DON'S LIGHTHOUSE, Cleveland - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Reservations

Is this a seafood restaurant?

Yes

No

Unsure

Details

About

Don"s Lighthouse is located along Cleveland's scenic lakefront seven minutes from downtown's sports, theater and concert districts. Situated in a landmark building, Don's offers the freshest seafood, steaks,and chops and is a premier dining spot in Northeast Ohio.

PRICE RANGE

$21.00 – $40.00

CUISINES

Seafood, Contemporary

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Free off-street parking, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Non-smoking restaurants, Gift Cards Available

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4.5

189 reviews

Excellent

105

Very good

49

Average

22

Poor

8

Terrible

5

bumpsiedaisy

Calabash15 contributions

Amazing dinner

Feb 2020 • couples

We were in town for a procedure at the Cleveland Clinic and friends came to join us. We were looking for a good steak dinner and came across Don’s Lighthouse. The building was very interesting on the outside and very warm and cozy on the inside. All four of us ordered filet mignon and the guys got the lobster tails as well. All of the steaks were cooked to perfection and tender. The lobster tails were also cooked just right. We would recommend Don’s over some of the higher priced steakhouses anyday.

Written February 28, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KentStaters

Kent176 contributions

Incredible!!

Jul 2020 • family

We came here on the advice of a friend, “They have the best seafood in Cleveland!” And boy, was he right! We started with a toast to National Daiquiri Day, enjoyed the awesome sourdough bread with whipped herb-butter. We had the Prince Edward Island mussels and the shrimp for appetizers. Both redefined excellent for us. Our main courses? To heaven and back! The scampi and steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes ruled. The Portuguese Seafood Stew sent my tastebuds to the stratosphere. This place is really regal. The atmosphere is tremendous. And they discount their steaks and lobster on Thursday’s and Sundays so we lucked out. And THANK YOU for the surprise ending: a complimentary serving of apple strudel with ice cream for our anniversary! Wow! We WILL be back!

Written July 19, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marni H

Ypsilanti5 contributions

A Delicious Birthday Dinner

Feb 2020 • none

First time at the restaurant and enjoyed celebrating two birthdays there. Particularly liked the bruschetta and escargot appetizers and the Walleye and crab legs, as well as the champagne sorbet.The lobster tail was perhaps just the littlest bit overcooked, but it did not keep me from enjoying it. The wait staff were very nice. And the place has great atmosphere (but good thing I brought my reading glasses!).

Written March 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tim R.

Alabama2 contributions

Less Than Good

Jul 2022 • family

Considering the ratings and menu, I anticipated a great dining experience for our family visit to Cleveland. For comparative value, the hot Italian sub at the Rock&Roll HOF was superior. We ordered calamari to start which was nearly fried to ash. I ordered the Steak & Lobster as did another member of our party. Both steaks were over cooked from the requested medium rare. The lobster was good, not great. Green beans tasted frozen. The potato mash was the best item on the plate; outstanding. However, I can make this at home. I sent my steak back. When our server eventually returned, the temp was correct but the steak had no flavor-lacking seasoning and rest. Disappointed. My wife enjoyed the Portuguese Seafood Stew which she enjoyed. For service, our waiter started strong. Once I sent the steak back, his attitude went downhill. I also ordered a glass of wine I never received. At this point, I didn’t bother to remind the server. The dining room was half full, so being busy wasn’t an excuse for any part of the restaurant. On our next visit to Cleveland, we will dine elsewhere.

Written July 9, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sailor1101

154 contributions

Inconsistent

Apr 2022 • none

After a great experience a few weeks ago, we returned with 2 guests on Easter Eve. What a disappointment! The mussels, their speciality, usually excellent, were awful. The sherry and cream broth showed no signs of either. It looked like dirty dishwater. Though I have never tasted same, maybe it was. The bread, usually good, tasted of mold. I took a few bites, and left the rest. Of my 20:mussel serving, 8 were unopened. At $20:a serving, this makes the appetizer very pricey.. Only gave 3 stars because of our server, Terri, who was great.

Written April 18, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

iamlvp

Cleveland7 contributions

Nice evening out without all the noise.

Dec 2022 • none

Really enjoyed our anniversary dinner here. Service was attentive without being pushy and food was well prepared and tasty. We sat at a nice table by a window and it was lovely to be able to talk without a lot of background noise. We both had considered staying home (we are definitely homebodies) but we were glad we went out as it was such a nice evening. We also received a dessert to share on the house for our anniversary, and that was such a nice surprise.

Written December 18, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kristen D

Cleveland39 contributions

Beautiful plant-based dish

Feb 2023 • none

I was excited to try the signature plant-based dish at my recent visit to Don's Lighthouse Grille, a great spot situated just south of Edgewater Park on Lake Avenue. I had the Thai Coconut Curry, a beautiful, vibrant, and flavorful dish made with tofu, cilantro rice, ginger, onion, coconut milk, cranberry & apple chutney and garnished with coconut flakes. This dish was everything you'd expect from a well-designed plant-based dish: creamy, hearty, and bold, with bright hints of sweetness. Even our server, who had extolled the virtues of their seafood offerings when we sat down, remarked on how good the dish looked and smelled, and she was right. The team at Don's Lighthouse knocked this one out of the park.

