Hidden Gem of the Week Old 97 Cafe is an original train stop located in Kenmore is serving incredible cocktails and food! We had the best date night here where every bite and sip was perfection! Bartender Phoebe gave excellent recommendations and made sure we always had a drink in our hand! Love the speakeasy vibe and can't wait for the weather to break to enjoy their incredible patio and live music! We will absolutely be back but secretly wanted to gatekeep this awesome spot! Parking is unique and available in the middle of the street. Cocktails White Cosmo Lemon Drop Martini Espresso Martini Perfect Pear Martini Old Fashioned Manhattan Negroni Dinner Filet with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and House Salad Chicken Philly with Streetlight Chips & Lawsons Dip read more

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We visited on Wednesday since they have a $9.99 Steak Dinner special. The dinner includes a strip steak, baked potato and a salad. It is a beautiful venue. Our table was in the open and did not provide any protection from the sun. The service was adequate. The steak was not large and cooked correctly. It was what you would expect for the price. The potato was good and came with butter and sour cream. The salad was good and fresh. read more

Old 97 Cafe - Strip Steak Dinner - A white plate holds a baked potato topped with butter, a grilled steak with a small wooden flag, and two small containers of sour cream and butter. The setting appears to be outdoors, with cans and utensils visible in the background, indicating a casual meal. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

We checked out this restaurant while we were in town in Akron, Ohio. When we walked in there weren't really any tables, but the folks moved and said that they were actually the owners. They were very friendly. They have a great cocktail menu. We tried many and enjoyed all of them. Great atmosphere, the inside had a live musician who was really good, they also had a live band outside on the back patio. We ordered nachos which were good. We also ordered the mac and cheese. Good times! Great service. Friendly owners and bartenders/servers. read more

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We decided to give Old 97 Cafe a try over the weekend and were overall disappointed. First the good stuff: it's decorated nicely inside and while it was too cold for the outdoor area it looks big and accommodating for warmer weather. The staff is friendly and they are busy trying to get to the customers needs. That's where it ends though. They are understaffed and take way too long to serve the customers due to the nature of their specialty drinks. I knew this might be a possibility going in so ordered a Bud Light to pass the waiting time. Even that took way too long to get. Then when I got it it was old and very skunky tasting. I returned it and asked for a Mich-Ultra. She took the Bud Light back but forgot the Mich-Ultra. Had to remind her nearly 8 minutes later. I also ordered the Chocolate Pretzel Martini. She came back and informed me they were out of chocolate syrup. What???? A cocktail bar out of chocolate syrup? How about sending someone to the store down the street and picking one up for your cocktail bar and restaurant? She made one without the chocolate syrup and it was pretty nasty....would not recommend a half made Pretzel Martini. So...a skunky beer, forgotten beer, and a incorrectly made Pretzel Martini. Yeah....won't be going back. read more

Good atmosphere. Great patio. Do not go if you are in a rush. Go to relax talk listen to music have a beer or cocktail and know it will take a moment to get service. read more

Went to Olde 97 for specials on Butgers and Martini's. Food was good. Drinks were good. Server was very good. But worried that this place (under new ownership) is sustainable. read more

Went here Saturday night, know it can be closed for private events so checked the FB and the website. Advertising margarita specials and no mention of a private event. Got there, guess what ? Closed for a private event. Tried to get a seat inside, all reserved. The very flippant server told us, "no reservation, no tables", "not my fault the website was not updated". Guys at the bar told us the same happened to them. Checked again when we landed elsewhere, site updated as it should have been. Great place, and will go back but next time we will call first. But, please keep your information updated. read more

Visited recently on a Thursday for 1/2 off martini night and my husband and I both thought the drinks were watered down. So we each ordered a second cocktail not on "special" and they too were watered down tasting - a Manhattan and a classic vodka martini. Service and atmosphere has changed a lot with new ownership. Just not our kind of place anymore. We will remember the good times shared here but don't plan to return. read more

Great food. Friendly and knowledgeable bartenders. Incredible atmosphere, a very unique space - inside and outside. Very eclectic cocktail menu and the food menu changes almost daily. Hidden gem in a neighborhood that's headed in the right direction! read more

