Windows On The River Review

I been working there for 3 years I love that job and busy with them and fun too

The food we had at a banquet on Saturday, June 1st, 2013, was terrific. The setup was very attractive and the servers and other staff members were very polite and helpful. But all of that was hurt by the fact the air-conditioning was NON-EXISTENT!! Many of us were in tuxedos and suits and everybody was sweating and were very uncomfortable. Even women in low-cut gowns were sweating and uncomfortable. I will go one step further and describe us as feeling totally wiped out by hours of excess heat. We were to retire to the Aquarium afterwards but most felt like just going home. My shirt was soaking wet.
How unfortunate to do everything else well and then crap out on lack of air conditioning!

Came to check out a wedding venue the larger room would be wonderful for a ceremony/reception, but smaller room was dingy, dusty, and a bit broken down looking. Also, nobody was available to give tours of the areas and we were told to just wander around. Ended up choosing another venue.

We initially worked with Molly at windows on the river. She was fabulous! She was so attentive to returning emails and phone calls. This was all pre COVID 19. I was then assigned to work with Kris. I m unsure if it was because of being understaffed, but Kris was less attentive and would only answer every other email...maybe. It was frustrating, especially having to reschedule my wedding. I must say that the venue is gorgeous and reasonably priced. We had shopped around for other venues but this was the top contender. The food was super delicious and the reception ran so smoothly. I would highly recommend this venue and request to work with Molly!

Frankly it was nice but certain parts felt just empty durring an event I attended.

Food was excellent, a great venue for a Christmas party

I normally don't write reviews, but hopefully Windows on the River staff reads these because this is a great venue and gorgeous. Having the aquarium was a great start to the evening, made it very quaint and great for socializing prior to dinner. There were appetizers being served on the table which was great but then appetizers were supposedly going around on trays which did not get around to us. There were staff members standing around not doing anything when they could have been walking around with some of the trays of food. Unfortunately, did not experience any of the hot appetizers that were being served. I heard they were great but would have been nice to enjoy those like other guests did. The main dinner food needs some improvement. Filet was served well done and being a caterer, this was extremely disappointing that a great piece of meat was made well done. Sea bass was also being served and if cooked properly would have been excellent but it was very rubbery and very fishy. The acoustics can use improvements. The DJ was speaking and introducing the wedding party and we couldn't understand a word that was being said.

Cool location downtown on the west bank of the flats. The aquarium is on the lower level. Great spot to have a weddings and for new years eve.

Great looking venue! Terrible acoustics! Trying to hear Merry Ploughboys and can t. Add some sound absorbing wall panels so the music can be enjoyed.

We attended a wedding here last night and it was a wonderful experience! The ambiance is spectacular, the food is out of this world, and the staff was extremely accommodating! Good work Windows! You have a great thing going in our city!

Absolutely terrible staff and service. I have been in the wedding photography business for 4 years and I have never left a bad review for a vendor before. Typically, vendors do their best to work together for the benefit of the bride and groom. This place does not care about pleasing the couples who invest thousands of dollars to have a wedding here or the vendors that they should be working together with. On many occasions shooting here, I have witnessed totally unprofessional behavior from their employees. The most recent wedding I shot, numerous incidents occurred that were concerning to me as a professional myself.
1. The bride and groom reserved the city view room and were told they would have access to the aquarium for photos. When the time came to head down to the aquarium, we found out we needed a security person to get us down to that level. We were taken to the 4th floor where the offices were where 5 staff members bickered back and forth about access to the aquarium. My bride's brother was then approached by a staff member who proceeded to get beligerent and verbally abusive when he asked for us to "move so he could get on the elevator". The bride was on the elevator the entire time. The staff member asked us "who we thought we were riding this elevator". Totally unacceptable.
2. My second shooter and I were included in the meal count paid for by the bride and groom. We picked salmon. When dinner came, we were served last even though everyone at our table was already eating. When we received our plate, it was prime rib. We had indicated to the server that we ordered salmon. His response, "Well, my manager told me that you are vendors so you eat last and we ran out of fish so this is what you get."
My reply: "but the bride and groom
Paid for salmon."
His reply: "well, are you going to eat it?"
Totally unacceptable.
3. During the speech my brides brother was making to her, he became emotional and began to cry. From the back of the room, we heard a staff member mocking the brother for crying and calling him "gay". This is discriminatory and should never be tolerated in any workplace.
4. During this same brothers speech, I heard a "manager" approach the DJ and tell him the bride and groom were "running 10 minutes late" and basically suggest that he "wrap the speech up." In not sure how they thought that could be done but that's extraordinarily rude.
5. When I asked a server about where the salad my second shooter and I did not receive was, her reply was "I don't know." When I asked her if she could find out she said, "I don't know" and then walked away.
6. There was some sort of game on the T.V. In the kitchen and while the bride and groom were on the dance floor, the kitchen doors were open and the kitchen staff was cheering so loud and jumping up and down that you could hear them from across the room. Totally unprofessional.
I will never recommend this place to any of my couples after this past experience and I am convinced that this place has turned into a business about quantity over quality. Just don't expect your quantity to be there if you can't treat people with simple kindness and respect.

