Best Italian Restaurants in Downtown Cleveland / Playhouse Square

We had a fantastic experience at Acqua Di Dea! The ambiance was modern and inviting, setting the perfect tone for our night. We opted for the Valentine’s Day tasting menu, and every course was artfully presented and absolutely delicious. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, explaining each dish in detail and making spot-on wine recommendations. From start to finish, it was an unforgettable dining experience—we can’t wait to return!

Fantastic experience at The Venetian. Joey, our waiter, was professional, timely, helpful, and personable. He made our Valentine’s Day dinner very special. Also, Bob who looked to be one of the managers was fantastic. He came over to our table and made us feel welcomed and we had a nice conversation with him. Their hospitality and attention to detail was unmatched. The food was also INCREDIBLE. We did the pasta trio and wow that was the best pasta we ever had. We are looking forward to coming back soon!

It was Valentine’s Day, so we knew it would be crazy busy. We should have requested an indoor table, the covered outdoor area was still chilly and way too packed. Our waitress was very friendly. She forgot my wine, but the experience was still very enjoyable. The food was absolutely amazing! It was pricey, but we knew that going in.

Absolutely outstanding experience at Oliva. My wife and I dined here for Valentine’s Day and we were very excited with the new opening. Our expectations were certainly exceeded with every aspect of our night. The interior decor and ambience was great, the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly, and the food was outstanding. We decided to skip the big steak and seafood meals and we ordered several of the pastas. We certainly enjoyed the variety and had lots to take home as well. Be sure to ask the server how large the meals are so you’re not caught off guard because some are on the small side and some were very large. This will definitely be one of our favorite restaurants, only dining here one time. We will definitely be back.

I took my wife there for our anniversary. I ordered roses ahead of time and the restaurant staff kept them fresh and delivered them to the table upon arrival. The lamb and short ribs were very good and we had plenty to eat. The offered me a military discount which complimented our overall experience. Both my wife and I had a wonderful meal and time. I do wish there were more options for appetizers that did not include pork or shell fish. Our waitress was friendly and accommodating. I appreciated her giving us our privacy but yet being "perky" all at the same time.