Horrible service!!..we were there OVER 2 hours for no reason. Server couldn't be bothered to take our order. Had to ask to order dinner twice but each time she found something to say "be right back". A friend ordered a dry martini..got a dirty one instead. Food was ok but it took so long to eat and the negative attitude of the server over-shadowed and ruined our experience. Not sure I will go back. Certainly will never take a group there.
(1)
Cameron L.
The Good, The Bad, and The Belly. Im thinking Ive been this restaurant around eight times over the years, at four of their different locations in Ohio. Overall, Ive always had good experiences. The waitstaff has always been friendly through the whole process, any issues were corrected - which I can only think of one, so that says something. I really enjoy the setup/decor of the place, they did a good job making you feel like your as close to Italy as possible. The Bethel Road location is always packed, and one of my favorites so far. The wood fired pizza is wonderful and smells good in my opinion. If I recall correctly, any amount of people I also ate with in those times enjoyed their meals and experience just the same. Bravo! right? I want to give five stars based on the past, but when i stopped in recently (Id say first time in a few years) I noticed something different about the food, and since I am here for the food first and foremost, I wanted to give just under four stars, like three and a half. Id say nine years ago a waiter suggested getting the Chicken Milanese with the Diavolo sauce because its something they did themselves when eating there. I had that four more times since then because my it was delicious, and other times I tried other random pasta dishes, pizza, soups, appetizers. My concern though, is there was a noticeable decline in the quality, not enough to stop me from coming back, but enough to make me question my next visit once the bill finally dropped. Im open to the idea that it could have been a fluke, but also concerned that over the years they've moved to a pre-made frozen food concept, and cutting the quality down to cover costs elsewhere. Once I realize that for $17.99 I truly could make this dish at home for much less and get good quality, it makes it hard to keep coming back. So this day the Chicken Milanese was just a shoulder shrug good, the fried ravioli was awesome, and my $3 lemonade was totally worth it. Here is the breakdown of what I got and paid for, so again, after spending that much you realize that if its not made to a certain level of quality ingredients wise, it's hard to become a true regular. As of today, Id still recommend it to others, but if the food quality declines further, Ill have to reconsider. Dinner for 2 Crispy Mozzarella Ravioli $10.99 Chicken Milanese $17.99 Pasta Fra Diavolo w/ Shrimp $17.99 Sprite $2.99 Lemonade $3.49 Total after Tip/Taxes/etc - $67.59
(4)
Maurice H.
I came here with large group of coworkers on a Friday lunch hour not knowing what to expect. I have been familiar with the Brio/Bravo/BonVie concept back from the days I resided in Dallas and used to frequent the Brio in Plano, TX. While I was satisfied with Brio's offering back then I had no idea what the more affordable sister restaurant Bravo would be like. To say the least I was impressed, and blown away. I have Italian blood and visit Italy once a year. That Ravioli con pollo fra diavolo was probably the best Ravioli I ever had in the states. The sauce was perfectly flavorful, fresh, and blended beautifully with the asparagus. I also had the Italian wedding soup and it was delivered with utmost authenticity. All other dishes looked just as great and can't wait to try the other specialties in future visits. Aside from the amazing food, that endless fresh garlic bread that kept coming only to be dipped and sponged in that awesome olive oil blend, the service was superb. Our server, Jonah I believe the name was, kept our table full with topped off drinks, oil, and bread while food was being prepared. This is how service should be. Bravo! The management staff were also very professional in accommodating such big groups on short notice. We had no reservations and they had no issues at all putting tables together on a busy Friday lunch hour. Bravo's Cucina Italiana is fairly an exception of the typical chain restaurants in that it's all clearly prepared fresh to order and delivers its entrees along with best customer service which stand up to the Brio/Bravo brandname.
(5)
Marissa C.
This was my first visit to this location since it became Bravo! They did a great job with the space - it's very nice. I came as part of a large group (almost 20 people), and the staff was friendly and efficient in getting all of our food and drinks out in a timely fashion. Everyone seemed pretty happy with their dishes, which ranged from spaghetti to soup and salad to the burger. I ordered the Chicken Griglia from the gluten free menu. The gluten free menu offers a choice of three salads, three pastas, and three grilled options. The chicken came with mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. It's a nice large portion, and I ended up with plenty for lunch the next day. The roasted carrots were especially delicious. A nice place to grab a meal.
(4)
Angela J.
For some reason, I always forget about this location. Glad I remembered it last night! We sat out on the patio and it was such a perfect evening. What I noticed about the patio is that even though Olentangy and 315 are neighbors, you can't really hear the car traffic. Or maybe it was a low traffic night? Regardless, it was minor to say the least. Started with the meatball app and they were great and big for an app. You get 3 of them. They were juicy and tender and just plain yummy! They could give Marcella's a run for their money. As for the main course I opted for lighter side (nice that they have that feature on their menu) and had the salmon with sweet potatoes and veggies in a balsamic reduction. It was wonderful. Very good and filling. My stomach and taste buds were happy :) It was a terrific experience! The end.
(4)
Kaoru M.
Bravo and Brio are owned by the same company. However, the experience could not be further apart. Brio (specifically the one at Easton) is my favorite Italian restaurant in Columbus. So you'd think that I'd like Bravo too... but I try to avoid them. Even though I live in Upper Arlington and this particular Bravo location is 5 minutes away by car, I usually go out of my way to drive to the Brio at Easton or Polaris instead. Why is this? Because the service at Bravo is awful. The quick summary of my most recent visit here is that it took us 2.5 hours and cost $120 to get a bunch of lukewarm food. If you're a casual reader, you can just stop reading here. The service at this Bravo is no good, go to Brio instead. My family dined here on 5/9/15 for dinner. My wife AND my mother suggested Bravo, so I couldn't say no... I made a reservation via Open Table for 7pm, and we arrived promptly at 7pm. The hostess informed us that the guests seated at "our table" were still "lingering", so that it would be a few minutes wait. 25 "few" minutes later, we were still standing around waiting while every party that arrived after us were seated. My past experience with restaurant reservations is that it gives you the next available seat at that restaurant, not reserving a specific set of seats. My guess is that they were planning on sitting us in an out-of-view corner of the restaurant because we had kids, and the group sitting at that particular table was taking their time. Regardless, I finally complained to the hostess at 7:25pm and like magic, a seat opened up immediately. So that was a 25 minute wait that probably didn't need to happen. We ordered calamari for appetizer, which visually looks very similar to Brio's calamari, but the sauce was awful. The cream sauce tasted like straight up mayo-- I suspect it wasn't mixed properly. The tomato sauce was good. For our meal, we ordered the sausage tortelloni, shrimp campanelle al forno, eggplant parmesan, and a sicilian pizza. These dishes all tasted good... except it took over an hour for the food to come out. We were seated around 7:30pm as mentioned above, and our entrees didn't come out till 8:45pm. Our waitress explained that it was because the restaurant was super busy... but as we were seated right next to the kitchen, we saw close to 10 plated meals literally sitting around under the heat lamp for extended periods of time. When our food finally came out, every single dish was lukewarm at best. Clearly our food had sat under the lamp while our waitress was off doing whatever else. We didn't bother sending the food back to be reheated because that probably would've taken another 30 minutes. In the end, we did not leave the restaurant until 9:30pm. 2.5 hours for dinner. We did this with 2 kids in tow... a 2 year old and a 3 month old. It was not the most enjoyable dinner. Oh, and did I mention that in my 2.5 hours there, my glass of water was refilled ZERO times? The service is so, so, so bad here. Bryant M. in his Yelp review of this restaurant gave them 4 stars because despite the horrible service, the manager came out, apologized, and comped their meal. No such nicety happen to me. Actually, I didn't even see a manager to complain to. You usually see a manager going around a restaurant checking in on guests at any given restaurant, but I'm guessing the manager was hiding out back somewhere because the entire restaurant was probably ticked off at the poor service. For all of our trouble, I had the pleasure of paying a $120 bill plus tip. (yes, despite the poor service, Bravo still charges like they're a high end restaurant.) After this experience, both my wife and mother also know how bad Bravo is. I think it's safe to say that I'll be able to avoid this restaurant from here on out.
(1)
Jessica P.
Went here on a saturday night with a large birthday group, things took a long time which is fine, they usually do with huge groups so definitely expect that. They did do an amazing job of bringing all 26 items out together, very impressed! The bread and oil before the meal was pretty bad, I mean not unpalatable, but entirely not in my taste what-so-ever. Overly herby, the oil is orangey (like the color when you dab oil off greasy pizza) and again just overly seasoned for me. I ordered the Spicy scallop marinara dish, which was also quite lack luster. A friend ordered the mahi mahi and found it a bit over done. Heard the salmon was very good though. Nothing I sampled really impressed me. But nothing was out-right bad. it took awhile for them to ask us our dinner order, but otherwise we had very good service and the drinks were kept full. They were very quick with all the checks too which was very impressive. I would not dissuade a friend from coming here, but I don't plan to return.
(2)
Angela H.
Food - Your typical Bravo restaurant. Bread comes out with oil to dip in before the entrees are served. Every item on the menu is pretty good. I got the minestrone soup, and it had huge clumps of orzo pasta in it so that was kinda unappetizing. But my entree salad was good. Service - We went for lunch and it was SO BUSY. Every table was full. Servers were rushing around. It took our waiter 30 minutes before we could finally place an order, and then it took 45 minutes to get our food, even though we didn't order anything complicated beyond your standard pastas, salads, soups. The worst part was that after we ordered dessert and asked for the check, we sat around for another 20 minutes wondering where he had disappeared too. I know the place was busy but they really should have been better prepared for the holiday lunch rush. Other than that, the food was good, but nothing to rave about. Worth going back to, but not something I'm dying to try again.
(3)
Bethany K.
I am quite a fan! My husband and I began with splitting Lobster Bisque... the server was gracious enough to split the order between two bowls without us needing to ask. The bisque was so very creamy, and flavorful. There was the perfect amount of lobster pieces. I ordered the Penne Mediterranean which was perfect. The sauce was light while being packed full of flavor. The combination of spinach, pine nuts, and feta blended beautifully. My husband had the grilled pork chop which were accompanied with tuscan mashed potatoes. We had intended on having left overs for a midnight snack, but 'accidentally' were clean platers. Definitely worth a try!
(5)
Abby L.
I shared the lobster bisque with a friend. It was too salty and wasn't very good. I'd avoid getting it if you were looking to get a soup. It's not because of the food that this place is getting two stars from me. It's because of the waiter that helped us. I found him to be very rude and he kept talking over us. I believe his name was Eric. He was very impatient and overall made this experience very off putting.
(2)
Candace M.
We ordered Cafe Courier yesterday and the food was from this Bravo location. Can't say I'll be either ordering from them again, or returning to this location! I occasionally like to get kids meals at restaurants. Anyone who has seen me can probably understand - do I look like a full sized adult? Nope? It makes sense! I ordered chicken tenders with fries and macaroni and cheese. The chicken tenders were seriously awful. Cold, microwaved Tyson chicken fingers. Seriously, the kind you can get out of your local grocery store's freezer section. I've had them, and that's definitely what they were. The fries? Not much better. First of all, there were about 10 of them, not much of an exaggeration. They were all wilted and shoved in one corner of the box. When I tasted one, it had that distinct "this was freezer burned and then microwaved, so now it's soggy and gross" taste to them. Seriously awful. The macaroni and cheese was a little better. It was a creamy, white macaroni and cheese - definitely not Kraft. It was Bravo's pasta, but with a creamy cheese sauce. It was a lot more acceptable than the chicken tenders. I don't know, maybe some restaurants think they can prepare kids' meals at a lower standard? But Bravo has other chicken dishes, so I don't really think there's an excuse for nasty microwaved chicken tenders. My boyfriend got the fried ravioli. It was all breading and no cheese - there was a tiny bit of cheese at the bottom of the ravioli. They looked like they, too, could have come straight from the freezer section. At least they tasted a little better than some of the other offerings. I've had a stomach ache since yesterday, and I'm not wondering why! For nearly $40, I'd expect more. Definitely our last time at this Bravo location.
(2)
Brianna M.
I received a gift card to this place from a client. I've heard of it before, always heard okay things about it. It's definitely a lot bigger on the inside than it looks. My friend and I went right before Christmas, a busy time for restaurants. We we seated really quickly, which was surprising. Much like Brio, it came off like a higher end Olive Garden. Unlike Brio, the clientele seemed a lot more down to earth. My friend and I still were laughing because we were seated in the back like the riff raff we are. The meal comes with bread and some dipping oil, which were delicious and were a little "high end" than the free salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden. What was really stood out to me was the wide variety of pastas that had delicious sauces other than alfredo and marinara. I had the chicken spaghettini with pesto cream sauce. My friend got the Bravo pasta (the signature dish, said the menu), which had a red pepper cream sauce. I was super jelly. My dish was good, but I had major food envy. The only thing that the dishes were actually pretty shallow and e portion wasn't as large as I would have wanted for the price. I'm not sure I would come back unless someone was treating me. It was good, but nothing special to keep me coming back again.
(3)
Ryan S.
I love the Brio Bravo chain of restaurants. I really do. Bravo in particular has my heart, because it has my stomach. Friends from other towns are sick of me telling them that it makes Olive Garden taste like White Castle. And although it is still my favorite chain Italian, I have to admit that it seems to have lost a step or two. Still good, it is trending towards meh rather than too WOWZER like it did when I first laid eyes on its ravishing ravioli, lush pasta, salivating sauces, and crave inducing calamari. Not to mention the pizza. This is my first time at the Lennox location, I am more familiar with the Bethel Road store. Similar in style, this one too has a Roman-Tuscan decor with earth tone walls, exposed ceiling beams, and arching doorways. It though has a more plush, upper class feel to it--a home of a Roman aristocrat. Busy on a warm winter night, we choose to sit in the bar area than wait for a table in the dining room. The bar area is large with the bar, tables to the side, and sofa and coffee tables against the wall. We sat on a sofa and were able to order from there. The lower height of the coffee table made eating a bit awkward, but we made it work. I decided to try the grilled Salmon as a change up. Its garnish of red peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, under a balsamic glaze was good. As was its presentation suggesting a quality that it plainly did not reach. The portion was a bit small for the price. It was missing a sharpness and so didn't really distinguish itself from other places. My caesar salad side was disappointing; the first time I tried Bravos CS I was amazed, it was as if I had never tried one before; this one was nicely done, but did not seem to taste amazing as I remember it was. The service was on spot. Again, this place is still good, just not as good as I remember. The last couple times at Bethel, and this time here was a disappointment. I do not have the skill to figure out what is different: the quality of ingredients, new formulas, lack of talent in the kitchen? I had expected to give this place 5-stars, but can only do 4. Maybe I am just setting a to high of bar, maybe my memory is faulty. I certainly will return and order my usual Italian dishes. Perhaps a less busy night will restore my lofty opinion. Until then, I still recommend this place, I just will lower the hype about it, at least until I experience the spectacular quality I seem to remember from a decade ago.
(4)
Toni K.
