Provenance

The only reason I am giving this restaurant 2 stars is because it is in the art museum. We called ahead earlier in the week for a Sunday reservation for lunch. I was told the café was not open on Sunday and that they only served brunch, which was wrong, but we decided to try the Restaurant and have brunch. After being seated it took over 5 min. to be approahed by our waitress, who told us about the table with the pasties and fruit and salad and told us to make sure and take our plates as there were none up there. Ok! Then said she would be right back to take our orders. No water in our glasses, and very thirsty, we waited over 15 min for her to return. We asked about beverages and specifically coffee, and were told they were not part of our brunch pricing. But we had to ask several more times to find out about coffee and the price and ask again for water before we were given an answer by a haughty waitress. At a price of over $ 20 for what was really breakfast, not a true brunch, the coffee at least should have been included and the waitresses attitude should have been excluded.
Several of us ordered the lump crab quiche, which was almost inedible. The crust was so tough and over baked it was like leather and even the eggs were dry. It was accompianed by a very small citrus fennel salad which was good. We all left more than half of our quiches on our plates because it was so bad and ate what we ate because we were starved. The waitress had takrpen our bread plates off the table so we could not go back to the very small bread and salad table which was not refilled Nd mostly empty the entire time we were there. We had to ask them to refill the contents and theu only replaced the fruit. There was no jelly in the bowl, they were out of most of the pastries the rest of our meal. Our waitress never checked in on us through the rest of our meal and we had to ask the host to have someone bring us water and coffee. When our waitress returned to remove our plates, we told her about the quiche and she rudely told us they would have replaced it had we told her even though she had not been seen for over 20 min durring our meal. She never discounted our meal for such a bad product despite the fact that all three of us left most of it on our plates. We asked her to split the bills which she said she could not at first, but after being questioned did split the bill. We were very disappointed in our service and more so in a meal. $ 22 for a piece of quiche was not worth it and we will definately eat in the café next time as it outshone the restaraunt by a mile!

Very frustrated. Walked in at 11 and they are still setting up, no one has acknowledged is standing here for 4 minutes. I hope the food is better than their service.

Best brunch ever! Handcrafted bloody mary, mimosa, or the best direct trade coffee I’ve ever had. Truly this farm to table experience is nearly worth the price of the plane ticket to Cleveland! East coast folks will take a double take at the bill as I did — since this meal was less than half of what I expected — based on brunch in NYC (i.e. Landmarc).

Can’t say enough good things about this restaurant, so this will be short: Food, service, ambiance — all perfect! Looking forward to my next visit. I live in Virginia but I will now make a excuse to go to Cleveland to visit the museum and especially this restaurant!

The perfect lunch to go with a day at the museum. Excellent food and service. Started with the Artisanal Cheese platter. Great selection. Honey with Gouda was the best. Finished with the Cavatelli pasta. Very tasty. Ordered the 86 Sleep as a cocktail. While the drink was outstanding, I should have ordered something that would be better paired with the food. The 86 Sleep has espresso in it and would have been better as a dessert. Overall great meal and would definitely go out of my way to go back here.

This is such a near place. The space offers a peaceful calm just off to the side of the busy museum. It has a modern design and clean lines, but also offers cozy seating near the bar and breathtaking views near the windows. My boyfriend and I decided to grab a cocktail and small bite of food after exploring the museum and this was a perfect stop to do that. I ordered the Brussels sprouts and asked the bartender if the aioli came on the side, noting that because of allergies I cannot have it, but still wanted it so my boyfriend could enjoy. She said yes and places our order after making our cocktails. Both were ok-​a little too sweet for either of our tastes-​but inventive nonetheless. When our food arrived (very quickly I might note) she said «the aioli is actually mixed in, hope that’s ok» and began to walk away. Fortunately we stopped her and got a new plate made up for us. And let me tell you-​this was some of the best tasting food I had the entire time I was in cleveland. Skip the cocktail, order a $ 5 chimay, Brussels sprouts, and enjoy the view.

