With plentiful options, Cleveland Draft House keeps beer at heart

After splitting off from a group of other restaurants ten years ago, Tom Kane opened a new one but kept the same key ingredient—beer.

The Cleveland Draft House, with locations in Garner and Clayton, has 112 beers on tap between the two bars. The Garner restaurant, perched off N.C. Highway 42, has 42 brews on tap, which was coincidental. But the Clayton bar, off U.S. Highway 70 Business, sports 70 beers. That one was on purpose.)

Owner Tom Kane told the 919 Beer Podcast that the lineup is compromised of as much as 70 percent North Carolina beers. While there are plenty of Tar Heel beers to choose from in 2017, it's his menu that needed a refresh.

"We brought our menu into the 21st century," Kane said.

The restaurant pared down its offerings, swapped in seasonal items, like mushroom ravioli, and breathed some new life into old sandwiches. Kane also introduced Bavarian-style soft pretzels that are as big as a pie pan.

With the updated menu, Kane added a fresh flavor to his place without giving up the drafts in the name Draft House.