Have always enjoyed the Hayden Run location, but this was a definite miss. Granted, it was a very busy night (Saturday @8pm), but it seemed like the staff bit off more than they could chew. Our table wasn't ready on time, everyone's meat (salmon and chicken) was overcooked to the point of being burned and tough, my plate had multiple visible dried stains on it (yuck), and the meal took more than 2 hours. Plus, we were seated at an upstairs table on the way to some sort of busser station, so the constant foot traffic and near-misses was distracting. I think if Bravo commits to fewer tables and keeps a better eye on the dish washing that this could be remedied, but for now I'll stick to brunch at the other location.
The calamari appetizer was very good, and I didn't get one this time, but their frozen peach bellinis are divine! I usually love the shrimp diavolo here! The sauce is so good - it's a spicy creamy tomato based sauced, and it has just the right amount of kick to it. This time I got the lobster ravioli, and while it wasn't bad, it was also a bit too salty. The dessert trio was okay, nothing amazing but not bad either. I think this place is a solid choice by being close to campus and offering a lot of entrees that cater to different tastes.
(3)
Caz O.
My husband and I have not been here yet because we always were under the impression that this was a very upscale and pricey restaurant. We were in the area shopping recently and finally decided to just give it a shot. We were hard-core craving some good Italian noms! Boy am I glad we came! The interior of this place is so unbelievable gorgeous. As soon as you walk in the door, you will be blown away! The decor is phenomenal. Huge pillars, beautiful furnishings, art, white linen table settings. Gorgeous! We had the lobster bisque which was incredible and a few different pasta dishes that I can't recall which were also very delicious! This would be a fantastic little date night spot that feels very upscale that will not drain your wallet!
(5)
Michael T.
Others in our party ate their food. I didn't eat mine. The calamari appetizer was tasteless. My friend agreed. The eggplant parmesan was tasteless. The pasta that came with the eggplant was....say it with me....tasteless. Good thing we burned gift card "money" to eat there rather than actual cash money.
(1)
Sara C.
After all Mike G.'s talk of lobster bisque, I made it a point to bookmark Bravo! and ended up meeting up for lunch with Mike, Paul F., and Lea P. (which can be seen from their updated recent reviews). We sat out on the patio to take advantage of the lovely fall weather. I had the chopped salad and a bowl of the much-discussed lobster bisque, which turned out to be as good as described. The portion size was really just right -- it is rich enough that I didn't feel like I needed more (though if there was more I still would have eaten it). The salad was fairly ordinary, but nothing to complain about. There were a few hiccups with food but they were promptly addressed with excellent service. I would love to come back and try the happy hour food, and I definitely know where to go for my lobster bisque fix as the winter weather rolls around!
(4)
Morgan B.
Went here for lunch and it was a pretty happening place for 11:30 in the morning. Even though it was on the busier side with a few large groups, our server was on top of things and we did not have to wait long for the drinks or food. I had the salmon sandwich which was good, and it came with an arugula grain salad that I did not care for, but you have the option of replacing it or getting a soup or different salad for a few extra bucks. Everyone I was with seemed to enjoy their meal as well, and the portions were just right for lunch. There were also a few lunch specials that sounded delish for only $7.95! I would definitely come again, but would like to try the dinner menu next time!
(4)
Kathryn W.
Always a good place to have a nice italian dinner! I meet many of my girlfriends here during the week after the work day for a few drinks and dinner to catch up! I have never had to really wait for seating when I've came here (visited this location over 5 times). We are always happily greeted by the host/hostesses/always smiling. I always love getting their Insalata Rustica, Grilled Salmon Salad, Pasta Bravo, and their Pizzas aren't too shabby either! They have a large bar and dinning area, as well as a great outdoor patio for the summer! They have a fire out there with seating around it! It's a great place to sit and relax after work with a glass of wine! All the servers I have encountered have been very helpful and kind. Always a great go-to place for me to meet with friends and have a good, reliable dinner!
(4)
Ananya M.
I came here for the first time with my family to celebrate Mother's Day. They have good service, delicious bread that keeps on coming, and yummy entrees. I got the shrimp diavolo. It wasn't as spicy as I'd have liked, but it went for 2 meals and was really flavorful.
(4)
Barry S.
I came here for dinner with my family. Lasagna was delicious! The service was nice and quick. Their bread is great too!
(4)
MeyMey L.
Heard so much about this store and decided to try it. My Caesar Salad was drenched with too much sauce & Boyfriend's veal was overcooked. The only thing I liked was my Pasta Bravo. I've honestly had better Italian food. Probably won't be coming back.
(3)
Claudia F.
I love coming to bravo for happy hour. I always order the black berry cosmopolitan, very delicious. They have a great menu for happy hour and for cheap too. The pull pork sliders and the chicken bacon flat pizza are my favorites. Service is always good when the boys are behind the bar.
(4)
Yin Y.
I've had Bravo! once with my friends. They have been recommending this restaurant to me and treated me. And it tastes really awesome! The service, environment, and decoration here are also fantastic! The price here is reasonable,too. I love the fresh toasted bread with oil very much, and of course the Spaghettini & Meatballs I ordered with beef and pork meatballs in it. I also have the Caesar Classica salad, because I prefer the Caesar sauce, and it is yum, too! What a happy meal! Anyway I love Italian food and circumstance in Italian restaurant, including Bravo!. They always make me feel like home and satisfy my asian stomachache.
(5)
Mike G.
I liked what I got here last week so much, I got exactly the same thing again. Lobster Bisque here is wonderful, rich and creamy. If you haven't tried it.... Lunch with Paul F., Sara C., and Lea P. this time. It was really nice to meet some more fellow Yelpers and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather on the patio. Rashaad was our server and he did an excellent job with our table. 4 Star recommendation on this place once again.
(4)
john l.
Cold cold cold place to eat!!!! Have eaten twice at this location and will never go back -- Always cold air in the winter!! Why they can't turn the heat on and cut the cold air from always blowing from above is beyond me. If you go there dress warm in the winter and bring a warm hat. Oh and the spaghetti gets cold too.
(1)
Emma O.
I've been here several times and each time has been increasingly meh. The food has always been okay at its very best and down right terrible at its worst. The last time I went there, our server took 15 minutes to give us our menus. (Mind you, I'm starving!) and then starts making useless conversation at our table. Some idiotic drivel about how white girls love pumpkin or something -_- Cool. Whatever. I'm hungry. I kept having to interrupt her inane chatter to ask her questions about the menu. Now don't get me wrong, I love conversation and friendly people, BUT not when its standing in the way of me and my meal. And of course not when Ive waited so long for a stinkin menu. Anywho fast forward to our food. My friend got the chicken milanese and I ordered a breaded veal dish. Mine had almost no veal and a whole crap ton of breading. It almost tasted as if it were frozen (let it go!) and reheated. My friend said his chicken tasted like a tv dinner complete with a dry chicken patty, tasteless sauce, and left over noodles. Yum. Definitely not worth the money. Or the the time. Or the useless chatter that accompanied our meal. I won't be back.
(2)
Monte R.
Bravo! is delicious fun. I've been here several times. Always delivery good food to me every time I visit. Last visit I had the Bravo! Pasta with cream vodka sauce, rigatoni and chicken - delicious yum yums! Server was pleasant and fast, too. Big fan! Thumbs up!
(4)
Will P.
Nothing special I have been here for lunch and dinner. I cannot say the food stood out at all either time. the staff was not very attentive, I would probably hit a different chain italian restaurant if I were in the mood for such food.
(2)
Andrew P.
Good but nothing fantastic, also wobbly tables are a pet peav of mine And they sat me at one...
(4)
Amy S.
I usually avoid chain restaurants but have somehow been here twice in the past month. The first was for a going away party. We had a large party, so I expected to be there quite a while and for things to be a little slow- A LITTLE. The food was much better than expected (had the chopped salad with salmon off the new light menu), and the bread w/ oil was really good, but everything took forever. 3 stars for the service, 4 stars for the food. I went back today with a friend for lunch and we both ordered ordered the same thing because it was healthy, filling, and good! We opted to switch out the onions and get extra cucumbers instead, and our server told us the salmon is served medium, which we were okay with. Our salads came out, both with no cucumbers, and my salmon was visibly raw. If I wanted sushi, I would have gone to a sushi restaurant! He brought us a side of cucumbers, and the manager immediately brought me a piece of salmon, which he told me was "a lighter salmon, cooked in lemon juice." That's great, but did that salmon just happen to be sitting around because that was awfully fast to have another cooked piece of salmon come out- and it wasn't the one that went with my salad. He offered to bring me a new salad, too. Soon enough, a hot, small piece of salmon came out...my new salad never did. My friend was stressed out, so we decided to split the molten lava cake (it made us feel better). When it came time for the checks, we told him we had the $10 Facebook coupons (which would have made our meals free). A few minutes, later he came back acting like a hero and told us due to the salad mistakes and the salmon issue, he just charged us for the dessert. Thanks buddy, but those were going to be free anyways!! It's really too bad the service was so bad, because the food was so good. Props to the busser who noticed I didn't touch my salmon when taking our plates away and offered to get the manager...he was the best employee we encountered at the restaurant!
(2)
Adrienne C.
I am specifically reviewing the 3-7 & after 9pm BAR BITES. they are ***$3.95***, they are delicious, and they're served in generous portions on oblong-shaped fancy real plates I particularly liked the Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Crispy Eggplant and Portobello & Boursin Bruschetta this place puts other happy hour foods (in cbus) to SHAME. hipsters and bobos, the $3.95 deal will probably cancel out your feeling uncool for patronizing a national chain! try it. so come here for a pseudo-sophisticated meal on the cheap in a Disneyland-for-grown-ups type of atmosphere. Bravo (heh heh heh) on the imitation fresco, guys!
(4)
Katye M.
The first time at Bravo was a great experience. It reminds me of Figlio with the exception of it being a big chain restaurant, which isn't my style. The food was good though. I had a side salad and a pesto and chicken pasta dish. My friend had tomato soup and salad. The tomato soup was really good... almost like the soup at Cap City Fine Diner. The pasta dish was wonderful. Although BRAVO! is a chain restaurant, I would probably go back again at some point.
(4)
Victoria R.
Food, decent at other BRAVO Bartender good... Experience - sub par. I normally love all Bravo's b/c the experiences are always good however this OSU Bravo - weak. Who serves cold flatbread pizza?? They do. I've been here twice and everytime is whack.
(2)
Kate H.
This place is growing on me. My guess is that it will eventually hit four stars... just not quite there yet. The food is good quality and there are a variety of options. They have recently introduced a light menu, which I definitely appreciate though I somewhat doubt its veracity. I will have to say that , especially for lunch, this place is expensive. It is difficult to get out with less that a $20.00 bill, which is pushing it considering how many less expensive lunch option there are around. The staff is generally solid, courteous and attentive. There seems to be a high rate of turnover, a lot of spills and disproportion amount of dropping of plates (both full and empty) in this place. I don't know why, perhaps the openness and general overwhelming feeling of the space causes lapses in attention. I appreciate that the waitstaff is dress in mostly white, as I think it gives a general sense of cleanliness to most places- but you have to be careful for what you wish for- I have noticed a lot of dirty and unironed clothing. My guess is that most people won't notice, just the former waitress in me. The place is gorgeous, but is absolutely horrible for attempting to carry on a conversation, especially in the tables in the middle. They are too far apart and the restaurant too noisy to really do much more than stunted charades and bordering inappropriate shouting. The good is good enough that the bad has not dissuade me from returning. I think I would like the place more for dinner or a happy hour.
(3)
Paul F.
I went to lunch today with Mike G., Lea P., and Sara C. The conversation was great and the food was secondary. I had pasta (not so great) and the rest of the gang had soup and salad, or just a salad. Hope we can do it again real soon!
(4)
Michael G.
12/28 visit for lunch. Ok; nothing special. Large portions for sure. It was very busy, and they know how to handle that and push out some plates. Ok if you are in a group I guess, but for fine Italian, this is not the place.
(2)
Luke T.
I walked through the doors and was instantly taken aback with just how drastic is the makeover to the facade. The interior looks palatial. I really don't think there's a better word for it. You walk in and the host area occupies the same space it did in previous inhabitants of this space. To the right, you'll still find a bar, center-right still houses a staircase to the upstairs, and the restrooms are still off to the left. The similarities pretty much end there. The walls are all textured stucco, the bar features a marble countertop, exposed beams run across the ceiling, columns mark many of the interior entrance-ways, and everything has a very grandiose feeling to it. It's a vast improvement over previous occupants. I honestly can't imagine that Bravo's Lennox location will go OOB anytime in the near or not-too-distant future. With the exception of it taking four minutes for one of four bartenders to acknowledge me at the bar, the service was impeccable. Once a bartender did come up to me, he shook my hand, introduced himself, and asked what I wanted to drink. I placed an order for the onion, portobello and gorgonzola flatbread and asked for a recommendation from the reds list. The bartender recommended Sketchbook, one of two pinots offered by the glass. Before the flatbread arrived, I placed an order for a bowl of the lobster bisque. While I sipped the pinot, the man next to me chatted with me about the restaurants that used to be here and what the current tenants had changed. We weren't sure if the bar's wall had been extended or whether it just seemed bigger because of the now-vaulted ceilings. The flatbread came and was quite yummy. The crisp flatbread and the soft onions and gorgonzola paired nicely. Only downside was that it got cold before I could finish the whole thing. The lobster bisque was good, but probably a bit too cheesy and only had about four small pieces of shrimp in it. I ate every bite, but I don't know that I would order it again. Again, the service was great. The bartender was very attentive and stopped by just enough to keep me happy. Some of the better service I've had lately. 1) Sketchbook pinot noir - $9.95 2) gorgonzola flatbread - $2.95 (happy hour special 4-7pm) 3) lobster bisque - $5.95
(4)
Daniel S.
Food was good. Server was very nice. HOWEVER, We spent almost 2 hours for our lunch. Someone or something happened and manager approached us and was not very clearly and tried to play it up to fresher food. Very weird. No free app next time. Apparently my time is their time. Management needs to take another management course. Granted it was 9 degrees out but we had to move from vent and windows. It was the vent and I know since it was still cold and looked at the majority of other guests and they are eating with coats on. Again. Nice management. Gave 3 stars since food was good and server was nice.
(2)
Anne K.
In town for USFA Fencing Tournament. Dinner was good, great service-the waiter created an arugula salad for me that was not even on menu.
(4)
Aaron A.
4 stars on my first visit, one star for my second visit, Bravo gets two stars. The first time we went down for some happy hour drinks and bar bites. The bar and patio were packed with people. Our bartender was really nice. He set us up a nice round of cocktails and brought out our bar snacks with minimal wait. Everything was delicious, service was great. The second time we went, nobody greeted us when we came in. The bar was empty save one other table. We sat down and the bartender ignored us for a few minutes because he was busy talking to servers at the other end of the bar. He comes over to let us know he'd be with us "in a few minutes." Then he goes back to gossiping with other employees. Nope, see ya. We left. So that was a big fat fail. I like the food there. I've always had a good time at the Bravo family of restaurants, but after this last experience they won't be getting any more of my dollars.
