Wait time: 0 Atmosphere: lively fun atmosphere. Always great when they have a band playing or solo artist. Great views. Service: quick and Friend Food: I would call it bar food, some items slightly more upscale than bar food Price: $$ Cleanliness: 8/10 read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Another great trip to Pirates Cove. Food is always good. Service is great. This is an outdoor establishment, just be prepared for the weather on the river. Often it can be breezy. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - Shrimp Basket - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Drove from the Westside but found Pirate's Cove not open despite the Yelp listing saying it was. Website will not load & phone mailbox is full. Appears to be opening under a different name (Good time Charley's) when it opens. Not opening until May according to a couple workers that were there. read more

We love this place. Ambiance is always amazing and the beverages are always delicious. So we went for the first time this year and sat at the bar. We ordered a half pound of shrimp ($21). There were 8 large shrimp. I peeled and took a bite. I spit it out immediately. It was rubbery, overcooked and tasted nasty. The menu said, "fresh." Huge miss for a tropical restaurant and bar. The bartender comped our shrimp and beverages. We told her she did not have to comp the drinks. She insisted. We hope to give it another try. read more

This is a hidden treasure. If you want to feel like you are Florida without the drive this is a great spot. It is super laid back and casual. Food is bar food but tasty. They have live music during the week and on the weekends read more

Don't waste your time or money! Service is extremely slow (even when more than half of the restaurant is empty). Food is medicore at best and extremely overpriced. To top it off, there is 1 working stall in the woman's bathroom. I would be embarrassed if I claimed I owed this restaurant . read more

Food and service were great, but we expected a fairly laid-back dinner on Wednesday evening at this "Jimmy Buffett Bar." We have always enjoyed the on-the-water vibe. We have been there before many times and the music, whether it was live or canned, was awesome. Island music, rock cover bands, and the like. But tonight, there was a DJ, Johnny B, who played lots of rap, hip hop, and custom mixes. Really loud. We tolerated it he played some some with crude sexual and misogynistic references mixed in with some F-Bombs and S-Bombs. Not expected or appropriate. read more

We love this place! They need more staff but overall it's great- great views, good food and drinks, live music read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - Chicken tenders - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

If you like extremely loud hard rock music by the DJ and overpriced $19 hamburgers then this may be the place for you.

25 years of great food no more. Used to get Walleye/jack salmon sandwich EVERY time. They took it off the Menu!! Wife got crab cakes with more bread than crab. My nacho were served cold with little cheese. Used to love the place. NO MORE! Time to pull up anchor and find a new place.....sad. read more

I was very excited to find this place, seemed like a hidden gem. Right on the marina, Key West vibe, you feel like you are on vacation. They even have a few tables in the sand if you want to dig your toes in. The band was really good and the food has even been surprisingly good, not what you would expect served on plastic trays with plastic forks outside. Been there twice and everything was well cooked and interesting. What is bad is the service. Both times we have gone we had the misfortune of getting the same waitress, who is one of the most unwelcoming waitresses we have ever encountered. Upon our first visit, she immediately warned us the kitchen was closing in 15 minutes. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. It is beyond rude when waitresses to do this and basically screams, we do not want you here, I want to close and go home. When they follow up with, but take your time...it is too late, the damage is already done. I am officially unwelcome. And on this occasion, we got there nearly an HOUR before closing and we saw another family walk in and order long after her claimed kitchen closing, which further assured us that she was just trying to rush us. Other than that, she was confused about the order, missing most of the time, when you actually caught her and would try to ask for something she would start walking away as you were speaking, and I had to take my bill up to pay because she was gone for so long we literally thought she went home. The bartender seemed annoyed at her too. We really liked the place though and gave it a second shot, hoping for a different waitress but as luck would have it, we got the same one. Nice Friday night, repeat customers, band playing. A good waitress at a fun place should make you want to be there, make it your new home away from home, be nice, friendly. She was robotic, don't think she smiled at us once, made us feel like we were in trouble or shouldn't be there. Just awful, made us miserable and eager to just leave. In fairness, she probably remembered the not so great tip we left her the last time but it had been completely deserved. So it was just awkward. I hope the other waitresses are not like her, I cant say but I sure wish we knew how to not get her because Im not sure I can convince my husband to ever go back. Who wants to pay good money to be treated that way? read more

