Dilly Café

Dilly CaféDilly Café
Dilly CaféDilly Café
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

6816 Wooster Pike
Mariemont, Ohio, 45227-4324
United States

(513) 561-5233 | map
dillycafe.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.47
Reviews:
50
Ratings:
57
pDev:
7.83%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by brewdlyhooked13:
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Reviewed by brewdlyhooked13 from Ohio

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
I visited the Dilly Deli yesterday getting some beers together for a BA gathering in New Albany next month. My first visit, not my last though. They are located about 10-15 minutes east of downtown Cincinnati on US-50. Once you hit a shopping center area, ignore all of that. The road shrinks to one lane, trees abound, and a quarter mile or so later these cozy and upscale shops invite you in.

The front of the store boasts a compact but impressive selection of wine. Walking through that area gets you to the restaurant, bar and beer section. Just slightly less cramped-feeling than the wine area, a quick glance at their global selection will quell complaints from all but the most claustrophobic. They haven't tried to stock beers from around the world, like Party Source. No, they have tried to stock the finest beers from the best the world has to offer. You could blindly pick any 5 beers and not go wrong, there's just no pretenders on the shelves (they keep the macros in the cold case, lol).

Thomas Hardy's Ale, JW Lees, Fantome, Great Lakes galore, even the DFH Liquor de Malt (I passed...this time), so many more that I only recognize from perusing around here. They told me they had fresh Buckeye Brewing's Hippie IPA and I got some. Jungle Jim's has it too, but won't shelve it without a UPC code label. That doesn't stop the Deli folks, they just ring it up based on the stickered price and get on with it. A big plus - you can pluck a single or two from a six-pack if you like, they don't mind.

I wish I had 500 dollars and some room on my shelves. Their space limitations obviously put a cap on their total capacity for variety, but what is missing are generally the micro-styles for which there are a dime a dozen. I didn't see Lawson Creek, for example. Wasn't looking for it, but it's just another 'okay' brewery. They have carefully selected their inventory to balance the common beers that sell on a regular basis with the upper class beers for the other crowd as well.
Feb 15, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4.35 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Jan 09, 2020
 
 
Rated: 4.25 by midlifec from Michigan

Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by beerslushy from Ohio

Mar 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by williamjbauer from Colorado

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by mattfuria from Ohio

Oct 22, 2013
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Reviewed by JasonFisher from Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +9.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Love the food at Dilly, whether with the family for dinner on a weekend or with the guys from work during the week, but it's Peanut and the beer that I go back for every chance I get. Great selection on the shelves, including lots of local variety and great selections from across the country and Europe. Then there are the 15 taps, including a rotating cask tap. The taps include a number of excellent regulars, like Dortmunder Gold and Chimay and a variety in between, as well as ever-new favorites on the rotating taps every time I'm in. The reviews on the tap beer list are personally written by Peanut, and they are thoughtful and descriptive and specific to the place: nothing recycled here, just great beers with truly thoughtful selection and color.

The Stone 12.12.12 is currently on tap, and excellent, as is a beautiful triple bock that hits every note just right.
Dec 14, 2012
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Reviewed by BuckeyeSlim from Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This place could well have the most impressive bottle selection of beers in the state of Ohio. Here, it's about offering hard-to-find, high-quality releases rather than trying to be all things to all people and selling what every other vendor investing in the craft scene has. I've been in the store twice now on road trips to Cincy, and it's become a must-visit destination when anytime near. Recent purchases include the Two Brothers Old 1713 Scotch Ale as well as the Dogfish Head Bitches Brew. Neither my wallet nor my liver can afford to taste everything my eyes desire on these shelves.

In addition, the bar offers ~10 taps of exquisite, rotating selections you're not likely to find anywhere else on draft. Especially appreciated is one tap that's a constant: Tripel Karmeliet. That's one delicious beer. The Chimay White during my last visit was almost pedestrian in comparison to some of the others offered. For instance, the Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat was available in late summer.

Dilly's also serves up some really good meals that pair well with the taps (and wine, which is really what's featured, and the corkage fee is only $5 if you buy from their store). Try the meatloaf and green beans. Or pretty much anything that catches your eye. This is a foodie's delight. It's about quality, substance, and value here rather than being hip and trendy.

