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    Academy Tavern

    3.7 (115 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American, Burgers
    Closed 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Academy Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    ACADEMY TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Academy Tavern

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    a bar with a clock and pennants on the wall
    Angelo C.

    This neighborhood landmark has long been a fixture on Larchmere and has consistently served good food and drinks. One afternoon my friend and I decided to stop in to grab lunch and we opted to sit outside on the patio. The vintage interior is inviting and offers plenty of space at the long bar and a wealth of drink options! Since I wasn't feeling very adventurous, I went with a quesadilla and a rum and coke. Although the food took about 45 minutes to be brought to the table, it was nonetheless tasty and quite satisfying. That is the only reason why I omitted a star. Other than that this time honored locally owned and operated establishment is a solid choice for a few drinks and tasty fare in a lively setting.

    Front entrance
    Evan F.

    What a great little vibe this spot has...a total neighborhood bar atmosphere where the owners clearly knew lots of folks in the place as they "worked the room". My wife and I decided to share a few dishes (as we most always do). Our server suggested we order their signature burger and one of the flatbreads. We started off the meal by splitting the house salad with herb vinaigrette dressing (they were out of the green goddess...d'oh!). The dressing was tangy / zingy with a nice selection of greens and a few veggies. Salad came with a nice piece of fresh bread and butter on the side. The two main dishes came out together. The Little Spice flatbread was built around chorizo and a few different grilled veggies (like onions and red peppers). Unfortunately, it was too doughy and lacked any depth of flavor; I could taste the onions, peppers and chorizo but it needed their Academy Sauce to give it some bite. The Academy Burger was a little overdone and was decent but nothing "Wow". It was served with two kinds of cheese and strips of bacon. I also used their Academy Sauce on the burger, which is like a creamy and spicy thousand island dressing. Fries were well seasoned and would have been good, if they were hot. I think I may have to give this place another try sometime as so many others have really loved it...I would call it more like just above average.

    Agnes I.

    I was in the area for a local Yelp Elite event so I stopped by here for dinner with fellow Yelpers. Atmosphere: Casual ambiance. Big space. A bit dark inside. I wish there was more natural light. Food: I ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich with sweet potato fries. The sandwich was okay but there was too much marinara sauce (tomato red sauce). I think the sandwich would have tasted better without the the sauce actually. I ordered in a little bit of a rush so I couldn't really look at the menu but in my head the fact that marinara sauce was in this sandwich didn't quite make sense since you normally find that in Pizza. Anyway, the sweet potato fries were great though. Service: Quick service and friendly staff.

    Outdoor street sign
    Garrett I.

    Came in town for business and to see some friends. I needed a place to watch the basketball and enjoy a nice drink. I was lucky enough to find this place. It is a small neighborhood bar that feels homey. It has a nice outdoor open space in the middle. The server immediately asked if she could get me food or a drink. I ordered the tavern burger, wings and a rum and coke. The drink and food came out quickly. It was cooked to my request of medium well. The wings were hot and crispy, just the way i like them. During these tough Covid times this bar came through. The owner manager was also cool. Very hospitable. I definitely suggest you stop by if in town

    Academy burger with tots
    Carter D.

    This place was A-OK but nothing to brag about to friends. It was definitely a chill bar vibe with bar style food and there was plenty of seating for our group of 6 around 5pm. The menu has a decent variety and prices aren't horrible but some things seem more expensive than the vibe of the place. Gives you the idea of a regulars place as people knew each other by name and servers sat down with visitors. Our food took a very long time to come out and we were rushing to scarf it down to make it to our event in time. I got the Academy Burger and it was pretty tasty but the tots were the best part. Beer was cold and a good variety but no specials for craft beers during HH so typical price. We had fun with one another but I wouldnt go back again for the food or drinks unless all my friends chose to meet there and I wanted to stop in to see them or something like that.

    At the best bar in cleveland, polishing down the best burger in cleveland with a great cleveland beer!

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    7 months ago

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    5 months ago

    A neighborhood bar through and through. The friendliest place in town. The trivia host is very handsome.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Great drinks and great service. The bartenders are so friendly. I love coming here after work for a drink

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    6 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Basic local bar for shots and beer. Good draft selection. Mediocre food served in styrofoam. Occassionally some good love music.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I've gone to the academy tavern multiple times and overall everything has been good. Great food and vibe

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Food menu is pretty simple-typical bar food. Drinks are decent. Bartenders are nice. Patrons are the best.

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    5 years ago

    Service was good . Because of Covid the menu is limited. I see it will be nicer after Covid is over .