(2)
Vince M.
Good environment, nice big setup, great staff. Decent Italian food. I doubt you'll ever have trouble finding seating, or being helped. While the place seems to be usually busy at a steady rate, it is pretty large. The setup is also pretty appealing, very open and well decorated. All that said, the food is decent. I've had the Chicken Milanese and a few salads. The salads were ok. The Chicken Milanese was a mixed bag, the chicken itself was ok, it was two very thin pieces of chicken that seemed to be more breading than chicken. The pasta underneath though, a spaghetti, was actually pretty good. I'm not sure what the sauce was, but it was a bit heavier, and tasted great. The noodles themselves were cooked perfectly. (Side note-the bread you get is pretty good here). All in all, not a bad place. Comparable to like an Olive Garden, decent Italian, but nothing particularly special. A pretty safe bet.
(3)
Mack H.
It's a shame BRAVO! Cucina Italia is so bad because I have good memories of wood fired pizza and made to order pasta dishes served in a cozy authentic setting some years ago at the original location on Hayden Run Road in Dublin. Now, at least at this location on Olentangy, all that remains is over processed, fat and sodium rich calorie bombs, offered up in a dirty and cartoonish dining room that seats about 200 people. The best tasting item on the menu is one of the house specialities: "Pasta Bravo" which is rigatoni with grilled chicken and mushrooms served with a mildly spicy red pepper cream sauce. But at 1,000 calories per plate you need to be careful not to enjoy it too much.
(1)
Anna H.
I am a fan of their happy hour (3-7 pm). I met my friend/co-worker yesterday after work to eat & drink before a movie at The Lennox. I heard about the fab HH prices, which was why we chose to check out their bar. The seating is very cushy with comfortable upholstered armchairs, and low tables. I had a glass of wine, and later a Cosmo Classico, from the $5 drink menu. We shared some Bar Bites ($3.95) and everything was very tasty: Caprese Salad, Margherita Stuffed Flatbread, Crispy Shrimp Davoli, and Cheese Ravioli Al Forno. Our server was very attentive, without hovering. We will definitely be back, perhaps to sit on the lovely patio.
(4)
Goins L.
I love the waitstaff, they are friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent. This is my favorite resturant. The Eggplant Parmesan is delicious!
(5)
Jessica H.
Ok, so I went here for a work happy hour. The small plates menu for about $3 is very nice and has a decent variety. Minus a star for not carrying any local spirits or brew. Minus a star for no actual drink happy hour specials. Minus a star for a ridiculously short happy hour - I think it ENDS at 6 pm or close to it at this location. Wait - that puts me back down to 2 stars, technically.... ah well Bruschetta with Mushrooms & Boursin Topped with melted Provolone, sauteed portobellos, carmelized onions, crushed red pepper, tomatoes and Boursin cheese 2.95 Crispy Shrimp Napoli Shrimp fried to a golden crisp with green onions and our savory lemon butter, charred tomato Napoli sauce 2.95 Meatball Sliders & Fries Two of our famous meatballs topped with fresh Mozzarella on warm mini-buns, served with Tuscan fries 2.95 Cheese Ravioli Al Forno Housemade cheese ravioli striped with basil-pine nut pesto and tomato sauces over Alfredo sauce 2.95 Balsamic Onion, Portobello & Gorgonzola Flatbread Sweet, carmelized onions with balsamic and rosemary, roasted portobellos topped with Gorgonzola 2.95 Pepperoni Flatbread Pepperoni, banana peppers, Mozzarella and Provolone cheeses with fresh oregano 2.95 Chicken, Bacon & Spinach Flatbread Grilled chicken, creamy spinach, Applewood smoked bacon with green onions, Mozzarella and Provolone 2.95 Flatbread Roma Roasted Roma tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufula and basil atop savory pizza sauce and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil 2.95
(3)
Casey S.
Having read over the menu I was immediately enticed and chose this restaurant as something new. I was definitely pumped for calamari. Upon arriving the place was packed, but I found a seat on an ottoman near a couch. Eventually the couch opened, which was nice. The calamari disappointed me, I requested it without peppers and I think that's what threw them off. It lacked the crispness I craved. The happy hour specials they have are a great deal but the trouble they had preparing my burger was downright degrading. The 1st issue with my cheeseburger was them bringing me someone elses' food and upon seeing it had onions it was taken to another table and served (I touched it!). Another burger was brought to me after sometime and again, it had onion. I asked specifically for just beef and cheese, you would think it wouldn't be a hard concept to grasp. The third time a burger was brought to me, it lacked cheese. I told them to just bring me a piece of cheese and I would put it on, a step that wasn't painstaking and you would think could have been easily done in the kitchen. My lack of cheese burger was taken off my bill but it was only $3.95 and I almost felt my time wasn't worth it. I will stick to Olive Garden for my future italian needs.
(1)
Joy W.
My friends like this place very much. It looks healthy.
(4)
Judy C.
Love the bread! Rosemary bread with a fab dipping oil. The ambiance was nice as well - great decor. Other than that, it was average. Appetizers were good but comparable to the fare at a typical American restaurant, just with a fancier name. I got the frutti di mare which had a good amount of seafood but was bland and soaked in diluted, water-y sauce. But, portions are large and my friends seemed to enjoy their lasagnas and pastas.
(3)
Bryant M.
I have to give credit to the manager: he turned a two or three-star experience into a delightful, four-stars. The mister, the bestie, and I went on the Sunday afternoon before Vday, and Bravo was busy, but we were still seated immediately. A+. And then, the server came. This guy was insanely cute, but I'm pretty sure he had only been serving for a week or so. He really didn't know how to make recommendations, and he was pretty awkward talking to us. And from the looks of it, our server was not alone in this category - most of the servers appeared to be young, college-age guys. But no matter how awkward, our guy really did his best, so A for effort. The menu reminded me of a more Olive Gardenish Brio. And that's not necessarily a bad thing; I'm just setting expectations for you. The table ordered a bottle of prosecco to split, and it wasn't very good. Luckily for Bravo, I'll drink anything. As for food, I ordered the prosciutto pizza, the mister ordered ravioli in cream sauce, and the bestie ordered fettucini with shrimp. When our food came out, the bestie's pasta had chicken instead of shrimp. So, we sent it back. And the manager immediately came over to sincerely apologize. Nice work, sir. And about ten minutes later, the bestie's pasta came back. With chicken again. Wow. So, we sent it back again. Our frightened server had a look of terror, but we laughed it off and tried to make him feel better. I could tell he felt terrible, but he really didn't know how to handle the experience. The manager came right back over, and he profusely apologized, told us her meal would be free, and offered us free dessert. A+ for fixing multiple mistakes. My prosciutto pizza was okay, but it was way too salty. I know, prosciutto is salty, but that's why you should under-salt everything else. The mister's ravioli was delicious, and the bestie's shrimp pasta was also very good - once she finally got it. For dessert, we ordered the cheesecake that they order from Carnegie's Deli in NYC. It's the same cheesecake they serve at Brio, and it's off-the-hook good. Even though our experience was far from perfect, I would still recommend you give it a try. The management wants you to have a good experience, and I'll take that effort any day.
(4)
Jason L.
I'm reviewing their Happy Hour (BRAVO! Hour) specifically. This has to be one of the absolute best deals in the entire city: * Monday - Thursday, 3 - 7 p.m. & 9 - 10 p.m. * Friday, 3 - 7 p.m. & 9 - 11 p.m. * fantastic $3.95 Bar Bites, a few of which could almost be meals unto themselves * excellent $5 drink specials (3 - 7 p.m. only) * chic bar ambience with select comfy couch seating Seriously, for pre-Lennox-movie noshing or an inexpensive but sophisticated date or after-work get-together, I can't think of a better place.
(5)
Drew R.
Thank God they put a Bravo near my office downtown. I have loved Bravo since they opened their first location on Bethel years ago. The food is excellent. Salmon Salad, Pecan-Crusted Tilapia Salad, Grilled Chicken Marsala, Bravo (used to be called Mediterranean) Chopped Salad, Lasagna, I could ramble off the entire menu. It's all consistently great. Impeccable service, always clean and classy. This locally owned chain has got hospitality down to a science.
(5)
Christina C.
I'm not going to lie - I've been a hater purely because they're a chain... until tonight. Headed here to carb load for my half marathon in the morning and as expected has dozens of awesome pasta options - from the traditional spaghetti & meatball to the seafood linguini. I like options. My eggplant parm was a-ok, but the service was attentive, the place is absolutely gorgeous (can't wait to actually eat on the patio instead of just drive by), um seriously WHAT is in that bread & oil!, and the wine list is extensive. Doesn't take that much more to make me satisfied. I noticed that they rent out the upstairs for parties, too. Again, give me wine, pasta, carbs and perfect lighting and you give me a good night. If you are anything like me and have been avoiding this place just because it's a chain - stop avoiding it! I think you might be a little surprised.
(4)
Sagim T.
I give them two stars because of the great customer service I recieved from managers, as well as the servers. Granted, things may have changed from the last time I was there in 2012, but the food is mediocre. The waiter insisted that I try the pork chops because they are the most popular and best dish there. I ordered, tasted, and was disatisfied. Paid way to much for bland, tough meat.
(2)
Jenny H.
Wow- what a transformation! Long gone are the days of Baja Sol's blinding neon exterior and mediocre mex fare. Initially we made reservations for 10, but given scheduling conflicts, we slimmed down to 5. Even with this sudden change, the folks there were very nice about the small turnout. A couple of us ordered some wine, chatted it up over bruschetta and lobster bisque (which was creamy and pretty decent), then our entrees. I ordered the lobster ravioli which had tender bites of shrimp and sweet chunky bites of tomato. Much props to the guy topping my plate with cheese- I don't think I ever told him to stop. In my defense, I told him that I loved cheese and he chuckled obligingly with more cheese. The food was a good 3 stars and like Bryant M, the service was wonderful. We strolled in with a hefty cake box (for my friend's birthday) and was immediately asked if they could take care of it for us. Even before we could ask where the restrooms were, one of the ladies saw us and quickly pointed us in the right direction. Everyone there was super nice and continued to check up on us throughout the meal. It looked like they had a terrace upstairs, which was obviously closed for the season-- but I could see some potential for the warmer months. I don't see us coming back for dinner on a whim, except for maybe some bar bites.
(3)
Fujiwara S.
Amazing lobster ravioli, fettotine allabiata. Not tilapia, that fish doesn't really much my taste.
(4)
Travis U.
Somehow I've never been to this place before. Truly, I'm not missing a whole lot. It's a pretty standard Italian menu, albeit somewhat overpriced. The service was good--guy was quick, on top of things, friendly enough. I got a flatbread that was pretty tasty. Nothing to write home about, but solid. My date got a caprese salad and chicken parm. Portions were good, food was solid service was good. In theory that should be more than 3 stars. It just wasn't really worth the $60 tab I had at the end. I'd eat it again, but not if I was the one paying for it.
(3)
Catherine J.
I've never been to this location before, but the Hayden Rd. location is a favorite of the 'rents and it was one of the better restaurants in Akron when I lived there. So, I'm new to this locale but not to Bravo. I've also never thought of Bravo for happy hour, but I'm so glad I've since been educated. The small plates (which weren't all that small!) were $4, and mojitos (3 varieties) were $5. A group of three of us got three plates and shared-- it was more than enough food. In particular, the Bravo burger was surprisingly delicious and substantial, and with a side of skinny, garlicy bistro-style fries... you can hardly get a burger and fries from McDonald's for $4! I also had the shrimp diovolo with eggplant-- decent, but too much sauce. The stuffed margharita flatbread was nice, if a little plain. My strawberry mojito was good-- I was afraid the strawberry element would be too sicky-fakey-sweet, but it totally wasn't. I watched them make the mojitos, though, and there was no muddling of fresh mint. It looks to be made from a mix (possibly/probably made in-house), and served in a short glass instead of the tall, slender traditional glass. Not surprising, given the fact that they need to churn these out for happy hour, but don't expect a mojito in the handcrafted style. Still, three generous plates of food and four mojitos ran me about $40 (with tip!) so I was pretty happy. We sat at the bar, and service was pretty dismal. They seemed busy, sure, but not busier than most popular restaurants at any given time-- not necessarily happy hour, even. It was so hard to get anyone's attention behind the bar (to order drinks, pay the bill)... it was so bad it almost seemed as though they were avodiing me on purpose. When one of my friends arrived later, they didn't offer additional napkins and silverware. I would look up, expectantly, focusing all my attention on catching an eye, and yet everyone kept their eyes downcast and focused on their tasks. I don't mind waiting... but I do mind being ignored or forgotten. This is a good option for a bite before a movie. In fact, I'd say it's your BEST option in the Lennox area if you're doing the dinner and movie thing. But, Lennox is definitely not top on my list of theaters in town, and you'll need to keep your eye on the clock and make sure the service will let you in and out in a timely fashion.
(3)
Charles T.
As far as Bravo! restaurants go, this is a great one, mostly because of the outdoor patio area. Granted, it is a patio in a mall parking lot, but it's still nice to be outside when the weather is worth it. The service was great, and the food was on par with other Bravo! restaurants I've been to (4 stars). I only wish they had a more extensive beer list, perhaps with some craft- & microbrews. RECOMMENDATIONS: - Bruchetta
(4)
Kelly R.
I was not expecting a lot from this place, but was surprised by their food. I had an excellent wedge salad and calamari with a hefty glass of Reisling! Loved our waiter and that we got to sit on booths (important to us). Great place for a nicer restaurant or a date night. They've got white table cloths, so maybe don't wear super casual clothes.
(5)
Julianne R.
Great dinner. We did the call ahead on a Saturday night and only had to wait 10-15 minutes. Everything was fresh! And very flavorful. I got the lighter fare salmon with asparagus and LOVED it! The bread and oil are awesome. The atmosphere is a bit loud but still very nice, welcoming, and romantic. The service was great as well.
(5)
Simone D.
This was the first time I've been to BRAVO! although I've heard good things. When I walked in I was floored with how fancy it looked. I was expecting an Olive Garden type restaurant and I definitely didn't get that but I was more than excited. We were greeted by our server who was at the host station and he took us to our table. From there on out we didn't worry about a thing, Jordan C, took care of everything. He made sure he answered any and all questions, got us what we needed and stayed on top of the table even though he seemed to get pretty busy with the surrounding tables. We got there around 430PM on a Thursday and by the time we left at 6PM there was a wait so I guess we got there at the perfect time. Food was great! We got an appetizer, went through our entrees and even tried dessert. The cheesecake with carmelized sugar was awesome, just saying. I'm reluctant to try new food items and everything I had was so good. The prices are more than reasonable too which is always a plus for me. In my group there were 3 adults and 2 children and no one seemed annoyed with our loud table. Jordan was very good with the kids as were other servers/food runners. That makes a world a difference when trying to find restaurants that are kid friendly. I don't recommend taking children and letting them run loose throughout the establishment but if they are well mannered then feel free. I will be visiting here again very soon. If you go for fall you should try the hot apple cider with rum, it's very tasty.
