This place is an absolute must visit. I've travelled extensively and this spot has earned one of my top favorite places to eat. We had the arancini, root vegetable latkes, fried calamari and veal meatballs. The sauce for the meatballs was the kind of sauce you want more of to dip your bread into. The meatball was perfectly seasoned and tender. The star is the calamari. Do not let the idea of kimchi throw you off, it made the dish. My husband does not like kimchi and he polished off more of this than I did. Service was top notch both in service and conversation. And while the tavern is small, it just adds the right vibe. read more

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Bustling, local watering hole. Plenty of free street parking and easy to find. This neighborhood is one of my favorites because of the hidden gems quietly tucked in this residential area. I know they serve food, but we just came for drinks. It was very busy during the week about 6pm. We were able to sit at the bar. The bar was filled with regulars, most of whom were friends with the bartender. She was not enjoying her job this night and appeared stressed sounded annoyed. She did make us drinks and warmed up slightly, but I hate feeling like you're putting the staff out just by ordering a drink off the menu. We ordered an Alligator Lounge and Yada Yads. Both tasty. I felt drinks were on the pricey side for what you get. It's a very popular place and feels intimate. I would try it again when back in the area. read more

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Great Cocktails. We were told to come here and the recommendation did not disappoint. The Espresso Martini was just ok. Too sweet for me. My second drink was amazing, Through the Window. I have never had a Cantaloupe cocktail with black pepper, sage etc. The only disappointment was coming back the next night and they were sold out. The downfalls of pre-batched cocktails. We have been back several times now and have always had delicious cocktails and good service. It gets very busy and it's very loud. read more

Literary Tavern - Through the window - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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I love this place and if I lived in Tremont I would be a regular. We sat at the bar for a drink and had fries to snack on. Very good, and great, friendly service. My cocktail was unique and quite good. Wine poured on top. The Tavern Fries were so good, and came with both ketchup and a black garlic aioli that I loved. Cozy seating in the front room with the bar, and a dining room beyond. read more

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Went to Literary Tavern to meet up with some friends after work and was able to get seated quickly! We didn't make a reservation so I'm glad we got a table! Ordered a couple of cocktails and shared some amazing truffle fries! Drinks were creative and delicious, and the truffle fries were delicious when paired with the garlic aioli! The vibes of Literary Tavern was laid back and chill and super cute! read more

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Unique themed drinks all with a mocktail or thc option great for anybody with specific drink taste. The burger was delicious and a great environment read more

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Slipped away into a slice of unnoticed Tremont but yet steps from Lincoln Park and the Professor strip is this little spot...Don't blink, you might miss it! There are so many great eats in the coolest neighborhood in the 216 but I encourage you to add this one to your list. Walking in the door of this narrow establishment, you can tell it's a gathering spot for regulars. I love their slogan of come in as strangers but leave as friends because sweet Katie who was working as hostess, bartender and server extraordinaire proved it true! When I spoke to her on the phone, I already I liked her because she ended with See You Soon! Guess who greeted us with a beautiful smile? We sat on the patio which is really the alley between the blogs but in Tremont, that adds to the funky vibe. We paused at first, but sat next to another table of guests and before we left 1.5/2hrs later, most of the tables had filled. The drinks were wonderful and if you like unusual, craft drinks...here ya go! The sidecar did not miss and was on point and the Blood Fountain was as pretty as delicious! How can you go wrong mixing bourbon and malbec! The selection of creativity is spectacular! I enjoyed the chicken swarma, full of tender chicken and dipping goodness and truffle fries! Archie took over as server and he filled in every bit as well as Katie. We really enjoyed the music, the vibe and interesting taste offerings, whether bits or sips. Stop by... drink a "Corny as Kansas", on me (psyche). Drinks constantly change! read more

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Not what you expect from the outside. Absolutely a cozy date spot with great cocktails, shareable and entrees. Sit at the bar and ask for the bartenders favorite for an exception time with great service. read more

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"We are really busy," the ambivalent host said when he forgot to seat us after sitting his bros who just rolled up on 1/16/26. This was after spending an hour and a half wait at the bar (said we'd be sat in 45 minutes, then blamed the bartenders for the oversight). Nope. Had a good experience here before but that was a couple of years ago. 1 and only star goes to the bartenders who made lovely cocktails for our party of 5. Cleveland has a lot of good competition. read more

Enjoyed the flavorful food, the atmosphere and the quick service. Wasn't too busy for lunch on a Wednesday. The falafel balls were a bit salty, but I still enjoyed them. read more

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Godzilla Water and Blood Fountain - we celebrated my birthday well. Literary Tavern provides a vibe, delicious cocktails, and great service. read more

