Close Quarters Pub

A friend recommended this place to me and said they had the best wings ever. So one night we decided to make the trek out to Avon Lake to give it a shot. The name doesn't lie, as others have said - probably 12 seats at the bar a few more along the back wall and that 's it.

As they were billed so highly, we got a plate of wings and I got the Cajun shrimp basket. The food was very average bar food. Nothing more, nothing less.  The wings were served on a paper plate spread with tortilla chips and garnished with banana peppers. The shrimp came with banana peppers too. Seemed an odd choice but I like banana peppers as much as the next guy so whatevs.

The service was friendly -  a little old guy I took to be the owner or at least somebody who'd been around a loooong time. He took our picture to put on their bulletin board. Cute.

The ambiance was part Cleveland sports scene, part fisherman shanty, part booze collectibles.....and some Ritz crackers and cheese that had been sitting out too long on the bar. Eew.

Overall, a reasonable cozy little spot to get a beer and some greasy bar food. But certainly not the best bar food ever and wouldn't make a special trip again.

Oh yeah, CASH ONLY.

This place is precious! It's like Cheers where everybody knows your name if you're a local and even if you're not......Close Quarters will make you want to be! Great jukebox and late night munchies food.....took my sis and her hubby there when they came to town and we had a blast. The owner takes your photo for his photo wall too. Oh and Budget Travel just featured Close Quarters in the 10 smallest bars in America article!

Close Quarters is one of those best kept secrets kind of places. You only know about it if someone that loves it takes you there. Although, all of that may change now that they've been listed by MSNBC as one of the World's Ten Smallest Bars.

I was recently taken here by a new friend. He loves the place. And for good reason. I love it now, too.

Very appropriately named, Close Quarters is so small that long-armed folk could possibly touch opposite walls, end to end, at the same time. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration. But really, it's tiny! I think the fire code capacity is 36. There may have been around 30 people in the place on my visit and it was damn crowded. If you're one of those people that gets bitchy if someone bumps into you, or you don't like being too close for comfort with strangers, CQ is not your place. Stay home. Seriously. They wouldn't want your miserable ass in there any damn way.  

This place oozes with kitschy charm. There are walleye Christmas lights. It doesn't get better than that. The owner, who is sweet as pie, even took out a little sex toy to show us. Not THAT kind of sex toy, ya perv. Just a naked lady that lights up if you stick a pencil in her vag. (Yes, I said pencil.) If this doesn't make you want to visit the CQ, I'm not sure what else will.

The food was some of the best bar food I've ever had. Try the wings. They were REALLY good. The burger and fries were pretty darn good, too.

One last thing -- check out the jukebox. Walk over, put some money in that baby,  and play "I Wanna Be Seduced" by Leon Redbone. You'll see what happens.