(5)
Nicholas L.
Wow this food is over priced for its quality. You get a ratio of 1:5 for pasta to meat or even tomatoes etc. I've never been so disappointed in Italian food until I came here tbh :( the Lobster Bisque is the ONLY reason to come here. And a Peroni :)
(1)
Christopher G.
They come off as a high-end Italian restaurant, but unfortunately falls way short. We went in this past Saturday for lunch, were greeted and seated promptly. When Our waiter arrived he asked if we would be having brunch, or ordering off the menu. I asked whats for brunch, and thats when he noticed we didnt have a brunch menu...the hostess forgot. I ordered the Tuscan Grilled Chicken Sandwich which came with a good salad, but the sandwich was bland and very dry. She got the Pasta Pomodoro with Shrimp, which she complained was too spicy. While I didnt find it too spicy, it had a strange taste over-powered with cinnamon. They werent very busy, but we found ourselves with empty glasses too many times. Also, never did the waiter ask how our food tasted/was. We might give it another try, but its certainly not on our "must go" list.
(3)
Tls K.
We went for a business lunch. The service was attentive without being intrusive. And the food was pricey but very good. My only complaint was that I, a handicapped woman, was walked past a dozen empty tables to be sat in a back rear table. Next time I will be more specific when I enter the restaurant.
(4)
Rick C.
Fun restaurant, great place to stop for after work happy hour. One of the best deals in town with a fantastic and fun atmosphere. On warm nights hit the patio, or on cooler nights hit the bar by the wood stove for Bar Bites.
(5)
Buhbee L.
This is my go-to spot when I want cheaper food that's delicious with good table service, a good environment, and it's lunch time. I rarely eat out to Italian restaurants because I feel I can make pasta at home... I try to avoid this place for dinner as the prices go up on the menu items. They have a really good cocktail called a cucumber something gimlet. Ask about it. It's delicious. And I always get the Shrimp fra diavalo campanelle. Although, the more I come here, the surer I am now that the consistency of the food is a bit off. It's supposed to be a spicy sauce, but sometimes it's spicy, and other times it's pretty bland. But for 13 dollars and free bread, it's pretty hard to beat. Great for dates and a group of friends alike. 5 stars (for a lunch spot). Bravo!
(5)
Angela R.
I will be very fair here. I've been to this Bravo location 3 times- twice, it's been very good. The food is delicious (especially the bread!), the servers are very good and I think the prices are reasonable. However, after today I feel compelled to write a review, and I can only hope that the staff/manager occasion peruse this site to see what people have written. The issues didn't start until after we got our meal. While finishing his lemonade, my boyfriend noticed a lipstick stain on one side of his glass; once you knew what you were looking for, it was like BOOM right there. And he had already had a drink out of that side- gross. Then, I crunched down on broken mussel shells in my Frutti di Mare; just glad I didn't swallow them, that would've been a bit painful, huh? Icing on the cake, we didn't even get our breadsticks boxed up even though we asked for everything boxed. If I had realized this before getting home, "Heather"'s tip would've been lower, for sure. My advice to Bravo: Hire new dishwashers. Cook the Frutti de Mare more carefully or you'll have a lawsuit on your hands. Box up what people ask for, they pay your salary. My advice to diners: Perhaps don't go on Wednesdays around lunchtime?
(3)
Keith J.
I had never been to Bravo and was entertaining my sister who loves Italian food so we ordered carry out (because my fiancee was too ill to go out). It was good. Ordering was easy and the food was done quickly. I had sausage tortoleni and enjoyed it. The portions were large. Good flavor. I prefer Brio but will definitely eat at Bravo again.
(4)
Samantha F.
The food here was delicious! I got the gnocchi and scallops which was one of the more pricier options but it was amazing! The only reason I gave it three stars is because the people who work there are really customer servicey when they talk to you. It was fake and weirded me out, but I am kinda weird about that sort of thing. But if all you care about is the way the food tastes then you would probably like it.
(3)
David S.
My gal pal and I went for a nice dinner on a Saturday evening. Well the first mistake is to come here BEFORE 5:30 because we were seated in the upstairs section a very good ways from the entrance and the kitchen and we were the only people in the area. Not a good start. Then, no bartender so we had to wait for the downstairs bartender to grace us with our drinks a good 10 minurtes after ordering. To top it all off, the Managment has a pre-dinner meeting so we had in excess of 20 servers saunter past our table as we ate and walked to a meeting just a few feet where we were having dinner. It was a loud meeting and we were treated to all the specials and management admonitions along with dry chicken. Ahh the food, it was OK for an Applebee's or a Tee Jaye's, but for the prices that this establishment ccharges, the food doesn't fit the bill. What a shame. I really wanted to like this place. I mentioned this to the General Manager on the way out and he seemed only mildly interested and never apologized for the lack of consideration for the poor seating choices we were given. Again, what a shame, I've had better service and food at Tee Jaye's for only a fraction of the cost. We will not come back and take a dim view of this chain's establishments after the feeling that their manager's really aren't paying that much attention to their stores and really don't care. So I will vote with my dollars and eat elsewhere! Not worth the money.
(2)
Travis Z.
I am a regular here because it is right beside work. I get the pecan crusted tilapia salad most and it never disappoints. I have tried many other items here as well and all have been great. Their bread for dipping is addicting and you can never eat just one.
(5)
Caitlin P.
Basically the same as any other Bravo/Brio. I liked the spacious wait area(there were extremely comfy couches and sofas to sit on!). I came here prior to seeing a movie at Lennox on a Saturday night, and the wait was looooonnnngggg. It was prom season and the day before Mother's Day, so it was to be expected. One of the hosts was taking around flatbread pizzas for the people waiting on tables to taste. It was a tasty teaser and a nice touch for the hungry people waiting on their tables. This restaurant is a good addition to Lennox, I'm sure it will be here for a while.
(4)
Steve N.
My wife and I were there recently. While the place was busy, the service was disappointingly slow. My wife's salad appeared to have been taken out of bag and the grilled chicken on it was lukewarm at best. My Pasta Woozie was very mediocre compared to other Bravo establishments we've frequented.
(2)
Jj M.
what is all this bizness about bravo being a chain restaurant????this started in columbus ppl and grew because the doody family (ever hear of lindey's???) knows what the heck they are doing!!!!!!!!!!! maybe they need to develop a concept called "howdy doody" so all u 'foodies' will realize they are columbus ppl like cameron mitchell, betcha ain't callin molly woo's a chain....just sayin...
(4)
Nijole T.
We went last night for the $2.95 bar bites and enjoyed it more than at Brio's. Brio is supposed to be the upperclass version of Bravo which I don't agree with at all. The food here was better, the service was fabulous and even my husband commented on the nice atmosphere. We ordered one of each of the bar bites and left stuffed paying just over $30. The bruschetta was delicious, fresh and with a ton of toppings. Along with a salad a prefect little meal on its own. My husband loved the crispy shrimp, great sauce and who can beat a large order of shrimp for $2.95?!! The meatball sliders were our least favorite but came along with very good fries. All of the flatbread were also very good, fresh hot, descent size and all came out very fast. You can watch them being made and can modify your order to the way you like it. I would recommend this even for a date night for younger couples that don't have that much to spend or anyone really, why pay $10+ for the same thing you can get at the bar for $2.95? They have leather couches to sit at, a large bar and high tables so there is plenty of room.
(4)
Carole C.
This is my family's favorite restaurant for special occasions. We first ate here on the night it opened, and I've been a fan ever since. I recommend the Pasta Bravo (penne and chicken in a tomato cream sauce), and the lasagna is divine -- and huge. The atmosphere is best described as casual elegance, and on busy nights there is a festive air. Our California relatives now request to go to Bravo when they come into town.
(5)
Amy C.
I came here with five other friends during happy hour. We actually got there right at the end of happy hour and they still let us get the special prices on the drinks and appetizers. The service was good. The atmosphere was very nice. We sat at a table that was more of a coffee table right next to an open door allowing the nice temperatures to roll in. We occupied two couches and a chair. Very cozy. The drinks were good and the appetizers were good as well. Toppings on the pizzas were a little scarce. Other than that, great value for the price.
(4)
Jason S.
I hadn't been to a Bravo in 5+ years but I remembered it being decent for a chain. This one opened up nearby so I decided to check it out. They did a great job changing it from a gigantic fake Mexico into a gigantic fake Italy. I'll give them that. But everything else was pretty lame. Our server was clearly new to the job and awkward. I think ours was the first bottle of wine she had ever opened. It took approximately 5 painful minutes. From the salad on the food was more sizzle than steak. Whoever wrote the menu is clearly more talented than the cook in the kitchen who actually made the food. It was under-seasoned and generally bland. All in all we concluded that for about $10 more we could have had a wonderful experience at Basi Italia in Victorian Village or for the same money could have had much better food and service at Lola's in Gahanna. Sadly, both are closed on Mondays so we settled for Bravo.
(2)
Glenn B.
This place is, thankfully, nearby. We end up here at least once a week. The food is great traditional Italian, and we enjoy eating at the bar where service is always excellent. Brunch on weekends is great!
(5)
Marty S.
Great Italian Food at a competitive price. Love the energy of the place. Very crowded on weekends so be sure to get reservations. Chad, our waiter, was great and very attentive.
(5)
Susan H.
The food was very, very meh. We ate at the bar and the service was great but the food was bland and the pasta was from a box. At that price point I would expect homemade pasta, not Barilla. The marinara was very sweet. I had the eggplant parmesan and the hubby had the chicken parmesan. My dish was a touch greasy and generally underwhelming. Hubby's chicken was acceptable, a decent piece of meat but overall kind of bland. The portions (especially mine) were huge and the bread with flavored olive oil dipping sauce was alright. The place is pretty but not worth the price. Do the Florentine or the Jury Room instead.
(2)
Ashley P.
I have heard great things about other BRAVO! locations for a while, and had the pleasure of checking the restaurant out for myself this past Saturday. My first impression was that they did a wonderful job remodeling the building. We had a 7:00 reservation and probably waited 10 minutes to be seated. A couple of ladies came around with flatbread pizza for us to sample as we waited in the lobby. A nice touch and very delicious! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. We got a couple of appetizers, which were great. My main course was amazing! The others in my party enjoyed their meals as well. I split a dessert with my husband, but it was so good that I wish I had my own. :o) I will definitely go back.
(4)
Jay D.
The Place: Bravo feels palatial inside. It's certainly a fairly large restaurant, but it feels even larger because the ceiling opens up to the second level in the middle of the dining room. Upon entering there is a small waiting area to the left, and a very large bar to the right. Within the bar there are plenty of stools - I'll guess 20-or-so, several bar-top tables, and several plush couches and chairs around lower tables against the windows. Past the bar and waiting area is the hostess stand and the dining room. There are booths and tables of various shapes and sizes around the square dining room. The dining room is open to the kitchen on the east side of the space. Stairs next to the dining room ascend to a second level where there is more seating - both indoors on a balcony area and outside on a terrace/patio. There is also seating on a patio east of the building. The decorations, furniture and whole "feel" of the place is very nice - no complaints here. The Food: Fantastic. I've been twice and, although I've stuck with the "Spaghettini and Meatballs En Sugo" both times, I've tried many dishes that friends have had at my table. First: the spaghetti and meatballs is by far the best I've had at a restaurant. I don't know what the deal is, but this vanilla dish seems to be done poorly almost anywhere I go. It's typically bland and boring, and not any better than what can be whipped up in 20 minutes at home. Bravo's spaghetti is the exception to this rule. The meatballs are large and very flavorful. The sauce is thick with tomatoes and spices. The pasta is finely executed. In a word: delicious. I've also tried at least a bite of the following: Mama's Lasagna Bolognese, Pasta Bolognese, and the Shrimp Fra Diavolo Campanelle. They've all been great, complex dishes. Along with those entrees I've also had the Chicken, Bacon and Spinach Flatbread as an app twice. It's awesome - cheesy and flavorful - simple but delicious. The caesar and chop salads I've tried have been great, and the bread that comes out upon arrival at your table is also delicious and flavorful. In terms of desserts, I've tried the cheesecake, the creme brulee, the chocolate chip banana pudding, the tiramisu, and the fudge cake. All, again, were fantastic. The cheesecake especially was awesome. It was a huge slice of cake, and covered in burnt sugar topping and a sliced strawberry - amazingly good. The Drinks: Only 3 beers on draft: Miller Lite, Sam Adam's Boston Lager, and Sam Adam's Seasonal. I'm glad they've got Sam and Sam Seasonal on tap, but the lack of a few more taps is one of the only negatives I can think of here. They've got a few other beers offered in bottles, including Bud Light, Corona and Peroni. There's no mixed drink menu, but our waitresses each time were able to rattle off several "specialty" drinks available. There's a full bar, so any of your standard drink orders can be accommodated as well. The wine menu includes 36 red wine bottles, 23 white wine bottles, 11 whites by the glass, and 16 reds by the glass. There are three other wines made especially for Bravo. The Service: Great. Both waitresses have handled our parties well. I have no complaints. The Price: Very much in line with Olive Garden. Perhaps a BIT more expensive, but negligently so. This being said, I think Bravo kicks Olive Garden's backside in every category I can think of, so Bravo, in my book, is a way better bang-for-your-buck. Overall: The only complaint I have is the lack of more beers on tap, but that's not enough to keep me from giving 5 stars. Bravo doesn't feel like a chain restaurant. It feels like a local restaurant in most every aspect. It's definitely some of the best Italian I've ever had, and I highly recommend giving it a try.
(5)
Sarah S.
Great food, the flatbreads are delicious. Great atmosphere, the outdoor firepit is amazing. Hit or miss service. The first time I went there it was a weeknight, despite most of the restaurant being obviously empty we were told there was a wait... strange... but the host suggested we could order drinks and an appetizer at the bar, which we did. While we were waiting for our appetizer to come out the server at the bar started complaining to another server right in front of us about how she hates when customers order at the bar and then move to a table... awkward. The host then came and told us our table was ready. Since our appetizer hadn't come out yet, I asked if they could just deliver it to our table and she said no, someone in our party would have to wait at the bar and then bring the appetizer over to our table themselves while the others went and sat down. Really?? Weird. Then the waiter didn't collect our menus after we had ordered, so we just stacked them on the corner of the table during our meal. The food was good though, so I went with a different group of people to eat on a weekend and everything was just fine. Luckily there was no wait for a table even though it was a busy Saturday night, so we avoided the bar. The service was quick, the food was great, overall much better than the first experiance.
(3)
Lisa U.
Super in every way! Great happy hour specials from 3:30 to 6:00. The bar area is great! Well staffed, well managed, we stop there every chance we get! Associates are friendly and attentive, service is good, food is wonderful. Location is great.
(5)
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Address :1803 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH, 43212
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Lo B.
Horrible service!!..we were there OVER 2 hours for no reason. Server couldn't be bothered to take our order. Had to ask to order dinner twice but each time she found something to say "be right back". A friend ordered a dry martini..got a dirty one instead. Food was ok but it took so long to eat and the negative attitude of the server over-shadowed and ruined our experience. Not sure I will go back. Certainly will never take a group there.
