Johnny's on Fulton

For my birthday, I told Mr. H to "surprise me" on where we'd go to eat to celebrate. And "surprise me" is what he did. We've never been to Johnny's Bar on Fulton Road, and I never would have guessed that we'd be dining there that evening (after a quick stop at The Black Pig for a cocktail and bone marrow).

It's the original location, and many would agree that it's still the best compared to the other two locations in Downtown Cleveland.

With traditional Italian decor, and some interesting wall murals, it was a feast for the eyes.

One thing that my eye was drawn to right away was the leopard print carpet in the small dining room that we were seated in. I'm a sucker for anything leopard, so this immediately won them points in my book!

Our server, Tony, was everything that you'd want from a place like this. He had the look, the accent, the attentiveness, tasteful humor, and did an excellent job of making our meal enjoyable. 

Veal is predominant on their menu. We don't eat it often, but we both ended up ordering it that night. Mr. H went with one of their bone-in veal chops. He had the Long Bone Veal Chop stuffed with chevre and melted leeks, and then pan seared and baked before being sauced with natural jus, shiitake mushrooms and fresh sage ($46.95).

We both wished that there was more stuffing inside of the chop, but overall, it was flavorful, prepared to a perfect medium rare, and Mr. H loved the scalloped potatoes that were served with it. 

I ordered the Horseradish Scented Veal Medallions wrapped in puff pastry with wild mushroom ragout and port wine pan reduction ($36.95).

The puff pasty ended up not doing much for the dish. It was a bit soggy. But the veal was so tender and seasoned well, the horseradish gave it a good zing, and I absolutely loved the mushroom ragout. The dish was quite good, and I was happy with my choice.

A house salad is included with entrees. They use bibb lettuce, which is my favorite. Again, points!

We decided to end the meal there and pop over to Fahrenheit in Tremont for an after dinner drink and dessert. Hello, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pot de Creme ($9). A perfect end to the evening. 

Johnny's Bar was enjoyable and felt like quite a treat, but this is certainly a place that should be reserved for a special occasion. The fine dining atmosphere and price point are not suitable for everyday dining. With over 80 years of history, this restaurant is a Cleveland institution.

Johnny's Bar
3164 Fulton Road
Cleveland, OH 44109
216-281-0055