quieter environment (though hostesses tend then to push guests to sit in the bar whether one wants that or not; assert yourself to get the eating ambiance you prefer). Nice little patio but not a particularly scenic one given it's right on the parking lot. Lines can get long in the summer on weekends (Fishers across the street is a good alternative if you don't want to wait). SItting in the front window area is best if you are interested in scenery and local color. Food is consistent and of good quality, but not always a good value in terms of pricing. Lunch and dinner specials are the best values. Much of the food I'd describe as basic bar food, although there are some excellent (if perhaps overpriced) salads. Their BBQ sauce is popular hereabouts and superior to national chains, but not really authentic pit-style BBQ. Excellent beer selection--a strength. Burgers are basic, flavorful and large but lacking the extra touches like toasted buns. Nice menu variety--something for everyone (although not so much for vegans). Staff are friendly and helpful but service can sometimes be variable. Note: To be fair, however, I would consider some of the reviews posted here to be overly critical and not representative of my typical experience here. I am a fussy regular and not an enamored fan who lacks objectivity, but I easily find enough to like here to come 2-3 times a month, or did until they went cheapo on the sauces (see introductory rant).
(2)Jace C.
Best wings ever! I use to go to school at Kent State early in 2000 ... I guess I never really appreciated this place as I was always looking for the "college" places to hang out. I've started coming back to Hudson for work, and have ended up here at least 1 or 2 nights a week. Great bar, great atmosphere ... amazing grown up selection of good beers, Begian and German brews, as well as all sorts of good micro brews. The Curry wings are amazing, all the wings are good. I also love the Big Ed burger with the preferred fries... definitely tavern style food, but you can't go wrong. Good place to go and chill if you're traveling solo for work ... always end up with good conversation with the friendly locals at the bar.
(5)Mike O.
Ok. I eat at a winking lizard once a week or so because I do there World tour of beers. You sign up, drink different beers and get a gift at milestones like 50 and 100. It does get expensive but if you're like me and want to try all the different beers anyway this is kind of cool. The food is good, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza and wings for the most part. Service is pretty good at this location but I have no knowledge about the rest of them as I usually eat at this one. As mentioned in other reviews parking can be a bear. They have outdoor seating but you can't smoke there. Just a heads up. Oh, FREE popcorn.
(4)Christine B.
This place is great at all times of the year, but especially SUMMER/SPRING!!! The outside seating area is nice. The beer selection is HUGE!!! The pizzas are GREAT! I love this place!!!
(5)Tony T.
Excellent! It's kid friendly before 7 o clock ish and the food is good enough for a real meal. They have a very good selection of beers, I'm guessing 40 plus kinds? Definitely a must stop if you're staying in the Akron/Fairlawn/Peninsula area. From what the people around here say it's the best of the local Winking Lizard chain. (In reply to the person who said it's loud: Seriously??? This is a bar. If you want quiet, then go to some place other than... I don't know... a bar?
(5)John H.
If you want a bar with great food, Winking Lizard is the place for it. There are several of these in the greater Cleveland area but the Wink in Peninsula is by far my favorite. Cute town and good atmosphere with the Wink's always impressive beer selection.
(4)Gulshan I.
Good sports bar. All American food. Good selection of wings and burgers. Quick friendly service. Reasonable prices.
(4)Jim P.
Take a rest from hiking to enjoy some grease! THE UP-SIDE: There's not much to choose from in Peninsula, Ohio. Thankfully, they have a Winking Lizard just off the Cuyahoga Valley recreational tow path trail. As such, this place is usually crammed full of family-folk looking to have some greasy bar food and take a break from all the walking or biking. THE DOWN-SIDE: The food is just bar food, and nothing more. While I normally don't mind that type of food, it would be incredible if a restaurant could open up by the tow path that served healthy, non-greasy, food. I guarantee that people would be happy to take a break from the physical fitness stuff for something more healthy to eat. THE SUM-IT-UP: This is the only lively and consistent restaurant/bar in Peninsula. It's not bad, but it isn't great by any means. Mostly, it's just a stop for tired people from the tow path trail.
(3)Missy M.
Excellent beer selection, great food and service! They have at least 100 beers available - around 20 on tap (sign up for the "world beer tour"). Lots of monthly specials: we got a bucket - 5 - of Mexican beers (not the usual stuff), t-shirt and bottle opener for like $2.50/beer . . . and a couple of very cool keepsake STONE LEVITATION ALE glasses. Our server was helpful in suggesting beers (she told us they are all required to sample a few beers so they can best describe to customers - how do I get a job here?!). Food is good - we had wings, rings and some sammiches.
