Merwin’s Wharf

I’m sure this place is great in the summer. They have a great patio and drink list is nice. Their food is OK. I had the pork shank. It wasn’t as tender as I was hoping.
The service we had was sooo polite. I wish their food was better.

I’ve been here a handful of times and every time I come, the waiters and waitresses get ditizier and ditizier. It’s nothing that’s necessarily bad, it’s become kind of amusing to me. The first time I came was right after they first opened, and I would order a PBR and the waitress kept trying to give me what she said was a blue moon. Nothing major. Another time I sat at the bar and there was an old man taking care of us. He put fries with all of our orders-​which we agreed to-​and it ended up being a $ 2 upcharge. We didn’t really care because we still would have gotten fries even if he thought they came with it (chips came with the entrees), but he felt so bad and kept apologizing. He gave us a dollar off per beer on our next round of beer. It was really nice, especially since we didn’t mind the extra charge-​it luckily wasn’t going to make or break us. I tried to order the soft pretzel, but they somehow were totally out.
The last time I stopped in, the waitress must have been new… my brother wanted a chicken sandwhich instead of a burger, and she said she would have to check with the chef to see if they could do that. He had to show her the menu to show that substation was allowed. Not a big, but I hope she gets to learning the menu a little better. I was able to order the soft pretzel this time and OMG it was awesome. First, it’s like a mega pretzel. Comes with cheese and some kind of dark colored mustard that tastes like A1 sauce. The pretzel itself tastes pretty similar to the Auntie Anne’s pretzels. Super good. Other than that, I’ve only ever ordered the burger. It’s just a burger.
The patio is awesome. Metroparks did a really great job getting this place together. The inside is also very nice, but I love sitting outside and watching the boats go by. Definitely a pace to check out, especially if you like sitting outside when the weather’s nice.
p. s. they do not accept American Express

Amazing location but it took 30 minutes for food to come out. And it wasn’t busy at all.
Amazing food though. Really good quality. Priced well.
Amazing view

The patio is beautiful and very cozy. We went at 4 pm so it wasn’t incredibly busy but our waitress still seemed really rushed-​maybe they need more waitstaff? She was still nice and quick.
We got the lobster bake and clams. Everything just seemed a little overcooked. The lobster was pretty good; it’s hard to mess that up. The clams were a little rubbery but overall okay-​mostly, the mussels were shriveled up and we couldn’t even eat them because there was nothing there. The potatoes and chicken were dry. Just a little pricey for the quality of cooking we got.

First time I was here I thought the food was very average– had the vegan nachos. The guacamole on the nachos was very bland but the black bean hummus was good in the pita chips they used were really delicious and freshly baked. The fish tacos were ok, I felt like they needed some type of sauce. Tried a few different things the second time and really liked my food! We had the pretzel and the mac & cheese. Both were really delicious. The pretzel was large enough for at least four people. This place has a really nice view and a huge patio with at least two fireplaces. The staff is friendly also!

I want to give this place 3 stars because my food was pretty awful, but because of the patio I really just can’t.
Food, 2 stars. Everything else? A 5 star for sure.
Seriously, this patio is out of this world! The atmosphere is amazing and even if it wasn’t on the water it’s still just great. I will absolutely be back here for drinks, but I’ll definitely eat before I come — although I’m dying to try their grenades. They were out of them tonight.
My food? Their garden salad, add chicken, which came to $ 12. It was really the portion of a side salad (for entrée pricing) and the amount of chicken didn’t warrant $ 6 extra, and the quality/​taste wasn’t really good either. I left feeling pretty hungry. I don’t like ordering something at a restaurant and then going home and having to cook; it defeats the purpose, and with the quality of my chicken I wasn’t trying to order another entrée.
My husband was pretty impressed with his mac though, although I don’t know that it was worth $ 15?
It did take awhile to get the food as some people have mentioned (friends appetizer came out quickly though) but that bothered us none as we were in no rush to get out of there quickly. Service was good.

Love the pretzel and the view! They need better side choices especially for the kids!