Written March 9, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vernon sendelbach

Lakewood13 contributions

great deal

Nov 2020 • none

restaurant week special, 3 course meal appetizer, 4 choices (lobster for me) dessert. Meal well prepared, but lobster tail small, dry and somewhat tough (overcooked). However, I've eaten here in past, and meals are excellent if a bit pricy.

Written November 26, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

its p

Akron2 contributions

They refuse to list desert prices because they change "too frequnetly". So we went to Dairy Queen.

Aug 2024 • couples

We had our first and last experience at dons’s lighthouse. First, we discovered that nearly all customers only come for burger night or a few specials on other nights. Maybe because the other food is really bad like ours was. Green beans were old and stringy, potatoes were baked to a crisp, the house salad had lettuce, but little else that was advertised to be on it. The water glasses are so small that after only two sips they are empty. I needed 6 refills and wasn’t even that thirsty. The happy hour gets you one entire dollar off of very overpriced drinks. The positives were….Clean cloth on the table and ample basket of bread. That’s it. I’ve been to don’s pomeroy house in Streetsboro many times and found it superb in terms of food quality, service and not overpriced for what you get. Hard to believe these have the same owner, or do they ??? Anyone else out there find the same ?? Oh, and the men’s room is a cramped freezer locker in the bowels of the basement. If you turn on the sink faucet don’t be surprised to see ice cubes. Most old gas stations with a room around back are more comfortable than this. And most outrageous, the dessert menu had NO PRICES. When I asked why, I was told that the desert prices changed "too frequently". I don't I being called a sucker and taken advantage of. DO YOU ? I wanted to order desert, but was prohibited. Go to Dairy Queen if you want a good meal and desert.

Written August 31, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandy K

Marblehead224 contributions

Beautiful, clean, quiet

Oct 2022 • none

We enjoyed our trip to Don's Lighthouse Grille. It was fancier than I expected: white tablecloth, constant water service, immediate attention. Our server was friendly and attentive. I enjoyed the Fishmarket salad, featuring a generous amount of baby shrimp, then the Faroe Island salmon, which was perfectly cooked with delightful lemon caper sauce. My husband had the Bistro Salad and Portuguese seafood stew, which had plentiful seafood and chorizo over a pappardelle pasta and light tomato sauce. Not so much a stew as a sauce over pasta, but it was very good. Fresh bread and honey butter accompanied the meal. The desserts sounded wonderful, but we were too stuffed to try any! Maybe next time.

Written October 23, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ilovescones

221 contributions

Good, not exciting, a little pricey

Aug 2021 • family

The fish was quite fresh and the zucchini fries were actually pretty good. No complaints about the food except that the dishes are not terribly adventuresome. Service was very attentive and crisp. Overall not bad, would go again, not bad but also not that exciting.

Written August 21, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mpls55405nl

Minneapolis27 contributions

Lack of appreciation

Dec 2019 • none

When you disclose to a host it's your first at their establishment, you would expect better, not taken all the way to the back booth in the bar area. Maybe it was because we're an interracial couple; white male host, it was obvious he's a flake. I would have expected better.

Written March 7, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin1975

North Ridgeville594 contributions

Needs to come out of the 80’s…

Jul 2024 • couples

I wanted to like this place. We’ve driven by many times, and finally had an evening to go out! I feel this restaurant was good in the 80’s, and hasn’t changed since. Mediocre at best… the wait staff is excellent, but here are my hangups: the menu is boring-nothing that jumps off the page, the prices are a bit high, and the place is very dark-needs to be lightened up. I’m sure this restaurant was great when it opened, but they seem to be resting on the past good, with no improvements. The menu is a bit boring. The proof of a boring menu is that they have the same 5 deserts that literally every restaurant has had for 4 decades—cheesecake, chocolate cake, apple pie, creme brulee, and chocolate mouse. Really??? Every great restaurant in the 80’s had these, and never changed. Gotta get a new menu for me to want to come back… I paid $120 for boring food, that was a bit gamey. People that go here, have always gone here for the nostalgia, not for the amazing food. Up your game, for my $120… and that was just 2 salads and 2 entrees. Sorry, Don’s your stuck in the 80’s and need to get the menu out of the dark ages…

Written July 9, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

katemarie95

Columbus71 contributions

Good food. Service needs improvement

Jul 2021 • family

We chose this restaurant as we were driving down the road and saw the cool castle looking building. I remembered their name on a list of gluten friendly locations in Cleveland. Easy parking- complimentary valet parking was available but unnecessary for our visit. We did not make a reservation. They were able to sit us to a table as soon as someone came to the desk (about 5 minutes just waiting to be acknowledged). Mobile menus and paper menus available. No kids menus or kids glasses. So our 9 year old had to drink from what looks like a wine glass. Not plastic😬 Food was great. Took about 20-30 minutes to make it to the table. Service was okay. Not the best. And we were there at a slow time. Our glasses were frequently empty needing refills. Our waitress wasn’t personable. Overall, the food was delicious. But the prices were too high for service this poor.

Written July 23, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Beth K

Olmsted Falls263 contributions

Catching our food?

Jun 2021 • couples

Wanted a nice seafood place by the water... not sure what was going on but the food took an exorbitantly amount of time.. mussels took almost half an hour. Our entrees another half hour.. our reservation was for 745pm.. did not leave until close to 930pm.. the service was great and the ambiance quiet .. the food was good though.. but we will not be back ..

Written June 27, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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