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Light Bistro
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
2801 Bridge AveCleveland, OH 44113
(216) 771-7130
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
48 reviews for Light Bistro
Review Highlights
"You can't beat the happy hour prices either."
(in 13 reviews)
"We started with the lamb meatballs and fried clams and..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Everyone LOVED their tapas."
(in 12 reviews)
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Riki B.
Sherman Oaks, CA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are looking for the most amazing homemade potato chips, head on down to Light Bistro. The are freshly made everyday with just the right touch of seasoning and a perfect crunch.
Light Bistro also has a wonderful wine and beer list. I enjoyed the chips and a great lakes Christmas Ale, while catching up with old friends. The bartender was awesome.
Avoid the Ohio City crowds and step into the Light Bistro. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Akron, OH
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Review in a gist: Nicely done, but needs some improvement.
The atmosphere is great, very laid back but still chic. Seating is kind of odd to me, but I'm used to the table-packed bistros of Seattle, but it definitely works.
I don't know if this applies to the men's bathroom, but the women's bathroom is TINY. Seriously, if someone is washing their hands, you could take them out with a single push on the door (which, hey, way to make it look like an accident!). Though, my little green-friendly heart LOVES that they use hand towels and not paper towels. And that they source foods locally. Rock on.
The waiter was a true delight. How he managed to entertain me as well as provide the service he did was just great. He was even polite enough to laugh at my dorky jokes, which I really appreciate.
To the noms!
I had the bacon-wrapped dates, the mixed greens salad, and the ribeye with goat cheese farro. My friend had the chicken croquettes, the butternut squash bisque, and a panini (the panini I didn't taste because she is not a good sharer). For dessert, I got the "coffee and doughnuts" and she got the chocolate cake (basically, molten lava cake?).
The bacon-wrapped dates were sublime, as expected. The sweetness of the dates, the tang of the cheese, the crunch of the almonds, and the saltiness of the bacon. Hell-freaking-yeah!
The chicken croquettes were good, but not spectacular (the red pepper sauce was divine though), and the butternut squash bisque was delicious but lacked something, couldn't put my finger on it.
Oddly enough, what really shined that evening was the mixed greens salad. The perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy. The spiced pecans REALLY made the salad and the lucky penny feta was superb. Julienne pears were a great touch. I think next time I go, I'm just going to order a double of this salad and the bacon wrapped dates.
The Ribeye was solid. I love my steaks "black and blue" (crispy on the outside, cold in the middle). They really tried, it's a hard preference to pull off successfully (even more so when you have a party of 16+), but it wasn't quite right. Regardless, the steak was delicious and well-seasoned. The downfall of this was actually the succotash. WHERE WERE MY LIMA BEANS?! And why did the green beans taste frozen? Actually, why did ALL of it taste frozen?! YUCK! Had they left this off, I would have been far happier with just the root vegetables (which thankfully did not include carrots. I. Hate. Carrots.) It was thoroughly off-putting.
The goat cheese farro was solid, but not spectacular. It needed something fresh and green. Dill would have been fantastic or a touch of fresh thyme.
The desserts were a catastrophe. The "coffee and doughnuts" were supposed to be beignets with espresso ice cream. It would have been brilliant if the 'beignets' were actually beignets. They were these round globs of yeast dough that hadn't quite cooked through and were heavier than lead weights. Someone please please please fix this. It nearly broke my beignet-loving heart. The chocolate cake with whipped cream and strawberries....jesus. There is obviously no pastry chef back there. The cake was eggy to a level that I took one bite and was rather repulsed. I did not go back for a second bite.
Overall, it was a great dinner until the end. If they can fix the succotash problem and hire a pastry chef (or get some solid recipes lined up), I would highly recommend it. -
Review from Lin W.
8/21/2011
I came here last night for a bachelorette party and at first, I was surprised we picked light bistro for dinner instead of all the other "more known" restaurants in ohio city. The second you enter the room, there is such a claasy, romantic atmosphere. The front of the room seems like a more casual, happy hour atmosphere and when you walk through the hallway (and the hallway is filled with wine cabinets where you can explore different wine from.. bubbly wine, organic wine, etc..), you enter the back room. The backroom then has about 4-5 tables and it transforms into a reallyyy classy atsmophere.
Our server was AWESOME. He was so nice, so funny, and everything was on spot. The foods came out right on time, they were very considerate with a huge group of us, he filled our water everytime it was empty and he doesn't forget to ask if there's anything he can do for us. We were served by 3-4 people.. 1 person who fills our water and ordered our wine, 2 people to make our orders and serve our dishes, and 1 person who came by about twice to ask how our evening was.
Now...onto the main event: THE FOOD.
These are all the TAPAs we had: fingerling potatoes, marinated mushrooms, corn on the cob, salad, and clams.
