Inside: Scoundrel's Bar & Grille

There’s a reason why they call it Scoundrels. Though the Berea bar and grill draws a typically friendly crowd with its cheap drinks and food specials, the oft-raucous nighttime atmosphere is a haven for those who want to let loose and be a little bit naughty. The release is all in good fun, though. You’re not going to find meatheads looking for an excuse to flex their beer muscles here. These scoundrels are not as dirty and rotten as they are gregarious and fun—and you’ll be happy to call yourself one of them.

Libations: There’s plenty on tap here for even the most mischievous of scoundrels. Beer lovers can order up generous pints of domestic ales such as Miller Lite, Bud Light and Coors Light. Those with more refined tastes can choose from fresh pours of Newcastle, Shocktop, Dortmunder Gold and more. For the dancing or karaoke-singing type who requires a more potent concoction, the place also has enough liquors and bombs to fill every shot glass in Berea.

Food: Nothing on this menu is going to knock your socks off, but that doesn’t mean it won’t fill your stomach and satisfy your bar grub cravings. Appetizers include the requisite wings and other deep-fried goodies, which are counterbalanced with a decent selection of salads. For heartier fare, there are plenty of burgers and sandwiches from which to choose, as well as dinner options including fried chicken, ribs and steak. None of this will cost you more than $15, and most run about $6.

Décor: Scoundrels features a large, open floor plan that makes navigating through Friday night crowds a breeze. The left half houses a carpeted dining area as well as a stage for the weekend's live acts. The right half of the place houses the tile-floored bar, DJ stand and pool tables. Both areas are a bit worn down, though not so much as to make the place feel at all like a dump. The low drop ceilings do, however, resemble your buddy’s refinished basement, especially if that buddy has decked the place out with signed football jerseys and various Cleveland sports memorabilia.

Service: Whoever hires the help here must have a type. Most of these servers and bartenders are pretty little twenty-somethings. Don’t judge these books by their covers, though. Most of this waitstaff is incredibly fast, attentive and efficient. Yeah, they’re not going to stop to talk your ear off, but that’s simply because they’re working hard to make sure everyone is being served and having a great time.

Crowd: The clientele will vary depending on what day or hour you stop by. On most weeknights, you’ll find a mix of blue-collar workers, bikers and middle-aged locales stopping by for an after-work drink or dinner with friends. Come Thursday, the place is swarming with college co-eds from local Baldwin-Wallace or Ashland College. Fridays and Saturdays play host to a mix of all of the above, skewing slightly toward the twenty- and thirty-somethings. No matter what time you go, though, Scoundrels always feels alive. It might not always house peak capacity, but you’ll never find the place empty either.

Insider’s tip: Part of Scoundrels draw is its great daily specials throughout the week. Sundays feature all-day happy hour. Mondays host $5 pitchers, beer pong and some energetic Wii action. Tuesday night is bike night, where hog-riding enthusiasts stop in for a $6.99 steak and chicken dinner. If you feel like pizza, you can order a sizeable one-topping pie for only $5 on Wednesday. Thursdays draw the aforementioned co-eds for college ID night, as well as karaoke from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.; and the live acts take the stage Fridays and Saturdays.

Bottom line: Scoundrels isn’t the newest, hippest or most well maintained bar and grill around, but that doesn't stop its bustling stream of patrons from having a great time. Whether you’re a 40-year-old blue collar worker looking to unwind or an 18-year-old college co-ed looking to let loose, the great drink specials, top-notch staff and fun entertainment should definitely get the job done.

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