If you haven't been to Dilly's yet, you owe it to yourself to spend an evening enjoying their menu, their taps, and their shelves. You'll be glad you did.
Oct 10, 2012
Photo of tARsh
Reviewed by tARsh

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
Whether you come for the music the outdoor dining the food or most importantly the beer; you will leave sated.
Amazing bottle selection.
Whilst they only boast 10 on draft the Bartender; affectionately known as Peanut will happily talk shop with you all evening long.(over his handle-bar mustasche)
However dont expect your standard beer conversation! Pleasant surprise he has a great palate and decades of beer loving experience to go with that epic stache.
He keeps their taps revolving with an excellent lineup and is quick to recognize a kindred passion.

This guy ages KY Bourbon Barrel stout and Hopslam then proceeds to mix them annually for the Derby.... Talk about fun levels of inebriation!
One more bit of entertainment; when they had soutern tier creme brulee on tap he suggested mixing it with vanilla bean ice cream. I dutifully filled a growler and walked over to graeters and snagged a pint. I got home and got fat drunk and loved every beery bite!

Food overall is excellent but watch out for the bread; at times it requires a wee bit of effort to consume.
May 31, 2012
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Reviewed by hyprlt from Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Dilly Deli(Cafe) is a fantastic spot to grab a delicious bite to eat and enjoy a magnificent draft or to order ahead and play carryout with both food and drink. Dilly Deli has a small and vibrant menu including their sandwich with turkey, cranberry cream cheese, and brie (Deli Gobbler) and other excellent fare. The only downside to this gem, is the fact that the only beer that is kept in refrigeration is BUDMILLERCOORS. It seems very backwards and the fact that some of the expensive beer sticks around longer and should be kept under some refrigeration. Either way the selection is amazing and Peanut, the Beer Curator, is a wonderful aficionado.
Aug 29, 2011
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Reviewed by eyeenjoybeer from Seychelles

4.36/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Dilly Deli is a nice blend of a restaurant/bar/beer and wine shop. The lighting is low and the atmosphere is pretty chill. I enjoy the selection of draft beers and the regularity with which they rotate their taps. They also have fun cask ales to try. Their bottle selection, while small, is full of fun foreign and domestic craft beers. You can find fun seasonal and limited release beers hiding here on occasion. One of my favorite things is to buy a pint and walk around the store and check out what is in stock. The staff is always helpful and knowledgeable. I always try to visit when I am in Cincy.
Jul 05, 2011
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Reviewed by phiberoptik from Illinois

4.36/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
My favorite place to go out for a beer. Disclaimer: the last time I was in a bar to drink was almost 4 years ago. Dilly Deli is not a bar! Dilly Deli is a destination for some really good and many times rare beers on tap that you cant find in bottles locally. They even have a cask or two. Barrel aged goodies, cask conditioned ales, Belgium trippels and more all on tap. They offer free tastes too!

We have not eaten there although we have heard the food is great. We use Dilly as a place to stop and get a drink before going downtown or out somewhere.

The wine shop up front is nice too but I cannot comment on their retail beer selection. I usually get my retail beer elsewhere.
Jun 28, 2011
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Reviewed by Beejay from Virginia

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
What's not to like, beer tastings and tapping events. A full wine store, and a killer menu. The food has always been good, and the customer service is usually top notch. Their beer selection is pretty good, not the best in the area, but it seems like they always have a few selections some of the bigger stores overlooked. They always have something interesting on tap. Sometimes their prices are a touch high depending on what you order, but it is usually worth it.

Highly recommend it if you are in the area.
Feb 09, 2011
Photo of mistakebythelake
Reviewed by mistakebythelake from Ohio

5/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This has been one of my main go to places in the Cincy area. I have been going t the Deli for about 7+ years since my wife worked their back when we were in college. Chuck and Peanut do a great job of bringing in every great domestic craft and imports available in this market. I also enjoy the 12+ taps of great beers including a cask handle that rotates between some great conditioned brews.

I have also been to some outstanding beer tasting events at the Deli and most recently at a Founders Brewing event, tried for the first time Canadian Breakfast Stout!

