3.5 stars. Visited here after rave reviews from friends. We took their recommendations & made a reservation for seats at the bar- which was awesome since it's an open view to the kitchen, however can be a bit noisy, if you are looking for an intimate evening out. The meal started out with a great focaccia bread and olive oil to dip. We skipped appetizers but saw countless orders of calamari, mussels, and octopus being prepared. We ordered the shrimp & grits, along with a halibut special. the halibut was a little on the cool side, which is a bit disappointing since it was about a 1-2 step from kitchen to serve. The shrimp & grits had a nice, slightly spicy flavor without being overwhelming. The shrimp were huge & nicely cooked. The halibut was cooked perfectly & came in a delicious crawfish sauce & langistinos that reminded me of a thin seafood bisque. Overall, both dishes were very good. We finished the meal with a slice of peanut butter pie & pecan pie to go. The peanut butter was better in my opinion, as the pecan pie seemed to separate a little bit. As other reviews state- plan to take your time... we arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation (was seated right away) but still took over 1.5 hours without apps or eating dessert there. Everything was good, but neither of else felt that we needed to return soon. read more

We came here last Friday for a special occasion. We had reservations and were seated right away. Our food was very good. My daughter and I split the beet salad, which was good. We had the scallop appetizer which was very good but there were only 2 scallops and we had to share between 4 people, it would of been nice to have a few more. I ordered the 4 oz filet which was awesome. I generally don't finish a meal because the portions are so big but this was the exact size for me and the price was right too. Nice job. read more

*About a month after this review was posted the manager contacted us (after reading the review) and refunded our entire meal. Glad there was a refund but still wish it had been dealt with when we were actually at the restaurant. As for the food, before dessert, it was delicious. Original review- The one is solely for their complete lack of regard for food allergies. My husband and I went to dinner last night and he informed our waitress that he is allergic to both tree nuts and peanuts. We go to order dessert and he picks the bread pudding for us to share (we have had nut free bread pudding at lots of other restaurants). When it gets there I take a bite and panic as I realize there are chunks of nuts in the bread. Luckily, my husband had only eaten some whipped cream from the plate at this point. As the waitress walks by, I flag her down and ask if there are nuts in the dish. She says no, as if she knew for sure. I insist- so she checks, and indeed there are nuts in the bread pudding. She asks my husband if he wants something else, which he declines. We pay our bill and I make him tip her even though our evening could have been spent in the emergency room or worse thanks to her cavalier attitude. (which frankly I'm now regretting since I don't think she still realizes how serious this could hand been) I tell the manager on the way out, he notes that the waitress asked him if the dessert contained nuts but it must have been after the fact. Like that makes this somehow better...He offers my husband a Benadryl, and gives a half of an apology. I would expect such a place would have understood and taken food allergies much more seriously. I'm just glad there were actual nuts in the dish as opposed to nut flour or extract which I wouldn't have been able to detect since our waitress clearly did no checking before she served us food. read more

Amazing food. Super busy on a Saturday. Everything we ate was fantastic. Will absolutely return!

Omg!!! What a gem! We were looking for a place near blossom and this was highly recommended. We sat at the bar, and in my opinion that's the best seat in the house. Watching the chefs perform their magic was like watching a ballet. We couldn't believe the precision and pace that they were putting out amazing dishes. Everything that we saw leave the kitchen looked fabulous. I had the Steak Pizzaiola and the steak was perfectly done, and a very interesting twist on steak. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend had the jambalaya and it was excellent, perfect amount of heat! We wanted to stay and try everything on the menu! It will definitely be new destination restaurant! I am very excited because I will be doing a project in Cuyahoga Falls, so I'm sure I will be back soon! Also I have to mention that the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We got delayed on the freeway and were late for our reservation and they were great about keeping in touch with us and we're very pleasant about the unfortunate situation. With the restaurant that is as busy as this place, sometimes the front of house people can be "stressed". The ladies I spoke with were extremely pleasant and friendly! Also, our waitress at the bar was really friendly and accommodating to a special drink request that I had. read more

