On halloween night the bouncer thought it would be a good idea to block one of the street parking spots to save for her "supervisor." Idk why that concerns anybody else in the public road and how that justifies blocking off government property???? If the supervisor wanted that spot maybe they should have shown up to work earlier on what they knew what would be a busy night. The business doesn't own the parking spots in front of their location and cannot claim the PUBLIC street parking spots. Extremely unprofessional and I would never recommend this place to anybody. read more

Stopped into Bernard's Tavern early Sunday evening just as the dinner crowd was arriving. The place had great energy with a DJ playing music and a lively atmosphere. I ordered the grilled chicken Caesar salad -- perfectly marinated chicken, crisp lettuce, and fresh cheese. It was excellent. Others in my party ordered burgers that were huge and delicious, and the French fries were fantastic. The food and drink prices are outstanding for the portions you get. Truly a great value. Highly recommend visiting. read more

Pretty empty when we cam in here for dinner & drinks but the chow was good. A dJ was setting up for karaoke but we left before anyone to sing showed up, bathrooms coulda been a LITTLE but cleaner but overall id come here again read more

I came here with friends to get something to eat and it took 30 minutes for someone to take our order then another hour to get the food. When we got the food it was cold and undercooked. For example, the chicken tenders were undercooked which is a major health issue. Drinks were fine but if you want something to eat do not come here!!!!! read more

Bernards Tavern - Undercooked Chicken Tenders w/Fries - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Personally wasn't a fan of the wings (I think I got sweet chili sauce) the sauce was a bit weird tasting I can't really describe it. The pasta was decent, not sure I'd get it again though. read more

Bernards Tavern - Classic Wings - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

They took my cup out of my hand stating I can't take anymore when it was already paid for. Therefore I should've been able to finish the drink I PAID FOR before leaving. They took my cup and kicked me out of their establishment. 0/10 recommend. Cooks and Security are very rude. They took my order and then proceed to say I need to get out. You will waste your money, I don't recommend. read more

Amazing service and super kind people! Great decor and vibes and me and my friends had an amazing time! Food was delish. Def would recommend

Great staff. Awesome happy hour specials. And cold beer! We've never had a bad time! Love the appetizer options too!

Bernard's is a longtime favorite bar. It doesn't just have drinks. There's also some good somewhat healthy food. Many activities. Watch a game on TV or something. Had a hot date and I brought her here for fun and games. It wasn't busy and we sat at the bar and thought it was a good opportunity to try the food here. There wasn't much food ordered by me here in the past but it was a good chance to check it out. I got lucky. There was also luck at the bar because it turns out there was good specials on Wednesday. I got a Blackberry Mojito. It's about $8 and is deceptively strong. This is pretty refreshing too. Impossible Burgers were only $5 each. They might have made a mistake but it said it on the website so we got the cheapest ones that I know of. If you like watching games in less rowdy bars it's a good fit. Lots of TVs for lots of games. They're also one of the more vegan friendly bars too. read more

Bernards Tavern - Blackberry Mojito And Impossible Burger - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The food here is INCREDIBLE. We got cheese curds and taquitos and they were gone in five minutes. Delish!!! read more

Bernards Tavern - Taquitos - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

My friends and I were out in short north for dinner and wanted to try out a new bar. As soon as we walked up, the bouncers were laughing at us and said they need to check everyone's ID's (Obviously - it's a bar with bouncers outside). All of us are 22-23 years old but were treated like we were 16 with fake IDs. Without even checking our bags he said " and don't vape in there I know at least 2-3 of you have them". I found this incredibly rude and offensive. Even if we did have vapes, why do you immediately assume we would be disrespectful and hit them in your venue? My friends and I were just looking for a small bar to get a few drinks at and we were very respectful to everyone. We also have full time jobs and are great tippers because most of us used to bartend. We were not noisy or even obnoxiously intoxicated and the disrespect started before we even approached the bouncers and had conversations with them. One of the bartenders was nice and made good drinks. I will not be returning to this bar or recommending it to anyone regardless of their age. read more

Place is a great local gem... cool bar with great food... live keno and plenty of screens to watch... 10/10

This place is cool. Plenty of seating, plenty of TV's. Very spacious interior. Good selection of food and drinks. Drinks are also reasonably priced. We tried the buffalo chicken dip appetizer and it was delicious! The fried pita chips it came with were spectacular with the perfect amount of crunch. My only issue is we came to watch a game that was to be played on the Big Ten Network, and unfortunately they did not have the channel which was disappointing for a sports tavern. read more

See all

So I really like this bar but the biggest issue is that when you use the touch tunes all the new black artists are blocked from playing their music. I enjoy the vibe and the bartenders are cool but the fact I can't play an A boogie song or a certain drake song is crazy and somewhat borderline racist. read more

Magic pasta is amazing and the smash burger didn't disappoint. Alex our server was super nice and attentive. Hope to visit again sometime.