(1)Cameron L.
The Good, The Bad, and The Belly. Im thinking Ive been this restaurant around eight times over the years, at four of their different locations in Ohio. Overall, Ive always had good experiences. The waitstaff has always been friendly through the whole process, any issues were corrected - which I can only think of one, so that says something. I really enjoy the setup/decor of the place, they did a good job making you feel like your as close to Italy as possible. The Bethel Road location is always packed, and one of my favorites so far. The wood fired pizza is wonderful and smells good in my opinion. If I recall correctly, any amount of people I also ate with in those times enjoyed their meals and experience just the same. Bravo! right? I want to give five stars based on the past, but when i stopped in recently (Id say first time in a few years) I noticed something different about the food, and since I am here for the food first and foremost, I wanted to give just under four stars, like three and a half. Id say nine years ago a waiter suggested getting the Chicken Milanese with the Diavolo sauce because its something they did themselves when eating there. I had that four more times since then because my it was delicious, and other times I tried other random pasta dishes, pizza, soups, appetizers. My concern though, is there was a noticeable decline in the quality, not enough to stop me from coming back, but enough to make me question my next visit once the bill finally dropped. Im open to the idea that it could have been a fluke, but also concerned that over the years they've moved to a pre-made frozen food concept, and cutting the quality down to cover costs elsewhere. Once I realize that for $17.99 I truly could make this dish at home for much less and get good quality, it makes it hard to keep coming back. So this day the Chicken Milanese was just a shoulder shrug good, the fried ravioli was awesome, and my $3 lemonade was totally worth it. Here is the breakdown of what I got and paid for, so again, after spending that much you realize that if its not made to a certain level of quality ingredients wise, it's hard to become a true regular. As of today, Id still recommend it to others, but if the food quality declines further, Ill have to reconsider. Dinner for 2 Crispy Mozzarella Ravioli $10.99 Chicken Milanese $17.99 Pasta Fra Diavolo w/ Shrimp $17.99 Sprite $2.99 Lemonade $3.49 Total after Tip/Taxes/etc - $67.59
(4)Maurice H.
I came here with large group of coworkers on a Friday lunch hour not knowing what to expect. I have been familiar with the Brio/Bravo/BonVie concept back from the days I resided in Dallas and used to frequent the Brio in Plano, TX. While I was satisfied with Brio's offering back then I had no idea what the more affordable sister restaurant Bravo would be like. To say the least I was impressed, and blown away. I have Italian blood and visit Italy once a year. That Ravioli con pollo fra diavolo was probably the best Ravioli I ever had in the states. The sauce was perfectly flavorful, fresh, and blended beautifully with the asparagus. I also had the Italian wedding soup and it was delivered with utmost authenticity. All other dishes looked just as great and can't wait to try the other specialties in future visits. Aside from the amazing food, that endless fresh garlic bread that kept coming only to be dipped and sponged in that awesome olive oil blend, the service was superb. Our server, Jonah I believe the name was, kept our table full with topped off drinks, oil, and bread while food was being prepared. This is how service should be. Bravo! The management staff were also very professional in accommodating such big groups on short notice. We had no reservations and they had no issues at all putting tables together on a busy Friday lunch hour. Bravo's Cucina Italiana is fairly an exception of the typical chain restaurants in that it's all clearly prepared fresh to order and delivers its entrees along with best customer service which stand up to the Brio/Bravo brandname.
(5)Marissa C.
This was my first visit to this location since it became Bravo! They did a great job with the space - it's very nice. I came as part of a large group (almost 20 people), and the staff was friendly and efficient in getting all of our food and drinks out in a timely fashion. Everyone seemed pretty happy with their dishes, which ranged from spaghetti to soup and salad to the burger. I ordered the Chicken Griglia from the gluten free menu. The gluten free menu offers a choice of three salads, three pastas, and three grilled options. The chicken came with mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. It's a nice large portion, and I ended up with plenty for lunch the next day. The roasted carrots were especially delicious. A nice place to grab a meal.
(4)Angela J.
For some reason, I always forget about this location. Glad I remembered it last night! We sat out on the patio and it was such a perfect evening. What I noticed about the patio is that even though Olentangy and 315 are neighbors, you can't really hear the car traffic. Or maybe it was a low traffic night? Regardless, it was minor to say the least. Started with the meatball app and they were great and big for an app. You get 3 of them. They were juicy and tender and just plain yummy! They could give Marcella's a run for their money. As for the main course I opted for lighter side (nice that they have that feature on their menu) and had the salmon with sweet potatoes and veggies in a balsamic reduction. It was wonderful. Very good and filling. My stomach and taste buds were happy :) It was a terrific experience! The end.
(4)Kaoru M.
Bravo and Brio are owned by the same company. However, the experience could not be further apart. Brio (specifically the one at Easton) is my favorite Italian restaurant in Columbus. So you'd think that I'd like Bravo too... but I try to avoid them. Even though I live in Upper Arlington and this particular Bravo location is 5 minutes away by car, I usually go out of my way to drive to the Brio at Easton or Polaris instead. Why is this? Because the service at Bravo is awful. The quick summary of my most recent visit here is that it took us 2.5 hours and cost $120 to get a bunch of lukewarm food. If you're a casual reader, you can just stop reading here. The service at this Bravo is no good, go to Brio instead. My family dined here on 5/9/15 for dinner. My wife AND my mother suggested Bravo, so I couldn't say no... I made a reservation via Open Table for 7pm, and we arrived promptly at 7pm. The hostess informed us that the guests seated at "our table" were still "lingering", so that it would be a few minutes wait. 25 "few" minutes later, we were still standing around waiting while every party that arrived after us were seated. My past experience with restaurant reservations is that it gives you the next available seat at that restaurant, not reserving a specific set of seats. My guess is that they were planning on sitting us in an out-of-view corner of the restaurant because we had kids, and the group sitting at that particular table was taking their time. Regardless, I finally complained to the hostess at 7:25pm and like magic, a seat opened up immediately. So that was a 25 minute wait that probably didn't need to happen. We ordered calamari for appetizer, which visually looks very similar to Brio's calamari, but the sauce was awful. The cream sauce tasted like straight up mayo-- I suspect it wasn't mixed properly. The tomato sauce was good. For our meal, we ordered the sausage tortelloni, shrimp campanelle al forno, eggplant parmesan, and a sicilian pizza. These dishes all tasted good... except it took over an hour for the food to come out. We were seated around 7:30pm as mentioned above, and our entrees didn't come out till 8:45pm. Our waitress explained that it was because the restaurant was super busy... but as we were seated right next to the kitchen, we saw close to 10 plated meals literally sitting around under the heat lamp for extended periods of time. When our food finally came out, every single dish was lukewarm at best. Clearly our food had sat under the lamp while our waitress was off doing whatever else. We didn't bother sending the food back to be reheated because that probably would've taken another 30 minutes. In the end, we did not leave the restaurant until 9:30pm. 2.5 hours for dinner. We did this with 2 kids in tow... a 2 year old and a 3 month old. It was not the most enjoyable dinner. Oh, and did I mention that in my 2.5 hours there, my glass of water was refilled ZERO times? The service is so, so, so bad here. Bryant M. in his Yelp review of this restaurant gave them 4 stars because despite the horrible service, the manager came out, apologized, and comped their meal. No such nicety happen to me. Actually, I didn't even see a manager to complain to. You usually see a manager going around a restaurant checking in on guests at any given restaurant, but I'm guessing the manager was hiding out back somewhere because the entire restaurant was probably ticked off at the poor service. For all of our trouble, I had the pleasure of paying a $120 bill plus tip. (yes, despite the poor service, Bravo still charges like they're a high end restaurant.) After this experience, both my wife and mother also know how bad Bravo is. I think it's safe to say that I'll be able to avoid this restaurant from here on out.
(1)Jessica P.
Went here on a saturday night with a large birthday group, things took a long time which is fine, they usually do with huge groups so definitely expect that. They did do an amazing job of bringing all 26 items out together, very impressed! The bread and oil before the meal was pretty bad, I mean not unpalatable, but entirely not in my taste what-so-ever. Overly herby, the oil is orangey (like the color when you dab oil off greasy pizza) and again just overly seasoned for me. I ordered the Spicy scallop marinara dish, which was also quite lack luster. A friend ordered the mahi mahi and found it a bit over done. Heard the salmon was very good though. Nothing I sampled really impressed me. But nothing was out-right bad. it took awhile for them to ask us our dinner order, but otherwise we had very good service and the drinks were kept full. They were very quick with all the checks too which was very impressive. I would not dissuade a friend from coming here, but I don't plan to return.
(2)Angela H.
Food - Your typical Bravo restaurant. Bread comes out with oil to dip in before the entrees are served. Every item on the menu is pretty good. I got the minestrone soup, and it had huge clumps of orzo pasta in it so that was kinda unappetizing. But my entree salad was good. Service - We went for lunch and it was SO BUSY. Every table was full. Servers were rushing around. It took our waiter 30 minutes before we could finally place an order, and then it took 45 minutes to get our food, even though we didn't order anything complicated beyond your standard pastas, salads, soups. The worst part was that after we ordered dessert and asked for the check, we sat around for another 20 minutes wondering where he had disappeared too. I know the place was busy but they really should have been better prepared for the holiday lunch rush. Other than that, the food was good, but nothing to rave about. Worth going back to, but not something I'm dying to try again.
(3)Bethany K.
I am quite a fan! My husband and I began with splitting Lobster Bisque... the server was gracious enough to split the order between two bowls without us needing to ask. The bisque was so very creamy, and flavorful. There was the perfect amount of lobster pieces. I ordered the Penne Mediterranean which was perfect. The sauce was light while being packed full of flavor. The combination of spinach, pine nuts, and feta blended beautifully. My husband had the grilled pork chop which were accompanied with tuscan mashed potatoes. We had intended on having left overs for a midnight snack, but 'accidentally' were clean platers. Definitely worth a try!
(5)Abby L.
I shared the lobster bisque with a friend. It was too salty and wasn't very good. I'd avoid getting it if you were looking to get a soup. It's not because of the food that this place is getting two stars from me. It's because of the waiter that helped us. I found him to be very rude and he kept talking over us. I believe his name was Eric. He was very impatient and overall made this experience very off putting.
(2)Candace M.
We ordered Cafe Courier yesterday and the food was from this Bravo location. Can't say I'll be either ordering from them again, or returning to this location! I occasionally like to get kids meals at restaurants. Anyone who has seen me can probably understand - do I look like a full sized adult? Nope? It makes sense! I ordered chicken tenders with fries and macaroni and cheese. The chicken tenders were seriously awful. Cold, microwaved Tyson chicken fingers. Seriously, the kind you can get out of your local grocery store's freezer section. I've had them, and that's definitely what they were. The fries? Not much better. First of all, there were about 10 of them, not much of an exaggeration. They were all wilted and shoved in one corner of the box. When I tasted one, it had that distinct "this was freezer burned and then microwaved, so now it's soggy and gross" taste to them. Seriously awful. The macaroni and cheese was a little better. It was a creamy, white macaroni and cheese - definitely not Kraft. It was Bravo's pasta, but with a creamy cheese sauce. It was a lot more acceptable than the chicken tenders. I don't know, maybe some restaurants think they can prepare kids' meals at a lower standard? But Bravo has other chicken dishes, so I don't really think there's an excuse for nasty microwaved chicken tenders. My boyfriend got the fried ravioli. It was all breading and no cheese - there was a tiny bit of cheese at the bottom of the ravioli. They looked like they, too, could have come straight from the freezer section. At least they tasted a little better than some of the other offerings. I've had a stomach ache since yesterday, and I'm not wondering why! For nearly $40, I'd expect more. Definitely our last time at this Bravo location.
(2)Brianna M.
I received a gift card to this place from a client. I've heard of it before, always heard okay things about it. It's definitely a lot bigger on the inside than it looks. My friend and I went right before Christmas, a busy time for restaurants. We we seated really quickly, which was surprising. Much like Brio, it came off like a higher end Olive Garden. Unlike Brio, the clientele seemed a lot more down to earth. My friend and I still were laughing because we were seated in the back like the riff raff we are. The meal comes with bread and some dipping oil, which were delicious and were a little "high end" than the free salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden. What was really stood out to me was the wide variety of pastas that had delicious sauces other than alfredo and marinara. I had the chicken spaghettini with pesto cream sauce. My friend got the Bravo pasta (the signature dish, said the menu), which had a red pepper cream sauce. I was super jelly. My dish was good, but I had major food envy. The only thing that the dishes were actually pretty shallow and e portion wasn't as large as I would have wanted for the price. I'm not sure I would come back unless someone was treating me. It was good, but nothing special to keep me coming back again.
(3)Ryan S.
I love the Brio Bravo chain of restaurants. I really do. Bravo in particular has my heart, because it has my stomach. Friends from other towns are sick of me telling them that it makes Olive Garden taste like White Castle. And although it is still my favorite chain Italian, I have to admit that it seems to have lost a step or two. Still good, it is trending towards meh rather than too WOWZER like it did when I first laid eyes on its ravishing ravioli, lush pasta, salivating sauces, and crave inducing calamari. Not to mention the pizza. This is my first time at the Lennox location, I am more familiar with the Bethel Road store. Similar in style, this one too has a Roman-Tuscan decor with earth tone walls, exposed ceiling beams, and arching doorways. It though has a more plush, upper class feel to it--a home of a Roman aristocrat. Busy on a warm winter night, we choose to sit in the bar area than wait for a table in the dining room. The bar area is large with the bar, tables to the side, and sofa and coffee tables against the wall. We sat on a sofa and were able to order from there. The lower height of the coffee table made eating a bit awkward, but we made it work. I decided to try the grilled Salmon as a change up. Its garnish of red peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, under a balsamic glaze was good. As was its presentation suggesting a quality that it plainly did not reach. The portion was a bit small for the price. It was missing a sharpness and so didn't really distinguish itself from other places. My caesar salad side was disappointing; the first time I tried Bravos CS I was amazed, it was as if I had never tried one before; this one was nicely done, but did not seem to taste amazing as I remember it was. The service was on spot. Again, this place is still good, just not as good as I remember. The last couple times at Bethel, and this time here was a disappointment. I do not have the skill to figure out what is different: the quality of ingredients, new formulas, lack of talent in the kitchen? I had expected to give this place 5-stars, but can only do 4. Maybe I am just setting a to high of bar, maybe my memory is faulty. I certainly will return and order my usual Italian dishes. Perhaps a less busy night will restore my lofty opinion. Until then, I still recommend this place, I just will lower the hype about it, at least until I experience the spectacular quality I seem to remember from a decade ago.
(4)Toni K.