Went to Russo's with another couple for dinner on Saturday night 10/18. Had a 7:30 reservation and actually got seated when we arrived at 7:15. We have been many times before and always had a great meal. I love that they have a special menu each night although it's tough for a repeat of a favorite dish. Our waitress informed us that they were on their last soft shell crab for a dish on their special nightly menu and asked if we wanted that dish. It sounded good so I agreed to that. It seems though that they should order enough of the items to not run out on a busy weekend. It seemed to be the theme of the evening though. I love Russo's food but quite a few of my favorites were already out of for the evening. Hello chicken liver appetizer....ran out on a Saturday night? Really!?!?! Also on the downside is the dining room noise level. Very loud and hard to hear the conversation at our own table. Also I really object to the tv's with football games at what I consider a higher end restaurant. Sort of cheapens the experience that I paid $150.00 for two people. Bottom line 2 out of five stars in my book based on atmosphere and lack of choices of fave foods. read more

We went for the cajun food and it was horrible. The prices were high ant the quality of the food was very disappointing. The rice with the creole dish was hard and undercooked. I have had lots of Cajun/Creole food ant this was by far the worst I have ever had. The staff was functional at best but not welcoming or friendly. We will never go back. read more

Good thing they weren't busy because I can't imagine how long we would have waited for service or to even be acknowledged! Never even tried the food because after 7 minutes of sitting there & being ignored, we chose to leave . And that's with 3 servers and only one other table with patrons. Good luck during dinner or lunch! read more

Great Restaurant. Off the Beaten path, but have eaten here numerous times but finally remembered to review. An awesome mix of creole and Italian. Very unassuming building that you could fly right by but the inside is very nice and has a cool open kitchen with a bar surrounding it. The Calamari, Caesar, or the craw-fish salad are all great ways to start off your meal. The Navajo Tacos as well as the many steak options with great whipped mash potatoes can't be beat. A great place for a family dinner or date. read more

We have not eaten here for a few years so we thought we'd give another try. Pleasantly surprised by food quality and service. Surf and turf was excellent. Linguine with shrimp, scallops, crab also good. Great salads with house made dressings. I had blue cheese which was not the usual kind but more like a vinaigrette with lots of cheese crumbles. Husb had white French and loved it. We'll go back in a lot less time than 3 years. read more

By far my favorite restaurant! Perfect service- beyond amazing food- every time I come! Better food and service than any restaurant I have ate at in NYC or Chicago. Happy to see the places packed- they deserve it! read more

Went there tonight, we arrived at 4:12 and when the waitress came to our table she said we had to wait because they had not printed the dinner menus yet. The back of Russo's opens at 4. My wife and I both ordered the fresh fish which was perch. When our plates arrived each of us got 3 pieces of fish. Each piece was no longer than my index finger and no wider than 2 of my fingers together. Dinner came with vegetables which consisted of 2 strips of peppers and sliver of squash. I finished my meal in about 3 minutes. Very disappointed since we spent over $40 with tip. read more

If you like Cajun, this is the place. Both in the dining room and the more informal bar/ lounge - service and quality are top notch. A very skilled and knowledgeable bartender in the bar adds to the experience. Portions are large - make sure that those who are averse to hot and spicy dishes pay attention to wait staff's description of dishes. Can't go wrong with any of the Cajun / New Orleans style dishes. read more

The quality of the food is second to none. Dave Russo and his team know how to make wonderful food, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I've never had any food that wasn't very well prepared. Try the chicken liver appetizer or a plate of oysters on the half shell :) The service is *usually* good: when they're on their game no one does it better. Sadly, when they get busy, the service slips perceptibly. Also bear in mind that regulars get *much* better service than unfamiliar faces. On the downside, even taking into account the very superior quality of the food and service, the prices are still on the high side. Accordingly, 4 out of 5 stars. read more

My husband and went to Russo's on Thursday evening. It was fantastic. We sat at the end of the bar that overlooked the kitchen and chefs. Everyone was very nice. The chefs took time to talk to you while they were busy cooking. I ended up getting the shrimp and grits. I'm not a fan of shrimp and never had grits. It was wonderful. One of the best meals I ever had. I will definitely be back and I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. read more

