The Comet

The CometThe Comet
The CometThe Comet
Bar, Eatery

4579 Hamilton Ave
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45223-1752
United States

(513) 541-8900 | map
cometbar.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.12
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
40
pDev:
10.92%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.41 by cratez from Canada (ON)

Sep 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.81 by Manta200 from Kentucky

Nov 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.91 by meanmutt from Ohio

Jul 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by Doublechar0517 from Kentucky

May 01, 2015
Photo of Lukass
Reviewed by Lukass from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Was disappointed with their burritos – I've heard good things, but wayy too much cumin for my taste. Great beer selection though, so I'd come back for the good vibes, bands, and beers, but no more burritos for me.
Apr 15, 2015
Photo of Vettegurl11
Reviewed by Vettegurl11 from Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I thoroughly enjoy going here. They always have a good selection on tap (not so prominent beers) and their bottle selection is outstanding, compared to most bars/restaurants. This is one of my local 'go to' places close to home. The food is outstanding. I get the jerk tofu quesadillas with chips/guacamole.
Feb 10, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by davecunningham from Ohio

Dec 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by TheyCallMeYukon from Ohio

Nov 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.76 by amysepkovich from Ohio

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.24 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by rheimbro from Ohio

Jul 13, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by thsSAMO from Ohio

Mar 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by DYount80 from Kentucky

Feb 23, 2014
Photo of SlimW
Reviewed by SlimW

4.6/5  rDev +11.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I love this place. It's a true local "hole in the wall" if you will. The best selection of beer that I've seen in CIncinnati. I believe there are 12-15 rotating taps, and around 110 different bottle selections. The bartenders are knowledgable if you have questions about what you are drinking. The food is pretty darn good as well. They serve burritos, nachos, quesadillas; with beef, chicken, and some killer Jerk tofu, and they have a salsa of the month. They've always got great local bands, especially the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars on Sundays. I suggest if you're near Northside, then you need to check them out, especially on Sundays. The crowd is mostly college kids, but well behaved college kids.
Oct 25, 2012
Photo of Samoht126
Reviewed by Samoht126 from Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This place is the primo spot in Cincinnati if you are looking for unique bands, unique people, and unique beer. They have a large selection of brews, and it is all good. Sometimes it is so busy, the service isn't so great, and you have to wait for a drink, and the food can take a very long time if they are busy. They have a GREAT Sunday Brunch. The Comet Bluegrass Allstars play there every Sunday evening, which is close to my heart. I tell anyone coming to Cincinnati for a visit, make sure to check this place out.
Jan 06, 2012
Photo of robwestcott
Reviewed by robwestcott from Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
holy cow. visiting in cincinnati for the weekend. waiting on the wife to finish up her shopping at high street and i pulled up BA on the iphone. happened to see a post along the lines of "where do i go on the northside of cincy".

taking a look through the replies, i noticed the comet was mentioned and i took a quick look at the website. burritos, beer, homemade ginger ale... ok, we'll give it a go.

we headed up and drove through a nice neighborhood and pulled up in front of the place. cool art studio / school and a vintage clothing / furniture / furnishings both next door. my wife checked out the vintage store and i went in and found a spot at the bar.

apparently, there's usually music, but tonight there was a break in the usual schedule due to a festival nearby. good enough for me - i preferred quiet tonight.

what a great place. neighborhood bar vibe. super-friendly and knowledgeable staff.

small menu - burritos, rice and beans and homemade salsas. we ordered rice and beans and a burrito along with the salsa sampler. great food at an incredibly fair price. the wife had a couple homemade ginger ales - and damn, they were good.

only 7 taps, but damn, they were filled with good beer. aside from guinness, all craft. new holland was the feature / farmhouse hatter, rye hatter, and oak aged mad hatter all on tap. also a local IPA and another couple i dont remember. after the farmhouse and oak aged mad hatter, i noticed a cask at the end of the bar. 'what's in the cask' i asked - new holland, the post / oatmeal stout was the answer. and damn, it was a generous full pint pour. oh yeah, bottles galore in 3 coolers and a bevador.

great food, great taps, cask, fully functional photo booth.

two bug thumbs up for the comet.
Jul 04, 2011
Photo of MikeytotheB
Reviewed by MikeytotheB from Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -19.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Probably my favorite stop in the Northside! One of the best juke boxes in town, great bottle selection, rotating taps and great burritos!

