Poppy, a Salt+ restaurant — Restaurant in Cleveland

Let me start by saying that I usually don’t spend my time writing reviews unless I find an experience exceptional or a great disappointment. With regard to Poppy’s on Larchmere I regret to share that our experience was a great disappointment overall. We secured a reservation for four on a Saturday evening at 8:30pm. The host was friendly and possessed a bubbly spirit. However, once we were seated our experience went downhill from there. Our waitress (unfortunately I don’t know her name) from the start appeared to be disinterested in serving us. My husband already had a drink that he order prior to our table being ready. When we asked for our waitress, we realized she was the same young lady that had walked pass us several times without acknowledgment. At this point…. No big deal, I just simply explained to her that normally don’t drink and asked if they could prepare a cocktail for me that would mask the taste of the alcohol… she made a suggestion. Turns out the drink was heavy on the alcohol. I told her and she immediately says “well that’s one of our most popular drinks”. She was clearly irritated, I choose not to escalate the situation and kept the cocktail. Next our table of four places our order… I order the lamb medium well… her response “we will not do it medium well…if we do it medium well it get funky”. Again, her reaction is unprofessional… I do not react. The lamb arrives and when I cut into it it’s literally cold raw inside and a bloody mess. She takes it away (clearly irritated) and says I’ll have them put it back on! The same lamb is brought back … the two bones that I cut apart are seared on both sides… they are now edible, but the other two bones are still very rare. A manager never comes over to apologize or even attempt to rectify the situation. My group is having a great time…. I chose not to engage her again about the issue. I wish I had complained because the two bones of lamb that were undercooked has made my son violently ill this morning with diarrhea. I decide to order more calamari (btw it’s excellent) due to the lamb that I was so looking forward to was terrible. At this point the group desires more spirits …. We search out our waiter and order. Seeking her out became the theme for the night as she was not interested in our table. We begin having a great conversation with a couple from a table ear us as they are leaving the restaurant. Great interaction, lots of laughs phone numbers are exchanged. Then…, out of nowhere our server appears (we’ve searched for her all night, but, now she’s here) appearing to chastise us for our interaction. Her words…OK, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING OVER HERE? MAKING NEW BEST FRIENDS? Unbelievable, we are out trying to enjoy our Saturday evening, and we end up being ignored, severed raw lamb, and being questioned about our personal interactions. We are engaged in conversation…. Our server clears the table and leaves the check….by the time I realize it she’s taken my full drink and poured it out…. She’s now brought us the bill (and yes the drink is on the bill). I get her attention and ask about my drink… again attitude. At this point the host comes over to smooth things out (not the manager) he offers me another drink. He say Courtney is a mixologist and can make me anything I like… just let her know my preferences. This was a great idea that could have been offered early on. Courtney was fantastic and made the perfect martini! Please uncover whom my server was and retrain her on service. My experience wasn’t the greatest, but, there were some good points. I chose not to voice my opinion during the visit due to it being so busy and such a quaint venue. I was very disappointed. Due to it being a local venue and small business I may give it another try… hopefully better...

Poppy – A Perfect Patio & Culinary Experience in Larchmere

We were on the hunt for a beautiful patio on a perfect Cleveland day, and the internet led us right to Poppy in the Larchmere District. After seeing the gorgeous photos and reading some glowing reviews, we knew we had to try it—especially knowing it comes from one of the creative minds behind the award-winning Salt.

We arrived right as they opened, which gave us the perfect calm moment to take in the setting and enjoy every bite. We started with Shawnda’s Biscuits and honey lavender butter—rich, and just the right touch of sweet. Alongside that, we ordered the woodfired fresh focaccia with burrata, sunflower seeds, saba, and the most perfectly ripe strawberries. It was as gorgeous as it was delicious.

For mains, we chose the shrimp and jalapeño-infused grits with a tomato-herb oil—comforting with just the right amount of kick—and the Cobia, served over esquites (a Mexican street corn-style base) with chili oil. It usually looks prettier, but I had the cilantro salad put on the side.

And then came the banana cake—which deserves a review of its own. Massive, rich, and meant to be shared (though no judgment if you don’t). It came with brown sugar caramel cream, almond butter caramel, and a banana almond crunch that took it over the top. Truly decadent. Don’t skip it. Andrew, our server was attentive and gave just the right amount of advice. A+ service.

Sadly, I was too captivated by the food to snap a picture of the gorgeous patio, but trust me—it’s the kind of space that makes you want to sit and linger. The atmosphere is relaxed yet elevated, ideal for a celebration dinner, a date night, or just a really special evening with friends.

Also worth noting: their signature cocktails are spot-on, though I can’t remember exactly what was in my wife’s… I just know it disappeared quickly and happily.

Poppy is a must-visit. The creativity, the flavors, and the setting all come together for an unforgettable...

Wow! What a treat to discover a truly unique restaurant nestled within a beautiful 100+ year old Cleveland home. From the moment my friends and I arrived, we knew we were in for a special experience.

We started our evening at the outdoor bar, where the bartender graciously took the time to explain and recommend various gin selections when I inquired. His knowledge and helpfulness set a welcoming tone for the evening. Before being seated, I took a stroll through the outdoor garden, and it was simply amazing. The variety of plants, from strawberries to even a lemon tree and stunning tall purple allium, truly impressed me.

The menu was small, which I actually appreciated as it made deciding much easier for someone as indecisive as me! For an appetizer, we shared the biscuits with lavender honey butter, which were absolutely delicious. For our main courses, I opted for the Poppy burger, my husband enjoyed the fire-roasted zucchini, and our friends raved about the cobia (fish). Every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with incredible flavors. To cap off the meal, we indulged in several dessert options, with the strawberry pretzel salad being the undeniable highlight - a must-try!

While the entree sizes were a bit smaller than I'd hoped and drink prices were a tad higher than what I'm used to, these minor points certainly weren't deal-breakers. The overall experience was fantastic. The true highlight of the evening, however, was when Jessica, the owner, stopped by our table to chat. She was an absolute delight, and her warmth made the evening even more memorable.

We will definitely be back to this...