Went to this place Friday 25JAN around 7-8pm. It was darker inside than it was outside!!! Really, the only way I could find the bar was by the light of the two people on their laptops sitting at a table! I love going to vegetarian places, so this was a HUGE disappointment!!! After waiting a few minutes for service at an empty bar I left.
NEVER AGAIN!
Definitely not a bad place, as long as you know what to expect!
It's pretty obvious that most of the patrons are "punk," and most of the music is, as well. I happened to go on a night when the music was not punk music so I had a good time, but my first trip there, I kind of hated the music and it killed it for me. Could just be me, though, and if you like that music, you'll have fun!
It was pretty clean when I went there but also not super busy. They have a nice front patio and a back space, too. The concert area is fairly small but good if it's not crowded. Â Cool decor and even some skate ramps, which is neat. Overall, not a bad place.
I actually love this place, but the bathroom is a travesty (soap at least, but no running water in the sink), the airconditioning is lame, and the music room sounds like shit (maybe the band is to blame, too)....it's kinda cramped because there are ramps for skating all around, and I really don't know why the band I watched didn't play on the stage, and took up half the floor instead, but he whole gig was just akward and uncomfortable.
The drinks are decent, the crowd is fairly friendly (tolerant, at least), and the bartenders are good at keeping everyone filled up. Hopefully I can come back and try the food.
I seriously love Now That's Class. Â Even on nights when the crowd/bands aren't my thing, I really admire the variety that this venue offers. Â I have seen some really great shows here and I have eaten some really amazing food here. Â Really cheap drinks as well as a wide variety of fancy stuff, vegan slop night on Tuesdays and vegan brunch on Sundays, free video games, lots of familiar faces. Â I feel like people judge this place way too harshly and maybe a little too much at face value. Â This is a dive with personality that plays a vital role in the music and bar scene in Cleveland- everybody's not gonna love it, and even the people who do aren't going to love it every night, but it's undeniable that there's no place like it in town.
Review Source:I've got mixed feelings about Now That's Class. Â
On the one hand, there are few places left in Cleveland that carry on the torch of the long lost art commune/performance space/party center of Speak In Tongues. Â Not only do several SIT mainstays work the bar and soundboard at Now That's Class, but I believe much of the PA system actually used to be installed at SIT. Â Beyond that, not many places are willing to book as many obscure/unknown acts form around the counrty and the globe as NTC is - another call back to the glory days of SIT. Â In that regard, this is a great place to have in Cleveland (or anywhere). Â
On the other hand, NTC embodies many of the lesser aspects of a good old-fashioned punk club. Â A general sketchiness combined with awful awful (yes I meant to write that twice) bathrooms. Â The neighborhood also has some issues, and I have had friends and acquaintances robbed at gunpoint when leaving the club. Â This isn't necessarily NTC's fault, but it's something to keep in mind if heading down to see a show. Â
That being said, anyone who is clued in enough to come to see a show at NTC is probably well acquainted with rock clubs in marginal neighborhoods anyway, right?
A dump that sucks.
The youth are taking longer to grow up, still shitting where they eat. How long before they are back in diapers before ever having done so? A million places like this have come and gone, and eventually, this one will go. And when it does, how many assholes who puked on the bar or pissed on the floor will lament it's passing?
Nothing says Sunday Funday like a good Vegan brunch. Â NTC has one of the best of them!
We were greeted by Louis CK on the huge projector screen and little bits of paper that helped guide us towards the perfect vegan Bloody Mary (btw, can vegan and bloody really be used in the same sentence?). Â I ordered mine with a salad; a whole stalk of celery, pickle, olives, okra and some vegan beef jerky that tasted suspiciously like jerky. Â The Bloody was delicious and they had plenty of options for hot sauce, wasabi, etc. Â
For "brunch," which, btw, starts at 3pm like a good rocker bar's brunch should, I ordered the BBQ Tofu. Â Served warm on a ciabatta bread, I was very pleased with it's BBQ/Buffalo sauce taste. Â Most everyone else at my table got the sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches which again, tasted suspiciously like sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches. Â It makes me wonder what's in normal sausage that makes it so easy to mimic without meat. Â I think that's the point?
The sides all looked good and my only complaint is that maybe I wasn't exactly feeling $5 worth full, but then again, I'm not exactly well versed on the price of vegan meats and tofus.  Having another Bloody...or two, helped, and then we played Mortal Combat to further distract us from the fact  that we had that "not so full" feeling. Â
Anther side note: It may smell a little strange and be a dive punk bar but it's really not that bad when it's day-time and the lights pouring through the glass block windows. Â I was pleasantly surprised! Â I think I may be partaking in their vegan fare more often and not just using NTC as an occasional stop on bike-night.