Old 97 Cafe - Exterior from the street - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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First off, anyone that leaves a one-star is probably a disgruntled ex-employee - this place is amazing! The live music, the menu, the service and atmosphere keeps my wife and I coming back over and over! Keep up the great work. read more

Great atmosphere, our bartender Meghan was friendly and helpful and the serivce was great. The food was good and they have a nice big patio with live music. The inside is a little small but has a lot of unique decor. The only downside is that it's a little high in price with a limited menu, maybe just a few more options would be good. read more

Old 97 Cafe - A two-story brick building features a neon sign that reads 'Old 97 Cafe Liquor,' with patriotic bunting and string lights decorating the exterior fence. The scene is viewed through a rain-covered window, with visible raindrops and wet pavement, and a large tree partially obscures the building. The setting suggests a small, historic establishment with outdoor decorations, possibly for a patriotic holiday. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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First time at Old 97 and I will be back. This place was originally a train stop - stop 97. Inside is nice with lots of wood but the outside deck is awesome. If you like to eat/drink outside this is your kind of place. Service ls good and bartender is friendly. The owner makes rounds checking on the customers. Nice They have a lot of craft cocktails and have been expanding the food menu. We had the BBQ brisket nachos for an appetizer. They are fantastic. Did two filet dinners - both very good and cooked correctly. read more

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Horrible experience. The environment is nice. The manager was extremely rude when I had a complaint about my food. I asked for my steak well done and it was bright red on the inside. The martini that I ordered took 30 minutes to arrive and was NOT a martini (extremely watered down). After I addressed the issue about the martini the manager proceeded to tell me that she made it and it was good (it most definitely was not). Not coming back here. Zero stars from me. Not satisfied. Old owners were better. read more

Not enough to say it's terrible!!!!!! Went to this place before this new owners and it was beautiful drinks and food! Went with my kids tonight and not only they have very unprofessional people working there but the food was disgusting and Martini I ordered was mostly water with some old used cherry and I waited for that 30 minutes! My kids ate some of the food because they were hungry and couldn't finish it because it was horrible! I really feel like this place needs to be reported before someone gets very sick ! I saw a cook come out because my daughter complained about her meat not cooked like she ordered and the woman working in the kitchen was wiping her dirty hands of her dirty sweat pants! I did call the manager to tell her our bad experience but she didn't care much!!! Never I mean never coming here again unfortunately, used to love this place!!!! Never in my life did I experience something like this !!!! Horrible!!!! read more

Local tavern vibes. For my friends who aren't acquainted to the 'hole in the wall' type places, fear not. Ignore the location and parking situation because this is no hole. Fantastic establishment with delicious cocktails that leaves you feeling like you've spent the evening at a pub in London. Can't wait to try out the patio in the warmer months! read more

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Music and ambience is great. Food varies in quality. Check out what bands are playing when you want to go.

Very cool vibe in this place. Great food and music on the patio. If you're looking for a fun place for just a drink or something more, stop in Old 97 Cafe read more

The food was great and the people are friendly ....we plan on coming back here the next time we visit

It's really unfortunate the way this place has turned since its new ownership. It used to be a hidden gem, now it's exactly what is to be expected from this area. Poor quality, poor service and poor management. Would not recommend. read more

Disappointed with the Salmon Tacos. Nothing like the description on the menu. I was served canned salmon tacos. I had the salmon tacos a few months ago and it was not canned salmon then. read more

Highly recommend this fun live music bar. Excellent music on the weekends, fun large patio in the summer, decent food with constantly expanding menu. I think we've found our new favorite local venue. They even host events. read more

Awesome place! This is a destination restaurant, so if you're from a suburb around Akron, definitely worth the drive. Super safe, super fun, super great people. We will be going back. read more

We were looking for something different to try and this place came up in Akron, my girlfriend was weary of the location but when we got there we were so impressed! It's definitely a hidden gem. Long list of beautifully hand crafted cocktails and martinis. The service was impeccable. The bartenders inside and outside greeted us when we walked in and made us excited to be there! The DJ was playing great music and encouraged dancing. We had a great time. Drinks, food, service and atmosphere were the best in Akron! They even have the cutest corgi mascot! read more

Old 97 Cafe - Charcuterie, patio - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Truly one of my favorite places, from the inside bar and decor to the outside patio it is one of Akron's best bars. Best Martinis around served by The best bartenders around, they always have a smile , recommendations and great conversations. Highly recommend. read more

