I'm sorry but I feel like if you are not a regular, you are 2nd rate. I could be wrong. Our service was very slow when delivering to the table but rushed when taking orders. Our friends enjoyed their meals but the menu options were few and far between for my taste. I ordered a tapa of the brie, pear and fig and I swear it was the same bread they drop off for the table with a morsel of pear divided among the 4 slices. Pitiful presentation. Oh, and it is past due for a remodel and update... jus saying I heard this is an old trusted standby but I was not impressed one bit. read more

Restaurant Europa - Sad lil brie, barely pear and fig jam crostini... - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

Came here with 3 other girlfriends this past weekend and loved it! I never noticed this spot before because it's kind of tucked into the strip mall on the traffic circle. Europa has an extensive tapas list, appetizer list and entrée list. We all loved the variety and the Russian flavors. Some of the tapas were a bit basic--toast, cheese, apple but presentation was still cute. The space is quite interesting and the decor is on the random side. They have a basement bar and larger reserved area downstairs. Service was friendly but slow. Would come back here to try the fun-looking entrees! read more

Restaurant Europa - a table full of food and drinks - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

See all

Everything was delicious and fresh! The flavors were excellent. The garlic in the escargot was delectable. The beet salad was amazing. The grape leaves had so much meat in them and the sauce was full of flavor. Both of our entrees were wonderful. The stuffed cabbage was some of the best I have had with not a lot of filler and the ahi tuna was so fresh and light and the dipping sauce had great depth of flavor. Prices were reasonable. There were plenty of gluten free menu items clearly marked to choose from. We will definitely be back to try more things! read more

See all

Love the atmosphere of the place and the food was very very good. Highly recommend the cabbage rolls in the meatloaf Wellington. Service was nice but very slow we had to ask for refills of waters, etc. And we were the only ones in the restaurant But I still highly recommend this place. read more

Been here about 4 times. My Russian friend introduce to me. We had a beer at the bar and went to Siberian vodka room for a shot Lot of fun Went back again with friend and boss for his going away party. We had beer, appetizers and vodka at bar. The food was excellent The potato pancakes, stuffed grape leaves, latke and beer salad were good as well as blinis Tried Oskar room again read more

Restaurant Europa - Siberian vodka room - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

Service is fantastic, ambiance is great, staff is friendly, food is great, and prices are spot on. Their food is overly buttered or creamed so not the healthiest but I get that it adds flavor. I would play traditional European music also would add to the theme. Great restaurant. read more

Delicious as usual! We ordered through Grubhub and the food came fast and was still hot. The flavors were very good. The vegetables were cook to perfection and very seasoned but not salty. The pasta wasn't overcooked. I will order from here again! We ordered the Pastry but they didn't have it. The restaurant call right away to alert us and offered another item. Kudos to great customer service! read more

Restaurant Europa - Veggie Pasta - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

Heavy and greasy food. My dinner was gross and uneatable. The Shrimp Pasta had so much oil on it I couldn't eat it. Also my twenty dollar meal features seven tiny shrimps. You know the kind that costs six dollars a pound at the grocery store. In addition, the Napoleon dessert had obviously sat in the refrigerator for a few days, and was stale and uneatable. Gross. read more

Restaurant Europa - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

This restaurant was highly recommended to me by my hairstylist. She said she visits many times on a Friday. She has dinner upstairs and afterwards will go downstairs to dance Salsa. Every Friday would come and go and I've never had an opportunity to go. Today was the say and I was going to make sure we were able to go. There was a big group before us, after that we just were one of three couples inside the restaurant. It was great as Sue the waitress was able to discuss all my dietary restrictions and find the perfect dish for me. I had the Russian Pork Chops (Schnitzel). It was so good. For dessert I had Russian Cheesecake. It actually came from Russia! It's shipped to New York and to the restaurant. We had some picture fun at the Vodka Room. It was -12 degrees, I'm glad I put on a fur coat. We sat down at the bar to have a Moscow Mule. It was very good. The Salsa dancing starts at 8 pm or so. They teach Salsa for $5 until around 9 pm. At that time the DJ's start their music and the party starts. You see the seasoned dancers start dancing first and other people start to join. Although we left around 9:30 pm it was up to that point a nice experience. read more