I like this bar. Hole in the wall, good patio, good bartenders, clients that live on the fringes of society, eclectic live shows...all good things. But it loses 2 stars because the liquor selection is poor (no good dark rum i.e Sailor Jerry or Kraken, etc) and the place REEKS of piss. And I mean bad. The culprit is the mens bathroom. PLEASE just hose that fucker down with bleach. Its unbearable anywhere within 20 feet of the door and literally reeks the entire bar up. This isn't an ambiguous piss odor. This is a flat out stench. Get a bottle of Sailor Jerry behind the bar, hose down the bathroom, that is all folks, and I'd be there several times per month quietly minding my own biz at the bar and spending money.
Review Source:It's difficult for me to pin down exactly how I feel about Now That's Class -- on one hand, I love that cheap and delicious vegan and vegetarian food is the norm, on the other hand, I hate how every show I've ever been to has started and ended absurdly late (there have been nights where I've seen shows in Columbus and made it home earlier than I've made it home from Now That's Class) and how the sound tends to be muddy at best (likely a combination of mid-range sound equipment and bad acoustics.) Additionally, since the stage shares a room with a quarter pipe, you sometimes have to keep an eye out for errant skateboarders (the first time I ever saw a show at Now That's Class, I saw someone get kicked in the head by a kid that had lost control of their skateboard.) That said, Now That's Class books a wide variety of obscure bands (both local and traveling) and shows are always cheap, so if you're in the mood to catch a show and have something to eat without spending a lot of money, Now That's Class isn't a bad place to check out.
As for me, I prefer to go to Now That's Class for dinner on a Sunday evening instead of heading up there in the middle of the week for a show. They offer a number of specials on Sundays, including vegan pressed sandwiches, pizza, and a "small plate" (a mini, cheaply priced entree that varies each week -- the last time I was there the small plate was cornmeal crusted BBQ tofu.) While I wouldn't count Now That's Class among my favorite places to see a show, I would definitely list it as one of my favorite places to get root beer and a vegan cheesesteak with friends before returning to the working week.
Probably the best dive bar in Cleveland. Yeah, it may not be unique on the surface, but what dive bar is? Thats not the point. In my opinion, dive bars should be like a small shitty version of Cheers. Everyone knows your name, and probably goes there at least 3 times a week.
Shows are regular, cheap and local. Not your cup of tea? Alright, but its not really something to lower a rating for. You get what you should get at a dive bar. Blue collar rock of all forms to the max.
If you don't like it for being a dive bar and having a narsty sound system with almost-too-raw bands playing, than you kinda went to a burger joint for filet mignon.
I used to live right down the street. Haven't been back since I lived in the area. I enjoyed myself here on a few occasions when I knew a few of the bands that would play. Honestly, most of the bands that play here aren't my thing anymore -- but still, good on NTC for being here and doing what they do.
Pretty decent beer selection. Food wasn't too shabby either -- and you'd probably love it even more if you're vegan or vegetarian.
They used to do some fun events like spelling bees, trivia night, movie screenings, karaoke (Dennyoke!) -- not sure if they still do.
I love the mural that's left on the wall from the gay bar that used to be here. Totally hot.
Yeah not really a fan. I never heard a show here actually sound good. The regulars are a little rough, the neighborhood sucks, and they serve Mad Dog 20/20 and other $1.00 beers. This place is a fight waiting to happen. What do you expect when you cater to the lowest common denominator by serving crap like that? Car jacking around the area, a recent mugging, and break ins are the norm.
If you are into the whole GG scene from back in the 80's and 90's this is the place for you. Every time I have been here minus one occasion I felt the need to hold my beer in one hand and a clenched fist in the other. Â Bums walk in buying the cheap shit, drunk punks wrestle with each other in the bar area, and again just a horrible sound system. Â This place is basically a bar that could be mistaken for a homeless shelter if it was your first time in the place. Â Needless to say I am not a fan at all. Â
The extra star goes for the concept of the place, it is an amazing space that could have so much more to offer...and the servers are usually pretty good. Â However it is a dank and dismal punk rock dive that reminds me of CBGB's if they didn't care. Â Gross carpeting, and beat up chairs. Â The place looks doesn't just look dirty, but absolutely filthy. Â This place makes the Lido look clean.
Make no mistake Now That's Class ain't a high falutin' Live Nation venue. This is a first-class punk rock dive. Patrons can always count on the beer being cheap, and the band being loud. Â As a music venue, I can tell you that it's a step above bars in other cities that book the same shows. The big stage and legit lighting rig gives a real performance aesthetic to any band, no matter how few people they draw. That said, don't expect a mind-blowing aural experience out of this sound system, but then again you won't see the Cleveland Philharmonic here. Just hope the band you've go to see is touring with a decent sound guy.