(4)Racer X.
Not sure how you could rate this place 5 stars. Most of the time it's decent enough. Average to "a-notch-above" bar food.. most of the time. Although quite often the service is slow, it's loud, and the food is not "right".. as in they've not changed the fry grease in a while. Overall decent enough place.. especially if you want reasonably priced chow and decent beer to swill. Actually their beer list is the strength. And thank God it's smoke-free now. In the past it was like eating in a break room at the mill.
(3)Patrick B.
This is my favorite place to grab a bite to eat. The Winking Lizard serves a variety of different food, based around American bar food. The wings are what they're known for. They have a great atmosphere and are family friendly. They have a game room full of video games. There are several TV's scattered throughout and a happening bar sits as the center of attention. Every couple of months, they have a different specials menu with food only found on the specials menu. There is a patio overlooking the greenery of the Cuyahoga Valley. You would be able to see the river if it wasn't for the trees. This place is highly recommended for families and those wanting a quick bite to eat after a day of recreation in the Cuyahoga Valley.
(5)andrew s.
good food, nothing special except their bbq sauce which is utterly my fav. its a chain, but a local one at that with a better than average beer selection. enough said?
(4)Jessica I.
Standard Lizard fare- that is to say, something for everyone- in a nice setting. The location of this one, directly off of the Towpath, makes it a nice post-bike ride (or post-run, if you're into that sort of thing) stop for a refreshing quaff. Like other locations, they have an insanely large and well-curated beer list. Check out the cool cellar for a more unique drinking or dining experience.
(3)Kristen W.
The lizard never disappoints! I love the location of this restaurant because it's really convenient when I'm on my way to blossom for a concert. It can get really busy at times but the bar is huge! Snack on some popcorn will you drink a craft beer and decide what to eat. I've had both the boneless and regular wings here before and they are not to be missed! The last time we ended up here, I had the buffalo chicken sandwich and it was the bomb. Seriously, the bread of the sandwich was two pieces if garlic toast... Are you on your way to Winking Lizard yet?
(4)Jessie R.
I love this place. Loads of choices the tour of beers is aweaome, it can be pricey but trying new beers is fun and i dont have to buy a 6 pack or more. And the cellar bar is great! Justin, the barkeep knows how to make preprohibition cocktails!
(5)Tom D.
The Caribbean spice wings are the best thing on the menu, fried pickles are great as well as the burgers
(5)Ibn B.
As I sat at the bar with a beer my friend bought for me, a waitress came up and grabbed it out of my hand, saying "gimme that." She didn't even bother checking my ID... I'm 22. I got her attention and showed her my ID, but she refused to pour a new one. The wings are passable but the service was awful and ruined my night. He's issuing a charge back on his credit card now.
(1)Samantha H.
It is very nice that it is a stop right off of the train. So if you are bored on the train then this is the place to come. It's pretty much just like all the other winking Lizards. It has a good beer selection but the food is not so good. We got the po-boys in honor of Mardi Gras and they were not so good. Every time I have been to one of these the food is off.
(3)Mike J.
Wife and I stopped for lunch. Excellent beer selection. I had the steak and cheese, and she had the large order of loaded fries. Both were delicious. Friendly service too.
(4)Leah H.
My husband & I stopped in while waiting for our dinner reservation at a restaurant near by. They have a great selection of beers but I was slightly disappointed in the fried macaroni & cheese appetizer I ordered. It was obviously frozen and just dropped in the deep fryer. Very little macaroni & cheese and mostly breading. The free popcorn was a plus though. Wouldn't return specifically for anything but it was worth it just for the beer and decent price of it.
(3)Chas M.
My favorite of all the Winking Lizards. Its a very cool old niteclub and the drive to get there is through the awesome Cuyahoga Valley Nation forest! I love taking rides on Sundays starting on Rockside Rd and winding through till we hit the Lizard. The service can be good, depending on who ya get. It seems the bar area is more busy and longer waits. They have a cool game room for kids too! Watch out for weekends..its by the tow path so you wil see a lot old old guys who ride bikes wearing the little spandex outfits...I just threw up a little... Oh, and they have a patio for those obnoxious "I have to sit outside and eat" people..
