Amelia’s Lounge Solidifies Cuyahoga Falls' Status as a Dining Destination

There was a time, not long ago, when Cuyahoga Falls was an Applebee’s-and-Wendy’s kind of suburb. I should know: I spent the first 18 years of my life there. Trust me when I say there weren’t many (errr, any?) cool places to eat.

Over the last decade, that’s changed. But the city’s transformation from ho-hum to “holy crap, this place is great” has never been more apparent than at Amelia’s Lounge, the riverfront’s newest, and inarguably swankiest, spot to eat, drink and be merry.

Amelia’s isn’t trying to be a speakeasy (there are already four of those on Front Street!), but it feels exclusive, at least at first. It’s located in the lower level of its much more casual big-sister restaurant, The Farmer’s Rail, which serves burgers, sandwiches and salads highlighting the wares of its farm and butcher shop. So far, though, there’s no signage to clue diners in to the exact location.

“How do we get to Amelia’s?” I nervously asked the Farmer’s Rail hostess, who smiled conspiratorially and said, “Oh, I’ll take you,” before leading us down a set of stairs. When she opened the heavy wooden door at the bottom, we were transported from The Farmer’s Rail’s bright and airy atmosphere into a dark, moody space outfitted in jewel tones, leather and dark wood. The transformation is stark and almost exhilarating.

Inside Amelia’s, every available surface, from the walls and shelves to the classic end tables, is adorned with well-worn books, antique artwork and collectible knick-knacks. Co owner Melanie Brunty found each item herself, gathering treasures like brass animals, glass ashtrays and large showpieces like marble busts and gilded mirrors. Tall wooden bookshelves divide the space into more than half a dozen smaller areas that Brunty calls “cubbies.” The result is that every spot in the house feels intimate, even when the restaurant is filled to its 70-person capacity.

“I wanted just a few areas for people to really just hang out and have fun and relax and just, you know, kind of get lost in,” says Brunty. “It’s this cool, feel-good place with old Hollywood Regency vibes and vintage everything on the walls.”

Amelia’s is just one of a few businesses that she owns with her husband, Jeff. It all started with Brunty Farms in Akron, which Jeff began as a hobby when he was a teen. They also run The Farmer’s Rail above Amelia’s, plus a location in Hudson and a butcher shop by the same name in Bath. Their newest venture, named for their infant daughter, is their first foray into higher-end dining.

“I call it ‘elevated dining,’ not fine dining,” Brunty says. “We’re not a white tablecloth place, nor do we want to be. Just elevated.”

Executive chef Chris Cook clearly has a handle on the whole “elevated” thing, but he also knows a thing or two about Midwestern basics. He spent more than a decade at Summit County mini chain Wing Warehouse before helming the kitchen at The Farmer’s Rail in Hudson in 2023. This summer, when faced with the task of creating Amelia’s debut menu, he opted for a collaborative approach.

“It took us at least two months to nail it,” Brunty recalls. “It’s flavor profiles that we’ve all really enjoyed, and customer feedback has proven them to be very successful.”

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Cook’s menu is heavy on shared plates, a nod to the intimate dining experience Amelia’s facilitates. It draws inspiration from classics and comfort foods, leveled up with modern interpretations and broad influences. Think sumptuous lobster sliders on buttered brioche ($24), crispy sous vide pork belly in a Korean barbecue glaze ($17) and build-your-own pad Thai lettuce wraps with juicy chicken thighs and fresh veggies ($16).

Top among the many standouts, though, is the ahi tuna nachos ($22), a massive pile of wonton crisps heaped with bright pink cubes of raw fish and loads of fresh pineapple, avocado and jalapenos. It’s finished with not one but four condiments — spicy Sriracha aioli, sweet poke glaze, umami togarashi spice and a hint of toasted coconut — that make for an ingenious fusion of flavor.

And if you’re surprised and delighted to hear that you can find a dish like that in Cuyahoga Falls, well, you’re not alone. It’s a reaction Brunty loves to get.

“We continuously hear from customers that Amelia’s feels more like a restaurant they’ve been to in Boston or New York,” she says. “It wasn’t our original goal, but it’s satisfying to hear that we’re filling a void.”

The restaurant’s entrees are more traditional than the shared plates, with less global influence but lots of down-home partnerships. The hand-cut steaks and ground beef mostly come from Brunty Farms, and the mushrooms — like in the duck confit pasta ($36) or the Ohio City Pasta pierogies with braised beef ($32) — are cultivated by Epiphany Mushrooms in Akron. Other Akron-area businesses make appearances throughout the menu, too, including Breads of Fairlawn, Akron Hot Honey and Karla’s Sweetopia.

“We’re transparent about the fact that we’ve outgrown our capacity (to source everything) from our own farm,” Brunty says. “We partner with other local businesses that are exactly to our standards. We’re still keeping all of our dollars local, and I feel like we’ve helped a lot of local family businesses grow.”

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The Bruntys are about community — not just in food and decor but in attitude, too. The building that houses both of their Cuyahoga Falls restaurants is a local landmark — the former home of Levinson’s Uniforms, still complete with an old-fashioned neon sign hanging out front. It used to be surrounded by little more than consignment shops and abandoned storefronts. Now, it’s the center of a bustling downtown. The Bruntys are proud of the role their eateries continue to play in the Riverfront’s transformation.

“We knew we had to turn the space into something special,” Brunty says. “It’s one-of-a-kind for what Cuyahoga Falls is. It’s a place where people want to chill and relax with good food and cocktails. It just feels good.”

As a Cuyahoga Falls native who once yearned for more elegant dining options while munching on half-off boneless wings from chain restaurants, I couldn’t agree more. Amelia’s is a clever, creative and critical addition to the city’s fast-changing landscape — and it’s one that should make any Clevelander happy to take the drive south.

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