Sara's Place By Gavi's Restaurant — Restaurant in Gates Mills

A great special occasion restaurant, my wife and I went for our anniversary dinner and we both loved it. Nestled in what feels like a small town, this place is a hidden gem. It's got a great modern rustic feel, comfortable, not crowded or packed in like sardines. The food was exceptional, my wife and I both agreed. I had the chicken parmesan, a staple Italian dish I normally order at any new Italian restaurant as a barometer for whether I might like other meals. It was remarkably good! More traditional which I prefer - not dressed up with fancy spices. My wife had the salmon and raved about it! The service was exceptional as well - everyone smiles and was helpful. Our waitress helped my wife pick a perfect wine. We ate indoors on the main floor but there was a really nice patio that would have been perfect too what with it being a beautiful summer night. Worth the drive if you're considering it, though beware it is a bit pricier, largely commiserating with...

Nestled and tucked away in the Hunting Valley/Gates Mills area, I stopped by for tea and dessert in the lounge upstairs. So this is my review of the lounge.

Nice, homey, cozy, intimate. Quaint. Really dim lighting. Our waitress was super nice and accommodating. Wasn't that busy. Kind of like being in neighbor's living room with a bar.

The reason for the just ok 3 stars is that I wasn't that impressed with the menu or the food. Mostly, instead of some nice music for ambiance, there was a TV on loud at the bar. Politics for one or two patrons. Risky move today. We decided to leave. Don't want to get into it. This place has been running long enough to be sensitive to the mood.

Your mileage may vary. If you find yourself in the position of the loud TV, I'm sure you can ask to turn it down. I can imagine it being a nice yet informal place to meet, otherwise.

Decide if you want a lounge or a bar....

One of the most enjoyable evenings we have had in quite some time. The food is excellent. We had three very different entrees, pasta, veal and halibut - all were superior. The mussel appetiser was the best any of us had ever had and we all well traveled. Best mussels in Ohio, yep! It's the sauce. Priscilla, our server made the experience even more enjoyable. Informed, relaxed yet prompt, and a joy to talk to. The ambiance was perfect given the quaint springlike setting. Although we dined inside, it would have also been the perfect out on the patio. I wouldn't recommend stopping upstairs at the bar for a drink first. The drinks are excellent, but the hustle was a tad disconcerting. Not enough to take off a star from the wonderful experience we had with our special out of...