Everyone LOVED their tapas. I believe every single one of us finished every bit of our tapas and didn't leave any leftovers. I had the fingerling potatoes with garlic aioli and it was SPLENDID. These are such good tapas. 1 thing though.. I don't think their tapas beat Bodega's (on coventry)
Then, the ENTREEs. I had the pork loin with bacon and banana peppers. The bachelorette sampled 3 people's dishes: my pork loin, a salmon main course, and a short ribs main course dish. According to the bachelorette, she thought the short ribs was the best.. because she liked the short ribs so much, she's planning to change her food order for her wedding! As for my pork loin, i loooooved it! The bacon pieces was crispy and delicious. The sweet potatoes were sweet and a perfect addition to the meal. And the pork loin was made to perfection. It was made MEDIUM and it was sooooo good. If I didn't have the tapas, I would've finished the pork loin with a heartbeat. My friend who had the salmon actually finished her entire meal too!
Overall, the service was great, the staff was great, and the food was AMAZING. I will definitely either be bringing my boyfriend here or at least making an appearance to their happy hour again! -
Review from Adam S.
Shaker Heights, OH
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
A great experience. The most hospitable and welcoming dining experience I've ever had.
My cousin was in town from WA and had never been to Cleveland before so I took her out for a night on the town. After much yelping I decided on Light Bistro. Despite both of us being sadly under dressed both the gentleman at the door and our server Lance were incredibly gracious and welcoming and never made us feel awkward.
We were there a bit early for dinner and had no trouble being seated right away.
Our server Lance was pretty much the most pleasant and gracious host you could imagine.
The food: everything was shared...
Bacon wrapped dates: they were pretty good but I liked the ones I had at Fahrenheit better.
Southern Fried Quail: Not that good. The meat was tender but sparse, the potato cake was nothing to write home about and the gravy was flavorless. Def. not worth the money.
Albondigas (Lamb Meatball) Pizza: AWESOME! Tasted great and was huge compared to the other dishes. We couldn't even finish the whole thing!
My only regret was not getting dessert. The beignets were VERY tempting but I held off because part of my plan was to go see some live music and I was planning to go to Fat Fish Blue later for beignets. Of course I eventually found out that FFB hasn't had beignets on their menu for years which is ridiculous and unacceptable for a New Orleans themed restaurant. -
Review from Cara L.
Updated - 8/12/2011 Seated via OpenTable 5 Check-ins Here
Are we allowed three updates for one place? I guess we are.
I just want to chant "Hap-py Hour! Hap-py Hour!" every time I walk up to Light Bistro. But, I think I might need to change that chant to "Lamb Ka-bobs! Lamb Ka-bobs!" Or, if you ask my boyfriend, he might say the Chicago dog is really where the chant needs to be...
Regardless, all of these items are $5 on the HH menu.
No, I'm not kidding you. Add that to high-end beers, wines and martinis all ridiculously priced at $5 as well and you've got yourself a party. But, when your fabulous, handcrafted cocktails are even cheaper, at a $4 price-tag, your just asking yourself for the ultimate happy hour love.
I'm sorry, but in my opinion, this is *the* destination for an upscale, fine-dinning, local-loving happy hour in Cleveland. You will not find a better deal.
In fact, just from this awesome experience, I think I'm going to sit at the bar from now on--no matter what. Their 'tender teaches cocktail design all over the country and he's awesome. End of story.Listed in: Adequate Parking, Super Cinco Stars, Ohio City Guide, Perfect for Patio Season, Vegetarian in CLE
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/30/2011
Well, well, well, Light Bistro.
Your grouper, scallops, olives and heirloom tomato salad were the… Read more »
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Review from Jason V.
4/24/2011
Overall, I was pleased with Light Bistro. Dinner started with a selection of tapas plates: I thought the Bacon-wrapped Dates were far too charred on the outside--basically obliterating the taste of the bacon. The combination of the dates, almonds, and cheese was good, though. The Lamb Meatballs in Mint Tomato Sauce were excellent, something that I would definitely recommend. The Mussels + Frites were not good--the mussels seemed slightly overcooked and the shoestring potatoes--more garnish than food--ended up being an oily mess in the middle of the plate. I enjoyed the Bag of Fresh Potato Chips--simple, crispy, and not too oily.
For a main course I had the Pan Seared Grouper with Pulled Pork and Ravioli. This dish seemed more like three random items stacked on top of each other rather than a single coherent dish. On top, the pulled pork was a little dry and lacking in taste. The grouper in the middle was pretty well prepared and probably would have been fine in a larger portion on its own. The ricotta ravioli on the bottom was okay, but also seemed disconnected from the whole. On the other hand, on another occasion at Light I had the Roast Pork Loin, which was tender and juicy--so much so that I was tempted to have it again on my second visit (and now regret not).
Dessert was five fresh chocolate chip cookies. Served hot with the chocolate still melting throughout. I went ahead and paired it with a glass of organic milk.
I really liked the service at Light Bistro. The overall environment is a little more relaxed than a formal restaurant but the service seemed to retain a deliberate formality, particularly noticeable as the server is setting your plates and silverware (and even more so the bread plates, butter, and butter knives) on your table in a very deliberate manner. The food could use some improving in some areas, but the restaurant seems like it would be a pretty decent place to gather with friends and enjoy some tapas and wine or drink. The wine list (probably about the right size for a bistro) has a number of medium to medium-high priced selections. -
Review from Cami T.
6/9/2011
A top contender for best HH...at least in Ohio City.
