Stirling — Restaurant in Akron

We had the pleasure of dining at Stirling recently and, overall, had a very enjoyable experience. Let me begin by saying that the ambience and service were exceptional. The intimate vibe and décor truly set the tone for a top-tier dining experience, and it's clear that the team puts great care into creating an inviting atmosphere. With such great reviews and our prior enjoyment of Bricco, we were excited to see what Stirling had to offer.

We started with a couple of cocktails. My wife ordered the Clockwork Orange, which she loved—it was delicious and well-balanced. I opted for a bourbon-focused cocktail, which was great initially, but the ice cubes began to dilute the drink a bit too quickly. A bourbon ball or cube could help maintain that strength and richness longer.

Next, we dove into the appetizers. We chose the Tuna Tartare and Lobster with Roasted Cabbage, both of which were fantastic. The flavors were spot on, and the preparations were executed beautifully, leaving us excited for what was to come.

For wine, the selection was impressive—great variety and very reasonably priced, which we appreciated.

When it came to the mains, we went with the Pork Chop and the Denver Strip Steak. Unfortunately, the Pork Chop, while flavorful, was a little overdone and a bit dry. I had high expectations based on the great start we had, so it was a little disappointing. The Denver Strip Steak was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, but the kimchi barbecue sauce, though creative, ended up overpowering the natural flavor of the steak. It came off a bit like a fancy ketchup, which wasn't what we had hoped for. The crispy sushi rice cake accompanying the steak, unfortunately, was too crispy—almost hard to cut and chew.

We wrapped up with the lava cake for dessert, which, while tasty, wasn’t quite as memorable as we had hoped. It was more of a chocolate ganache center than the molten lava cake we were anticipating.

It's possible we caught the kitchen on an off-night, which we totally understand, having worked in the industry ourselves. The food had wonderful flavors, and the presentation was top-notch, but some elements didn’t quite live up to the high expectations set by the stellar reviews and our experience with the appetizers.

That said, we will definitely return to give Stirling another try, especially with the new menu coming out. We’re excited to see how the restaurant continues to evolve.

Lastly, a small suggestion that may be worth considering—while the dimly lit atmosphere is lovely, it made it a bit difficult to fully appreciate the vibrant colors and details on the black serving plates.

Overall, we had a great time, and I look forward...

Recently, my wife and I, along with another couple, had the pleasure of dining at Stirling, following a recommendation. We began our meal by sharing the Snapper Ceviche and dates stuffed with goat cheese, both of which were delightful starters. The restaurant offered a nice, quiet environment that wasn't overcrowded, allowing us to enjoy our evening comfortably. The menu was concise, fitting on one side of a page, which made choosing our dishes straightforward. Our waiter was exceptional—knowledgeable and attentive throughout the evening, enhancing our dining experience. For our main courses, I opted for the Duck Breast, while my wife chose the Short Rib. Our friends also enjoyed the Short Rib and tried the Halibut. Each dish was incredibly flavorful, though the portions were modest. While I don't expect a single serving to feed a family of six, I did find myself reaching for a snack about an hour later. Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Stirling and look forward to...

If on a scale of 1/10 I'd give it a 7. Instead, I'm giving it a 3/5. Here's why. Upon first arrival, we had a reservation and still had to wait about 15 minutes until we could be seated. After seating, before ordering, we were told they would not be serving the lamb belly that was featured on the menu, and instead would be serving a lamb rack. That was disappointing as I was hoping to have the lamb belly. The lamb rack was good, but cutting it off the bone was difficult, and I even got some of the bone in my meat. Additionally, they didn't tell us it was an extra $10 for the lamb rack than menu price. As I was eating my meal I was expecting to get that "wow" factor, but I never did. I've eaten at fine restaurants and I was so excited that Akron had a new and exciting restaurant. It didn't leave a lasting impression, and I'm unsure if...