(4)Alison M.
I love the Wink, and I especially love that this one was right across from the bicycle shop where my friends and I started our Towpath bike adventure. After 14 miles on that lovely path, it was great to have good food so close by. As always, the first order of business was to go say hi to the lizard. I've forgotten this one's name (Heisman, maybe? Something weird like that...), but he was sufficiently adorable and made my lizard-loving husband reiterate his wish for a giant terrarium. Then it was food time! I had a hard time choosing between all the delicious protein-ful sandwiches, but I ended up with a BBQ pulled chicken and gouda sandwich that was exactly what I didn't know I needed. I ended up bequeathing the second half of my sandwich to a hungry husband, but I'll always remember that first half. :) On the drinks side, I was sad not to find anything that sounded especially exciting on the draft beer list, but I was consoled by the existence of a Coke Freestyle machine and therefore endless Fanta Zero. Mmm, Fanta Zero. And the best benefit, free wifi! With my phone's poor signal in town, it was nice to be able to get my email and social media ready for the ride back to my friends' place. Now that I know that this Towpath-Wink combination exists, you can bet I'll be back here for both the next time I'm in town.
(4)Gretchen B.
Wings, burgers and beer - all kinds of beer. Great selection of bottle beer and tap. Great selection of wings, burgers, and salads. Lots of big screen Tvs to watch the ball game. Free popcorn and a big green live lizard in the window. What more can you ask for?
(4)Alex T.
The lizard is by far one of my favorite places to go in town, most people have never heard of it, especially if they're from out of town but this local chain is slowly spreading and I hope it continues to do so. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal at any of their locations but my absolute favorite thing to get here is the white pizza with pepperoni. I could eat it every day. The wings they serve are amazing also, and there are so many flavors you will not easily get tired of any one of them. If you're coming from out of town, I highly recommend stopping in, you won't regret it.
(5)Ed P.
During our recent trip on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, my family and I stopped at the Peninsula station to explore and get some lunch. As for as lunch goes, there isn't a whole lot in this historic village. Fortunately there is a Winking Lizard Tavern there, one of the eighteen locations of this northeastern Ohio based chain. The restaurant was pretty full for it being mid-afternoon on a Sunday. The restaurant is spacious enough that there was no wait, in fact we had our choice to be close to the game area or on the quieter side of the restaurant. I ordered the pulled BBQ chicken melt topped with smoked Gouda along with Applewood bacon and served between grilled sourdough with steak fries and a pickle spear ($8.79). The sandwich was large and tasty. The BBQ sauce was especially good. My wife enjoyed the Maui Maui grilled chicken sandwich, which is marinated in teriyaki and topped with grilled pineapple ($8.49). My kids devoured the mini corn dogs from the kids menu. From sandwiches and burgers to pizza and BBQ, there is something from everyone at the Winking Lizard. Plus the beer list is very good and constantly changing. Even if there were other places in Peninsula, this would still be the place to go.
(4)Kevin D.
The Winking Lizard has about 18 locations around northeastern Ohio, but I've always enjoyed visiting this location the most. I'm sure everyone has been to the Winking Lizard but if you're new to the area or just passing through, let me give you the down-low on this place. This location can be found in the small town of Peninsula, next to the Cuyahoga river, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Rail Road, and the Hike & Bike trail, which makes it an ideal place to grab some food or a beer. Unfortunately, due to the heavy foot traffic finding a parking spot can be a real pain in the butt, especially on the weekends. If you don't find a spot around the building you can usually find a spot around town. Just take note of the towing signs, Peninsula doesn't mess around. As for the restaurant, the building has been there since the early 20's from what I can tell. The main dinning room features vintage signs and photos, a large 'u' shaped bar, TVs in every direction you look, and a glass cage featuring what else... an iguana. They also have an outdoor patio for when the weather is nice out, and a VERY cool basement bar that used to be a speakeasy during the prohibition era. The food is usually good... I would give them 8 out of 10 most of the time. You're not going to find unique delicacies here, just your typical American food: BBQ, wings, burgers, salads, and pizzas. The free popcorn is a nice touch. What makes this place special though is their beer selection! Around 100 different beers to be exact. You can join what they call their 'Beer Tour', which is a competition to taste all 100 beers within a year and at the end they'll reward you a prize. I'm a 2004 beer tour alumni :) Some people have had bad experiences here, which I can understand. This place can get REALLY busy and you can't please everyone. I can only speak from my own experiences and over the past 15 years they have all been good ones! So the next time you're taking a trip through the valley, whether by car, train or bike, you should put this place on your agenda.