Food is excellent here as well as Chef Eric does some great stuff. You can also open up a beer or wine bottle from their retail store and have it with your dinner.
Nov 16, 2010
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Reviewed by Jro0714 from Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Um have you seen their beer specialist. I aspire to be him. On top of having 18 beers on tap and over 1000(!!!) beers in bottles, this place has killer food and a wicked huge T.V. to watch games on; oh and not to mention a wine selection of over 1000 bottles. The staff is amazingly helpful and informative on any question no matter how big or small. Definitely help you out and steer you in right direction based on taste and preferences. Literally one of the best places to try and be informed on new and unique craft beer options in Cincinnati.
Oct 10, 2010
Photo of Brew33
Reviewed by Brew33 from Ohio

3.26/5  rDev -27.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5
**Reviewed as a beer store**

It's tough to review this place! As a beer bar, it's a pretty good one. A dozen or so craft beers on tap, excellent tastings and events and a rotating cask. Although the bar itself is certainly odd.

As a beer store, it's not very good. They have a corner next to the bar crammed with craft beer. Tiny area, very cramped. I was certainly expecting a better selection. They carry nothing but craft beer but it's basically all year round selections from prominent brewery's. To be honest most local Bigg's stores have a similar selection. Very few rare beers or limited release stuff. The did have a 3F Kriek but it was crazy expensive. The pricing was odd too. Some of the prices were actually quite good. But I would say the pricing on the few limited release and seasonal beers they had was much higher than I'm used to seeing. The one item of concern was the cleanliness of the refrigerated glass cases. Yikes!

The service was good. Peanut was a nice guy and was helpful while I was browsing. If I lived closer, I might stop by this store more often. But for me it's not worth the trip. There are at least 3-4 bottle shops closer to me with a selection as good or better. But Dilly's is located in a really neat part of town in a very picturesque shopping center.
Oct 09, 2010
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Reviewed by Kelly88 from Kentucky

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
So I heard about This place from a Co worker and heard it was the place to find premium beer in the Cincinnati area. I was skeptical because we have party source rift across the river in Kentucky, but I was wrong.

Dilly deli is a cafe/beer store located in the picturesque town of marimont, Oh. The atmosphere is definately upscale and I have gotten many a wayward glance walking in right after working 8 hrs in a warehouse. The staff is not uppity but the regulars are.

The selection and quality are top tier. When I was there last this is What they had on tap:
Great lakes lake Erie monster
Ithaca apricot wheat
La chouffe
Stone ipa
Unibroue terrible
Old speckeled hen
Avery maharaja
Great lakes dormunder gold
MT carmel summer wheat
Southern tier creme brulee
New Holland dragons milk

On cask: bells two hearted (awesome)

The prices are very reasonable, average about 5.75 a pint and 4.95 foam a 10 oz snifter of the higher abv beer.

The beer store is great also, this is the only store with alesmith I've seen in the tri state area.
All of the regular offerings plus the bruery beers are here as well

A great place but be prepared for yuppy overload
Jul 18, 2010
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Reviewed by chaz01 from Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I drove down here from Dayton (50 minute drive) on the recommendation from a friend and immediately have been back down on 2 other occasions. They have everything I look for in a beer establishment. They have approximately 12 or so taps, including a cask-conditioned ale, and every one seems to be something unique and exceptional. The frustrating part of this place is trying to decide what beer you aren't going to be able to have that day. The food selection was so impressive I turned what was going to be a quick lunch into a 3 course beer and food pairing event. The food quality was every bit as good as it sounded on the menu (if not better). As an added bonus, they have a great bottled beer selection for take out. I also should add the wine selection was every bit as impressive as the beer selection. Definitely will be on my list of places to stop every time I'm in the Cincinnati area.
Mar 27, 2010
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Reviewed by coachdonovan from Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
If it is possible for someone in Rhode Island to have a favorite spot in suburban Cincinnati, this is mine. Very laid back atmosphere, try to sit outside if you can get a spot on a nice day. A robust selection of sandwiches and salads is accompanied by pastas and entrées where the only thing above $20 is the filet mignon. If you go, you absolutely have to get the beer cheese appetizer.

