This place is divey, has a good selection, and has good food at a great price. What more can you ask for in Ohio City? They'll have any type of beer you're looking for. A smaller menu with standard and not-so-standard bar foods on it. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Outside of the pinball machine not working, I will definitely be going again!
(4)
Aries L.
What I ordered: Some kind of pear cider Shark Bites with fries Now when I first walked in, the server (don't remember his name) came off to me as...I don't know how to put it...not rude but...it was like: "What do you want?" "Anything else?" "Are you sure?" "That's all?" I asked if they had pear cider and the way he answered was like I should just know their inventory. I'm always searching for something that I have never had before. Honestly, I have no idea how I came across ABC the Tavern. Now, I looked over the menu and they had something that caught my eye, Shark Bites. Freaking shark meat...really? I have to try this and now! Lol, I was actually kind of excited about it. It was presented to me like fried nugget bites, it also came with fries which I did not know. I thought the shark meat and fries were extremely bland. Even with the dipping sauce it did it no justice. I was kind of forcing myself to eat it and played around with it a little...felt like a little kid who couldn't leave the table until everything on the plate was gone. No second visit here...
(2)
Nina H.
Matt Rolin has a bad attitude and he can't cook a quesadilla for shit. He needs to go back to clown school. Also the tuba tartar here tastes like an old salty shoe. There's one bartender here who has a dreadlock for a beard, the magic beans you buy from him don't work. ttfn
(1)
Vanja K.
Fun place and great drink selection. Staff is fast and polite for a hipster meca. But why do people ignore the horribly dirty kitchen ?!?! I have worked both behind the bar and in the kitchen, and I can say I will not eat there. ( maybe fries) the grill and stove , by the looks, get scrubbed down maybe once a week. The walls are probably never cleaned. Maybe my standards are high, but please pay attention to the dirtieness next time. Or it might be the hip thing to do, what do I know. Otherwise the place is cool!
(3)
Bob L.
I gave up long ago the notion that I was hip, cool or otherwise part of the "in crowd" and when I turned 40 I finally started to feel comfortable in my adult skin. So what does this mean for a review of ABC the Tavern? For me, this place is an adult bar, designed by adults for adults and for grown-up enjoyment. This review marks my first visit and, based on my inaugural experience, will lead to many more. I don't recall the exact date or time of our visit, but it was probably on a Thursday sometime around 6pm. Only a few folks were there, mostly at the bar, with the perfectly volume-appropriate background music filling the rest of the space. ABC is dark, dank and dive-y in just the proper proportions. Our seats at the bar seemed made for us and the bartender, friendly but not artificially so, quickly took our drink orders and brought us menus. That's right, they serve food, too. Speaking of food, it's good, cheap bar food. No pretention, no frills. We're talking food that goes great with beer - fries, burger, hot dog, nachos - but we're also talking some food items you might not expect from a place of ABC's ilk - tofu sandwich, red pepper hummus, lamb quesadilla. The hush puppies, hell yes. A basket of fried-to-golden cornbread balls and a side of Sriracha mayo for dipping. I could eat these all day. And the burger was simple and delicious. It reminded me of a 4th of July picnic. The toppings were fresh and crispy and the meat cooked a perfect medium. Their fries are those thick-cut, skin on variety that go perfectly with a side of malt vinager mayo for dipping. The beer list here is pretty damn impressive as well. As a certified beer geek (no, really, cicerone.org says so) I love to see a solid craft beer offering from little joints like ABC. They may not have a huge draught selection - 8, if memory serves - but what they do have is solid. Troegs, Oskar Blues, Breckenridge, Southern Tier, Left Hand and a couple locals (Fat Head's and GLBC) complemented by a large bottled/canned selection. I had no trouble finding something both interesting and delicious. I'm not sure if the way I experienced ABC was typical or if it was the result of some perfect confluence of space-time rift phenomena, but I really liked it. It wasn't too loud, I could actually have a conversation with my wife without leaving inflamed vocal chords, the bartender was friendly and knowledgable, the food was tasty and very reasonably priced and the beer list was right up my alley...hell, for me it was the full package.
(5)
Raymond M.
Bartenders on point. Fantastic food if your looking for a quick bite. Hands down a great bar to go to. Definitely a break from all the fo hawks at the rest of the 25th street joints. Worth the visit
(5)
Justin S.
One of the cheapest places to drink on 25th. I almost always stop in here to begin my night out in OC. Great drink prices and Sundays are all-day happy hours I believe. Has that dive-bar feel too it which there is nothing wrong with in my book. The food is tasty too. Had a shark sandwich here once and my, was it good.
(4)
Jeffrey S.
Unlike it's more pretentious neighbors on West 25th, where people's goal is to go and be seen, ABC makes no apologies for being the rebel bar where young, old, black, white, gay and straight can leave their home with whatever they have on to go have a great time without breaking the bank. Dive bar distractions like pool, bowling, smoking patios and an old school jukebox are here to siphon away the dollar bills and quarters but the star of the show is the beer selection. If they don't have something you like, then you probably don't like beer. About the highest compliment I can give is how impressed I am by the bartenders. As a bartender myself, I know how stressful it can be when your bar is crammed five deep and everyone of them is competing to see if they can be more obnoxious than the next. Despite this, I've never had a problem getting a drink in a timely fashion and I've rarely, if ever, seen the staff show any signs of stress. I personally have been joined at ABC by friends whom I thought could hang with my drinking ability, only for them to turn into "that guy" who causes embarrassing situations. Despite their buffoonery the staff remains patient and dare I say amused when other bars wouldn't hesitate to kick them out.
(5)
Kayley K.
This bar is like Cheers for the hipsters of Ohio City and it is awesome. I have never seen such beautiful, flowing hairstyles (and fantastic beards) in one establishment at one time. The bar staff is efficient and professional too. This is my new favorite hang out on W. 25th and I will be back!! My review may seem overzealous, but is nonetheless sincere. ABC is great!
(5)
Julian D.
Very average place, but what gave it the extra star... The nachos... Ugh I'd sell my best friends sister for those nachos
(4)
Lauren P.
One of my favorite CLE bars. Good place to people watch just about every kind of Clevelander has dropped in on this spot. 2 patios are a plus. Awesome beer selection with the most knowledgeable and down to earth bartenders with an obvious passion for microbrews and food. Downside? Pretty pricey. But for all the right reasons!
(4)
P W.
In the spirit of Dan Gilbert removing his letter to the city of Cleveland about LeBron, I have removed my hateful review of the ABC. I have regretted my negative review for quite some time and have been working diligently at bettering my attitude and not being removed from bars. I had too many great times at ABC to talk bad about it. One weird experience does not negate all the good memories. Sorry to have written that mean and nasty review.
(5)
Adam G.
I love Ohio City but this bar can be extremely busy at night. The atmosphere is fun because the bar is so big but often times its hard to get a drink or move around. They have a unique basement and fun patio so I recommend going there. Overall, lots of fun just make sure you get a good spot or else you'll be the one saying "excuse me" "sorry, trying to get through".
(3)
Elbert K.
was craving a burger so dropped by. no frills, solid burger. having sriracha was helpful. great beer selection in cans and bottles.
(4)
April S.
Waited 20 mins and couldn't get a drink. Was totally disappointed since I have wanted to try this place out for ever!!!
(2)
Jessica M.
i haven't been here much but i am fond of it. large selection of beer. good selection of vegetarian options. dogfish head battered tofu sandwich? uh yeah i'm totally in on that.. hush puppies are yummy too. this place is a relief from the ridiculous crowd across the street at the yuppy hipster places.
(4)
Steve L.
Shark Bites and Good beer!
(5)
Julie D.
Atomic Dogs and basically over 200 choices to pick from of craft beer!!! I absolutely love this place and keep coming back for more! The atomic dogs are so full of flavor in every bite and even though there are jalapeños inside them, the bacon evens out the spice and keeps me satisfied! Love it!!!!
(5)
Mike B.
Weird crowd. Can't tell if they're hippies, just dirty homeless, gay or straight. Also, spilled my full drink on a weird ledge like 2 seconds after I got it and the sleeze ball bartender with a gross deadlock beard charged me for a new one. That should have been on the house. Also, it's smells a little like pot - which I guess is the best thing about this place.
(1)
Jillian P.
It does have a bit of a sanitized dive bar feel that I think does come off a bit pretentious but it's cheap, the small menu is decent (with vegetarian options too), and the staff are great.
(4)
John s.
I come here mainly for the atomic dogs......plus they also have over 200 beer on tap. Music got it, friendly staff? Done it. What else is there to love a out this place?!!!
(4)
Mike T.
Been here a few times, most recently last week. I was contemplating a review and a question arose: is this really a dive bar? It's kinda dirty and dark, some of the barkeeps and patrons look like they don't have great hygiene(people like this can be found in any of the trendy areas), but do dive bars serve semi- eclectic food and have a vast beer list? Well, I grew up on the mean streets of Parma, and know what a dive bar is and isn't. Check out The Last Stop Inn, Red Circle, Alimony Jack's, Characters, Lincoln Inn, Bamboozles... pretty much any corner in Parma. Those are real, true dives. ABC is a quasi- dive and far too pretentious to really qualify. That said, I like the place for what it is... a bar with a good selection of craft beer that I visit when bored with the other local haunts.
