Lovely restaurant in the center of Gates Mills. My dad and I came here to for dinner with a friend and had a great time! I loved the vibe here. In tune with Gates Mills, there were paintings and stained glass art pieces depicting the village fox hunt. It almost felt like you were dining in someone's home because of the layout and decor. Sara's Place has two floors. Downstairs there is a nice outdoor patio, and a dining room with an open kitchen, and upstairs there are a few more tables and the bar. We sat upstairs at the bar, where they have a faux fireplace going so it feels super cozy inside. Our bartender was super friendly and helpful. I ordered the chicken and kale soup to start, and the Pete's chopped salad with grilled chicken as an entree. The soup was good, but the chopped salad was amazing. First of all, it was GIANT. I could have gone with the half portion and still been full. It consisted of romaine, bacon, carrots, celery, egg, tomato, and a chunky blue cheese dressing. Simple, but well done with quality ingredients. For dessert, we split a serving of Mitchell's banana cream pie ice cream. Overall, we had a fabulous meal with great company. The menu here is extensive, so there's bound to be a little something for everyone. They have a huge variety of salads, as well as Italian favorites, healthy options, and quality steaks. The prices are on the higher end, but very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food (plus, it's Gates Mills). Great spot for dinner, I will definitely be back next time I am in town. read more

Stopped here on way out to Chapin Forest for a hike. Friend stopped, was a pleasant surprise, especially the ambiance, hidden in "downtown" of a quaint small town on the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, OH. Lunch of pan seared walleye for my friend and my chicken cous cous were well presented and taste equal to its presentation. Give Sara's a try. read more

This is my favorite restaurant, for multiple reasons I usually get the chicken with couscous sun dried tomatoes and spinach! They're key lime pie in a mason jar is to die for as well. The atmosphere is candle lit for the evenings and all the blinds are open for lunch to help make the place seem inviting. This is a great place to take out-of-towners to really experience a great place in Ohio's old money food culture. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly. They have an outdoor patio with seating. They have a bar as well upstairs if the dressy casual dining isn't your thing. I would recommend to anyone! Every time I bring guests here they get the Mac and cheese lol, and every time they say, "this is the best Mac and cheese I've ever had"! 10/10 read more

Sara’s Place - Key lime pie in a mason jar - Italian Near Me - Gates Mills, Ohio

What a fantastic mix of ambiance with fine cuisine. We have ordered either take out or dined in a few dozen time before coming to this review. Every visit or take order has been great! We have trucks almost every dish on the menu and have consistently been pleased. The Mac n cheese is one of the best ever. Enjoy the drive over! read more

Halibut with pineapple is top notch. Mac and cheese is made for adults...right on. Espresso martini is to die for. Customer service is outstanding. Everybody should visit Sarah's Place. read more

Sara’s Place - Espresso Martini. Wow! - Italian Near Me - Gates Mills, Ohio

Set aside the "Eating at a restaurant in Gates Mills" and you have bad food and fair service at a stratospheric price. $120 dollars for a rubber chicken/ soggy vegetable dish and a pasta dish with no drinks. I guess that was my mistake, If I was half in the bag I would have enjoyed it more. I have dined there on three separate occasions and rubber chicken seems to be their specialty both in house and catered. Bob Evans is a better choice and you can dine there for 1/3 the price. Gamekeeper 2 would have been a better choice that a Gavi's rehash. BTW is SARA's not SAAARA's just because you elongate/emphasis the long A doesn't mean its not CRAAAP. read more

Typically one of our favorite places . Tonight was a huge disappointment. Appetizer and dinner were placed at the same time. ( 7 pm for a 6:45 reservation) it took a half an hour for or appetizer to arrive at which time the waitress informed us they were out of the special. ( we ordered at 7 they opened at 5 ) service was slow. Dissatisfied with our evening. We will most likely take a break until they get their act together. Suggest that every one else do the same. read more

Absolutely AMAZING!!! Went with my husband and had a wonderful time!! That cheese with jam and fruit is to die for, honestly! And COVID precautions were taken! 100% going again read more

This was an amazing little place with wonderful food and a great ambiance. The service was top notch and the food was amazing. I would highly recommend dinning at his fine establishment. The beef short ribs were great and the bread pudding as heavenly. My favorite thing about this location is that you're in a neighborhood not some strip mall or a stuffy restaurant chain. read more

Had a chance to taste their food and wines, and everything was excellent. Our host/waitress Sue was awesome, and made the experience great. We will definitely be back, and recommend to all. read more