I have yet to try the food here. Â Once I do, I'll update this review.
Saw a bag of Ruffles fall out of a crackheads dress when she picked her wedgie at this bar. Lots of great beer, real good vegan/veg/meat food. Â Always some sort of entertainment/food/unique event/retarded party/idiot local causing a scene at this bar.... always a good time. VIP section for the regulars, great outdoor patios. Can Bar out back.... so you don't have to listen to the band and you can smoke your cigs if ya need to.
Review Source:In Cleveland, as the five stars indicate, this is as good as it gets. Now That's Class Lounge is a typical punk rock bar with a ton of live shows. The size and type of crowd varies from night to night. A definite plus is that the bar is somewhat separate from the main performance area so one can relax at the bar without going deaf. The prices aren't bad and the beer is not as bad as people say. Most people there drink the crap beer to save money but the bar does carry better beers such as Tremens and La Fin Du Monde. They also have a little food in case you want to have a snack before you start your drinking. Vegetarian friendly as well. Now That's Class Lounge will not wow you but it is the best bar in Cleveland.
Review Source:Now That's Class not only is a punk bar to see shows, but it is also a great place to eat if you are vegan!  Crystin and Nathan serve vegan Philly  cheese steaks, mac n cheese and potato salad on Tuesday nights from 9-?  (when food runs out).  On Sundays from 6-9 they have a vegan pizza party featuring pizzas and calzones and usually a salad.  They bar always has mexican food (provided by the west side market) and other items that Nathan cooks up for the bar (including vegan chili, curry lentils, bbq tofu skewers, etc).  Great place to eat, drink and see shows!!
Review Source:The perfect 'punk rock' bar, not just by Cleveland standards. I had a blast here watching a band - not in the side room because it was just like being in a Kent basement watching a loud ass band. There is even a cool back patio for the smokers, well...it's more like a lot, but it still keeps that being at home feel.
They offer the requisite $1.50 brews and a host of other options, though I only saw people drinking canned beer. Ran into an old friend passed out on the bar, so things haven't changed in the past 20 years at all.
Typical punk dive. Crappy beer, crappy sound system, and crappy neighborhood. Those are the good points. The bad points: it's not original and punk/noise bands bore me to tears. But on the rare occasion they book a good show here, it's cheap and close to my house. Kudos for the veggie friendly vittles. Shine on you filthy, urine-soaked diamond.
Review Source:I am ashamed to say that I just this week stopped in. I have heard rave reviews for the past 2 years, but I was also horrified by a story a friend  told me involving a supersoaker filled with urine and a drunk kid spraying patrons on NYE 2007. I think that being sprayed with urine from a supersoaker would ruine my life as i know it. Anyways, I love this place; it is NOT the sort of place that should scare you. The super soaker incident was clearly isolated and unfortunate. They even serve vegetarian chili. There is a decent beer selection and the cheap cans are only $1 from 6-9pm for happy hour. I feel awful that I have missed out on 2 years of patronage.
Review Source:Nice place for a rock bar. Â The neighborhood is reasonably decent, there's a lot of parking around on the street (huge church in the next block that's obviously not in session during the shows). Â The back patio is pretty sweet to hang out with a beer in the nice weather. Â Show space is sizable. Â Bathroom, or at least the women's bathroom, could be improved but it works for what you need a bathroom for. Â There's also a bar next door that keeps the block pretty busy in the evenings and reduces that "walking down the deserted street to your car at 2 am" vibe. Â I'm happy to see places like this operating on the West Side, thus reducing the need to drive to Coventry, University Circle area, or other easterly places.
Review Source:This bar belongs to a guy (Paul Schlachter) who used to roam the streets of Kent with a megaphone accosting whomever would step into his radius of sound. He's also a part of the (now sometimes reformed band?) "The Darvocets".
Upon my last visit to Cleveland I was happy to hear that Paul had decided to step into the small rock venue arena and open "Now That's Class". The non-smoking bar is welcoming with it's high ceilings, movie screenings and small stage. The jukebox is filled with punk rock greatness and the hits just play on and on... the bar is basically a cornucopia of entertainment!
If you don't want to watch bands play, you stay on on the "bar side" and get treated to stiff drinks, an insane variety of beers and friendly staff. If there aren't any bands playing, there's a quarter pipe set up on the "stage side" for your cold, snowy indoor skateboarding needs. This place is great to meet friends, have conversation and, well, GET DRUNK! (Yep, it happened to me).
And yes, you can see Paul behind the bar holding the place together. The man has aged gracefully and has managed to hang on to his megaphone for business purposes... "last call" will never be the same! Thanks for the good time, guys...
PS: Touring Bands - contact them for more info on the venue and how to book a gig there.
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