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    5 years ago

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    CleaveLand Grill - Strongsville - Grilled chicken sandwich with the works

    CleaveLand Grill - Strongsville

    4.7(114 reviews)
    18.4 mi
    $$

    We came in for lunch on a weekday, soon after they began serving lunch for the day and they were…read moresteady with business. The guy at the register was very helpful with the menu and suggestions. They were quick to make our food and we enjoyed it there. They make smashburger style meat for their burgers and it was nicely seasoned. The texture was on the dry side though. The buns and toppings were great. There fries were also very nice, crunchy, and spiced well. This is mostly a carry-out joint, but they have a couple of tables inside to eat at. Overall, nice place for lunch.

    I'm still giving this a 5 even though it's more like a 4 star…read more First of all, I understand the lack of consistency, considering that two people can't work at the same place at the same time. But whoever is grilling the burgers at the other location is who is keeping me coming back. Other than that, other location is farther from me, it's worth a drive. What I really like about this place is the fresh meat and the disclaimer about the meats and how it's prepare. Well, I didn't like this time around is at the meat lacked seasoning, and the meat did not have that crispy edge or the juiciness in comparison to the other location. Unfortunately, I will not be back to this location unless I'm really thirsty for a good burger. If this is your first time at this location, then yes it's delicious. It's one of the best burgers in Cleveland. If you visit the other location first you're definitely gonna be disappointed when you go to this one.

    Photos
    CleaveLand Grill - Strongsville - Picnic seating.

    Picnic seating.

    CleaveLand Grill - Strongsville - Double smash burger

    Double smash burger

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    Rowley Inn - Bacon wrapped Tots with a spicy sauce that was delicious

    Rowley Inn

    4.5(589 reviews)
    5.1 miTremont
    $$

    This place is a one stop shop for many Cleveland classics both original and vegan versions…read more My pre-trip research brought this place to my attention. I wanted to try the pierogi and the Polish boy and the KRAUT and having an extensive beer menu doesn't hurt either. Friendly neighborhood watering hole literally on the corner and basically across the street from the a Christmas story house allowing you to eat within eye sight of the leg lamp. I wanted basically everything from the menu that came vegan (spoiler alert there are tons and tons of things) but gastric space comes at a premium on vacation so we settled on the fried cheese. I was very excited to see the Polish boy (and vegan option no less) I didn't have much of a choice. GF ordered the vegan pierogi platter with vegan kielbasa on a bed of kraut. Firstly the fried cheese was head and shoulders above any mozz sticks or anything of the sort that I have had in memory. The breading is seasoned and crispy and heaven on earth. The cheese is PIPING. Like you will burn yourself if you, like me, have no patience. The accompanying tomato sauce is also steaming. So good. The Polish boy was also in a league of its own. Love that they have a vegan version. What a combo. Probably one of Cleveland's most important community contributions. We ordered the latkes to go and they were orgasmic. What a special place.

    The food here is just incredible! The perogis, avocado toast, hashbrowns and everything else we got…read morewas just above average than your usual restaurant. I loved the little small- town feel it gave. Will be back next time I'm in Cleveland. Only taking a star off because of the parking, no (real) iced coffee, and another reason

    Photos
    Rowley Inn - Entrance

    Entrance

    Rowley Inn - Mac and cheese

    Mac and cheese

    Rowley Inn - Beer

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    Crowley's - A mighty sized burger!

    Crowley's

    4.5(65 reviews)
    13.5 mi

    The best burger in Cleveland like... hands down. This is a dive bar but man is the food there…read moreamazing. When you pull up it looks like a dive from the 1960's or a small Soviet bloc, not many windows and just a square little building, but you come inside and the people are inviting and friendly and the food is out of this world. I got the smash burger onion rings and some loaded tots and it was delicious. Their toilet has an awesome Andrew Warhol version of Misney there which is just a chefs kiss added touch to this place. 5 stars hands down

    We were in the mood for a good burger and we saw that this place had been voted "Best Burger in…read moreCleveland!" So we figured we'd try it out! If we were not looking for this place specifically, I know we would've driven right past it! It's a standalone little building and the only markings I saw outside was a little sign that said BAR. But it was 2 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon and there were several cars in the parking lot, which is a good sign. The inside is really tiny. There's a large U-shaped bar and about six tables. We looked in the menu and opted for their famous Smashburger. It is $14 and comes with fries. It is a double patty cheeseburger. I did not want a burger that big so I opted for just one Patty. They said that was no problem, but the price was still the same. I also got onion rings, which were $3 more. The food came out really fast and you could tell it came right out of the fryer because the french fries were super hot! This place is called a dive bar, and I guess it is - but on a Saturday afternoon, the place was filled with all kinds of people. On one side of us was a family with little kids. On the other side of us was a couple in their 20s. And then the rest of the place was filled with people from every age group. I have to say that the music they play there is fabulous! But back to the food. The burger was seasoned really well! It is a smash burger, but they're still able to make it crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Our server was really good. She did not hover, but she was around to see if you need anything. Depending on the vibe that you're looking for, if you want more of a bar vibe, you should go in the evening, but we were happy to just be in a relaxed little joint with good food. They opened up another Crowley's in Painesville so we will probably have to try that one too.