(3)
Ryan H.
The best beer bar in Ohio City. You'd think they only serve high life, but they secretly have the best craft beer selection of any place in the neighborhood. Plus: pool table.
(4)
Rachel W.
Went here on a Friday night because Soho was too crowded. Crowns and ginger were normal. Hush puppies were bland but the sriracha aioli made up for it. Jerk chicken nachos were too spicy for me to eat but my bf loved them. This crowd is not my style. Most people were under 26 and wearing clothes from Urban Outfitters. It has a pretty good vibe despite the uniformed police officer on duty.
(4)
Oogywawa O.
I REALLY liked this place. The area (street) has a few good place, but this was definitely my style. Laid back, cool and good conversation. Little nooks to enjoy yourself. I would love to visit again! (I visited last Aug, 2013, just cleaning up my draft reviews, I reckon I had hoped to ad photos).
(4)
Dave S.
Jerk nachos are unbelievable! Get them. This place has a lot of beer choices and is a solid place.
(4)
Jim K.
I had been wanting to come here ever since I saw them on a food network show and even moreso once I got online and saw they had shark on the menu. I was not disappointed one single bit. I started off with the shark bites and they were absolutely delicious. The tarter sauce they came with was good enough to drink even though it had capers in it. Which I'm not a big fan of. For my meal I got the pork belly blt. Again, it was delicious. My friend got the atomic dog and it was hands down, the best dog I've ever had. The hand made fries are like a drug you can't get enough of either. Needless to say I will definitely be coming back and can't wait to try the blackened shark sandwich and eat some more of the fries.
(5)
Lindsay H.
I love this place and I wish I had come here sooner! This is a dark little bar with an amazing beer selection and a sweet happy hour (all day Wednesday I think) with great drink deals and food specials. The food is the best bar food I've ever had! I had the pork belly sandwich (yum), the shark bites (yum yum), and the chicken soup (yum). Apparently their chef was trained as a saucier so the soups and sauces are a must-try!! The service is great here and full of personality! Really, nothing beats the price and selection of this place for beer. I can't wait till the new location opens. I'll probably be there everyday so I'll see you there!
(5)
Rufina B.
Great eccentric staff, excellent service and delicious food for a "dive" bar. This is my home base.
(5)
Eric C.
All night happy hour on Wednesdays! The beer list is huge, sometimes you can get an expensive beer for really cheap if they are trying to deplete stock, and the food is usually spot on for a dive bar. The food is not greasy fried fare and microwaved snacks from--this stuff is a cut above. It's no Lolita, but it's damn good for a divey bar. Also, they have a bowling machine. A bowling machine! The service don't suck either. Actually, the service is great. This is the kind of place one could make their home base. It's got a good and comfortable crowd through the week, and the weekends are packed with all sorts of folks. The crowd is always a mix of many different types. I've seen business folk, hipsters, hip-hop dudes, and so on. That makes the jukebox play the perfect mix of everything awesome. ABC is full of awesome.
(5)
Deanna E.
Nice neighborhood bar, but on a really trendy street. Always a friendly staff. The crowd is laid back and nice too, always easy to socialize with ppl. A little heavy on the pour though ;)
(4)
Rachel B.
I really enjoyed this dive. Cara hosted a great happy hour (and I got me some fingerless gloves, woohoo!). They have a really long bottled beer list and I got my favorite (Left Hand Milk Stout). As per the other reviews, the staff is incredibly nice and helpful. They have an old-school bowling game at the front and a pretty large area upstairs for gatherings. The main area is spacious and was adorned nicely with Christmas lights and a cute tree. I have heard great things about the food and I hope that I will get an opportunity to try it next time!
(4)
Diana M.
I have never tried the food here but I can say they have a nice bar and lots of options. W 25th continues to get more and more popular which explains why this place was so crazy busy on my last visit. I think there are some pretty decent waits for food here and the bar was a few people deep so be sure to come with patience!
(4)
Faith A.
Once the ABC was revamped and remodeled, we loved it... it was a fun little spot with decent service and with an overall good vibe. That quickly changed on one night... long story short, someone slipped stuff into drinks... and thankfully knowing I was not feeling well, I took a cab home... Ladies, beware if you are in this place and if you are there, guard your drinks like a hawk! You can have a much better and safer experience elsewhere.
(1)
Courtney T.
(Forgot to review this place when I was here over the summer...) ABC Tavern, I love everything about you and I'm so glad that I met you. 8 hours away and I'm still thinking about you. If I could clone you and bring you back to my little town in north Jersey, I guarantee you'd be a star.
(5)
Samantha H.
After eating elsewhere on 25th we all decided to come here for more of the bar atmosphere rather than a restaurant with a bar kinda deal. They have a pool table upstairs and a south park pinball machine that works. I'd like to go back sometime and try some food.
(4)
Tim R.
Are you allowed to say "assholes" on here? Most overrated hipster shithole in Cleveland. Food is considered "edgy" thanks to salt. Lots of it. Bartenders think they're in Williamsburg serving Ben affleck, when in fact they're just massive jerks on a power trip over your $3 in change.
(1)
Manoa H.
Let's get one thing clear: I like dive bars. Low-key, relaxed ambiance, modest decor, unpretentious people minding their own business. Often equipped with a small but solid, inexpensive beer selection and amusements like a jukebox, dartboard, etc. A place where locals and friends can sit back and have a good conversation. That said, I do not like bars that pretend to be dive bars, and unfortunately, ABC Tavern classifies as such. Sure, it's got a decent beer selection (what OC bar can hold its own without one?), ping pong table lurking in a too-dim room, tagged-up pool table complete with felt-less cue sticks and mismatched balls, and dartboard as pitted as a kid's face going through some rough puberty. All of which could have been almost charming, except for the other desperately deliberate attempts at dive-ifying what could've, should've been a comfortable watering hole: tiles randomly chipped off of counters. Every touchable surface, grimy, sticky and pointedly unwiped. Gritty floors. And worst of all, a permeating stench of urine, strongest at the back of the bar and concentrated around the bathrooms. I mean, good god. We get it, you're so hip and divey, your bar is almost indistinguishable from a neglected public urinal. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer to drink without having to smell some stranger's piss, leaning on counters that aren't sticky with old beer and other unidentifiable secretions. Sorry OC hipsters, I tend to love your hotspots but this one's a definite miss. On to the next.
(2)
Carl A.
Still one of my favorite places to go, even though it's getting a bit overcrowded. The atomic dog is the best wiener to put in your mouth after midnight. Injected with jalapeno? Si, por favor. Always where I end up to get a bunch of drinks, or after having a bunch of drinks. No judging here. At least to my face.
(5)
Kaitlin D.
I'd only ever been here for late night drinks until a few weeks ago. As far as the bar and its service goes, this place is pretty average and gets incredibly packed, so be careful. They quit serving PBR for whatever reason. Perhaps not having PBR is the new hipster? (kidding, folks. PBR will continue to be the hipster standard, I'm sure.) Now, the food. My boyfriend likes the atomic dogs, which sounded good to me, until I realized how massive it is and got scared. Instead, I got a burger, which was incredible! This burger was cooked on par with B Spot's and the greasiness made it even better! Fries were delicious and much like "fair fries" (grease), and when covered in malt vinegar, they are even better! Overall, it was a surprisingly superb meal, grease and all. I must say, when ordering I was torn between the burger and pretty much everything else. The menu is diverse and tantalizing, though small.
(4)
Dan S.
Stopped into ABC Tavern in an attempt to satisfy a nacho craving that had developed. At the suggestion from a fellow yelper I decided to try the Jerk Chicken Nachos. Final verdict on the nachos - interesting. The "nachos" at ABC start off as any plate of nachos should with house made tortilla chips fried to crispy crunchy perfection. The jerk chicken was tender and moist, but there was a certain sweetness to the spice that was a bit off-putting. When the word "jerk" appears in the description I expect there to be some heat behind it because....that's what jerk seasoning is supposed to do. These nachos are also topped off with creme fraiche. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather have REAL sour cream. Again, back to my verdict of "interesting". I didn't hate this dish, but I didn't fall in love with it. It's one of those things that I would be happy to eat a bite or two, and then move on to something else. As far as the rest of the bar goes....I really like this place. It has a real "old bar" feeling to it. The woodwork has been around for a while, and probably has seem some amazing things during its days. There is a decent amount of craft beers available include Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. The service was fast and attentive, and was quick to make suggestions when and where needed. Final verdict as a neighborhood bar - Great!
(4)
Cara L.
I'm starting to think that divey pubs with unexpectedly divine bar food is a Cleveland's expertise. No, I'm serious. ABC Tavern nails bar food. Not just any old greasy grub though. This is borderline gastropub faire with unique, delicious twists and a hot-damn-that's-cheap price tag. For instance, you can grab something traditional like a fresh, juicy hamburger or something a little different like a lamb quesadilla with cucumber sauce. All of the menu is made from ingredients fresh from the West Side Market too, which is just the icing on the cake (or the ketchup on the fries). A large and vast brew selection doesn't hurt my love for ABC either. From cheap domestics and throwbacks to pricey imports and micros, they'll most likely have whatever you're looking for. And with fast, friendly and talkative service to boot? Someone calls Wayne's World 'cause I feel a "schwing" coming on! Lastly, like many other bars in C-Town, ABC Tavern certainly isn't lacking in the atmosphere department. You can tell it's got history coming out its butt, plus some to spare. Old-school bar bowling? Check! Room for a private party upstairs? Oh yeah, they've got that too. My only issue came from not realizing how loud those damn bowling machines actually are-- especially when played by drunk people who are trying to throw the ball through the thing. Yikes. Added bonus? This bar runs on a jukebox, people! I love that kind of vibe in a smaller bar, so don't forget to bring your dolla-dolla bills, y'all!
