Osteria Di Valerio & Al

Recently visited with a small group of people and was underwhelmed by the menu options and the overall ambiance. The restaurant is more of a basement space, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s SO generic and bland looking. But hey, it goes with the taste of the food.
The pasta dish I had was pretty bland and definitely not worth the money. The menu offerings are limited, with just about everything having meat in it. There are only 1 or 2 entrees sans meat. Plus, the prices are bloated for what you get, especially since the food isn’t that good.
We asked the waitress to split the check four ways and she said it would take too much time, so she split it equally between our party, which led to some paying $ 25-​$ 30 more than what they ordered. Sorry, didn’t mean to inconvenience you by asking you politely to do your job.
We definitely won’t be back.

So, we came in after blue point same day. Had a lot of food and drink, wanted a taste of this place had great friend, and friend of friends tells us of this great Italian eatery! Well I wanted to try this place just because it’s walk down, like of the street type place, old school, made me think old school Cleveland, well soon as we got down and in, it’s small, like a basement, very nice, not uncle Vito type, but what you expect if you have funds, not bar type, any whoo, lots of great wine choices! We had the 2 best c
Glasses of wine! They were pricy but completly organic, and labeled exact! Like I like chianti’s, totally had the chicken, or rooster or whatever, to show the exact region those grapes come from, on the neck of the bottle, great bartender! So stop in or walk down in its great!

The best Italian restaurant in the city. I’ve tried just about everything and the consistency and quality of the preparation is outstanding. It doesn’t look like much from the street but once inside the professional staff will take great care of you. The space is intimate and calm. Even though the staff are working hard they are efficient and don’t appear rushed or flustered. They are obviously well trained. The selection of wine is very good, the menu is diverse, and we have never had a negative word to say. We love it, and Ghenty in the kitchen is a master.

One word describes our dining experience… AWESOME! Great food, great atmosphere, great service!

We visited this restaurant with a Groupon and were pretty pleasantly surprised by how amazing the food was. I had a beef dish and my bf had clams. Both were outstanding and we’ll be back soon. The setting is also very romantic for a date night.

In town for business went down to my favorite Italian restaurant of the last several years… grilled melon with prosciutto and a balsamic drizzle, endive salad with some crunchy warm bread, and a perfectly grilled fresh Bronzino stuffed with perfectly sautéed spinach, side of peas on ziti and red sauce.
Dinner with no alcohol, tax and tip was 78.00. But I ate like a healthy king. Listen people… most restaurants are entirely underwhelming. This place just puts out great food. So for an extra 25.00 your meal is memorable.

Started with the calamari, had a caprese salad, tomato was lackluster but that’s not a surprise given the time of year, but it was well constructed. I ended with a fish special of the night. Everything was very good, I was too full to order dessert. My companions ordered Paparadelle (sic?) I tried it and it was excellent, and osso bucco, both these dishes were also very good.

Osteria is my new favorite restaurant in downtown Cleveland. The more I go the better it seems to get if that is possible. Have been on Saturday nights and this time was no different. The food is exceptional and for being Italian that says something. We get a little of this and a little of that to make it the most enjoyable evening when we work so hard during the week. We had the pleasure of having Megan and Josh which was our luck because Megan actually had another section. The service went above and beyond what great service should be. They were kind, funny and so attentive we did not have to ask for anything. Lobster ravioli, veal, lamb and pasta were all delicious. By the end of the meal, it was like we wanted to stay. Everyone makes you feel like family.

A little tricky to find down the corner from 6^th and St. Clair but this is thee most fabulous Italian place downtown. Check website and find when A Swinging Affair is singing there and make a reservation for dinner and a show. Smaller, cozy, intimate, memorable.

Lovely italian place in downtown Cleveland in the Warehouse district. It’s walking distance from a few of the hotels. There are only about twenty tables but you can call ahead at make reservations. They have live music some nights. Their asparagus and lobster soup is amazing. The orchietti pasta dish was good but the sauce was a little watery. My friends dine here very often and said this was unusual. They said the orchietti is usually perfect and keeps them returning regularly. Pasta dishes are about 20 – 30 $ and portions are about medium in size. There are lots close by with parking 8 – 10 $ and valet as well for 8 $. Meters are free on the weekends but also difficult to catch one on a Saturday evening.

The pasta with the sausage was incredible. Make sure to make a reservation on a busy night and ask to be in the main room. The second time we went we didn’t reserve and we ended up in some random back room without the same atmosphere as the main :/

This place is a hidden gem. Steak, Italian, seafood, it’s all good! They treat you like family. Huge wine list. Ask to talk to Al. He’s a great guy with a thousand stories.

