Wexler's Tavern

4555 State Rd
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 398-5000
www.wexlerstavern.com/

by Beau Cadiyo


I received the following question today from the owner of the Oberlin Market, which we reviewed several years ago:

Hello, this is the owner of The Oberlin Market. How long do you leave your comments up? Much of this business has changed since 2007, so I'm not sure how relevant this is. 
Also, in this review you comment on several factors other than the food. These comments are snarky at best, and I don't think they follow good ethics. 
Please consider whether you a providing a dis-service by leaving this up. Thank you.

The author, of course, is named "Anonymous," so we have no idea whether he or she is actually part of the Oberlin Market or not.  Also, there is no indication as to how the restaurant has changed; I'm sure the air is different, and perhaps the menu, but we have no way of knowing.  There is obviously a date on the review, which people can use to judge whether the review is timely or not.  Also, there is no analysis of how this does not "follow good ethics" - instead, our correspondent simply says it's not "good ethics" and lets it stand at that.  There is obviously an argument to be made that, by writing an inane, poorly-worded, poorly-reasoned comment, they were trying to cast the real owners of the Oberlin Market in a poor light; if so, well played.

But I'll bite.  I also don't know why this would provide a "dis-service."  It simply states facts and opinions, as any review does, and is necessarily a product of its time.  However, this might be a good discussion: do any readers have any opinions as to whether this follows "good ethics" or does a "dis-service" to anyone or anything?  If not, I'll accept a well-deserved victory in the court of public opinion.

Also, I do declare, I'm a big fan of the burgers at Wexler's Tavern.  They are large, juicy, well-constructed and, as Frank Shoop pointed out, "there's nothing wrong with them."  The buffalo chicken salad is also delicious, the waitstaff is friendly to the point of being endearing and comfortable, and the owner was in this evening so I got to exchange a few words with him; he seemed like a solid guy.  Their beer selection is smaller than some places, but with an excellent range and stellar prices - for example, two Vanilla Porters were $2 a piece, and I got a delicious beer brewed in Salt Lake City, Utah.  (The girl I was with, upon hearing that her porters were $2, got angry - not at Wexler's but at all of the other bars in town.)  It's a great sandwich in an easy-to-access location with cheap beer and a fun vibe.  If you're in the neighborhood, stop by.