(4)
Anna L.
Big fan of ABC. Great bar and always great service. The ABC/XYZ/V team members are all friendly and know how to bartend ...the way it should be done. They take care of me every time I'm in. The drink and beer selection is vast. A few beers they have are even as cheap as 1.50$! As well as their impressive list of bourbons (ranging a wide span of price points).. one of the best in town. The food is always good and consistent. The jukebox is usually playing something good. There is a nice patio area out front and a outdoor area in back as well as the upstairs balcony that has a pool table and small party room. And nice big TVs with the major games always on. One of my favorite meet up spots, bars to go out with a group or just a friend or two. Very mixed crowd and you will always run into people you know. The crown jewel of Ohio City casual night life.
(5)
Jessica I.
I don't think ABC can fall under the "Dive Bar" category anymore. The menu is well-done and affordable, the beer selection is awesome, and they have bar bowling (need I say more?). We had a pulled chicken sandwich, a cucumber-red pepper hummus club (there are two layers to the sandwich, hence the "club" moniker) and some very tasty fries. I don't think anything on the menu is over $8. Service was quick and friendly. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Gina C.
Was there with a group during the Brite Winter festival. Bartenders less than friendly. Long line for the bathroom. Mediocre beer selection. Hopefully I'll never be back.
This is a dive bar with an upscale mind. Sure, you can get $1.50 cans of beer but you can also get higher end beers and drinks. They also have a menu that is pretty dynamite, putting out more than just standard pub fare. You haven't lived until you've had the Atomic Dog!! Their servers are always on the ball, even when they are super busy. It's definitely one of my favorite places to hang out in Ohio City.
(4)
Stefanie F.
Pretty solid bar. I'm a fan of older bars with character and ABC Tavern definitely has plenty of it. Great atmosphere. Nice beer selection. Amazingly fast and friendly service. Last Friday evening it was packed and you never waited more than a few minutes for a drink. Food is okay. I had shark bites on my first visit. I don't think I'm a fan of shark -- too fishy tasting. I like the upstairs thing they have going on.... although when you're downstairs it can feel a bit awkward and you think that the dudes up there are looking down your shirt.
(4)
Emiko V.
This is by far one of my favorite places to hang out at when I'm in Ohio City. I've yet to try the food, but have been here plenty of times for evening and late night drinks and it always has me coming back for more. So it's just a bar that serves drinks - why do I like it so much you ask? It's the vibe you get from this place. The music, the people, the decor - it's all so eclectic and inviting that you can't help but love it. Oh, and they have one of those old school bowling machines too. Again - what's not to love? Check out the tiny patio out front (if you're lucky enough to snag a seat!) or head out back for patio part 2, or just hang inside - either way you'll be totally content in this dive-y, yet super cool spot.
(4)
Allison K.
fried tofu sandwich was pretty tasty. lots of good beer options. we did have about a bajillion different servers come over and check on us about every 5 minutes throughout the night though that was more funny than annoying really.
(3)
Paulius N.
your body cries out - cheeseburger! I desire! relief on two-five. Clean and divey, my new West 25th street fave. Fun menu, great food, jukebox full of fun, bowling machine, pool table, an assortment of interesting characters, hot soup, shark sandwiches (really!) sweet bartenders. I gotta say, the burgers rock. All killer - no filler at the ABC! Carry on.
(4)
Danielle C.
The best fish tacos I have ever had. Nice staff. Jason and the female bartender were great. If you are on the west side you should drop in.
(5)
Patrick M.
My go-to on west 25th. The happy hours are killer. Colorful and random crowd, despite the uniformed cop that hangs out occasionally. The servers are great and don't waste your time. Good beer selection, running the gamut from the very cheap to the fancy. The bar food is actually surprisingly good and pretty affordable; I've had the: - jerk chicken nachos, which were searing hot and delicious (though my friend was unimpressed, but she's had "real" jerk before). - the calamari, which was great. - the BBQ sandwich, not on the site but was definitely on their menu as of april 2013. Banging. The jukebox is a welcome addition, seriously. You will be irritated here if you despise potentially loud people with unnecessary tattoos and piercings and require clean bar bathrooms.
(4)
Erin O.
Sometimes you wanna go... where everybody knows your name.... This is that neighborhood joint that anyone is welcome. You're bound to find business people, hipsters, and college kids on any given night at the same time. Prices are right - and the food is amazing. In fact, you would never expect food in such an obscure place to taste SO good - but its a dream for a foodie like me. Don't let the outside of ABC fool you. This is the place you want to be seen.
(4)
Jacqueline T.
Friendly bartenders, great food, and always a cool specials selection. Plus you can't beat the neighborhood!
(5)
Dax M.
Came here with about 20 work colleagues, most of whom live in Hudson, Chagrin Falls, or along 77 south. It was hard enough prying them away from the oh-so-familiar GLBC around the corner, but they were sure glad I did. Beer selection (draft) was good, atmosphere was far less restrictive then GLBC, and the food was great. For (i think) $12 we got two appetizers: Nachos with real cheese, fresh peppers, pulled jerk chicken, and house-made chips along with red pepper hummus with fried pita bread. Later on it was the best hot dog I've ever had: jalapeño stuffed, bacon wrapped, deep fried and tooling around with a big heap of fries. The Atomic Dog at ABC was a hit with my colleagues too; 5 of us or about 25% ended up eating one. So there you have it. ABC the Tavern can satisfy blue-collar, white-collar, hipsters, locals, and even gated-community exurbanites. Bravo ABC, bravo.
(4)
tim c.
Good bar good people its all good in their hood
(5)
Howard D.
Went here on a Saturday night. Great selection of beer and a cool menu. Just got an appetizer and a couple beers. The service was great. Nice, friendly and attentive. The hush puppies were amazing, the sriracha dipping sauce on the side was really good too. Will be back for sure.
(5)
David T.
ABC Tavern was a happy mistake. I was in Cleveland for the holidays visiting my family and friends at the Garage Bar across the street. I had bought gloves and shanghaied someone's scarf and wondered what part of spending winter in Cleveland was a good idea. After drinking at the Garage Bar, my friend said, "I'm hungry." She and I dumped our friends and texted them to meet us across the street at the ABC Tavern. I won't go into the 1950 nudes in the back, the bowling machine, the upper area private area, or how my friend and I played "Can You Spot the Lesbian," which I won, because the bi girl I spotted was used as the tie breaker. What I will talk about was how my friends and I discovered two key things there. The first one was called Kentucky Bourbon Ale. I stopped drinking Christmas Ale that night (and who was the moron who started this lacing the rim with cinnamon? This is coming from a California guy and we're the ones who shove oranges into our beers), but I've digressed, and made new friends with the Kentucky Bourbon Ale and it gave me its number. I'm waiting three days to call, but I want to call it now. I texted Christmas Ale and said we have to see new people. The second thing I discovered there was the Atomic Dog. I was drunk and hungry. If I smoked weed, I can only imagine how much tastier it would be. I even went back the next day sober to see if I was right and you know what, I was. Now close your eyes. Actually don't, you can't read the rest of it if you. Get someone to read the rest to you. Make it your mom. I'll wait. Still waiting. All right, close your eyes and imagine the best hot dog that you'll ever taste. It's big and juicy. It is the gayest experience in your mouth next to that one and only time your uncle babysat you and let you drink all those tasty wine coolers all night long. The hot dog is wrapped with bacon and the dogs are sliced, and inside are jalapeño peppers. I believe there is a hollandaise sauce on the hot dog. It's not just food, it's an explosion in your mouth.
(4)
Debra S.
Hands down our favorite stroll to place! I used to love the old ABC and I was sad when I heard it had been sold. Not anymore. The food here is consistently great and the servers are always friendly. We like to sit outside and people watch and sip a cold "fancy beer". The food always comes too soon! Their menu items and beer list are always changing, so we are never bored!
(5)
Charlie M.
Large selection of beer/booze, great menu, friendly staff--they have it all. Prices are very reasonable as well. Try: - Lamb quesadilla - Chicken quesadilla - Any of the specials (they're always awesome)
(5)
Steve B.
Only gets four stars because having a band play on that upper deck is like some kind of alternate universe where bands perform like air shows. I felt like an idiot standing and staring up the singers shirt. And damn, that dude was hairy. Excellent beer selection and the service was friendly, quick, and solid. Never had to stand at the bar and wait for more than a minute, and the place was packed. So far, this is the only bar on W. 25th that doesn't make me seriously consider opening fire on crowds as a career option.
(4)
Nicole M.