Light Bistro has $1.50 beers, $3 cocktails and $5 plates until 7pm. The cocktails were either a Sex on the Beach or an Amaretto Sour. Remember those? The drinks that you first started drinking when you turned 21 and could actually order at a bar? They both tasted like college to me...well...maybe better than college. I'm pretty sure all my college drinks had a good dose of poor decisions in them which leave a strange aftertaste in your mouth...the next morning.
Though we didn't order any food, the options were enticing. Crayfish sloppy joes? Lamb burgers? It's a nice way to differentiate off of a typical Happy Hour menu.
Our service was decent although it seems like every time we wanted to close out a check, he just wasn't around as much as when we wanted to order more drinks. So it is life in the Happy Hour world though. Everyone wants us to stay, not to leave. I guess that means we're well liked?
Overall, I was very, very pleased with their Happy Hour. Great prices and it's not often that you can find a $3 cocktail. I say - Check it out! -
Review from Sue S.
Akron, OH
4/24/2011
Went to Light last night. This was our fourth visit, however we haven't been in over a year. Let's start with a great new enhancement. You can now choose a bottle of wine from their store and pay a $15 corkage which was really nice. This is a great feature if you are into wine like we are.
On to the food....delicious. We started with the lamb meatballs and fried clams and olives. Both were yummy. We especially liked the fried olives with the clams. And the meatballs were flavorful and moist. My salmon panini was perfectly rare as I ordered it. My husband enjoyed his grouper too. Everyone in our party seemed to enjoy their options. One diner loved the beets. I don't eat beets, but he really liked them. Our cookies were a little dry, but warm and gooey.
My two complaints were our server and the room we were in. The server was a bit rude and not attentive. She got a little better toward the end. I would hope to not be in her section again. Regarding the room, we were in the back room which is not our favorite due to the noise level. I think it is pretty and bright, but it is super loud...and no, I'm not old. We prefer the front room.
All in all, we'll be back. The food is too good to not go back. And the prices are so reasonable. -
Review from Habby H.
10/28/2010
Excellent Happy Hour!
I just love the interior of this place. I'm a sucker for exposed brick...can't get enough of it ;)
Light's happy hour runs from 5-7p and includes great prices on beer, wine and food. I had some really decent $3 glasses of wine. I also had (off the regular menu) the Crispy Clams and the Classic Burger. The clams were really good with garlic aioli and fried olives. The olives were a cool unique addition. The burger was cooked perfect and included bacon and fried egg....mmm, heart attack. Seriously though, great burger and nice light bun. I'm not a fan of shoestring fries though.
Service was friendly and swift.
The regular menu can get a bit pricey, but there's enough economical options as well. You can't beat the happy hour prices either! -
Review from Camilla G.
Cleveland, OH
1/28/2011
I'd heard nothing but fantastic things about Light Bistro so I trudged in with my boyfriend on a snowy winter night to try the place out, sort of on a whim.
First of all, it was a Wednesday, and there were barely any other customers. A lot of the Yelp reviews I'd read in advance of our visit said the place tended to be empty on random other nights, and I can't figure out why. Maybe it's busier on the weekend? Who knows.
Anyway, rather than going the sandwich or entree route, we decided to order a pizza and some of the tapas and split everything. We got the carbonara pizza (which "seems perfect for a hangover," our waitress joked), the lamb balls, cheddar and ham croquettes, along with a side of spinach and a side of polenta.
Everything was pretty good and we left with lots of leftovers. The pizza is pretty generous for two people and while the eggs weren't quite as runny as I would have liked, it was still very tasty. And yes, probably good for a hangover, if you were to wander into Light Bistro after a bender.
We were both wowed by the polenta, which was creamy, and sort of smoky, and had a delightful coffee-ish undertone. We were surprised to find out that there were no special ingredients in it -- just cream, butter, salt and polenta. Yum.
The spinach was good, but a little on the salty side for my tastes.
With all the food, a glass of wine and two beers, we left with a $55 bill, which was pretty reasonable.
The burger came with high recommendations from a friend and his wife, so we'll be back, I'm sure. -
Review from Matthew M.
Cleveland, OH
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
Light Bistro is an inspiring change of pace in a land full of gluttonous comfort food restaurants. Priding themselves on small plates, aka "tapas", this is a perfect place to try many dishes on the menu without breaking the bank. Great food should be celebrated, shared and enjoyed and the tapas form of dining helps facilitate that.
A recent meal at Light Bistro included Butternut Squash Soup, tapas plates of Bacon wrapped Dates stuffed with Almonds and Valdeon Cheese, Lamb Meatballs with Mint Tomato Sauce and Braised Pork Belly with Grain Mustard, Braised Red Cabbage & Apples.
Our server was knowledgeable and treated us well. The food was plenty acceptable and I would like to return to try the rest of the menu someday. I will say that I wasn't exactly blown away by any one item I tried that night though. With that said, all dishes were moderately priced and the value seemed well worth it for a return visit. -
Review from Peter W.
10/24/2010
The wife and I finally had a chance to eat at light a few weeks ago on an increasingly rare baby-free date night.
It was surprisingly uncrowded for a Friday night, which was very much to our advantage. We were able to sit at a table outside in the cool fall weather and enjoy the beautiful evening.
