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| - This is one of those places that has just about everything a craft beer geek with a gastrophilic bent could ask for - solid, well-planned craft beer list and a menu filled with upscale renditions of American comfort food. Throw in a comfy little space that makes you want to linger and it's easy to see the attraction. And while they've made a few changes since opening back in September, our experience has shown them to be for the better.
The Four Walls:
I really dig the vibe here. The lighting isn't too bright, the music isn't too loud and the chairs at the high tops are like a little vacation for your ass. Even the cliche design elements - exposed brick, retro-style incandescent lights, chalkboard beer menu - work here in just the right amounts. The square footage isn't that large so I can imagine it gets mighty crowded during the weekends.
The Schtick:
The name pretty much says it all - Craft Beer Bar - with one exception. It's not just a bar. Sure, the beer list at Craft Beer Bar reads like a greatest hits collection with some amazing selections from both local and national craft breweries (Bell's, Destihl, Lagunitas, Jackie O's, Lagerheads, Madcap), but it's not all about the suds here. The menu is just the right length and it's loaded with hearty, upscale bar fare and stick-to-your-ribs entrees.
The Grub:
As I mentioned before, the menu isn't that large, but what they do have appears to have been carefully curated and, as we were to find out, well-executed. Beer cheese soup, mussels, poutine and salads share the bill with barbacoa tacos, pasta bolognese and beef and bacon meatloaf.
We started with the Greens salad ($8), a delicious combination of mixed greens, cranberries, toasted almonds, and bacon smoked cheddar. The black French dressing was a unique take and the smokiness of the cheese really took this simple salad over the top.
Because we're suckers for bowls of melted cheese, we couldn't resist the warm bacon queso dip ($5). A perfect portion of melty, gooey bacon-y cheese surrounded by house-made tortilla chips.
My wife opted for the barbacoa tacos ($16) and I the meatloaf ($14). The trio of tacos, served on a growler-shaped cutting board, were filled with perfectly cooked, well-seasoned pork topped with a cooling lime crema, pico de gallo and shredded cheese. We finished these bad boys in no time.
Sure, the tacos were good, but the meatloaf, damn. When it comes to loaves of carnal goodness these guys do it right. This meatloaf was awesome. A thick slab of perfectly seasoned meat sat atop a slice of crunchy, chewy sourdough bread, atop a layer of cheddar mashed potatoes and covered in a delicious gravy and crunchy fried onions. I was pretty hungry and this one filled the hole easily. If you've been away from meatloaf for awhile, welcome it back into your life with this one.
The Service:
Overall, we felt that the service we received was pretty good. We were seated immediately, our orders were taken quickly and filled just as fast, but there was a bit of a lull in the middle that had us twiddling our thumbs over empty beer glasses longer than we wanted. Had they been busier I'd probably have overlooked this minor misstep, but they weren't and I didn't. Our server did keep our waters full which I'm a bit of a stickler about, so that was good.
The Whole Package:
The Craft Beer Bar is one of those places, if they happened to be closer than a 45 min drive from home, we'd probably add into our regular rotation. The atmosphere is delightful, the service friendly and attentive (mostly), the beer list makes the Certified Cicerone in me all giddy, and the food is filling, classy and delicious. If you haven't been, even if you do live out of the Cuyahoga Falls/Akron area, you should give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
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