This place is the best restaurant I have ever gone, great customer service, great staff with reasonable price. It is in the great area of Cleveland and lots of picturous places around. Nice river and great green arena. read more

See all

I love this restaurant. I have never had a bad experience here! The Chicken Parmesan entree was excellent, and the service was great. I love the atmosphere of Sara's Place and will 100% be returning for another great meal. read more

Had the triple tail fish which was an outstanding dish Great service a very pretty view outside, this time of year. Plenty of healthy choices on the menu and a decent wine list A hidden gem off the beaten path read more

Nice location in the village of Gates Mills. Decor is comfortable and less formal than expected. Drinks were good. Italian food was above average but a little bland. read more

I do wish the uninformed interlopers would finally learn that it's pronounced "saaaahra's". During the day it's ladies who lunch, who I adore. Triple initial vanity plates. Hunt club stickers. Benefit chairs and committee gossip. A quilted Barbour and Jimmy Choo flats. The bar upstairs is a hoot at happy hour, skewing more towards the nouveau (north of Mayfield) locals. Oh, and they serve food also. read more

I recently attended a work dinner here while visiting Cleveland. They had our party set up in one of their private rooms upstairs and the service was phenomenal. I wasn't sure what to expect driving up on this place, but I was very impressed with the scenery and location where this restaurant is located. A refreshing change to the usual strip malls or busy roads where you would find typical restaurants. We had a particular server assigned to our reserved room and she was on the ball with making sure drink orders were topped off and even helped with recommendations for entrees for those of us who had never been there before. The stuffed banana peppers on the appetizer menu were to die for and still have me craving some weeks later. I ordered the couscous with chicken and was very impressed with the flavors and portion sizes. This is definitely the place to go if you are looking for an upscale meal or an intimate dinner location. read more

Lovely restaurant, great location along a winding scenic country road. Good happy hour with small servings perfect for a light bite. Friendly folks, good servers - everything to like. Recommended! read more

Have been going to Sara's for several years now and have had dinner in their main dining room and in the cocktail lounge area upstairs many times. Wait staff is always courteous, friendly and attentive. Menus vary between upstairs and downstairs both having certain traditional specials, and appetizers. The food is always very good . read more

Sara's place is great. The ambiance is great for a dinner with friends, family, a boyfriend/girl friend. It is dimly lit and decorated nicely. I have not dined in the main dining room but it seems to attract a lot of people. I generally dine in the bar area on the second floor. It's small and cozy with a small bar and probably 10 or so small tables. So far my favorite things I've tried is the Beans and Greens. Sounds so simply and it is - but it is SOOOOO good. I promise you won't regret it. I have driven there 30 minutes each way fro take out to satisfy my craving for it. I've also had the Caesar Salad, Arugula/ Tomato salad, and Mussels. I'm not big on anchovy so I did not enjoy the Caesar at all. But everything else has been great. I look forward to trying more things off the menu. read more

I love Sara's Place. It's a place where I've never had a meal that I've not enjoyed. I greatly appreciate a restaurant that makes soups, salad dressings and sauces from scratch as they do at Sara's. The Tuscan White Bean Soup is outstanding and if you are in need of a bowl of comfort, have the chicken and rice. It's just like the chicken and rice soup your grandmother made when you were not feeling well. The eggplant rolls are perfect with a sauce as good as my own, same with the meatballs. I've had and enjoyed most of the salads. In addition to house made dressings, it makes me happy that you can order a smaller version of any salad for a reduced price to accompany your meal. I'm particularly a fan of the Tomato Corn and Shrimp salad and appreciate that they use Laughing Bird shrimp, the only good farmed shrimp there is, instead of frozen shrimp that's been treated with preservatives as most other places use. Their Chagrin Chopped salad is perfect as is the Pete's Chopped salad. Favorite entrées have been the Israeli Cous Cous with Grilled Tofu, Roasted Chicken and Chicken Pot Pie. The prices are appropriate for the quality of food that they deliver. The service has always been warm and friendly and I've noticed that they have had the same service and kitchen staff for years. That says a lot about the restaurant. read more