But of course the beer is the highlight. A recent visit featured Duchesse De Bourgogne and Maharaja on tap. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly. There is a rotating cask. The bottle selection is pretty strong and includes both cold and room-temp. It seems they have a great wine department also but I didn't spend much time browsing. Peanut (handlebar mustache) is the main beer guy if you have any questions.
Jul 20, 2009
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Reviewed by JoshuaJ from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Let me first specify that I'm review this place as a beer store and not a beer bar or pub or anything like that. I haven't had the chance to have a meal or sit down and have what they've got on tap yet, so that will be for another review.

As a beer store, this is a good one. As you walk over to the beer corner, you might think at first glance that there's not much to choose from there. There is. They've just maximized their space potential like you've never seen. It's actually a marvel of engineering, this beer corner. Everything is literally stacked on top of one another like sardines, but it's all done neatly so and with organization. It's not hard to find what you're looking for.

The selection itself is good. There are beers here (Ivanhoe, Anchor Steam, Baird Brewing, etc) that I haven't been able to find elsewhere. Also, they carry all of local brewery Mt. Carmel's beers (I saw that a couple were on tap, too), which is awesome. The selection doesn't seem to be as extensive as Jungle Jim's or The Party Source, but at the same time, I can't put my finger on what Dilly Deli doesn't carry that the others do. I've never not found what I was looking for here.

The real gem here is the service. If you have a question, ask Peanut. He's the guy with the shaved head, glorious silver beard, complete with the best handlebar mustache the style has to offer. You can't miss him. I have no doubt in my mind that this man has tried every single beer stocked on the shelves. He'll let you know what's what. It's like having a BA search engine in human form.

The pricing sort of varies. Most of the time you'll find something that's more expensive than you can find elsewhere. Other times, you'll feel like you're stealing. Granted, those times are few and far between, but they do occur. A tip: if you're looking for trappist beer, go here. It's cheaper than anywhere else.
Jun 07, 2009
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Reviewed by stonequarrywest from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Took a detour on the way to Bday party yesterday for Lunch...Worth the trip.

Thought the place would have been bigger as much as I had heard about it. Only about 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.

Great selection of beers and wines. Walked out with SN Topedeo, Jolly pumpkin and some jw lees. Crab cake sandwich for lunch alongside the NH Exissential Hopwine... Waitress definitely knew her beer and was extremely friendly. I think she wanted to plop down and have a sip of my DFH Palo Santo

Definitely would stop if in Cincy again
May 04, 2009
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Reviewed by youngblood from Indiana

4.14/5  rDev -7.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Made a special detour to come out to Dilly Deli and get some brews. The whole area around Dilly Deli seems awesome. Walked inside and the place was packed. I wasn't looking to eat, but was looking for some Troeggs Brothers beers. The hostess was friendly and asked me how many was in my party, I said I was just looking for the beer store. She pointed me to the very back of the store. I walked past tables full of steaming food that looked amazing. I need to go and eat sometime. The beer selection was very nice. Lots of high end micros, saw lots of Troeggs, Great Lakes, and Dark Horse, with a nice mixture of Germans and Belgians. I grabbed the Nugget Nectar and Hopback and started to make my way out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the wine section. Looked very substantial, deserves a going through at some point. This was a great stop and I will make a special trip out there again soon.
Apr 06, 2009
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Reviewed by bamadog from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I've been here twice now and feel that overall it is a pretty great place to go on special occasions. It's definitely a little upscale for me, so I likely wouldn't frequent it, but I definitely can't hold that aspect against it because I feel that the people who work there as well as the other customers are very welcoming.

Atmostphere: Small and perhaps a little upscale, but it's nice and quiet and easy to have a good conversation there, even when it's busy. This description may seem a little discerning, but it's still down-to-earth enough to watch Monday Night Football as well. Definitely caters to a wide variety of people, but again, I would say the upscale crowd is probably the type to frequent it.

Quality: Outstanding. My experiences there have been very positive and their selection, while somewhat small, seems to rotate frequently enough to keep people interested as well as cater to a very diverse taste. They have had very high quality and highly regarded beers on tap when I've been there, and they also sell bottles/six-packs/bombers as well from a small, but especially decent selection.

Service: The staff seems knowledgeable of what's being served and quick about getting it there. No concerns here.