During peak hours the seating is hard to come by and the service deffinitely lacks. I do not get why people wait in one line at a bar! Bars are long and narrow so that good bartenders can get mutiple customers orders at once. If you find yourself a seat at the bar, don't move! It's the best spot in the house.

Order your food at the bar, drop it off at the kitchen window, let them know where you are sitting and they will bring it out to you. Don't forget to check what their Salsa of the Month is!
May 05, 2011
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Reviewed by BeerAndBourbon from Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I've been here for bluegrass music several times over the past year and I really like the place. Their tofu burrito (with the seasonal salsa) is awesome! They always have a nice variety of beers on tap and in the bottle with some locals always available. The place is a pretty dark bar and some may find it seedy, but I really enjoy it.

Let it be known that it'll take a long time during popular hours to find a seat and then longer to actually get your food (especially if you've got a group). You have to come here for the night.

They also make their own ginger ale so Wild Turkey + ginger ale is a great alternative if you're not looking for a beer here.
May 05, 2011
Photo of Kelly88
Reviewed by Kelly88 from Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev -11.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went here on a Sunday to listen to the house band, the bluegrass comet allstars. Band started at 730 we got there at 630 and it was already packed. Seating seems adequate if it wasn't a band night. About 10 seats at the bar and the whole right side is tables where bands play.
The atmosphere is a good one a very diverse clientele, people with dreads, hipsters, pot heads, hippies, really old people, you name it theyre there at the comet. All this makes for a good bar feel in my opinion.
Quality is pretty good. The bar seems a bit like a hole in the wall but it has a very Retro vibe, tap handles line the walls and a bevadore cooler holds beer in the far left corner. Selection of beers is high quality as well.
Selection in bottles was great they probably had around 50. Good stuff to, I had nugget nectar. The comet also has some 750's as well. They only have about 7 taps But They are all solid :
Guinness
Two hearted
Troegs troeggenator doppelbock
Bear republic nor' Cal
Bigfoot
And some other stuff
Service was ok. Always seemed like it took forever to get a beer. Food took awhile but its really only Just a bar so no big deal.
The food was good. Just burritos tacos and nachos. Good spicy salsa really improves the food. A pretty good place for good prices.
Mar 28, 2011
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Reviewed by Urbancaver from Ohio

4.44/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
A well priced mostly beer centered bar in Northside. A bit out of the way as its distinctly past all of the typical bars and such on the strip but close enough to make it a quick easy stop. A top notch beer selection and they often have really unique stuff on tap. The service is above average and the entertainment is pretty good. A bit divy with fairly limited seating especially on the weekend but a good atmosphere. I've seen some great bands here too. One of my favourite places in town and highly recommended
Jan 18, 2011
Photo of movingtrain
Reviewed by movingtrain from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I have been to The Comet twice now. The first time was in 2007. The second time was just last night (2011). Little has changed, and that is a really good thing.

First, the atmosphere. The Comet is almost a hole-in-the-wall place. When you walk in the door, the bar is to the left, just after a series of coolers hosting a wide range of bottled beer. A pool table, some table and chairs, and the small bathrooms are straight ahead.

The Comet is split into two sides. On the other side (just through the door) there is a lot of seating, an old-fashioned photo booth (usually in operation), a small space for bands to perform, and the kitchen.

Service here is very good...it may take a little while depending on the time, but when the bartender comes your way, they are friendly and quite knowledgeable. I ordered a Goose Island Dominique, asked what it was, and my bartender knew exactly. Couldn't be any better.