Sara's Place is the sort of place you want to have a relaxing dinner at. There aren't too many tables, the room has a warm atmosphere and the staff is friendly. In the summer you can enjoy a leisurely lunch out on their patio. With dining rooms upstairs this is a great venue for a private party too. The portions are tremendous. On two visits I've wondered how in the world I'm going to eat so much...especially when the food has come and it's been OK but nothing all that special. Most recently I enjoyed my appetizer - a spinach, bean and sausage dish ($12) served warm with points of thick bread. I should have shared this with someone but I did enjoy it. The entrees are decent but again I kept wondering if the chef had swapped out the ingredients if some of their items could have been better. It's not that things aren't fresh, I just am not crazy about their combination of items. The macaroni & cheese ($16) is a customer favorite. I love to try this dish and restaurants and was disappointed. Sure anyone can toss some pasta with marscapone and top the dish with some shredded cheese. The dish had no depth. I've ordered the chicken pot pie ($16) before as well and had a similar experience. I do give them credit for their healthy eating section of the menu and for offering many items in half portion sizes. If you're looking for an intimate dining area and want to spend your time relaxing over large portions of food than give Sara's a try. I'll probably be back in the winter but will remember that I shouldn't have such high expectations for their menu. read more

We had a small family celebration at Sara's. Food was great and our waiter was on top of everything!

I was really disappointed with this restaurant! My husband and I got sick from their pasta dishes. Customer Service was the worst that I have experienced. Our daughter spoke highly about this restaurant, but was so surprised how unfriendly they were. I would rethink about choosing this restaurant. Still not feeling well after that Lasagna and eggplant dish. Food poisoning???? read more

Great environment and food. Frequently stop in for dinner and lunch last minute and always very accommodating. The white bean soup is exceptional as is the stuffed banana peppers. The rack of lamb with mint glaze is also great and a large selection of salads. The upstairs is more laid back with a bar and accommodates larger parties. read more

The takeout tonight was delicious! Chicken parm, bean soup, creative salads...everything was done right, and well packed for the short ride home. And, it was ready exactly when promised! (This has always been one of our favorite restaurants....great food, excellent service, and a charming location, but now that Covid 19 is controlling our lives, be aware that this might be one of the best take out places anywhere!) read more

9/1/18 Good Cesar with anchovies. Decent Long Island iced teas. Cool old house turned into restaurant. Service was good. Mac and cheese and baked egg plant were awesome! read more

Very over priced, service is pretty bad, almost to the point of being rude. The food isn't up to my standards and the portions are very small. Won't be returning. Too bad, nice setting. read more

Good basic food in a "waspy" setting of Gates Mills.Service is good and selection is wide. Your experience won't be memorable, but you will return here as a safe choice. It's owned by the people of Gavi's which was a more upscale restaurant. read more

Bean soup with hot sauce - incredible Coffee always hot and fresh Arugula salad and wheat bread - all excellent read more

Awful food. Made the mistake of thinking the food was good. I gave it two stars because the ambiance is nice. I wouldn't go back. Prices would be ok if the restaurant was clean. Our waitress was trying to hide a stain n the drinks menu on our table. Apparently they never heard of windex My family was laughing at me for cleaning the table. But I got some veal stuffed pasta shells. The sauce was making me sick so I asked the waitress to move it from the table so my family could enjoy their chicken pot pie. The beef brisket was even a brisket cut (what someone else ordered). I felt bad for the fact we were celebrating s birthday. They also told us they were full dining that evening and half the tables were empty? Now I know why I've never heard of the place and it's 5 minutes away from home. read more

This is probably one of the priciest lousy meals I've had in awhile. The best thing we had was the chagrin chopped salad. It was flavorful and fresh and the dressing was a perfect condiment. I ordered the chicken Milanese and the breading was soggy and tasted like the cheap seasoned breadcrumbs you buy at the grocery store. It was accompanied by overcooked haricot vert (green beans) and, what tasted like food service mashed potatoes- possibly mixed w some actual mashed potatoes for texture. My husband had the lasagna bolognese. It was mostly tasteless and the pasta was starchy and the sauce lacked depth. Everything truly lacked proper salting. Also, the waitress only stopped to ask us if 'everything was great' once - she never actually asked us if it was good. I'm sure she didn't really want to know. We had high hopes based on the menu options but are leaving very disappointed by out $80 meal. We won't be back. read more

It's in a cute little town center attached to the library. There's a pedestrian bridge nearby that goes over the river. I went with my grandmother, and we had a great time. The food was comforting and delicious. The staff was attentive and kind. Might want to get a reservation. I can't wait to go back! read more

The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere. All of the staff were pleasant and friendly. If your looking for a nice relaxing restaurant Sara's is definitely worth considering. The food was excellent. The portions were more then adequate and, in what is becoming an increasing rarity these days, the meal was served piping hot. read more