See all

What an interesting place. To be honest, we came here primarily to check out the "Ice Bar," where you wear one of their fur coats and have a drink inside freezing temperatures. Be ready - it looks much grander in the photos, but it's essentially an upcycled meat freezer with frozen taxidermy. It's fun to try once, but keep realistic expectations if you're popping in there to do a shot (which you should do). Russian food is an acquired taste, in my opinion. I came in with a group of people and we tried the family style menu so we could sample a bit of everything. This included several cold salads (some better than others) and appetizers as well as beef stroganoff, schnitzel and stuffed cabbage. The schnitzel was excellent and the stuffed cabbage and great flavor. I don't recommend the stroganoff, though - it was extremely plain and wet. If you want to try a bit of everything, I absolutely recommend the family style menu, and if you like Russian food, you will like it. This restaurant is also tucked in an unsuspecting corner of Pepper Pike. It looks small from the outside, but once you enter, it is quite large and extends back very far. They also offer private dining and you can make reservations easily online. Overall, a place to come to if you enjoy Russian food, even if it wasn't fully for me. read more

See all

Feeling adventurous and like we have tried it all already, we chose this place (well, I chose this place) for a Friday night after work bite with wifey. This restaurant came heavily recommended by our waitress at Lyndhurst grill for its dance parties and salsa lessons, so we (I) decided, what The hell..The drive to the restaurant was beautiful...as we only sort of got lost in Pepperpike on the way. We arrived and went inside to find the place mostly empty. There was one round table of people. Even with no one else there but us, I could tell this place is a favorite amongst Russians and other Europeans. I think the family spoke Russian and seemed very happy with their dining experience. My wife, on the other hand, was reluctant at best to stay, however after looking over the menu, she conceded and we decided not to go to the Thai restaurant a few doors down instead. We probably should have went to the Thai restaurant. Not that the food was bad, it was overall pretty good to me. My wife was feeling hella picky, I could tell... She only ordered a salad and cheese plate (she hated it but was unable to send it back for something else, so she basically ate nothing and now we have a box of strange cheeses in our fridge. I ordered from the tapas menu... Crepes stuffed with smoked salmon (pretty good), as well as a olive crustini (house marinated and absolutely delicious ) As we sat, a few people came in to inquire about salsa, which was perfect because I found myself wondering where all of the dancing took place. We learned it was done in the basement. We also learned that as we sat inside, a torrential downpour was taking place outside as the lights flickered a couple of times. I imagined it was remnants of hurricane Dorian making his presence briefly in Cleveland Ohio. We paid our check just in time as the entire building went dark and quiet. We had a decision to make as we stood in the doorway, calculating the distance to the car and whether it would be safe to drive or wait it out at the restaurant. Being that we are two relatively aware young (melanated) women with a healthy imagination and penchant for a good scary movie on a stormy night... We decided it best to GET OUT and take our chances with the storm. No need to stick around to see how that plot might unfold... PEACE OUT BITCHES. Overall I thought the food was good, but I know we won't be back because basically my wife said fuck that. Oh the salty Russian is delicious. read more

See all

AMAZING!!!!!!!! Everything here is awesome from the food to the service. The French onion soup is the best I've ever had. My husbands vegetable pasta rivals any Italian restaurant. The three cheese chicken & sliced potatoes were just fabulous. The bread OMG the bread, warm & crusty & delicious. The prices are incredible. The staff treats you like family. I don't understand why it's so quiet here. People should be standing on their heads trying to get in. read more

Ordered a kobe beef burger and it looked/tasted like a school lunch patty. It was so disgusting I literally had one bite and my server said she could tell I was unhappy. I told her why and she responded by saying well it's from Japan so it can't be fresh it had to be frozen... no offer to speak to a manager or if I wanted to exchange my meal or anything... I still paid for it in full and the only thing I ate was some fries.. won't be back read more

See all

I have been to the restaurant number of times and always a good experience. If you don't know what to eat, go for the Feast. It gives you few different salads and 2-3 main courses (depends on what you would like). As we had a large party, we did the Feast with 3 courses plus dessert. 3 main courses were - potato latkes, Grouper over rice and beef stroganoff with 2 types of potatoes (mashed and fried with mushrooms). For dessert, we did russian style cherrie ravioli (vareniki). While you are here, try one of their flavored vodka's in the vodka room!!! read more