A few friends and I recently stopped into Bernard's Tavern late on a Saturday night. It has a similar vibe to its neighbor down the street, SN Tavern, and we were looking to switch things up yet keep that vibe going... if you know you know. This place is a little divey, a little sporty, and one hundred percent bar. We grabbed a high-top table near the front of the place and ordered a round of tequila shots and White Claws. When in Ohio right? Thankfully there was no shortage here! The music was fun, and they had the TV's on showing all the college football games. This was exactly what we were looking for. Now, none of us ordered food, but it definitely fulfilled our needs at the moment. The drink prices were reasonable, the bathrooms were clean, and the staff was eager to keep our whistles wet. I should point out that there wasn't anything really special about this spot, but it's a good mix up from all the other spots popping up in the neighborhood. I don't always want to spend $13 on a fancy cocktail. Sometimes I just want to watch football and drink cheap seltzer and this my friends, it's definitely the place for that. read more

So much fun! They were out of several beers but we found some we liked and had a blast visiting and watching the game. read more

Very Interesting Establishment. I think I time traveled back to college. The barender female put 2 of our credit cards in your boobs then managed to lose one. This was not cool. Then somehow after an hour the card magically appeared. Cause it was "on the floor." I must say the GM was very nice in helping us and promising to find it, but the whole ordeal was very odd. Since we were all suited up for a wedding it seemed they were trying to pull a fast one on us. Not to mention the bathroom was extremly NASTY. Might be the most disgusting bathrroom I have ever been in. Seek Drinks elsewhere. read more

The vibes at this bar are atrocious, but I'm gonna give you some pointers Fire whoever selects and runs your music, you're going for dance floor vibes without a sizable portion of the bar dedicated to dancing. Also why is the music so loud I can't hear people a foot away from me? The bar doesn't look like a bar to go crazy at, it's just kind of here. You gotta do something to stick out - this place has absolutely no culture it literally just feels like a room with tables which happens to have a bar in it. The coloring is so bland that i wouldn't think it was finished if it wasn't for the customers Overall a very poor experience, but like there's so much potential because there's nowhere to go but up read more

Sarah and Jonis best bartenders in town. You will have the best night if you stop in here.

Good food, fast service and friendly staff. Night was a little slow when I was there, but a band was setting up which I'm sure would draw in more later. Food alone was worth the stop. read more

Bernards Tavern - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Among the trendy and pricey restaurants in the Short North, this pub is a uber-casual bar. It is a big space and the bartender was knowledgeable and friendly. I had a smash burger which was good, came with onion rings on it. Wife had a chicken quesadilla which was large and could have easily fed two. Nothing fancy here, just bar food and a comfortable spot to chill. read more

This is such a fun bar. My friends and I decided to stop in for a drink after we went out to eat. The drinks were amazing and inexpensive, I got a sex on the beach with rum and I think it is my new favorite. The bartenders were super nice. The place was clean and they did a great job cleaning up after people. The music was great ( a lot of fun throwbacks). The energy here was so live! I will come back read more

Best bar in the short north. Every time I come here I feel comfortable and welcome. When I first started coming to Bernard's, I had the chance to get acquainted with Mo and Martina, some of the bartenders. They are always hospitable and prepare the BEST cocktails in Columbus. There isn't a drink they couldn't prepare. I've met multiple co-workers here for happy hour, friends for late night entertainment and hell, enjoyed a beer or two by myself from time to time. Whenever I'm looking for a casual, nice experience, I chose Bernard's. read more

The owner is ghetto and literally stood in my face and yelled at me because I asked him nicely not to curse at me. He grabbed my phone and bent my finger and I had to punch him in the face to get him to let go of my finger and my phone. He was about to beat me but his son stopped him. I asked the bartender to call the police, she did not. The women and men in the building just turned their heads. Maybe they're use to that type of behavior from the owner. This place use to be a really great place I would go to everyday for lunch. Now that the ownership has switched hands it's so subpar and ghetto. I'm still currently trying to press charges. read more

Nice atmosphere music sports drinks. Went after dinner at the pearl. Can't believe we walked right past it. It was clean and prices were nice. Drink were weak as far as alcohol but it wasn't a big deal wasn't trying to get wasted just chill. Will go back. They had good appetizers read more

