I very rarely give a high rating like this, however while in Cleveland on the 4th of July, and during a power outage, came upon this fantatic tavern. I was with a buddy, I ordered a pizza, and he a pulled pork sandwich. My pizza, was off the charts great. No flop, tasty, larger than expected, and as many toppings as you want. My friend loved the pulled pork, great fries, cole slaw. I had a Guiness, that perfect, great all around I definitely recommend this place read more

These have been my favorite chicken and waffles in Cleveland for the last few years and they still are. Crunchy chicken with just a hint of seasoning. Sweey, fluffy waffles. Smoked poultry gravy that you just want to drink out the cup. The maple syrup is really good, as well. We choose to sit at the bar and have always had quick service. Take your friends or family for brunch and thank me later! read more

XYZ the Tavern - XYZ chicken and waffles - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

I've lived in the area for over 13 years. This place was a staple for my family. We loved the food, service, and atmosphere. In the past 3 years, I've given this place chance after chance, hoping it was just a fluke. Food was pre-cooked... days old, reheated, bland; drinks had bugs and were of terrible quality. On top of that, 2 out of 3 of us had terrible digestive issues that night till the next day. WTF is going on? Never eating here again. I will never send anyone coming into town here again. Super bummed. I want to love this again. read more

First time coming here, we were bar hopping for a friend's birthday party and this was our first stop. Staff here is very friendly and we were greeted to our table right away without any issue. This place a fair selection of non-alcoholic drinks people that want to take it easy on the party like me. The food on the menu was absolutely delicious. The staff was very friendly with complimentary water and great service. We felt very welcome here too! The bathrooms I thought were really cool, they remind me of a new York Subway station. Prices are a bit High, but it's a great place to come by and check out casually. read more

Great place , not packed , good food and drinks, would come again. Parking wasnt the best for a Saturday but we had chicken and waffles and pizza and both were good read more

XYZ the Tavern - Vodka lemonade - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Stopped by for a Tuesday night dinner with some friends. This was a very casual atmosphere, and service was efficient and friendly. Lots of beer options to choose from as well, and a small menu of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and other "bar food" items. I had the salmon BLT with fries which was delicious. I had a mixed drink which was reasonably priced, however I could not taste the alcohol (not sure if that's a good thing?!) We also had some tempura broccoli which was surprisingly tasty. Would stop back! read more

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Very bad pizza. Eclectic looking restaurant. Great atmosphere, will try other items on the menu.

So happy we went back for dinner. It's so nice to go out to dinner on a Friday night and be able to hear each other, especially in a pub! The pizza was delicious and the service was lovely. The tempura broccoli felt a little undercooked and over priced. But, all in all, it's still a good spot. read more

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All I had were the wings with BBQ sauce this time, but many times I have gone here with family. Food is good and they have nice seating, it's definitely a welcoming place. Never had any issues with service and this is definitely a go-to whenever we are feeling indecisive. read more

Great food! I love the broccoli tempura! The service was great even though they were super busy.

I had quite the mixed bag brunch experience at XYZ. The vibe was cute with a good mix of diner atmosphere inside but a lovely alley patio area outside. I loved the big open air windows for the indoor-outdoor feel at our dining table. The drinks were good (but quite strong!). We shared a pitcher of the grapefruit mimosas and I had a Bloody Mary as well (which was good & flavorful). The restaurant also has a great draft selection with a range of delicious beers & ciders. Service was slow but not awful, and the waitress comped a drink order that came super late which was quite nice. The most disappointing aspect was the food, unfortunately. I ordered the chicken & waffles & was very disappointed. While the waffles were light & fluffy, the chicken was weird little chicken finger strips (not what I would expect from a chicken & waffles) served on the side with a gravy cup that wasn't really hot. Overall, I would come back here for the drinks & ambiance but probably skip the food. Food: C- Drinks: B+ Service: B- Ambiance: B read more

This is our go to place in the neighborhood. Consistently good. Love the serious slice of pizza! read more

XYZ the Tavern - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Absolute great service' and an amazing ambience. Definitely recommend of your in the area.