This is the best restaurant in the area and it's very reasonably priced. Seriously, the "Europa Pastry" is to die for. I've had most of the non-seafood entrees, and they're all stellar. The Brisket in cherry gravy is one of my all time favorites, very tender meat with a flavorful (but not overpowering) gravy. The Russian Schnitzel is my fiance's go to, the breading is crisp and tasty, the mushroom sauce is great, and the potatoes are probably the crispiest non- potato chip potatoes I've ever had. The stuffed cabbage is also very tasty and well-seasoned. For how good the entrees are, the appetizers are even better. Seriously, the Europa Pastry (brie, nuts, and berries in a puff pastry) is the best thing I've ever eaten, and we get it every time we go. The beef filled potato pancakes are pillowy and delicious, the chicken blinis are creamy and well seasoned, and the marinated herring is delightfully salty and tender (without being overly "fishy"). There have been numerous times we've just ordered a bunch of appetizers instead of entrees, they're all that good. All the desserts we've tried are excellent (and homemade), but the Napoleon is what we always come back to. Layers of buttery puff pastry with a delicious raspberry syrup (for FOUR DOLLARS!) It's also the only thing light enough to eat after all the other food. There's something at Europa for everyone, and the staff will make you feel right at home. A 10/10 if there ever was one. read more

A group of 18 of us came here on a Thursday night to celebrate being friends. Many had not tried Russian food or that type of dining experience; about a third of the table had. It was an amazing time. The owner and staff treated us like royalty and the food was amazing! Meatloaf Wellington and the Russian salad (and of course, the caviar and vodka) we standouts. We all had a great time and everyone will be back! read more

See all

Great food and a very unique, attractive atmosphere complete with a -12° "Vodka room". Fur coats offered as well. The stuffed cabbage was outstanding and the encrusted stuffed chicken breast special was perfectly cooked. The grouper and Russian schnitzel were also delicious. Also, try the many great appetizers not usually offered at other places. All menu items priced very reasonably and the staff is friendly. Large Vodka list but their cocktail list is limited, and the drinks we ordered were "crafted poorly". Please work on those drinks so I can add another star! In an area of upscale over-priced chains, and really expensive fine dining places, this is a perfect option to please everyone. read more

Atmosphere: - there was a live violinist! he was awesome and played some upbeat classical music as well as some soothing, romantic ones - clean, spacious, nicely decorated - somewhat busy that night (Friday 7 pm - 8:30 pm) and seems to be popular with an older crowd. - noise level: moderate, lively Service: We had a decent waitress. I noticed that the servers wait until customers are finished eating their current dish before serving the next dish. This is nice touch since many servers often serve the food too early and interrupt the customers while they're trying to finish up their soups/salads/appetizers, but the entrees end up being served cold. This happened on to me on two separate visits with two different waitresses. Food: Mussels appetizer (photo included) Somewhat citrus-y, but lacked flavor overall. It wasn't overcooked or under-cooked, and the portions (~ 6 mussels) were decent. Borscht (photo included) This soup was actually really delicious. It basically tasted like tomato soup with sour cream and a lot of veggies. My Russian bf said it was pretty good as well. I would definitely order this again. Lamb rack (photo included) As I mentioned earlier, the server may have waited until we were finished with our soup/appetizer to bring out our entrees so the meals weren't served hot/warm. The lamb rack came with a side of asparagus and mashed potatoes - both were tasty, but the lamb rack lacked flavor in my opinion. My bf enjoyed it, however. The only positive thing about the lamb was that it wasn't dry. Lobster ravioli (photo included) Despite being served cold, this dish was quite palatable. I really enjoyed the stuffing since I could actually taste a lot of lobster meat. Overall, I had a nice dining experience. The live music is probably the best aspect of this restaurant. The dishes are a bit pricey and I haven't been wowed by any of their dishes, but I'd like to come back and try some of their drinks and maybe take a free salsa lesson (free lessons are on Friday 8:30 - 9:00 pm). read more