Have always enjoyed the Hayden Run location, but this was a definite miss. Granted, it was a very busy night (Saturday @8pm), but it seemed like the staff bit off more than they could chew. Our table wasn't ready on time, everyone's meat (salmon and chicken) was overcooked to the point of being burned and tough, my plate had multiple visible dried stains on it (yuck), and the meal took more than 2 hours. Plus, we were seated at an upstairs table on the way to some sort of busser station, so the constant foot traffic and near-misses was distracting. I think if Bravo commits to fewer tables and keeps a better eye on the dish washing that this could be remedied, but for now I'll stick to brunch at the other location.
(2)Douglas G.
Ive had Bravo twice now and have to say... bravo!! The bread and oil to start out with is unique to other italian restaurants, especially chains like this. I usually have to stop myself from filling up on it because its so good. With your entreé you have the choice of soup or salad for a little extra. I got the lobster bisque both times and it was just fabulous, especially with their black pepper, and it which is spicier than usual. For my entrees ive gotten the lobster ravioli and the spicy scallop marinara, which was on then"lighter fare" menu. Both were delicious and decent sized portions, the lighter fare item being no smaller than the normal menu items. I would highly reccomend both of those dishes. Cant wait to return!
(4)Holly C.
The calamari appetizer was very good, and I didn't get one this time, but their frozen peach bellinis are divine! I usually love the shrimp diavolo here! The sauce is so good - it's a spicy creamy tomato based sauced, and it has just the right amount of kick to it. This time I got the lobster ravioli, and while it wasn't bad, it was also a bit too salty. The dessert trio was okay, nothing amazing but not bad either. I think this place is a solid choice by being close to campus and offering a lot of entrees that cater to different tastes.
(3)Caz O.
My husband and I have not been here yet because we always were under the impression that this was a very upscale and pricey restaurant. We were in the area shopping recently and finally decided to just give it a shot. We were hard-core craving some good Italian noms! Boy am I glad we came! The interior of this place is so unbelievable gorgeous. As soon as you walk in the door, you will be blown away! The decor is phenomenal. Huge pillars, beautiful furnishings, art, white linen table settings. Gorgeous! We had the lobster bisque which was incredible and a few different pasta dishes that I can't recall which were also very delicious! This would be a fantastic little date night spot that feels very upscale that will not drain your wallet!
(5)Michael T.
Others in our party ate their food. I didn't eat mine. The calamari appetizer was tasteless. My friend agreed. The eggplant parmesan was tasteless. The pasta that came with the eggplant was....say it with me....tasteless. Good thing we burned gift card "money" to eat there rather than actual cash money.
(1)Sara C.
After all Mike G.'s talk of lobster bisque, I made it a point to bookmark Bravo! and ended up meeting up for lunch with Mike, Paul F., and Lea P. (which can be seen from their updated recent reviews). We sat out on the patio to take advantage of the lovely fall weather. I had the chopped salad and a bowl of the much-discussed lobster bisque, which turned out to be as good as described. The portion size was really just right -- it is rich enough that I didn't feel like I needed more (though if there was more I still would have eaten it). The salad was fairly ordinary, but nothing to complain about. There were a few hiccups with food but they were promptly addressed with excellent service. I would love to come back and try the happy hour food, and I definitely know where to go for my lobster bisque fix as the winter weather rolls around!
(4)Morgan B.
Went here for lunch and it was a pretty happening place for 11:30 in the morning. Even though it was on the busier side with a few large groups, our server was on top of things and we did not have to wait long for the drinks or food. I had the salmon sandwich which was good, and it came with an arugula grain salad that I did not care for, but you have the option of replacing it or getting a soup or different salad for a few extra bucks. Everyone I was with seemed to enjoy their meal as well, and the portions were just right for lunch. There were also a few lunch specials that sounded delish for only $7.95! I would definitely come again, but would like to try the dinner menu next time!
(4)Kathryn W.
Always a good place to have a nice italian dinner! I meet many of my girlfriends here during the week after the work day for a few drinks and dinner to catch up! I have never had to really wait for seating when I've came here (visited this location over 5 times). We are always happily greeted by the host/hostesses/always smiling. I always love getting their Insalata Rustica, Grilled Salmon Salad, Pasta Bravo, and their Pizzas aren't too shabby either! They have a large bar and dinning area, as well as a great outdoor patio for the summer! They have a fire out there with seating around it! It's a great place to sit and relax after work with a glass of wine! All the servers I have encountered have been very helpful and kind. Always a great go-to place for me to meet with friends and have a good, reliable dinner!
(4)Ananya M.
I came here for the first time with my family to celebrate Mother's Day. They have good service, delicious bread that keeps on coming, and yummy entrees. I got the shrimp diavolo. It wasn't as spicy as I'd have liked, but it went for 2 meals and was really flavorful.
(4)Barry S.
I came here for dinner with my family. Lasagna was delicious! The service was nice and quick. Their bread is great too!
(4)MeyMey L.
Heard so much about this store and decided to try it. My Caesar Salad was drenched with too much sauce & Boyfriend's veal was overcooked. The only thing I liked was my Pasta Bravo. I've honestly had better Italian food. Probably won't be coming back.
(3)Claudia F.
I love coming to bravo for happy hour. I always order the black berry cosmopolitan, very delicious. They have a great menu for happy hour and for cheap too. The pull pork sliders and the chicken bacon flat pizza are my favorites. Service is always good when the boys are behind the bar.
(4)Yin Y.
I've had Bravo! once with my friends. They have been recommending this restaurant to me and treated me. And it tastes really awesome! The service, environment, and decoration here are also fantastic! The price here is reasonable,too. I love the fresh toasted bread with oil very much, and of course the Spaghettini & Meatballs I ordered with beef and pork meatballs in it. I also have the Caesar Classica salad, because I prefer the Caesar sauce, and it is yum, too! What a happy meal! Anyway I love Italian food and circumstance in Italian restaurant, including Bravo!. They always make me feel like home and satisfy my asian stomachache.
(5)Mike G.
I liked what I got here last week so much, I got exactly the same thing again. Lobster Bisque here is wonderful, rich and creamy. If you haven't tried it.... Lunch with Paul F., Sara C., and Lea P. this time. It was really nice to meet some more fellow Yelpers and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather on the patio. Rashaad was our server and he did an excellent job with our table. 4 Star recommendation on this place once again.
(4)john l.
Cold cold cold place to eat!!!! Have eaten twice at this location and will never go back -- Always cold air in the winter!! Why they can't turn the heat on and cut the cold air from always blowing from above is beyond me. If you go there dress warm in the winter and bring a warm hat. Oh and the spaghetti gets cold too.
(1)Emma O.
I've been here several times and each time has been increasingly meh. The food has always been okay at its very best and down right terrible at its worst. The last time I went there, our server took 15 minutes to give us our menus. (Mind you, I'm starving!) and then starts making useless conversation at our table. Some idiotic drivel about how white girls love pumpkin or something -_- Cool. Whatever. I'm hungry. I kept having to interrupt her inane chatter to ask her questions about the menu. Now don't get me wrong, I love conversation and friendly people, BUT not when its standing in the way of me and my meal. And of course not when Ive waited so long for a stinkin menu. Anywho fast forward to our food. My friend got the chicken milanese and I ordered a breaded veal dish. Mine had almost no veal and a whole crap ton of breading. It almost tasted as if it were frozen (let it go!) and reheated. My friend said his chicken tasted like a tv dinner complete with a dry chicken patty, tasteless sauce, and left over noodles. Yum. Definitely not worth the money. Or the the time. Or the useless chatter that accompanied our meal. I won't be back.
(2)Monte R.
Bravo! is delicious fun. I've been here several times. Always delivery good food to me every time I visit. Last visit I had the Bravo! Pasta with cream vodka sauce, rigatoni and chicken - delicious yum yums! Server was pleasant and fast, too. Big fan! Thumbs up!
(4)Will P.
Nothing special I have been here for lunch and dinner. I cannot say the food stood out at all either time. the staff was not very attentive, I would probably hit a different chain italian restaurant if I were in the mood for such food.
(2)Andrew P.
Good but nothing fantastic, also wobbly tables are a pet peav of mine And they sat me at one...
(4)Amy S.
I usually avoid chain restaurants but have somehow been here twice in the past month. The first was for a going away party. We had a large party, so I expected to be there quite a while and for things to be a little slow- A LITTLE. The food was much better than expected (had the chopped salad with salmon off the new light menu), and the bread w/ oil was really good, but everything took forever. 3 stars for the service, 4 stars for the food. I went back today with a friend for lunch and we both ordered ordered the same thing because it was healthy, filling, and good! We opted to switch out the onions and get extra cucumbers instead, and our server told us the salmon is served medium, which we were okay with. Our salads came out, both with no cucumbers, and my salmon was visibly raw. If I wanted sushi, I would have gone to a sushi restaurant! He brought us a side of cucumbers, and the manager immediately brought me a piece of salmon, which he told me was "a lighter salmon, cooked in lemon juice." That's great, but did that salmon just happen to be sitting around because that was awfully fast to have another cooked piece of salmon come out- and it wasn't the one that went with my salad. He offered to bring me a new salad, too. Soon enough, a hot, small piece of salmon came out...my new salad never did. My friend was stressed out, so we decided to split the molten lava cake (it made us feel better). When it came time for the checks, we told him we had the $10 Facebook coupons (which would have made our meals free). A few minutes, later he came back acting like a hero and told us due to the salad mistakes and the salmon issue, he just charged us for the dessert. Thanks buddy, but those were going to be free anyways!! It's really too bad the service was so bad, because the food was so good. Props to the busser who noticed I didn't touch my salmon when taking our plates away and offered to get the manager...he was the best employee we encountered at the restaurant!
(2)Adrienne C.
I am specifically reviewing the 3-7 & after 9pm BAR BITES. they are ***$3.95***, they are delicious, and they're served in generous portions on oblong-shaped fancy real plates I particularly liked the Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Crispy Eggplant and Portobello & Boursin Bruschetta this place puts other happy hour foods (in cbus) to SHAME. hipsters and bobos, the $3.95 deal will probably cancel out your feeling uncool for patronizing a national chain! try it. so come here for a pseudo-sophisticated meal on the cheap in a Disneyland-for-grown-ups type of atmosphere. Bravo (heh heh heh) on the imitation fresco, guys!
(4)Katye M.
The first time at Bravo was a great experience. It reminds me of Figlio with the exception of it being a big chain restaurant, which isn't my style. The food was good though. I had a side salad and a pesto and chicken pasta dish. My friend had tomato soup and salad. The tomato soup was really good... almost like the soup at Cap City Fine Diner. The pasta dish was wonderful. Although BRAVO! is a chain restaurant, I would probably go back again at some point.
(4)Victoria R.
Food, decent at other BRAVO Bartender good... Experience - sub par. I normally love all Bravo's b/c the experiences are always good however this OSU Bravo - weak. Who serves cold flatbread pizza?? They do. I've been here twice and everytime is whack.
(2)Kate H.
This place is growing on me. My guess is that it will eventually hit four stars... just not quite there yet. The food is good quality and there are a variety of options. They have recently introduced a light menu, which I definitely appreciate though I somewhat doubt its veracity. I will have to say that , especially for lunch, this place is expensive. It is difficult to get out with less that a $20.00 bill, which is pushing it considering how many less expensive lunch option there are around. The staff is generally solid, courteous and attentive. There seems to be a high rate of turnover, a lot of spills and disproportion amount of dropping of plates (both full and empty) in this place. I don't know why, perhaps the openness and general overwhelming feeling of the space causes lapses in attention. I appreciate that the waitstaff is dress in mostly white, as I think it gives a general sense of cleanliness to most places- but you have to be careful for what you wish for- I have noticed a lot of dirty and unironed clothing. My guess is that most people won't notice, just the former waitress in me. The place is gorgeous, but is absolutely horrible for attempting to carry on a conversation, especially in the tables in the middle. They are too far apart and the restaurant too noisy to really do much more than stunted charades and bordering inappropriate shouting. The good is good enough that the bad has not dissuade me from returning. I think I would like the place more for dinner or a happy hour.
(3)Paul F.
I went to lunch today with Mike G., Lea P., and Sara C. The conversation was great and the food was secondary. I had pasta (not so great) and the rest of the gang had soup and salad, or just a salad. Hope we can do it again real soon!
(4)Michael G.
12/28 visit for lunch. Ok; nothing special. Large portions for sure. It was very busy, and they know how to handle that and push out some plates. Ok if you are in a group I guess, but for fine Italian, this is not the place.
(2)Luke T.
I walked through the doors and was instantly taken aback with just how drastic is the makeover to the facade. The interior looks palatial. I really don't think there's a better word for it. You walk in and the host area occupies the same space it did in previous inhabitants of this space. To the right, you'll still find a bar, center-right still houses a staircase to the upstairs, and the restrooms are still off to the left. The similarities pretty much end there. The walls are all textured stucco, the bar features a marble countertop, exposed beams run across the ceiling, columns mark many of the interior entrance-ways, and everything has a very grandiose feeling to it. It's a vast improvement over previous occupants. I honestly can't imagine that Bravo's Lennox location will go OOB anytime in the near or not-too-distant future. With the exception of it taking four minutes for one of four bartenders to acknowledge me at the bar, the service was impeccable. Once a bartender did come up to me, he shook my hand, introduced himself, and asked what I wanted to drink. I placed an order for the onion, portobello and gorgonzola flatbread and asked for a recommendation from the reds list. The bartender recommended Sketchbook, one of two pinots offered by the glass. Before the flatbread arrived, I placed an order for a bowl of the lobster bisque. While I sipped the pinot, the man next to me chatted with me about the restaurants that used to be here and what the current tenants had changed. We weren't sure if the bar's wall had been extended or whether it just seemed bigger because of the now-vaulted ceilings. The flatbread came and was quite yummy. The crisp flatbread and the soft onions and gorgonzola paired nicely. Only downside was that it got cold before I could finish the whole thing. The lobster bisque was good, but probably a bit too cheesy and only had about four small pieces of shrimp in it. I ate every bite, but I don't know that I would order it again. Again, the service was great. The bartender was very attentive and stopped by just enough to keep me happy. Some of the better service I've had lately. 1) Sketchbook pinot noir - $9.95 2) gorgonzola flatbread - $2.95 (happy hour special 4-7pm) 3) lobster bisque - $5.95
(4)Daniel S.
Food was good. Server was very nice. HOWEVER, We spent almost 2 hours for our lunch. Someone or something happened and manager approached us and was not very clearly and tried to play it up to fresher food. Very weird. No free app next time. Apparently my time is their time. Management needs to take another management course. Granted it was 9 degrees out but we had to move from vent and windows. It was the vent and I know since it was still cold and looked at the majority of other guests and they are eating with coats on. Again. Nice management. Gave 3 stars since food was good and server was nice.
(2)Anne K.
In town for USFA Fencing Tournament. Dinner was good, great service-the waiter created an arugula salad for me that was not even on menu.
(4)Aaron A.