Literary Tavern - Blood Fountain and Godzilla Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Absolutely amazing . I was the only one there so the service was good, got a smash burger and truffle fries, and the drink I got was amazing too (it's called the Princesa something). Literally zero complaints! Good music/cute inside too. read more

Literary Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Have had cocktails here before but our dinner on Friday was the first time we have eaten here. Our food was excellent all around and the cocktails on point. Service was friendly and attentive. Vibrant atmosphere - really fun. read more

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I was expecting some literary references at the Literary Tavern, but what I got instead was a great cocktail and the best snack we had while in town, so I'm not mad. Nate and I stopped in and grabbed a seat at the bar. I got a very tasty old fashioned for only $11 which was a steal. Nate ordered the Tony, Toni, Tonic, which we both loved. Great cocktails here! We were a bit hungry so we went with the calamari, which was a very generous portion and had an Asian twist with the sauces and kimchi. When I tell you this is some of the best calamari I've had, I mean it. Tender and not at all rubbery and so flavorful and delicious. We devoured this and both agreed it was our favorite food we ate in town. I think this would be my spot if I lived in the area. Not sure when we'll be back in Cleveland, but Literary Tavern would be on my "let's go back" list. read more

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First timers and we ordered the power salad and the Korean bbq cheesesteak. They were both VERY good. I would come back just for these two things. I can only imagine what the rest of the menu is like. I can't wait to come back. read more

Wonderful location, easy to park. Quaint, comfortable community. Walk in, grab a seat, get comfortable. Service is easy going, friendly, efficient and effective. Good music... just enough, not too much. Perfect for having a conversation. And to top it all off the food is GREAT!!! I honestly believe I had the best burger I have ever had in my life. And my wife had the veal meatballs that were excellent. Two glasses of good wine. What else could you possibly ask for? Oh ya, and we shared the blueberry bread pudding. It was so absolutely fabulous I thought we would get into a wrestling match over the last piece. Best bread pudding ever, ever, EVER!We have now been there 4 times for lunch and the consistency is astounding... this is no accident. I love this joint. You will love this joint. Just go...right now... just go. read more

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This place is the bomb. Great and fun staff. If you like wine like me, it has a good list. My friends that like beer tell me they love the selection there. The food is great. Try the golden duck! Best I have had in a long time! As well as the torte! A friend of mine that is more burgers and beer raves about the fries. I had a few on a previous visit and they are quite good! Love the windows and look of the bar and tables! read more

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We ate here for the first time today. Food and drinks (a Negroni and rose wine) were delicious, especially the Bittersweet and Salty Salad (the figs and fried halloumi cheese are great) and the Steak Frites with truffle fries were top shelf...perhaps the highest quality beef I have ever tasted in a Steak Frites dish. It was a beautiful day but so we were excited to try a new outdoor patio but were disappointed by the patio's bee problem...not aggressive bees but very present nonetheless. Our server did warn us about the bees before we sat down. Also disappointed by our server who seemed bothered to have to serve us even though there was only one other table in the restaurant (mid-afternoon). She seemed much more interested in a table of younger patrons next to us and brought us our check without even asking if we wanted coffee or dessert (which we did, but we bought elsewhere). Maybe she was having a bad day. I'd go back for the high quality food and to give the service another shot. read more

This place has become one of my go-to spot. I've been here many times and it never disappoints. The drink menu is always changing and everything I've tried has been really good. It's a great place for happy hour, especially if you're looking for a laid back vibe and good craft cocktails. The service is consistently great, I have never had bad service. At night , it is dimly lit, giving it a cozy, relaxed feel. They also have outdoor seating, which is perfect in the summer. As for the food, I've tried the calamari, chicken shawarma, and the burger. Everything has been flavorful and well-prepared. This place never misses. read more

Awesome atmosphere, service, and food. Can't wait to come back and check out more of the menu. read more

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Cute spot in Tremont. Nice menu with plenty of options for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Heirloom tomato sandwich was delicious with a glass of white wine. Salads looked pretty amazing. Service was great and street parking surprisingly available even with a full house at the restaurant. Loud. Very loud. But will definitely go back. read more

The Literary Tavern is in a dependable staple in Tremont. My friends and I have returned here many times, because we know we'll always have a great time. During my most recent visit, I had the jigglyproof cocktail, which is an Asian inspired cocktail that contains lychee, calpico, and other delicious flavors. I really enjoy my drink, and my friends also enjoyed theirs. For food, we ordered the calamari and the old meatballs to share. The calamari on the menu this time is more of an Asian inspired calamari, and includes kimchi, sweet chili sauce, and other accoutrements. They do a good job of making the calamari, crispy and flavorful, though it was too sweet for my tastes, and something about the balance of flavors was a little bit off. The veal meatballs were delicious. The tomato sauce was very savory and incredible, and I appreciated being able to dip the grilled cheese in the leftover sauce. Overall, the service is always excellent here, and we were able to get in as a party of six but a reservation on a weekday night. I definitely recommend checking out in Literary Tavern for delicious cocktails, and solid food. read more