(4)Evie T.
We went to Winking Lizard with friends and we loved it. Decor is pretty cool, like a summer camp in Louisiana and they do beer bike rides in the summer and you can take a train ride back. The beer selection is outrageous in size and the cost per draft was pretty cheap. We are from Pittsburgh, so we were really excited to try new beers and they have a lot of local breweries on tap. We got wings, which were spot on and we really enjoyed their Mexican chicken salad. Our server was extremely helpful and she was also attentive the entire time. Overall this place was a blast, food and service were great and it didn't break the bank. We will definitely be visiting this place again this summer.
(5)Karen G.
Husband ordered Wednesday special of ribs. He said it was very good. I ordered tomato cucumber mozzarella with grilled chicken, also very good. Service great. Would eat here again!
(4)Thomas C.
5 stars for the beer list + 1 star for the food divided by two gives me a 3 overall. And this goes for all locations, because they are all the same on the inside - although I like this location best because of its backdrop of the national park. On a winter's day, you can actually cross country ski to the door, and pop in for a cold pint...Borderline sublime experience that can almost give you your "ski village" fix if you are missing Colorado. As for the restaurant itself: It is what it is. A place to find bonafide IPA on draft, with a menu that consists of a grab bag of items from the Sysco food truck unimaginatively dropped into a fryer or thrown en masse onto a flat top grill. Peninsula doesn't have many food options around, so if you are hungry, go to the Lizard, order a full bodied beer, and look for the least-worst thing on the menu. Good luck.
(3)Carolyn R.
The service was slow and we couldn't get water refills. The waitress asked how everything was and before I had a chance to swallow what was in my mouth to tell her she was gone. We both had our cards out to pay and instead of picking them up to charge them she dropped off the ck and took off before I could say to please take our cards. I started to say it but she was gone and never came back. I had to take the ck to the bar and request them to ck me out. Beside that, my friend's meal was very dry and they didn't even apologize. She had to take her glass to the bar to get a water refill since her meat was so dry. Overall it was a lousy experience.
(1)Kathy R.
Good location. Great draft selection. Food ok. Service not so good. I agree with Tom C's review. Good place to meet friends for a beverage ....watching the U.S. Open on one of the many screens. Food could be a lot better. So could the service. Since I am waiting alone, I have been ignored for 30 minutes. Guess I'll have some free popcorn....
(3)David T.
Great little dive bar in downtown Cleveland! If you like craft beers, this place is for you---sporting over a hundred different beers that I rarely find in my home town. The bartenders were friendly and they seemed to have a relatively extensive bar food menu though we didn't eat. Highly recommended for beer lovers!!
(4)Zac H.
Went hiking with my grandma and she said she had never been to The Winking Lizard so we decided to go there. The service was great and so was the food. My grandmother had a great time as well
(4)Robbie S.
Great food for the price. Despite how busy it always is, we were seated within ten minutes of being there. The staff all seemed super friendly and really keen on caring about the customers. Not much more to say other than that! They also have an actual lizard chilling in there. Can't go wrong with that!
(5)Cortney R.
I went to this Winking Lizard location on Saturday and the expierience was not consistant with the previous experiences I've had at the other locations. When we first walked in, we stood there waiting to be aknowledged. There were two ladies at the hostess stand who were just looking at us and finally, after a few awkward moments, they finally asked us how many were in our party. It was strange. We were then seated in the bar area. If I knew it was going to be that noisy, I would have asked to sit on the other side of the restaurant. The waiter came over and took our drink orders and came back promptly with our beers. We love trying new beers from the lengthy beer list they have. We then ordered wings and fries. I ordered regular wings with the spicy garlic sauce. My husband ordered boneless wings with a less hot sauce than I ordered. I'm not sure how long it was before we go out food but it felt like forever. When our food did come out, it was ice cold. My husband had also asked for his wing sauce to be on the side and it came out on the wings. After asking the waiter, he brought out a fresh, hot order for my husband. Here's the weird part. Although I ordered sauce that was higher on the spice scale than my husband's, his were 10x hotter! I tried a bite of his and it was like I was breathing fire. It was like drinking battery acid. Luckily, he likes hot wings so he didn't mind the heat but there's no way I would have been able to eat them. Overall, I feel that this specific location is going downhill. We were there at 3 in the afternoon so they weren't busy. There was really no excuse for the poor quality of our experience. I can't imagine what it's like there when they're packed.