Have been living in the Gordon Square area for about a year. Have tried most of the restaurants and keep coming back to the XYZ. Love the barbecue. I think it's the best local BBQ, fall off the bone ribs with great flavor. Smoky, tender, delicious. The skull shaped cornbread is a treat. They also have a fabulous pizza, have tried it with different toppings, always good. The shot and a beer specials are fun, and I've tried different whiskeys that I normally wouldn't have. House chips and onion dip are a great side. Staff always friendly and helpful without being intrusive. A west side gem!!! read more

Absolutely had the best time here eating some delicious brunch! We were sat right away on a Sunday - guess everyone was already at the Browns game so there was no wait. The bloody mary was absolutely delicious here and would recommend if you're into some boozy parts of brunch. I ate the special brisket hash and my goodness gracious so good! The brisket bits were succulent and delicious with the potatoes. The coffee was good and strong, and was regularly refilled, as well as our waters as we had quite a night out. I would absolutely come back here as this was a recommendation from our local friend, and seemed to have a lot going on in a good way! read more

XYZ the Tavern - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Great food and good people! Always go here to unwind and pig out with boys! Nice selection of drinks and the staff is really cool!

Always a solid staple. Great draft selection. Amazing specials through in the week. Pizza is always a good go to! read more

XYZ the Tavern - Half cheese half pepperoni - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Checkout the skull shaped cornbread!!! Stopped by on a weekday afternoon for "X" dating the alphabet. It wasn't at all crowded. We easily found parking. Friendly bartender took our order. He was knowledgeable and offered great recommendations. Full bar with nice craft beer selection. Bar food. Service and food was prompt. Great casual atmosphere. Good first stop for a night out with friends. read more

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Ok. Run, do not walk to this wonderful local tavern in Gordon Square. Our final destination for our daughter's birthday celebration was Superelectric Pinball Parlor directly across the street. We planned on an afternoon lunch, and because it was 15 degrees and freezing a** cold out we landed here. Best choice ever! Huge beer selection, and a varied menu with lots of selections. But I came here to discuss the CHEESESTEAK. The holy grail of sandwiches. The one you are still thinking about a week later. Toasted hoagie bun with cheddar cheese AND a creamy cheese sauce on the bottom, followed by probably a 1/2 pound of tender beef brisket and sautéed onion. The gem of this sandwich is the banana pepper salsa, that adds a little heat and tasty zing. Served with house made chips (we ordered the side of onion dip, fabulous). I wish I knew our server's name (Sunday afternoon 2/8) because he was incredibly patient while we looked over the beer and food menu. Came by to check our drinks and needs every 10-15 minutes. All in all, if you are looking for fancy, not your place. If you want a down to earth place with great service, cold beer and delicious food, the staff at XYX will welcome you. My birthday is next week and I have already "suggested " to my husband that we return for the epic cheesesteak. read more

Had dinner for 4 on a Thursday evening before heading to Platform for Music Bingo. First time stopping here and so glad we did! Cocktail was on-point, menu had a great variety for our diverse pallets, dimly lit environment gave off a fun local tavern feel and the food was great! Pulled pork platter for $10? Yes, please. Lately, service has been hit or miss in the industry so I have an even greater appreciation for quality service when it's received. From seating to paying our tab, xyz staff was excellent! Thanks for a great evening read more

XYZ the Tavern - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Nice div bar with fabulous food. The prices are reasonable and the staff top notch. Music fit the vibe read more

XYZ offers a big full bar, but goes far beyond "bar food". The burgers are good, but my favorite is their turkey club sandwich (the pork belly really puts it on another level). Plenty of beers and ciders on tap, but with a full bar you can get whatever you're looking for in terms of drinks. They also have a drink special on offer for each day of the week. Finally, while I wouldn't consider their pizza to be the best in Gordon Square, it is on offer as a whole pie or by the slice, and I would say is worth a try. I recommend XYZ as a good place to get a quick, casual bite in a relaxed atmosphere. read more

