A Food Tour of the Grand River Valley

The Grand River Valley is known for its vineyards. It is worth the drive for the food too. These are the places we send guests to when they ask where else to eat.

1. Vincent William Wine

1300 Belleair Ave, Madison. Ours, so take it for what it is. Chef Jeff Gable cooks American food with the estate’s Italian and Irish roots running through it, and everything comes off one line a few steps from the dining room. The double smash burger with Bonner Farms beef and maple-bacon jam is the one people come back for. The dining room faces the water; the patio is open as long as the weather holds. Visit us

2. The Pompadour

320 High St, Fairport Harbor. Spanish-inspired small plates on a rotating seasonal menu, in a small room built for sharing plates and cocktails. The Pompadour

3. Nights & Weekends Pizza

1035 Bridge St, Ashtabula Harbor. Wood-fired pizza and house sauces in a room that feels lived-in rather than designed. The energy shifts from early evening to late night, and it has become the Harbor’s gathering place. See the menu

4. Rennick Meat Market

1104 Bridge St, Ashtabula Harbor. A steakhouse in a historic building in the harbour district, working with local meat and produce. Steaks, burgers, and a room with real warmth to it. Rennick Meat Market

5. The Black Door Tavern

6202 S River Rd W, Geneva. Modern American cooking and a serious cocktail list. Order the smoked old fashioned. The Black Door Tavern

6. Bistro 70

70 N St Clair St, Painesville. Contemporary American with a menu that changes with the season. The closest thing to fine dining in the county. Bistro 70

7. Nouveau Bistro and Lounge

7590 Fredle Dr, Painesville. Mediterranean cooking, lamb kebabs and falafel, and an outdoor space that fills up in summer. Nouveau Bistro

8. Laurentia Winery

4599 S Madison Rd, Madison. A lodge-style room with a fireplace where the kitchen matters as much as the list: charcuterie, wood-fired pizza, braised short ribs. Laurentia

9. Baci Winery

7800 Warner Rd, Madison. Part of the St. Joseph Vineyard estate. Italian cooking, wood-fired pizza, a full bar, and a patio over the vineyard rows. Baci Winery

10. Horizon’s Restaurant & Lounge

4888 N Broadway, Geneva. Seafood and steaks with one of the better views of Lake Erie in the county. The Lake Erie perch is the local order.

Park the car at the inn and work through the list over a weekend. Check availability for your dates, or call (440) 428-1300.