Todd Rundgren played here-- or at least he tried. Apparently Liv's stepfather knows someone there, so he "sat-in" with some affiliated craptastic white-boy blues cover band. Dear craptastic white-boy blues cover band, When a rock god like Todd Rundgren is playing within 10 miles of your pathetic little band, shave your heads, don saffron robes and meditate in silence. Please don't sing, play lead or, God forbid, solo. Signed, The Universe Otherwise, this is a great bar. The food is unreal. I had a "lamb quesadilla", lamb from the West Side Market sauteed with spinach and feta on a pita. Huge, reasonably priced and utterly delicious. Others in my group had the burger, jerk chicken sammy and shark bites. All finished every crumb! The service is excellent. The staff knows all about the dishes on the menu and all the offerings on their well rounded beer menu. They are friendly, cool and very competent. Don't be off put by the uber-hipster crowd. A few American Apparelled hipsters may stare at those who don't rock skinny jeans, but the staff definitely makes everyone welcome.
(4)
Adele D.
Fun bar with a hipster vibe. Weird,cramped bathroom that feels like a trailer.
(4)
Mark R.
Good beer, food, smart lighting and volume management. Bathroom smelled like summer camp and not in a nostalgic sort of sense.
(4)
Adam D.
The last place on w 25th where on a Thursday you won't be over run by the people who got bored of w 6th/9th but think they are still there. they have a pretty damn good beer list, limited on draft but good stuff in bottles. the prices are average to high ($3.50-7.00+ depending). the lamb quesadilla is fantastic and a great value at $6.75. happy hour twice a night, i think 4-7 and then 10-12 mon-fri. a cheap pool table, free darts, old school bowling, flat screens with sports, and super friendly bartenders who are more than willing to chat with you. overall a great bar.
(4)
Dee A.
I had never been in the ABC tavern before it was redone. But I love this new not-so-dark and dank interior. They have a good beer selection (although to be honest I usually stick with the cheap wimpy beers such as PBR or Miller Lite). The food, though, is a step up above normal dive food. With all their ingredients coming from the Westside market, they have some pretty solid food items. The pork belly sandwich contains thick cuts of crispy bacon and comes with thin delicious fries. My friends and I shared an atomic dog. A huge jumbo hot dog stuffed with jalepenos and then wrapped in bacon. Wow. It was ridiculously good but there was no way I could have eaten the whole thing without a guilt trip following. The decor is bordering on dive but is still very comfortable and well-lit. The music comes from Pandora and has varied from 80's ballads to 90's pop rock the times I have been there. The clientele is nice, if not bordering on too nice as we had more than one person feel it was appropriate join in our conversation without being asked. Overall, the place is comfortable and a great place to just chill.
(4)
G G.
ABC is an awesome local bar. They have great food, cheap beer and an upstairs pool table. I love their burgers, currently their special burger is a roman burger knock off which is even better than Mr. Hero's. It has a fresh made patty, grilled salami, cheese and veggies. Its served with fresh cut 'frites' AKA thin fries.
(4)
Brandon I.
It's not exactly dark and dank anymore, but definitely not West 6th Sleek. They are armed with a pool table, a dart board, and a bowling machine. And possibly the best jukebox in Cleveland. The food is...well, food. It's not bad, not exactly earth shattering...BUT, it's kind of fun to watch the guy make it for you, which he does, enthusiastically (there's an old serving window from which you can spy). He'll even talk to you while busy with his work. And it's all well-priced. Saves you money for the beer and drinks. And they have a lot of beer and drinks. They have the Brooklyn-ish buck fifty PBR in a can, all the way to the Christmas ales and several other imports and exports. Given the crowds that I've seen there, this place isn't exactly a secret...but the crowd is fun and diverse. I got into a fun conversation with the gal who owns the building (and the previous owner of the bar). Nice gal. 4 stars for the great beer selection at good prices, the pool table, jukebox and bowling machine.
(4)
John C.
The new owners have brightened the place up. I think it has one of the longest bars in Cleveland. They now have food. Try the cheeseburger with super thin cut fries or the lamb quesadilla with ground lamb from the West Side Market. It will be a good place to either start the night or to finish it.
(4)
Jessica B.
Pretty average bar. Good, solid drinks and interesting "decor". Seems to me like ABC is a good place to grab a few drinks (for cheap) before moving on to whatever your main destination is for the night.
(3)
Jason S.
This is the place to be on Saturday night!
(4)
David P.
My first endeavor to a Cleveland dive. Pretty average looking place. Cheap beer. That kept us happy. I ordered the pork belly BLT from the kitchen. Pretty good, greasy sandwich. Went perfect with the cheap beer. Staff was OK. It took a while for my food to come out because they were really busy and the guy I ordered from looked flustered. People were getting food before me even though they ordered well after I did. All in all, good place to chill.
(3)
Michael T.
great bartenders amazing food (try the abc burger) always a great beer selection sometimes a very different/inconsistent crowd still my favorite in Ohio City!! 4.5 stars
(4)
Chris K.
This is my favorite bar in Cleveland. Black Label and PBR cheap. Great jukebox. Bar bowling. Diverse crowd. But what puts it head and shoulders above every other bar is the service. I've never been in this bar on a weekend when they did not have four bartenders working. On a crowded night, this makes all the difference. A credit to the owner and the staff. I've actually seen the bartenders flagging down patrons to get them a fresh drink. Unheard of.
(5)
Erin R.
good beer selection, awesome staff, nice interior. wish it had a bigger patio type jam because it's summer and i want to be outside, but that's no detriment really. we stole someone's nachos that they invited us to share, they were delicious. i highly recommend those. crazy clientele the night we were there - a lot of may december romances and really dressed up babes, but that just made it funnier to be there so that's probably a plus to me. i'd go back.
(3)
Gina P.
For bar food, ABC is amongst the elite. Seriously, the best nachos I've ever had. Pineapple, parsley fraische, absolutely deliscious. Calamari ranks about the same. Service is on point too.
(5)
J H.
Can you day Atomic Dog? Wrapped in bacon, stuffed with jalapeño peppers- a must try. Had my first recenlty and I am hooked. Thanks to Linda and Randy for the rebirth. What was a nothing special neighborhood bar is now a trendy vibrant little hang out.
(4)
Justin S.
Worst Service ever! Never again!
(1)
Mike G.
if you want good beer, and knowledgeable bar tender(s), go here!!
(5)
Tommy Z.
ABC Tavern's Jerk Nachos are on another level!
(5)
Jennifer S.
ABC Tavern is a great old-school neighborhood bar with a nice drink selection and delicious, reasonably priced upscale bar food. Fans of old-school bowling can get their fix at ABC's hilariously low-tech bowling lane.
(4)
Melanie M.
Cool place. Nice beer selection, although you should definitely go for one of their happy hour times as they were a bit pricey outside of those time slots. Didn't get any food this time, but plan to go back and try the tofu fillet sandwich and the hummus (both of which are reportedly vegan). The bar bowling was pretty fun also, only a quarter to play. The back patio was smokey as I walked through it, but I guess you'll have that.
(3)
J.P. O.
So, I came here primarily to get hammered. And they did not disappoint! But I did eat here, so I feel like I can review that, real quick. My friend and I came up at ~9:30 tonight. Service: outstanding. Beers: decently priced, and an excellent selection, with several very good local beers. We got the lamb quesadillas and the "shark bites" for our "soak up the booze" meal. The quesadillas were very good, although they were not strictly "quesadillas". They were actually ground curried lamb wrapped in naan, and they were subtly spiced and, with the accompanying fries,very substantial. The shark, on the other hand...hmm. The shark was overcooked and too chewy, and the breading tasted overwhelmingly of Old Bay. That isn't bad, necessarily, but when it overwhelms the flavor of the fish to such a degree, well, not good. Now, it was a Monday, and shark (presumably Mako? The menu was not specific) is a fairly exotic fish, so part of the responsibility for the iffy meal lies upon me, but still: it was not good shark, not at all.. Nonetheless, this is a good bar to drink at and I will definitely be returning (since it's like RIGHT up my street).
(4)
Jim P.
This hole in the wall makes for a good escape... THE UP-SIDE: No pretensions here. Just a corner bar type place. A nice place to pop into when you're tired of the craziness of the "Garage" across the street. THE DOWN-SIDE: This place is a hole. You only come here to sit and have cheap beer. THE SUM-IT-UP: At times, this place beats the other Ohio City bars, hands down. Go here to escape.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Loud Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ryan H.
This place is divey, has a good selection, and has good food at a great price. What more can you ask for in Ohio City? They'll have any type of beer you're looking for. A smaller menu with standard and not-so-standard bar foods on it. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Outside of the pinball machine not working, I will definitely be going again!
(4)Aries L.
What I ordered: Some kind of pear cider Shark Bites with fries Now when I first walked in, the server (don't remember his name) came off to me as...I don't know how to put it...not rude but...it was like: "What do you want?" "Anything else?" "Are you sure?" "That's all?" I asked if they had pear cider and the way he answered was like I should just know their inventory. I'm always searching for something that I have never had before. Honestly, I have no idea how I came across ABC the Tavern. Now, I looked over the menu and they had something that caught my eye, Shark Bites. Freaking shark meat...really? I have to try this and now! Lol, I was actually kind of excited about it. It was presented to me like fried nugget bites, it also came with fries which I did not know. I thought the shark meat and fries were extremely bland. Even with the dipping sauce it did it no justice. I was kind of forcing myself to eat it and played around with it a little...felt like a little kid who couldn't leave the table until everything on the plate was gone. No second visit here...
