What it's actually like
Highly regarded neighborhood tavern near UMD with strong consensus on excellent food quality, diverse menu, and welcoming atmosphere at reasonable prices. While most reviews praise the experience enthusiastically, a notable subset reports inconsistent execution with overcooked dishes, slow service, and portion concerns. The restaurant excels at handling groups and brunches, with particularly memorable experiences from standout staff members.
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Diners keep mentioning
Tavern CioppinoVelvet Elvis Burger with peanut butterThai chicken tender meltAhi Tuna Burgerwalleye with homemade onion ringspulled pork tacosmocktails (Lavender Crush)Chocolate Passion Cake
Ambiance
upscale-casual
Noise level
lively
Dress code
casual
Outdoor seating
Yes
Good for
brunch, family dinner, date night
Reservations
OpenTable
Wait reality — Weekend brunch and peak dinner times see 20-45 minute waits; early evening arrivals (around 5 PM) typically seat immediately. Best to arrive before 5 PM or make a reservation for busy periods.
Derived from 60 recent Google reviews — not marketing copy.
When to go
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
What's cooking
Appetizer
★ Ahi Tuna Crisps$16
Blackened Ahi tuna on fried wonton crisps and topped with honey mustard and wasabi sour cream.
Bang-Bang Cauliflowervegetarian$16
Bite-sized pieces of batter dipped cauliflower breaded and deep fried. Served with a side of bang-bang sauce.
Cheddar Cheese Curdsvegetarian$15
Cheddar cheese curds from Chippewa Falls, WI rolled in beer batter and lightly fried. Served with a side of ranch. Add a side of caramel sauce +1
Chicken Fajita Tacos$17
Seasoned chicken, fajita vegetables, lettuce, and Cajun aioli. Served with a crock of housemade black bean and rice casserole with a dollop of sour cream and scallions.
Chicken Wings$17
Boneless or traditional wings with choice of sauce (Thai Chili, Honey BBQ, Buffalo, Hot Honey, Spicy Dry Rub, Garlic Parmesan, Sriracha, Spicy Garlic).
Crispy Chicken + Mango Tacos$17
Tangy, sweet, crispy chicken topped with fresh mango salsa.
Fire Roasted Nachos$17
Tri-colored chips covered in BBQ pulled pork, Monterey jack and mozzarella cheese blend, pico de gallo, sliced jalapenos, and a drizzle of bang-bang sauce and cilantro pesto. Topped off with sour cream.
Pineapple Chipotle Pulled Pork Tacos$17
Cloverdale Farms BBQ pulled pork, fresh grilled pineapple slices, pickled red onions, lettuce, Tavern slaw, and cilantro sour cream.
Pub Pretzels$14
Lightly seasoned and flash fried. Served with homemade beer cheese.
Spicy Shrimp Tacos$18
Seasoned and sauteed shrimp, pickled red onions, lettuce, Tavern slaw, and a drizzle of cilantro sour cream.
Stuffed Tater Tots$14
Adult-sized version of a childhood fav! Oversized tots stuffed with cheddar, bacon, sour cream, and chives. Served with housemade pub sauce.
★ Tavern Steak Bites$17
Hand-trimmed, bite-size sirloin bites seared in Cajun seasoning. Served with flash fried onion straws, cherry tomatoes, and a side of creamy horseradish.
Salad
Chipotle Steak Salad$21
Seasoned, grilled tenderloin filet on a bed of romaine with cherry tomatoes and blue cheese crumbles. Topped with crispy onion straws and tossed in a spicy chipotle Caesar dressing.
Maple Glazed Salmon Salad$21
Grilled fresh-caught Canadian salmon drizzled with Minnesota maple syrup on our Arcadian blend with tomatoes, cucumber, craisins, and shaved parmesan. Served with roasted garlic vinaigrette.
Toasted Sesame Chicken Salad$19
A blend of freshly chopped slaw and romaine with shaved carrots, chopped green onion, avocado, slivered almonds, and topped with crispy wonton strips and a sprinkle of black and white sesame seeds. Served with our toasted sesame vinaigrette and your choice of crispy or roasted chicken.