The beer selection is pretty great. There were, I think, about six taps, each filled with some pretty great stuff. They had 90 minute, two Goose Island selections (the aforementioned Dominique and Matilda), Bell's Pale, Guiness, and Southern Tier's Chokolat. I was impressed: good variety, solid beers, and reasonably priced. They also have a good happy hour for everything on tap.

The food at The Comet is also pretty good. They make their own salsas, guac, and make a damn good burrito (black or pinto bean, or chicken).

Overall, this place is pretty great...if it were closer to home, I would be there at least once a week. Check it out.
Jan 08, 2011
Photo of DeadGuyRyan
Reviewed by DeadGuyRyan from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I have been going to the comet since I was 16 at first for the burritos, now for the beer as well. The Comet is in Northside on Hamilton ave. A little bar which has a basement and a "dining" area with bar on the top floor. Locally a lot of people have reservations about Northside due to it being super trendy so Its not always the everyone cup of tea. but who cares. This was one of the first bars I went to with decent beers on tap. Good selection always with great imports and craft beers as well. They always have good bottles also. They play live music as well if you enjoy that kind of thing. The food is really good I love the burritos and they serve them really late as well which is nice to be able to pair with great beers. Overall The Comet is a nice little bar in Cincinnati that I would suggest for any age and style.
Dec 06, 2010
Photo of TheStove
Reviewed by TheStove from Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Thanks to BA I found this one and selected it as my drinking spot due to the late hours.

I don't remember the taps that well, Guinness was on there a few other things I didn't find too unique. However that isn't always the case especially with the tap handles on the walls of things that have been poured in the past and the list is pretty impressive.

The cases are pretty amazing as well. Plenty of Belgians and bunches of micro and craft brews. Decent amount of Unibroue, Rogue stuff, a few bombers of the Southern Tier black water series and some Founders for good measure.

Thankfully the place is just a chill laid back place to hang out. It resembles half restaurant half old diner with plenty of good schwag on the walls. Outdoor seating helps you enjoy the Ohio heat with a cold one of your favorites.

The service is great too. Bill tells interesting stories about the bar and Cincinnati. He doesn't chew your ear about beer but what he does say it interesting to hear.

Low key, unassuming, great beer. I'm sold.
Sep 22, 2010
Photo of wyattshotmaker
Reviewed by wyattshotmaker from Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -23.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
the main problem the comet lacks is that it's horribly understaffed.they have one person in the kitchen who also delivers food and one person bartending.the bartender was a nice guy,however the person in the kitchen seemed kind of unfriendly.

this was my first time here,and the atmosphere is okay.not very well lit,but some people dig that.the music is hit or miss,depending on who picks what on the jukebox.

the food was good,and reasonably priced.the beer was reasonably priced,on draft that is.however,i don't go to bars to drink bottled beer unless it is something rare,so that's not a problem.

maybe if i was a regular i would have gotten better service,but i waited about 50 minutes for a burrito and an order of chile con queso.the people who ordered right before me received their food about 20 minutes before me.good service is rewarded by tipping,i don't fellate someone for doing a poor job.nobody gives me money when i just do my job properly,that's not the way things work.

overall,the service would get a 3 or 4 if they had one more worker to help out.
Jun 24, 2009
Photo of bamadog
Reviewed by bamadog from Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I've been to here a few times now, mostly on Sundays for the bluegrass band that is phenomenal. I've tried to review it a couple of times as well and have had no luck uploading my thoughts to the site - hopefully this proves to be my successful attempt.

Atmosphere: A little dark and definitely a local flare to it - nothing corporate at all about it and you've gotta like that. Good people abound as well and they're all pretty friendly - does get VERY busy on Sunday nights though.

Quality: Outstanding selection of outstanding beers. Not much else to say here. Oh wait, their rotation is great too!

Service: Well, the bartenders are very good, but you do have to take your own food orders back to the kitchen and you might wait close to an hour, or you might wait 10 minutes. Bar = GREAT! Kitchen = ...well, the food is going to be good.

Selection: Great selection that rotates frequently.