This restaurant was very disappointing. I read some very good reviews which was why I chose to celebrate my husband's birthday. First off, it was so noisy, we had to shout at each other to be heard...the service was very slow..it took almost a half hour just for the drink order...when the food came, it was mostly cold. We sent back the roasted garlic for the bread twice because it was cold. We ended up just not having it. The food was tasty, but yes, not hot. We sent an entree back and it came back still not even warm. We spoke to the manager after the meal and let her know about our experience. She did nothing to compensate, except for an "oh, I'm so sorry. Entrees were around $30 and for that price, the whole experience should have been much better. read more

Had dinner last night on a whim. We had just been to the Hudson Wine Fest and decided to grab a late dinner. We really had a nice time. We didn't have a reservation and they were very busy but within 5 minutes wife and I got seated. I had the Mahi Mahi and wife had the chicken fried steak. Both were excellent. My only complaint would be the Caesar salad. The dressing was very light and didn't really seem to be a Caesar dressing. read more

This has been my go-to place ever since we moved here from the South several years ago. It is a bit pricey and noisy, but this Cajun-style food is on point!!! Oysters, redfish, shrimp and grits, collard greens, I could go on and on! It's all good! Try it!! read more

Dunno. I'd like to give this place many stars, but I'd have to be able to try it. Beginning to think it's maybe a mirage -- this is the third time I've stopped by and it's closed. read more

This is a must visit every time I'm in the area. They never fail to deliver and I've eaten there at least a dozen times. My wife says the beef ravioli is the absolute best she's ever eaten. I wouldn't know because she won't even let me have a bite. Their mussel's are terrific and sopping up the sauce is a must. read more

One of my favorites! They are on the pricey side, but all the food is fresh and delicious. The menu is half Italian and half Cajun.

What can I say about this place, it does not matter if you eat in the front restaurant or in the bar in back and you will be satisfied. I have been here multiple times and never had a bad meal or experience. read more

This an awesome dining experience ! The cusine is also excellent with great service! We have been to many fine dining establishments but Russo's is the one place tell everyone about hands down! You must try Thier Jumbolia !!!!!! Thomas Dean Hudson, Ohio 216-570-3246 read more

My husband and I went there last night. Had reservations. Took them 20 min. To take a drink order from us. It was so loud we couldn't even talk to each other. All the tables are crammed together and you cannot even hear! Food was blah! I ordered the pasta and seafood dish for a whopping $33. I had one scallop, a few tiny shrimp and very few small pieces of lobster. Not worth the price at all! Husband had steak and the " signature sauce "was BBQ and honey. Clearly something you could buy at a store. His baked potato appeared like it had been microwaved as the skin was dry instead of crusty brown from being baked in an oven. Server was slow on getting us more drinks! NOT WORTH THE MONEY, WILL NEVER GO AGAIN! We should've stuck with original plan and went to Lazizas in Kent! Lazizas has great food, service and amazing atmosphere! read more

I started eating Dave Russo's food when he was chef at Liberty Brewing way back when. Such a sad day when it closed down but we rejoiced when we found out he was opening his own place and adding Italian to his menu along with his tried and true cajun offerings. Every time we go home for a visit, we eat at Russo's AT LEAST once...usually more. Everything on the menu is good. I think I've literally eaten everything on it. It can be a little loud in the restaurant because of the open kitchen and all the hard surfaces, so just be prepared for that. Oh, and they always have a great beer and wine selection - super important. read more

Place is OK. Food is salty, way overpriced for decent food. The environment is the best thing about the place beside the oysters.