We ordered the meatballs and stuffed figs for starters, and both dishes were excellent. I knew it had jalapenos on it, but they seemed much stronger than usual. Perhaps, it was an interaction with the mustard on the sandwich?
I had the bison sandwich, which was delicious, though unexpectedly spicy. The wife had the burger, which we both thought was amongst the best we've had. The burger was cooked, yet moist, and the bun was very light and pleasing chewy with a consistency that reminded me of an English muffin. Interesting, and very, very good.
Our server for the evening was really very attentive, and we had a wonderful time, and we can't wait to stow the baby and come back again.Listed in: Fancy Schmancy
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Review from Scott G.
Chagrin Falls, OH
11/14/2010
Five of us went to Light Bistro on a Thursday evening- the restaurant was full enough to know that it still commands a following after being open for several years.
The service here was okay- our server started out great but then disappeared for too long. Enough so that we didn't have time for dessert even though we gave him our timeline to start off with. That was a bummer.
The food was spot on. It is rare that five people leave a restaurant with smiles on their faces talking about how good the food was. Chef Matt is technically proficient and shows good balance and restraint in his cooking.
The rock shrimp with white bean puree is great, but I think that the standout on the menu that we tried is the braised pork belly with cabbage, apples and mustard. Really terrific dish. Both pizza's at the table were crunchy and delicious- particularly the potato pie.
The entrees were tasty, but for the price I would stick to the tapas. There are so many to choose from that you can share with the entire table. We will definitely stop back at Light Bistro to eat our way around the menu. -
Review from D Mike K.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2010
Had a good experience at Lite Bistro last night. There were definitely some things they could do better that could have made it an excellent experience!
We were a little late getting there, and the hostess was great and politely took us to our seat. The restaurant only had 2-3 other groups of people when we got there and never was too busy throughout the night. Which was fine with us, it wasn't too loud and we were able to catch up with friends. While we were siting down...here is when the first weird thing happened. She asked me if I wanted to know about that night's special cocktail. I said "sure." She started telling me about this vodka ginger drink before everyone had even sat down and I don't think everyone could hear her. I was just confused why the waitress just didn't tell us the drink when she came to the table and told us the dinner specials?
The waitress did come to the table and she was nice and efficient throughout dinner. We had read this was a tapas restaurant, so we were ready to share dishes and drink some sangria! The waitress asked if we had heard about the "special drink." We said we had, and Eric said forget the special drink, we need two pitchers of sangria...STAT! Big problem here, NO SANGRIA! Actually, we ended up being just fine, because the cocktails we all got were perfectly poured. A couple of us got the Pomegranate Margarita which was great, the French 75 and the regular martini were all enjoyed also.
We got a bunch of the tapas plates. All were good. It is less than 24 hours later, and I can't really remember any that stood out. All were pretty standard.
One of my friends wanted me to make sure to let you know that you may ask for a toothpick at the end of dinner. The waitress may tell you they don't have any. Guess what, there are "about a thousand" of them at the hostess table on the way out! :)
If you are looking for a good place to catch up with friends without it being too crowded, or without feeling rushed...this is a great spot. Good cocktails, good food, and decent service. Don't know if we will ever go back, but glad we went last night. -
Review from g g.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/12/2011
I enjoy their happy hour.
The food is $5 and the beer is $1.50. But its a nice enough place that you can take a date without being embarrassed. -
Review from Nicole M.
3/2/2009
I arrived early-ish (for me) to meet my distinguished guest for a Lenten Friday lunch at Light Bistro. Before I had reached my table, the manager took my coat and umbrella, gave me the nickle tour and answered any questions I might have about the place. The waiter approached to take my drink order and continued the trend of solicitous service. The service was fantastic throughout the meal, although the waiter had to be asked to bring the check-- he thought we wanted to gab more. Which we did, but we also had jobs calling.
After asking a few questions about the menu, including which items might be Papally approved for lenten Fridays, I chose the boxed lunch. After having my first two choices of sandwich nixed ( only panninis count, but nowhere does the menu distinguish paninis from other sammiches.) I settled upon the brie and apple sammich, with the bread and tomato salad and a ceasar salad (the soup of the day had meat, so they subsituted another salad). The bread and tomato salad was fantastically vibrant. Amazing considering it was February. The ceasar salad was inoffensive. The brie sammich was a lactose coma inducing, crunchy slab of bliss-- it could have used many more apple slices, however, to offset the richness.
The standout was the bread they brought to the table in little bags. It is warm, homemade, dense, rich and perfect. It's served with some lovely organic whipped unsalted butter. Joy. Joy Joy.
And Papally acceptable. -
Review from Justin V.
10/5/2007
I had an interesting and, ultimately, lovely dining experience this evening. It started off poorly, but eventually improved with a tremendous entree and dessert and fantastic service.
Unfortunately for Light Bistro, the food and service only improved AFTER I left their restaurant.
I stopped in to have dinner at Light Bistro, seating myself at the bar. (The woman at the maitre d' desk couldn't be troubled to look up from her book.)
