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Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro Reviews List
Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Chef Rich Hanson named this charming bistro in downtown Ellsworth after his Italian mother, Cleonice Renzetti, who inspired his cooking career. This casually elegant restaurant sources fine local ingredients, blends them with flavors from around the Mediterranean Rim to produce spectacular Tapas and Meze as well as soul satisfying lunches and elegant dinners.
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19 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Rating Breakdown 19 reviews
5 stars
(10)
4 stars
(5)
3 stars
(2)
2 stars
(2)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- fit for foodies(13)
- special occasion(9)
- neighborhood gem(6)
- great for lunch(5)
- romantic(3)
- good for groups(1)
Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro Reviews List
Review 1 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
New location detracts from the food
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Cleonice has been my choice for Mother's Day for the last several years. No more. They've relocated in the past 6 months and this was our first visit since the move. We were highly disappointed. The new atmosphere is akin to a pizza parlor. The tables at the new location are very small. My husband and son both ordered a $28 seafood entree - the fish in the center of the plate could not have weighed more than 2 oz. I'll allow that they both said it was delicious. However, they both were starving even with the appetizer and salad which preceded the entree. I felt sorry for them and doled out half of my pasta entree to them. Sorry to say that it's unlikely that we'll be back, because Cleonice was previously one of our favorite restaurants."
Dined on 5/12/2013
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Review 2 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Excellent food and our waitress was outstanding. We started with a couple of unusual cocktails, both good. We had the paella - delicious, and our waitress steered us toward an unusual appetizer special - a kind of beet mousse, which was unexpectedly delicate and refreshing. We also ordered the chicken spiedini. No complaints and would happily dine there again. Oh, and I had been looking for an Ellsworth restaurant I'd luinched in before and was disappointed it had disappeared (The Daily Grind?) and was delighed to find out it is also operated by the Cleonice owners, now operating out of the same space, presumably at others times of day."
Dined on 4/27/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for lunch, special occasion
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Review 3 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
The food is still excellent,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The food is still excellent, but the new location is awful. Very noisy, tables crowded together and no intimacy such as we enjoyed in the previous location. A great disappointment. Cleonice will no longer be our go-to restaurant for special occasions and guests."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 4 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Great new space! Same great
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Great new space! Same great food. Looking forwards to many more great meals and wine dinners in the future."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 5 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
We went to celebrate a birthday
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We went to celebrate a birthday and a new book. My table request was honored. The wait person was very helpful on wine selection, and the food was great! All in all it was a perfect evening."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 6 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Same Good Food
OpenTable Diner
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was delicious and well prepared, which is not a surprise. However, this is a new venue for Cleonice - the restaurant having previously been located for over a decade in a small, intimate and historic building down the street - so my wife and I went in wondering whether the new space, a larger coffee house by day, would be a let down. They did a nice job on the decor, and although we missed the bar and booth setting from the prior location, were pleased with the ambiance and will definitely go again."
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 7 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Deneen Ventimiglia is a wonderful
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Deneen Ventimiglia is a wonderful waitress. Good luck in your new location."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 8 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Upscale quality. Good choice
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Upscale quality. Good choice for a romantic Valentine's dinner. Keep the tapas selection of appetizers."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic
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Review 9 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The pink lady drink special
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The pink lady drink special was awful. The food is always good . Our waitress seemed put out when we asked questions about the menu."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2013
Special Features: special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 10 for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The best part about Cleonice
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The best part about Cleonice was the cool space and now they are leaving it. We always have high hopes when we go there, and the wait staff is terrific, but the food always disappoints. It never lives up to its aspirations."
Dined on 02/01/2013
2008
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Cleonice Mediteranean Bistro
Based on the average of (9) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.6
/
5
2 out of 2 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.8
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic