The Standard

The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was nice but the clientele is older. Why the 1 star? The food wasn’t great. The spaghetti bolognese had too much pepper, the short rib stroganoff was a salt bomb. The highlight may be the fries followed by the mac and cheese which did not have much flavor but was loaded with bacon. If confused about their menu online, its the price of the small and large version of the dish.

Went on a Tuesday evening. Service was top notch and the food was incredible. We shared the crab cakes and a small salad to start. I had the macaroni and cheese with bacon and my husband had the burger. We shared a dessert. The atmosphere is nice. We will definitely return.

Only had drinks here, but the atmosphere & owner were great! Wine selection is good and my husband had 12 Dogs Christmas Ale. Cozy, well-​lit, but not too bright & valet parking. Bartenders were friendly & kind. Met the owner, Chris, who chatted with us for about 15 minutes & ended up buying us a round of drinks. Really like this place & we will be back to try the food.

We decided to give this place a try last week Monday because it was close to home and the reviews were great. Thanks Unilocal!
It was half price bottles of wine night which was wonderful!
The atmosphere inside is cozy and I love the décor. It was laid back and relaxing. Just what we were looking for.
More importantly, the food was AMAZING! We expected it to be good but we were blown away with just how good it all was!
We started with the Crispy Arancini, Grilled Halloumi and the Shredded Brussels Sprouts. The Arancini balls were crisp on the outside and tender in the middle. Expertly prepared. The Halloumi was even better. It came with pistachios, spicy peppers and a balsamic glaze. It was magical!
By this time we were so full but once we had tried the sauce that came under the Arancini, we knew we had to try the Spaghetti Bolognese. We got that and the Chicken Spaetzel.
The Bolognese was everything I could have ever wanted it to be and much more then I expected!!! From the first bite I had already wished I had just ordered that. It was heaven and as soon as we get another chance, we will be returning just for that! Get it, you won’t regret it.
By this time we were beyond full but they have Bread Pudding on the menu. We ordered it to go and ended up eating it the next day. It was great even reheated!!!
Go here, run if you must.
Our server was kind, sweet and knowledgeable and the food is amazing!

One of the best «let’s give it a shot» experiences I’ve had in a long time. The atmosphere is tasteful and the huge wooden bar will probably be our new watering hole. Our server was nice and very attentive, even letting us relax and talk over our bottle of wine before bringing out the first course.
My fiancé ordered the brussel sprouts and the spaetzel. The sprouts were a larger portion than we expected so it went unfinished but she really enjoyed the spaetzel. The combination of duck confit, charred cabbage and goat cheese gave it an earthy, smoky flavor. Personally I thought it was a little dry and could’ve used some kind of drizzle or sauce but it was still good.
I ordered the crispy arancini which were fried very well with large parmesan shavings. The spicy tomato sauce on the arancini convinced me to order the spaghetti bolognese. One bite of the bolognese and I knew I was coming back to this place. Easily one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had and I immediately regretted ordering the small serving. I thought it would be the same spicy sauce from the appetizer with some meat added in but it was so much more than that. I was swirling my bread around in the bowl to get every last bit.
Cannot wait to go back.

Based on the reviews, we were uncertain about The Standard. Boy, were we glad we threw sub-​par reviews to the wind and gave it a chance! Delicious. We were visiting from out of town and went on a Sunday. Thinking it was going to be packed, we were there right at 11 a.m. when they opened and, to our surprise, were the only ones there the entire time. Score! Our awesome server, Bridget, said around 1 p.m. there’s a big after-​church crowd; and pretty much every evening is slammed. So, best advice is to go during off hours.
First, the bread. Hot, delicious. I know, it’s just free bread, but this stuff was addicting. We ordered the arancini, which was my favorite order of the day. I wanted more. The sauce, the meat, the flavoring; all perfection. I’d have had three orders of that and called it a day :)
My husband and I split two entrees: shrimp and grits, and chicken paprikash. The grits were good. Pretty good. But not great. I’ve had better grits, but the shrimp was on-​point. Oh, and it had bacon bits in it. Mmm. The chicken paprikash was a hit. They were whole legs of chicken (two of then on the ‘small’ size order). Goodness, was this a great meal. Slow-​roasted, bone-​in chicken that literally fell right off the bone.
The Bloody Mary was yummy; but, really, I’ve rarely had a Mary that didn’t please. LOL. In short, definitely, absolutely go to The Standard. If we lived there, it would be our standard!

Went for first time. On our 14^th anniversary.
Wonderful atmosphere, service and food. Especially loved the brussel sprouts.
To make the experience even better after liking them on Facebook we won a gift certificate for being their 2000^th like.
Great evening, we will return!

Good quality food, excellent service and warm inviting atmosphere. The outdoor seating was as elegant as indoor.
Food is smoked onsite. The delicious flavors are impressive.

Been here twice now and I’m done. Waited on my food forever both times (forgot to put the order in last time asked me what I ordered 20 minutes later). The food was bland and overpriced. My mac a cheese tasted like it came out of the microwave. I had high hopes but disappointed.

