Cleveland House

Post author:Oswego County Business Magazine
Post published:February 27, 2025
Post category:Dining Out

Great burgers and service at no-frills, cozy spot on North Shore of Oneida Lake

By Julie McMahon

Margarita flatbread ($10.95): Lathered with pesto and balsamic drizzle, the flatbreads were a good size portion for an appetizer or an entrée.

The Cleveland House is a simple, cozy spot on the North Shore of Oneida Lake that cranks out excellent burgers and solid service at an affordable price.

We arrived around 6 p.m. on a Friday night when it was still pretty slow. A few people sat around the bar and one table was occupied, by a couple that wrapped up their meal and waved their compliments on the burgers on the way out.

Soon, we had drinks in our bellies and were awaiting our food, when it filled up a bit, including with some ice fisherman fresh off the lake.

For drinks, mostly cans and some bottles are available. There’s your standard light beer selection as well as Heineken and Guinness, and if you ask the bartender, a more extensive selection of craft beers. The bartender, who was also serving the rest of the room, was knowledgeable about their IPAs, and rattled off five or six they had. We selected a Fiddlehead ($6) and Big Ditch Hayburner ($7). The beers were cold and crisp.

Cleveland House’s logo on a table inside the restaurant.

The server was a master of her trade, bartending and handling tables, including eight seats at the bar and six tables at this lakeside spot. The wooden interior and exterior give the place a homey feel. There’s a sense that many people know one another, that it’s the local watering hole, but it’s also welcoming to outsiders. It feels extra cozy and warm in the winter. It’s right across the road from Oneida Lake on state Route 49 — with signs advertising the route on the walls, along with cute sayings like “Loving Life at the Lake.”

Cleveland House offers a no-frills menu, with a selection of flatbreads and appetizers, sandwiches “from the grill” and burgers, as well as pasta dishes including riggies and a fettucine alfredo. The bar and grill is open for lunch and dinner.

The appetizer took a decent amount of time to come out, but it was piping hot and delicious. We started with the margarita flatbread ($10.95). It was lathered with pesto and balsamic drizzle, a sweet and nutty flavor. The tomato gave it a nice tang, and the mozzarella cheese pull topped off the experience of eating a pizza.

Bue bacon burger ($14.95): It came out perfectly cooked to medium as ordered — and stamped with a giant “CH.” After the first bite, I found myself mumbling, “what a good burger.”

The flatbreads were a good size portion for an appetizer or an entrée.

Classic rock played on the stereo, and accompanying music videos played on a big TV in the back. Artists featured included Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, and KISS. It was entertaining, kind of a divey vibe but fun.

The entrees arrived quickly after we finished the appetizer.

We heard the burgers were good so chose the blue bacon burger ($14.95), which came out perfectly cooked to medium as ordered – and stamped with a giant “CH” on the bun – a special, unique touch.

The bacon was crispy but not overcooked, and the burger had just the right amount of blue cheese to complement the other ingredients. After the first bite, I found myself mumbling, “what a good burger.” It held together and wasn’t a mess, or too soggy. The flavors were great and textures blended together nicely.

The fries served on the side were fried to perfection, really good crispy hand-cut fries.

The steak melted in our mouths, and the onion rings were also fried to perfection, battered, with a nice crunch to them.

We also ordered the shaved steak sandwich ($15.45) with onion rings ($2 extra). The steak melted in our mouths, and the onion rings were also fried to perfection, battered, with a nice crunch to them. The side dishes were simple but very good.

The shaved steak itself was served with choice of cheese — we went with American — as well as peppers, onions and mushrooms. The steak was tender, the peppers stood out and gave the dish a lot of flavor. The bun was filled but could close with a good ratio of steak to veggies. This was just what you’d expect from a shaved steak sandwich. A nicely made classic.

The dishes were served in good, large portions.

Our bill clocked in at $68 for three beers, our appetizer and two entrees, including tax. The dishes were possible to finish, maybe have some leftovers, and won’t leave you wanting.

Overall this spot was a hidden gem on the lake for a good hearty meal, with bonus points for good service.