Gamekeeper’s Taverne

Ate here for dinner with some friends and if you like wild game dishes or trying new things, this is the place for you. We had the crispy pheasant thighs, the elk loin, duck breast and shepherds pie. Not one dish was disappointing. The flavors melded with the meat were a pleasant surprise. The quality of the entrees is worth the cost. The atmosphere is pleasant and ambient, and our waitress was great.

Came in on a Monday for a late dinner. Split a delightful bottle of red wine (half off on Mondays!) with my husband. The duck was absolutely out of this world — as good as I’ve had anywhere. Perfectly seared, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I would make a special trip just to have that dish again. My husband had the elk (medium rare), simply delicious — cooked perfectly. I don’t have elk often, and this was a standout example.
Because it was late, they were out of a few of the more popular items, like the wild boar. So if you have your heart on something, get there early!
Extra points for the service as well. We arrived slightly before our reservation and the hostess was good enough to ask us if we’d like to be seated immediately or wait a few minutes for a better table.
All in all, a fantastic and truly memorable meal. Worth the trip.

This place is beautiful! Original woodwork, adorable little booths that look like their own cozy train car, a slate walkway that invites you inside… but not a very inviting staff. I had made reservations for my partners birthday back in Oct. (you can’t check in anywhere in Chagrin Falls, the wi-​fi is non existent & I found out the hard way if you own a Blackberry you can’t use Unilocal or any other useful app) but when we arrived there was no hostess or staff to be found. After debating what to do, the bartender eventually came to our rescue ten minutes later.
While we were waiting, they had classical playing in the bar that you could hear through the window, what put us off was the awful rap music you could hear loudly playing from the kitchen. I couldn’t even hear my partner sitting directly next to me & had to listen to this crap throughout the entire meal. The building itself is very cold and the creepy little womens bathrooms was like walking into the cooler at work. Tiny, dark and freezing!
My partner loved his food, venison tartar, etc but I was so unimpressed with the menu I didn’t order anything. Even the desert options were a disappointment and the prices are way too high! $ 16.00 for a pile of fries with gravy & cheese on it– seriously! I could get those at Bob Evans for less then $ 8.00 and guarantee it would taste the same. Even the «unwind your mind» martini I had couldn’t help me relax. Our waiter however felt so bad that I hadn’t ordered anything that he asked the chef if he could just give me a plate of plain fries and not charge me the full price — our waiter was awesome and had a great sense of humor. In fact his company was the only part of the meal I enjoyed.
Maybe I’m being too critical here, it’s not that I wouldn’t recommend this place but it’ll break your wallet and your heart if you’re an animal lover. My partner picked this place out; I didn’t care for all the taxidermist critters on the walls or the overall service. When I got to a place like this I expect a little more and not to feel as if I’m sitting in a run down club.

A friend and I met friends who lived in Cleveland for dinner here while we were in town. It was a nice little place. We sat outside and ordered appetizers and each got a main course, The tuna appetizer was delicious [we got it and ordered another] along with the hummus. It was a spacious outdoor area and it was a comfortable evening. I got scallops in brown butter with various vegetables. It was very good. My friend ended up getting a whole wheat pasta dish which he said was good. The salmon dish was good. It was a memorable evening and should we return to Cleveland, we will make this a dinner stop.

Such a cute little restaurant! I came for lunch on a Friday afternoon and my date and I shared the southwestern salad and bistro salad. Both were good and the chicken was very fresh and nicely seasoned. The service was good too. My only complaint would be that they stopped serving food at 2:30pm! Good thing we arrived just before 2!
It’s a suburban crowd, and it was really nice to people watch while sitting in the outdoor patio which was quite beautiful. I can only imagine how nice this place is in the evenings!

My mom and I had lunch here while checking out the cute Chagrin Falls area. We both really enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant and our food. We were fortunate enough to visit during a short break from the rain so we had lunch on the patio. It was quiet and serene back on the little patio area. We both enjoyed the hanger steak and artisan romaine. The presentation and style of the dish was unique. The steak was tender and well seasoned. The romaine had the perfect amount of the white balsamic drizzled on top with delicious blue cheese, parmesan, and bacon pieces on top. It was definitely a nice stop for lunch.