First mistake… we agreed to a reservation in «the back room.» Do not go into «the back room.» We were led completely out of the restaurant, down a hallway, and around to a room adjacent to the kitchen. Absolutely no ambiance in «the back room.»
The food wasn’t bad. Actually the specials sounded exquisite, but were priced in the $ 30-​$ 40 range. Wine list was extensive, but basic wine by the glass was $ 10 or $ 11.
Caprese salad was average. Bread was fresh and warm, served with flavored butters. Tortellini and Penne Puttanesca were quite good, but eating this meal in a back room with no ambiance really ruined the whole experience.
Our server, and other waitstaff, were very friendly and helpful. But the drunk man seated at the table behind us didn’t add anything positive to our experience.
This place could be better if they lowered prices and eliminated the back room.

Seriously one of my favorite spots in Cleveland. If I could go here every night, I would. Unfortunately my wallet and scale wouldn’t be too happy with me if I did. I highly recommend this place.
It’s a great place for a date or a girls night. I normally go with my girlfriends, and we are never disappointed with our meals or the service. The mussels are fabulous (the ones on the menu and the ones on special). I also love the veal and the gnocchi. Sometimes when I can’t decide between the two, they’ll give me the veal with a side of gnocchi. The best of both worlds!

Alright, but very expensive for what you get. Pork was way over cooked, almost like rubber but the apps were good. I would go somewhere else and others in the party agreed.

Fantastic food, cozy atmosphere, great wine selection from the bar staff

This was my first time visiting this Underground establishment. My better half and I had a «Living Social» deal, so we figured we had nothing to lose.
We sat at the bar because the dining area was booked with reservations. Which was not a problem for us. Totally understandable for a Saturday night.
After taking out spots at the bar we were greeted with a wine list the size of a Bible. A little intimated we both opted for a Perioni (Beer) Since we were here to eat I figured the bartender would offer us a food menu… wrong. I saw a menu sitting on the bar and grabbed it. We both looked it over before the bartender asked «Oh are you two eating here?»
We both ordered. I ordered the gnocchi ($ 22). After a while… It came out of the kitchen. I thought they gave me the children portion. Extremely smaller than I expected for the price. The taste was average at best. Very disappointed.
In conclusion: Cool atmosphere, unfriendly service and small portions considering the price.

For Cleveland this is probably one of the more expensive restaurants. Was in town for work and this was a recommended place by co workers and we stopped by here for dinner.
Overall it was a homely old school italian restaurant where the owner wanders around checking on his patrons and sits at a neighboring table holding court with his buddies and drinking wine. Ordered the grilled lamb rack and tried the duck, they were both very good, the lamb was cooked medium rare, tender, and not gamey. The balsamic reduction was a bit salty and heavy for my taste but it wasnt a deal breaker.
If you’re in town this would be a good place to try.

Ok. First thing you need to know is that this place can be pricey — one app, two entrees and two glasses of wine can run you upwards of $ 120 easily.
Second thing you need to know — every penny is worth it! I’m of the basic opinion that what a restaurant is truly selling you is food. And boy, does this place deliver.
Ordered the Mussels for an appetizer — you get a heaping plate of mussels in this tomato-​wine sauce that is to die for. Perfect cooked mussels and a sauce that makes you wish you could put it into a jar to take it home.
This was followed up with a Penne alla Puttanesca and a daily special of a pasta with Lobster in a basil cream sauce. The puttanesca was simply amazing, with the perfect mix of capers and olives to add the zang to the sace — I find a lot of places try to make up for their cause by throwing in a bunch of capers.
And the basil cream sauce with lobster — *sigh*… I’m literally drooling simply thinking about it!!!
This is a place you definitely need to go to if you appreciate good italian food and do not mind paying a bit to get some!

Part of me doesn’t mind at all that other people just don’t get Osteria.
It just means those of us who do get to keep it to ourselves, and I’m all about that.
The beau and I dropped by for a late Friday night dinner and walked into a pack restaurant with live music (Rick and Sharona, again) and dancing! But not douchy club dancing – we’re talking Frank Sinatra tunes and classy dancing. I seriously have not seen people having this much fun out in a while.
And once again, the food did not disappoint. We started with a caprese salad and the crostini misti, which were delicious as always. Then came out the hot sex on a plate, also known as the orecchiette pasta in a tomato basil cream sauce with Italian sausage. One bite and I wanted to roll around in the plate. Oh, and don’t sleep on the ricotta and spinach ravioli with fresh peas and tomato basil sauce. Super fresh, light and just perfect all around.
We also asked the server for an easy drinking wine and she came back with a bottle that was quickly gone. So good.
Awesome vibe, atmosphere and food mixed with fantastic live Frank and dancing. How could you go wrong?