Literary Tavern - jigglyproof - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Amazing service, always incredibly accommodating even if you walk in without a reservation. Their cocktails are delicious and reasonably priced too. I've only have had their food a couple of times but have always enjoyed it as well. There are tables in the front where it can get a little loud by the bar, but they also have back room seating that's a little quieter and easier to have conversations with groups of friends while sharing drinks. Highly recommend this tremont gem! read more

Fantastic drinks- well crafted and so easy to drink. Loved the service and a nice casual atmosphere. Excited to come back for food another time- looked delicious! read more

Literary Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Second time visiting this gem in Tremont. Thoughtfully prepared dishes and tasty cocktails. The restaurant alloys for bar seating, semi private seating in back and also street watching options. read more

5/5 cocktails (great taste, you can tell cocktails were made with care) 3/5 appetizers (would've loved if the fritters were not as soggy, also wasn't a fan of horseradish but that's personal ... mussels were good but the beer chorizo broth was strongly beer forward minimal chorizo) 5/5 entrees (amazing! Buccatini bolognese was a perfect al dente that wasn't hard but the perfect chew. Sauce was divine. Must try here, might be a lot better than some Italian restaurant's and their pasta). Friend ordered the chicken shawarma and couldn't put it down, that how good he thought it was. FYI the sandwiches don't come with any sides so keep that in mind if you weren't planning on ordering sides or appetizers for your meal. Make sure you check out their monthly specials on their website! Always something different and unique to add to their regular menu. read more

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Don't know about the food because I just got drinks! The service at the bar was entertaining. The mixologist had their work cut out for them that night. Mixing non stop. The cocktails are very well prepared with fresh ingredients and tasted wonderful. Loved that they had a jukebox to play some tunes while we chilled at the bar. They had a lovely side patio that would be perfect to enjoy the afternoon breeze with some friends. The inside is small but inviting. read more

Literary Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Great food, great service, great atmosphere very welcoming and nice people. I went with some work clients and they enjoyed themselves.

This is one of my favorite spots! All of the appetizers are great and I love that most of their speciality cocktails can be made non-alcoholic. The service is typically great and I like having the option to sit outside which is much more quiet/ chill than the inside. read more

Literary Tavern - Lit Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Literary Tavern is tucked into a small sliver of a front in Tremont. Once you're inside, the dining space goes back and back and back so there is more room than you think on first glance (aka it's bigger on the inside....anyone?) My husband and I dined here with a friend just before Christmas. The menu of options are all so tasty sounding and they have a great beer selection. I ordered the gnudi, a cocktail, and the bread pudding for dessert. My husband had a beer and the banh mi. The gnudi were excellent, banh mi was good, bread pudding was not great and the cocktail had too much lime in it which drowned out the rest of the flavors in the drink. What makes this a three is that we had hit or miss service. The first waitress we had seemed like it was a pain to deign to serve us. She was replaced - not sure why - with a woman on her first day there who was MUCH better and a delight. I'm going to give Literary Tavern another go assuming this was an off night just on the merits of the gnudi alone. read more

Literary Tavern - Gnudi with pesto and sun dried tomatoes. Delicious! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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This place has a lot of potential but here's my beef: -super loud (somehow the sound of others talking just trumped what my date was saying and we had to ask each other to repeat every other sentence) -super cramped and crowded on a freaking Tuesday early evening...uuuuggggh -the tables out front were so tiny but meant to be dined on. Was not real happy about the choice of seating; would've loved to be in the back where it seemed to be less crowded and had normal sized tables -speed of service was slow (but probably due to the extreme busy nature) -miscommunication with all the servers...we had several instead of just one and they always misunderstood everything. We also had to yell to be heard -parking was hard to find (yes, this is what you get in Tremont but had to mention it!) Pros: -the food. Thank goodness there was something redeemable about this place. Might be the best calamari appetizer I've ever had, or at least second best after Voodoo Tuna's version. Also got the veal meatballs and street corn cakes. The corn cakes were a bit dry but the toast from the meatball app was perfectly square and BOMB. read more

*HIGHLY RECOMMEND* What a gem in Cleveland! Excellent service. Excellent cocktails. Great food. Cozy, chic, charming ambiance. It's a small place. Made a reservation on Opentable. Was able to find street parking nearby. Food wise, I would highly recommend the veal meatballs and their burger. 5 stars. Would return again. read more

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Varied menu but they make it all well. Not a lot of super healthy stuff on the menu- even the salads have grains or other things on them, so better to be a little adventurous here and try the lamb bolognese or even the customizable charcuterie board- mine had delicious Humboldt Fog blue cheese, mortadella, and a sheep cheese. The veal meatballs were super juicy and the pesto and sweet tomato sauce with it was divine! The shawarma sandwich was full of ingredients and the chicken was amazingly juicy and flavorful. Small place with small tables but they can fit in more than you'd think. Ambiance was a mix of progressive and salsa music with loud background noise. Friendly servers. read more

Literary Tavern - Pork belly banh mi - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Good cocktails. High level old fashioned! Good ambiance and the bartenders were very nice!