Food: Great food! The burritos are amazing and they're especially filling. Not much of a selection, but hey, it's a bar with quite possibly the smallest kitchen in the world - so for what they've got, they do an amazing job! If you're in the area and are looking for a nice small watering hole, this is a great venue to check out.
Feb 17, 2009
Photo of kels
Reviewed by kels from Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +10%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I've been to The Comet on numerous occasions and thought I ought to get around to writing a review.

Atmosphere: The Comet is without a doubt one of the most random, eclectic destinations in Cincinnati (or anywhere else, for that matter). Located in the Northside neighborhood, its patrons are a huge mix of people from all backgrounds, interests and walks of life. You will find everyone from punks to preps, well beyond and everything in between. It is definitely a cozy spot with a vintage, thrift-store like feel. Tap handles line the wall and the bar is flanked by huge coolers with an unending number of selections. For beyond-beer fun, there are two pool tables, and there is regular live music that packs the house.

Quality: The quality of the beer has always been very good at The Comet. There is definitely great attention given to glassware, pouring, temperatures, etc.

Service: The service has its ups and downs due to the atmosphere. You really get the sense that the bartenders probably know most of the people in the place personally, but that can make it hard to get service when they're in the middle of a conversation (most usually about beer, so who can really complain?). The place also gets packed on certain nights of the week, and it can be hard to even get to the bar. On the other hand, the staff is SERIOUS about the beer. They know what they've got and they definitely want to talk about it. I feel like I've learned a lot just ordering beers here.

Selection: The selection is great. The taps rotate so often due to the number of craft beer drinkers in the place that you almost need an hourly update. I believe there are 6 taps. I was in last night and they had Founders Porter, Victory's Golden Monkey and Hop Devil, Bell's Two Hearted, Barrelhouse's Winter (local) and Guinness (they always have this and do a lot of blends with it). Halfway through the night they were already switching taps. There's also a crazy number of bottles. I can't even begin to guess how many. Selections on tap and in bottle cover a wide range of breweries and tastes.

Food: If you like burritos, tacos, nachos and quesadillas, you'll like the food at the Comet. They make some of the best salsa in town, and the food is really good and cheap. It can be a wait as the tiny kitchen wasn't really made for the demand, but there's plenty of beer to drink in the meantime.

Overall, The Comet is a must-stop for anyone who loves beer in Cincinnati. Keep an eye out for posts from them about beer events they host - they had a huge three-day, continuous keg-rotating Hopnosis celebration and a Founders Breakfast Stout brunch in the past few months.
Jan 06, 2009
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Reviewed by Alkiser from Ohio

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped by The Comet on June 18th for a Dogfish Head sample night. Festina Pêche through a randal of peaches and assorted fruits was amazing. As well as the only keg of Burton Baton to grace the state. The guys from Cavalier did a great job, everything was well taken care of.

Atmosphere was decent, all the uber beer guys showed up exactly at 6 and were out the door by 7ish. Some more laid back people hung around for a good night of fun. Wednesday night was karaoke so the place had a decent amount of people but was not overly crowded. A couple of pool tables and a too small single bathroom rounded the place out. The bathroom wasn't really a downer as the sink was out front of them, so there was never a line all night.

Service was good, not great but good. I ordered a couple of pints, aswell as a few bottle of Palo Santo that I asked for some sample glases to split up with everyone. After I stopped drinking and moved to water only doing tastes it got a bit harder to get a refill.

The selection was good. Other than the Baton and Peche they had 5 taps that had Raison along with a few others. Looked like a decent bottle beer selection, didn't get a chance to check it out well but a lot of people pulled out bottles from it to sample. Those bottles impressed me. All the dogfish head you should expect to see, as well as some of the limited bottles (This was a dogfish night!).

All in all I would frequent the place if it wasn't 25 minutes away. Other than that I will be coming to any other special nights they have.

Reviewed on: 6-18-2008
Jun 19, 2008
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Reviewed by ShareANevada from Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -11.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Having lived about a block from this place, I have been there many times over the years. This is definitely one of the very best beer bars in Cincinnati, fairly surprising for the near hole-in-the-wall that it is. A haven for scooter riders and the idie-rock scene, there is frequently live music, as well as never a cover.