I just started going to Gamekeeper’s during the past year. Currently, I’m pregnant and I’ve lost my appetite at every restaurant I’ve tried during this pregnancy, except Gamekeeper’s.
I’m addicted to it. From their spectacular Cuban sandwiches to amazing salmon to their buttermilk salad dressing that I want to take home with me, it’s all perfect. If I could eat every meal there, I think I would. Now, you might suspect that this glowing review is simply because I’m pregnant and craving their food, but everyone who has joined me for meals there has agreed with me: it’s delightful. Everything is delicious.
Beyond the food, well, the patio is a gem. It’s magical. It’s a great spot for cocktails or al fresco dining. It’s the perfect hideaway to enjoy the weather and kick back with friends.
The service is generally very good. Everyone is exceptionally nice, but I’ve had a few rough experiences with servers that I suspect were training. Otherwise, it’s always great. I’m particularly impressed with their hosts/​hostesses who handle the reservations and seating. They’ve been very nice when I’ve called to make special arrangements.

I’ve been putting off writing this review for ever, because Gamekeepers just didn’t wow me on my most recent visit. It wasn’t bad — not by any means — but it didn’t give the above and beyond wow you expect from a place like this.
The most memorable part of the evening was the start — the Tuna Wonton appetizer. Unfortunately the portion size was super small and my guest and I were hungry enough to order a second appetizer (Crispy Calamari). The tuna dish is based on rectangular crisps. Each crisp is topped with wasabi cream cream, Ahi tuna, drizzled in caviar and sprinkled with arugula. You get four such crisps topped with soy and srirachi.
Aside from that the wine list is pretty decent, the fireplace makes for a cozy dining room lodge type atmosphere, and the main entrees were cooked to the requested temperatures.

Beautiful place to sit outside, but what’s the use if the restaurant is understaffed and makes food poorly? I was so hungry afterwards. I ordered a $ 19 shrimp pasta that had about 2 shrimps cut up and the noodles were swimming on a puddle of oil/​butter. You can tell my plate was made by someone who didn’t care because there were 2 types of noodles in my dish. Our poor waiter was working so hard I didn’t have the heart to tell him that his restaurant’s food sucked. Where was quality control?!! Too many other nicer restaurants out there to try. If you go, get a meat dish, those looked like the most well executed.

My boyfriend and I went here for his birthday. Before our reservation, we had a couple drinks at the outdoor patio bar and thought it was one of the nicest patio bars we’ve been to! Once inside, we ordered lobster spring rolls, which I thought were great, but there were only two rolls. Our entrees were delicious and our server was attentive without being «pushy». In addition, he recommended a great, reasonably priced wine. Our only complaint was that we requested a seat by the window when we made a reservation earlier in the week, even confirmed it when they called earlier in the day to clarify where we wanted to sit, and still sat in the middle of the dining room! Overall, a great experience. We plan to visit again and sit outside on the awesome patio!

Cozy restaurant in Chagrin Falls. It has the feel of old upscale lodge with wood panels along the wall and a fireplace. The bread was soft and delicious. The poached pear salad with gorgonzola and walnuts was excellent. The fried green tomato appetizer was my favorite part of the meal, breaded and then coated with bacon crumbs. The crab cakes were good though I’ve had better ones. The moscow mule was the best one I have ever had, refreshing like lemonade, perfect amount of sweet and sour. The place is a little pricey with entrees between 20 – 30 $, appetizers 7 – 13 $ and salas about 10 $.

Wow. Our friend’s took us here, as we were visiting from Buffalo, NY. We started out with an appetizer of fried green tomatoes. My wife got the 4 oz filet mignon, and I the Wild Boar special.
It was fantastic. Prices are a bit steep but this place is not for the frugal, nor is Chagrin. Enjoy the photos and try some of the fine craft beers and wine. A nice night out.

