April 22, 2026
Confession: We got invited to a media night at La Villa Lumière in Clifton, and now we're very excited about going back.
LVL is the kind of place that belongs on that Notes app list titled "Places We Actually Need To Go".
It's perfect for those rare evenings where you're not in a rush, you leave your phones in the car, and you eat the way you do on a European vacation — slowly, intentionally, like time doesn't exist.
We were there to tour Chef Kevin O'Connell's new menu and cocktail list. Everything screams approachable fine dining.
Here's what stopped us mid-bite:
Coquilles Saint-Jacques — scallops over parsnip puree and pancetta, finished with microgreens. Jodie and I love making scallops at home. Ours don't come close. Chef Kevin's version? Charred to perfection on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth on the inside.
Porc, Two Ways — loin sous vide and crispy belly with glazed heirloom carrots and smoked mustard caviar. This dish has a Cleveland twist on a French fine dining staple, and it works. The belly alone could've been the whole plate and we would've been happy.
Then Chef Kevin came out and said something that stuck: Cleveland is a special place where the community feels a stewardship and a connection to the food scene because of how we grew up in tight-knit families. Sitting there, surrounded by Westsiders who drove to Clifton on a weeknight to support a chef doing ambitious work — you could feel it.
The conversation
We got seated next to Ben and Julia Kowalczyk (@beardandbroad on Instagram) and the conversation didn't stop for the entire two-hour meal. Like a José Ramírez homer to right field — the best dialogues feel effortless.
The verdict? We'll be back. And next time, we're sitting on the patio.
Check LVL's menu and make a reservation.