Fun atmosphere and have been there a few times with some good live bands. Today was just a light lunch shared two apps w/my husband and a few cold beers. Every time the staff has been friendly - sometimes not enough staff, however they make up for it by being attentive and honest if something is going to be a few mins from the kitchen. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - Mussels and peel & each shrimp - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

They desperately need more staff. They can't keep up with their customers. After waiting a good while we noticed not many tables were being waited on. We left for another restaurant. Wont waste our time here again. read more

The mixed reviews on this place are on point. We got the calamari, chicken wings, grouper fingers, and cheeseburgers. The calamari and chicken wings are super greasy. And yes, the wings are breaded pretty thick, more than the usual. The grouper fingers were light and flaky. And a bit greasy. I do recommend this dish. My kids got the cheeseburgers. They liked them, but if I were going out for cheeseburgers this would not be my pick. Service. It was a little slow. Our waitress forgot my salad and my wife's water. I was overcharged for my margarita- it was supposed to be $4 margarita night. Waitress seemed disinterested in general. My recommendation- go here for drinks before dinner or after, and enjoy the atmosphere and live music. Skip the food and don't expect great service. read more

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Three stars for the location in the Marina, decent service, live music, and who doesn't feel like they are on vacation drinking in a tiki hut? Food? meh. Stick to what the staff eats and you'll be fine. read more

I believe the problem here is "seat yourself" seating. While it is a beautiful view from Restaurant and makes you feel like you are in a southern state on the beach. I never got to try the food, in fact I never got a menu I was never acknowledged. However people who sat down after my group got acknowledged right away. But us and another couple who were there even longer than us also weren't acknowledged. I don't think we were purposely ignored I think there's a flaw in the seating situation and if they tried to improve the flow of how things go they would probably fix a lot of issues. I ended up leaving and eating at a restaurant in Newport. It was such a shame I heard great things about this place! read more

Pirates Cove used to be my favorite place to go. It's like being at the beach and it's so relaxing. Listening to the bands was an added pleasure. Food was ok but never that great but the atmosphere made it acceptable. Went there yesterday and was so disappointed. It has gone downhill so much in the past year or two. They need to shut down for a week or two and spend the time cleaning the whole place. There is bird dropping s everywhere and inches of it piled on the sides of the stairway going up to the restaurant. Didn't even want to touch the hand railing. There were thousands of large winged insects on every wood beam from the floor to the ceiling next to the tables. Several both dead and alive dropped on our table while we were eating which was disgusting. After showing these bugs that had dropped on our table to the waiter he just shrugged and said "Yeah, they're really annoying" After going there for years, I think that was our last trip. If the place where customers eat is so nasty then how clean is the area where they prepare our food? Pirates Cove.......you have a great place but you really need to spend some time and clean it up. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a great setting reminds me of places along the ocean. Now they do not have the frozen drinks you may find along the coast. But you can find a variety of beers and a full bar. The menu is large with lots of choices. I got the shaved beef sandwich let me say this was a massive sandwich with thick cut beef with fries. We shared a side of onion rings now these are very good rings with an excellent batter. We started off with fried pickles that I could not stop eating. Must try with a cold beer. Over all a good experience. read more

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Great marina view, and Great marina view.....Beer was cold. That's about it. Food was sadly mediocre. If I had 10 Coors Lights, then it would have been just delicious! Wings were actually decent..but that's only because it was paired with my Coors Light, everything else was overpriced and processed. I wish Pirates Cove had it all but lunfortunately it doesn't. read more

A nice, outdoor bar near Lunken Airport in Cincinnati. Went here for an early dinner. Had a bourbon and ginger with a sample appetizer plate. Ordered the Cuban sandwich on the recommendation of my coworker. It was different than others I've had, but still good. It came with homemade potato chips with a dry ranch coating. They were good. This is right in the river and open to all the local birds. They will bother you for food so be prepared. There was a band setting up, but we left before they played. read more