Fun place with lots of whiskey options. We ordered some chips... very good. The food looked awesome but we were there for slow sipping and sampling. Very knowledgeable staff with great recommendations. Will surely return. read more

XYZ the Tavern - Good friends celebrating - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Great service, DELICIOUS BRUNCH sweet little place to come hang out or grab some food read more

We go here while working locally. Very friendly and the food is well made. There is an interesting selection. We have had falafel, Rueben's, pizza and burgers. There are specials. The best thing -- skull shaped cornbread with the chili. So cool I had to buy a skull muffin pan too. Would recommend. read more

For a very small place they have quite a gourmet menu. Not cheap but definitely something for everyone. The brisket was super greasy and fatty as I'd requested and came with a skull shaped moist deliciously sweet cornbread, fries, and a spicy cherry or pomegranate type barbecue sauce. The broccoli tempura was ungodly good and in good portion with thick breading. The three sauces it came with were much appreciated and added to an already delicious dish. read more

XYZ the Tavern - Brisket platter - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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I was pleasantly surprised by the brunch at XYZ Tavern. When you walk in, it's your standard bar: hefty wooden chairs and tables fill most of the dining area, and a good sized bar and liquor collection are on the right hand side of the space. I met a friend here for brunch over MLK weekend. We had quick and friendly service the whole time we were there. I ordered the chicken and waffles. This is not my usual brunch fare because I usually find the dish at most places to be less good than it sounds, but something about it was calling my name. Not so at XYZ. The waffle was crispy and cut into four pieces, and there was a small piece of similarly crispy chicken on each section of waffle. It made for the perfect chicken to waffle ratio as I ate. On the side, it came with a tasty onion gravy and maple syrup. Together these were a dynamite sweet/savory combo. My dining partner got the BLTA which was a breakfast sandwich on a croissant. She said it was surprisingly one of the better sandwiches she's had in a while. Not bad for a place that I thought, upon entry, was going to pull three stars at best. Just goes to show the saying is right: you can't judge a book by its cover. read more

Came to the XYZ tavern on a recommendation before going to the Near West theater for a show. A table close by ordered the broccoli tempura - it looked good so we followed. It was very large broccoli with a tasty batter and dipping sauce. Because the broccoli was so large and the brisket platter was also large, we split it. It looked really good. The coleslaw was yummy and the fries and skull face cornbread were also very good. The brisket however was disappointing. It was tough and fatty and lacked flavor. The milk stout was very nice as was Evan Williams bourbon. Looking around, the pizzas looked good as did an artichoke appetizer. Would return, but will stay away from the brisket. read more

XYZ the Tavern - Brisket platter - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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First time going here! All my friends were posting brunch pictures on the gram and I felt like I was long overdue for a good brunch around town. Called into XYZ and placed a pickup order for the brisket hash which was apparently today's special. The phone receptionist was very polite and accommodating to my customization on the order. The place looked very clean and was overall good vibes! I was relaxed while waiting for my order. The server was very friendly and polite. Here comes the bad part of the review. The food that I got looked great! However, the taste was very disappointing. I can tell the ingredients were fresh however it wasn't seasoned well. It even lacked salt. The brisket was subpar because it was dried out and not moist. The potatoes were clearly burnt to a crisp and added a very unpleasant bitter taste to the entire dish in my opinion. The eggs were the best part however, wish it was seasoned appropriately. I'd give this place a solid 4/5 even though the food experience was not up to my expectations. I understand that this is primarily a bar and more of a social hangout spot in Cleveland so for that, it serves its purpose really well! Next time I go here, I know not to go with too high of any expectations for food but rather enjoy the company of some friends in a relaxed and casual environment. read more

