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  3. Cleveland / Akron / Canton
  4. Cleveland
  5. Downtown Cleveland / Playhouse Square
The Ghost Light Restaurant & Lounge, Cleveland, OH

The Ghost Light Restaurant & Lounge

4.0
4
347 Reviews
$30 and under
American

One of Cleveland’s most beloved restaurants, Ghost Light Restaurant and Lounge welcomes guests to enjoy its contemporary American cuisine, warm hospitality, and unparalleled service in the city of Cleveland. Conveniently located in Playhouse Square’s elegant theater district, Ghost Light features a variety of delectable dishes, crafty cocktails, and a wonderful wine selection. Whether you are looking for a pre-show meal or date night in the town, at the heart of every dining experience is our dedicated staff, and you, our loyal guests.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 8 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Downtown Cleveland / Playhouse Square
  • Cross street
    12th street
  • Parking details
    $15+tax valet parking when dining in our restaurant.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wine

What 347 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.0
4 based on recent ratings
  • 3.9Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

347 Reviews
  1. MartinB

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall1food1service3ambience2
    Our server was nice - it wasn't her fault. Best I could say. I should have known when the place was only 20% full at 6 pm on Saturday with a concert at the Rock, baseball game and Playhouse Square hopping. Regardless, we waited 50 minutes for our food (a fried chicken salad, grilled salmon, and brick chicken). I am reluctant to ever complain (just not my style) but I told the server it was bad. The chicken was in a salty broth - literally like you poured Swanson's beef broth in the bowl, added a handful of half cooked fingerling potatoes and then jalapeños from a jar from the grocery store. Yes - literally. Such a strange concoction (and our server said this was one of the more popular meals!) My wife's salad was literally bagged salad with such sliced red onions. The chicken was fried and cold - like croutons (dry). My son's salmon was swimming in some kind of butter sauce with asparagus forming a raft for it. I can overlook a lot, but this was really, really, really bad.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Cleveland

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall2food4service1ambience4
    Dinner itself was good, with the exception of dessert but I suspect the reason for that was tied to our waitress as well? As the bananas foster is normally the highlight of eating at the ghost light. This was one of the WORST, service I ever received at a restaurant. The difference between wait staff at this restaurant is so extreme it is not funny, you are at the mercy of whoever happens to be assigned to your table. I am not joking, I actually wrote a review for this place several months back praising the waitress as one of the best I have ever had. I would say it an even split I have eaten here 6 times, one just average service, which is fine, 2 times exceptional service 10/10, once just poor, and this time absolutely atrocious. It the good times that me coming back after the last poor experience, not again, it was just that bad. To start we had mad a reservation a month ahead of time for 5:30, knowing with both the last home game of the season, the Tina &Amy show and a play at playhouse square downtown would be nuts. We arrived at 5:15, and they offered to sit us early and we accepted. Let me just say this we had a show to make at 7:30 and we were late. We order no appetizers, not once did the waitress come back to our table ti check on us or offer us a refill, after sitting there for 39 minutes after finishing our meals we had to walk up to the bar to get our waitress to order dessert (we went to the restaurant specifically for the bananas foster so we were not leaving with out us) 20 minutes later no dessert at our table we had to flag her down again, she walks back to the kitchen and she comes back out to inform us that now the kitchen has so many orders in front of us dessert would take at least 20 more minutes. We had been sitting in the restaurant for 1.5 hours and had only been given our main meals with came out to us 10 minutes after we sat down. More happens but don’t have room to type, but the night ended with us having to search for our check.

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  3. Kdinner

    Cleveland

    46 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    We were very happy with everything we ordered. And a nice price on the wine

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  4. jodyh

    Cleveland

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall2food1service3ambience4
    Food not that great. Will not return. Had theater tickets and wanted to try some place new.

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  5. AmandaM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 14, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    There were two servers and no bartenders. More servers would have been ideal, but our waitress kicked butt!

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  6. Eric

    Cleveland

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience5
    Great place if you’re going to Playhouse Square. Would recommend for apps and drinks

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  7. BetteOfTheCleve

    Cleveland

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall2food1service3ambience5
    We were seated at 6pm and informed our server that we had 7:30pm theater tickets. We placed our order and waited, and waited, and waited. We asked several times about the status of our order. We were told at 6:45pm that the printer in the kitchen had jammed (or run out of paper) and they were catching up on the backlog of orders. At 7:10pm, the manager came out and told us our order hadn't even been started. We weren't going to be able to eat before the show. We requested that the drinks be comped and left. I'm not sure who dropped the ball here, but we weren't the only table who left without getting dinner.