I asked to see a drink menu, but after perusing it, I decided nothing struck my fancy and really just wanted a coke to quench my thirst. I asked for this, and the bartender/waiter's eyebrows rose. My thought was to maybe have a glass of wine with my entree, but his attitude changed my mind.
Sadly, I had already put in an order for the pork belly appetizer. The pork belly probably would have been good yesterday, but it was extraordinarily chewy and really difficult to cut. As anyone who likes pork belly knows, this should most certainly not be the case. The opposite in fact.
The bartender continued to show his displeasure with my audacious decision to order a coke by not saying another word to me and DEFINITELY not offering me another drink, coke or otherwise. Eventually, I asked for my bill, he wordlessly dropped it off after 3-4 minutes of chatting up the couple seated next to me. I signed my bill, scooted off the bar stool, and exited, without anyone saying thank you or good-bye.
Let me be clear that they were definitely NOT busy. There were maybe 5 other customers in the room, and it was before the main dinner rush -- around 6 or so -- with about as many staff members milling around, waiting for things to get hopping.
I've been really, really impressed with my dining experiences since moving to Cleveland a few weeks ago. Light Bistro was my first bummer experience. Not only that, it was quite possibly the worst experience I've had at a fine dining establishment ever. I won't be back, though the employees there made it clear that they couldn't care less.
Thank god, I walked down the street to Momocho (down the street and a quick right turn, actually). That was awesome, fun, and friendly.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Annie Q.
Pittsburgh, PA
4/23/2009
I have been to Light Bistro Twice.
The first time was because my parents wanted to take me out for a birthday lunch. We went in and were the only people in the place. I am very familiar with the inside though because my dog and I walk by it at least twice a day everyday for two years. We ordered lunch. I got a Burger with blue cheese and bacon on it. It cam with Parmesan cheese fries. My husband got the salmon dish.
I guess this place is more Tapas because the portions are so small. My husband was very mad and said he would never go back (it was like 14 for a 3 inch by 3 inch piece of fish on about 1/2 of rice. I didn't think the food matched the price.
The patio was very nice. The service was very nice. However it was very pricey. I didn't want to spend too much on food, and the waiter was kinda of pushy about ordering dessert and i finally had to say a stern no.
The Second time I was there we were in for Happy Hour. Completely different experience. Cheap Appetizers. They have a 5 for 5 deal (that is 5 beers for 5 dollars- Laugh at that DC). They have lots of little finger foods to pick from. I didn't think the pesto pizza was very good, but it was bar food so how cares. Lots of people and intimate environment. GREAT HAPPY HOUR.
I don't think I will be going back for dinner. It is very expensive and based on my portion size, it think its one of those pompous little portions, big flavor places and good quality. Me... I like quantity AND quality. -
Review from Melanie M.
Columbus, OH
8/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'm only reviewing the wine shop right now, but may go back for the food:
So. It's finals week. My last finals week. And I felt like a bottle of wine would help me study! I decided to walk down the street and try out the Light Bistro's little wine shop.
Walking in I was kind of afraid I wouldn't be able to afford the wine...
By the way, the restaurant is very romantic, beautiful art on the walls, great soft lighting. The bartender was very friendly as well, he directed me to Pete, the wine guy.
I was given a "tour" of the wine, which was fun! The room is small, has maybe 6-8 sections of wines. I was informed that the Chef had personally chosen and tasted each wine, and that wines were sourced from small, independent growers.
And, to my pleasant surprise, they had a great range of prices!! Definitely a lot of bottles under $10, but of course all the way up to more than I could imagine paying for a bottle of wine.
I did ask about the menu, wondering aloud if there was anything vegan. Pete's eyes lit up and said, "There might be one or two things. But, if you call a day or so in advance, Chef would be more than willing to make a special trip to the market and create something special!!" -
Review from Will S.
2/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Dare I say, the best happy hour in Cleveland that I've been to !? I've only had one experience here at the Light Bistro, just 2 blocks from Great Lakes,
(This review is based on one happy hour visit), but I was throughly impressed with the great value, service, and food and drink here.
At a very slow night for Light Bistro [Valentine's day was only 2 days earlier and it was a very wintry weekday], my sister and I were looking for a new happy hour to try for her birthday. Sitting at the bar, we mentioned to the bartender [Neil] this was our first time, he politely and concisely explained the happy hour specials which are also listed on their very informative website.
Throughout the night, he provided great service: filling up our water without asking, promptly filling our drink orders, etc, and gave us a background on the women's hockey for the winter games. Ron the manager was at the bar, very warm and chatty, discussed the wine choices [all I knew was we ordered a $10 bottle of Malbec from Argentina that seemed all right], and Polish food traditions with us.
Smooth, contemporary jazz played softly in the background.
The pork belly sandwich: crustless, fluffy rye bread with pork belly in between. Contrasted to Justin V.'s experience, it melted right in my mouth. The Lamb Burger: A steal at only $5. A large lamb and beef patty seasoned with some gyro seasoning with sliced cucumbers. I'm not a foodie but my sister and I thought it would have benefited more with some cheese (perhaps blue) on it. However, for only $5 [normally $12], I'm not complaining.
The mint mojitos: excellent. Fresh mint was muddled right on the spot. The lime and mint flavors were fresh and strong. A great special at $5.