A hipster joint with a friendly vibe to families.
The local parks department runs this river front bar/​bistro with a great outdoor patio that wheelchairs can navigate. I was waiting for Leslie Knope and her staff to come out and serve – but the staff was ultra-​friendly and very professional. It was a great place to welcome nightfall and have our dinner as the crew teams when up and down the waterway.

This place is all about the atmosphere. Cleveland MetroParks made a classy move bringing in such a stylish place, but improvements need to be made.
Sitting on the patio next to the water is just wonderful. The only problem is you can never get a table. It is always a 1to 2 hour wait. Not sure if it is too few tables, the staff or the slow kitchen that makes the wait so long. Maybe it is that people just don’t leave because the atmosphere is so charming. I’m not sure, but the wait to get seated is much too long no matter how good the atmosphere is.
We finally sat at the bar to decrease the wait time and our service was just o.k. It always seems strange that if someone is right in front of you tending bar that they don’t see that you need service. It’s really crazy.
The wine was OUTRAGEOUS in price. Wow, I have not seen such high wine prices since we were in a five star restaurant in Atlanta. The food portion size was very small and the price was high and the wait was very long, so… for these reasons we will not return. There are lots of other great patios by the water in Cleveland with much better prices and good food. So Sad!

Absolutely Beautiful patio! The Metroparks has done a stellar job with this location. From fabulous food and drinks to and outdoor patio with life sized Jenga and corn hole to fire pits. With a beautiful view of the river the atmosphere is a 10.
While I cannot say enough about the location lets get to the libations. While a little on the pricier side the bloody mary was top notch and the mimoa’s were just as delicious. If you are a fan of Bloodies this not one to miss, topped with olives, salami, cheese, and much more this packs a bit of a kick.
Our server was out of this world and super attentive. He offered to take a group photo of us and made sure that we were well taken care of from start to finish. I opted for the egg sandwich and while messy was absolutely delicious, and the side of braised pork belly was tender.
This is one establishment that brings food and the outdoors of Cleveland to the forefront.

Here’s the math:
+7 stars for scenery&ambience
–5 stars for the poop on a stick quality of food
It’s a non profit so whatevs. Just go for drinks and hanging out in cool spot. But stay away from the poops on sticks.

I didn’t know there was a casino in the flats. From the previous reviews (half rave about the food and atmosphere, and the other half cringe at the poor service and mediocre food) i’d say my wife and I hit the jackpot. We waited for 10 – 15 minutes for a table on a Friday at 5 PM, then enjoyed excellent service, with prompt delivery of tasty fish tacos, and a very fresh salad, and reasonably priced beer and wine.
You wonder how much the inconsistent service and food has to do with the restaurant being run by a government entity– The Cleveland Metroparks. The Metrroparks run some beautiful, well maintained golf courses, have done a great job rehabbing Edgewater Park, and keep the Metroparks clean and inviting all year long.
I could just see if the City of Cleveland ran Merwin’s. They would bring you a glass of water, tell you it’s taken care of, then on your way out the door they’d hit you with a $ 164,000 charge on your bill. Or, if Cuyahoga County ran the restaurant, they would have 100 waiters for 25 tables. Waiters who only serve salads, some who just serve drinks, others for entrees, and some who supervise. If the State of Ohio ran the restaurant, there would be a gas well drilled in the middle of the dining room.
Hopefully, our next visit Merwin’s, our visit is as good as our first.

I really wanted to love Merwin’s Wharf but my experience was so-​so. Without a doubt, the atmosphere is what is driving people into this new hot spot, and I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, the food is probably what’s keeping people from coming back in for a second time.
I came in on a Wednesday, and was met with a server who seemed distracted with what appeared to be only a few tables outside. Also, there was three people in my group and two out of the three dishes we were interested in getting had already run out – I remember one being the walleye tacos (which I was told was a popular dish). Since the menu isn’t incredibly extensive it was a bit disappointing that the few things we wanted were already out.
I got the black bean burger which was good for the most part, but I really fell in love with the macaroni and cheese with chorizo that one of my guests got. Perfect consistency and delicious flavor.
Our drinks were good for the most part, a little pricey though.
I already plan on coming back to test it out one more time, because the concept is great and the atmosphere has really lived up to the hype.

