They were serving an 8 person table and totally ignored us, on our special occasion evening.. Said they were too busy and we needed to wait. The food was disgusting tasted warmed up and old covered in salt.. Sent back and was yelled at by the server.. She said she can't take anything off our bill even though it wasn't edible or even eaten.. The salad was the only thing that was good but since the tables are so small and our meals were warmed up in a microwave they took our salads mid-bite.. RUDE.. I would never suggest anyone to dine here and I will never go back. By the way our bill was 350$$ We all left starving and drove an hour home to make something ourselves.. read more

i'll keep it brief........good, but not great. very tight, we spent the whole evening getting bumped by the waiters. our waiter was SLOW, friendly, but took forever for everything. just trying to get our check was like pulling teeth!!! food- ok, the soft shell crabs appetizer ws delicious but my filet and lobster wrapped in puff pastry was unspectacular. the meat was very well done, the lobster was like mush, over cooked mush. the green beans cold, so were the potatoes. the only thing great on the whole plate was a little cheese custard "dot". i saved it for my last bite. the homemade steak sauce on the bone-in ribeye special was delicious. we skipped dessert, saw what people around us were eating, seemed unimpressive. so, keep in mind.....it's tight, food is hit or miss, so is the service and it is on the pricey side......which wouldn't be a bad thing if what you were getting was actually good. haven't been here in about 20 years, i always forget about it......it will be, probably, 20 more years before i'd return. seems to be a kind of a professional men's hang-out (lots of suits talking business & golf) ......... read more

My first impression of this place, before I even entered the building, was that of being shaken down by the valet. It was a slow night, plenty of parking was available. I parked my own car and as I walked from the parking lot into the building was asked by the apparent "valet" if he could have my keys so he could pull my car up for me when I left. I told him "no thank you," to which he replied in an angry/frustrated tone of voice, "we work on tips you know." I was speechless. I park my own car, don't want to give my keys to some random guy who is not even dressed like a valet (or standing at a marked valet station) and I'm made to feel cheap because of it? This is not acceptable, ESPECIALLY at an upscale establishment. So my experience was pretty much ruined by the time I walked in the door. Since I was there to meet my husband & some friends, I attempted to put this incident behind me & tried to enjoy the rest of my night. I ordered one of the specials, which ended up not being much like what was described by the server. My dinner tasted fine, but looked unappetizing and again was different from what was described. Ingredients listed in the description were missing and the sauce was totally different. Seeing as though most people patronizing this restaurant are seeking an upscale dining experience (and the prices certainly reflect that), they need to hire people with a some class. We will not be returning. There are plenty of other upscale restaurants we could go & not be harassed upon arrival. read more

Very disappointing. Food was decent. Service was terrible. I could deal with the price if the service was good. I had to wait for my ice cubes to melt in order to drink water. The server was MIA all night. read more

This is one of my favorite spots in Cleveland (when I am not paying the bill), though it's worth the splurge. The first time, I wasn't hungry and had a salad (good, but a salad nonetheless), though I tried my brother's salmon special, and it was excellent. The second time, I knew I had to try an actual entree, so I went for the red snapper special. The mango curry south had just enough heat coupled with sweetness to accentuate the fish, which despite a crispy shell was soft and flaky inside. The lentils and asparagus were also cooked and seasoned very well. However, my brother once again made the pick of the day: a peppercorn duck breast appetizer in a cherry sauce (another special) that was scrumptious and juicy, with the cherries not a sugary dessert glaze but an almost savory sauce to bring out the richness of the meat. My mom always goes for the peppercorn filet, which is one of the house specialties that never fails to disappoint her. Additionally, both times we've had exceptional service, and quick seating because it's a bit off the beaten path. read more

Seriously overpriced. Appetizers were swimming in a vat of sauce..Terrible plating and style..Gordon Ramsey would be appalled. Calamari rubbery, and the veal dishes looked like a pile of mush. Wine was overpriced and the waiter needed to be more attentitive to our needs. I asked for a glass of water four times before I was given one, and the rest of our party were never given any ! They need to visit more upscale restaurants and see how the real chefs prepare fabulous dishes. read more

went for an early mid week dinner. Food and service were great. Authentic Italian food. Will be back again.

I have not been at Johnny's Fulton location in several years. Yet, it is same excellent service and Exceptional food .