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  8. EmilyS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience3
    Food was fantastic. The portions weren't huge so you can enjoy and appetizer and dessert without feeling overstuffed. Everything we had was delicious, especially the brick pressed chicken dish.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Perfect spot for dinner before a show at playhouse square!

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  10. LHMedina

    Cleveland

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Meals were excellent, especially the walleye. It was busy and loud, but otherwise, enjoyable

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  11. KipZ

    Cleveland

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    My wife and I had a really nice dinner prior to our attending a musical at Playhouse Square. Food was great, service was outstanding, a wonderful evening out !

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  12. JessicaH

    Cleveland

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We came before a musical at Playhouse Square Very good food and drinks, nice staff!

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  13. StuartG

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 23, 2023

    overall3food1service3ambience3
    The mash potatoes were terribly. The consistency was not like a mash potatoe I ever had and I am 79 years old The broth in the onion soup was tasteless and very watery.

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  14. Alice

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was easy to get reservations, the waitress was attentive and friendly, the food was excellent, and overall a pleasant experience. I would not hesitate to eat there again.

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  15. Cindy

    Cleveland

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We often go to the Gas Light when we see a show at Playhouse Square. We are never disappointed. The food and service are amazing!

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  16. ACMarcia

    Columbus

    26 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    We had a great server. The food was pretty good. The place was loud.

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  17. MarilynH

    Cleveland

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waitress,Cato, was perfection. She anticipated all our needs and took great care of us. The bonus is her fun personality. Our food was just what we wanted ani all or meals were delicious. We dine there a few times a year and are never disappointed.

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  18. MariahP

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 17, 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience3
    There was an issue with our food and no effort was made to right it. Just a "sorry". Ambience was not great and the room was freezing.

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  19. LisaG

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a very good meal. The food was great & reasonably priced. Server was very attentive. Relaxed meal before our play.

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  20. Maria

    Cleveland

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    our group (5 people) had a wonderful experience at The Ghost Light. The team of servers worked together seamlessly to take care of all clients in the restaurant efficiently, getting our drinks and plates to us with plenty of time to enjoy everything before we went off to Playhouse Square to see a show. The food was excellent and our primary server was fun, professional, gave great menu suggestions and anticipated our dinner needs!

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were looking for a memorable meal and experience after the show at Playhouse Square- found it here at the Ghost Light inside the Crowne Plaza! Super short walk from any theatre. We had a 4 o’clock reservation right at opening, so it was quiet. You’d think they would need some time to get going, but the service was on-point and the food was excellent! Next time we are downtown we will make another stop in and see how it is when it’s busy. My guess is we won’t be disappointed!

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  22. Jsher44

    Cleveland

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    overall4food5service2ambience5
    The food was great, but it took 20 minutes for us to get a waitress at our table. The manager did come over and apologize and said it was her fault. They did provide a free drink as compensation which was nice. We enjoyed the food.

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  23. GregB

    Cleveland

    41 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    41 reviews

    Dined on August 9, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    The entrees were were very good; however, being short staffed, the service could have been better. This was a short stop before Playhouse.

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  24. KurtK

    Cleveland

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 9, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience4
    They were noticeably short-staffed, with the manager doing multiple duties while a bartender came over to take our order. It took about 10 minutes just for them to get us from the greeter station to our table. We also waited a bit for someone to take our drink orders, and we aggressively got our bartender to take orders. The food was excellent and prep time was adequate so the short-staffing seemed limited to outside the kitchen.

    The Ghost Light Restaurant & LoungeResponded on August 11, 2023

    Thank your very much for taking the time to complete this review! We appreciate your feedback and will continue to strive for more timely service upon your next visit. We hope to see you again!

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  25. Robert

    Cleveland

    43 reviews

    4.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on August 8, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Server Teshona was the best! Always on the move. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The Ghost Light Restaurant & LoungeResponded on August 11, 2023

    Thank you very much for the pleasant remarks! We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We look forward to your return soon!

