Meet your new favorite OTR watering hole: Queen City Radio.
Queen City Radio held it’s grand opening this weekend after opening their doors for a soft opening this past week. I was so glad I stopped by to check the place out while in OTR last Friday. I stopped at Queen City Radio, rode the new Cincinnati Bell Connector and tried some new menu items at Pontiac BBQ so all in all, it was a great night of trying new things.
Here’s just a few things you’re going to LOVE about Queen City Radio:
The Venue
This bar is HUGE. It’s deceivingly larger on the inside than it appears when passing by. The patio is sprawling and the inside actually has two levels. I’m sure the place will fill up quickly on busy nights, but it won’t feel like the sardine can situation that you get at other OTR bars. The location is just off the beaten path of Vine and Main Street, but easy to access with a quick trek through Washington Park. You can also take the Streetcar and jump off at the Music Hall stop and you’ll have barely a block to walk. Another bonus of this location is that it will be even easier for your DD to find parking since there is more street parking available, plus a lot across the bar on Central Parkway.
TONS of Seating
I’d say Queen City Radio has the most seating out of any OTR bar. There are large communal picnic and patio tables outside. Inside, you’ll find lots of seating areas for large groups and more intimate seating for when you need to catch up with a friend. I love a place where I can meet up with friends and actually relax and catch up with them. QCR is that place and more.
The Selection of Beers and Craft Cocktails
To be a proper OTR bar, you’ve got to have a great craft beer selection and QCR delivers. There is a total of 14 beers on tap with the majority dedicated to Cincinnati area breweries (YAS!) and a few to the big domestic (ew) brands. So, you can take your out-of-town guests here for a pint even if they are afraid of IPAs. Additionally, there was a huge selection of canned and bottled beer, a cocktail list and “boozie slushies.” If you haven’t had a boozy slushie, they are a must-have for Cincy’s HOT humid summer days. However, I opted for a can of MadTree PSA this evening.
The Food
All this drinking works up an appetite and your option at QCR is the Queen City Whip, a food truck that is parked in the huge patio area of the bar. The food is familiar and perfect for soaking up alcohol. The menu currently offers a burger, a chili dog, falafel, fries and milkshakes. I have yet to try the menu, but apparently it’s run by the owner/chef of Eli’s BBQ so you know it’s going to be good.
The Ease of Ordering
The night I came in the crowd was steady and I was able to get service quickly at the bar. However, they’ll also have servers who come right to your table to take orders and can close your checks. If you’ve been to 16-Bit Arcade, then you’re familiar with this system and know just how convenient it is. It’s so much better than having to struggle through the crowd around the bar on a busy night.
Queen City Radio held it’s Grand Opening this weekend, so be sure to visit soon and enjoy the beer garden before the weather drops. Regular hours will be 4 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Have you visited Queen City Radio yet? What bars in Over-the-Rhine do you frequent the most? Let me know in the comments. ?
I love this! I feel like I don’t explore our own city enough. This gives me great ideas.