A Trip To Venice Just Got A Lot Cheaper

A quick trip to Venice just got a lot easier thanks to Il Venetian. Since opening in March in the lobby of Key Tower, the Millennia Hospitality Group’s latest spot feels like a luxurious vacation with striking glass chandeliers and an intricate glass-beaded mirror from Murano, Italy. The food follows suit with an elegant menu full of bright and fresh flavors familiar to executive chef Alberto Leandri’s homeland of Venice. “It’s the way I grew up,” says Leandri, who moved to the United States 23 years ago. “I just put some twists on it to make it modern.” For the grilled octopus salad ($18), Leandri boils European octopus for 45 minutes in a mirepoix — a mixture of diced vegetables — with wine and lemon before grilling. He finishes the eye-catching dish with slices of purple potatoes, crunchy garlic chips and pickled shallots, a potato crema and a drizzle of chili oil. “I love octopus,” says Leandri. “It gets a little smoky on the grill.” 100 St. Clair Ave. E, Cleveland, 216-241-4800, ilvenetian.com