Very busy during lunch. I had to wait 15 minutes in the hearth line. There was only one person working this station where as the other unpopulated stations (salad, burger, tandoor) had 2 people working them. I got a roast beef and cheddar melt that had sauteed onions and a banana pepper relish. It came with an arugula salad with Parmesan and a lemon vinaigrette. Both were tasty. I was able to sit next to the trees in their sun filled indoor atrium which was nice on a cold day.

I don’t understand all of the glowing reviews for Provenance. My experience was mediocre at best! My family and I went for brunch and the service was pretty terrible. Definitely not the level of attention one would expect from a place that charges $ 20 a plate for breakfast food! Our waitress was frequently MIA, and when my crab quiche first arrived it was cold. I asked the waitress if she could heat it up, and she took so long in the kitchen that the rest of my party had mostly finished their meals before my food showed up again. Also, those with allergies be warned: my mother ordered the poached chicken waldorf salad, and was rather peeved to discover that it contained onions, which was definitely not listed in the menu description.
I was also very disappointed in the «chef’s table» as most of the options were pretty picked over (hardly any fruit) and not replenished the entire time we were in the restaurant. Décor is very boring: modern, but more reminiscent of an office park than a high-​end eatery. Given the fact that Provenance is located inside an art museum of all places, I expected it to be much more visually stimulating.
The food itself was tasty, and the reason for three stars instead of two. But I don’t think I would ever eat here again.

Good, but limited menu. I had the walleye, which was excellent.

A restaurant that is fancy, chill, and affordable: Provenance is all of these things. I base my review on my recent experience co-​planning and attending a semi-​private brunch event here. The quick version: it went wonderfully and the price was excellent.
The setting of the restaurant in the western side of the atrium of the Cleveland Museum of Art is absolutely gorgeous. The interior of the restaurant is equally aesthetically pleasing. I love the palette of black, white, and grey, and the floor-​to-​ceiling windows opening out onto the lush and verdant trees. Provenance is a large space, with three distinct areas of restaurant seating and a back room that can be portioned off with dividers for semi-​private events like the one that my mother and I planned to celebrate my graduation from PhD school.
Nicole Newcomer, the Catering Sales Manager, helped us with every detail of planning brunch for 23 people. We decided to choose a first course of the «chef’s table,» which included plates of fresh fruit, a wide variety of pastries, clotted cream and granola and other serve-​yourself goodies. My boyfriend (the croissant connoisseur) gave high ratings to the croissants on offer. It was possible to offer our guests a choice of three entrees, but we decided to go with one entrée for simplicity’s sake. The eggs, sweet potatoes, and bacon were well-​plated and tasty. We were able to notify in advance the kitchen that two of our guest are allergic to dairy, and their two special plates arrived with everyone else’s plates without a hitch. The two servers who were assigned to us were excellent. My mother, the primary contact person, appreciated that Nicole called us the day before the event to see if we had any questions or additional requests and that she was so easy to contact via e-​mail or cell phone when we were planning the event.
Here’s a weird but super important detail to note: Provenance’s chairs are awesome. Sleek metal frame and seriously comfy but still sleek grey cushioning. SO COMFY. SO MODERN. Oh, art museum décor, you are doing it right.
I know that I’ve only been here one, but Provenance merits five stars from me based on how wonderfully my family’s event here turned out and based on how much I’d like to come here with my boyfriend for lunch or dinner the next time we return to the Cleve. How great it is that the museum has free admission and that their fancypants restaurant is fantastic and not too spendy! Also, eating here has 100% solidified my conviction that the Cleveland Museum of Art is my dream location for my wedding and reception in the near-​ish future.