    Photos
    Crowley's - You think they like football?

    You think they like football?

    Crowley's - My chicken parm sandwich and root beer float. Had to take some of it home as I was full.

    My chicken parm sandwich and root beer float. Had to take some of it home as I was full.

    Crowley's - Cute small restaurant/bar

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    Doinks Burger Joint - the incredible RUEBEN BURGER !

    Doinks Burger Joint

    4.5(61 reviews)
    5.9 miNorth Collinwood, Northeast Shores

    I heard about this place a long time ago, and then I forgot about it. Recently, I went looking for…read morea new burger to try, saw the name Doinks, and said, "OH, YEAHHHHH!" Off we went. When we opened the door, I immediately knew I'd love the fries. You could smell the delicious fry smell right away, and I wasn't wrong. Some of the best french fries I've ever had. The burger was great too! My wife got onion rings as a side, and I was like, "Are you nuts?! These fries are going to be so good!" The rings were fantastic though. Solid snap on the onion, which didn't slide out of the breading when I bit down. The service was friendly and quick, and the restaurant itself was clean as a whistle in the very cool Waterloo Arts District, just down the street from Beachland Ballroom. While walking to the car, we agreed that Doinks needed to be a regular date night stop. Killer burger spot.

    We braved the cold to sit in Doinks Burger Joint and we had a great time! We arrived during happy…read morehour, so I decided to try the burger and bacon cheddar fries offered on the happy hour menu. The burger was a single smashed patty that tasted fresh and was not greasy at all. The fries paired really well with the burger. They were topped with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions. Soooo good! We also tried the side of spicy pickles which were a great side dish. They tasted very fresh and were not too strong with vinegar or sweetness, if that's your preference. The margarita was simple but refreshing. Shout out to the bartender for his craft! My only critique was on the ube cheesecake. The flavor was delicious! Had a subtle vanilla flavor and the texture was great. It just tasted like it had been sitting uncovered in the fridge maybe? Other than that we had a great time and loved the atmosphere. The neighborhood is so nice and it's great to see local spots like this adding some charm. I'll be back!

    Photos
    Doinks Burger Joint - Doinks Burger Joint

    Doinks Burger Joint

    Doinks Burger Joint - Doink-ed.

    Doink-ed.

    Doinks Burger Joint - Mulled Cider Daisy

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    Gunselman's Tavern - Cobb Salad without blue cheese

    Gunselman's Tavern

    4.2(275 reviews)
    14.1 mi
    $$

    Gunselmans is a neighborhood tavern that serves great food. They have a outdoor patio…read more It's been in business since the 1930's. I've had many of the menu items over the years. Everything is awesome! The service is always friendly and attentive. Tonight I had the pierogi melt burger. The bun is 2 large pierogies. It had provolone cheese and grilled onions. It came with peppers and onions on saurkraut. I added mushrooms. Plus it came with a cup of smoky sour cream. It's definitely a place worth checking out. All

    Visited Gunselmans after reading a Reddit post regarding "best burger in Cleveland"…read more I came here seeking a good burger as I was recently disappointed by my experience at Whitey's Tavern in Richfield. This place had a gnarly wait. Front house staff was transparent but kept pushing my party of 2 back. Lent menu was small, a few fish fry options and only one burger on the menu. I ordered the cheeseburger with everything on it. Ketchup mustard onions lettuce tomato American cheese. Burger was large and favorful. In fact you can tell its a really good mix of 80/20 because it was dripping in juices. Fries were crispy and came with just the right amount (and a pleasant surprise of nacho cheese sauce). Burger was well worth the price of only $12 and 25 min drive. I will be back. Hard to get such a good burger with fries at this price. 8.8/10 I do recommend visiting.

    Photos
    Gunselman's Tavern - Beautiful place!

    Beautiful place!

    Gunselman's Tavern - Gunnyfried Chicken Sandwich

    Gunnyfried Chicken Sandwich

    Gunselman's Tavern - A properly poured pint! Fantastic

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    A properly poured pint! Fantastic

    Good Company - Savory Pretzel

    Good Company

    4.3(188 reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$

    WOW seriously lived up to my expectations and exceeded them!!…read more AMAZING fall off the bone tender wings with some great sauce, I had the dad's buffalo sauce and my boyfriend got the pecorino garlic. I preferred the buffalo, the ranch and blue cheese are both great We also ordered the pretzel and the fries which were both insanely insanely amazing. The pretzel came with a white cheese sauce and a sweet butter of some sort that was really delicious Fun vibes inside although it's a small spot, very casual. Service was attentive and great!

