Two drinks: Wooster Tavern

Wooster Tavern bartender Jodie Harrison mixes a drink on a recent Thursday night. (Credit: Amanda Davidson | Metromix)

The look: Resting on the border of Mariemont and Fairfax, the Wooster Tavern is a hotbed for thirsty locals. The bar isn't short on space, and it makes use of it. From the outside, it looks like it could just be a really big house, only with a football field-length parking lot in the back and neon beer signs in the windows. Every room has at least one TV, and the patio out back is a nice getaway from the noise-filled, rock-music-blasting inside.

The crowd: Depending on where in the tavern you decide to sit, you'll likely run into a different crowd. The dining area is very family friendly, with a healthy dose of kids. The upstairs, however, features darts tournaments on Tuesdays and Thursdays with foul mouths, hard drinks and fierce competition (a perfect combination for sharp, pointy darts). Overall, the customer base runs the gamut from post-college aged locals to 40- and 50-year-old regulars.

Two drinks: Nothing too exotic here. My girlfriend got a Jack and Coke ($5.50) and I got a Bud Light ($2.75). Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. and features $2 well drinks and $2.25 domestics. On Sunday and Monday, Wooster Tavern sells $2 Miller High Life and $3.75, 16-ounce Blue Moon. We got our drinks at the upstairs bar where bartender Angie humored a darts team with rounds of shots and laughed at their bad jokes.

The grub: The Wooster Tavern has a sizable menu that includes a number of different sandwiches, salads, appetizers, wraps and pizzas. Every Tuesday is Burger Madness at the tavern, with $3.99 patties and unlimited toppings. Most menu items cost less than $10. I tried the Warrior Burger, appropriately named after Mariemont High School's mascot, which featured Buffalo sauce, Jack cheese, onion rings and coleslaw. The best thing about the Wooster Tavern menu? Tater tots are offered as a side to any sandwich instead of chips or fries. Don't be afraid to admit you like them too.

The verdict: This place doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. The people are friendly, the beer is cheap enough and the food makes you feel 20 pounds fatter when you leave. Can you ask for anything else?

Add a comment