Severance Restaurant

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Tony A.

Joined 7 months ago

Keep up the good work at Sammy's in Severance Hall!

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abagofajay

Joined 7 years ago

not romantic, but good quality. I went here on a date... never again. The place is actually quite good. People warned me it would be really expensive, but the entrees are only like $22 and it has the food selection, exquisite taste, and elegant decor of a $40 entree place. But I can't see any reason why I'd ever go again. The hours are very odd and being surrounded by the fast-paced orchestra patrons robs it of any magic. Parking is a challenge, as it's in the middle of a college campus (I just walked since my date and I went to Case). But what strikes me is that the atmosphere is imposing in an undefineable way. It's classy, but in a really fake, pretentious way. It had the same effect on my date -- she'd always been so warm, and was that day, too, until we actually entered the place and suddenly everything changed...

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Orchestra lovers can't achieve bliss with empty stomachs.. The Scene
Music may be the food of love, but this elegant destination restaurant tucked inside the concert home of the Cleveland Orchestra knows the real deal: lovers can't achieve bliss on an empty stomach. No sooner have you taken a seat at a white tablecloth in this sleek Art Deco room, and Severance starts making overtures.

The Dining
Contemporary American cuisine is the main frame of reference, which means the menu takes comfort cuisine treasures like beef, poultry and sea creatures great and small, then gussies up the flavors and presentation for a night on the town. Oxtail soup gets its globalized harmony from Asian Udon noodles and a curry broth; simple roasted chicken has a Southwestern tang courtesy of red chili corn cakes and chorizo sausage; and the crispy duck won tons with kim chi ups the Pacific Rim flavor octave. A grilled filet of beef tries valiantly, but Severance just isn't a steak house. If you're killing time pre-curtain, there's an excellent cognac and dessert wine bar. Linger, and leave room for a citrus creme brulee with a sweet ginger peach sauce.

The Crowd
You don't need a concert ticket to dine here, but reservations for one of the 160-odd seats are a must. Hand-holders, pampered by an attentive staff in collarless charcoal shirts, have been known to occupy a cozy booth and make their own beautiful music. Ask for a seat in the Terrace Room, where the French doors open to a patio that overlooks the Cleveland Museum of Art's leafy lagoon.