The flatbread, also $5, was great, with some pesto, cheese, olive oil on.
The happy hour beer specials were limited to Heiniken, Amstel, ($7.50 for 5) and MGD, and Miller ($5 for 5), but you only see those prices at a dive.
With a more sophisticated The happy hour offered excellent value. I would definitely meet a date for a happy hour or two. The regular menu is relatively expensive for me (avg. entree $20-25) but based on my experience, I would definitely try it if I had the money.Listed in: o H!o City !, Happy Happy Hours.
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Review from Mike C.
Washington, DC
7/10/2008
Terrific!
Great: Foie Gras, Quail Breast, Chop Salad, Mojito
Ok: Flatbread, Blue crab and shrimp cake
Questionable: Table bread - sliced baguettes with tasteless (plain unsalted?) butter
Server was attentive and prompt, but we were one of only a couple tables having dinner on a Thursday night at 7:00pm.
Great Decor.
The menu is very innovative and most everything looks delectable.
Try it! -
Review from Bob G.
Cleveland, OH
9/22/2008
Wow, I am amazed by this place. I'm not sure where to start, so I'll start with the Happy Hour.
Most unreal happy hour around. 5 domestic beers for $5. Or 5 specialty beers (GLBC, etc) for $7.50!! You cannot beat that! They have an awesome selection of food as well for very reasonable prices. The lamb burger is incredible, have it with a Dortmunder and you will not be disappointed.
Now the food is unreal as well. I went to a Local Foods Wine Dinner that they put on, and it was absolutely unbelieveable. The combinations of flavors and creations that Chef Matthew put out just blew me away. I am a little upset that it took me so long to find this place, it's been open for almost two years now!!
I must say, you need try this place. It may not look like much from the outside, but inside it is gorgeous and beautifully laid out. A soft, friendly atmosphere keeps me wanting to stay there well after my meal is finished to enjoy their extensive wine list as well.
A must try in Ohio City, and one that not enough people know about.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Katelyn B.
Cleveland, OH
2/19/2008
I accidentaly stumbled, very hungry, and by myself into this trendy, brand new restaurant.
I was the first customer of the evening, and they were litterally standing around waiting for customers when I arrived.
The prices were higher than I was expecting, but the food was AMAZING.
The owner chatted with me for quite some time, and by the end of the meal knew my name and my hobbies.
The taste of the food was amazing. I ordered a caprese salad, thinking I was going to get the usual tomoto-basil-fresh mozzerella which I know and love.
I revcieved this amazing mozzerella-honeydew-cantelope-honey-rosemary creation which had a stunning fresh taste to it.
The tuna tar-tar which I had next I could give or take, mostly because I was still in awe of the beginning dish.
Go to this restaurant on a date. A date that wants to spend money, its a pricey place, but the unique flavors are a definate plus. -
Review from Kevin N.
1/12/2006
Parker's is simply great food. This place was using organic and locally grown and raised produce and livestock before such a concept came into vogue, putting it and Cleveland ahead of the curve.
Located in Ohio City, this place is one to try if you are stopping in for a visit or if you live here and have not yet tried one of the best restaurants the city has to offer. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Cleveland, OH
1/7/2010
Great place for an expensive snack. Would be more appropriately named "Bistro Lite."
Don't miss the Beet Salad With Goat Cheese, Lamb Burger, Fresh Mozzarella and Melon small plate. -
Review from Karen W.
Tempe, AZ
2/17/2008
If you're looking for a unique and very tasty meal, try the ostrich. It tastes like a cross between beef and duck. They perfectly sear the outside, and the inside is very juicy and tender. The only thing I didn't like about the meal was the orzo, which tasted too gummy to me. The sauce and the green beans, however, were very good.
Service was excellent. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and went through the menu thoroughly. -
Review from Emily C.
New Haven, CT
3/22/2007
This place is tops, a true Cleveland treasure!
Though now called "Light" (it's just recently changed hands; the former owner is now working with the West Side Market), the new management has given just as much thought to sustainable and local produce and meats, with delicious results! They know what they're doing, down to decent organic beer and wine.
All the waitstaff are friendly, talkative, and knowledgeable about the food they serve. Romantic enough for a nice date but also a great place to stop for a post-work bit of libation. The menu changes seasonally (as menus should!), but I'd highly recommend the pheasant with sage, pancetta, and sweet potato gnocchi. Portions are the right size (there's also a tasting menu), food presentation is dead-on, and...oh, fine I'll just say it, STOP HERE! -
Review from Manuel V.
Sheffield Lake, OH
1/11/2011
For a very private and cozy evening I'd go here, food is tasty and "cute" kind of pricey but the atmosphere leaves you alone with your partner.
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Review from P W.
Cleveland, OH
11/11/2010
I decided to come here for lunch today because I had the day off from work and wanted to try something new. The bread and butter was good. My friend ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with pasta salad for $9, I ordered the chicken salad with fries for $9. The sandwiches were cut in half, so we shared. They both were very good. I preferred the grilled chicken sandwich and would recommend it. It had caramelized onions and pineapple. A very good taste combination. The service was outstanding. The server was a genuinely cool girl. She seemed to have a really nice personality for a change. I will return for a dinner meal soon.