The setting is dim, a couple pool tables, and local artists works decorate the walls, all priced pretty well above reasonable. The jukebox consistenly wins awards, with a great selection of classic reggae, rock, and blues.

Now for the reason we're all here: The Beer. Immediately inside the door, there are 3 coolers, loaded with singles. Prices are taped on the shelf below them, at least for most. The selection changes fairly frequently, but theres always a solid German section, and the bulk is micros. Several Unibroues, Bells, Stoudts(6 on my last visit), Lion Stout, Anderson Valley, Anchor, and many more. Most recently I say they had added DFH Pangaea and Jiahu as well as a Cantillon (all $15).

An old-fashioned cooler on the other side generally features Belgians (tho much more limited in the past years), Sam Smiths, Bells sparkling, lindemanns, and other high enders.

The tap selection rotates, and in addition to the standard Guinness/Harp, I have seen Hop Rod and some other goodies, seldomly even on sale. (There are NEVER sales on any other beers..??)

Be prepared, its quite discouraging that a large proportion of patrons will be drinking PBR. For some reason, that crap is in style in the indie crowd.

I can only think fondly of the bar where I was first introduced to Immort Ale, (as well as Monster, and EKU 28, and then some) however the crowd up here is very clicque-y and if you are not wearing horn-rims and chuck taylors, don't expect to make a lot of friends here.

The burritos here, although some rave about, I consider fairly average, especially for $7-8, and often stuffed with rice and little meat, and sometimes annihilated with spice. They do offer salsa features each week (on the chalkboard), as well as a sampler of 7 or so salsas.

All in all, a great beer bar, well worth a visit if youre in town.
Not that it is a huge threat, but keep your senses keen when visiting, this is not one of the nicest neighborhoods in cincy.

PS - Sundays are Bluegrass night, featuring the Comet Bluegrass Allstars. This longstanding tradition usually runs about 7-10, and is pretty well attended, often with a little more of a family feel going on. Good time.

---
Update

It seems lately the Comet has stepped up its game, on tap.

In the past month or so, I've stumbled across
Dragon's Milk
Breakfast Stout
Curmudgeon
Bear Republics Black Mamba
Southern Tier Oat

I think all were ~$4.50 for a stemmed goblet. Very nice.
Feb 20, 2008
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
I thought this was a cool little place when I stopped in. The atmosphere was pretty laid back and there were really only about a dozen or so people inside. The selection looked pretty good, at least to these eyes. Lots of Stone, Avery, Left Hand, Pyramid, Bell’s and Founders, not to mention the Great Lakes. Really a fine representation of a good selection for the area. The staff was very friendly and courteous, and when I told them I was from out of town, they took the time to tell me anything they thought I had not seen before. Did not have any food, so I cannot really go there. This seemed like a really cool place and everyone seemed to know what they were talking about. I would definitely visit in here again, if I lived here, you may not actually get me out.
Jan 24, 2008
Photo of Yetiman420
Reviewed by Yetiman420 from Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -24%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I am revising my review based on three visits since my original visit.

The main change is to the service score. The last visit was a Saturday in early March from 4 - 6:30. Just having had a baby, we figured this was an ideal time to stop by for a pint or two to use a soon-to-be-expired Groupon. I knew from ordering food in the past, especially when the place is crowded, it takes a while...a long while. After a first round of beers, we put in an order for the salsa sampler. There were about 7 other groups in the bar at that time, one "chef," and one bartender. It took about 40 minutes to get chips and salsa. You order food and drinks at the bar. With only seven groups there, the sole bartender couldn't remember my name/tab even after five visits to the bar. When the chips took forever and the place started to fill up, we rushed to get our food order in. The "chef" gave me some mumbled lip when I neglected to take my number placard to identify our table as an order. The place was filling up - probably 50 people at this point and they still had one bartender, one "chef" and a guy who was sitting at the bar and periodically walking around picking up empty glasses. I could overhear people complaining about the long food wait, and the adventure of trying to get a beer.

