Bar Italia makes us say, “Grazie Mille!” 📍 Lakewood
Bar Italia has been a fan favorite in Lakewood for years, with dishes that speak fluent comfort and an open-air dining room that feels like summer on the Italian coast. Tucked on the corner of Westwood and Detroit, this gem has officially earned the highly prestigious, totally real title of The Westside Buzz’s Favorite Happy Hour in Cleveland!
We don’t hand out that honor like it’s free breadsticks at Olive Garden — this is serious business.
Speaking of serious business, here are 3 reasons why Bar Italia has us returning like midges to the inside of your car:
The Happy Hour Deals Are Unreasonably Good $8 wine? $2 off drafts and High Noons? Cocktails and hefty apps for 7-10 bucks? It’s basically financial planning disguised as dinner. Jodie and I always start with the crostini loaded with bruschetta and fresh mozzarella, but the house-made meatballs and prosciutto with whipped ricotta? Chef's kiss.
That Beautiful U-Shaped Bar It’s inviting, lively, and more organized than my closet after watching a Marie Kondo documentary. When the bar is full, they’ve got a genius system: a mini pre-bar before the real bar. The staff keeps track of who is up next for the bar, so there is no awkward sprinting for the open seat when one opens.
The Bartenders Deserve a Medal Not only do they remember our drink orders, but they also tolerate my two-week Duolingo Italian and dad jokes that would make actual dads from Avon uncomfortably put their hands in their plaid cargo shorts.
Next time you are craving a bite and a beer from 4-7 PM Monday through Friday, stop in to Bar Italia and tell ‘em The Buzz sent you. Check out their menu
