Pier W might be worth it just for the view. The restaurant is built into the side of the rock face that forms the shore of Lake Eerie to the west of Edgewater 
Park. The dining area extends out over the water, like a pier. The northwest wall of windows offers fantastic, unobstructed views of the downtown skyline. Unfortunately the night I visited was classic Cleveland—grey, overcast, and, umm…grey. None of that mattered, because the food shone with a culinary brilliance to rival the most beautiful of summer evenings. Sometimes you go somewhere for the atmosphere, and sometimes for the food; Pier W is that rarity which outclasses every other seafood restaurant I have been to on both regards.
The inside is just as stunning as the view it offers, and follows a blue, white, and silver ocean theme. I am as much of a “designie” (did I really just say that?) as I am a foodie, and Pier W offers plenty of eye candy as well as palette candy.
The lobster bisque bordered on divine. Elegant, and rich, I only wish it had contained more and larger pieces of lobster. But I suppose I’m just being greedy. The grilled Norwegian Salmon, served with roasted fingerling potatoes and fresh spinach that not even a pre-teen could refuse, was hands down the best piece salmon I have ever eaten. Melt in your mouth is the only way to describe it. Pier W serves it medium, and medium is where you had better stay. It’s phenomenally perfect. Drizzled with a sharp citrus sauce, I spent every bite wishing that I had two stomachs, because I really wanted to eat two.
The sorbets were a perfect trio of tart and refreshing deserts to give a crisp finish to an incredibly rich meal. All made in house, mango was the smoothest and sweetest, followed by orange and then raspberry, which was the most tart of the three.
All in all, Pier W was one of the most pleasant restaurant experiences I have had in a long time, and I will certainly be going there again.