Walked a in and was told it would be 30 minutes to get a table so we went to the bar and had a drink 45 minutes later we we were told we could only sit in the entry. Horrible customer service. read more

Found good reviews on Yelp and decided to stop in prior to a concert at Blossom. What a great choice we made. Sat at the bar up front and enjoyed the interaction with both the bartenders and cooks who prepare the food right in front of you. Had the grilled oysters as appitizer (awesome must have) along with the halibut special which was off the charts. We will be back again for sure. read more

I thought this place was in the middle of no where. I was pretty surprise when I walked in though, not exactly what I was expecting. Its right next to a shady looking motel. This place is a slightly more upscale than I thought. Their entrees I think were maybe a little pricey as were their drinks. Service was a little slow but I was with a big group. I thought it was a little poor form to run out of pork chops as well as a number of desserts. I ended up getting the seafood creole with steamed rice which was decent except they gave me very little rice so I felt as though I was eating stew. read more

Dinner was awesome! Had the GF Roasted Portobello, Shiitake, & Oyster Mushrooms on Spaghetti with Shallots, Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Parsley, Basil, & Parmesan Cheese dish. Unbelievably incredible! Will visit again next baseball season! read more

Hidden gem. For years has been one of our favorite spots. Love going there for lunch also

Was hoping for more -- pretty much sums it up. Used the online booking thing and was called back (they left a message) to let me know that time wasn't available, but had some others. Called back within 5 minutes and was told could only sit at the bar and only if we came right away. This would have been fine, except for the fact that NO ONE was there when we got there and the restaurant didn't fill up for at least an hour after. Bartenders weren't particularly friendly, food was par and overpriced. One of those places where the description makes it sound super fancy and then when it comes out it's tuna salad with saltines in the plastic. Disappointing for my first time out without kids in a year. Won't return. read more

This one is a favorite for my husband and I. The gumbo is bowl-licking good. The meatloaf is also a fave. The menu is a nice eclectic mix of Cajun, Italian, and American cuisine. Good wine selection, and always have had good service. The bar overlooks the open kitchen, and is good entertainment. All inside seating is a little noisy. read more

Actually ate there twice on a recent trip to Stow/Hudson. Etoufee on the second visit was not nearly as good as the first - not sure what happened, but a really nice place, good food selection, great bar to sit at and watch the kitchen - good, fun crowd. I'd definitely go back. read more

When I lived in Cleveland, I often took customers here and it was our favorite place to go for lunch. It's a little bit of sophistication on a lonely stretch of road between Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson. The food is excellent, but here's what really set the place apart: you can see them making it. They have a wrap-around bar surrounding the kitchen. A bit expensive, but there's really nothing that comes close to Russo's in this 'hood. read more

Authentic Cajun and Italian. What's not to love? Pair that with tasty Thirsty Dog beers on tap and you have a great hidden gem. Russo's is one of those places with a great local feel and a diverse crowd of regulars. They accommodated our group of 7 on a Saturday night quickly and efficiently. As a bonus, there was a very talented guy playing guitar in the bar area. Overall delicious food not found in many other places in Northeast Ohio, great atmosphere and located in an area I love. read more

We ate here for the first time in 3 years and were so glad we did! Great food, and service was excellent. Had a really hard time deciding on what to order because everything we saw going past us to other people looked and smelled amazing. Jen was our server, she was very professional and attentive. We will be back for sure. So glad we went! read more

The food was good, the service was good- it was just so incredibly Loud! We couldn't even hear each other!

I was shocked at the horrid meal we received last weekend over Mardi Gras weekend festivities. The service provided by our waiter and other waitstaff was wonderful, but that's the only positive thing I can find to say. For starters, it was a Saturday night and packed, but that is no excuse to wait for what seemed like forever for our meals. And when they did arrive, our meals were cold and the etouffee I had was terrible. For one, it was served over mashed potatoes instead of rice - no explanation for that either! There was no hint of Creole flavor either. It was no different than regular gravy over mashed potatoes. What happened? Last time we were there was a couple years ago, but it was a wonderful dining experience - as I hoped this would be, since it was my birthday. Buyer beware at this restaurant, folks! read more

Oysters by Marty was delicious and the okra was spicy and yummy. We were feeling pretty good. Polished off the bread and salad and feeing pretty full.... then came the Navajo tacos. It was a big serving and I was certain we would be taking it home. One bite, and I was hooked. Finished it. The naan bread was no match for my appetite either. I think I ate it all in 15 min! Thanks Russo's for getting me incredibly full and happy. :) read more