Fantastic place. Everyone was so friendly on my first visit there. The Wed meal was wonderful. Each course was delicious. My martini was so good and was strong. The jazz music was a pleasure. Dinner starts at 8 and is promptly finished at 9 which is great if you need to leave. But most stay on and visit and listen to the band. Will be going back. The chef personally serves each course and shares a bit about the course. Very special. read more

Seriously a diamond in the rough. The atmosphere is relaxing, the drinks are specialty crafted (and strong) and tasty hor d'oeuvres! Bartenders are nice and helpful. By far the fanciest place in kenmore read more

Old 97 Cafe - Cocktails and the bruschetta - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

The cocktails are excellent! The inside reflects the history. Really great atmosphere. But the best thing is the patio. It's a beautiful setting, and they have live music. Highly recommend. read more

This place is really cool, definitely more flare than you'd expect to find. It's fairly spacious inside and they have a well-kept enclosed patio outside too. The bartenders are helpful and considerate. I didn't try the food but by the looks of it they have a pretty good sized menu too. Would come again :) read more

Old 97 Cafe is a lovely place with great drinks and a wonderful, inviting atmosphere. We have always enjoyed it, so one night a small group of us Ubered across town to the cafe. Unfortunately they were closed for a private event. The inside bar was empty, and when we entered to inquire, we were greeted with "You should have checked on the website before you can came." Ok. Maybe. I can't speak for anyone outside our group, but I don't typically check a bar's website on a Saturday night while I'm out and about. Rather than offer us a drink and a seat while we waited for another Uber, the Old Cafe representative simply made us feel unwelcome and foolish. What a shame. I would love to give this place a good review. Not gonna happen. Custom service means something. People have choices. I choose not to return to Old 97 Cafe. read more

This is one of our favorite places to eat and drink in the entire Akron area. If you haven't been here yet, you need to go right away! It is unassuming in its appearance, but extremely neat, clean and well-kept. A very good wine list. Two chefs. All food is fresh, prepared daily. The menu is small but changes daily, and is always creative. Live music in the evening. Weather permitting, you can eat outdoors as well as indoors. You can have anything from hors d'oeuvres to a light dinner. Wonderful desserts, prepared on premises, fresh each day. The staff is friendly and attentive. The prices are exceptionally reasonable for such fine food and surroundings. read more

Old 97 Cafe - This is one of our favorite places to eat and drink in the entire Akron area. If you haven't been here yet, you need to go right away! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

I can't say enough good things about the Old 97 Cafe in Akron. I took a friend there for a birthday dinner last night, and to listen to Rachel & The Beatnik Playboys (who were awesome as usual--if you don't know their music, please check them out as soon as you can). Neither of us drank any alcohol, but the 97 seems like the kind of place that can whip up a mean cocktail. And although their menu isn't large, they had enough varied selections to please anyone, carnivore and vegetarian alike. I had chicken parmesan over angel hair pasta. It was very good and the portion size was generous. My friend had chili, and got a large bowlful. She enjoyed it a lot. Best of all, when they learned that we were celebrating a birthday, they made a delicious chocolate and peanut butter cake to order, and didn't charge us a cent for it. That's going above and beyond. The staff couldn't have been any friendlier or more accommodating, and you can bet we'll be back. read more

This is a hidden gem! Especially on Kenmore Blvd. of all places. I've been there several times now, and each time I've had a better experience than the previous one. Fantastic drinks, fun activities (ping pong, darts, bocce ball), live music on two of the nights I've been there, amazing patio. The bartenders are very friendly and knowledgable about what they're doing. The decor is fantastic as well. I can't even think of a bad thing to say about this place. If you happen to live in 20 minutes of this place, I highly recommend to come out and check it out. It's close to highway access too! read more

Best. Bar. Ever. Mr. Maloney behind the bar, whipping up what I can only describe as nectar of the Gods and the ambiance... . Don't even get me started on their patio. For good reason it has been voted best patio in Akron. You will not be disappointed, and if you are, well then you have more deeply seeded issues for which I suggest you seek professional as read more

