XYZ the Tavern — Restaurant in Cleveland

I ordered take out for my family on New Year’s Day at around 7:30 or 8:00 in the evening. We ordered the Salmon BLT, XYZ Burger and the Chicken and Waffles. The sandwiches were fine but the chicken and waffles were another matter all together. First, I want to acknowledge that we’ve had the chicken and waffles several times before and it was delicious. I’m talking hit the spot good. The last time we ordered from here about a year ago, the chicken was over cooked, rock hard and inedible. It was so bad that my husband refused to order anything from there again.

Well today, we decided to give it one more try since we remembered the times when the chicken was on point before that last time. When I placed the order I told them of our last experience and asked them to make sure that the chicken wasn’t over cooked. The person on the phone assured that it wouldn’t be.

My husband brings the food home, opens his box only to find 4 shriveled lumps of ashy brown pieces of chicken. They literally looked like rocks and were totally dried out. Inedible.

When I called the restaurant back to let them know the issue and to ask if we can get a new order of chicken, I was told “We have to cook the chicken that hard to make sure it’s all the way done so no one will get sick. This is just how it’s cooked,” and “If I have them make you a new order, the chicken is going to come out the same way because that’s how we cook it,” These are direct quotes and I couldn’t believe that this person claimed it was procedure to serve inedible food.

I appreciate the sentiment of the establishment wanting to keep their customers safe but the same could have been accomplished with the use of a meat thermometer and possibly clean fryer grease.

My husband told me that when went back to return his order, a woman working the pick up area asked if wanted the order fixed. Before my husband could even answer her, a guy(I’m guessing who I spoke to on the phone) rudely tells her not to remake it and to give him a refund. My husband was just going to order something else instead until the guy got snippy about the situation. He ended up buying a corned beef sandwich from the gas station on Fulton.

Very...

Brunch-to-Lunch Vibes at XYZ: A Quick Recap

Last weekend, I had the chance to visit XYZ during that interesting in-between hour — right after brunch winds down, but before the regular lunch menu kicks in. Here's a quick breakdown of how the experience went:

Timing: We arrived just as brunch was ending (brunch officially cuts off at 1:50 PM), so we found ourselves in a bit of a transition period. You either had to place a last-minute brunch order or wait until the clock struck 2 PM to dive into the lunch offerings. It’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning your visit around meals!

Drinks: Of course, what’s brunch without mimosas? We went for the mimosa pitcher ($24). I’ll be honest — it was a little underwhelming in size compared to what I expected, but the taste was good. Light, refreshing, and got the job done for a casual outing.

Later on, we switched it up with some shots:

Jameson whiskey for me

Tequila for my friend At $6 a shot, it was a decent deal, especially compared to what you'd pay at trendier spots nearby.

Overall Vibe: Was it mind-blowing? No. Was it a solid, enjoyable experience? Absolutely. Sometimes it's not about a five-star menu or fancy presentation — it's about the good company, easy drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. And on that front, XYZ definitely delivered.

Final Take: Big ups to XYZ for giving us a chill afternoon! If you're looking for a casual place to bridge the brunch-to-lunch gap, sip some decent drinks, and enjoy good vibes, it’s worth checking out.

Quick Ratings:

Service: 7.5/10

Drinks: 6.5/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value: 7/10

Overall...

I have absolutely no complaints about this place. We went on a whim. Upon walking into this place, you smell the it leads the way. We sat indoors since it was a bit cool, but the food would've heated us up quickly cause we dove in immediately! The pita chips that some with the spinach artichoke dip are AMAZING. Fresh! Crispy! They're the best I've ever had. The spinach artichoke dip was very chunky. Not the way i prefer it, but it was still good. The BBQ pulled pork was finely shredded. I get so tired of getting chunky pulled pork when I order it, so it was very nice to have it shredded to my liking. FYI, I did not ask that they do it. The sauce was so-so, but it didn't take away from it being good. The ribs literally melted in your mouth. They didn't give you that "fresh off the grill or smoker" kind of feel but still top-notch. My friend got the brisket & said it was by far the best she has ever had. The Cole slaw is homemade and delicious. Cole slaw is very subjective because everyone has their own take, but #winning. The fries were great. And they give a hefty amount of everything. The pizza looked amazing. It will definitely be ordered next time. Long story short, I...