Had our wedding here on 9/21/18 and it was so beautiful and everything I could have ever imagined. On the more pricy side but worth it due to having mostly everything included and not having to do much of anything for set up or take down, and the price per plate includes some things that would cost a lot otherwise (for example, cake is included and they go through a great bakery). I did feel that the communication throughout the planning process wasn't the greatest - dealt with many people other than my contact person who was at times hard to get ahold of and did not respond well to emails, and I had to go looking for information regarding a lot of next steps such as how to set up the food tasting, seating chart, planning for the day's timeline, rehearsal, etc. (no surprise that the only thing they contacted ME for was payments). I thought it was funny that pretty much EVERYTHING is included in your "per plate" price, EXCEPT for chair covers (and they're not nice chairs that might be okay without covers - they definitely needed something), and the cost to use theirs was $3 per chair. Luckily I found some to buy from someone for under $1 per chair and we can sell them. Another "hidden" cost was the ceremony fee - if you want to have the ceremony set up off to the side (and not on the dance floor) with the pretty window behind you it costs $3 per person. Extra (hefty) fee if you want to use the patio, and if you want to use the patio you have to pay the extra fee for security. It would have been much better if they included the security price in the patio price but I'm sure they do that to make it seem like the patio is cheaper (when in reality you don't have a choice but to have that extra security if you want to use the patio).

I'm not necessarily complaining about all of those things - just want it to be a helpful review. Overall it was an INCREDIBLE venue, so beautiful during the day and at night, and even though the communication during planning wasn't great, I felt that the service on the rehearsal night and night of was impeccable, they were very helpful. Food was amazing and so was the service! Didn't feel too rushed out at the end of the night which was nice.

I think overall with ALL things considered, I'd give it 4/5 stars, mostly taking the one away just because of communication and those silly fees.

Excellent food. This year went Brazilian and they really pulled it off.

Great venue for an event. Spectacular food and service.

Ryan Brownell, one of the area's Best and most creative photographers around and myself did a gig here for a wedding and it's really a beautiful building. Old school Warehouse district with great views please send the North and northeast sides.

Attended a wedding reception. It was warm inside and most guest were sweaty. However, the servers were quick, friendly and accommodating. The bartenders were also just fantastic. The only complaint is that it was not cool inside. It was a hot muggy night

Great atmosphere for event. Better food than most weddings I've been to.

We got married at Windows in December 2018 and everything was top notch. They absolutely killed it. Our guests loved the venue. Molly helped us out during all of the planning and she was very helpful and informative. Would definitely recommend this for any type of event.

Very nice place had fun and the worker was very good and I had a great time.

This is the best event I've ever been to. The food was beyond excellent. The staff were attentive, professional and friendly.

Many event here. Always a great experience. Pleasant staff. Nice place!

Stop by to check things out good place to.hold a wedding or a party!

Such a great meal, the prices are the best around literally, EVERYTHING is included in their wedding package.

Wonderful Facility and Staff. Second time that We have had Our Corporate Christmas Party there and They do not disappoint.

Let me start by saying the place itself is beautiful and my cousins wedding was absolutely gorgeous! The staff however.... wow. Most of the servers were incredibly rude, they talked ridiculously... uneducated I guess is the word.... there was a whole coffee table set up, but no coffee all night. I asked 2 times throughout the night and was given 1 cup instead, with a side of attitude of course. I asked them not to take my bread and butter at dinner, she stuck her hand in and grabbed it anyway when I turned to talk. I asked for a new basket and was told no. The table next to me gave me theirs and on her next round 5 minutes later, guess what she grabbed again?

For what the reception cost you think the wait staff would have their shirts clean and tucked in. Very unprofessional. Food was good, not great.

Beautiful place for an event, the food is excellent.

I attended a fantastic wedding celebration here. It's such a great place for an event. Actually the day of the event the venue had three wedding receptions going one on in the Aquarium one on the first floor and one at Windows on the River. The food and service were fantastic. The event I attended was magic --- created by the bridal party and their families and the members of the bridal party. I have attended several events at Windows and enjoyed them all.

Lovely and spacious wedding ceremony / reception venue.

Awesome venue for a wedding reception. Food is great. View is great. Atmosphere is great.