All of this hassle for a good, not great, burrito and a tap list of Guinness, 60 Minute, Dark Horse Raspberry Ale, and a Goose Island Pepe Noir...no thanks.

Take note that they charge you an extra $1 to use a credit card.

Ambivalent service, run down atmosphere, no TV('s) and a messy bathroom is cool only when it's not at the sake of cheap management.

It will take special beer events and a meal in advance to get me back to The Comet.
---

My wife and another couple made a long-awaited, much-anticipated visit to The Comet in late December. As a Cincinnati eastsider, I most often spend my beer time at the Dilly Deli but wanted to expand my horizons in the city. My wife and I had never been to the northside neighborhood where The Comet is located. We were a bit dissapointed when we drove past the main village area to "suburban northside" where we found The Comet in what I can best describe as a run down, two unit strip mall. The crowd was eclectic and artsy and they appeared to have an open mic night in the other half opposite the bar. The Comet qualifies as a dive bar with very little effort devoted to decor. The beer selection is a very good representation of the best widely distributed beers. I was unable to find any exceptional beers among their selections and seleted for Anderson Valley Golden on tap and Anderson Valley Sesonal in a bottle. Other beers on tap included the local Barrelhouse Winter, Bells Expedition Stout.
Jan 04, 2008
Photo of pwoods
Reviewed by pwoods from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Went here this past weekend for Stone's Pint Night. Place was hoppin when I got there around 6pm. Atmosphere was pretty laid back. Everyone wearing Stone t's and there were 2 pool tables. I was there to drink some Stone so I didn't notice everything they had on tap but what I saw was Stone IPA, Stone Arrogant Bastard, GLBC Nosferatu, Mt. Carmel Nut Brown, and a few more. Also had bottles of Ruination, Oaked Arrongant Bastard, and RIS next to the taps. Pints were very reasonably priced and we were to keep the glasses. Got an Arrogant Bastard with quick enough service considering the crowd and it was great. Next I got a Bomber of 11th Anniversary, served at proper temp and also great. They had a large selection of singles considering the size of the place. I noticed a lot of Stone products along with some Avery, Founders, Bell's, and many others. Menu had some real food instead of just pub grub. I had already eaten but a friend had a Quesadilla and said it was very good. Took quite awhile to get the food but like I said, the were hoppin. I've had the burritos and they are very tasty. I'll definitely be going back.

Edit:
I've truely grown to love this place. The service is still iffy at times, though some of the bartenders are great. The kitchen is still usually slow because the demand can get crazy. The Bluegrass Allstars are fantastic on Sundays(get there very early). Dave took notice of all the beer geeks coming in and has further improved his selection and quality. They host events on a pretty regular basis. Everything is still pretty cheap, espeically $3 pints from 4-7. The crowd can be kinda wierd at times, but everyone should feel very welcomed here. I'm not sure who took the picture but that's my fat ass on the corner, lol.
Oct 04, 2007
Photo of becktone
Reviewed by becktone from Ohio

3.94/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Went to the comet for Stone Pint Night, as a matter of fact I just got back. I had a really great time talking with the Stone reps and the distributer rep that was also there. Also talked with the owner of Dutch's Wine Merchant -Beer Dock...though that is neither here nor there...

The bar has an excellent selection of bottled brews, more than I could count or report, they've two places where they keep the bottled beer, one is a normal cooler that you'd see at a gas station type of place...filled with single bottles, the other is a cooler that you'd see in an office building typically filled with sandwiches and milk, you know, one of those ones that rotates...though this one is filled completely with singles of great beer.

Service was good, I mean there's only so much a bartender can do when its crowded. I've heard amazing things about the food, supposedly they've great burritos, I'm going to go back to try one some day. All in all this is a great place to go a sling a few back.
Oct 01, 2007
Photo of beachbum1975
Reviewed by beachbum1975 from Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +11.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Located about 10 minutes northwest of downtown Cincinnati, The Comet is a great place to visit. They typically have a huge variety of people, all wrapped up in an artsy, eclectic & character-filled atmosphere. Great tunes, from punk to blues are always playing, as well.