What great place! You forget how close this place is and how good the food and service is here. My wife and I prefer the upstairs area. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Excellent place for a fine dinning experience. Enjoyed the very cosy and friendly atmisphere. Food and wine selections were amazing. Special thanks to Nan for taking such good care. Will definately recommend this place. Thx DR MD read more

Holy smokes is this place awesome!! Came here last night with my parents for a pre-birthday celebration and I loved every minute of the meal. My martini was made to perfection, the filet was outstanding and perfectly cooked and the mussels were so savory and delicious. After our server cleared our plates, we were hoping to order dessert and she must have overheard us say it was my birthday this weekend, so she surprised us all and came out with a mini cake! I'm not sure what kind of cake it was...tasted and looked like red velvet cake but way better! I highly recommend coming here for a birthday or special occasion. read more

The food is nothing special, but the location is nice and the ambiance is nice. The food is overpriced for the quality. We continue to go there because it is convenient to Gates Mills where we live. We had not been there for awhile because the last time, the food was mediocre. We tried again tonight and there was a table of 8 adults and their 4 noisy, screaming children had their own table. We were told the restaurant was allowing it because these people were frequent diners there. It ruined our dining experience and that of other tables and to make it worse, when they left, the grandfather gave us his middle finger when he left. A classy place? I think not. This sort of thing would not happen at a Chagrin Blvd restaurant. Again, the food was only OK. We have been here many times and this was the last straw. Avoid this mediocre place. read more

We were certainly happy to have found a nice place like Saras not too far from us until we experienced service the other day. First of all service is not consistent. You are either lucky and have a friendly and good server or you end up with one who does not seem to care at all or on top charges you food and drinks you never had! We called them to correct that ( please understand it is not about the amount it is only about the fact that this should not happen and we don't have the time to check the bill) but they had all kinds of explanations. For what? Listen, I did not have the salad or the wine you charged me! Nobody had the courtesy to correct that. Well this way I do not feel appreciated and certainly will make different choices for lunch and for dinner next time as you guys obviously don't need any additional business! read more

Went recently and ordered the Mikey's salad on the menu. The red onions completely overpowered the salad so I was bummed!! Otherwise always - great service. read more

My husband and I have to go out at strange times because of arranging child care so we are limited as to where we can go ( getting home to get kids in bed and all that). We were looking for something new for us and relatively close and Sara's looked like it would be a great option! We were celebrating our wedding anniversary so this was suppose to be a special meal. We were "greeted" by the waiter who pointed us in the general direction of some tables and explained he would be over with menu's in a minute. It is a very cute place that's not too dimly lit and being one of three tables at the place, it wasn't too loud or anything. After several minutes we were give menus. While I did hear the waiter talk to another table about specials, we were never told about any. I did hear EXTENSIVELY about the issues the staff were having as they were all going on about this, that and the other the entire meal. I watch our waiter pass our table (I counted) 7 times before he asked if we had questions or were ready to order. The food: Lasagna roll- Flavorful but with a bit to heavy a sauce. NOT with the $9 price tag. Beet Salad- I think this was the best part of the meal. Very good flavor an presentation. Mac-and-Cheese- No, I'm not a kid but it looked like a dressed up version. I had chicken added as well. The sauce while not as orange as Kraft was just as runny. Not at all what I would expect for a $19 dish. Portion size was very large. Mediterranean Pasta- Not bad. Again, large portion. I've seen this same thing done over and over and while they did it well it wasn't anything spectacular. Cream Brûlée- Plunking on large strawberry on top isn't the best presentation I've ever seen. Again with a $9 price tag, I wouldn't get it again. Skillet Cookie with a shot of milk- This pretty much tasted like a Toll House cookie that was cooked in a cupcake tin. It was pretty hard and I didn't finish it. Coffee- Now I realize it was about 3 in the afternoon but when the server poured our cups and then immediately take the thermos' to the back you know it's been sitting there most likely all day. It was terrible and we spent $2.75 for 2 cups we couldn't even drink. Service- As I said we were one of 4 tables in the place. There was one initial server then 2-3 more came in. I have NEVER had such bad service. It was like we weren't even there. While we were eating our desserts the server dropped off the check because he had other things to do. As we were leaving, I saw Orlando Baking Company bread (garlic bread and the rolls like we had been served) sitting in the window. Really? At an Italian restaurant you would think they would make bread. I feel like if they are serving store bought bread, what else was basically reheated? read more