Lava Lounge

Secret Agents Welcome. Nice place, cool music, great food, etc... can be a bit pricey and the service can be slow. I would not go there to have an quiet conversation(when the music is loud, otherwise yes I would), but it is great for a groups.…

The Perfect Fit. While hosting a couple friends from NYC, we wandered around the neighborhood looking for the right spot for a late dinner. The first floor was crowded and loud when we arrived, which may have been fine on your average night, but we wanted something more low-key and a volume level that would allow us to hear each other speak. The friendly bartender told us that the upstairs was about ready to open, so we took advantage and had ourselves great meal amidst great ambiance in what turned out to be the perfect fit!…

You don't need a thrift-store shirt or an animal-print handbag, but it wouldn't hurt.. The Scene
Behind the misleading screen door is an assortment of retro accoutrements--the kinds one pays too much for at Lorain Avenue antique shops. There are animal-print lamps, lava lamps, amoeba-shaped cocktail tables and bright pink holiday lights. The music, which isn't too loud to chat over, ranges from Erykah Badu to obscure electronica.

The Draw
Before 10pm, you'll find locals in dirty tank tops, folks on their way home from the office and random passersby heading for The Flats or Lakewood. By 11:30pm, the trendsetters are in the house. Straight, gay, black, white, guys, girls and everyone in-between. The crowd is packed in elbow to elbow, especially on live-DJ nights. The place is owned by the same restaurateurs who run Fat Cats, so you can expect unusual yet well-prepared food, on the 15-item appetizer menu.…