Too pricy for what you get in return. Ok food in small portions. I was pretty disappointed with my to-​go order.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was empty. I can tell this place is hoppin’ on other days, for how could it not with such a great menu and atmosphere? If only my Mom made brussel sprouts like The Standard does. Delicious. However, I wish the bacon and eggs were as tasty as it sounds, but the bacon was all fat and grizzle. The Grilled Pork Tenderloin was very good and the sweet potato was a good compliment.
I am really hoping this area of town revitalizes like the near West Side areas because it has SO MUCH potential!

The Standard is one of my favorite places in the Cleveland area. The food never ceases to amaze me. The Arancini is unbelievable as well as the shrimp and grits. The restaurant itself is awesome on the inside with a great old school bar look and the service has always been great. I highly recommend this place to anyone in the Cleveland area that loves great food. You will not be disappointed in a trip to the Standard.

My boyfriend and I came here before a concert at Beachland and had a wonderful experience. We sat on the patio (we were the ony ones). The bar area looked like it hadn’t been completed but the patio is nice. It has white string lights that hang from the fence and they grow their own herbs. We were there on a Monday night and there were only about 6 people other than us. Not sure if that’s usual but I hope it gets busy on other days.
We started with drinks and and the Arancini appetizer. The arancini was not as hot as we would have liked it to be but was still delicious. The sauce that was served with it was great! Our waitress was fantastic at explaining different dishes and giving her recommendations and that is how I chose the Chicken Milanese for my entrée. The chicken is deep fried but topped with a delicious light salad. I loved it! My boyfriend ordered the burger and it was a bit of a letdown. The burger looked like it could have started out as a frozen patty but I also think since he ordered it medium well that it took out a lot of the flavor.
Their menu changes with seasons so my recommendation is to order something that you can’t get at every other restaurant.
Note: All day Monday they have ½ off bottles of wine

If only this restaurant served as the standard for all restaurants. My friends and I found ourselves here on a Monday after looking for a new happy hour to try. We decided to be a little adventurous and get out of the city, and this place is worth the drive. Half off bottles of wine on Mondays? Don’t mind if we do. Half off small plates for happy hour? Don’t mind if we do. And we may have gone out of control– but no complaints here. Everything was absolutely delicious. And the waitress was so friendly and helpful. I honestly can’t think of a negative, maybe if it was just a little closer to downtown?

Complementary valet out front. Make a reservation if you need a meal between 6 – 730 on normally busy nights.
Most items are available as small plates or entrée sized portions. Read some complaining some felt underdressed, felt not hipster enough or the prices were too high. As a middle aged man with a date I felt right at home. Nice place for a date. We spent $ 120 total with a bottle of nice wine And several glasses.
Salumi and cheese board have nice selections. Worth it. The scallops and short rib stroganoff were well prepared and very good. Professional service from the bartenders.

What can I say… This place was amazing. Went with se friends on a Monday afternoon, which was by the way half off wine by the bottles, and let me tell you they have some hidden gems… We decided to sample some of the appetizers also half off for happy hour and they were to die for… Lamb meatballs and aracini was a gustatory adventure, shredded Brussels sprouts added some flair as well… Washed them all down with some Ridge Zinfandel… Then for a main course we tried the Mac and cheese, spatezel and shrimp and grits… It was the perfect balance of texture and flavor
For dessert we got the apple bread pudding and iron horse sparkling which was a perfect end to a great dinner… All of that and less than 100 dollars can’t complain
Will definitely come back… The atmosphere and staff were top notch… Nothing Standard about it!!!

Second time here and it is still great. We got the cheese board. Mmmm. Wife and I ate Brussels sprouts, chicken spratzel and Mac n cheese not in that order. All very good.
The ambiance fits right into the neighbor hood. You can tell the owners went to great detail on things. Example the long bar top is marble and so is the foot rest on the bar. Ceiling is cool to look at. Menu has something for all. What a great place 185 street.

The Standard is great! I’ve been there numerous times and it never disappoints.
The Brussels Sprouts dish is outstanding! Highly recommend. The Mac & Cheese is rich and creamy, the bacon adds just the right balance.
The atmosphere is cozy and beautifully appointed. Service is good, the wait staff and owner are very friendly. Great place. Can’t wait for the patio!

We had our department holiday party here and they handled our group of 27 people with efficiency and class. We were seated in the side room, next to the uniquely placed kitchen toward the front of the restaurant.
When you walk in, it’s warm & inviting– a faux (real?) panel drop ceiling, elegant crystal light fixtures and warm dark wood throughout. Perfect place for a date night or drinks with the girls.
We started with several of the Salumi and cheese boards. Each had a nice variety of salty, fatty & sweet morsels. The grilled bread was a perfect pair. Only wish they’d listed what each item was on something so you’d know for future reference. And those Marcona almonds? Drool! I almost wanted to hoard the whole thing for myself and not share.
I selected the Chicken Milanese as my entrée. The chicken was fresh and juicy, and the salad was filled with crisp greens and perfectly dressed and topped with generous a shaving of Parmesan.
Finished the meal with a delicious cup of coffee and the flaky chocolate almond strudel. They must be hiding a saucy German granny so where in that kitchen who makes pastries as I haven’t had one like this since my last visit to the country. Definitely homemade!
I look forward to going back to try something else soon!

Not the cheapest place around, but you get what you pay for. The burger was just short of sexual and the macaroni and cheese was the stuff dreams are made of. If you’re into the whole «open kitchen» thing they have one here. Great place for a date.