The Avenue Tavern

There are a few places along the East Lakeview area that I think of as a real neighborhood bars. I mean, Cheers-​like places. Where you can wander in, sit and have a drink or three, maybe some food, and bullshit all night with the bartender about the latest soccer game or the weather. Or you can just grab a shot to numb the pain of a crap day at work, and get a pat on the back and a «hang in there». Or anything in between. And you’ll feel welcome, every time.
My wife and I came here as part of a mini pub-​crawl for her birthday. We ordered some pub comfort food and a couple drinks. The food was, well, pub food. The mac and cheese was respectable, but not remarkable. They do have tatter tots, and you KNOW how much I like tatter tots. Score. I do plan to try some more of their food, but I suspect it will all remain unremarkable. Of course this place has a full bar. Their beer selection is nice, and actually fairly cheap for the area. Score again. They were showing soccer on TV, and this is my soccer season, so score yet again. The bartender was very friendly and we had a great time, even though we didn’t stay for but an hour.
It sounds like they have some fun, neighborhood social events, so I am really looking forward to checking those out. I don’t have too much experience with this place yet, but all indications are positive! I’ll report back.

I go there for the wings! Literally just call in and pick them up to go. They taste fantastic and are a great deal, bar tenders are friendly! I always see a bunch of people watching games there. Going to have to try dining in next!

Food is not great. Just a cool neighborhood bar for sports.

Such a great quick stop neighborhood bar! If you’re going, you have to get the chicken tenders. I don’t know what kind of heaven they fry them in, but they are incredible! And Sundays the chicken tenders are only $ 5… just saying…

Very good food and a nice patio. Friendly staff.

Being that this is a MSU bar, it was very difficult for me to not be petty with my rating. This kind of feels like a betrayal to my beloved Blue! However, the service was very attentive throughout, the patio area is nice for Lakeview people watching and the occasional puppy petting, the burgers are solid, and the drinks (both beer and cocktails) are reasonably priced. Try the «Kate-​cumber,» it’s refreshing. They also have daily specials on the super cheap.
I will shun this place like a leper come football season but any other time, I’m so there!

Honestly. I can barely write this right now. This was by far the absolute worst place I’ve ever been to in my life. Not only did it take an hour for food but the pizza was a ²⁄₁₀ at best. My friend Ben knows pizza and it was less than a 2. Your legs hang off the tall chairs and it hurts like a mother. The fries are battered. The chicken sandwiches came out sans bacon. Why can’t you put zero stars.

This place is fun! My friends and I have been using this as our go to MSU bar when we are looking for something a bit more mellow. Drinks are strong and the food is good, I love the mac and cheese bites and the potato skins, so good and they always cut the booze, which is much appreciated. Lots of TVs and there are tons of fun MSU fans so you can meet some cool people. It can fill up on game days, so come early if you want to get a table!
I left my number for a bartender (I think) and he never texted me so if I can deal with that humiliation, I’ll definitely be back for a game or two this season!

I’d drink two pints of whiskey and name this place the Wart Tavern. I’d wake up the next day and forget about all the pints of whiskey and see nothing but the warts. My fingers would taste like precious buffalo and my tongue would want more and more. The clones come out of the woodwork here, they seek Journey though they want no journeys.
Just keep staring at your wings. Stare at your wings and stare at your cheap beer. Put blinders on like a clydesdale and pretend that you’re taking some intrepid crew on the ride of their lives. Tell them they need to buckle and fatten up because they might not eat for days, perhaps their sled will flip over on the trail, they might break a leg and might even have to wait for a week before someone saves them. You won’t save them. You’ll think they look great with that clipped wing and you’ll think that a nice coat of buffalo sauce will warm them more than a few pounds of fur. Everything tastes good in buffalo: wings, legs, defeat. Ask the entire city.
So there you sit: drooling in the cold, staring at your friend, hoping he broke a wing so you can cover him in this delicious buffalo sauce, hoping that no one judges you for eating these cheap wings, these cheap wings that are better than most wings you get in any other city in the nation.
This place sticks with you like warts. You come here once, you think it isn’t that good. Yet everyday you wake up and you have this scar that reminds you that you were here and that it will live with you forever, even if never diagnosed. You return without knowing why, hoping to relive that first night, hoping to stay pure.