Five years since my first review in 2010, we continue to enjoy Gamekeeper’s Taverne for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and their annual Fall clambakes. They continue to offer an eclectic menu of meats such as tuna tartare (appetizer), steak tartare (appetizer), wild boar sausage (appetizer), trout, and elk loin although their delicious ostrich skewers were recently removed from their menu.
The ahi tuna tartare is always one of my favorite appetizers here. It’s a marinaded raw tuna salad on won tons topped with greens and caviar. Delish!
I was blown away by the steak tartare appetizer during our most recent visit as well. The «patty» of raw beef tasted sweet and fresh and paired perfectly with the crumbled egg yolk, minced red onion, minced pickles, and the mayonnaise-​based sauce served alongside.
Their arugala salad with candied pears and goat cheese was a nice pairing of flavors — something I wouldn’t have everyday but can appreciate on special occasions!
You can’t go wrong ordering the elk loin which is served on a bed of risotto with mushrooms topped with strands of crispy fried onions. And you aren’t asked for your temperature preference on this — it’d be sacrilege to request anything outside of how the chef presents it: medallions seared on the outside, rare inside.
Their annual Fall clambakes, which are held over 2 or 3 weekends in October in a heated tent outside, are wonderful and great for get-​together meals with friends. Steamed littleneck clams, mussels, thick chunky clam chowder (New England), yams, corn-​on-​the-​cob, rolls, steak/​chicken or lobster (optional), and more rule the night! Advance reservations absolutely required and completely worth it.
Speaking of reservations, I routinely make restaurant reservations either via phone or online via OpenTable and never ever had an issue with the table being ready and on-​time for us. In fact, flowers I order (from an outside florist) are always at the table waiting for us by the time we arrive!
NOTE: Clambake and outside patio reservations are by phone only.
Words to describe the décor and ambience here: timbers, fireplace, candlelit, somber but not depressing.
Not sure how a few reviewers had a bad time in either service or food quality here. Maybe we treat the host and wait staff with respect and pleasantly and therefore always receive the same? Or we just stick with dishes we feel are their specialty? I don’t know. While I’m not suggesting that other Unilocalers’ experiences are invalid or self-​inflicted, the fact is, after years of patronizing this establishment, we’ve NEVER had a problem with food or service and are more than happy to return time and time again. Five stars are definitely deserved.

Came on a date and it reflected very well on him. Everything I had was delicious!!! The scallops were made perfectly and the elk was delicious. I absolutely would go again to try other dishes and think that the menu is great for trying out something new. Of course the portions were normal for an upscale restaurant (small/​tastefully plated). Drinks were made correctly, wine selection was plentiful, service was attentive, knowledgable and friendly.

I had my first experience of this place this past weekend while in town to see a play at the CVLT. I had expected an east-​side version of the White Oaks restaurant in Westlake and got something pretty similar with a little more.
My experience with wild game fare was highly limited, but I did enjoy the Mac & Cheese with boar sausages. I’m not sure I can adequately rate the food without another visit, but did greatly enjoy what I had. The cozy ambience of the place with low lighting and fireplace sold the visit. Had it only been summer we could have dined outside by the river and waterfalls!
This will only be a once-​a-​year visit at best given the high price and distance from my home on the west side, but if I have a need for a very special occasion in this area Gamekeeper’s will be my first choice!

Annnnnd the coziest ambiance goes to Gamekeeper’s. I loved the feel of dining here (especially with it snowing) it was so inviting and comforting, I felt like I was eating in a quaint cabin in the middle the woods (in a good, not creepy way.) Our server was very friendly and had great recommendations. I started with the clam chowder that may have been the best I have ever tried. It wasn’t too creamy and heavy and they sure don’t skimp on the clam… there were a generous amount of impressive chunks of meat! As an entrée, I had the Everything Salmon which was delicious and cooked to perfection. I was torn between that and the penne (both recommended by our server) and cannot wait to go back to try more options! I brought my mom who came from out of town and loves to visit Chagrin and she couldn’t stop raving about the place. Safe to say we will be returning.

I had a great experience at Gamekeeper’s. Some co-​workers suggested that I try this spot in Chagrin Falls and sit on the patio. Unfortunately the evening that we were there was rainy, so we had to sit inside.
Gamekeeper’s has a hunting lodge vibe to it and is a very cozy restaurant. I imagine that it is really nice in here on a cold night when they light the fires.
As far as the food goes, it was delicious! I had to short ribs which came with mashed potatoes and horseradish sauce. All very very good. Most other people at my table got filet mignon and one even got elk. Everyone left full and happy with their meals. Although Gamekeeper’s is a bit on the pricey side, it is definitely worth it for the quality of food that you get!