See all

Came here to this Russian + American fusion restaurant with the hubs with a groupon that was a gift from a friend (thanks, friend!) Our groupon came with an appetizer and two entrees. I was eager to try Russian food. Unfortunately, we didn't have a great experience. For the appetizer, we ordered pickled vegetables. Seems like every culture has its own version of pickled vegetables, and we enjoy most of them! Our came with shredded carrots, tomatoes, and long slivers of pickle. The pickled carrot had a nice kick and it was definitely our favorite. Our server told us that to the Russians, the tomatoes were the best because it went the best with vodka! Onto the entrees. The hubs ordered the pork chop and I ordered the Maine lobster tail (with an extra cost of $5, since it wasn't part of the groupon deal.) I was grateful that the owner accommodated us with the lobster. Both came with carrots and pilaf/mashed potatoes. My husband had a hard time with the pork chop - it was pretty salty and it had the taste of ham. It was a mix of salty and sweet, with the chopped apple topping. The lobster I had was pretty plentiful (3 tails!) but I could tell it wasn't the freshest lobster ever. I have the feelings that a lot of the food is not the freshest fare - maybe frozen or otherwise. Much of the food reminded me of a dorm cafeteria, unfortunately... The best part was our server. She was kind, attentive, accommodating...and she really wanted to make sure that we had a good time. They do have an ice bar and a large party room - probably fun for large and rowdy family parties. :) read more

See all

Went here to celebrate my Ukrainian dad's birthday. We ordered the mushroom blini which were great, but I expected it to be crisped up in a hot pan full of butter (the Eastern European way and the way Crepes Teahouse does it in Massachusetts). We ordered the calamari with chili sauce. It was a good European fried calamari (don't expect the Japanese crisp!). The red caviar was great at that price! My dad really enjoyed it. It also came with butterfly crackers and molded rose butter... super cute. And the portion is generous. On to the entrees... I ordered the duck and highly regretted it. It was my first time having duck and it tasted fairly close to a pork chop, which I'm not a huge fan of either. I regretted not ordering the special, Chicken Paprikash! I ended up eating off the plates of the others... my sister ordered a Greek salad with salmon on the side. It was perfect, salmon cooked just right. My dad ordered the salmon gratin and he really enjoyed it too. My mom was less than impressed with the stuffed cabbage. She preferred her own recipe using ketchup of all things! I thought the stuffed cabbage was fine but I've never been a huge fan of stuffed cabbage or grape leaves so... as fine as that dish gets! Dessert... We ordered the Napoleon. It was served... COLD from the fridge. It felt super dry as the butter was solid. I was surprised no one popped it in the microwave or added more custard. I highly recommend Napoleon pastries from George's Deli instead. It's the best Napoleon that I've had in Cleveland. And Napoleon is undoubtedly my favorite cake when done right. I also was hoping for a larger hot tea menu although they did have one herbal berry tea in addition to the standard green/black tea. The service was 5 star! The atmosphere and ambiance was lovely. Good music. Cute and unique cold room etc. I highly recommend this place... great caviar and salmon, a decent value, but could use some improvement. read more

This place was a hidden little gem. Tucked away in a strip mall away from a lot of the big chain restaurants that are around, this place is really beautiful inside. Dark and inviting with a little space on the floor for dancing. We came incredibly early because we got done shopping in the surrounding areas a little earlier than we expected, so when we were here the restaurant was empty. Service was good, why wouldn't it be if you were the only people there? The food was good - my favorite was the beef filled potato pancakes with sour cream - delicious. I ordered the boneless beef short rib and enjoyed it. The wild rice with sun dried tomato was a hit - really moist and flavorful. The meat was cooked well and really tender. Maybe a bit too much sauce for my liking, but still good. Overall, a place I would love to come back to. read more

Restaurant Europa - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

Tucked into a small strip mall, the entrance of this place was marginally difficult to find. The decor inside is nice, and the staff are cordial. The place had almost nobody in it, but I wouldn't be alarmed by that. Their website says on weekends you need reservations but I don't think that's the case for weekdays. For appetizers, we got the borscht and shrimp crepes. The crepes were really hot and burned my tongue, but the waitress explicitly warned me so I'll put that one on me. It was delicious and cheesy (?), as was the soup. You get free bread with the meal. I got the tuna, and we got the duck. Both were prepared beautifully and tasted pretty good. read more

Restaurant Europa - Ahi Tuna - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