(2)Matt S.
Basically like all the other Winking Lizards (check my review of the other WL for more detail), but this one is probably my favorite. Great location, right off the towpath. Nice outdoor patio with great scenery. They also have a cool little cellar bar that is usually open, but can also be reserved for private parties.
(5)Marjorie Z.
The chicken enchiladas on the summer menu were very satisfying and tasted great! I had a hard time choosing cause there were so many dishes to choose from. Our server was entertaining and engaging with a unique personality to bring to the job. The only strange thing was that when our food came out, we had to prompt the server to bring us silverware. Overall a great experience to round out a day in Cuyahoga Valley!
(4)Sandra J.
This place rocks, its kind of dark and nothing fancy inside, but you can't beat the great bar-food. I highly recommend the beef brisket sandwich with the iceberg wedge salad.......yummmmm....great service and always relaxing place.
(4)Adam V.
NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY. Normally a fan, but had some college-aged hostess yell at my two year old for playing on the games in the back (in a way I've seen lots of other kids play on/with the games and in a way in which other hostesses, bartenders and waitresses have seen him and others play). Usually go in once or twice a month, primarily because it was family friendly and there are games for my child to play while we wait for our food. My son actually would ask to go see lizard. After this experience, we may stop going there altogether.
(1)Sheena W.
We went here after a good little hike at CVNP. Very little parking available so you have to find a spot down the street and walk to the restaurant. We were seated by this arcade area where tons of little kids were playing. I did not mind it, but it was very loud and a little hard to have a conversation. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable, she suggested the Lamb Burger which is an April special and it was really tasty. We also enjoyed trying a couple different beers with our meal. The waitress said they were expanding their bar to allow for more drafts so that is cool if you're into trying different beers.
(3)Debra V.
Relaxed atmosphere at lunch. Enjoyed a bean-veggie burger. Delicious. Declined the fries. Had the vegetable of the day. Watched the stormy weather on the TVs.
(3)ChelleBelle V.
Always my favorite stop when I'm in town. Peninsula location is my fave. Best atmosphere, beer selections and pub grub around...even the salads are extreme!! Always order several appetizers to share and start with then we move on to the real menu items. We have fun ordering different things then sharing them together. The rings and wings are a must and the HANGOVER burger is amazing with the spicy mayo. Oh, dont forget the fried pickles either. They are thicker cut with perfect pickle/batter ratio and always served hot! They pair well with most beers too!! Stop in and stay a while. The wait is worth it and hope to get another round of the WINK before heading back to Texas!
(5)Bill G.
I'm a fan of The Winking Lizard. However, never got to try this one because the brain dead hostess just couldn't seem to get us seated. After every party that got seated, she would tell us we were next. This madness went on for 45 minutes until we left. If you see some snotty 20 year old at the hostess stand, god help you. We went on up to the new Wink on Rockside Road and had a delightful time. I don't get it.
(1)Cami T.
Ugh. Another disappointing day at a Winking Lizard. This is a typical stop for us after biking down the towpath. What's a better destination than a bar? Well...maybe I just need to find a different bar. Not only is the food overpriced and average, but last night I had the worst service! Our waitress looked like she wanted us to leave before we even sat down and never once tried to assist us any more than is required. What I was especially miffed with was they seemed to be out of everything! I tried to order a Cider. Nope. Then I tried to order a Wedge Salad. Nope. They're out of salad? Are you kidding me? Can't someone hop over to a grocery store and buy a couple heads of lettuce. I mean, seriously...lettuce?!? Overall, this is a great bar but it's a chain and they make it evident. I'd rather go to TGI Friday's to be honest...
(2)Diana M.
This is such a fun place to hang out and grab some beers and food!! The only bad thing is that there can occasionally be a wait. I was thrilled when they stopped letting people smoke on the patio!! I love to sit outside here in the summer but I hate being around smoke. Win!
(5)Mike B.