HORRIBLE! So rude! The bartender came to our table accusing us of being in the night before and sneaking in a bottle of wine. We go there all the time. So we explained we had no idea what we were taking about and it wasn't ours but he would not accept that. He continued to be rude and condescending made no room for the fact that he may be wrong and basically accused us of lying. I have never seen an employee be so rude to good customers in my life. They lost 8 good customers last night. If I could give negative stars, I would. read more

I had my wedding and Dinner reception at the Café, Debbie Chapman is the best , she and her staff made our Day Unforgettable. We felt like we were at home with added elegance. The extra effort put forth was immeasurable, I will for ever be Grateful for the most wonderful Day Ever. There is nothing that could have made it Better. This place is an absolute GEM, please visit for any event that they have open, you'll go back Promise. Lisa and Phillip Johnson. read more

I am only giving them one star for the cool atmosphere and movie nights. Both male and female bartenders are slow and unwelcoming. If you aren't a regular sitting right in front of them don't expect a drink or a smile. I understand taking care of your regular customers, but how will you gain business without providing excellent first time experiences? I really want to like this place because the owners seem great and have put a lot of care into it, but the staff needs to step up their game in a huge way. There is an upside to this story...we walked out and went down the street for amazing pizza and a big smile at Pierre's Pizza! read more

We visited the Cafe last night. We had the worst experience of my life. They were busy and didn't have enough staff to accommodate the customers. We sat on the patio and had to wait in line for 20 minutes just to get a drink or order food. We have never thought their food was great, the potatoes weren't fully cooked. After the not so great food and the waiting we would have returned. My husband and our food had to stand in line to cash out and the bill was wrong. My husbands drinks were on our friends bill. Knife said he fixed it and gave my husband a new bill with the right amount and our friend a bill with the same balance, with all the confusion my friend forgot to tip them. My friend always leaves big tips. Wendy chased outside asking him why he didn't tip them. This was so insulting and ridiculous. So make sure you leave a tip or they will chase you down. We will never return after that. There were also female escorts servicing old men and the staff didn't say anything to them. read more

Absolutely beautiful location, but poorly run and managed for booking an event, as many others have noted in reviews. If you are looking for a place to host a private event or wedding do NOT Risk working with this place! You may end up having to cancel your wedding, and rather than receive a heartfelt apology, you'll be given attitude. My now husband and I loved the atmosphere so much that we decided to book our wedding reception here. We paid our deposit, in person, as requested and had our date set. I found it odd that there was no contract, but Debbie said all we needed was a deposit and the booking was ours. Several months later, after not hearing from her, I emailed to confirm a few things before sending out our wedding invitations. It was then that she answered me and told me that somehow she had double booked the day (which she booked someone else AFTER us, but chose to honor THIER booking and not ours) but we could maybe have a Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night as we had planned. I don't know how a Sunday afternoon is equal to a Saturday evening reception, at the same cost for a wedding but that was her offer. At this point, we already had family from as far as California coming into town for our wedding reception, with nonrefundable plane tickets, and we had no venue. It was too late to find another one, and we ended up having to cancel the event altogether. I received a "oops I made a mistake, oh well" from the booking manager via email and no other attempt was made to try and make up for the mistake. We also never received a refund on our deposit. I would NOT suggest trusting in this place, or any establishment that does not have contracts laid out to protect yourself from this exact situation. It's unfortunate that such a great spot is run so poorly, as we won't ever return. read more

I had a surprise party for my fiancé at Old 97 Cafe last night. I cannot sing enough praises! From January on, Debbie (the owner), has been wonderful to work with! She was always easy to touch base with, helped me plan a menu that met my budget, and simply provided great service. The staff and bartenders last night were great as well! Friendly, attentive, and provided us all we needed even with a bar full of non party goers. Plus the appetizers we had for the party were delicious! Everyone had a fantastic time, and raved about how great the place was! So glad I chose this as the party venue, and I'll certainly be coming back for a drink. read more

I recently threw a surprise birthday party for my boyfriend at Old 97 and Debbie was so helpful and sweet. She made some appetizers for it and got everything ready for the party when I arrived. My guests LOVED this place inside & out and couldn't believe they had never been here before. The drinks were amazing, the food was great, and Sam at the bar outside was so friendly & nice to everyone. It truly is a hidden gem in Akron. We will all be back for sure! read more