Selection: As just mentioned, it's a little small, but overall, they seem to rotate it because in the two times I have been there, there was nothing on tap that was the same. Also, they have the shop that sells the small but very solid variety of bottles/bombers/etc.

Food: I don't have very discerning tastes or a great palate when it comes to food because I've got a fairly limited diet, so my personal taste is weighing in here. Everything looks and smells amazing though, but really I've only had the fish and chips, but it was good enough.

Value: It's a bit pricey, but overall you're paying for really good beer and a really nice cozy atmosphere that is definitely not a standard watering hole. Overall, as mentioned, definitely worth going to on occasion, but it'd be a little difficult to frequent.
Mar 26, 2009
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Reviewed by ironarrow42 from Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I love this place! It's not on my normal route home from work, but I go out of my way to stop and enjoy a beer and beer-related conversation on a regular basis. They always have an excellent draught selection which typically includes two or more Belgians, a couple of local craft beers, a cask ale, beers from Stone, Great Lakes, and Brooklyn, and a few surprises.

During my most recent visit on March 6th, they had Flying Dog Schwarz, Kwak, Southern Tier Oaked Unearthly IPA, and Duchesse de Bourgogne on tap, among others. Last summer, Peanut snuck out a small keg of Bell's Hopslam that he'd held back at the same time they had Avery Maharajah on tap. Talk about hop overload! The biggest problem I usually have is deciding which beer to have!

Peanut (he of the great beard and handlebar moustache) is always friendly and helpful, well-versed in good beers, and happy to discuss beer, motorcycles, music, etc. The rest of the staff is also knowledgeable and friendly (special kudos to Rachelle and Amy). Having a sample taste is never a problem.

I personally love the atmosphere - it's not fancy or stuffy, not dark or cheap, and not a sports bar. It's casual and comfy, and the bar area is decorated with great breweriana. There's a seriously good selection of bottled beers for sale, a wine shop, and a cheese counter. The food is great - from the Buffalo wings and grilled asparagus appetizers, to the quiche at lunchtime, to the more upscale dinners. And the Key lime pie is to die for! Best in the 'Nati!

If you live in or around Cincinnati or find yourself passing through, I highly recommend making the trip to Mariemont and stopping at the Dilly. It's definitely worth the trip!
Mar 10, 2009
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Reviewed by BgThang from Texas

4.68/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I have heard this place mentioned several times in conversation and on the forums here at BA. I was sort of in the neighborhood on business. (Louisville, ky 95 miles away) I know Brewdlyhooked13 who frequents this place alot and recommended it as well.

I arrived early and met peanut. I brought up a growler of (512) pecan porter to share. Hung out with peanut and discussed beer and beer topics for a couple of hours till craig showed up.
I spent most of those couple of hours looking at the selection of quality beers this place has. The small space that peanut has to house beer he has made well use of it.

I literally made tons of trips back and forth to look at all the beers. Just when I thought I had seen all the beer, someone pointed out that there are aged beers as well. 2004 insanity, 2004 hog heaven, 2004 thomas hardy, avery 13, and so forth. I had to go back and check again.

Peanut has been in the craft beer scene for nearly 30 years and has some good stories as well. It sounds like he has killervintage ales in his collection as well at home in his cellar. I did pick up stone, alesmith, and mikkeller collab beer, 2 brothers 10, avery 13, hopslam, jolly pumpkin firefly, la roja, rochefort 10, cuvee one.

Other selections were, moylans, founders, bell's, great lakes, stone's all of them, troegs, stoudt's, several lambics and gueze (peanuts favorite style), mikkeller, and many more.

The food and the draught selection was nice as well. The atmosphere is not that of the Draughthouse in austin, but this is more like the grapevine in austin where you have wine, craftbeer, and a deli with fine food. The biggest difference is in cincy you can buy the beer and immediately open it and consume right on premises or have it with your mill. Also the dilly has draught to select from as well. Peanut is also a wealth of knowledge and is very very generous.

He gave me a gift to show Cincinnati politeness. He told me a story of how this beer inspired the russian imperial stout and bought out a 2003 vintage of a extra double stout which I still cannot read the name or pronounce it. Again very gracious. Peanut also busted out a devil dancer 2002 vintage (7 years old) it was dang tasty as well. Peanut loved the NXNW Flemish Sour that craig had brought up that evening from a previous trade with myself.