Bernards Tavern - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Football is a form of art, at least in my opinion. I know, that is a difficult play to get across, an unconvincing argument to many. I'd might as well sell you beach side plots in the Georgia marshes, you may think; Might as well call war peace, spinach baklava, and say the Short North is still the premiere arts district in the city. What's next, you may flag me for, relating explosive flatulence to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? But it is art to me. The aesthetics: the grace of a run breaking out into a green expanse as glossy as a wide angel print, the drama, the starkness of a hit, the choreography of bodies in unison, the miming gyration of a coach, the balance of ballet. For a sports lover and an artophile like me what is a better place to catch a game then at a sports bar that seems like a gallery? Bernard's is that place. Sure, as a hang out on weekend nights it is less than ideal, as previous reviews mention. But for a sports bar in a fall afternoon it is the best place to catch a Buckeyes game ( for me) than any place outside a three block radius of campus. Unlike your typical sports bar that overdose their environment with too much sport smack on their walls and too much volume blaring out their TVs, Bernard's is softly dark and relatively muted. I love the expose brick and oaken decor, the long bar set with comfortable chairs, and the lines of TVs above. Behind the bar seating are scattered tables making great use of the narrow floor. Painting of Columbus hang on the wall beyond. The joint runs deep in the old building, following caverns leading to billiard tables, a stage, and clean, spacey restrooms. The food here is average bar food. I wouldn't come here for just the grub, but I wouldn't leave here because of it either--save a stumbling drunk slipping me a gift certificate for Rossi, Bareburger, Brassica--you get the drift. With a decent selection of crafts, nicely priced domestics, well made mix drinks, and the best bar coffee I have ever had Bernard's has never disappointed with libations. The service here is usually awesome, though they kind of ignored me on my last visit for a bit--an aggravation caused by not sufficiently dividing the bar per bartender. Rrrr pet peeve. But generally they don't drop the ball. read more

Bernards Tavern - Weekend nights not so much, but this is my fav place to catch a sat afternoon game. - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

A quaint place to throw back a few on a stolen Friday afternoon. I loved the Bluegrass Brewing Company's Bourbon Barrel Stout. Our bardude/server/waiter, Brent, was cool enough to give me a taste. I wanted to flush the beer I was drinking and just start in with that dark beauty, spending the night in its bourbon-y embrace. Ok, so I finished what I had in front of me and split the Bluegrass with the wife. It was very fun. Btw, I did find Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel in the hometown here, so I'll be having some in the privacy of my own abode. I like this place, even without the love affair with a new beer. read more

After searching high and low for quality karaoke on a Thursday night, my friends and I decided upon Bernard's for their live music karaoke. There was a decent amount of people out celebrating this Thirsty Thursday, including a couple birthday groups, but we found a table to call our own no problem. Drinking were very reasonable. My husband spent $20 on a round of 4 red bull vodkas that definitely got the job done. The bartenders were pretty attentive so we got our drinks fairly quickly. The live band karaoke was a lot of fun. The band was energetic and funny. The provided a list of songs but word on the street is that they will play a song for you that's not on the list as long as they know it. If you drink a little too much and happen to forget a word or two of your song, they'll even sing along with you. read more

If you want to truly enjoy Bernard's, I would suggest avoiding Friday and Saturday nights here. It's insanely crowded, you're going to have a hard time getting a drink, and you will probably leave unhappy (unless you're into all that, in which case it's great). However, if you manage to get over to Bernard's just about any other night of the week, it's really not that bad. They have a pretty good draft beer selection, and the service I've experienced has always been great. The servers are very friendly, and when it's not shoulder to shoulder with people, they're a lot less stressed out. The food is pretty good too. Bar food, yes, but I'd say it's definitely better than a lot of the bar food in the area. The burgers are tasty, and the last time I went, I had the buffalo chicken sandwich, and it was very enjoyable. You can't go wrong with the chicken wings and tenders, as well as the house seasoned fries. Wednesday nights are karaoke night, and they do get quite a few people up there singing, and when I was there a few weeks ago, I had a blast watching everyone. The bar has plenty of televisions as well, making it a great place to watch any sports games. If you've had a bad experience at Bernard's, I'd suggest giving it a second chance. Because of the lack of space, weekend nights make this place pretty hazardous, and I don't recommend it then, but if you go on just about any other night, you'll find a completely different bar experience. Is it my favorite place in Columbus? Not even close, but they obviously have managed to last this long, so they're definitely doing something right. read more

