The Holy Grail

[Redlegs]

Anyone ever visit the Holy Grail before or after the game at GABP? I stopped in for the first time prior to the Reds/Cards game on a Sunday. Really liked having a bite to eat and soaking a cold one while looking at the ball park and watching the flow of fans walking in. I'm very excited about the banks projects that are finally going on. Gonna be awesome.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

Anyone ever visit the Holy Grail before or after the game at GABP? I stopped in for the first time prior to the Reds/Cards game on a Sunday. Really liked having a bite to eat and soaking a cold one while looking at the ball park and watching the flow of fans walking in. I'm very excited about the banks projects that are finally going on. Gonna be awesome.

I hear it doesn't have one beer on tap and the boldest beer they offer is a Guinness.

Which if true is sad on both accounts

[Plus Plus]

I went before one of the Reds-Indians games this year- woy, no need to worry, they had about 20 beers on tap, including some microbrews from Goose Island (and others, iirc). They had several beers that *should be* bolder than Guiness, but in the summer I wouldn't expect a lot of stouts or porters to be on draft.

I had a great time going down there with my friend and would absolutely go again.

[I(heart)Freel]

I thought I heard you can actually get a table with a tap, to serve draft to your party as you go. As for "bold," not sure. Probably pretty safe, boring beer choices. But the Moerlein Brew House right next to it will take care of that. I saw a shot of construction from the blimp coverage this weekend and it's taking shape. I'm practically going to live at that place before and after games.

[johngalt]

Originally Posted by westofyou

I hear it doesn't have one beer on tap and the boldest beer they offer is a Guinness.

Which if true is sad on both accounts

Plenty of beer on tap there. The taps are just behind the bar, so someone may not have realized it.

Favorite is the blueberry grail ale.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Originally Posted by westofyou

I hear it doesn't have one beer on tap and the boldest beer they offer is a Guinness.

Which if true is sad on both accounts

It has quite a selection on tap. And some individual tables have their own taps and you can select what beers you want in them. The tap tables have a $250 minimum on drinks alone (food isn't included as part of that) but they're always full and have a waiting list every time I've been there.

[Redlegs]

We sat at a table with a two taps. No $250 minimum. In fact, no charge at all, other than costs of our food and drinks. Here's a pic of my buddy and his son at the aforementioned "tap table".

[camisadelgolf]

I went to the downtown Holy Grail a couple times and had terrible service both times. The food was lackluster, which was no surprise since I'd say the same thing about the Holy Grail in Clifton. The beer selection is nothing special, the prices aren't ridiculous but aren't exactly a bargain either. It's just a mediocre restaurant with a convenient location.

[Caveat Emperor]

There's nothing special about the Grail as a bar, but it's in a prime spot to enjoy a drink pre/post-game, the prices are pretty comparable to other bars in the downtown area (and far cheaper than other downtown bars I've been to) and there are plenty of TVs to watch games at when the Reds aren't around.

It's nice to have a place to celebrate with a drink after the Reds game, that's for certain.

[Redlegs]

I'm really looking forward to the Moerlein Lagar House going up. Gonna be sweet.

[RBA]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

We sat at a table with a two taps. No $250 minimum. In fact, no charge at all, other than costs of our food and drinks. Here's a pic of my buddy and his son at the aforementioned "tap table".

How does that work? Self serve? And how do they cut people who over induldge off?

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

We sat at a table with a two taps. No $250 minimum. In fact, no charge at all, other than costs of our food and drinks. Here's a pic of my buddy and his son at the aforementioned "tap table".

We were there before the game last night at one of the regular tables. We asked about reserving a tap table for Friday night (before the SF game) and were told about the $250 minimum.

Needless to say, since we only have four people coming on Friday, we passed.

The Holy Grail is so slammed before and after games (and sometimes during) that it isn't easy at all to find any sort of table. We put our name in yesterday around 5 p.m. and didn't get called for a table until 6:15. People who have tables aren't likely to give them up until game time.

After the game we went to the In Between and it was pretty chill in comparison. More my style these days.

[remdog]

I love a good restaurant review! Heck, I admit to being a 'foodie'. Good info to know. Maybe this could become a regular staple with its' own page.

Just a thought.

Rem

[camisadelgolf]

If you're looking for a good, laid-back kind of place before/during/after a Reds game, there are plenty of places to go downtown that are much better than the Holy Grail.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by camisadelgolf

If you're looking for a good, laid-back kind of place before/during/after a Reds game, there are plenty of places to go downtown that are much better than the Holy Grail.

What Holy Grail lacks in uniqueness and quality, it makes up for in proximity to the stadium.

Downtown Cincinnati's bar scene is pretty generic. Unless you want to walk up to Neons in OTR, the downtown scene is dominated by cluby-type places (Bartini, Mynt, Cadillac Ranch, Righteous Room, Scene and their ilk.