Went to a wedding, outstanding venue, food and service was excellent

We had our wedding ceremony and reception here on 9.19.15 and it was phenomenal! We had both the ceremony and reception in the Bridgeview Room and our cocktail hour was right down the hall. The staff was beyond friendly, the food was perfect, and the atmosphere was beautiful! I have had SO many people inquire about where my wedding was from seeing pictures and I would recommend this place to everyone! My wedding planner Molly Coyne was beyond helpful and attentive and always there to answer any questions we had. Thank you for making our wedding one to remember!!! I wish we could do it all over again!
Kelli & Aaron

Nice banquet hall, a few different rooms. Food was good

We got married at Windows in 2013 & it was amazing. They literally took care of EVERYTHING for us. We had the actually wedding in the room, they moved us over to another room for cocktails while they switched the main room around for the reception, we went back into the main room for the reception & had a blast. One of the servers also sewed up my brother-in-laws pants as well, since he ripped them during his "entrance".

Very nice customer service and very nice selection of meals. Give it a try.

Great location for a downtown and river setting. Food was good. Service and service perception was horrible. The staff (servers, bartenders, catering managers, anyone else is a service role) all looked miserable, did not smile, and did not pay attention to detail. Those things may not be 100% necessary to a great event, but where I come from it s called courtesy, manners, and being welcoming.

Terrible service, horrible food, turn and burn wedding

Windows on the river offers some very nice views of the city, the river, and everything in between. The two tiered space allows for some separation of groups and allows for larger parties without needing a massive open venue. The service was top notch throughout the evening, I was never left wanting for an appetizer or drink. The building and entrances aren't well labeled, but once you're inside finding your way around is much easier.

Very good servers and food. Very, Very good servers.

Can't pet or hug the sharks but overall still a cool place!

A nice place to have weddings graduations any celebration of any kind.

Good food and beverages expensive though not a usual hangout for me but it had genuine class

Was there for my brothers wedding on 6-26-15. Staff was rude and the place was extremely hot as we were all in tuxedos and dresses. Was supposed to go to 11 but we're practically pushed outt around 10:30. The staff was literally asking people to get out of chairs so they could close up. Food was phenomenal but staff sucked ass.

Great reception and food was awesome. Roast beef considerably more food than the chicken option. Hint.

Beautiful wedding venue! Surrounding area is a photographer/videographer's dream

My family and I have attended the Mother's Day brunch at Windows for the last 8 years. This year was the first time we as a family decided it will be the last. The service was fair, but the quality of the food has really changed. The food tastes like it was from a standard cafeteria. Nothing like it used to be.

This not the place to have a wedding reception. The food is good! That is it. If you like having a cocktail hour to share with about 100 sting rays and that is your thing , go for it. Very split up. Would NOT recommend this place to anyone except if you are a sting ray fanatic!

Nice place and they host dinners there and the City view from there is awesome

Came for my nephew's wedding reception, loved it! So impressed with everything, and the views...? Wow. (helps that the weather was perfect) One minor drawback, a few servers were kinda rude, like we were ruining their nights by being there. Most, though, were excellent. Overall, it was a wonderful evening.

It was simply beautiful and the aquarium was awesome cannot wait to go back with a few friends

Was here for a wedding last year and had a very nice time. A great place for a wedding that really showcases the city of Cleveland to outta-tahners.

This place is awesome. Love the windows and thebrick. Right by the water and the food was excellent.

Attended a wedding at windows and the venue was beautiful!!

Great place to have your weddings and office partys...nice rooms an the patios looks amazing with beautiful landscaping...staff friendly

Attended a wedding at Windows on the River. WHAT A VENUE! Great vistas of Cleveland from the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River. The wait staff was exceptional. The meal was succulent and delicious. I have been here on seven different occasions and have never been disappointed! Highly recommend it.

I was here for a wedding and it was a wonderful venue. It has a cool style and great views. I had the Filet and it was good (not great). I am not sure if the cake was from there or not but it was really good.

Breathtaking. My wife and I were in awe of the performance.

This is one of the worst venues i have been to. If you do not mind having a reception in an aquarium, then go for it.. The staff and food were nothing to rave about. The reception was split up on 3 florrs. The sunlight was blinding as well. I cant see any redemming qualitties! Sorry...

Great place for a company Christmas party. Being connected to the aquarium for guests, gives everyone something to do and creates a very nice ambience.

Went for NYE. Good food. DJ kept losing power. Also counted down after midnight? Get a new DJ.

A beautiful venue overlooking the river. It works well for party sizes of about 100

Absolutely love the aquarium it was awesome to see everything they have on display

I loved this venue for the most part. Great food, gorgeous views, beautiful night! I highly recommend getting married here. So classy and beautiful.

What a great venue
Had a great time