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It's been many years since I've dined at Pirates Cove. The last two times I've visited was great. Back again with my Mr. He's never been so thought we would drop by before a concert at Riverbend. The restaurant was the same set up out door near the river. Love the view of the boats parked nearby. The night and breeze was perfect! At the time they did not have a band playing. You seat yourselves and at the time we went it was extremely busy. It took awhile for our server got to us but after that, the service has gotten better. Looked like they added more items on the menu. I don't remember it being huge. Even their drink menu looked great! We got a beer on tap. Me the Ballast point sculpin IPA and my Mr got the Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. Burger sounded great at the time. So we got the cheeseburger in paradise (1/2 pound, cooked medium well and chose Swiss Cheese) with shoestring fries and added another side of Mac and cheese. We didn't wait long at all and got our meals quick. The burger was huge and cooked to our liking! Super delish! Mac and cheese was white cheddar!!! Yes! My fave! It was so good! Had a great experience and will definitely return! read more

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It was very authentic. I imagine this is what it would be like if scurvy pirates owned a restaurant. It was low quality, over priced, and we all got sick. read more

Love the food and atmosphere! Great Maui sandwiches! I love when they have live band there and in the evenings along the river it's so relaxing! It almost seems like your on vacation! Service is great! Everyone is nice! read more

A lovely summertime stop. They have typical and not so typical bar food fare. This summer they have some newer options, especially for the vegetarians. (Woot!) Portabella Melt with cheesy fries was the meal tonight and it was super tasty. It is only open during the summertime, so go early or late to avoid the crowds. If you head there at the start of the season, be prepared. The seasonal employees have just started, so the service can be so-so. Our waitress last night, however, was on it. The live music can be hit or miss, mostly jimmy buffet type musical to match the ambience. The best place to sit is on the sand covered patio right in front of the music, but the tunes are almost always cranked way too loud, so you'll have to make dinner conversation in between songs. The on the rocks margaritas are good and strong, but be careful-these tiny sugary concoctions are not cheap. My date and I had 3 drinks-2 margs and a draft beer-along with the portobella melt and coconut shrimp and our bill came to about 60 bucks! Still, the food was tasty and we only get out here about once a summer. Added bonus: the gorgeous view. Definitelt head down here to watch the sunset. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Pirate's cove is your tropical vacation in Cincinnati to get some drinks and listen to live music on the river. It's a laid-back vibe so be patient with your servers and treat them well and just enjoy the view. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - Modelo - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

First time here and will definitely not be my last . I always read reviews before I try a place and most were really good but lots of people talked about slow service but as a lover of restaurant I know how it gets when busy and you have to come to expect it . Well our server was Lizzie and she was wonderful ! We got our drinks and food extremely fast as it was a Friday night and was very busy with a good band playing . Food was awesome ! Atmosphere was awesome . Can't wait to go back as I live an hour away but plan on going a lot . read more

Sat 20 minutes waiting for a Server and had to leave. To add insult to injury the Pina Colada I wanted wasn't even available. What, is this McDonalds?! read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill has been seasonally operating for 24 years on the Ohio River at the Four Seasons Marina. They are closed now for the season, but towards the very end of the summer my family and I stopped in for our first dining experience. There is no inside dining here, but nearly every seat has a roof overhead. The open air allows for you to view the yachts coming and going in the marina. There is a large bar and plenty of tables around the outskirts of the large space. A live band was playing during our visit near a sandy area that adds even more tropical island ambiance. For lunch I decided on the Cuban Classic with roasted pork loin topped with cheddar jack, peppers, and onions served hot pressed on Cuban style bread ($14.50). I also subbed in onion rings for $2 extra. The pork loin was well cooked and thick sliced. Aside from the bread this is not an authentic Cuban sandwich, but it was actually really good. Overall the prices are slightly higher than normal, but the views are hard to beat. Plus the quality of the food was great and there are plenty of choices on the extensive menu. We will likely be back again next summer. read more

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Stay away from the food. Old oil bad fish and no carbonation for drinks. No one really cared. Going home to throw up.

Fun location to throw a few back. Hard to find but if you go past the Sand Bar and down the ramp (when water is low) there's a lot for parking. Head onto the Marina and circle around back to find Kellogg's own tropical paradise. On a barge surrounded by boats is a fun concept. I actually thought I was on vacation and not in Cincinnati. The breeze was perfect and the river views are nice. Plenty of room at the bar for a drink and lots of plastic tables/chairs for dining. Above the sandy floor you'll find a stage for live entertainment. Food is pricey, as everyone has said. An order of cheese curds tops out at $9; ouch. Though, you do get a decent portion and delicious marinara. $3.50 short Miller Lites in cute personalized cups are an okay price. They offer a few craft beers including IPA along with your basic Corona, Bud light and Miller Lite. Nice weekday break from the monotony and the carp/blue gill near the docks are huge!!! Kids would enjoy tossing bread in the water. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - $3.50 short Miller Lites with obligatory island decor. - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Hidden gem! We usually drive our boat down the Ohio River in the Summer months to go and enjoy the food and entertainment here. They have a seating area on sand, so you really get a tropical vibe. Service is always good. It can get hot in the summer! They have fans, and you are in shade, but you are outside and you can feel it on a hot day! read more