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  26. SarahI

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience5
    Good food, great selection and nice atmosphere. Only issue was timing. There were 4 of us arriving at 5:15 p.m. for a show at Playhouse Theater at 7:00 p.m. We had an appetizer, two salads, and two sandwich meals. It ook over an hour to get our food. Our appetizer came out 5 minutes before our food. We were hoping to have time for another stop before our show and ordered light. Waiters were friendly and working hard - I think more of a staff shortage issue.

    The Ghost Light Restaurant & LoungeResponded on August 11, 2023

    Thank you very much for your feedback! We apologize for the lengthy wait times during your dining experience. We hope you will give us the opportunity to deliver a much more delightful dining experience, next time.

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  27. Anne

    Cleveland

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our server was very attentive and prompt. She advised us of a slight delay with our entrees due to a wedding meal being prepped and served that night. The restaurant was no very busy due to a show cancellation at Playhouse Square. We appreciated that information but we didn't really have to wait very long for our food. We both had sandwiches which were fine. Cocktails and desserts were also good!

    The Ghost Light Restaurant & LoungeResponded on August 11, 2023

    Thank you very much for your kind remarks! We truly were blessed with your presence and we look forward to your next dining experience with us!

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  28. earnestldy

    Cleveland

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience5
    This is close to Playhouse Square. We had Frech onion soup and Cobbsalad Both were great. Nice pour on the vine. Classy for a hotel restaurant. It also looks like a great place for a few glasses of wine at the bar.

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  29. Pizza

    Cleveland

    61 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    61 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Wine pours where great. We ordered salads and they where good. Our waitress was exceptional! I wish I could remember her name. It did begin with a T. I would come back just because of her. Great location for the Theater.

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  30. MandieS

    Cleveland

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 27, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Service was good food was ok and it was pretty noisy.

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  31. OpenTable Diner

    Cleveland

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Our experience was very good. The waiter was very attentive and patient. He made a good recommendation for our cocktails. The Captain Tony’s Walleye was good and plentiful for the price but needed a little more seasoning. I recommend the Chicken Piccata.

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  32. JoanD

    Cincinnati

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    food was very good & service was fast & friendly. A great place to get a meal before a Playhouse Square show

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  33. lmay2014

    Cleveland

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    In general the food was good, though the chicken was a bit dry. It would be really helpful if they had a gluten free menu.

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  34. AlphaOneSix

    Cleveland

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Quality pour on their signature Manhattan, both for ingredients and volume. Four different meals ordered, all were liked. Service (bartender) both friendly and efficient.

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  35. Brigette

    Cleveland

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    overall3food1service5ambience3
    The dinner was not good. Very disappointed. Had braised ribs that tasted tallowed and were tuff as if they were precooked from a day ago. Nothing like I’ve had in the past. Our server was wonderful!!!!!! The food was not her fault.

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  36. Foodman

    Cleveland

    77 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    77 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Unfortunately they were short staffed at a busy time (theater night) and the server was a bit harried. The food was average and we did get out in time.

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    Cleveland

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    Chicken sandwich- chicken was dry and bread over toasted. French fries served instead of potato puffs Salad with salmon was tiny for 1/2 salad

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  38. annodboo

    Cleveland

    59 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Staffing has improved but seems still May be short ie the manager still helps and busses That be as it may be the service was excellent due to the servers who work there- The food is very good but menu rarely has anything new we go monthly to theater and it is disappointing that that choices arent varied That said we will go back Star is an excellent server

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  39. MelissaK

    Cleveland

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Good food and service. My only concern is the phone number listed to modify your reservation doesn’t go to the restaurant!! I never did figure out how to change our reservation time🤷‍♀️

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  40. CristanH

    Cleveland

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 10, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience2
    The service wasn’t attentive and the restaurant was out of a few things (appetizers and wine). Food was fine.

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FAQs

The Ghost Light Restaurant & Lounge offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (216) 615-7500.

The Ghost Light Restaurant & Lounge is rated 4 stars by 347 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 8 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Ghost Light Restaurant & Lounge

1260 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115-1837

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    12th street
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown Cleveland / Playhouse Square
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    $15+tax valet parking when dining in our restaurant.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Landon Barnes
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wine
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