Our group of 6 all ordered different appetizers and entrees - everyone was happy with their selections. It is pricey but worth it.

Order the linguine with scampi if you love garlic, which I do. The other dish that never disappoints is the Veal Scallopini.

Dined at Johnny's Bar Christmas Eve with my family. I'm always a little leery of restaurants on holiday occasions like this because I know employees can flake out and not come in. I know this is a Cleveland institution but it was my first time there. Overall, the experience was a bit disappointing. First, service was spotty. Perhaps they didn't have enough servers but our server seemed a bit stressed. We waited a considerable length of time before we got our beverages. They ran out of water glasses; two members of our party didn't get them until half-way into the meal. My mother's chair was old and wobbly; she requested another but was told there weren't any. Though I was happy with my food, not everyone was. Johnny's charges a lot with many of the entrees priced at north of $40. With such a heavy price tag, they should step up their game a bit. Buy some more water glasses; purchase some chairs that aren't close to breaking; and, have enough servers on hand. Having said this, I do like the old world vibe of the place and I would give it another try. read more

I miss the Johnny's of old great food reasonably priced in a funky restaurant. The food is very good and the service exceptional, the interior is stylish. You won't be disappointed. read more

My wife & I tried Johnny's for the first time tonight and we left satisfied and impressed. I had the Italian Feast & my wife had the Veal Scallopini snd they were both delicious! Waitress was pleasant & attentive and the same can be said for Bo, the owner. Look forward to returning when the weather's nicer to take in the patio. read more

Amazing food, great classic ambience and attentive service- the full package. We came for a special occasion, and we surely will be back!

First time reviewing a restaurant for me. So after visiting Johnny's Bar many times over the past 20+ years, and enjoying many an outstanding meal, usually veal or grouper, my experience last night was a bit of a let down. The patio was beautiful, yes, the service was excellent but what bothered me were some of the little things. Our bread was stale or just not very good bread, we did get a replacement with some a bit more fresh and more brought out later to go with the stuffed peppers, was just as stale. The peppers were just ok, the pepper itself could have been cooked longer. Duck app was fabulous as always! Then the salad, very disappointing. Not very fresh or interesting lettuce with a mediocre balsamic dressing. When dining at such a reputable, high class, pricey restaurant, I feel like everything should be outstanding and it wasn't. The veal dishes were delicious as always as was the grouper. But I'm feeling the quality just wasn't up to par for Johnny's Bar. read more

Let me start by saying we have been to Johnny's several times and have always had good service and great food. This past trip both of those things were still great but it was the atmosphere that was questionable at best. It was a Wednesday evening, which I know isn't a typical date night, but that's when we could get a babysitter for our 2 kids under 3. The majority of the customers on this evening were "business"men. The conversation, which we could hear very clearly consisted of the type of talk you'd expect from men with a poor vocabulary. No problem, just guys blowing off steam. It got uncomfortable when they started repeatedly turning and looking at and talking about my wife. I get it, she's pretty. But it started to make her uncomfortable. To the point where she was nervous to use the restroom. When she did go, they were literally making hooping noises at her and then talked to each other about going and meeting her in the restroom. I made sure they realized that I could hear them, but it only made them talk one decibel lower. When she returned, again with the staring and hooping. It tested my patience, but I figured it was a classy restaurant and they would take care of it. But that's where I have the problem. I know you can't help the behavior of your customers, but if they are unruly you can ask them to calm it down or at the very least apologize to the other customers. Nothing. And there is no question that they could be heard by the wait staff and the bar. They were sitting very close to the bar. It seems that this behavior is acceptable and not given a second thought. Johnny's looks and feels like a restaurant from another era, but maybe that's the problem. It's the era where it's acceptable to sexually harass a woman and receive no consequences for it. This trip was probably our last. There are too many good restaurants in Cleveland to waste time at one where you are going to feel uncomfortable. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Cleveland. Very good food but very pricey. A special occasion dinner for me and my wife. The Fulton location is in a rough area but there is another Johnny's downtown on West 6th. They tend to cram you in so you might be sitting within a foot of another party so it can feel awkward. read more

My arugula salad was not fresh. It was wilted and had no dressing, olive oil, or lemon juice on it. Then, my boyfriend had a cockroach crawl out of his pasta dish. He didn't say anything because he didn't want to ruin a birthday party. DO NOT eat here! read more

