Dover Gardens Tavern

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  The best hole-in-the-wall bar in Westlake. As all the other reviews said, it is a dive bar. But they have good drinks, decent beer, inviting environment, and good bartenders.

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  Posted on 01.14.13 Thomas C.

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  Would come here again. Friendly staff and patrons

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  Posted on 08.19.12 Greg B.

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  I still love this place, but what happened???  Everyone there was wearing shirts with collars and they had decent beers on tap.  
  
  Something is wrong with this picture...  they are about to lose their "dive bar" status.
  
  Good burgers, nice and greasy!  Cheap food and cheap drinks.  Just don't wear a shirt with a collar.

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  Posted on 02.20.12 John G.

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  Dive bar!  
  
  My dad apparently likes to go to Dover Gardens from time to time.  The Gardens are the epitome of a dive bar.
  
  - Wooden exterior: CHECK
  - An interior that doesn't have too much light: CHECK
  - Cheap beer on tap (in this case, Labatt's Blue): CHECK
  - Keno!: CHECK
  - Losing at Keno! : CHECK
  - A place where bands can play: CHECK
  - Bartenders: CHECK
  
  It's a nice awesome dive bar that has everything a dive bar should have:  sports stuff, keno, gambling, bands apparently.  All good stuff.

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  Posted on 11.30.11 John L.

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  It's a dump, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  This may be the one place in the Cleveland metropolitan area were I have not run into a douchebag wearing Ed Hardy/Affliction/Tapout.
  
  In other words, you'll find real salt of the earth people here doing what should be done in a tavern...drinking.

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  Posted on 12.23.10 Dan S.

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  The Dov, DG's, Dirty Gardens, I don't think anyone has actually called it Dover Gardens Tavern since the early 90's.  The thing about Dover Gardens is no one in their right mind goes here to start off their night.  Never is it a good idea to say hey what do you feel like doing tonight, I feel like going to the Dov!  It just doesn't happen.  Dover gardens, much like a late night Taco Bell stop, comes somewhere after way too many beers and at least 2 or 3 shots.  Dover Gardens is just a bad booze induced destination.  It's like the yikes I was hooking up with that, why didn't you stop me of bars.  However what always seems like a great idea at Beer:30 turns into a what the hell are we doing here again moment.  
  
  Westlake has three places that if every hit by a tornado would make the city a better place.  The first is the den of sin that is the trailer park on Center Ridge filled with dopers, junkies and addicts.  The second are the apartments not too far down the road on Center Ridge that acts as housing for ex-cons and more than a couple sexual predators.  The third is the Dover Gardens.  
  
  It's just a giant sore thumb that beckons in weary passengers who lack better judgment on Detroit Road.  It's not like they are cheap, and the majority of the food comes from the fryer. It's dark, dank and just looks dirty.  I don't care how many times you mop or sweep the place the dark painted wood makes the place look like even more of a dump than it is.  The ceilings are stained, and the bathrooms smell like raw sewage, the floors are not level, and surface areas are sticky.  The place overall just reeks of an owner who seems to not really give a shit.  
  
  Somehow they get a decent little crowd on the weekends.  I have no idea how but they have a decent little following.  I expect hate mail based on this review just because it has happened before from fans of the place.  However they have no internet presence at all.  It's 2010 bars, clubs restaurants, dumps, dives or 5-stars get a damn website.  They have a stage that is usually used for karaoke.  The karaoke was so bad last night we actually had to leave.  While I understand there is no such thing as great karaoke this was just God awful.  
  
  Dover Gardens Tavern is not a horrible bar.  I have seen much worse.  It just happens to be in a more affluent city that likes its bars clean and sterile.  I don't hate the place but it's just not a bar that is ever on my radar until someone suggests it in a drunken stupor.  I'll go here like once or twice a year based on these factors, but I am never excited when I get there.  While service is usually pretty good, and the bartenders are pretty hot if this place were to close down tomorrow I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.  There is promise here because of the excellent location yet they never capitalize on that.  Upgrades are band-aid fixes, and menu changes.  If someone came in here with a few bucks this could be one of the coolest dives in the Cleveland area.  It just won't happen any time soon.

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  Posted on 10.24.10 Jason B.

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  Ok, being from California I didn't think I would ever find Dollar Pints.  They have them here.  Wen't here on a whim, doesn't look like much from the outside and is your typical Bar on the inside.  Pool tables in back some Pub tables and a Bar in front with a small stage for I am assumiung local bands.  We went on a Friday night and it was a very good time.  They had Kareoke and an awesome mix of people.  Just an all around fun atmosphere.  Even it was our first time there it didn't seem like it.  We felt welcomed and had a great time the Staff was friendly and even when it got really packed they always made it around to the table.  We will definately be going back.

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  Posted on 12.24.09 Jason S.

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