As you can see it was a good time and I am rambling on. This is a well deserving place for one of the top rated places on rate beer and if your in that area you must make it a point to stop in and talk with peanut and look at his impressive selection of beer. Cincy has a law that nothing over 12% can be sold, however this is still quite a selection and good times.
Jan 23, 2009
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Reviewed by Mcculler from Ohio

4/5  rDev -10.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I recently returned home to Cincinnati to visit friends and visited Dilly Deli -- in pleasantly, mildly hip in a midwestern, German heritage tourism, white flight and better schools kind of way, Mariemont. I'd heard that Cincinnati -- always ten years behind the times -- was moving from beer hinterland to beer suburb with Dilly Deli adding to the trend, and I was excited to try the place.

We found it presentable -- but not deserving of its top 50 placement. Perhaps its most impressive feature was its selection of carry out bottles -- very fine for the size. But there were not many taps, unfortunately, and some were taken up by good but easily found beers -- Stone IPA and Great Likes IPA come to mind. There were several nice Belgians on tap, though nothing phenomenal (La Chouffe was absent when we visited in late summer). Allagash White was a revelation (the bottles have generally let me down) but -- and this for me was the real disappointment -- we had to wait about 20 minutes for it to warm down. In fact, all beers were served nearly ice cold, regardless of style. This was a real shame -- a SINFUL oversight that seemed to reflect that beer here is a second thought -- the bar and beer well in the back corner -- to wine and food.

I recommend it -- but only if you're in the area and want decent beer to wash down some very nice food with. In short, don't go out of your way.
Sep 02, 2008
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Reviewed by mobyfann from Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Dilly Deli located in quaint Mariemount, Ohio, an eastern neighborhood of Cincinnati hosts an impressive selection of food, tap beers, and a vast beer selection for purchase post-meal.

I walked in and grabbed a seat at the bar during the conference tournament basketball games in mid-March. The bartender was very knowledgeable in his beers and passionate about the new release of Brooklyn Brewery's partnership with Schneider of Munich. The accompanying beer was the new Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse. Although I had just a small sample of this beer I had ordered a Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale at $4.95 for the pint.

Accompanying the pint was a huge sweet and tangy Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries and a side of cole slaw at a mere $9. The meal was tasty and the brew served its purpose. The environment was amazing with down-to-earth locals as I got to know them and we spoke about the recent tornadoes in Atlanta.

In regards to the bottled beer selection, it was comparable to a smaller version of the impressive Party Source in Bellevue, KY. Overall, I was most impressed with the tap beer selection, featuring some of the elite brews in the Midwest including Mt. Caramel's Winter Ale, Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold and Burning River Pale Ale as well as the two aforementioned brews. In addition was Stoudt's Fat Dog Stout and a Chimay brew among others.

In the end, I was completely content and respected this place as being classified as one of the best beer bars in the nation. In the intermediate-term, I will most likely venture out to Mariemount from downtown Cincinnati just for the food, service and beer options alone. Only one downsize which is very minimal is that the beer bar did not sell some of their impressive glassware.

Final Thought: A classic example of a beer bar being modern and understanding the quality of beer. Thanks for the great
Mar 16, 2008
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Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Dilly Deli is located in Mariemont, which is a suburb of Cincinnati. It is a quaint town with street and small parking lots sprinkled around. The Deli is tucked away and is difficult to spot from the road.

The interior is cramped but not necessarily in a bad way. After entering the deli is on the right, followed by a small aisle of grocery-type items. To the left of that is restaurant seating. After that you hit the bar area, with a small wine alcove to the left of it. In the rear of the store is the bottled beer for sale. The majority is on shelves, with a couple coolers.

The beer selection is limited due to space but well thought-out. The bar has draughts from Mt. Carmel, Barrel House, Bell's (cask Expedition!), Chimay, and GLBC to name a few. The bottles are from craft brewers in the USA (Rogue, Stone, DFH, Stone, etc) and all over the world. Belgium, France, Germany, Japan and others are represented.

Service here is very good. The bartenders who served us (food and drinks, as we did not want to wait 45 min for a table) were very attentive and knew the beer. I think one of the bartenders was an owner the Saturday evening we visited.