Solid spot for drinks in tremont. Great atmosphere inside and it's a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. and the cocktails are delicious. They change seasonally too! The food menu is also seems good and changes up a bit. I've only had apps here, but what I tried was good. Service is hit or miss. Most of the time, I've had lovely experiences with friendly and helpful staff. A couple times where service was extremely slow or attempts made to charge full price (rather than happy hour deal). Overall, a drink spot I keep in rotation read more

I tripped upon this gem doing a google search for great lunch spots in Cleveland. It didn't come up as a restaurant in yelp so I didn't see it pop up but discovered it comes up under cocktail bar. I also learned that it's owned by same owners as D'Agnese's and Cantine. The food here was exceptional and so were the cocktails. The veal meatballs are top three that I've ever eaten and the Gnudi were tasty and a first for me. The shaved ribeye sandwich was off the wall awesome. I'll be back to taste more menu items for sure. read more

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Great service! We ordered the green goddess salad, fries, mussels with chorizo, and butternut squash ravioli. The ravioli was the best bite but everything tasted fresh and delicious. Reasonable priced. I went here with my husband for a date night. It was 100% worth it. read more

Service was excellent and food & drinks were served quickly. However, I am apparently an outlier, but our party of 4 found the food quality mixed. First, they have a very limited dinner menu with half the options being burgers or sandwiches and, oddly, two veal entrees on the day we dined. We only found a few memorable options, all appetizers. We all loved the sautéed mushroom appetizer (under the salads) with a generous portion of unique varieties and seasoned perfectly. Caesar salad was a portion sized for sharing with crisp, fresh Romain lettuce topped with a nice light Caesar dressing. The corn cake appetizer was unique, crispy and flavorful. Unfortunately, other than that, our remaining selections were no better than a B minus with 2 that would get a D: the olive and feta cheese dip with warm mini pita bread sounded great, but it failed to mention that the dip is served cold; an odd option on a winter night and how could you dip into a hard dip with mini pita bread? I'd suggest the kitchen should rethink this & serve it warm, but our waitress said it's served right out of the fridge. The stuffed chicken with polenta was a big miss. I assumed the polenta would be served on the side, but it was served underneath the chicken which was slathered in a marinara sauce. Note to chef: marinara sauce does not go with polenta; Polish grandmothers the world over would fall faint at such a suggestion! And it was too bad because the polenta was light, creamy and delicious, but I could only get a couple of spoonfuls where the delicate polenta was not smothered in a tangy marinara sauce. The chicken was also overstuffed with a light flavorless cheese when a more hardy cheese, such as mozzarella or smoked Gouda would've been a better pairing with chicken, so overall a very disappointing entree. In looking at prior reviews, they are very adventurous with their food combinations and frequently change the menu. I would recommend they should stick with a few well-loved menu items and experiment less. And start by removing the stuffed chicken. read more

The Literary Tavern is a great gathering place for friends! They are so inclusive, offering a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. My hot date and I decided to bring a friend from out of town. I had been to the LIT before, but this was his first time. We arrived on a quiet Monday and we're seated at a nice table in the front window. After catching up, the first thing to order were drinks! The LIT is well know for their cocktails, taking interesting spins on the classics. I ordered the Midnight Manhattan - classic served up. The drink was boozy and very tasty. My hot date ordered the Vapor Plane - vodka and grapefruit liquor - refreshing and slightly bitter! Our friend ordered the Sazerac. It was so tasty, I had to order it after my first! After taking our time perusing the menu, we decided on the food. We split the fried pickles as an appetizer. They were crispy and the dipping sauce was tasty. We wished that there were more than three spears! For our meals, my hot date ordered the chicken shawarma. His exact words.. and I quote.. "literally the best I've ever had!" I order the steak and frites. I knew it would be good when it came out as I could see the perfectly cooked center. Juicy meat and crispy fries! Our friend ordered the veggie burger - she loved it! I definitely recommend giving the Literary Tavern a try! The atmosphere is wonderful, you'll love the food, and of course, have a great time! read more

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A very relaxed and inviting setting. Everyone there appeared to be having a great, laid-back, chill time. The food and drinks were excellent. What more could you want? A very nice secret in Tremont. read more

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