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| - If you haven't been here for dinner in a while, it's time you stopped back in. This place is impressive. And if something isn't to your liking, tell your server. This place will bend over backwards to make things perfect.
So, now onto the review (it's long but I got a lot to rave about today)...
I've held off on reviewing this place for a year because I'm friends with everyone there. I didn't want that to impact my ability to be as honest as possible. After a full year of eating and drinking here more times than I can count, I feel very comfortable calling this one of my top spots in Cleveland. I think it's had a few hiccups here and there, but I'm 100% confident that this is a consistent 5-star spot. It's been that way for a while.
The service is always top notch -- it's exceptional. The staff is very well versed in the food, preparations, ingredients, and plating. They know exactly what's going on in the kitchen. This is incredibly important given the food and the ingredients are made in-house. This also comes in handy if you walk in with a child or a crazy dietary restrictions. No kids menu? Trust me, they can take care of your child's whim. Or perhaps your vegan or paleo and you don't see a damn thing on the menu that works fully to your needs. No problem. Find what you want on the menu and they will make it work. I've never seen waitstaff and kitchen staff go to such lengths to ensure everyone is happy and full. But it all starts with that friendly and knowledgeable service.
The bar is damn good too. Cocktail wise, they make really great craft cocktails at a reasonable price given the quality of ingredients and the attention placed on doing it right. I don't see how $11 or $12 bucks for a craft cocktail is even a bit pricey given the recipes. You're not getting anything close to well drinks. But, if you want cheap, they do have well drinks available. All you need to do is ask. I will say they bar had some problems in the first six months of operations, but that's just not an issue anymore. Service and quality of product are great at the bar.
What about the food? The food is the star. It doesn't get any better--it's creative and delicious. How do they make it so damn good? They not only make the food from scratch, they make the ingredients from scratch. They grind their own flour, grow their own yeast, ferment their vinegar... they even make their own tofu and miso! They do the same thing for the bar ingredients too! A lot of places around Cleveland play the "farm to table" card, but when a restaurant goes to the trouble of actually crafting the raw ingredients, they are doing it right. Of course, someone could go through all the trouble and still make junk food. Not here; not at The Willeyville. This place makes damn good food.
The charcuterie is my favorite. In the past year they have come a long way and I find this to be some of the best charcuterie in the city. I also love the hanger steak. Hanger steaks are a dime a dozen in Cleveland, but the way The Willeyville uses a quick cure and sous vide creates the most flavorful and tender hanger in town. The current adobo hanger prep with hominy, pickled jalapenos, tres pepper sauces, fried shishito peppers, crispy tortillas strips is the best version of their hanger to date.
I could honestly talk about this menu for hours. You may see a smattering of Asian, Italian, and European dishes. While that might seem confused, remember that the focus is about true from-scratch cooking. America is diverse, shoot Cleveland is diverse. These are all the kinds of foods Clevelanders love, just under one roof and done really freaking well. Personally, the ricotta gnudi is better than some of the stuff I've had at famous Italian restaurants in very big cities. The smoked pork belly ramen (yes they even make the noodles in house) is the best bowl of ramen I've had from a restaurant not run by Japanese people. And the "proper poutine" while not the traditional poutine I get in Montreal, I just can't hate on it -- the thing makes my mouth and my belly beyond happy.
Don't like fancy things, then get one of the hot dogs or sausages known as "Willey Wieners" during lunch or happy hour at the bar. They grind, season, and stuff these things all in house to great success. The Korean and the German variants are my favorite, but they got the traditional Polish boy that does the trick too. The burgers (traditional and veggie) don't disappoint either. I'm not a vegetarian, but that veggie burger is something I would eat regardless. I don't have a huge sweet tooth these days, but I make sure to get desert every time I stop in.
This place does the trick for me, time and time again. At this point in time, I can't say a bad thing about the joint. Stop in for dinner and discover one of the best restaurants in town. If you aren't like me and you do find something not to your liking, trust me, they will take care of you.
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