A very disappointing experience, overall, although our server was excellent. She was knowledgeable and helpful. We had not been to Johnny's in about 15 years, but after reading reviews and checking out the dinner menu, my husband chose Johnny's for his special birthday dinner, which made it extra disappointing! Food was overpriced and mediocre at best: my $42 entree of lobster mediallions, shrimp, and scallops consisted mostly of shrimp, and the pasta was grossly overcooked, a sticky mess. Same sad story with my husband's choice, $29 seafood pasta medley. He looked forward to calamari, mussels, scallops and shrimp over pasta, but was served mostly shrimp over sticky, overcooked noodles. Unfortunately the salads were also substandard, just limp day-old arugala, with some Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top to add some much needed flavor. Nothing fresh, no color or flavor. Why?? But the absolute WORST was this: we chose to sit on the patio because it was a clear, cool evening...and withhin 10 minutes of ordering wine and dinner, experienced an overwhelmingly disgusting odor of a cigar! An old guy wearing a baseball cap persisted in lighting and relighting a completely offensive cigar all throughout our dinner, which we finally ended up packing up to take home, because we simply couldn't bear the stench! Asked our server about this, and she replied that he has been going to Johnny's for years and spends a lot of money there, so they are not about to tell him he can't enjoy his disgusting cigar on their patio. Hope this guy lives for many more years and really boosts their profits, because most newer customers will flee from Johnny's in a huge hurry...Between the below average food, the excessive prices, and the offensive cigar-smoking atmosphere, we would not consider returning, or recommending to any of our often-eating out friends, even if we were given a totally free dinner! read more

Great old place that's famous in Cleveland. Ok, the neighborhood's a little sketchy, but there's free valet parking and the experience is worth it. First, this place has old-school, urban ambience. Not the fake pubby decor that lots of suburban places try to achieve. Everything-the exterior, the people, the fantastic dining rooms, the enclosed courtyard is genuine cool. By the way, you can light up a cigar in the courtyard and instead of dirty looks, the staff brings you light and an ashtray. The food is very very good. Try the stuffed pepper appetizer-amazing. I've never had calamari served the way they do at Johnny's - A large squid "tube" filled with a delicious cheese filling. Don't order it if you're looking for battered fried tidbits with cocktail sauce. Try any of the veal chop dishes-the one with te sun-dried tomato sauce topping was absolutely delicious. My only complaint was it took a little long to get our entree. Everything else came up fast. Maybe the staff was thin on a Tuseday night. read more

My husband took me here for an early birthday dinner this past Saturday. He had been here many years ago, but it was a first for me. The place is small and quaint on the inside. For starters, we ordered the special appetizer of stuffed calamari in marinara. The calamari was tender, however, the stuffing was nothing I would ever want to taste again. For our entrees, I ordered the beef tenderloin and lobster in puff pastry with chardonnay sauce. The meat itself tasted as if it had been reheated, as it was dry and had an off putting taste. The lobster was extremely fishy tasting and was macerated as if it had come out of a can. The amount of lobster equated to about a teaspoon, which was ok I guess because it was inedible. For the price, extremely disappointing. My daughter ordered the potato gnocchi with shrimp. Her dish was quite good. My husband ordered one of the specials for his entrée, the veal porterhouse, which he said was just ok. It was a simple, small veal chop at $40+. Very disappointed and we will not be back. Perhaps one should only order the pasta because their tenderloin and veal dishes were extremely lacking. read more

Eating at Johnny's is much more that just a dining experience, but can't really find the words. Anyone who said they had a bad time or the food was just "OK" probably didn't like the company they kept either, this place is fantastic. Mouth watering food, steaks that you can cut with a butter knife, top notch service, owner on premises and they pay a great deal to detail. Wait staff is very knowledgeable, but you may have to raise your hand to get their attention-think you can handle that? Sure, its typically full so if you're going their for a quick dinner/quick service then this is not for you. Go there to eat great food with great company and you'll have a great time soaking in the atmosphere. This should be the climax of your evening, not a "let's eat before we go to the movies" type place. I wish I had the money to go back each week to try all their entree's as it is a little pricey, but well worth it to spoil yourself and your guests. read more