Pasta
Gorgonzola Tenderloin Pasta$22
Penne pasta tossed in our housemade creamy gorgonzola sauce and topped with seasoned sliced tenderloin and blue cheese crumbles.
Mac 'n' Cheesevegetarian$16
Cavatappi pasta in our signature blend of cheddar, Gruyere and American cheese. Topped with a golden crunchy panko crust. Add Bacon +2, Jalapenos +1, Brussels Sprouts +1
Sassy Red Pepper Pasta Bowl$19
Spicy. Creamy. Dreamy. Penne, grilled chicken, shrimp, bacon, and tossed in a red pepper pesto cream sauce.
Entree
Ahh Cheeseburger$15.50
A burger with choice of cheese: American, cheddar, pepper jack or Gruyere Swiss. Served on a bakery fresh grilled pub bun with kettle chips and Tavern Cuke Coins.
Ahi Tuna Burger$18
This burger is hand-formed and seared in wasabi, toasted sesame seeds and soy sauce. Topped with layers of Bibb lettuce, avocado, mango salsa, pickled ginger and wasabi sour cream on a grilled pub bun.
Bacon Cheese Burger$17
Crispy Cloverdale Farms smoked, crispy bacon and choice of American, cheddar, pepper jack or Gruyere Swiss. Served on a bakery fresh grilled pub bun with kettle chips and Tavern Cuke Coins.
★ BLTE-A (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Egg + Avocado)$18
A new twist on our long-time signature item. Crispy, crispy bacon, sliced avocado, Bibb lettuce, cranberry mayo, and Roma tomatoes. Topped with a Minnesota organic fried egg and served on toasted cranberry wild rice bread.
Bluestone Burger$17
It's a match made in heaven: Sweet and spicy candied bacon, pepper jack cheese, tangy blue cheese dressing, and crisp, cool Bibb lettuce—all topped off with a single golden onion ring. Served on a pretzel bun and garnished with a peppadew skewer.
Cali Club$17
Off the secret staff menu! Slow-roasted turkey, bacon, lettuce, cranberry aioli, and tomatoes on toasted cranberry wild rice bread.
Hella-peno Cream Cheese Burger$17
Pretzel Bun, crispy bacon, pepperjack cheese, seasoned jalapeno cream cheese, and crispy onion straws.
Midnight Cubano Sandwich$17
Once served to hungry Havana nightclub patrons, this sandwich has all of the ingredients of a classic Cuban: Cloverdale Farms pork carnitas, ham, Swiss cheese, Bang-Bang sauce and spicy Tavern Cuke Coins on Cuban bread.
Reuben Melt$18
Corned beef on Marble Rye with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, 1000 Island.
Short Rib Burger$18
This 100% Angus beef craft burger is made with beef chuck, beef short rib, and brisket. Covered in pepperjack cheese, sliced avocado and a mound of bourbon slaw.
Shrimp Po Boy$18
Flash fried seasoned shrimp piled high on a toasted ciabatta roll with Roma tomatoes, lettuce, housemade Cajun aioli and finished with crispy onion tanglers.
Steak Cheesy - Ciabatta$19
Sliced tenderloin medallion, blackened cream cheese, grilled peppadews, Swiss cheese, onion straws, and bibb lettuce on a grilled, toasted ciabatta.
★ Tavern Burger$18
Topped with crunchy fried onion straws, Cloverdale Farms smoked bacon, cheddar and pepper jack cheese, Tavern Pub sauce, and a Minnesota organic fried egg. Served on a bakery fresh grilled pub bun with kettle chips and Tavern Cuke Coins.
Tavern Chicken Sandwich$17
Tavern's take on a classic sandwich! Breaded chicken breast topped with pepperjack cheese, Tavern housemade pickles, cajun aioli, crispy bacon, lettuce and Roma tomato.
Thai Chicken Tender Melt$17
Golden-fried, fresh chicken tenders on toasted sourdough topped with Thai chili sauce, fiery pepper jack cheese, and Cloverdale Farms bacon.