Stood there 10min. Nobody came the waitress saw me standing at the podium and walk away

Fantastic Food and Great Service! I love Europa, the food is always incredible and so authentic. The owner and head chef are both Russian and know exactly how to prepare the meals properly. I will definitely be going back! read more

So we order beef stroganoff but waiter served some kind of duck! We asked staff to exchange it or take it or bill and owner told me to never come back!!!!! Fuck this Russian restaurant!!! They don't give a fuck about customers read more

Here is what I would rate the different food items, based on what I've had in the past: Herring appetizer - 3.5 out of 5 Borscht - 3 out of 5 Russian salad - 2 out of 5 Schnitzel and potatoes - 3.5 out of 5 Kvass - 1.5 out of 5 Napoleon - 2.5 out of 5 Overall, it's not a bad place, but I would not say it's a must go destination. read more

The menu is large and has lots of options. Many things seem very appetizing. The presentation of the food was very nice and looked good. However, the taste/quality just wasnt there. The entree is served on a bed of sauteed and/or grilled vegetables that were overcooked/oily. In summary, there were some things we liked a lot. Service was good. The bread & butter is unique and delicious. The atmosphere and decor are nice. The food could be prepared better. However, I do intend to return at least 1 more time. There were items on the menu that sounded so good, I really wanted to try them. The menu is very unique and offers a good sampling of vegetarian & fish options. I believe for all those reasons its worth another try. read more

Restaurant Europa - Carrot Latkes - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

See all

We went with another couple to Restaurant Europa because it was in our coupon book. The food was delicious and the service was good. However, when the bill came and we gave them our coupons, the waitress said "only one coupon to a table". We asked to speak to the manager/owner and he said the same thing. We told him it did not say that on the coupon and what is the difference if our friends were sitting at another table (and there were several empty tables.). He said: "only one coupon per table.". The owner did not care if we came back. We would not recommend doing business like this and will never go back! read more

The atmosphere...most notably the circular metallic papers attached to the wall with plastic pushpins were definitely a disappointment! see picture. How could any respectable restaurant manager allow that? The prices are not cheap, so I expected a nicer atmosphere...white tablecloth, nicer lighting etc. We were in the front of the restaurant next to the bars and we thought the lighting was too bright for a relaxing dinner and drinks. We knew the food would be European comfort food with a Russian emphasis. The calamari came recommended by the server, but was just okay and the sauce was more Asian than European. My first choice was the stroganoff but unfortunately they ran out. As main entrées we wound up eating the schnitzel and lamb rack and "just OK" was the sentiment of the evening. Go to Hofbrau House for a much superior schnitzel. Napoleon was a big disappointment...the custard was bland and the pastry layers were soft and in my experience they should have been crispy. I think it clearly was not fresh or made there. We both felt that the bread, Caesar salad and martinis were above average but those hardly make up for main entrees and atmosphere that were below to well below average. Since we were just coming off a horrible winter we opted not to try the Siberian freezer experience which I have heard good things about. We might come back for that but, unfortunately, we won't be back for dinner. read more

Restaurant Europa - Silver paper on wall held up with plastic push pins??? - Modern European Near Me - Pepper Pike, Ohio

This is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Cleveland. The food is all fantastic. The Brie appetizer was amazing.

One of my favorite places. So cozy and relaxing with great Russian comfort foods. All foods are good, and we've had most of them. Excellent appetizers and salads of all kinds. Foods are familiar but with a Russian twist. Service is always the best. This time the restaurant had a nice decor update. Go for nice conversation and a chance to go into a cold room to try the Vodka. read more

See all

Two words. Stuffed cabbage. Stop what you are doing and go get it. Great family style dining. Cool party room in the basement. Also try on a fur coat and have a shot in the vodka room. read more

Authentic Eastern European food cooked just right. Kind of strange, dark interior which wasn't off putting, just not your usual. Stuffed cabbage was excellent. hubs had chicken schnitzel and couldn't come close to finishing it. No room for dessert but the selections sounded great. Will definitely return. read more

We visited Restaurant Europa on a Tuesday night, and were pleasantly surprised not only by the authentic food, but the Argentine Tango dancing in the bar at the front of the restaurant! This is a very hospitable space, and fun to eat and watch the dancers. Interesting food, with a good deal of variety and friendly wait staff. Nice to have a unique place so locally situated and where else can you get a good bowl of Borscht without having to drive half an hour? read more