The restaurant that you make a reservation for on Opentable is different from the Provenance Café, which is the first thing you see when you enter the art museum and turn right. The Café has some contained seating and seating in the atrium of the museum, whereas the main restaurant has all self-​contained seating. The main restaurant is to the left of the café. I would like to try the café next time. It looked very cool — a modern, glorified cafeteria with several chef attended stations.
I went for brunch which is 11 – 3. All entrée orders entitle you to unlimited self-​service access to the chef’s table. It contained bakery, scones and jam, lots of fresh fruit, a light salad, etc. I loved the salad and scones.
The brunch menu is amazing. If you’re tired of brunch menus listing bacon and eggs this menu will not disappoint. There are only 8 options. I would consider most breakfast related instead of lunch. The crab quiche is a nice large portion with a good layer of lump crap.
I think when taking into account portion size and access to the chef’s table the prices are pretty cheap. Though drinks are pricy in my opinion.
Street meter parking is free on weekend. Museum access is free. Walking around Wade Oval after brunch is also free and highly recommended.

Stopped at the bar for a cocktail during our visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art. I ordered a lime, thyme, ginger cocktail and my boyfriend had a manhattan. Drinks were great! The bartender was so nice. Told us all about the social event the first Friday of each month and even recommended a place for us to go to dinner later that night (Felice). We took his advice and had a wonderful time. Will definitely be back to visit both Providence and Felice!

Anything better than this in Cleveland is impossible! Okay, I am not talking about the food but the whole package.
Think about the package, free entry and coatcheck in a meuseum + large atrium in winter+ outdoor seating in winter + people watching + many gourmet options. Now that is a great deal, even better in summer when they have outdoor concerts!
Food here is awesome and they have very innovative options on their cafeteria style menu. I have had their burgers, sandwiches, dessert, tea and coffee and asian fusion food. Everything has been great.
Perfect place for a date!

We went for lunch here last weekend. This is a modern-​american restaurant that takes on the theme of «food as art». This is reflective of the fact that it sits at the heart of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The newly-​renovated Museum itself is a gorgeous space (more on that in a separate review coming up). The modern art theme continues into the bar and the small restaurant that happens to be owned by Douglas Katz, the same chef of «fire food and drink» fame. There are floor to ceiling windows that give a great view of the outside landscape.
This is not to be confused with Provenance Café — which is next door and it is a food court which I have not tried, yet.
The Van Gogh exhibit was up that week, and special menu was Van Gogh-​inspired. It would have been comical had they put pig ears on the menu, but I digress…
Here’s what we ordered: thai calamari for starters, mac and cheese for the kid, pan roasted ohio trout for entrée, and «draadjesvlees» (beef stew) entrée from the dutch-​themed specials.
The calamari. This is an example of calamari done right: soft, crunchy, non-​greasy and not over-​battered. The thai-​chili sauce on the side had smoky-​sweet flavor that seemed like an asian take on barbecue sauce. Cilantro was mixed in with the calamari.
I’m a big fan of trout. I love trout with the skin on. They did just that. The skin was seared — even better. I love trout because, among most fish, it can easily take on a smoky flavor. It was served hot. The lentils on the side provided a great balance.
The draadjesvlees was beef stew, braised right. Slow-​cooked, maybe with a hint of red wine as far as I could tell — just a guess, but the result was juicy and tender comfort food perfect for that winter afternoon!
I am coming back. Coming back to this lovely museum and to this great restaurant. These are Cleveland treasures.

Went today for brunch with my husband.
Service is truly excellent! We had a great experience and wanted for nothing.
Food. Well… The chefs table items that comes with every meal were delicious. The croissants, in particular, were fantastic. Beautiful fresh fruit. Yummy scones. I think I had a little of everything and it was all very good. Coffee: perfect. BUT our meals were hit or miss. The potatoes with chicken sausage and eggs were great. The french toast was not ok. Very crispy. Dry. Kinda over caramelized on the bottom? Neither of us really liked it, but when the server asked us if there was something wrong with it we said no. Honestly, there was nothing overtly wrong that the kitchen did to it– it’s just the recipe. Anyway, I would skip it in the future. We will definitely be returning though!

Great lunch for around $ 12 and a contemporary atmosphere in the Cleveland Museum of art. The service was fantastic and we really enjoyed the sophisticated restaurant during our art break. Yummy bread and butter is included with your order too.