I wish yelp allowed half stars because this place doesn't really deserve a 4, but I wouldn't feel right about giving it a 3. Of the 4 Winking Lizard's I've been to (Bedford, Independence, Fairlawn) this one is my favorite. It's in the heart of Peninsula; which is such an awesome community. Huge beer selection, great service, cool atmosphere, decent bar food, & a game room featuring shuffleboard and pop-a-shot basketball. My few complaints include: not enough TVs in the bar area, too many damn kids running around, & the parking situation sucks. Tip: If the parking lot is full, try the Towpath Preschool parking lot on N. Locust Street. In the end, I'd say the positives totally outweigh the negatives.
(4)Matthew S.
Awesome beer selection. The bartenders were very friendly and efficient. Food was excellent. The buffalo chicken salad is a bowl of pure heated awesomeness! I've never had their wings but I hear they are very good. I'll be back!
(5)Nancy B.
Lunch Review I didn't have my phone with me during my solo errand day to capture this place almost empty... The floor is actually in good shape... never could notice it before :-) I have been coming here for many many years... newsflash to out of county folk... this isn't a new location... by any means! The service is always friendly and when it isn't fast they warn you... did I mention that it gets PACKED in there many nights? I don't know what bars other reviewers go to... but the fact that they fill the back of the paper place mat with the listing of all the beers (another reason to take a camera at all times!) makes it not the average bar to me. The soups of the day were Chicken Dumpling and Italian Wedding. I seem to be attracting IW these days so I decided to give the weekly salad special and a cup of soup a try. So the hubby didn't feel left out I took a slice of Key Lime Cheesecake home. Italian Wedding Soup - good chicken flavor to the broth, carrot celery chunks as big as the meatballs... which tasted and felt like Spaghetti O's meatballs of my youth... it made me giggle. Layered Chicken Salad - Fresh cold peas, chopped hard boiled egg, baby spinach, iceberg and some sort of shredded Colby that didn't taste natural. The dressing was sour cream, mayo and a small bit of sugar... it was like a summer pasta salad with lettuce instead. I couldn't even finish half. The waitress asked if I wanted a to go serving of dressing when I asked for a box... nice touch! Key Lime Cheesecake - Tangy New York style with a graham crust. It was covered in a thin layer of whipped cream and some toasted coconut that seemed out of place, but we would order it again. We will be back to give the hamburger menu a go :-)
(4)J B.
We use to go here when I was a kid. I can't wait to get back someday.. excellent food and nice atmosphere
(5)Megan T.
Worst. Experience. Ever. While waiting for our food (it was a first date), our server was bumped into and a number of draft beers were spilled onto me. My top and jeans were not just wet, they were drenched. Additionally, my cell phone was in my back pocket so it was also soaked in beer. I'm still hoping that by drying it out, it will begin working appropriately. Another server then stepped on one of the fallen glasses and the glass flew across the floor at my legs. What occurred after this incident is why I am truly dissatisfied with the service and response from management. The manager came over after the floor was cleaned up. He offered to buy me a beer to remedy the situation. That was not nearly enough in my opinion and I had no intention of even having a second beer that night anyway and I think a $3 beer was a highly inappropriate offer, given what had transpired. Then he offered dessert but I had no intentions of getting that either. I then had to tell him to comp my meal. This whole situation truly soured our evening out. I found it insulting that I had to ask the manager to comp my meal. He should have taken care of the expense of me and my date for the night give that it was extremely disruptive to our night. I'm a fan of Winking Lizard's typically, but this experience was simply horrible...
(1)Carolyn J.
I made reservations for a room for 60 people for lunch. We arrived via the Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad. The food and service were very good even though the restaurant was very full. The Pizza and wings were excellent. Love the Caribbean wing sauce. We would recommend this restaurant for lunch.
(5)Zach G.
We grabbed lunch here after riding the Cuyahoga Valley Line Railroad for a few hours. The wait to get a table was long, but worth it in the end. Service: Our server was friendly but could have been more attentive. We had to ask for napkins and silverware from another passing employee. Food came out fast enough considering how busy they were. Spicy BBQ Chicken Wings: Not too spicy, but still had a good kick. The flavor was a good as any other wings I've had lately. Definitely recommended. Bacon Cheeseburger: Was cooked as ordered and had a good flavor. The burger wasn't to dry and it was big enough to fill me up. Served with a side of steak fries. I'm not usually a steak fry fan, but these were good enough to keep me munching. Overall I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this if you're in the area if you're ok with a long wait.
(4)