Dilly Deli's food is really good. My pulled pork sandwich had some of the best BBQ sauce I have ever had. One of my friends complained about his burger being overdone but he is a wuss (and got the burger free anyway) so I am not applying to my score.

Overall I have not had a better beer day in quite some time between visiting Party Source and Dilly Deli within a couple hours. This is another must-visit spot in the Cincy area.
Feb 12, 2008
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Reviewed by hrking from Indiana

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I visit this place almost every time i'm in Cincy..Not a huge beer selection but the beers they do have Ale Smith,Several cool Belgian imports,and all the great Midwest beers make it worth a stop. I had Founders Breakfast Stout on tap with my dinner and drank an Old Rasputin off tap after that. They usually have some great high quality brew on tap and seem to keep something of interest flowing. I found the bartender to be quite knowledgeable and I knew I was in the right place when I spied a couple empty bottles of the finest beers above the bar (Dark Lord),(New Glarus Belgian Red),(Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock)...I knew I was in the right place.
I had some quality food while i was there as well.I recommend if you're in the area stopping by ..It's worth a visit and you won't be disappointed!
Jan 13, 2008
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Reviewed by Yetiman420 from Ohio

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4
My wife and I have frequented the Dilly Deli that past couple of years and I just realized I've traveled the country on beer trips and never took the time to praise what I feel is a premier beer establishment. We used to live across the street and are now eight minutes by car - all to convenient to catch a couple of beers before a pint at Dewey's and carry out. To set expectations, aside from 5-7 of the highest rated BA beer bars in major cities, Dilly Deli has the finest draft and beer selection I've seen for a state that has two good breweries ( Great Lakes and Hoppin Frog) and none in the city. If you visit Dilly Deli, try to sit at the small bar in the back because the service can be VERY spotty. Peanut is the usual bartender except for Saturday. He's responsible for stocking the beer and probably knows more than you about beer. Overall, the armosphere is like a soap opera bar but when it gets you down, just wander over to the racks of beer and pick something out. Other than the beer cheese crock, the food is ok. We really don't eat here, just grab a couple of beers and usually wind up with a $100 tap because of all the carryout beer. If you're traveling to Cincinnati, a trip to Mariemont and the Dilly Deli is something you should not pass up.
Jan 08, 2008
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Reviewed by pwoods from Ohio

4.47/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I've been here a few times for a draft and to check out their beers and just recently had dinner. The food is absolutely wonderful. Pastas, steaks, salads, and a huge list of sandwiches. I had a Stone IPA with my Pasta Bolognese and a Old Rasputin after eating. The service was great even though they were busy. The service hasn't been as great every time I've been but never terrible. It has a upscale atmosphere but I still felt comfortable. The quality of their taps and bottles is outstanding and for as small of a beer area as they have, the selection could not be better. Some things you find are a bit on the pricey side but overall it's a pretty reasonable place. Highly recommended.
Oct 08, 2007
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Reviewed by MrBen from Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Tucked away in a little suburb of Cincinnati is Dilly Deli, a shop that serves great food, beer, and wine. The reastaurant is awesome, and a rotating assortment of beers are on tap. La Chouffe seems to be a constant. The wine is kept in its own area, which gives the beer freaks the chance to browse without distraction. The area for beer display isn't huge, but Dilly Deli holds its own as far as inch-for-inch of shelf space in concerned in quality and selection. Lots of unique beers to try from all over the world, some of which also are available from the fridge. Highly recommended.
Aug 30, 2007
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Reviewed by Cresant from Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I visited on a Friday, for an early lunch. Walked in through the front doors (L-shaped space) which held the large wine selection. Through the doorway and to the left is the impressive beer selection. Straight ahead is the bar, to the right is the deli counter and larger than expected dining area. There are about 20 tables here, and two TVs. It looks as if there is an outside dining area/common space shared with other retailers.

The lunch menu was broad and offered standard fare and vegetarian options. I had a wrap and a Great Lakes Prohibition Pils (nice). The wait-staff was very friendly and attentive. However, I did order a small beer twice and I still received the larger American pint (and was charged the larger price). I sat near an cool old photo collage hanging on the wall, of local brewery history.