The food is really good fish and chips are my favorite, they have the outside seating for the summertime, and on the other hand the music is bad like really bad and sometimes when it rains or when it’s humid out it can smell the sewers inside.

Love this place! Great atmosphere, welcoming environment, and great food and drinks. If you get helped by Kayla and/​or John, you’ll get superior service. They have made great recommendations (e.g. the hand-​breaded chicken tenders)… You’ll fit in if you can remember «Go Green» and «Go white». You’re good.

Been here a couple of times with friends to watch basketball/​football. The bar is great if you are looking for cheap food and beer. The food is nothing special, I had the fish and chips and chicken tenders from here. On Sundays they have awesome specials on food and drinks. Go check it out!

Came here for the first time on Tuesday. Great beer list, friendly bartender and an all-​around positive vibe. Also a plus that this place is right down the street from me. I don’t have a «home bar» as of yet, but this one is certainly in the running!

The tots are so good! The wings are great. Maybe a bit hotter than normal buffalo wings but still good. Went here twice while in Chicago, with the 2^nd time being to watch the Superbowl. It’s a really nice atmosphere, lots of friendly people including the staff. If you like stuff like Artic Monkeys and MGMT, you’ll like the music here. It isn’t that loud anyway. You can easily have a conversation over it.
Can’t say what it’s like on a regular game day, but on the Superbowl it was packed, even though it was during a pretty big blizzard. Every TV (six? Seven?) was on, with the audio coming in through the music speakers. All of the TV’s were over 40″ and looked very good.
You should have no problem finding a beer you like here. The prices are average — $ 5 a pint or so. On Sunday they had a $ 5 boneless wings and fries special which was more than enough for one person. Miller lite was $ 3. If you’re reading this then you’re probably looking for a bar with cheap food. Go here. Get the tots!

Avenue Tavern has become my favorite neighborhood spot! The staff is so much fun, they always have great drinks specials, and delicious food. I’m obsessed with their quesadillas! Yum! Oh, and have you met Billy yet? Not only is he one hell of a bartender, but he is quite possibly one of the funniest people I have ever met! Whether I’m stoping in by myself, or having a Sunday funday with my friends, this is always a great pick.

Just moved down the block from «Ave Tav» as I’ve heard it referred to and have already been a couple of times. The food is relatively inexpensive and of good quality for bar food. The atmosphere is that of a neighborhood bar. The only thing really lacking for me is the service… on one of my visits no one offered us the check and after hanging around for half an hour we finally asked for it… kind of awkward. Any way I’m sure I’ll be back here again and again as it’s a one minute walk from my place and I’m not too upset about that…

Great neighborhood bar that pulls a Detroit fan base for sporting events. Two words: coney dogs!

It’s a nice, clean bar. There are always great specials or events going on. Service is slow but drinks are good.

I never visited the Avenue Tavern when I lived in Lakeview a couple of months ago, and now I see that was a fail on my part. I stopped by here this past weekend after being trapped in neighboring restaurant during a monsoon. Ave Tav came to my rescue with moderately priced frozen margaritas that packed a punch in regards to flavor and alcohol content. The first margarita was the classic flavor and the next two were raspberry. By margarita #2, I was riding a nice buzz. I was sharing these drinks too, so I’m guessing 1 would have the same effect. The margaritas are good selling point to bring you to this nice neighborhood drinking hole but it’s not the only one. One reasons to visit Avenue Tavern include:
— The friendly bartender was pretty legit and tended to all the patrons efficiently.
— There are daily specials, Saturday’s are 50 cent wings (look delicious) and $ 5 nachos.
— The place draws an eclectic crowd and during a rainy day there was still a good crowd presence.
— Nice large TVs, so sports fans can get their fill.
— Location. It’s right on the corner of Oakdale and Broadway so it’s prime time people watching if you can snag a seat facing the street.

A great neighborhood spot for a drink with friends. And there are food specials even on the weekends – I have done apps and ‘zerts, hold the ‘zerts, on Saturdays for nachos and 50 cent wings many times.
There is higher than average stickiness, and the cocktail list is strange. Ordering drinks out of morbid curiosity strange. But the staff is great, and if your Red Bull concoction tastes weird you can just wash it down with more nachos.

Fun bar in lakeview that has really cheap drink specials ! The food is all fried stuff and isn’t the best but I mainly come here to drink. In the summer they open up a patio space on the side of the building.