I work downtown and frequent The Tavern quite often for lunch. They've recently expanded their food choices and I've tried a LOT from their menu and really have yet to disagree with anything I've eaten there. All the food I've had is very good, which is why I return over and over again.
The employees are friendly and always more than willing to have a conversation. The Tavern has a very cool local feel to it and there's a lot of regulars that consistently return.
On the weekends the line does get long but it's a great place to sit on the patio, and if you smoke (which I don't however) there's the back patio where you can still do that.