(2)Nina H.
Matt Rolin has a bad attitude and he can't cook a quesadilla for shit. He needs to go back to clown school. Also the tuba tartar here tastes like an old salty shoe. There's one bartender here who has a dreadlock for a beard, the magic beans you buy from him don't work. ttfn
(1)Vanja K.
Fun place and great drink selection. Staff is fast and polite for a hipster meca. But why do people ignore the horribly dirty kitchen ?!?! I have worked both behind the bar and in the kitchen, and I can say I will not eat there. ( maybe fries) the grill and stove , by the looks, get scrubbed down maybe once a week. The walls are probably never cleaned. Maybe my standards are high, but please pay attention to the dirtieness next time. Or it might be the hip thing to do, what do I know. Otherwise the place is cool!
(3)Bob L.
I gave up long ago the notion that I was hip, cool or otherwise part of the "in crowd" and when I turned 40 I finally started to feel comfortable in my adult skin. So what does this mean for a review of ABC the Tavern? For me, this place is an adult bar, designed by adults for adults and for grown-up enjoyment. This review marks my first visit and, based on my inaugural experience, will lead to many more. I don't recall the exact date or time of our visit, but it was probably on a Thursday sometime around 6pm. Only a few folks were there, mostly at the bar, with the perfectly volume-appropriate background music filling the rest of the space. ABC is dark, dank and dive-y in just the proper proportions. Our seats at the bar seemed made for us and the bartender, friendly but not artificially so, quickly took our drink orders and brought us menus. That's right, they serve food, too. Speaking of food, it's good, cheap bar food. No pretention, no frills. We're talking food that goes great with beer - fries, burger, hot dog, nachos - but we're also talking some food items you might not expect from a place of ABC's ilk - tofu sandwich, red pepper hummus, lamb quesadilla. The hush puppies, hell yes. A basket of fried-to-golden cornbread balls and a side of Sriracha mayo for dipping. I could eat these all day. And the burger was simple and delicious. It reminded me of a 4th of July picnic. The toppings were fresh and crispy and the meat cooked a perfect medium. Their fries are those thick-cut, skin on variety that go perfectly with a side of malt vinager mayo for dipping. The beer list here is pretty damn impressive as well. As a certified beer geek (no, really, cicerone.org says so) I love to see a solid craft beer offering from little joints like ABC. They may not have a huge draught selection - 8, if memory serves - but what they do have is solid. Troegs, Oskar Blues, Breckenridge, Southern Tier, Left Hand and a couple locals (Fat Head's and GLBC) complemented by a large bottled/canned selection. I had no trouble finding something both interesting and delicious. I'm not sure if the way I experienced ABC was typical or if it was the result of some perfect confluence of space-time rift phenomena, but I really liked it. It wasn't too loud, I could actually have a conversation with my wife without leaving inflamed vocal chords, the bartender was friendly and knowledgable, the food was tasty and very reasonably priced and the beer list was right up my alley...hell, for me it was the full package.
(5)Raymond M.
Bartenders on point. Fantastic food if your looking for a quick bite. Hands down a great bar to go to. Definitely a break from all the fo hawks at the rest of the 25th street joints. Worth the visit
(5)Justin S.
One of the cheapest places to drink on 25th. I almost always stop in here to begin my night out in OC. Great drink prices and Sundays are all-day happy hours I believe. Has that dive-bar feel too it which there is nothing wrong with in my book. The food is tasty too. Had a shark sandwich here once and my, was it good.
(4)Jeffrey S.
Unlike it's more pretentious neighbors on West 25th, where people's goal is to go and be seen, ABC makes no apologies for being the rebel bar where young, old, black, white, gay and straight can leave their home with whatever they have on to go have a great time without breaking the bank. Dive bar distractions like pool, bowling, smoking patios and an old school jukebox are here to siphon away the dollar bills and quarters but the star of the show is the beer selection. If they don't have something you like, then you probably don't like beer. About the highest compliment I can give is how impressed I am by the bartenders. As a bartender myself, I know how stressful it can be when your bar is crammed five deep and everyone of them is competing to see if they can be more obnoxious than the next. Despite this, I've never had a problem getting a drink in a timely fashion and I've rarely, if ever, seen the staff show any signs of stress. I personally have been joined at ABC by friends whom I thought could hang with my drinking ability, only for them to turn into "that guy" who causes embarrassing situations. Despite their buffoonery the staff remains patient and dare I say amused when other bars wouldn't hesitate to kick them out.
(5)Kayley K.
This bar is like Cheers for the hipsters of Ohio City and it is awesome. I have never seen such beautiful, flowing hairstyles (and fantastic beards) in one establishment at one time. The bar staff is efficient and professional too. This is my new favorite hang out on W. 25th and I will be back!! My review may seem overzealous, but is nonetheless sincere. ABC is great!
(5)Julian D.
Very average place, but what gave it the extra star... The nachos... Ugh I'd sell my best friends sister for those nachos
(4)Lauren P.
One of my favorite CLE bars. Good place to people watch just about every kind of Clevelander has dropped in on this spot. 2 patios are a plus. Awesome beer selection with the most knowledgeable and down to earth bartenders with an obvious passion for microbrews and food. Downside? Pretty pricey. But for all the right reasons!
(4)P W.
In the spirit of Dan Gilbert removing his letter to the city of Cleveland about LeBron, I have removed my hateful review of the ABC. I have regretted my negative review for quite some time and have been working diligently at bettering my attitude and not being removed from bars. I had too many great times at ABC to talk bad about it. One weird experience does not negate all the good memories. Sorry to have written that mean and nasty review.
(5)Adam G.
I love Ohio City but this bar can be extremely busy at night. The atmosphere is fun because the bar is so big but often times its hard to get a drink or move around. They have a unique basement and fun patio so I recommend going there. Overall, lots of fun just make sure you get a good spot or else you'll be the one saying "excuse me" "sorry, trying to get through".
(3)Elbert K.
was craving a burger so dropped by. no frills, solid burger. having sriracha was helpful. great beer selection in cans and bottles.
(4)April S.
Waited 20 mins and couldn't get a drink. Was totally disappointed since I have wanted to try this place out for ever!!!
(2)Jessica M.
i haven't been here much but i am fond of it. large selection of beer. good selection of vegetarian options. dogfish head battered tofu sandwich? uh yeah i'm totally in on that.. hush puppies are yummy too. this place is a relief from the ridiculous crowd across the street at the yuppy hipster places.
(4)Steve L.
Shark Bites and Good beer!
(5)Julie D.
Atomic Dogs and basically over 200 choices to pick from of craft beer!!! I absolutely love this place and keep coming back for more! The atomic dogs are so full of flavor in every bite and even though there are jalapeños inside them, the bacon evens out the spice and keeps me satisfied! Love it!!!!
(5)Mike B.
Weird crowd. Can't tell if they're hippies, just dirty homeless, gay or straight. Also, spilled my full drink on a weird ledge like 2 seconds after I got it and the sleeze ball bartender with a gross deadlock beard charged me for a new one. That should have been on the house. Also, it's smells a little like pot - which I guess is the best thing about this place.
(1)Jillian P.
It does have a bit of a sanitized dive bar feel that I think does come off a bit pretentious but it's cheap, the small menu is decent (with vegetarian options too), and the staff are great.
(4)John s.
I come here mainly for the atomic dogs......plus they also have over 200 beer on tap. Music got it, friendly staff? Done it. What else is there to love a out this place?!!!
(4)Mike T.
Been here a few times, most recently last week. I was contemplating a review and a question arose: is this really a dive bar? It's kinda dirty and dark, some of the barkeeps and patrons look like they don't have great hygiene(people like this can be found in any of the trendy areas), but do dive bars serve semi- eclectic food and have a vast beer list? Well, I grew up on the mean streets of Parma, and know what a dive bar is and isn't. Check out The Last Stop Inn, Red Circle, Alimony Jack's, Characters, Lincoln Inn, Bamboozles... pretty much any corner in Parma. Those are real, true dives. ABC is a quasi- dive and far too pretentious to really qualify. That said, I like the place for what it is... a bar with a good selection of craft beer that I visit when bored with the other local haunts.
(3)Ryan H.
The best beer bar in Ohio City. You'd think they only serve high life, but they secretly have the best craft beer selection of any place in the neighborhood. Plus: pool table.
(4)Rachel W.
Went here on a Friday night because Soho was too crowded. Crowns and ginger were normal. Hush puppies were bland but the sriracha aioli made up for it. Jerk chicken nachos were too spicy for me to eat but my bf loved them. This crowd is not my style. Most people were under 26 and wearing clothes from Urban Outfitters. It has a pretty good vibe despite the uniformed police officer on duty.
(4)Oogywawa O.
I REALLY liked this place. The area (street) has a few good place, but this was definitely my style. Laid back, cool and good conversation. Little nooks to enjoy yourself. I would love to visit again! (I visited last Aug, 2013, just cleaning up my draft reviews, I reckon I had hoped to ad photos).
(4)Dave S.
Jerk nachos are unbelievable! Get them. This place has a lot of beer choices and is a solid place.
(4)Jim K.
