GROTTO WINE BAR: An Interview with Fabio Salerno

Amidst the reports of recent restaurant closings all over the Northeast Ohio region, a wonderful restaurant and wine bar, Grotto, recently opened in the historic Shaker Square. Helmed by father and son team, Ricardo and Fabio Salerno, owners of Gusto in Little Italy and Lago in Tremont, this charming new spot is truly a gem. My favorites are the lamb chops, shrimp risotto, and the light yet flavorful, gorgonzola salad.

Executive chef and owner Fabio Salerno took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

What is the inspiration for Grotto?

My love for wine and food. Also my wife, who taught me to believe in myself and always supports me 110% no matter how crazy my ideas are.

How would you describe the cuisine?

Contemporary Italian with a little Cleveland flare.

What sets Grotto apart from other restaurants?

The fact that it is a wine bar! We will settle for a classic Italian enoteca.

What is the Grotto philosophy on food and dining in general?

Simple. We want people to be comfortable. We want the food menu and the wine menu to be approachable. We are serving comfort food and great wine at reasonable prices. No reason to be intimidated here, there is something for everyone.

How did you decide on the location of the restaurant?

We were looking for a third location and we wanted to stay in Cleveland. We were already in Little Italy and in Tremont, two amazing neighborhoods rich in Cleveland history. The owners of the square approached us about doing a possible Italian concept restaurant at the square. When I checked the space out I knew right away it was perfect for our wine bar concept.

I love that the centerpiece of your bar is a very impressive and unique wine room, how did you come up with this concept?

I had been thinking of different ways to showcase wines in a restaurant or wine bar setting for years. I have many versions and ideas. With the amount of space we had to work with I knew we had to have something special for the back drop of the bar and the side dining room. Showcasing the wines was a must. So we incorporated the three. I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Overall, describe the experience that you want the customer to have in Grotto.

We want people to relax and unwind. We were trying to create a place that seemed like it has been around for a long time even though we have only been opened a couple of weeks. Everything is such a rat race these days. People are worried about the economy, worried about money, worried about everything. We can't solve any of those problems obviously but maybe we can get your mind off things for a while.

Grotto is at
13101 Shaker Square
Cleveland, OH 44120
216-751-WINE (9463)

by Paula Purpera