What a pleasant surprise this place was! We came here for lunch on the recommendation of someone at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. We had just finished our visit and wanted something nearby and on the river, family friendly, reasonably priced, and, of course, delicious. We had never heard of this place and were intrigued when we were told it was owned by the Cleveland Metroparks. I’m so glad we checked it out, because it definitely has everything we were looking for! PLUS free and easy parking.
We were originally quoted a 45-​minute wait, but the hostess took our phone number so we went to hang out in front on the river. It’s right next to a bridge, so we got to watch the bridge raise for the Goodtime III to come through. We only ended up waiting about 15 minutes; they called to tell us our table was ready, as promised. The hostess was very friendly. We sat on the patio where we had a great view of the river. We got to see a few more boats pass, including one of those massive shipping barges. Fantastic atmosphere — very casual. Giant jenga sets and a large stone fireplace with couches for lounging help to create that laid-​back air.
Our waiter was very friendly, and drinks and food came out fairly quickly. Amongst my group, we can vouch for the tastiness of the apple bacon grilled cheese, the beef & mushroom melt, the fiesta burger, and the Cuban. All were delicious! Half of us got the house-​made chips (huge slices of potatoes fried to a tasty crunch!), the other half sprung for the upcharge for fries (so fresh — perfect for soaking up malt vinegar!). We had a few kiddos with us, who also enjoyed their meals: cheeseburger & chips, and Mac & cheese (served in a small cast-​iron skillet — parents beware! Cute presentation but terrible idea to give a kid a hot cast iron skillet! I just poured it onto the plate so she could eat it). These kid portions were HUGE!!! GREAT value!!!
We didn’t partake in any adult beverages at this meal, but they had a decent selection of craft beers (tap and bottle) and wine. I would love to come back in the evening some time and relax in front of that fire with a beer!
We will definitely be returning — especially now that I’ve looked up their brunch menu. Looks amazing!

Don’t call it Moscow Mule if you don’t have copper mugs to serve it! The drinks are over charged, blend tasting!

Merwin’s Wharf is on its way to being the go-​to destination for brunch-​going, summer-​loving Cleveland boaters, boarders, and rowers.
PROS
*Spacious! Merwin’s Wharf square footage is big… I don’t do numbers, so I will just compare it to Town Hall. They have a patio that wraps around two sides of the building, along with a couple of fire pit areas. A walkway/​overlook deck wraps around the patio. Inside the restaurant, there is ample room, including a separate room for private events. You could get lost in this place!
*Dog-​friendly. Happiness oozes out of me when I am allowed to bring my child aka my dog with me to a facility. I’m not sure if dogs are allowed inside (I didn’t ask), but they are more than welcome outside on the patio.
*Friendly service. Our hostess and waitress were super friendly. Without even asking, they brought out a dog bowl of water for my pup.
*Human-​powered watercraft docking. There are plenty of places to drop in your paddleboard, kayak, canoe, etc. right along the dock that spans the width of the restaurant (and probably even a little longer than that)
*Location, Part 1. Because it’s located on the river, sitting on the patio really makes you feel like it’s summer. You can see ships sailing, rowers rowing, boarders boarding… you get the jist.
CONS
*Location, Part 2. Okay, Cleveland. Your river may have caught on fire in the past, but it looks like nobody cleaned up after the blaze. Across from the restaurant, on the other side of the river, was a giant pile of trash. The water itself looks like a river of … you can fill in the blank. The riverfront, in general, just needs to be cleaned up in order for water sports to really succeed along the Cuyahoga.
*The food was just okay. We came during lunch/​brunch time and I got a Caesar salad. It wasn’t terrible, but it was not really that great either. I also got a mimosa that tasted too much like just orange juice.
*Other than the rowing area, nearby skate park, and handful of other restaurants, there’s not much else down this way. And I wouldn’t walk down this way by myself in the dark — definitely becomes a shady place at night, in more ways than one.
BOTTOM LINE
On the next sunny day in Cleveland, walk your dog and significant other down to the wharf and grab a drink on the patio!

