If you're a Cleveland-area foodie, the name Luca Sema probably rings a bell. His other restaurant, Luca West, has long been one of my favorites and is arguably one of the very best spots in Greater Cleveland. So I had little doubt that Vino Di Luca would be something special.
Vino di Luca sits in the heart of downtown Olmsted Falls, in a beautifully restored century-old building that used to house The Olde Wine Cellar. The cozy yet contemporary transformation is stunning. The space doubles as a restaurant and wine shop, and it somehow manages to make both feel seamless.
The menu is built around Italian small plates and pastas. We like to start with the polpetta (housemade meatballs) and a salad, then dig into their pastas — maybe the white truffle and ricotta-stuffed sacchetti, the orecchiette with shrimp, or the gnocchi with fresh mozzarella and spicy tomato sauce. Each dish feels both elevated, comforting, and delicious. Much of the menu is naturally gluten free, including the polpetta, and all pasta dishes can be made gluten free upon request.
And then there's the wine.
Because Vino di Luca also functions as a retail shop, the prices are retail, which means you can enjoy an incredible bottle without the restaurant markup. The selection leans Italian (which makes sense given the menu), but there's plenty of California, French, and even the occasional Portuguese bottle mixed in. Every label is thoughtfully chosen and genuinely good. There's also a full bar with a craft cocktail menu if you're not in the mood for wine.
If you go, and the weather cooperates, grab a table on the back porch overlooking the Rocky River. It's peaceful, scenic, and one of those hidden gems that makes you appreciate where you live.
So, if you find yourself southwest of Cleveland, do yourself a favor and stop into Vino di Luca. Order a few plates, open a bottle of something interesting, and settle in. It's the kind of place that reminds you why dining out — and supporting local — is such a joy.
Cheers!
Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.
Craft Breweries Struggle as Sales and Appetites Wane — via The New York Times
Intermittent Leave – The Headache With Some Cures — via Dan Schwartz's Connecticut Employment Law Blog
How to Calculate FMLA Leave for Employees on Unusual Schedules (Like 12-Hour Shifts with Mandatory Overtime) — via Eric Meyer's Employer Handbook Blog
A small rant about phones — via Improve Your HR by Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady
3 Ways Lawyers Are Finding New Efficiencies with AI and AI As a Law Firm Revenue Stream — via Above the Law
AI Can Write the Legal Summaries Most Lawyers and Law Firms Put Up on the Net — via Real Lawyers Have Blogs
Gen Z Is Reimagining Work—Is Your Office Ready? — via EntertainHR
Shutdown furloughing federal workers imperils business-critical data — via HR Dive
With One Damning Question, Ketanji Brown Jackson Defined the Supreme Court's New Term — via Slate
Apple pulls ICEBlock from the App Store — via The Verge
ICE Confirms Agents Will Be at Super Bowl for Bad Bunny's Halftime Show — via Consequence
Apple pulls ICEBlock from the App Store — via The Verge
ICE Confirms Agents Will Be at Super Bowl for Bad Bunny's Halftime Show — via Consequence
Ohio bill would allow teaching Christianity's positive impact on American history — via Cleveland.com