I had been wanting to come here ever since I saw them on a food network show and even moreso once I got online and saw they had shark on the menu. I was not disappointed one single bit. I started off with the shark bites and they were absolutely delicious. The tarter sauce they came with was good enough to drink even though it had capers in it. Which I'm not a big fan of. For my meal I got the pork belly blt. Again, it was delicious. My friend got the atomic dog and it was hands down, the best dog I've ever had. The hand made fries are like a drug you can't get enough of either. Needless to say I will definitely be coming back and can't wait to try the blackened shark sandwich and eat some more of the fries.
(5)Lindsay H.
I love this place and I wish I had come here sooner! This is a dark little bar with an amazing beer selection and a sweet happy hour (all day Wednesday I think) with great drink deals and food specials. The food is the best bar food I've ever had! I had the pork belly sandwich (yum), the shark bites (yum yum), and the chicken soup (yum). Apparently their chef was trained as a saucier so the soups and sauces are a must-try!! The service is great here and full of personality! Really, nothing beats the price and selection of this place for beer. I can't wait till the new location opens. I'll probably be there everyday so I'll see you there!
(5)Rufina B.
Great eccentric staff, excellent service and delicious food for a "dive" bar. This is my home base.
(5)Eric C.
All night happy hour on Wednesdays! The beer list is huge, sometimes you can get an expensive beer for really cheap if they are trying to deplete stock, and the food is usually spot on for a dive bar. The food is not greasy fried fare and microwaved snacks from--this stuff is a cut above. It's no Lolita, but it's damn good for a divey bar. Also, they have a bowling machine. A bowling machine! The service don't suck either. Actually, the service is great. This is the kind of place one could make their home base. It's got a good and comfortable crowd through the week, and the weekends are packed with all sorts of folks. The crowd is always a mix of many different types. I've seen business folk, hipsters, hip-hop dudes, and so on. That makes the jukebox play the perfect mix of everything awesome. ABC is full of awesome.
(5)Deanna E.
Nice neighborhood bar, but on a really trendy street. Always a friendly staff. The crowd is laid back and nice too, always easy to socialize with ppl. A little heavy on the pour though ;)
(4)Rachel B.
I really enjoyed this dive. Cara hosted a great happy hour (and I got me some fingerless gloves, woohoo!). They have a really long bottled beer list and I got my favorite (Left Hand Milk Stout). As per the other reviews, the staff is incredibly nice and helpful. They have an old-school bowling game at the front and a pretty large area upstairs for gatherings. The main area is spacious and was adorned nicely with Christmas lights and a cute tree. I have heard great things about the food and I hope that I will get an opportunity to try it next time!
(4)Diana M.
I have never tried the food here but I can say they have a nice bar and lots of options. W 25th continues to get more and more popular which explains why this place was so crazy busy on my last visit. I think there are some pretty decent waits for food here and the bar was a few people deep so be sure to come with patience!
(4)Faith A.
Once the ABC was revamped and remodeled, we loved it... it was a fun little spot with decent service and with an overall good vibe. That quickly changed on one night... long story short, someone slipped stuff into drinks... and thankfully knowing I was not feeling well, I took a cab home... Ladies, beware if you are in this place and if you are there, guard your drinks like a hawk! You can have a much better and safer experience elsewhere.
(1)Courtney T.
(Forgot to review this place when I was here over the summer...) ABC Tavern, I love everything about you and I'm so glad that I met you. 8 hours away and I'm still thinking about you. If I could clone you and bring you back to my little town in north Jersey, I guarantee you'd be a star.
(5)Samantha H.
After eating elsewhere on 25th we all decided to come here for more of the bar atmosphere rather than a restaurant with a bar kinda deal. They have a pool table upstairs and a south park pinball machine that works. I'd like to go back sometime and try some food.
(4)Tim R.
Are you allowed to say "assholes" on here? Most overrated hipster shithole in Cleveland. Food is considered "edgy" thanks to salt. Lots of it. Bartenders think they're in Williamsburg serving Ben affleck, when in fact they're just massive jerks on a power trip over your $3 in change.
(1)Manoa H.
Let's get one thing clear: I like dive bars. Low-key, relaxed ambiance, modest decor, unpretentious people minding their own business. Often equipped with a small but solid, inexpensive beer selection and amusements like a jukebox, dartboard, etc. A place where locals and friends can sit back and have a good conversation. That said, I do not like bars that pretend to be dive bars, and unfortunately, ABC Tavern classifies as such. Sure, it's got a decent beer selection (what OC bar can hold its own without one?), ping pong table lurking in a too-dim room, tagged-up pool table complete with felt-less cue sticks and mismatched balls, and dartboard as pitted as a kid's face going through some rough puberty. All of which could have been almost charming, except for the other desperately deliberate attempts at dive-ifying what could've, should've been a comfortable watering hole: tiles randomly chipped off of counters. Every touchable surface, grimy, sticky and pointedly unwiped. Gritty floors. And worst of all, a permeating stench of urine, strongest at the back of the bar and concentrated around the bathrooms. I mean, good god. We get it, you're so hip and divey, your bar is almost indistinguishable from a neglected public urinal. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer to drink without having to smell some stranger's piss, leaning on counters that aren't sticky with old beer and other unidentifiable secretions. Sorry OC hipsters, I tend to love your hotspots but this one's a definite miss. On to the next.
(2)Carl A.
Still one of my favorite places to go, even though it's getting a bit overcrowded. The atomic dog is the best wiener to put in your mouth after midnight. Injected with jalapeno? Si, por favor. Always where I end up to get a bunch of drinks, or after having a bunch of drinks. No judging here. At least to my face.
(5)Kaitlin D.
I'd only ever been here for late night drinks until a few weeks ago. As far as the bar and its service goes, this place is pretty average and gets incredibly packed, so be careful. They quit serving PBR for whatever reason. Perhaps not having PBR is the new hipster? (kidding, folks. PBR will continue to be the hipster standard, I'm sure.) Now, the food. My boyfriend likes the atomic dogs, which sounded good to me, until I realized how massive it is and got scared. Instead, I got a burger, which was incredible! This burger was cooked on par with B Spot's and the greasiness made it even better! Fries were delicious and much like "fair fries" (grease), and when covered in malt vinegar, they are even better! Overall, it was a surprisingly superb meal, grease and all. I must say, when ordering I was torn between the burger and pretty much everything else. The menu is diverse and tantalizing, though small.
(4)Dan S.
Stopped into ABC Tavern in an attempt to satisfy a nacho craving that had developed. At the suggestion from a fellow yelper I decided to try the Jerk Chicken Nachos. Final verdict on the nachos - interesting. The "nachos" at ABC start off as any plate of nachos should with house made tortilla chips fried to crispy crunchy perfection. The jerk chicken was tender and moist, but there was a certain sweetness to the spice that was a bit off-putting. When the word "jerk" appears in the description I expect there to be some heat behind it because....that's what jerk seasoning is supposed to do. These nachos are also topped off with creme fraiche. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather have REAL sour cream. Again, back to my verdict of "interesting". I didn't hate this dish, but I didn't fall in love with it. It's one of those things that I would be happy to eat a bite or two, and then move on to something else. As far as the rest of the bar goes....I really like this place. It has a real "old bar" feeling to it. The woodwork has been around for a while, and probably has seem some amazing things during its days. There is a decent amount of craft beers available include Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. The service was fast and attentive, and was quick to make suggestions when and where needed. Final verdict as a neighborhood bar - Great!
(4)Cara L.
I'm starting to think that divey pubs with unexpectedly divine bar food is a Cleveland's expertise. No, I'm serious. ABC Tavern nails bar food. Not just any old greasy grub though. This is borderline gastropub faire with unique, delicious twists and a hot-damn-that's-cheap price tag. For instance, you can grab something traditional like a fresh, juicy hamburger or something a little different like a lamb quesadilla with cucumber sauce. All of the menu is made from ingredients fresh from the West Side Market too, which is just the icing on the cake (or the ketchup on the fries). A large and vast brew selection doesn't hurt my love for ABC either. From cheap domestics and throwbacks to pricey imports and micros, they'll most likely have whatever you're looking for. And with fast, friendly and talkative service to boot? Someone calls Wayne's World 'cause I feel a "schwing" coming on! Lastly, like many other bars in C-Town, ABC Tavern certainly isn't lacking in the atmosphere department. You can tell it's got history coming out its butt, plus some to spare. Old-school bar bowling? Check! Room for a private party upstairs? Oh yeah, they've got that too. My only issue came from not realizing how loud those damn bowling machines actually are-- especially when played by drunk people who are trying to throw the ball through the thing. Yikes. Added bonus? This bar runs on a jukebox, people! I love that kind of vibe in a smaller bar, so don't forget to bring your dolla-dolla bills, y'all!
(4)Anna L.
Big fan of ABC. Great bar and always great service. The ABC/XYZ/V team members are all friendly and know how to bartend ...the way it should be done. They take care of me every time I'm in. The drink and beer selection is vast. A few beers they have are even as cheap as 1.50$! As well as their impressive list of bourbons (ranging a wide span of price points).. one of the best in town. The food is always good and consistent. The jukebox is usually playing something good. There is a nice patio area out front and a outdoor area in back as well as the upstairs balcony that has a pool table and small party room. And nice big TVs with the major games always on. One of my favorite meet up spots, bars to go out with a group or just a friend or two. Very mixed crowd and you will always run into people you know. The crown jewel of Ohio City casual night life.