    This was my first time at the Cleveland location and the food was equally excellent. The wings…read morereally are the best in the area - the meat is super tender, a confit really, and it drops off the bone. Sauces are fantastic. I also had a garden salad that was super refreshing while my friends had a milkshake (yum!) and split the melt and grilled cheese sandwiches. Our server was delightful - you could tell she really cared about our experience. You can provide good service but for her she took real pride in it and really cared about making sure our meal was good. We really appreciated that. Space is pleasant in Battery Park - I think I like the Akron location a touch better, warmer, less industrial feeling but it's not bad just personal preference. Note: be careful on parking they have a few spaces in the narrow street immediately in front of the restaurant but the parking lot around the corner adjacent to battery park is permit only (and you'll be towed!). If the ones immediately in front of the venue are take you need to park further down (west) on 76th.

    Photos
    Good Company - Entrance

    Entrance

    Good Company - The Strawberry Short Stack - strawberry buttermilk ice cream, 
bacardi rum, ohio maple syrup

    The Strawberry Short Stack - strawberry buttermilk ice cream, bacardi rum, ohio maple syrup

    Good Company - Battery Park

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    Battery Park

    Eugene Kitchen

    Eugene Kitchen

    4.1(43 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    We were in town for a show at The Roxy/Mahalls and Eugene's is a quick walk down the street. A…read morelittle confusing initially how to order, walk in toward the back of the location and there is a small window where you can order food within the Bottlehouse Brewery. Simple focused menu, reasonable prices. My husband got the burger and house made fries and I got the small house salad with added fried chicken tenders. Easy pay with credit card and they give you a number that you can take to any seat you find. No soda other than bottled root beer at the bar, but iced water is available for others that don't drink. My husband's smash burger had plenty of cheese and was well seasoned, the fries are amazing and highly recommended. My house salad was excellent, not just an afterthought with included spicy marinated cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh spring mix and feta. The salad dressing was a green goddess - it was amazing, flavorful and bright. Their house made sauces were all wonderful and they should be bottled. Their bbq sauce was spicy and sweet and Dilly ranch is a must try. Highly recommend paying extra for their sauces - may have been my favorite part of the meal. The added fried tenders were only $5, great deal as they are freshly made, large portion and perfect with their sauces. Service was kind and efficient, great overall experience.

    Be aware that this business does not have a sign outside; it's joined with a brewery. I went to the…read moreCleveland Heights location. * Hot burger * Hot fries * Everything tasted good (thick bacon, nice patties, toasted bun) * Possibly the best smash burger in Ohio * CBD beer with burger +2 points Gryffindor * I wanted to eat it all, but I would have been mad if I had none later, so I took some home. I have really started to enjoy food places in the area that do not operate for full-day dining. Options that are only open in the afternoon have become a personal favorite of mine. Friendly staff. The food is always super fresh compared to places open all day; the extra charge is worth it.

    Photos
    Eugene Kitchen - Sunday SmashBurgers

    Sunday SmashBurgers

    Eugene Kitchen - Small house salad with added fried chicken, Really good!

    Small house salad with added fried chicken, Really good!

    Eugene Kitchen - Salad, Tinman burger and Buttermilk Fried Chicken

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    Salad, Tinman burger and Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    Hecks - Avon burger with rosemary and garlic fries

    Hecks

    4.0(573 reviews)
    6.0 miOhio City
    $$

    Outstanding Service & Inspiring Talent at Heck's Café…read more We have been coming to Heck's Cafe since the 1970s. On this occasion, we had the pleasure of being served by Claire at Heck's Café in Cleveland, and she is truly a standout. Not only is she an excellent server--attentive, warm, and professional--but she is also a talented young artist with a refreshing vision for the restaurant's future. Claire shared some of her creative ideas, including reviving Heck's merchandising, redesigning the logo, and introducing new T-shirts, mugs, and other branded items. Her enthusiasm, innovation, and eye for design make it clear that she's the kind of motivated team member who can help evolve the Heck's brand and carry it confidently into the new millennium. Heck's is lucky to have someone with her passion and forward-thinking energy. We left not only impressed with the food and service, but genuinely excited for what the restaurant could become with Claire's ideas in the mix. Highly recommend both the café--and asking for Claire!

    Cute little burger joint! It was very clean and had great…read morefood. I was on a diet and ordered the chicken skewers and rice and I asked for sauce on the side. It was very tasty and was a good size portion! I had to take half home. We had a big party of 12 and the waiter was kind enough to separate our checks. He was on it and attended to our every need. They had a nice bar and patio as well.

    Photos
    Hecks - Hecks Cafe

    Hecks Cafe

    Hecks - Papperdale

    Papperdale

    Hecks

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    Academy Tavern - bars - Updated May 2026

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