4 stars on my first visit, one star for my second visit, Bravo gets two stars. The first time we went down for some happy hour drinks and bar bites. The bar and patio were packed with people. Our bartender was really nice. He set us up a nice round of cocktails and brought out our bar snacks with minimal wait. Everything was delicious, service was great. The second time we went, nobody greeted us when we came in. The bar was empty save one other table. We sat down and the bartender ignored us for a few minutes because he was busy talking to servers at the other end of the bar. He comes over to let us know he'd be with us "in a few minutes." Then he goes back to gossiping with other employees. Nope, see ya. We left. So that was a big fat fail. I like the food there. I've always had a good time at the Bravo family of restaurants, but after this last experience they won't be getting any more of my dollars.
(2)Vince M.
Good environment, nice big setup, great staff. Decent Italian food. I doubt you'll ever have trouble finding seating, or being helped. While the place seems to be usually busy at a steady rate, it is pretty large. The setup is also pretty appealing, very open and well decorated. All that said, the food is decent. I've had the Chicken Milanese and a few salads. The salads were ok. The Chicken Milanese was a mixed bag, the chicken itself was ok, it was two very thin pieces of chicken that seemed to be more breading than chicken. The pasta underneath though, a spaghetti, was actually pretty good. I'm not sure what the sauce was, but it was a bit heavier, and tasted great. The noodles themselves were cooked perfectly. (Side note-the bread you get is pretty good here). All in all, not a bad place. Comparable to like an Olive Garden, decent Italian, but nothing particularly special. A pretty safe bet.
(3)Mack H.
It's a shame BRAVO! Cucina Italia is so bad because I have good memories of wood fired pizza and made to order pasta dishes served in a cozy authentic setting some years ago at the original location on Hayden Run Road in Dublin. Now, at least at this location on Olentangy, all that remains is over processed, fat and sodium rich calorie bombs, offered up in a dirty and cartoonish dining room that seats about 200 people. The best tasting item on the menu is one of the house specialities: "Pasta Bravo" which is rigatoni with grilled chicken and mushrooms served with a mildly spicy red pepper cream sauce. But at 1,000 calories per plate you need to be careful not to enjoy it too much.
(1)Anna H.
I am a fan of their happy hour (3-7 pm). I met my friend/co-worker yesterday after work to eat & drink before a movie at The Lennox. I heard about the fab HH prices, which was why we chose to check out their bar. The seating is very cushy with comfortable upholstered armchairs, and low tables. I had a glass of wine, and later a Cosmo Classico, from the $5 drink menu. We shared some Bar Bites ($3.95) and everything was very tasty: Caprese Salad, Margherita Stuffed Flatbread, Crispy Shrimp Davoli, and Cheese Ravioli Al Forno. Our server was very attentive, without hovering. We will definitely be back, perhaps to sit on the lovely patio.
(4)Goins L.
I love the waitstaff, they are friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent. This is my favorite resturant. The Eggplant Parmesan is delicious!
(5)Jessica H.
Ok, so I went here for a work happy hour. The small plates menu for about $3 is very nice and has a decent variety. Minus a star for not carrying any local spirits or brew. Minus a star for no actual drink happy hour specials. Minus a star for a ridiculously short happy hour - I think it ENDS at 6 pm or close to it at this location. Wait - that puts me back down to 2 stars, technically.... ah well Bruschetta with Mushrooms & Boursin Topped with melted Provolone, sauteed portobellos, carmelized onions, crushed red pepper, tomatoes and Boursin cheese 2.95 Crispy Shrimp Napoli Shrimp fried to a golden crisp with green onions and our savory lemon butter, charred tomato Napoli sauce 2.95 Meatball Sliders & Fries Two of our famous meatballs topped with fresh Mozzarella on warm mini-buns, served with Tuscan fries 2.95 Cheese Ravioli Al Forno Housemade cheese ravioli striped with basil-pine nut pesto and tomato sauces over Alfredo sauce 2.95 Balsamic Onion, Portobello & Gorgonzola Flatbread Sweet, carmelized onions with balsamic and rosemary, roasted portobellos topped with Gorgonzola 2.95 Pepperoni Flatbread Pepperoni, banana peppers, Mozzarella and Provolone cheeses with fresh oregano 2.95 Chicken, Bacon & Spinach Flatbread Grilled chicken, creamy spinach, Applewood smoked bacon with green onions, Mozzarella and Provolone 2.95 Flatbread Roma Roasted Roma tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufula and basil atop savory pizza sauce and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil 2.95
(3)Casey S.
Having read over the menu I was immediately enticed and chose this restaurant as something new. I was definitely pumped for calamari. Upon arriving the place was packed, but I found a seat on an ottoman near a couch. Eventually the couch opened, which was nice. The calamari disappointed me, I requested it without peppers and I think that's what threw them off. It lacked the crispness I craved. The happy hour specials they have are a great deal but the trouble they had preparing my burger was downright degrading. The 1st issue with my cheeseburger was them bringing me someone elses' food and upon seeing it had onions it was taken to another table and served (I touched it!). Another burger was brought to me after sometime and again, it had onion. I asked specifically for just beef and cheese, you would think it wouldn't be a hard concept to grasp. The third time a burger was brought to me, it lacked cheese. I told them to just bring me a piece of cheese and I would put it on, a step that wasn't painstaking and you would think could have been easily done in the kitchen. My lack of cheese burger was taken off my bill but it was only $3.95 and I almost felt my time wasn't worth it. I will stick to Olive Garden for my future italian needs.
(1)Joy W.
My friends like this place very much. It looks healthy.
(4)Judy C.
Love the bread! Rosemary bread with a fab dipping oil. The ambiance was nice as well - great decor. Other than that, it was average. Appetizers were good but comparable to the fare at a typical American restaurant, just with a fancier name. I got the frutti di mare which had a good amount of seafood but was bland and soaked in diluted, water-y sauce. But, portions are large and my friends seemed to enjoy their lasagnas and pastas.
(3)Bryant M.
I have to give credit to the manager: he turned a two or three-star experience into a delightful, four-stars. The mister, the bestie, and I went on the Sunday afternoon before Vday, and Bravo was busy, but we were still seated immediately. A+. And then, the server came. This guy was insanely cute, but I'm pretty sure he had only been serving for a week or so. He really didn't know how to make recommendations, and he was pretty awkward talking to us. And from the looks of it, our server was not alone in this category - most of the servers appeared to be young, college-age guys. But no matter how awkward, our guy really did his best, so A for effort. The menu reminded me of a more Olive Gardenish Brio. And that's not necessarily a bad thing; I'm just setting expectations for you. The table ordered a bottle of prosecco to split, and it wasn't very good. Luckily for Bravo, I'll drink anything. As for food, I ordered the prosciutto pizza, the mister ordered ravioli in cream sauce, and the bestie ordered fettucini with shrimp. When our food came out, the bestie's pasta had chicken instead of shrimp. So, we sent it back. And the manager immediately came over to sincerely apologize. Nice work, sir. And about ten minutes later, the bestie's pasta came back. With chicken again. Wow. So, we sent it back again. Our frightened server had a look of terror, but we laughed it off and tried to make him feel better. I could tell he felt terrible, but he really didn't know how to handle the experience. The manager came right back over, and he profusely apologized, told us her meal would be free, and offered us free dessert. A+ for fixing multiple mistakes. My prosciutto pizza was okay, but it was way too salty. I know, prosciutto is salty, but that's why you should under-salt everything else. The mister's ravioli was delicious, and the bestie's shrimp pasta was also very good - once she finally got it. For dessert, we ordered the cheesecake that they order from Carnegie's Deli in NYC. It's the same cheesecake they serve at Brio, and it's off-the-hook good. Even though our experience was far from perfect, I would still recommend you give it a try. The management wants you to have a good experience, and I'll take that effort any day.
(4)Jason L.
I'm reviewing their Happy Hour (BRAVO! Hour) specifically. This has to be one of the absolute best deals in the entire city: * Monday - Thursday, 3 - 7 p.m. & 9 - 10 p.m. * Friday, 3 - 7 p.m. & 9 - 11 p.m. * fantastic $3.95 Bar Bites, a few of which could almost be meals unto themselves * excellent $5 drink specials (3 - 7 p.m. only) * chic bar ambience with select comfy couch seating Seriously, for pre-Lennox-movie noshing or an inexpensive but sophisticated date or after-work get-together, I can't think of a better place.
(5)Drew R.
Thank God they put a Bravo near my office downtown. I have loved Bravo since they opened their first location on Bethel years ago. The food is excellent. Salmon Salad, Pecan-Crusted Tilapia Salad, Grilled Chicken Marsala, Bravo (used to be called Mediterranean) Chopped Salad, Lasagna, I could ramble off the entire menu. It's all consistently great. Impeccable service, always clean and classy. This locally owned chain has got hospitality down to a science.
(5)Christina C.
I'm not going to lie - I've been a hater purely because they're a chain... until tonight. Headed here to carb load for my half marathon in the morning and as expected has dozens of awesome pasta options - from the traditional spaghetti & meatball to the seafood linguini. I like options. My eggplant parm was a-ok, but the service was attentive, the place is absolutely gorgeous (can't wait to actually eat on the patio instead of just drive by), um seriously WHAT is in that bread & oil!, and the wine list is extensive. Doesn't take that much more to make me satisfied. I noticed that they rent out the upstairs for parties, too. Again, give me wine, pasta, carbs and perfect lighting and you give me a good night. If you are anything like me and have been avoiding this place just because it's a chain - stop avoiding it! I think you might be a little surprised.
(4)Sagim T.
I give them two stars because of the great customer service I recieved from managers, as well as the servers. Granted, things may have changed from the last time I was there in 2012, but the food is mediocre. The waiter insisted that I try the pork chops because they are the most popular and best dish there. I ordered, tasted, and was disatisfied. Paid way to much for bland, tough meat.
(2)Jenny H.
Wow- what a transformation! Long gone are the days of Baja Sol's blinding neon exterior and mediocre mex fare. Initially we made reservations for 10, but given scheduling conflicts, we slimmed down to 5. Even with this sudden change, the folks there were very nice about the small turnout. A couple of us ordered some wine, chatted it up over bruschetta and lobster bisque (which was creamy and pretty decent), then our entrees. I ordered the lobster ravioli which had tender bites of shrimp and sweet chunky bites of tomato. Much props to the guy topping my plate with cheese- I don't think I ever told him to stop. In my defense, I told him that I loved cheese and he chuckled obligingly with more cheese. The food was a good 3 stars and like Bryant M, the service was wonderful. We strolled in with a hefty cake box (for my friend's birthday) and was immediately asked if they could take care of it for us. Even before we could ask where the restrooms were, one of the ladies saw us and quickly pointed us in the right direction. Everyone there was super nice and continued to check up on us throughout the meal. It looked like they had a terrace upstairs, which was obviously closed for the season-- but I could see some potential for the warmer months. I don't see us coming back for dinner on a whim, except for maybe some bar bites.
(3)Fujiwara S.
Amazing lobster ravioli, fettotine allabiata. Not tilapia, that fish doesn't really much my taste.
(4)Travis U.
Somehow I've never been to this place before. Truly, I'm not missing a whole lot. It's a pretty standard Italian menu, albeit somewhat overpriced. The service was good--guy was quick, on top of things, friendly enough. I got a flatbread that was pretty tasty. Nothing to write home about, but solid. My date got a caprese salad and chicken parm. Portions were good, food was solid service was good. In theory that should be more than 3 stars. It just wasn't really worth the $60 tab I had at the end. I'd eat it again, but not if I was the one paying for it.
(3)Catherine J.
I've never been to this location before, but the Hayden Rd. location is a favorite of the 'rents and it was one of the better restaurants in Akron when I lived there. So, I'm new to this locale but not to Bravo. I've also never thought of Bravo for happy hour, but I'm so glad I've since been educated. The small plates (which weren't all that small!) were $4, and mojitos (3 varieties) were $5. A group of three of us got three plates and shared-- it was more than enough food. In particular, the Bravo burger was surprisingly delicious and substantial, and with a side of skinny, garlicy bistro-style fries... you can hardly get a burger and fries from McDonald's for $4! I also had the shrimp diovolo with eggplant-- decent, but too much sauce. The stuffed margharita flatbread was nice, if a little plain. My strawberry mojito was good-- I was afraid the strawberry element would be too sicky-fakey-sweet, but it totally wasn't. I watched them make the mojitos, though, and there was no muddling of fresh mint. It looks to be made from a mix (possibly/probably made in-house), and served in a short glass instead of the tall, slender traditional glass. Not surprising, given the fact that they need to churn these out for happy hour, but don't expect a mojito in the handcrafted style. Still, three generous plates of food and four mojitos ran me about $40 (with tip!) so I was pretty happy. We sat at the bar, and service was pretty dismal. They seemed busy, sure, but not busier than most popular restaurants at any given time-- not necessarily happy hour, even. It was so hard to get anyone's attention behind the bar (to order drinks, pay the bill)... it was so bad it almost seemed as though they were avodiing me on purpose. When one of my friends arrived later, they didn't offer additional napkins and silverware. I would look up, expectantly, focusing all my attention on catching an eye, and yet everyone kept their eyes downcast and focused on their tasks. I don't mind waiting... but I do mind being ignored or forgotten. This is a good option for a bite before a movie. In fact, I'd say it's your BEST option in the Lennox area if you're doing the dinner and movie thing. But, Lennox is definitely not top on my list of theaters in town, and you'll need to keep your eye on the clock and make sure the service will let you in and out in a timely fashion.
(3)Charles T.
As far as Bravo! restaurants go, this is a great one, mostly because of the outdoor patio area. Granted, it is a patio in a mall parking lot, but it's still nice to be outside when the weather is worth it. The service was great, and the food was on par with other Bravo! restaurants I've been to (4 stars). I only wish they had a more extensive beer list, perhaps with some craft- & microbrews. RECOMMENDATIONS: - Bruchetta
(4)Kelly R.
I was not expecting a lot from this place, but was surprised by their food. I had an excellent wedge salad and calamari with a hefty glass of Reisling! Loved our waiter and that we got to sit on booths (important to us). Great place for a nicer restaurant or a date night. They've got white table cloths, so maybe don't wear super casual clothes.
(5)Julianne R.
Great dinner. We did the call ahead on a Saturday night and only had to wait 10-15 minutes. Everything was fresh! And very flavorful. I got the lighter fare salmon with asparagus and LOVED it! The bread and oil are awesome. The atmosphere is a bit loud but still very nice, welcoming, and romantic. The service was great as well.
(5)Simone D.
This was the first time I've been to BRAVO! although I've heard good things. When I walked in I was floored with how fancy it looked. I was expecting an Olive Garden type restaurant and I definitely didn't get that but I was more than excited. We were greeted by our server who was at the host station and he took us to our table. From there on out we didn't worry about a thing, Jordan C, took care of everything. He made sure he answered any and all questions, got us what we needed and stayed on top of the table even though he seemed to get pretty busy with the surrounding tables. We got there around 430PM on a Thursday and by the time we left at 6PM there was a wait so I guess we got there at the perfect time. Food was great! We got an appetizer, went through our entrees and even tried dessert. The cheesecake with carmelized sugar was awesome, just saying. I'm reluctant to try new food items and everything I had was so good. The prices are more than reasonable too which is always a plus for me. In my group there were 3 adults and 2 children and no one seemed annoyed with our loud table. Jordan was very good with the kids as were other servers/food runners. That makes a world a difference when trying to find restaurants that are kid friendly. I don't recommend taking children and letting them run loose throughout the establishment but if they are well mannered then feel free. I will be visiting here again very soon. If you go for fall you should try the hot apple cider with rum, it's very tasty.