(5)Jessica I.
I don't think ABC can fall under the "Dive Bar" category anymore. The menu is well-done and affordable, the beer selection is awesome, and they have bar bowling (need I say more?). We had a pulled chicken sandwich, a cucumber-red pepper hummus club (there are two layers to the sandwich, hence the "club" moniker) and some very tasty fries. I don't think anything on the menu is over $8. Service was quick and friendly. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Gina C.
Was there with a group during the Brite Winter festival. Bartenders less than friendly. Long line for the bathroom. Mediocre beer selection. Hopefully I'll never be back.
(1)Matthew M.
Sometimes it's the unexpected, unanticipated events and experiences, ones without any preconceived spoilers that make for the most pure moments in ones life. The latest discovery? ABC Tavern. Located along the main drag of West 25th in Ohio City, ABC Tavern was a rare and welcoming accident. Last Saturday evening started out with my attempt to use up a Great Lakes Brewing Co. gift certificate that had been burning a hole in my pocket for quite some time. As I would later find out, it wasn't meant to be. At 7:30pm, the wait was close to an hour. Forget it. A quick brainstorming of a Plan B resulted in my suggestion of a sleepy ol' Tavern with a generic title further on down W. 25th that I've been hearing whispers about. "ABC the Tavern" it was, as proudly and eloquently announced from the vintage art deco-ish marquee above it's entrance. Inside, my first impressions of the dimly lit dive were of airy comfort in a relaxed atmosphere, all leading to a welcoming place of hospitality, spirit and soul. The space is long and somewhat narrow with tall ceilings. A long stool lined bar runs along the left side wall. A few high tops along the right. A pool table overlooking the entire bar sits a top a loft space. Throughout our time here, the jukebox continued to pump out timeless classics and groovy tunes. Any man with a lot on his mind shouldn't have to sit alone with his thoughts and a head full of booze. The jukebox was a welcomed friend. After browsing the extensive list of brews, ranging from the thrifty PBR tall-boy to a near endless list of craft beers that even the most snobbish brew-master would find adequate, I settled on a Dogfish Pêche. My accomplice, an Abita Purple Haze. The menu was concise, yet well varied and adventurous compared to any other typical dive. Said to be under new ownership (as of last fall) by the same group that owns the nearby West Side Market Cafe, I could tell the menu items were heavily influenced by fresh WSM ingredients. Instead of ordering entrées, we settled on apps of Nacho's & Hummus. Again, both considerably better than what you'd expect from a typical dive bar. Throughout the meal and my experience at ABC, I'd soon find out this place was anything but "typical". Friendly and accommodating service along with an inventive and inspired menu all in a no-frills, unpretentious space... well this my friends was an unexpected, yet welcome thing. ABC the Tavern, I look forward to my return.
(4)George R.
This is a dive bar with an upscale mind. Sure, you can get $1.50 cans of beer but you can also get higher end beers and drinks. They also have a menu that is pretty dynamite, putting out more than just standard pub fare. You haven't lived until you've had the Atomic Dog!! Their servers are always on the ball, even when they are super busy. It's definitely one of my favorite places to hang out in Ohio City.
(4)Stefanie F.
Pretty solid bar. I'm a fan of older bars with character and ABC Tavern definitely has plenty of it. Great atmosphere. Nice beer selection. Amazingly fast and friendly service. Last Friday evening it was packed and you never waited more than a few minutes for a drink. Food is okay. I had shark bites on my first visit. I don't think I'm a fan of shark -- too fishy tasting. I like the upstairs thing they have going on.... although when you're downstairs it can feel a bit awkward and you think that the dudes up there are looking down your shirt.
(4)Emiko V.
This is by far one of my favorite places to hang out at when I'm in Ohio City. I've yet to try the food, but have been here plenty of times for evening and late night drinks and it always has me coming back for more. So it's just a bar that serves drinks - why do I like it so much you ask? It's the vibe you get from this place. The music, the people, the decor - it's all so eclectic and inviting that you can't help but love it. Oh, and they have one of those old school bowling machines too. Again - what's not to love? Check out the tiny patio out front (if you're lucky enough to snag a seat!) or head out back for patio part 2, or just hang inside - either way you'll be totally content in this dive-y, yet super cool spot.
(4)Allison K.
fried tofu sandwich was pretty tasty. lots of good beer options. we did have about a bajillion different servers come over and check on us about every 5 minutes throughout the night though that was more funny than annoying really.
(3)Paulius N.
your body cries out - cheeseburger! I desire! relief on two-five. Clean and divey, my new West 25th street fave. Fun menu, great food, jukebox full of fun, bowling machine, pool table, an assortment of interesting characters, hot soup, shark sandwiches (really!) sweet bartenders. I gotta say, the burgers rock. All killer - no filler at the ABC! Carry on.
(4)Danielle C.
The best fish tacos I have ever had. Nice staff. Jason and the female bartender were great. If you are on the west side you should drop in.
(5)Patrick M.
My go-to on west 25th. The happy hours are killer. Colorful and random crowd, despite the uniformed cop that hangs out occasionally. The servers are great and don't waste your time. Good beer selection, running the gamut from the very cheap to the fancy. The bar food is actually surprisingly good and pretty affordable; I've had the: - jerk chicken nachos, which were searing hot and delicious (though my friend was unimpressed, but she's had "real" jerk before). - the calamari, which was great. - the BBQ sandwich, not on the site but was definitely on their menu as of april 2013. Banging. The jukebox is a welcome addition, seriously. You will be irritated here if you despise potentially loud people with unnecessary tattoos and piercings and require clean bar bathrooms.
(4)Erin O.
Sometimes you wanna go... where everybody knows your name.... This is that neighborhood joint that anyone is welcome. You're bound to find business people, hipsters, and college kids on any given night at the same time. Prices are right - and the food is amazing. In fact, you would never expect food in such an obscure place to taste SO good - but its a dream for a foodie like me. Don't let the outside of ABC fool you. This is the place you want to be seen.
(4)Jacqueline T.
Friendly bartenders, great food, and always a cool specials selection. Plus you can't beat the neighborhood!
(5)Dax M.
Came here with about 20 work colleagues, most of whom live in Hudson, Chagrin Falls, or along 77 south. It was hard enough prying them away from the oh-so-familiar GLBC around the corner, but they were sure glad I did. Beer selection (draft) was good, atmosphere was far less restrictive then GLBC, and the food was great. For (i think) $12 we got two appetizers: Nachos with real cheese, fresh peppers, pulled jerk chicken, and house-made chips along with red pepper hummus with fried pita bread. Later on it was the best hot dog I've ever had: jalapeño stuffed, bacon wrapped, deep fried and tooling around with a big heap of fries. The Atomic Dog at ABC was a hit with my colleagues too; 5 of us or about 25% ended up eating one. So there you have it. ABC the Tavern can satisfy blue-collar, white-collar, hipsters, locals, and even gated-community exurbanites. Bravo ABC, bravo.
(4)tim c.
Good bar good people its all good in their hood
(5)Howard D.
Went here on a Saturday night. Great selection of beer and a cool menu. Just got an appetizer and a couple beers. The service was great. Nice, friendly and attentive. The hush puppies were amazing, the sriracha dipping sauce on the side was really good too. Will be back for sure.
(5)David T.
ABC Tavern was a happy mistake. I was in Cleveland for the holidays visiting my family and friends at the Garage Bar across the street. I had bought gloves and shanghaied someone's scarf and wondered what part of spending winter in Cleveland was a good idea. After drinking at the Garage Bar, my friend said, "I'm hungry." She and I dumped our friends and texted them to meet us across the street at the ABC Tavern. I won't go into the 1950 nudes in the back, the bowling machine, the upper area private area, or how my friend and I played "Can You Spot the Lesbian," which I won, because the bi girl I spotted was used as the tie breaker. What I will talk about was how my friends and I discovered two key things there. The first one was called Kentucky Bourbon Ale. I stopped drinking Christmas Ale that night (and who was the moron who started this lacing the rim with cinnamon? This is coming from a California guy and we're the ones who shove oranges into our beers), but I've digressed, and made new friends with the Kentucky Bourbon Ale and it gave me its number. I'm waiting three days to call, but I want to call it now. I texted Christmas Ale and said we have to see new people. The second thing I discovered there was the Atomic Dog. I was drunk and hungry. If I smoked weed, I can only imagine how much tastier it would be. I even went back the next day sober to see if I was right and you know what, I was. Now close your eyes. Actually don't, you can't read the rest of it if you. Get someone to read the rest to you. Make it your mom. I'll wait. Still waiting. All right, close your eyes and imagine the best hot dog that you'll ever taste. It's big and juicy. It is the gayest experience in your mouth next to that one and only time your uncle babysat you and let you drink all those tasty wine coolers all night long. The hot dog is wrapped with bacon and the dogs are sliced, and inside are jalapeño peppers. I believe there is a hollandaise sauce on the hot dog. It's not just food, it's an explosion in your mouth.
(4)Debra S.