So I attended Restaurant Europa for an event, so I didn't try anything on the menu. But this review is for more of the party room and the atmosphere. The event that I attended was the Land before Rhyme event that was hosted in their basement party room. The room was really cute and set the mood for the open mic/poetry slam event. I could really see myself possibly using this space for a birthday/social gathering in the future. We had our own private bar area with two bar attendants. The downside of this, was that they seemed to now really want to be there. Another downfall was that the bathrooms were very small, hot, and not very well lit. Other than that the place had a very hip/trendy ambience about it. I want to go back to checkout the food and drink menu. read more

I have never had a bad meal here. The food is fantastic. The staff is the nicest restaurant staff I've ever experienced. They make you feel like a friend or family. Can't wait till next time. read more

WOW, half way through the starters, main less not forget the Volca and Russian beer. This has a great atmosphere. I will diffantly say if you want to tro Russian food this is the place. read more

What a great surprise ! Exceptional food ! Great ambience and fun waitress ... food clearly made from scratch and fresh ! Flavor A+

Another visit on our Yelp Int'l Supper Club journey and very yummy! When yelpers speak of "hidden gems" this is truly what they're talking about--meaning I had no idea this place even existed, let alone where the hell it was before my visit. Tucked away in a shopping plaza in Pepper Pike, Restaurant Europa is easy to pass by from the outside, but quite interesting on the inside. It's dark, dated to the early 90's with pink and teal splattered black plates. It was packed with lots of rich-looking old people. I mean, it was mid-week and at least 2-3 tables had a bottle of vodka sitting in a champagne bucket next to them. There is a "live" violinist, if you count a cassette tape playing the background music while a guy plays his violin over it. I found it kitschy and cute. There was also a tango class that began about 15 minutes into our meal which made getting to the restrooms rather difficult without getting waltzed over. But, again, it was kind of cute! Service started out rather slow and then sped up a little as our meal progressed. I ordered a Moscow Mule (when in Rome) and it was pretty tasty. I could tell they actually used real ginger beer and lime juice--but it certainly packed a punch. Let's just say they know their vodkas and just booze in general. Speaking of, they have an ice room that's normally -10º, where they give you a fur coat and you can take shots of vodka. Our waiter explained it was temporarily out of order (just that day), but the owners are Siberian and the ice room was their tribute to their heritage! Pretty cool--I'd come back for that, alone! Back to the food, I ordered some apps for the table, including potato latkes with smoked salmon and the pickle platter--all delicious. I'm Jewish (half) and I'm used to homemade potato latkes, trust me, these were good. I skipped the salmon, so I can't comment on that aspect. The pickle platter came with cucumbers, tomatoes and shredded carrots. Honestly, they were all good and you could tell the difference in pickling technique as you tasted each one. I think the carrots were actually my favorite! Our table also ordered some soups to start and I, of course, had to try the matzo ball. It was flavorful with light, fluffy matzo dumplings, tender chunks of white meat chicken, celery, onion and carrot. Definitely a fan. One of the yelpers ordered the borscht, and although he mentioned it was a different preparation than he was used to, he said it was still tasty. For our main entrees three of us ordered the stuffed cabbage and one the pork schnitzle (spelling?). I can say that my cabbage rolls were tender and very tasty, although a little sweeter in the sauce than I'm used to. Don't get me wrong, the sauce isn't sweet, just sweeter than my Mom's preparation, which is my favorite. But these were very good! The mashed potatoes were OK, nothing super special, and a little over-mashed/thin for my taste. I was so full after all the apps and soups that I could only finish half of one of the rolls--and the plate had three! I'd definitely come back again, but I doubt I'd be a regular. Great Eastern European comfort foods, for sure. Definitely give it a try! read more

I wish I could like it even more. We've eaten there twice. The food is good, but not great. Best thing I've had was the cold borscht -- creamy, loaded with dill. The stuffed cabbage was OK. Service is friendly. I could do without the violinist who uses a recorded soundtrack and has a very odd mix of songs. The cold room for drinking vodka is a cute gimmick. read more