30 of the Most Romantic Restaurants In Cleveland

Guarino’s

12309 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland

Established in 1918, Guarino's in Little Italy is Cleveland's oldest restaurants and is still a family operation. The old world decor tends toward Victoriana and the kitchen's pasta, veal and seafood dishes are all Italian.

Photo via Guarino’s/Facebook

Red, the Steakhouse

Multiple Locations

Luscious slabs of beef and creative, indulgent salads, sides and desserts make this modern American steakhouse a prime location for well-heeled meat-eaters. A well-organized wine list, gracious service and contemporary rustic decor with a Napa-like sophistication complete one of the best steakhouses in the midwest.

Photo via Scene Archives

Cru Uncorked

34300 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills

Maybe the fanciest joint in town, this Moreland Hills French fine dining restaurant is truly one of a kind in the region. If it wasn't for the table settings, it would be easy to forget that you were touring a public restaurant and not the private home of the wealthiest family on the street — a street that also happened to be located in the ritziest zip code in town. The actual building looks like it was plucked from the Normandy countryside.

Photo via Scene Archives

Don’s Pomeroy House

13664 Pearl Rd., Strongsville

This restored mid-19th century mansion, which overlooks the town square of Strongsville, creates a dining experience that can’t be replicated. Featuring a traditional menu of steaks, seafood and chops, Don’s is pretty traditional menu-wise, but everything is done right. What’s really cool about this place is all of the different rooms of the mansion you can sit in - the study, the parlor, the library, the pub, or the patio when the weather’s right.

Photo via Don’s Pomeroy House/Facebook

Sunset Harbor

625 Prospect St., Fairport Harbor

Located on Lake Erie, this hidden gem sits on the dock of a fishing pier in Fairport Harbor, out east by Mentor. Enjoying some fish tacos and a cold beer is our idea of summer, while watching the sun set over the 90-year-old Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse.

Photo via Sunset Harbor Bar and Grille/Facebook

Le Petit Triangle

1881 Fulton Ave., Cleveland

A little cramped, occasionally noisy, and quite possibly the city's smallest restaurant, this tiny French bistro still manages to provide a romantic atmosphere while turning out superlative crepes, earthy pâtés, and one of the best Croque Monsieur sandwiches this side of the Seine. You’ll be transported to Paris for a couple hours here.

Photo via @Lindsey_Salchi/Instagram

Blue Canyon

8960 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg

Perched on a hill overlooking the Ohio countryside, this rambling lodge offers a lovely backdrop for their hearty American fare. While entrées like short ribs and mac 'n' cheese may sound homey, count on the restaurant to update them with luxury ingredients and season them with culinary magic.

Photo via @Britt_Schnides/Instagram

Aurelia

16 North Main St., Chagrin Falls

Chef-owner James Balchak spent nearly six months converting the North Main Diner, formerly Dink's, from a dowdy luncheonette to a smart little supper club. Energy from the buzzy bar scene boosts the mood and spirit of the entire space, ensuring that the atmosphere never dips to melancholy. This farm-to-table restaurant has recently found its footing after testing some things out and figuring out what worked and what didn’t.

Photo via Scene Archives

Il Venetian

100 St. Clair Ave. NE., Cleveland

From the team behind Marble Room, and the fabulous Lockkeepers in Valley View, Il Venetian opened to rave reviews in 2018. While the city in general is full of Italian restaurants, downtown doesn’t have a ton of them. Now, there’s a new option, and it’s up there for the best Italian in town, with a creative menu and beautiful decor.

Photo via Il Venetian/Facebook

Strip Steakhouse

36840 Detroit Rd., Avon

Housed in a 160-year-old Pennsylvania Dutch barn, this steak house is anything but old-fashioned. Owner Ron Larson spiffed up the interior in ways that will pleasantly surprise diners expecting doilies and drapes. The two-story barn features a first-floor lounge with open kitchen and a spacious loft dining room. First-rate steaks and chops share the menu with less conventional steakhouse fare, like smoked chicken, pasta Bolognese and horseradish-crusted grouper.

Photo via @Stripsteakhouse/Instagram