I happened to be in Cleveland for the Easter Weekend and not being from this metropolis, I asked my sister to find us a place to eat. My sister made reservations to Provenance for Easter brunch.
I really enjoyed my time here. Firstly, this restaurant is in a museum ! How cool is that?! Secondly, the décor of the Provenance is quite chic; the large windows with a great view of the gardens is so nice. Thirdly, the food isn’t all that bad. I had the egg & potato strata, which was quite tasty. I also enjoyed the goat cheese & chive muffins. Fourthly, the service was fantastic — everyone was super friendly and attentive. My server noticed that I needed a refill of joe before I did!
The meal is a little on the pricier side, but the way I figure, you’re getting an awesome experience and you’re supporting the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Great for: out-​of-​towners, appreciators of art, nice meal

I came here over the holidays when they were just getting started so I hope that since then some of the kinks have been worked out. I had take out lunch from the cafeteria side of the restaurant and ate out in the atrium to take in the beauty of this new space inside the art museum. I ate a special grilled cheese topped with sun dried tomatoes — it was delicious! Ordering can be a bit awkward as you have to wait in line to order, then again as your food is being prepared. The food was good but I’d probably skip the dining hall experience and get lunch before the museum at Euclid Tavern next time.

Upscale, urban and very comfortable, Provenance is the perfect place to rest after perusing the galleries. The restaurant looks out to wildlife and trees, bright in early-​winter afternoon sun. The space is intimate and small, just right for a dinner for two.
The crepes were lovely, the crème caramel very light, the perch and ravioli big hits. The wine list is acceptable, though the full bar promises better cocktails. Very nice overall.
However, the staff were a bit of an embarrassment. In the museum of art, the waitstaff should be able to pronounce their dishes (our server didn’t even try to say the French dishes, and she cut me off when I ordered the crepes by their name), and more importantly, their themes. The server couldn’t pronounce Mary Cassat’s name correctly. In a museum. Featuring a Mary Cassat exhibit not 100 feet away and Mary Cassat menu. Really?

Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art is off to a great start with lots of room to grow!
Let’s start with the great stuff:
Atmosphere is chic and modern without making you feel like a pretentious jerk-​face for eating lunch there. (Yea, normally my lunch consists of eating miscellaneous items from my fridge in front of my computer… so what?) I loved the textures in the wall décor and the minimal whites, chrome of the tables and chairs and dark grey floors. But the real showstopper was the festive view, featured through the entire wall that’s a window facing outside! It’s nothing crazy, but really, really natural and pretty with lots of evergreens. It gives the whole room some warmth and natural tones. The vibe certainly fit the new atrium of the Museum.
The food was super-​creative and very tasty! I loved the ever-​changing menu of special dishes made to coordinate with whatever exhibit is being featured at the Museum. BUT I couldn’t help but try something off their regular lunch menu – scallops? Yes, please! Perfectly seared, served with crunchy, roasted kale, fingerling potatoes and roasted fennel (which I normally hate, but loved here!) My only complaint was that it didn’t need the additional olive oil drizzled on top, since the roasted veggies already had enough. The result was almost too oily, but not quite. My very handsome man tried the Moroccan spiced chicken and I didn’t hear one complaint from him as he cleaned his plate. But my favorite item? The roasted garlic soup – I know, it doesn’t sound like it would be interesting, but it was amazing. Just try it (I almost licked the bowl…)
Now, here’s where there is room for improvement:
Although the service was super-​sweet, they all seem like they would benefit from a confidence boost. Our waitress seemed to fumble over a lot – like a LOT. I watched her pour a beer for another table and it overflowed everywhere. She then walked out with dishes from the kitchen and had to turn around because the food moved everywhere on the plate and fell over… She didn’t seem to have a hard time pronouncing anything, but she just seemed really uncomfortable, as did some of the other servers. This is something I do believe they’ll work out after a while. They’re new – remember that.
Overall, I’d definitely come back for a lunch date at the Museum and definitely to try a dinner service. I think they only have dinner service on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5−9PM, so just keep that in mind!