Some of the selection here included: Great Lakes, Three Floyds, Rogue, Delerium Tremens, 3 Monts, Cantillon, Fantome, Stone, Weyerbacher, Urthel, Spaten, Reissdorf, Dogfish Head, Founders, Bell's, Flying Dog, Alesmith, Victory, etc.

I was surprised and happy to see Fantome (I purchased the last Printemps on the shelves). I was helped to my car with my purchase. Overall this was a nice place in a nice section of town, and a well chosen selection of fine beers.
Jun 24, 2007
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Reviewed by cproioi from Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -28.4%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The food was wonderful, we had the beer cheese. The selection and prices where very nice also, had Bell's Expedition Stout on cask and Three Floyds Alpha Kind Pale ale. The idea of the place was really nice, drink there or bring it home. However, the service was horrible. Sitting at the bar it took about 15 mins to even be recognized by the bar tender. It wasn't because he was busy, there was one other person there that he spent all his time talking to. The service turned my girlfriend and me off so much it made us question if we would ever return.
Mar 02, 2007
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Reviewed by FtownThrowDown from Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Dilly Deli is home of the best taps in the city at times. You can always count on them to get the latest release from Stone and get some really rare items on draft.
The best thing going for the Dilly Deli are the "Tastings". Brewers come in, bring something special, as well as some others from their lineup and throw down at the Dilly. These have included Founders(KY Breakfast), Rogue, Bells, Arcadia, Barrelhouse(local). They always get the best and the rarest of kegs in Cincinnati. I was just there the other night drinking Bells Expedition Stout on cask from a firkin.
The bottle selection falls into the category of Quality not quantity. Due to limited space and good taste, the bottle selection is great. You can even have them chill a bottle and drink it there with your dinner.
The food is really good. Very well made and in good portions.
A little off the beaten path and possibly a little difficult to find if you're not from the area, but well worth the effort to find.
I frequent the Dilly Deli on a regular basis. Hopefully when you stop in you'll have the privilege of speaking with Peanut, the best barkeep in the city.
The Dilly Deli is a truly a gem of the city.
Feb 22, 2007
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Reviewed by beakerboy from Kentucky

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
WOW is all I can say. What a great selection of Belgian beer. Dilly Deli carries all the Trappist abbeys sans Westvleteran. Also many abbey breweries are well represented. They carry several beers from each brewery and have new arrivals and limited releases as well. They also have a great variety of Lambic, Flanders Red, and Gueuze. The top US craft breweries are also well represented. Dilly Deli is only 5 minutes drive of Interstate 71, so if you're an out-of-towner like me, you can easily swing by when visiting Cincinnati.
Jan 22, 2007
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Reviewed by TheBierBand from Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
What an excellent little out-of-the-way beer establishment! Oh yes, they feature their wine selection, but they have a very impressive beer selection for their size. I stopped by for the ROGUE Beer Party on 11/9/06. The staff were all very congenial. It's a small, cozy place with great atmosphere. Of course, I sampled many a fine Rogue brew.

This place will be on the short list to visit frequently. They will occasionally have a beer tasting or a wine tasting.... I know it would be a fun time! The Bier Band highly recommends The Dilly Deli!
Nov 21, 2006
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Reviewed by frazbri from Ohio

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
How do you review this place? I tried to score it as a combo of store/bar. The atmosphere is sort of upscale, but still relaxed. I stopped here just before noon on a Saturday, so it wasn't crowded. We sat down for lunch and a beer, our server was couteous and knowledgable. The food menu had deli sandwiches, burgers, salads, and pasta dishes. I had a turkey, brie and cranberry sandwich and it was a very pleasing combination.

The beer menu started with Dilly Deli's tap list. The ten tap selections gave a wide range of flavors and regions. Stone 10, La Chouffe and Rhiendorf? Kolsch were part of the well rounded list. The bottled menu was much larger. If you can't find a beer you like on this list, you don't like beer. As a beer store, Dilly Deli has great quality beers, but not the number of beers that some of it's competitors. You may find something special before the large stores though. (We found Hopslam here before the other local outlets had it) They also host some special beer events as well. Swing out to Dilly Deli for a nice meal and some fantastic beer.
Nov 07, 2006
Dilly Café in Mariemont, OH
Place rating: 4.47 out of 5 with 57 ratings