Binski’s Bar is part of a new generation of retro dive bars that have opened in Greater Cincinnati in recent years. These are watering holes that embrace the same aesthetics as classic dive bars, but pay more attention to the quality of the cocktails, cleanliness and, often, the food. Included in that category are Uncle Leo’s, in Over-the-Rhine, and Larry’s, in Covington. If you’re a dive bar lover who hasn’t visited either of those two places, please do.
Binski’s was inspired by owner Kiel Erdelac’s Chicago roots, something that’s made abundantly clear by the Old Style beer sign hanging above the door and the availability of Chicago’s most infamous shot of shame, Malort. There’s also a jukebox, darts and an outdoor patio. Unlike dive bars of old, the crowd seems genuinely friendly.
My friends and I stopped by Binski’s before dinner at Kantine, a German restaurant located a few blocks away. A jukebox in the front was playing everything from Roy Orbison to The Waterboys and we made a game of who could name the song and artist first. I ordered an Old Style beer, as one does, which was served in an ice-cold can, reminding me why cheap beer still matters…