Rumor has it Schoolyard Tavern used to only admit patrons age 23 and above, but stop by on a Saturday night now and you'll see those days are long gone. With a restructured menu (and the general influx of twentysomethings to the Southport area), Schoolyard Tavern went from a quiet neighborhood stop-and-sip spot to a busy weekend joint; the place is often packed full of patrons on Friday and Saturday nights. Thanks to the plentiful TVs, locals often stop in on game days to watch as well.

Nestled along the strip of tasty eateries and taverns, the Big-10-friendly bar is an old favorite that offers a more casual bar setting than some of its more upscale neighbors. That's not to say Schoolyard doesn't have its share of class. Featuring nightly food and drink specials, Schoolyard Tavern has an above-average bar menu, ranging from bar standards (wings) to the not-so-standard (Asian lettuce wraps, Baja fish tacos). Some seating is available in the back dining room. For the bar-oriented, Schoolyard offers 20+ draft beers and plenty more bottled varieties, in addition to the traditional mixed drink fare.

Centerstage Reviewer: Erin Brereton