(5)Nicholas L.
Wow this food is over priced for its quality. You get a ratio of 1:5 for pasta to meat or even tomatoes etc. I've never been so disappointed in Italian food until I came here tbh :( the Lobster Bisque is the ONLY reason to come here. And a Peroni :)
(1)Christopher G.
They come off as a high-end Italian restaurant, but unfortunately falls way short. We went in this past Saturday for lunch, were greeted and seated promptly. When Our waiter arrived he asked if we would be having brunch, or ordering off the menu. I asked whats for brunch, and thats when he noticed we didnt have a brunch menu...the hostess forgot. I ordered the Tuscan Grilled Chicken Sandwich which came with a good salad, but the sandwich was bland and very dry. She got the Pasta Pomodoro with Shrimp, which she complained was too spicy. While I didnt find it too spicy, it had a strange taste over-powered with cinnamon. They werent very busy, but we found ourselves with empty glasses too many times. Also, never did the waiter ask how our food tasted/was. We might give it another try, but its certainly not on our "must go" list.
(3)Tls K.
We went for a business lunch. The service was attentive without being intrusive. And the food was pricey but very good. My only complaint was that I, a handicapped woman, was walked past a dozen empty tables to be sat in a back rear table. Next time I will be more specific when I enter the restaurant.
(4)Rick C.
Fun restaurant, great place to stop for after work happy hour. One of the best deals in town with a fantastic and fun atmosphere. On warm nights hit the patio, or on cooler nights hit the bar by the wood stove for Bar Bites.
(5)Buhbee L.
This is my go-to spot when I want cheaper food that's delicious with good table service, a good environment, and it's lunch time. I rarely eat out to Italian restaurants because I feel I can make pasta at home... I try to avoid this place for dinner as the prices go up on the menu items. They have a really good cocktail called a cucumber something gimlet. Ask about it. It's delicious. And I always get the Shrimp fra diavalo campanelle. Although, the more I come here, the surer I am now that the consistency of the food is a bit off. It's supposed to be a spicy sauce, but sometimes it's spicy, and other times it's pretty bland. But for 13 dollars and free bread, it's pretty hard to beat. Great for dates and a group of friends alike. 5 stars (for a lunch spot). Bravo!
(5)Angela R.
I will be very fair here. I've been to this Bravo location 3 times- twice, it's been very good. The food is delicious (especially the bread!), the servers are very good and I think the prices are reasonable. However, after today I feel compelled to write a review, and I can only hope that the staff/manager occasion peruse this site to see what people have written. The issues didn't start until after we got our meal. While finishing his lemonade, my boyfriend noticed a lipstick stain on one side of his glass; once you knew what you were looking for, it was like BOOM right there. And he had already had a drink out of that side- gross. Then, I crunched down on broken mussel shells in my Frutti di Mare; just glad I didn't swallow them, that would've been a bit painful, huh? Icing on the cake, we didn't even get our breadsticks boxed up even though we asked for everything boxed. If I had realized this before getting home, "Heather"'s tip would've been lower, for sure. My advice to Bravo: Hire new dishwashers. Cook the Frutti de Mare more carefully or you'll have a lawsuit on your hands. Box up what people ask for, they pay your salary. My advice to diners: Perhaps don't go on Wednesdays around lunchtime?
(3)Keith J.
I had never been to Bravo and was entertaining my sister who loves Italian food so we ordered carry out (because my fiancee was too ill to go out). It was good. Ordering was easy and the food was done quickly. I had sausage tortoleni and enjoyed it. The portions were large. Good flavor. I prefer Brio but will definitely eat at Bravo again.
(4)Samantha F.
The food here was delicious! I got the gnocchi and scallops which was one of the more pricier options but it was amazing! The only reason I gave it three stars is because the people who work there are really customer servicey when they talk to you. It was fake and weirded me out, but I am kinda weird about that sort of thing. But if all you care about is the way the food tastes then you would probably like it.
(3)David S.
My gal pal and I went for a nice dinner on a Saturday evening. Well the first mistake is to come here BEFORE 5:30 because we were seated in the upstairs section a very good ways from the entrance and the kitchen and we were the only people in the area. Not a good start. Then, no bartender so we had to wait for the downstairs bartender to grace us with our drinks a good 10 minurtes after ordering. To top it all off, the Managment has a pre-dinner meeting so we had in excess of 20 servers saunter past our table as we ate and walked to a meeting just a few feet where we were having dinner. It was a loud meeting and we were treated to all the specials and management admonitions along with dry chicken. Ahh the food, it was OK for an Applebee's or a Tee Jaye's, but for the prices that this establishment ccharges, the food doesn't fit the bill. What a shame. I really wanted to like this place. I mentioned this to the General Manager on the way out and he seemed only mildly interested and never apologized for the lack of consideration for the poor seating choices we were given. Again, what a shame, I've had better service and food at Tee Jaye's for only a fraction of the cost. We will not come back and take a dim view of this chain's establishments after the feeling that their manager's really aren't paying that much attention to their stores and really don't care. So I will vote with my dollars and eat elsewhere! Not worth the money.
(2)Travis Z.
I am a regular here because it is right beside work. I get the pecan crusted tilapia salad most and it never disappoints. I have tried many other items here as well and all have been great. Their bread for dipping is addicting and you can never eat just one.
(5)Caitlin P.
Basically the same as any other Bravo/Brio. I liked the spacious wait area(there were extremely comfy couches and sofas to sit on!). I came here prior to seeing a movie at Lennox on a Saturday night, and the wait was looooonnnngggg. It was prom season and the day before Mother's Day, so it was to be expected. One of the hosts was taking around flatbread pizzas for the people waiting on tables to taste. It was a tasty teaser and a nice touch for the hungry people waiting on their tables. This restaurant is a good addition to Lennox, I'm sure it will be here for a while.
(4)Steve N.
My wife and I were there recently. While the place was busy, the service was disappointingly slow. My wife's salad appeared to have been taken out of bag and the grilled chicken on it was lukewarm at best. My Pasta Woozie was very mediocre compared to other Bravo establishments we've frequented.
(2)Jj M.
what is all this bizness about bravo being a chain restaurant????this started in columbus ppl and grew because the doody family (ever hear of lindey's???) knows what the heck they are doing!!!!!!!!!!! maybe they need to develop a concept called "howdy doody" so all u 'foodies' will realize they are columbus ppl like cameron mitchell, betcha ain't callin molly woo's a chain....just sayin...
(4)Nijole T.
We went last night for the $2.95 bar bites and enjoyed it more than at Brio's. Brio is supposed to be the upperclass version of Bravo which I don't agree with at all. The food here was better, the service was fabulous and even my husband commented on the nice atmosphere. We ordered one of each of the bar bites and left stuffed paying just over $30. The bruschetta was delicious, fresh and with a ton of toppings. Along with a salad a prefect little meal on its own. My husband loved the crispy shrimp, great sauce and who can beat a large order of shrimp for $2.95?!! The meatball sliders were our least favorite but came along with very good fries. All of the flatbread were also very good, fresh hot, descent size and all came out very fast. You can watch them being made and can modify your order to the way you like it. I would recommend this even for a date night for younger couples that don't have that much to spend or anyone really, why pay $10+ for the same thing you can get at the bar for $2.95? They have leather couches to sit at, a large bar and high tables so there is plenty of room.
(4)Carole C.
This is my family's favorite restaurant for special occasions. We first ate here on the night it opened, and I've been a fan ever since. I recommend the Pasta Bravo (penne and chicken in a tomato cream sauce), and the lasagna is divine -- and huge. The atmosphere is best described as casual elegance, and on busy nights there is a festive air. Our California relatives now request to go to Bravo when they come into town.
(5)Amy C.
I came here with five other friends during happy hour. We actually got there right at the end of happy hour and they still let us get the special prices on the drinks and appetizers. The service was good. The atmosphere was very nice. We sat at a table that was more of a coffee table right next to an open door allowing the nice temperatures to roll in. We occupied two couches and a chair. Very cozy. The drinks were good and the appetizers were good as well. Toppings on the pizzas were a little scarce. Other than that, great value for the price.
(4)Jason S.
I hadn't been to a Bravo in 5+ years but I remembered it being decent for a chain. This one opened up nearby so I decided to check it out. They did a great job changing it from a gigantic fake Mexico into a gigantic fake Italy. I'll give them that. But everything else was pretty lame. Our server was clearly new to the job and awkward. I think ours was the first bottle of wine she had ever opened. It took approximately 5 painful minutes. From the salad on the food was more sizzle than steak. Whoever wrote the menu is clearly more talented than the cook in the kitchen who actually made the food. It was under-seasoned and generally bland. All in all we concluded that for about $10 more we could have had a wonderful experience at Basi Italia in Victorian Village or for the same money could have had much better food and service at Lola's in Gahanna. Sadly, both are closed on Mondays so we settled for Bravo.
(2)Glenn B.
This place is, thankfully, nearby. We end up here at least once a week. The food is great traditional Italian, and we enjoy eating at the bar where service is always excellent. Brunch on weekends is great!
(5)Marty S.
Great Italian Food at a competitive price. Love the energy of the place. Very crowded on weekends so be sure to get reservations. Chad, our waiter, was great and very attentive.
(5)Susan H.
The food was very, very meh. We ate at the bar and the service was great but the food was bland and the pasta was from a box. At that price point I would expect homemade pasta, not Barilla. The marinara was very sweet. I had the eggplant parmesan and the hubby had the chicken parmesan. My dish was a touch greasy and generally underwhelming. Hubby's chicken was acceptable, a decent piece of meat but overall kind of bland. The portions (especially mine) were huge and the bread with flavored olive oil dipping sauce was alright. The place is pretty but not worth the price. Do the Florentine or the Jury Room instead.
(2)Ashley P.
I have heard great things about other BRAVO! locations for a while, and had the pleasure of checking the restaurant out for myself this past Saturday. My first impression was that they did a wonderful job remodeling the building. We had a 7:00 reservation and probably waited 10 minutes to be seated. A couple of ladies came around with flatbread pizza for us to sample as we waited in the lobby. A nice touch and very delicious! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. We got a couple of appetizers, which were great. My main course was amazing! The others in my party enjoyed their meals as well. I split a dessert with my husband, but it was so good that I wish I had my own. :o) I will definitely go back.
(4)Jay D.
The Place: Bravo feels palatial inside. It's certainly a fairly large restaurant, but it feels even larger because the ceiling opens up to the second level in the middle of the dining room. Upon entering there is a small waiting area to the left, and a very large bar to the right. Within the bar there are plenty of stools - I'll guess 20-or-so, several bar-top tables, and several plush couches and chairs around lower tables against the windows. Past the bar and waiting area is the hostess stand and the dining room. There are booths and tables of various shapes and sizes around the square dining room. The dining room is open to the kitchen on the east side of the space. Stairs next to the dining room ascend to a second level where there is more seating - both indoors on a balcony area and outside on a terrace/patio. There is also seating on a patio east of the building. The decorations, furniture and whole "feel" of the place is very nice - no complaints here. The Food: Fantastic. I've been twice and, although I've stuck with the "Spaghettini and Meatballs En Sugo" both times, I've tried many dishes that friends have had at my table. First: the spaghetti and meatballs is by far the best I've had at a restaurant. I don't know what the deal is, but this vanilla dish seems to be done poorly almost anywhere I go. It's typically bland and boring, and not any better than what can be whipped up in 20 minutes at home. Bravo's spaghetti is the exception to this rule. The meatballs are large and very flavorful. The sauce is thick with tomatoes and spices. The pasta is finely executed. In a word: delicious. I've also tried at least a bite of the following: Mama's Lasagna Bolognese, Pasta Bolognese, and the Shrimp Fra Diavolo Campanelle. They've all been great, complex dishes. Along with those entrees I've also had the Chicken, Bacon and Spinach Flatbread as an app twice. It's awesome - cheesy and flavorful - simple but delicious. The caesar and chop salads I've tried have been great, and the bread that comes out upon arrival at your table is also delicious and flavorful. In terms of desserts, I've tried the cheesecake, the creme brulee, the chocolate chip banana pudding, the tiramisu, and the fudge cake. All, again, were fantastic. The cheesecake especially was awesome. It was a huge slice of cake, and covered in burnt sugar topping and a sliced strawberry - amazingly good. The Drinks: Only 3 beers on draft: Miller Lite, Sam Adam's Boston Lager, and Sam Adam's Seasonal. I'm glad they've got Sam and Sam Seasonal on tap, but the lack of a few more taps is one of the only negatives I can think of here. They've got a few other beers offered in bottles, including Bud Light, Corona and Peroni. There's no mixed drink menu, but our waitresses each time were able to rattle off several "specialty" drinks available. There's a full bar, so any of your standard drink orders can be accommodated as well. The wine menu includes 36 red wine bottles, 23 white wine bottles, 11 whites by the glass, and 16 reds by the glass. There are three other wines made especially for Bravo. The Service: Great. Both waitresses have handled our parties well. I have no complaints. The Price: Very much in line with Olive Garden. Perhaps a BIT more expensive, but negligently so. This being said, I think Bravo kicks Olive Garden's backside in every category I can think of, so Bravo, in my book, is a way better bang-for-your-buck. Overall: The only complaint I have is the lack of more beers on tap, but that's not enough to keep me from giving 5 stars. Bravo doesn't feel like a chain restaurant. It feels like a local restaurant in most every aspect. It's definitely some of the best Italian I've ever had, and I highly recommend giving it a try.
(5)Sarah S.
Great food, the flatbreads are delicious. Great atmosphere, the outdoor firepit is amazing. Hit or miss service. The first time I went there it was a weeknight, despite most of the restaurant being obviously empty we were told there was a wait... strange... but the host suggested we could order drinks and an appetizer at the bar, which we did. While we were waiting for our appetizer to come out the server at the bar started complaining to another server right in front of us about how she hates when customers order at the bar and then move to a table... awkward. The host then came and told us our table was ready. Since our appetizer hadn't come out yet, I asked if they could just deliver it to our table and she said no, someone in our party would have to wait at the bar and then bring the appetizer over to our table themselves while the others went and sat down. Really?? Weird. Then the waiter didn't collect our menus after we had ordered, so we just stacked them on the corner of the table during our meal. The food was good though, so I went with a different group of people to eat on a weekend and everything was just fine. Luckily there was no wait for a table even though it was a busy Saturday night, so we avoided the bar. The service was quick, the food was great, overall much better than the first experiance.
(3)Lisa U.
Super in every way! Great happy hour specials from 3:30 to 6:00. The bar area is great! Well staffed, well managed, we stop there every chance we get! Associates are friendly and attentive, service is good, food is wonderful. Location is great.
(5)