On tap at this time (changes constantly):
Three Floyd's Gumballhead
DFH's Festina Pêche
Guiness
Founders Red's Rye
Anderson Valley's Hop Ottin' IPA

Bottled beers:
At least 100 different bottles, which is too many to list, but I can remember...
ACME IPA
3F's Fantabulous X
New Belgium variety
The usual suspects (Amstel, Heinekin, Killians, Carona, blah blah blah)
And A LOT more great microbrews!

They have three large refrigerators that contain all their mixed bottled beers up front, then a smaller Bevador that holds their Belgian beers and interesting soft drinks in the back.

All to top with a great food menu and burritos and salsa that are insanely garlicy and out of this world!

In three words, The Comet can be summarized as:
1.) Good beer and food
2.) Lots of character
3.) Scooters

Check it out if you get the time - it's well worth the experience.
Jul 15, 2007
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Reviewed by nasman from Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +17.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The Comet is a well established fixture in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood. Though they have a limited number of taps with only five, they more than make up for this by the quality of their selections, excellent staff, and great atmosphere. You will find people from all walks of life delighting in the fine products offered here. The Comet offers only Guinness night in and night out on tap, the other four taps are rotated as to the selection offered. Typically you will see one Bell’s selection, a local selection which typically originates from Barrelhouse, and a mix of others ranging from Rogue and Stone to Three Floyd’s and Anderson Valley. Their selections are always fresh, their lines are always clean and the result is consistently excellent taste true to the products they are serving. While they are limited to only five taps, they more than make up for this with their large selection of quality, craft, bottle selections. These are also rotated and managed properly so you will never get an old or spoiled product.

The Comet offers a variety of great entertainment ranging from live music from local bands and pool tables to the best juke box in the city and a photo booth. The décor is kept simple, save for the art often displayed from various local artists. There is an underlying cool emitting from this place regardless of the night or entertainment. You will not ever find a bar brawl happening here. The staff is a mostly veteran, experienced group of folks who offer nothing but great service that will leave you with nothing but the most pleasant experience. The food is excellent, with selections for everyone, including vegetarian selections. Their homemade salsas are well worth sampling. The Comet is probably most famous food selection is their San Francisco style burritos which will fill you up, regardless of the size of your appetite. One visit here will leave you day dreaming, drooling in anticipation of your next great night of many good beers and an experience to remember at the Comet.
Apr 09, 2007
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Reviewed by bergands from Ohio

3.86/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
I had my first experience with the Comet last night. I was excited to find Bell's on tap. They had two hearted ale as well as the winter wheat. They also had Barrelhouse's double dark IPA "boss cox". They were all $4.50 for imperial pints. There were a few others on tap but I foget what they were. Plenty of micros and imports in two rather large fridges behind the bar if you'd rather have a bottle, but I stuck with the two hearted.

The people at the bar were about as eclectic as it gets. From the middle aged in business atire to the punk rocker with huge tats, everyone was represented. I really appreciated the no frills simple bar decor and laid back atmosphere. There were also two pool tables running, and a great jukebox. A local band was setting up around 10 but I had to head out. I've heard bluegrass on sundays is the time to go. Many have also raved to me about the food, and it looked good, but I didn't have any while I was there. Just beer.

I think it's worth the stop. I'll be going back. While in the area be sure to check out Shake it Records.
Mar 03, 2007
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Reviewed by FtownThrowDown from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Made my first trip to the Comet to try Founders Breakfast Stout on tap. What I found was a bar with a nice atmosphere and very friendly people.
The beer selection is good. They have several coolers with bottled micros and imports available. The tap selection was good as well. The burritos are the biggest and the best in the area. Better than the obvious competitors.
A very diverse crowd that doesn't detract from the atmosphere. Everything from hipsters, to professionals, to college students, to naturalist hippy families. Everybody gets along well, and nobody even cares.
The bar could use a little upkeep and paint but I think that adds to the mystique.
It's definitely a place I'll frequent more often. Especially as its only a 10 minute drive from my house.
Feb 19, 2007
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Reviewed by cproioi from Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Went to the Comet to see a great local band's cd release party. The atmosphere was something that I've come to expect from anything in Northside, it's loaded with trendy scenesters who in a week will be following someother anti-style style. Like I said that's every where in that area. However, I will put up with it because I do like the bar. Many nights there is live music and their jukebox has odd interesting hard to find random music.