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Stopped in and got the pulled pork and pizza. The pizza was pretty awful. It tasted worse than frozen pizza. The pulled pork had an ample amount of pork, but the sauce was overwhelmingly sweet and it came with even more sauce on the side. The sandwich wasn't anything more than just overly sauced meat and bread. Some coleslaw would have helped, but the potato chips were good and home made! Service was nice, ambiance was ok- just a sports bar, but since the food was bad, I unfortunately would not return. read more

Lukewarm. That's how I'd describe our time at XYZ. The highlight dish of the evening was the broccoli tempura - an unexpectedly delicious combination of flavors. The burger was a decent, solid burger, though nothing to write home about. The tacos, though, were the real let down - dry meat, no sauce, no cilantro, and cold, out-of-the-bag tortillas. Service was okay, but a tad slow. Perhaps I ought to give this place another chance, which I would certainly consider. But at this time, I do not plan on returning in the foreseeable future. read more

XYZ the Tavern - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Live entertainment upstairs Beef brisket to die for & all foods are good Service is outstanding read more

The food here is phenomenal. We live right by it and it's always a go to. The vibe, people, drinks and food make it 10/10! Keeps us coming back often. The brisket hash for brunch is hands down the best!! read more

I was very impressed with my first visit! There are spaces to sit at the bar and tables evenly spaced out. There is also outdoor seating for when the weather is nicer. There is parking on the street! I went for breakfast and got the eggs Benedict. This was my first time having this meal and I was beyond happy with my choice. The eggs were perfectly cooked and it came with delicious red skin potatoes. People I went with for the special brisket hash, breakfast sliders and a meat lovers omelet. They were all happy with their meals as well. The staff was friendly and very welcoming. I will definitely be coming back! read more

XYZ the Tavern - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Great beer selection and the food menu, though smallish, has enough variety to please. Had the smoked half chicken with fries, slaw, and a skull shaped piece of cornbread which made me smile. The chicken came with a large cup of hot sauce which was tasty. The chicken itself was decent enough. The breast meat was slightly dry and there was not much smokiness. All in all, a decent meal. The bar itself is what you come to expect in a hipster area like Gordon Square. Exposed brick wall, a beautiful wooden bar, and vintage photos of Detroit avenue adorning the wall. Cozy interior and seating for probably around 50. Definitely worth a visit! read more

The broccoli tempura was awesome. The Cleveland cheesesteak was incredible also. Nice patio sitting on a summer day. Service was attentive and polite. read more

My review is a little late. My daughter and I went to XYZ last Friday (5/12/23) for an early Mom's Day lunch. This was my second time and the first was AWESOME. I'm glad to say this place was still AWESOME! I had the pulled pork sandwich and it was amazing! My daughter had the chicken and waffle, which she loved! Service was great. I can't wait to try their brunch. I totally recommend XYZ Tavern. read more

Went for my first time today. Met friends for lunch. Great free parking in the back lot or street on W65. Really strong beer list. I had two very tasty IPAs that were fresh and cold. I had the pulled pork platter which included fries, slaw, and a very large portion of BBQ pork. Delicious. Once I smelled the cherry wood smoke when parking I was hooked. Nice vibe inside and I. The large patio . Totally responsive staff, and very professional and friendly I will be back. Highly recommended. read more

XYZ the Tavern - Elysian space dust IPA - New American Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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The shot + beer special is old school. The fries were loaded and delicious. TV setup has improved and I was shocked at how tasty the breakfast looked. Will definitely be coming back. Bartenders were cool as hell too. read more

What's not to love about this place? Great location in hip and welcoming Gordon Square. Attentive and polite waitstaff, happy hour specials including $2 pizza with unlimited toppings to name but one. Service is somewhat laid back but this isn't a fast food joint. XYZ has a good beer, wine and cocktail list. Our meals were fresh-tasting and also were nicely plated. We will be back for sure. read more