750ml

2287 W. Market St., Northwest Akron
330-794-5754
Tuesday – Saturday at noon. Kitchen closes at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Website: https://750mlwines.com/

When someone has planned a first date or a proposal at 750ml Akron, Brian Lamoda-Genêt wants to know.

If a date is going well, he’ll leave the couple alone. If it isn’t, he’ll linger, trying to make people feel cozier and less awkward.

And for a proposal? Tell him in advance and he’ll get dessert and flowers from other Pilgrim Square businesses.

“I will geek out,” said Lamoda-Genêt, the general manager of the Northwest Akron wine and cocktail bar. “I’ll record it for you.”

Maybe that’s why Signal Akron readers voted 750ml the best date night in Akron.

Part retail store, part wine bar, part restaurant, Lauren Carpeta has continued to put her own twist on the space she’s owned since 2017. New leather chairs were just delivered to provide more comfortable seating, and she’s close to opening an exclusive lounge for wine club members (it starts at $49 a month) that will seat about 15 in velvet banquettes. On the patio, she’s added soft seating and a fire pit.

Inside, the menu now includes cocktails and mocktails in addition to wine (retail bottles have a $15 corkage fee). It also includes THC beverages, as long as the State of Ohio allows them. 

750ml Akron general manager Brian Lamoda-Genêt holds a bottle of the wine and cocktail bar's house champagne.
750ml Akron general manager Brian Lamoda-Genêt holds a bottle of the wine and cocktail bar’s house champagne. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Lamoda-Genêt, who joined the staff almost two years ago, helped spruce up the food menu, where Italian wedding soup is a new addition and flatbreads are a constant favorite. Carpeta recommends the chicken Caesar salad boats — an order comes with two. Desserts are from The West Side Bakery nearby, and patrons can also bring in food from DeCheco’s Pizzeria next door.

“You’re not going to be hungry here,” she said. “We’re going to fill you up.”

And if the restaurant, with couches and tables, isn’t enough? You can also bring a date to one of 750ml’s many events, from wine tastings to paint-and-sip nights to flower arranging. All events are listed on OpenTable, where patrons can also get reservations — which are recommended.

And since Carpeta stocks more than 1,200 wines, there’s also the option to buy a bottle for a date night at home. She’s tried them all and loves to make recommendations about what to pair them with.

Part retail store, part wine bar, part restaurant, 750ml Akron is "like Napa in your neighborhood,” owner Lauren Carpeta said.
Part retail store, part wine bar, part restaurant, 750ml Akron is “like Napa in your neighborhood,” owner Lauren Carpeta said. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

No matter how someone comes to 750ml, Carpeta said, she wants it to be an experience. She continues to tweak the decor, which is full of light woods and leathers. It changes seasonally.

“Everyone is coming here to let go of what’s going on,” Carpeta said. “This is like Napa in your neighborhood.”

2nd Place

Missing Falls Brewery

540 S. Main St., Suite 112, downtown
234-231-1000
Website: https://www.missingfalls.com/?age-verified=9f8e274565

3rd Place

Alexander Pierce Restaurant

797 E. Market St., Middlebury
330-529-2003
Website: https://alexanderpiercerestaurant.com/

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Economics of Akron Reporter (she/her)
Arielle is a Northeast Ohio native with more than 20 years of reporting experience in Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. She joined Signal Akron as its founding education reporter, where she covered Akron Public Schools and the University of Akron.
As the economics of Akron reporter, Arielle will cover topics including housing, economic development and job availability. Through her reporting, she aims to help Akron residents understand the economic issues that are affecting their ability to live full lives in the city, and highlight information that can help residents make decisions. Arielle values diverse voices in her reporting and seeks to write about under-covered issues and groups.