So I can't give a full review, as we only popped in to have a drink before dinner reservations elsewhere ( review on that to follow) . The atmosphere is laid-back. Nice long bar with adequate seating and plenty of TVs. The beer list is pretty extensive. Will need to come back and have one of their burgers. The server said they are highly sought after. read more

Bernards Tavern - The beer list is pretty extensive. - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Went in on a Sunday afternoon and the place was pretty much dead and out of a few dishes because of how packed it was the night before for an Ohio State v Michigan game. Despite having fewer options, everything we ate was absolutely amazing. The bartender and the cook seemed to be the only ones working and they made sure our drinks were full and our meals were prepared how we wanted it. I will definitely be going back. read more

I am a major fan of Bernard's. It's one of the few "Sports Bars" in the Short North & the perfect place to watch a sporting event or hang out after a Blue Jackets, Clippers or Buckeye games. It's a sweet industrial feel when you walk in. The staff is always friendly and they have a simple sandwich menu that's priced right. Even better, they have a great menu of beers and a lot of bottled micro-brews. There are plenty of sophisticated places in Short North to get an upscale dinner & bottle if wine, but this place takes care of the avid sports fan who wants to try a new brew. read more

Bernards Tavern - 1/3 pound egg burger. - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Not really a dinner place as the seating sucks. I'm really not a fan of high tops and thats all they have. Two minutes into the meal, my son had trouble getting back up on his seat and spilled his whole drink, fun start, lets say its not child friendly, but thats my fault after all its a bar. Their happy hour is great, nice and long from 4-8pm, all drinks are half off and 4 of the apps. We got the tenders for the kid, which at $4 was ok, shouldn't really cost more for 4 strips. The BBQ they came with sucked, so we got honey mustard and sweet n sour which were way better. I had the luna veggie burger and the house seasoned fries which was great, the man the BBQ burger and the cajun fries, he liked the burger, fries not so much. We shared the mac n cheese, it was ok but for $12 overpriced, it came with a salad, I chose balsamic dressing which was good and broccoli, also fine. The mac could have been cheesier and had some kind of flavor, it was pale, bland, just not exceiting. In all it was fine and the prices ok, still don't think I would bother to go back. Service a bit slow and not the brightest crayon in the box.... read more

Bernards Tavern - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

This is a great meeting place for groups on the weekend. The food is pretty good, the beer is reasonably priced, and there is usually a good crowd at night. I have always enjoyed myself there. read more

This place would be okay if they had consistent food or service worth anything. Sometimes the people who are working try hard, they're just severely understaffed. Other times it seems like they're just not competent. One time I came in and they said the kitchen was closed because their hoods went out with the power surge. I feel like they could have offered something, or at least put a sign on the front door so I didn't have to wait to find that out. Hope they improve. I work nearby and it could be a great place to do lunch every week. read more

Stop one of Stouts&Sprouts 2019. The asian flair to their Kung Fu Brussels is 10/10. $3 bloody mary's and mimosas on sundays is also great. Blood Mary's are spicy but good! read more

Stopped here for lunch with my boss. It wasn't too busy. The bartender was able to wait on all the tables and the bar without service suffering. I tried a fried banana pepper and it was good. Not greasy or over-battered. It had a nice tartness to it. I ordered the Sante Fe Wrap and Regular Fries. The wrap was flavorful. If I order this again I'll ask to swap the pepper jack cheese for more tortilla strips. Just because I'm not a big cheese fan. The fries were salty but a good kind of salty. Not the inedible kind of salty. It was more than enough food for lunch. read more

0/10 would recommend Bernards Tavern. We waited for 2.5 hours, they forgot our order. Brought out random desserts and after it all the food was not good. Drinks were good which is the only reason they get a star. read more

After nearly two years in Columbus, I feel like I'm still trying to figure out how to best describe this bar. Regardless of category, it's a winner for me. Bernard's is a great sports bar with numerous tvs and plenty of table/bar space for seating. More often that not you can find a table or booth to watch your favorite team. Bernard's is my go to spot on Tuesday nights, when they host Excesss (no typo) Trivia. Sure many bars have trivia, but this is "jeopardy-style" so you actually have to beat other teams by buzzing in. What I can never figure out is when it is the 'go-to' spot of a weekend. I have gone in on some Friday nights and the place feels as empty as a Monday afternoon. I have also visited on some Staturdays where you can barely walk from one end of the bar to the other because of the hundreds of people inside. The only knock on Bernard's is the food, but hey it's a bar, so you can't expect too much. read more