Hands down our favorite stroll to place! I used to love the old ABC and I was sad when I heard it had been sold. Not anymore. The food here is consistently great and the servers are always friendly. We like to sit outside and people watch and sip a cold "fancy beer". The food always comes too soon! Their menu items and beer list are always changing, so we are never bored!
(5)Charlie M.
Large selection of beer/booze, great menu, friendly staff--they have it all. Prices are very reasonable as well. Try: - Lamb quesadilla - Chicken quesadilla - Any of the specials (they're always awesome)
(5)Steve B.
Only gets four stars because having a band play on that upper deck is like some kind of alternate universe where bands perform like air shows. I felt like an idiot standing and staring up the singers shirt. And damn, that dude was hairy. Excellent beer selection and the service was friendly, quick, and solid. Never had to stand at the bar and wait for more than a minute, and the place was packed. So far, this is the only bar on W. 25th that doesn't make me seriously consider opening fire on crowds as a career option.
(4)Nicole M.
Todd Rundgren played here-- or at least he tried. Apparently Liv's stepfather knows someone there, so he "sat-in" with some affiliated craptastic white-boy blues cover band. Dear craptastic white-boy blues cover band, When a rock god like Todd Rundgren is playing within 10 miles of your pathetic little band, shave your heads, don saffron robes and meditate in silence. Please don't sing, play lead or, God forbid, solo. Signed, The Universe Otherwise, this is a great bar. The food is unreal. I had a "lamb quesadilla", lamb from the West Side Market sauteed with spinach and feta on a pita. Huge, reasonably priced and utterly delicious. Others in my group had the burger, jerk chicken sammy and shark bites. All finished every crumb! The service is excellent. The staff knows all about the dishes on the menu and all the offerings on their well rounded beer menu. They are friendly, cool and very competent. Don't be off put by the uber-hipster crowd. A few American Apparelled hipsters may stare at those who don't rock skinny jeans, but the staff definitely makes everyone welcome.
(4)Adele D.
Fun bar with a hipster vibe. Weird,cramped bathroom that feels like a trailer.
(4)Mark R.
Good beer, food, smart lighting and volume management. Bathroom smelled like summer camp and not in a nostalgic sort of sense.
(4)Adam D.
The last place on w 25th where on a Thursday you won't be over run by the people who got bored of w 6th/9th but think they are still there. they have a pretty damn good beer list, limited on draft but good stuff in bottles. the prices are average to high ($3.50-7.00+ depending). the lamb quesadilla is fantastic and a great value at $6.75. happy hour twice a night, i think 4-7 and then 10-12 mon-fri. a cheap pool table, free darts, old school bowling, flat screens with sports, and super friendly bartenders who are more than willing to chat with you. overall a great bar.
(4)Dee A.
I had never been in the ABC tavern before it was redone. But I love this new not-so-dark and dank interior. They have a good beer selection (although to be honest I usually stick with the cheap wimpy beers such as PBR or Miller Lite). The food, though, is a step up above normal dive food. With all their ingredients coming from the Westside market, they have some pretty solid food items. The pork belly sandwich contains thick cuts of crispy bacon and comes with thin delicious fries. My friends and I shared an atomic dog. A huge jumbo hot dog stuffed with jalepenos and then wrapped in bacon. Wow. It was ridiculously good but there was no way I could have eaten the whole thing without a guilt trip following. The decor is bordering on dive but is still very comfortable and well-lit. The music comes from Pandora and has varied from 80's ballads to 90's pop rock the times I have been there. The clientele is nice, if not bordering on too nice as we had more than one person feel it was appropriate join in our conversation without being asked. Overall, the place is comfortable and a great place to just chill.
(4)G G.
ABC is an awesome local bar. They have great food, cheap beer and an upstairs pool table. I love their burgers, currently their special burger is a roman burger knock off which is even better than Mr. Hero's. It has a fresh made patty, grilled salami, cheese and veggies. Its served with fresh cut 'frites' AKA thin fries.
(4)Brandon I.
It's not exactly dark and dank anymore, but definitely not West 6th Sleek. They are armed with a pool table, a dart board, and a bowling machine. And possibly the best jukebox in Cleveland. The food is...well, food. It's not bad, not exactly earth shattering...BUT, it's kind of fun to watch the guy make it for you, which he does, enthusiastically (there's an old serving window from which you can spy). He'll even talk to you while busy with his work. And it's all well-priced. Saves you money for the beer and drinks. And they have a lot of beer and drinks. They have the Brooklyn-ish buck fifty PBR in a can, all the way to the Christmas ales and several other imports and exports. Given the crowds that I've seen there, this place isn't exactly a secret...but the crowd is fun and diverse. I got into a fun conversation with the gal who owns the building (and the previous owner of the bar). Nice gal. 4 stars for the great beer selection at good prices, the pool table, jukebox and bowling machine.
(4)John C.
The new owners have brightened the place up. I think it has one of the longest bars in Cleveland. They now have food. Try the cheeseburger with super thin cut fries or the lamb quesadilla with ground lamb from the West Side Market. It will be a good place to either start the night or to finish it.
(4)Jessica B.
Pretty average bar. Good, solid drinks and interesting "decor". Seems to me like ABC is a good place to grab a few drinks (for cheap) before moving on to whatever your main destination is for the night.
(3)Jason S.
This is the place to be on Saturday night!
(4)David P.
My first endeavor to a Cleveland dive. Pretty average looking place. Cheap beer. That kept us happy. I ordered the pork belly BLT from the kitchen. Pretty good, greasy sandwich. Went perfect with the cheap beer. Staff was OK. It took a while for my food to come out because they were really busy and the guy I ordered from looked flustered. People were getting food before me even though they ordered well after I did. All in all, good place to chill.
(3)Michael T.
great bartenders amazing food (try the abc burger) always a great beer selection sometimes a very different/inconsistent crowd still my favorite in Ohio City!! 4.5 stars
(4)Chris K.
This is my favorite bar in Cleveland. Black Label and PBR cheap. Great jukebox. Bar bowling. Diverse crowd. But what puts it head and shoulders above every other bar is the service. I've never been in this bar on a weekend when they did not have four bartenders working. On a crowded night, this makes all the difference. A credit to the owner and the staff. I've actually seen the bartenders flagging down patrons to get them a fresh drink. Unheard of.
(5)Erin R.
good beer selection, awesome staff, nice interior. wish it had a bigger patio type jam because it's summer and i want to be outside, but that's no detriment really. we stole someone's nachos that they invited us to share, they were delicious. i highly recommend those. crazy clientele the night we were there - a lot of may december romances and really dressed up babes, but that just made it funnier to be there so that's probably a plus to me. i'd go back.
(3)Gina P.
For bar food, ABC is amongst the elite. Seriously, the best nachos I've ever had. Pineapple, parsley fraische, absolutely deliscious. Calamari ranks about the same. Service is on point too.
(5)J H.
Can you day Atomic Dog? Wrapped in bacon, stuffed with jalapeño peppers- a must try. Had my first recenlty and I am hooked. Thanks to Linda and Randy for the rebirth. What was a nothing special neighborhood bar is now a trendy vibrant little hang out.
(4)Justin S.
Worst Service ever! Never again!
(1)Mike G.
if you want good beer, and knowledgeable bar tender(s), go here!!
(5)Tommy Z.
ABC Tavern's Jerk Nachos are on another level!
(5)Jennifer S.
ABC Tavern is a great old-school neighborhood bar with a nice drink selection and delicious, reasonably priced upscale bar food. Fans of old-school bowling can get their fix at ABC's hilariously low-tech bowling lane.
(4)Melanie M.
Cool place. Nice beer selection, although you should definitely go for one of their happy hour times as they were a bit pricey outside of those time slots. Didn't get any food this time, but plan to go back and try the tofu fillet sandwich and the hummus (both of which are reportedly vegan). The bar bowling was pretty fun also, only a quarter to play. The back patio was smokey as I walked through it, but I guess you'll have that.
(3)J.P. O.
So, I came here primarily to get hammered. And they did not disappoint! But I did eat here, so I feel like I can review that, real quick. My friend and I came up at ~9:30 tonight. Service: outstanding. Beers: decently priced, and an excellent selection, with several very good local beers. We got the lamb quesadillas and the "shark bites" for our "soak up the booze" meal. The quesadillas were very good, although they were not strictly "quesadillas". They were actually ground curried lamb wrapped in naan, and they were subtly spiced and, with the accompanying fries,very substantial. The shark, on the other hand...hmm. The shark was overcooked and too chewy, and the breading tasted overwhelmingly of Old Bay. That isn't bad, necessarily, but when it overwhelms the flavor of the fish to such a degree, well, not good. Now, it was a Monday, and shark (presumably Mako? The menu was not specific) is a fairly exotic fish, so part of the responsibility for the iffy meal lies upon me, but still: it was not good shark, not at all.. Nonetheless, this is a good bar to drink at and I will definitely be returning (since it's like RIGHT up my street).
(4)Jim P.
This hole in the wall makes for a good escape... THE UP-SIDE: No pretensions here. Just a corner bar type place. A nice place to pop into when you're tired of the craziness of the "Garage" across the street. THE DOWN-SIDE: This place is a hole. You only come here to sit and have cheap beer. THE SUM-IT-UP: At times, this place beats the other Ohio City bars, hands down. Go here to escape.
(3)