The workers there are very nice to everyone. The bartender and kitchen staff all are very pleasant to talk to. The beer selection is nice size also. They boast they have 150 beers, not to sure about the truthiness of that statement. They have Stoudts, Three Floyds, Stones, DFH, Bell's Founders and more. Along with the usual suspects of the BMC Crime Family.

Their food was good. My girlfriend and I ordered the Nachos and they sent back a huge plate piled high with nachos and nacho toppings.

It was fairly reasonable in price. The music there is free, normally. For three beers at once, buying rounds. it cost me about $10.
Aug 14, 2006
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Reviewed by fightingwords from Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
The comet...The trendy local dive with beers that make dudes with white belts, shaggy hair, and tight pants look cool. (you decide if this sounds good or not.)

A--Just your usual dive bar appearance. Pool table, bitchen juke box, bathrooms that make you want to use the sink, greasy kitchen in the back, etc. Really diverse crowd. Young and old there are artsy types and business men/women abound. Usually have good music playing, if not a live show for free.

Q--The drinks I've always had are top notch, but I question some of the beers freshness. I know the taps are good and new, but the craft/import bottles are suspect, unless you are purchasing a good seller (read--fullers esb. great lakes dortmunder). Its a good bar for a fun night and the experience is unique in an average way.

S--The older gentleman that works the majority of the nights is awesome. Well drawn pints and slow pour on the appropriate styles. The kitchen is slow, but the never a wrong order and the food is prepared from fresh organic ingreadients.

S--About 8 taps, with the usual BMC. Proabaly 80+ bottle to choose from, including some bombers from Stone. Mostly imports, but a healthy choice of craft brews. The food selection--they have a salsa of the month for gosh sake--it would take you a year to experience their menu.

F--Again, as in my other reviews, I dont like others touching my food, but this place is good enough. Even though the place as a grung appearance I know the ingredients are organic and fresh and tasty to boot.

V--I've spent a weeks paycheck here in a sitting, but it took a while. the beers are fairly priced (less the bombers) and mixed and well drinks are well poured for the price. You cant beat this place if youre trying to avoid the expensive bar scene but still get the good bar drinks.
Mar 22, 2006
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Reviewed by nlmartin from Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 2
The Comet has a pretty nice selection of beer available. I am just making a guess but there is about 100 different beers available. The beer ranges from BMC, Bells (multiple choices), Stoudts, several foriegn beers. The wait staff was efficient. The bartender tried to offer suggestions for beer choices. Chances are the average BA knows more about beer than this bartender. He did make an effort. The food was ok at best. Honestly I have had better burrittos at Chipoltle. Although a nice touch was the hotsauce. They used Hells Bells Damned Hot Pepper Sauce from Kalamazoo. The food came up cold to the table. Overall this is a good place to go and drink beer in Cincinnati; however, do yourself a favor and eat somewhere else. They also say there coffee is a Sumatran blend. The coffee is terrible and is definately not Sumatran.
Jan 31, 2006
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Reviewed by harkjohnny from Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
i love this place to say the least. It's a dive bar but the little things make it such a neat place. They offer a very good beer selection (in bottles) and usually something great on tap (Bell's Two Hearted last time i was there). The burritos are bigger than the "chain burrito place" and are way better. The also make their own salsa with one of the selections being a rotating offering. The jukebox is by far the best in town with plenty of obscure but great music. After dinner and drinks stop next door at the Avant Garage for some eclectic clothes shopping. Always a great night out at the Comet
Jan 12, 2006
The Comet in Cincinnati, OH
Place rating: 4.12 out of 5 with 40 ratings