Inside a plaza on Johnnycake Ridge Road, a restaurant transformed itself using refurbished pieces salvaged straight from a Cleveland foundry. 🔥
Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits did not just renovate an old space; it rebuilt an entire dining concept from the ground up, turning industrial history into the backbone of its decor.
This is how three local owners created one of Mentor, Ohio’s most beloved neighborhood restaurants.
How Ridgewood Kitchen won Mentor’s hearts
Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits opened in early 2018 in the space once occupied by the Beach Club Grill, backed by owners Bryan Geller and Nick Ovsenik of Mentor along with Marty Graham of Concord.
The trio poured more than $200,000 into completely reimagining the decor and menu, aiming to offer what they called a “casual class” dining experience rather than a typical bar and grill.
That investment shows throughout the restaurant, where refurbished pieces from a Cleveland Foundry now serve as the beer tower, wine rack, chandelier, and tables scattered across the dining room. 🏭
The owners built the menu around a philosophy they described as a “new age twist off of a classic cooking style,” streamlining the offerings to feel modern and approachable rather than overwhelming.
What has kept Mentor locals loyal for years is the restaurant’s genuine neighborhood feel, run by fellow community members rather than a distant corporate chain.
The kitchen balances comfort food staples with more inventive touches, from house-smoked pork belly to Guinness and whiskey braised short ribs, and the scratch-made pizza program has become a favorite carryover from the space’s earlier days as a pizza-focused restaurant.
Add a lively happy hour and a menu built for sharing, and it becomes clear why this local’s hangout has become a genuine Mentor institution. 🍕
Food Highlights
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Ridgewood Short Ribs: Guinness- and whiskey-braised beef served over parmesan risotto with fresh daily vegetables.
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Oak Barrel Salmon: Pan-seared salmon paired with smashed potatoes, a fresh daily vegetable, and a chardonnay sauce.
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Blackened Shrimp Risotto: Gulf shrimp served over corn risotto with a smoked tomato coulis and scallions.
- Buff Chick Fella: Battered and brined chicken breast tossed in buffalo sauce and topped with creamy coleslaw and pickles on a challah bun.
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Wild Mushroom Chicken: Sauteed chicken breast finished in a wild mushroom cream sauce, served with smashed potatoes.
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Rustic Zucchini Puttanesca: Sautéed zucchini noodles in a roasted tomato eggplant sauce, finished with fresh basil and shaved parmesan.
- Fish and Chips: Signature breaded Atlantic haddock served with fresh-cut fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.
- Ridgewood Pasta: Sautéed shrimp and linguine tossed with roasted tomato, spinach, onion, fresh basil, parmesan, and a white wine butter sauce.
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Short Rib Melt: Braised beef piled with Swiss cheese, cabernet onions, seared mushrooms, arugula, and peppercorn aioli.
Atmosphere
Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits blends industrial charm with a modern, casual dining room, thanks to its distinctive furnishings salvaged from a real Cleveland foundry. 🏗️
The space feels comfortable enough for a weeknight dinner while still carrying visual flair that sets it apart from a typical strip-mall restaurant.
It draws a steady mix of regulars and families, especially during happy hour and weekend evenings. The overall energy stays casual, welcoming, and unmistakably local.
Bottom Line
Visit for Guinness and whiskey braised short ribs, scratch-made pizza, and a genuinely local ownership story built by Mentor and Concord neighbors.
Add distinctive foundry-salvaged decor, a lively happy hour, and a menu built around comfort with a modern twist, and Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits earns its reputation as a true Mentor favorite. 🍽️✨
Address:
9853 Johnnycake Ridge Rd Unit 8, Mentor, OH 44060
📞 (440) 350-7015
🕔 Open Mon-Thu 11 AM–11 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM–12 AM, closed Sunday