Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute

We went to EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute for dinner last night and had a wonderful time! We started with the escargot, calamari, and oysters, and every appetizer was outstanding. For our entrées, we had the Boeuf Bourguignon and the short ribs. Every bite was absolutely delicious. The service was excellent as well. Our server, Andrew, was polite, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu, making the entire experience even more enjoyable. We also love the concept behind EDWINS and the incredible work they do. It's inspiring to support a restaurant with such a meaningful mission while enjoying exceptional food and service. We will definitely be back for many more wonderful dining experiences!

We had the seven-course tasting menu plus an extra dessert, and it was fantastic. There was great live instrumental music for most of the evening, which made for a really enjoyable atmosphere. Our server was newer and a little nervous, but they did a great job, and management checked in regularly to make sure everything was going well. I really appreciate the mission behind this establishment and the opportunity it gives people to rebuild their lives and careers. The food was top quality, especially considering it was prepared by students in training. If you are someone who expects every detail to be absolutely polished and perfect, this may not be the place for you. But if you appreciate the mission, enjoy supporting people learning and growing, and can be a little laid back about small imperfections, it is absolutely worth trying.

​We’ve been to EDWINS’ original location before and decided to give the new space a try. The new location is beautiful, elegant, and very spacious. While we visited for a "date night" dinner, it would clearly be a great location to celebrate a special event. Logistics: They have made things very easy here. There is a parking lot behind the building, and they also offer complimentary valet service at the front. Food: We started with a few cocktails and the butternut squash soup, which was a seasonal highlight. For our main dishes, we had the Pappardelle with Oxtail and the Potato-wrapped Sea Bass—both were flavorful and prepared perfectly. For dessert, we had the Beignets and the Soufflé (you know a restaurant has confident and skillful chefs when they put a soufflé on the menu). Just a heads-up for future diners: the soufflé takes a little time to prepare, but it is definitely worth the wait! ​Service: We interacted with multiple people during our visit, and the service was truly outstanding. I can’t stress enough how great the team was. The servers did an incredible job; they were attentive, professional, and made the entire evening feel special. It is easily one of the best service experiences in Cleveland. Mission: On top of the great food, it’s wonderful to support such a mission-driven restaurant. Combining high-end French cuisine with their work providing leadership training and second chances makes for a truly unforgettable meal. Overall, EDWINS remains one of the absolute best dining experiences in Cleveland, and the new location has only made it better.

Edwins is a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend it. The food is prepared to perfection and the atmosphere is cozy. That former incarcerated individuals are hired to train and work in the culinary arts is a fantastic public service and worth others emulating.

This was, without question, the worst dining experience I’ve ever had. I took my parents to dinner to celebrate my mother’s 86th birthday, and unfortunately the evening was disappointing from start to finish. I realized we were in for a difficult experience almost immediately when our waiter demonstrated that he was unfamiliar with the menu. He seemed unable to distinguish between appetizers and entrées or between cocktails and wines. As we placed our order, I repeatedly had to point to the specific menu items because he appeared unsure of what we were requesting. When our cocktails arrived, they were filled to the brim and spilling over the sides of the glasses. As the waiter set them on the table, the drinks dripped onto our laps. My parents each ordered a glass of red wine—one Malbec and one Edwin’s Bordeaux (which, unfortunately, was not very good). When the waiter returned, he brought one white wine and one red wine. We explained that we had ordered two red wines and asked which glass was the Malbec and which was the Bordeaux. He had no idea. He then disappeared for roughly 20 minutes. By the time he returned, my parents had already finished their meals. When my mother asked what had taken so long, he said he had been having trouble finding the wine bottles. The confusion continued through the end of the meal. When the bill arrived, he gave us only the customer copy of the receipt. When we asked for the merchant copy, he replied, “This is what they told me to give you.” To make matters worse, the food itself was average at best. I don’t blame the waiter. He was clearly set up to fail and appeared to have received little, if any, training. We genuinely support the mission of Edwin’s and appreciate what the organization is trying to accomplish. However, if you’re going to charge full-service fine dining prices and compete with restaurants like L’Albatros, the overall experience needs to reflect those prices. Guests should not feel like they’re responsible for training the staff.