Just had another great meal here… as did everyone else at the large table. The service has been consistently friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to please… even the high school age hostess was surprisingly professional.
This restaurant has unique items, namely in the meat dept from Elk to Boar, but abounds with fresh fish items as well. The Clam Chowder here is among the best I know in Cleveland. It is a permanent menu item. Don’t miss it… and be sure to save some of their warm, fresh bread for dipping… Mmmm.
You will love the décor, cozy and comfortable. The sound can get a little intense upstairs near the fireplace when this dining area is full, but this is to be expected with all the wood surfaces that create a wonderful sports cabin-​like atmosphere.
Speaking of cabin… Gamekeepers has delightful lodging options as well. It makes for a nice weekend getaway. My wife and I have had pleasant stays and love walking around the area, highlighted locally as a romantic destination of cute shops and a special waterfall after which Chagrin Falls is named.
This place pleases. You won’t be disappointed!

So disappointing! We went here after abandoning this place five years ago because the reviews on Unilocal looked good and Jekyll’s has burned down. We had stopped going to Gamekeepers after a disastrously bad dinner we had there five years ago with my Grandmother. But the reviews on Unilocal lured us back.
First, when we showed up for our reservation there was no one (and I mean no one) in the front. No bartender, no hostess, no servers. We stood in that cramped front space for more then five minutes. When someone finally showed up, he didn’t seem like a host or a server. He was dressed ultra-​casual and asked us (with a confused look on his face) if we wanted to eat. My father told him of our reservation (for which it was now past by several minutes) and he led us to a table.
It was several more minutes before a host showed up. He didn’t have the best attitude. More like someone who resigns himself to work everyday so he can eat, but has no joy in his heart for it. It gave off an instant terrible impression of our meal (that turned out to be accurate).
At our table we ordered the daily trout special, two of their Alonzo burgers, a slew of vegetable sides and the southwest salad. My sister and I enjoyed the meat of the burgers but the toppings were insanely off balance. There was so much cheese that it leaked over everything, creating a huge mess (that isn’t fun to navigate when you’re dressed nicely) and there were very few pickles. Additionally the fries on both our plates were overcooked (they were splotchy and dark brown) and tasteless. My mother enjoyed her salad but it didn’t wow her. And the vegetables were fine but also not ‘wow.
The true disappointment of the evening though was my Grandfather’s trout dish. It was SO SALTY. I mean, I took one bite and spit out the orzo into my napkin. My tongue burned. He ate only the fish but he’s not a complainer so I didn’t realize it was that bad until I tasted it near the end of the meal. I am absolutely disturbed that that dish made it out of the kitchen. How anyone could think that’s appropriate, I have no idea.
To be honest, the service was so sub-​par and the food so wishy-​washy in flavor I don’t know that we will go back. Perhaps it was an ‘off’ night, and I’m always willing to give restaurants a second chance, but if after five years they still can’t get their stuff together I’m not sure that they ever will.

Maybe Gamekeeper’s is just better for dinner? Or maybe my recent lunch was just an off day, either way – I wasn’t impressed.
We sat out on the patio, which is lovely! I tried the tomato bisque lunch combo with a house salad topped with grilled chicken. The salad itself was pretty fresh, light on the dressing and very tasty. The chicken was grilled OK – but kind of dry and it needed something. I don’t know… it was pretty bland. The bisque was the big fail, in my opinion. It had a soapy taste to it and it really did taste premade – almost like it came out of a Sysco bag. I figured they’d make their tomato bisque homemade, considering it’s not very difficult, and I don’t know for sure, but it did NOT taste homemade or fresh.
The service was just OK. I probably wouldn’t ever go back, unless it was for dinner and I was getting an entrée. But you can only use that excuse for so long. Salads and soups, although simple, can be made with lots of care and creativity and be very fulfilling when made right.