Last time I was here with a group of friends in the summer. We sat outside and had drinks (no food) and enjoyed the atmosphere, which is still a 4 star rating. However after eating lunch there today, those 4 stars were quickly reduced to 3 based on the food. It was a little colder this time around so we sat inside, the inside was beautifully decorated with Christmas decorations and the scenery still amazing.
I ordered the black bean burger ($ 10) with cheese ($ 1). The brioche bun was fresh and chewy and the basil aioli had great flavor, but other than that it just wasn’t that good. The patty itself had a pasty consistency to it and lacked real flavor. Morning Star black bean burgers are a million times better tasting (and cheaper). I added a side salad (extra $ 2) with the artichoke balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was an average salad with tomato, lettuce, croutons, carrots and cucumbers… small and uneventful. The dressing was pretty good though.
My boyfriend had a Caesar salad ($ 9) with chicken breast (extra $ 5). It was a head of Romaine lettuce cut in half with parmesean cheese and Caesar dressing drizzled on top. He really liked the dressing but said the chicken although had good flavor was too dry. The salad was served on a small plate which made it very difficult to cut the large wedges of salad without it falling off your plate. This definitely was not a $ 14 salad.
Overall the server was friendly, service okay, food overpriced but not overly flavorful. I still love the location of this place and will come back, but most likely only for drinks and maybe appetizers on the patio when the weather is nice.

One word… BRUNCH!
Wow! I am in love with their brunch! About 6 of my friends and I came for brunch on a Sunday. I always love eating in large groups because my friends share their food and we can all try a bunch of dishes.
We ended up ordering a smörgåsbord board of items! To start if you love Bloody Mary’s this is your place (check out the photo)! The recommended one is «The Merwin’s Mary» it’s a charcuterie board in your drink! I ordered the Espresso Martini and it was delicious! The coffee flavor did not over power my palate and take away from the taste of my food. A few of my gal pals ordered the Hot Chocolate and said that it was delicious as well.
The food… The Food was fantastic! No one had any complaints and that is what makes a fantastic brunch spot! We ordered the Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes, The Egg Sandwich (that has the best crispy pork belly on it), Chorizo Hash (served in a cast iron skillet) and the Crème Brulee French Toast. An ordering tip: If you like sweet potatoes get the sweet potato and black bean hash– you will not be disappointed!

I liked this place mostly for the music (great classic rock favorites), ambiance and a blueberry barbecue sauce I still can’t get out of my mind. If you sit on the patio you’re almost right next to the river and get great views of the city and glimpses of the lake. The dining area is very spread out (large tables great for groups) and our server seemed to have a huge section to cover which affected the speed of service and attentiveness for refills. Everyone was very nice and the food was good — I’d definitely go back. Ask for the draft beer where some of the proceeds go back to the Metroparks!

What a great and fun place. Right on the river with a great view of downtown from it’s spacious and comfortable patio with two fireplaces. Inside is comfortable and open with a large bar as the centerpiece. The detailing is exactly what you would expect from The Metroparks. There are historic pictures and information about Cleveland scattered around the walls. Very fun and interesting.
They have a full bar with several rotating taps and a decent bottled beer selection. Prices on drinks are reasonable. The bartenders were friendly and helpful and while they were slammed last night due to a large special event going on, they were professional and fast.
We sat at the bar and had a great view of the kitchen and the food coming out. The presentation of food is very pleasing. The menu is small but covers appetizers with a pretzel the size of platter to mussels and sandwiches and burgers.
We had the Freighter Frites as an appetizer. They were not your ordinary frites. They had chorizo, real cheese melted on the fries and lime sour cream topped with some house made pickled red onions. Fresh, hot and tasty. After that we ordered the Lake Erie Perch Sliders and the a.m. burger. Both were large portions, cooked perfectly and tasted great. I would higher recommend the perch sliders served on a cornmeal bun with sriracha tartar sauce and house made pickles. Since we had the fries as our appetizer we opted for the house salads as our sides. The salads were not too small and had a great variety of greens and toppings. The dressings we chose were artichoke balsamic vinaigrette and honey poppy seed. Both were fantastic.