Molto Bene Italian Eatery

The food was good. That was it.

FYI… they do not serve alcohol on Sunday. Would have been nice to know before eating here. Wine with Italian food is typically. Server said it was a law in Ohio. No it isn’t! 🙄 Almost every restaurant in Lakewood, or Ohio, serves alcohol on Sunday. They merely lack the right liquor license.

When we first got there, there was some sort of situation with the restaurant filling up with smoke so they had to open all the doors. My eyes were watering and it was pretty bad.

Next… server was awful. She was in a bad mood and made no effort to hide it. We made a reservation for five of us. Five of up showed up. The table was set for four and then she kept asking if we made the reservation for five. Yes. Yes we did! When we asked for an extra setting because there was only four, she got mad. When we mentioned we were there for my father in-laws birthday, she looked at him meanly and walked away. She was mad during the entire service for no reason. We stopped asking for things because she was in such a bad mood we didn’t want to deal with her and went to eat dessert elsewhere.

It was also HOT! I was sweating. It was warm out and the AC couldn’t keep up. Not sure it was related to the smoke issue but it made for an uncomfortable meal.

The food was good, but when the service is bad and the atmosphere is bad, it’s really hard to enjoy your meal. I wouldn’t return.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

Molto Bene is one of the best Italian restaurants in Cleveland. Consistently excellent food across the menu with fresh and thoughtfully prepared ingredients.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is our new favorite restaurant after having driven by it for over for ten years and only today finally taking the plunge (you simply must get a reservation except on the most dull weeknights)!

The recipes are stunningly good and their execution is simply top-rate. The table service was excellent, very professionally done! The environment is great too! the desserts are superbly executed as well, to include the house-made gelato!

The only thing anyone could honestly complain about is the cost: it’s expensive, but everything of highest quality is, so the value is still very high in our opinion.

We won’t be eating here too often, but it is now squarely our favorite restaurant in northeastern Ohio!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great small restaurant in lakewood serving up some big flavor dishes. Everything was amazing including the service.
You definitely have to check it out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Penne Alla Carbonara

Absolutely fantastic. This is a regular nice night out for us. No questions asked this tiny place ties for 1st on best Italian spot in the greater Cleveland area. Small and limited on site parking but street parking is free. Make a reservation.....Seating is limited.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely a hidden Gem, why they are not booked weeks out is beyond me. Food is AMAZING. By far the best Italian in

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food! Kids loved the pasta. We just dropped in and it was a wonderful surprise.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The restaurant wasn’t very busy upon walking so I’m not sure why the service was lacking. My recent experience made my decision to not return. We ordered the sachetti (it was very average) and the lobster ravioli. I normally like al dente pasta but my ravioli was very undercooked. No one asked how our meal was until after the check was delivered and it would be too late to fix the experience anyways.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 2

Excellent food and service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great Food Large portions. Service slow.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Pollo Alla Parmigiana, Lasagna

The food was excellent, the service was great, this is my second time here and I will definitely be back again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Small dining area but full of life and great smells seriously felt like I was at my nonas in the kitchen again. The food was delightful, delicious, and truly a taste of home

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina, Focaccia

Unbelievably great experience. Carlo was a fantastic host. Food was amazingly fresh and delicious. Find my new favorite Italian restaurant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food. Nice atmosphere

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Incredible from start to finish. My only regret is not dining at Molto Bene when I first moved to Lakewood two years ago.

The restaurant itself is intimate and relaxing. The service is excellent. The food left me desiring nothing else.

Lakewood is very fortunate to have a restaurant such as this. All aspects were phenomenal and I would never second guess recommending Molto Bene to friends and family.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Caprese Salad, Linguine with Clams