First off, it has some of the best ambiance of any place in Cleveland. They could just serve water and I'd come again. Well, maybe they could serve just coke... with rum.
The low ceiling, bare brick walls and minimal lighting creates the perfect "hide from all your troubles" vibe which, of course, every good bar should have. The stained glass also is a quirky touch.
As for the drinks, they are all made by attentive bartenders who obviously take pride in their craftsmanship. Jeannene had the "Whiskey Fix of the Painproof Man" ($12) that was a very subtle bourbon drink despite having broiled pineapple and artichoke in it -- yea, artichoke, right?! And I had a margarita ($10) that included a couple of unusual secondary ingredients -- pierre ferrand dry curaƧao and elderflower -- that provided the same tartness that more pedestrian ingredients usually give to the drink.
But a major downer for me is a rather limited menu. It always seems to just have a very few original cocktails though they do provide long lists of the brands of alcohols they have available. A list of the classics would also be helpful to get patrons thinking more about their choices.
The bar snack options are also sparse at the Owl. I understand that they are in Tremont surrounded by awesome restaurants so maybe they don't want to fight it. Or maybe it's due to lack of kitchen space or they can't get the right permits. But that room is just so cozy in the winter and cool in the summer that I find it hard to leave sometimes. This could easily be more than just a pre/post dinner stop.