The Notorious P.I.G.$16
A pub bun, piled high with hand-pulled Cloverdale Farms pork slow-roasted in an apple cider marinade and drizzled with our housemade BBQ sauce. Topped with cool, creamy Tavern Slaw and crispy onion tanglers.
★ The Velvet Elvis$17
Topped with a combo of creamy peanut butter, a Minnesota organic fried egg, and a slice of pepper jack cheese. Served on a toasted pretzel bun. It sounds so wrong… but it tastes SO right.
Turkey Burger$16
Smothered with melted Gruyere Swiss, caramelized onions, and Bibb lettuce on a grilled pub bun. Accompanied with cranberries.
Walleye Sandwich$22
A large filet of walleye dredged in our special seasonings and flash-fried. Served on a grilled ciabatta roll with housemade tartar, lettuce, and tomato.
Wild Rice Meltvegetarian$17
Our housemade Minnesota wild rice patty blended with Asiago and panko. Smothered with smoked Gouda cheese & grilled onions and set between grilled cranberry wild rice bread. Served with cranberries.
Side
Charred Bacon Brussel Sprouts$14
Caramelized in garlic butter with bacon, red onion, and Parmesan cheese.
Onion Ringsvegetarian$13
Fried to a crispy golden brown with Tavern Pub Sauce.
Other
Ancient Grain Bowlveganvegetarian$15
Ancient grains, edamame, black beans, red onion, green and red peppers, sauteed spinach, carrots, and fresh avocado topped with sriracha and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast.
Bang-Bang Burrito Bowlvegetarian$15
This bowl is loaded with cheesy black beans and rice, housemade pico de gallo, jalapenos, cilantro pesto, strips of flour tortillas, and topped with a drizzle of our bang-bang sauce. Topped with tortilla chips for a little extra crunch and sour cream.
Cheesehead Pizzavegetarian$13
Mozzarella, parmesan, asiago cheese, and red sauce.
Classic Margherita Pizzavegetarian$13
Extra virgin olive oil, tomato, mozzarella, garlic, basil, and a balsamic drizzle.
Jalapeno Popper Pizza$14
Blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar jack cheeses topped with crispy bacon, red onion, and sliced jalapenos.
★ Kissing Rock Pizza$15
Pepperoni, fontanini Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella cheese, and red sauce.
Meaty Gonzales Pizza$16
Spicy salami, Italian sausage, bacon, pepperoni, parmesan, mozzarella, and red sauce.
Opa! Pizza$14
Marinated diced chicken, spinach, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, and olive oil.
Rice Bowlveganvegetarian$15
Steamed white rice blended with mango salsa, avocado, edamame, and ginger and drizzled with our bang-bang sauce. Garnished with toasted black and white sesame seeds, and a couple of crispy wontons.
Southwest Bowlvegetarian$15
Cilantro white rice with chopped cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado, black bean corn salsa, and a drizzle of our housemade pub crema. Topped with crunchy, seasoned lavosh strips.
Tavern Hawaiian Pizza$14
Canadian bacon, pineapple, peppadews, mozzarella, and red sauce.
Thai Chicken Pizza$15
Sliced chicken, shredded carrots, cilantro pesto, mozzarella, crushed peanuts, and thai peanut drizzle.
The Erin Pizza$14
Housemade BBQ sauce, diced chicken, chopped bacon, cheddar jack cheese, onion tanglers, cilantro, BBQ and a ranch drizzle.
Seafood
★ Brown Sugar Crusted Salmon$24
Tender flakey salmon crusted with a blend of Duluth Coffee grounds, brown sugar, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Paired up with asparagus spears, Tavern blueberry slaw, and a baked potato with sour cream.
Fish Tacos$18
Whitefish, pickled red onions, lettuce, Tavern slaw, and cilantro sour cream.
★ Tavern Cioppino$22
Bay scallops, blue mussels, shrimp, salmon, clams, and flash-fried baby reds slow-cooked with fennel, onions, carrots, celery, and a dollop of smoky-spicy chipotle aioli.
Find it
Address
1102 Woodland Ave, Duluth, MN
Phone
(218) 724-0010
Restaurant group
independent