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Review from Amanda K.
Strongsville, OH
5/15/2011
We visited during Restaurant Week. Had no problem getting a reservation. Loved the complimentary valet. Service itself was on point. Appreciated the darker napkins that were brought after the hostess assessed our outfits. The food, however, was lackluster at best. I chose to go off their prix fixe menu for restaurant week. The first course of rock shrimp was the best dish of the evening. Second course of chicken with spinach, mushrooms and potatoes was generic. The brown gravy tasted like it was out of a jar. The beef carpaccio pizza was mostly flavorless & desperately needed any kind of seasoning. The pomme frites were too thin & fast food-like. The burger with bacon & egg, while tasting good, was cooked far beyond the medium well ordered and was almost too dry to eat, even with the assistance of the egg yolk & ketchup. Our dessert, chocolate chip cookies, definitely had been microwaved and were too hot, but unevenly so. While I definitely have had worse, Light Bistro's menu was blasé enough to keep me away in the future.
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Review from Simon I.
10/5/2009 ROTD 11/15/2010
Light Bistro is a must-go if you appreciate innovative combination of items that result in some of the superb dishes. The resturant is tucked away at a street corner in Ohio City and carries a quiet romantic ambiance especially earlier in the evening. Their wine menu is also impressive for a restaurant this size. I was very pleasantly surprised at every aspect of this place on my first visit. The service was very polished and our server Joe, was an excellent host talking us through almost all items in detail. This was great help in letting us pick some very tasty dishes.
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Review from Sarah Z.
Cleveland, OH
8/24/2008
Light your palate!
As I approached Light from the sidewalk of Bridge I was very concerned. It did not seem like the posh locale everyone had said it was but it was too late as I was going on a first date (I thought it was too fancy but this guy wanted to show off his bucks so whatever). As I was taken to our table I was still concerned. . . exposed brick with mirrors not much Light at all. We were seated and I began to feel more at ease. The wine list was good (not great good though). As it is a rather small space you are almost always seated very close to other patrons, my date did not seem to care and started telling stories about his first roommate in college's sexual escapades which was totally mortifying but thankfully the group sitting next to us spoke only francais so I doubt they comprehended much of what he spoke of. If you desire to converse about sexual escapades of any kind you may want to go to Lola you'll have more room between you and the next group of patrons.
But I digress our server was phenomenal he was knowledgeable of the menu, wine, and of the ingredients most certainly a plus when presented with a food snob such as myself. We ordered 3 first course size plates and an entree to split. I was excited upon looking at the menu as there were some more adventurous choices on the menu than at the Flying Fig which tends to be my gold standard. We started with a tuna tartare wrapped in cucumber with a tangerine sauce. It was divine. The tuna was smooth as butter and there were sunflower seeds in it to give added texture and the sauce and cucumber wrap was just enough to balance the inherent spiciness of the tuna. My date at this point showed his true colors as he said "thats raw I won't eat it "and sent his half back without even trying it faux pas 2 I believe. Next came a quail stuffed with fresh apples with a squash puree. yum yum yum yum yum. Traditional and not too exiting but amazing regardless. Faux pas 3 for Mr Rico Suavee was his unwillingness to try anything but the protein. He had insisted that for the 3rd first course size portion we get the Kobe beef. There were much better things on the menu but its kobe beef its automatically amazing. Now this was a dish served with a twist the beef was served raw with a cooking stone. You cook it yourself as much or as little as you want. It was served with sweet sushi rice and a wasabi soy sauce very yummy. Faux pas 4 for RIco, he tried to cut into the cooking stone as if it were food. . . big shiny black food. All the while the server came between every course asked if we needed anything cleared plates and silver and gave more water.
Now for the meat and potatoes of the meal so to speak. . . the entree. Ostrich with rhubarb risotto. The flavors mixed in the perfect combination of savory sweet and sour. All at once my palate felt more invigorated than ever before. The fireworks going on in my mouth nearly made me forget about the dexter with a boner I was dining with.
The sorbet after dinner was nothing special. Homemade yes but nothing you can't get at any place that makes their own. Mine maybe not as it was passion fruit but the techniques used were the same as your standard sorbet.
It wasn't too pricey especially as you walked out very satisfied about 100 for all the food and a bottle of wine. Now for my faux pas for the evening. Rico suave pays the bill and I see he gave a 10% tip. I took the folder from him and threw in an additional 20 because service like that deserves a good tip. Needless to say that was the first and last date for Rico Suave and I.
Don't miss
The local ingredients in every dish. Who ever knew ohio could make food that could be made into such a sexy dish
Hit or miss.
Seating you could end up listening more to the next tables conversation.
Avoid like the plague
Going there on a bad first date. -
Review from Jillian N.
New York, NY
4/4/2009
A little too expensive for a just-out-of-college-er to make a habit of eating here regularly, I really enjoyed the one time that I ate here. We sat out on the patio in perfect summer weather and felt very cultured and trendy (at least, I did) as I sipped on a mojito and ate my fancy pizza (see image provided by Amy T). I think this place would be great for a group happy hour as we did, or perhaps for a hot, impressive date.
