Creekside Brewhouse & Tavern

Coming back from Mulligan's to my hotel, of course I need to stop for another beer along the way.  It's a grueling 10 minute drive!  I had 2 friends with me and this place looked super dive-y and right up my alley.  I definitely got exactly what I thought I would!  I think it may have been an old Moose Lodge, VFW hall, etc...
We spent our time at the bar but they did have a "restaurant" part if we want to call it that.  It looked and felt like I was in someone's basement in their dining area.  The bathrooms, however, take the cake.  Instead of stalls, or even doors for that matter, they have shower curtains.  Yes indeed...you read that right.  Almost like the setup in the ER when you have to bring those curtains around to "make a room".  
We met some great locals and had a blast.  Regardless of how the place looked, it has a good vibe.

When Cleveland had ethnic neighborhoods, factories, and blue collars were as common as pierogies, places like Creekside were on every corner.  Each offered a few meals a few times a week with the ethnicity of the neighborhood influencing what was served. On Fridays they all had fish fries. Families would walk to the bar to cash pay checks, to watch black and white televisions, and to eat. Dads would drink a shot and a beer, moms and aunts drank draft beers and kids drank Suncrest orange pop.

The bars were not microbreweries. The food was not prepared by celebrity chefs. Creekside has an outdoor sign clearly announcing it is not a microbrewery, but the chef can sure make a Friday fish fry. I go there with two friends. She is a local woman who grew up on perch and he is a Bostonian who rightly so misses the New England seafood. We all agree there is no better fish fry. A pile of breaded perch that lets you know what golden means takes up most of the plate. The cole slaw is unique to Creekside. It is hardier and more flavorful than others. Instead of french fries you may have a pile of home made chips that leave you sad when the last one is gone. The chef also makes his own tartar sauce and a dip for the chips.

The bar is typical to those old Cleveland corner bars. Wooden floors, wooden bar, wooden tables and chairs and not one single bit of froo froo. While Avon has undergone glamorization Creekside has completely shunned it.

Get a shot and a beer, eat your fish fry and experience a bit of what life was like when no one gave a damn about reviews such as this one. You went to your corner bar and shared an evening with your family and neighbors. I did that this summer evening and while I was there could not help feeling I was in another time with less pretensions and more satisfactions.

I've been going here intermittently since it opened eight years ago.  The atmosphere has always been cozy and the welcome is always warm, thanks the the owner, Ray, and his staff.  Was last here on Halloween for one of the friendliest bar parties I've been to in years!  The staff was totally into it, and they had a great time with the customers.  The band was pretty good, too (they have live music on the weekends, and though the bookings are hit-or-miss, they hit more often than not).  Genuine customer care.  Food has always been a standout-the fresh house-made chips are addictive!  Excellent wings and specials (the Friday perch is among the best I've had).  And, oh, yes.  Ray is committed to import and unusual micro brewed beers, just as he was when he opened.  He was out in front of this market trend, and has stuck with it, which is what keeps me coming in.  Don't be put off by the dowdy appearance.  A genuine unknown gem.  And ask Ray about the bar's many ghosts, too!