We came last Friday afternoon for a relaxing lunch. The food has never been amazing but is always ok. We started off with some of the weakest mixed drink I have ever had. Ginger and rum was basically ginger and ice. The appetizer of buffalo chicken dip was good. Now, as for the service, I probably waited 15 to 20 minutes for a refill as we are eating our food at the bar we see another person their food back because there was cheese on their sandwich. We proceeded to watch the bartender use her bare hands to remove the cheese from the sandwich, then watch her taste the man's french fries then take him back his meal for consumption I could've thrown up. This was probably our last trip. read more

What happened Pirates Cove?? We have been here several years, But, this was the worst. Food was awful. Prime rib sandwich was crusty meat and very tough. Saving the ends for sandwich which fell apart. Onions were transparent, so old. Meatballs were disgusting, did not taste like ground beef at all. Why was there rice in fajita wrap? Beer luke warm. Awful start to this 2024 season!! Not sure we will be back. read more

I'll start off by saying this, eating here made me think I was in a different city! The atmosphere is fun, and makes you feel like you are on a beach or vacation destination. The restaurant is located on the water in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have done a good job of creating a fun relaxing environment with water/boat views. Their bar area also has a tiki bar with real authentic sand, which often has live music playing. The food is typical of bar establishment. They have a bar menu and some easy food to prepare in the back. However, the food was cooked properly and we enjoyed our visit! read more

Some seats have partial water view. Other seats the boat dock. Often a live band on weekends. Food is good, very casual. Service is good

Great outdoor lunch spot at a marina. Surprisingly varied menu. Everything was delicious. Nice server. Manager was so great. Only reason it is missing that 5th star is the chairs are so damn uncomfortable. Big people just don't fit in them and regular size people find them uncomfortable. The accommodating manager fetched me a wooden chair from downstairs which I really appreciated. No way I could have sat in their chairs. read more

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Went for lunch with the bf. Service was pretty bad in the beginning. The same waiter walked by us four times without eye contact or acknowledgment. Finally the bf stopped him on his last walk by and he said he would find someone to wait on us. After that the waitress was way better. Got our food order and we got our food in a timely manner. I had the club sandwich and a side salad. Side salad was lackluster but the sandwich minus the precooked bacon which I pulled off was actually pretty good. Bf had the bbq pulled pork sandwich. He said it was just ok but liked the chips. Only redeeming quality is the atmosphere. Loved looking at the boats and water. read more

The Cobb salad was very good. Wife had the burger and fries which was very good as well. It's a cool place in a neat setting. We were in the area looking at a boat at SeaRay of Cincinnati, and decided to stop in. It was a good choice. read more

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill - Seating - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I got here at 5:30. My food is still not here and it's 10 minutes to 8:00. When the advertiser of soups and chowder's got here it was cold. We had to send it back. Service is pretty pitiful. It's nice to sit by the water. Listen to the man. Have a good meal unless it's cold when it gets there and about 2 hours late. It ought to be ashamed of themselves. People all around us got food, we have not read more

Don't go for the food! The atmosphere is wonderful. The waitress was friendly and attentive. There was a band named Basic Truth that sounded fantastic. The food was subpar at best. My wife had the grilled shrimp skewers. No grill Mark's at all. They may have been steamed for all we know. But certainly underseasoned. My daughter's pulled pork bbq sandwich tasted like it was pulled last week. Stringy, chewy, and singularly sweet. The fruit cup side item was a few days past its prime. My southwestern salad was iceberg, crappy tomatoes, tortilla strips from a bag, with ranch and salsa mixed together. The blackened chicken I added was just missing the blackening part. It's spice coated and then charred, not cooked chicken with cajun spices sprinkled on. A great place to have a few drinks, listen to some tunes by the river. A dinner destination, not so much. read more