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Review from Morgan R.
12/2/2008
A Light lunch? Maybe because I didn't want to eat it...
After reading previous reviews I wonder if my distaste for Light stems from the fact that I visited during the lunch hour. Everyone else seems to have had a wonderful experience and I can honestly say I won't ever be rushing back.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is lovely; a long hardwood bar gives way to a cozy room with tables. The staff is just exceptional. They were incredibly friendly and very attentive; my glass was never empty. I really had high hopes for the food, as well.
As previously noted, the bread comes in a white paper bag (not the most "green" practice); today's selections were french baguette and Parmesan. I only sampled the french baguette and I can honestly say it was on par with what I would get at Panera. Not bad any account, just not overwhelmingly good. The breads were accompanied by organic fresh butter - apparently unsalted and very, very bland. I purchase fresh butter all the time at the West Side Market just blocks away - I wanted to give them the name of my vendor and tell them to ditch this stuff.
For my entree I had the boxed lunch - butternut squash bisque, caesar salad and an apple and brie panini. The soup - which is usually a favorite of mine - was so flat. It had no sweetness, no spice, nothing. I was hoping for a note of nutmeg or curry - something. It tasted like pureed squash with cream and salt. Maybe some garlic. I left most of it behind. The caesar salad was good, but I defer to the fact that it takes talent to truly mess up a caesar salad. It was accompanied by tomato preserves; the only wonderful, memorable taste of the trio. The sandwich disappointed me the most as I was so looking forward to it. It was billed as brie, granny smith apple and celery on a french baguette. It tasted like uncooked celery stuffing. All I could taste was celery and bread. There was no tart bite from the apple, no creaminess from the brie. I actually had to force myself to eat half of the sandwich to not appear rude to my host, who was enthralled with the food at Light.
Lunch did end on a good note: I was served a warm chocolate chip cookie as part of the boxed lunch. However, I could have gone to Max and Erma's for a hot chocolate chip cookie so it's not really all that impressive. -
Review from Ingrid G.
Chicago, IL
2/17/2008
A bit pricey but excellent presentation, wonderful selections and great service. I don't understand why they serve their bread in a paper bag. It's like the bread of the unknown comic.
Listed in: My Trip To Cleveland
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Review from Amanda K.
7/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
our dinner at light bistro was one of the best i've had in a while. i love the whole tapas style, because you get to try a bunch of things but still end up having a great dinner. we shared 2 pork tastings (to die for), lamb meatballs (a must try), and crispy clams (really tasty). the pork tasting had such a delicious sampling of bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, pork belly, and ribs served on top of cheddar risotto. soo soo good! the lamb meatballs are in a mint ragu sauce, and they are like the best thing ever. i never would have thought to put mint in spaghetti sauce. the sauce tasted so fresh and was excellent! for dessert we had the coffee and donuts, which was AMAZING. it was these homemade beignets rolled in cinnamon sugar with a chocolate ganache dipping sauce and coffee ice cream. we also had the chocolate lava cake which was so awesome. LOVED every bite! the service was phenomenal, and the patio is so nice. i can't wait to go back.
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Review from Katie B.
Columbus, OH
4/5/2010
Don't waste your time or your money. Terrible service, unless you don't mind waiting over 25 minutes for your round of drinks and 40+ minutes between courses. In our party of 7 if your food wasn't cold it was sure to be burned. When the manager asked how our experience was we answered honestly and instead of apologizing he was defensive and filled with excuses. Worse dining experience I've had in a long time. Won't be back.
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Review from Vivien O.
Cleveland, OH
3/16/2010
I went to Light Bistro for lunch with a few collegues. I am such a fan! We were one of the two parties in the restaurant for lunch, which I found surprising, seeing as the food was AMAZING and the decor/ atmosphere was really cool. It definitely had a contemporary laid back feel - corrugated metal siding and abstract art on the walls, good music, well lit...
I had the blackened tilapia wrap ($9) and we all shared the flatbread appetizer which was made with arugula and goat cheese. My friends ordered the caesar salad with grilled shrimp and some sort of olive burger. Everything was delicious and the presentation was very appetizing.
The only reason I am giving this 4 stars is because the service was a little on the slow/disorganized side. I think it was the waiter's first day, and he seemed a little ill at ease, and the manager kept butting in to let him know that he could ask him questions. Not really inappropriate, but a little awkward. That aside, I will definitely go back AND recommend it to friends - the food was delicious (more than made up for the awkward service), and contrary to the other commenters, I dont think it was overpriced.
Also, the drink menu looked excellent, and I would love to go back and try them for happy hour or dinner. Good work Light Bistro! -
Review from Lauren M.
Washington, DC
6/3/2009
Had an amazing dinner here! For $25 you can get a slice of prix fixe heaven. Started off with a salad of apples and manchego, then a main course of the Sweet Potato Ravioli, which was awesome. FInished with the panna cotta. Normally I love chocolate in my desserts but this panna cotta with fresh berries was delicious. Interlace the meal with some albarino and the result is a great meal.
Listed in: Cleveland
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Review from David W.
Cleveland, OH
1/20/2010
Great background music, ample parking, great Cappucinos, good service, and delicious Ostrich!
