Pilot Inn

Reviews

• Austin S.

  star star star star star 18 June 2026

  Great specials. Bartenders are knowledgeable about drink pairings. They are attentive but not over bearing. They have touch tunes. They'll change the TVs to anything.

• Sonam P.

  star star star star star_border 16 June 2026

  The phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" applies to bars as well! I've driven past The Pilot Inn many times as I spend a lot of time in Rookwood. I never even knew this place was a bar but one day my friends and I decided to go dive bar hopping on a Sunday afternoon. I was there again just recently to expand the knowledge of this place to another friend. The Pilot Inn is much better than what if expect of dive bars, but with all the feels of a dive bar.
  
  From the patio furniture chairs and cheap drinks (but still quality) to the chips on the wall, you get a whole new experience. You will average $4-6 for most mixed drinks on any given night. They also have a few TV screens to watch sports games so you can come drink and enjoy for 1/2 the cost at other bars on game day.
  
  A great little neighborhood dive bar if you're looking to get away from your typical bar scene. The staff is also friendly for the most part (though some look cranky at times) and the crowd not as rowdy. They also take CC and aren't cash only.
  
  I've not tried their food so that's what I'll have to do next. The only thing I do wish for would be the kitchen to be open at night (vs. lunchtime only) for those late night munchies after a day of drinking, but next time I'll need to ask if we can just have food delivered and I'd be set!

• Private O.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 16 June 2026

  So, I came here because it looked a little divish but was in a trendy area of town.  I thought I might, particularly after reading the reviews, be around some professionals that are down to earth.
  
  Introducing to my left Douche 1, Douche 2, and Douche 3, a group of obnoxious, semi-loud, and pretentious realtors or real estate investors.  When I asked the bartender if she could make an old-fashioned, she said she could.  My second question was what kind of rye bourbon they had.  Douche 2 closest to me told me that I wasn't at the Capital Grille.  Hmmm, I didn't recall asking them anything.  I said that I didn't think Rye Bourbon was so special.  Really, she should know; it wasn't a hard question.
  
  It was apparent after two drinks that I wasn't making headway with the bartender nor any of the customers that were obviously regulars.  Conversation was essentially between bartender, the Douche group, and a few other regulars.  Most of it was pretentious and/or trite.  The extent of mine was asking if I needed something else once my drink was empty.  
  
  With that, I decided I wasn't ordering food and cashed out.
  
  I came here to get away from bragging and clannish crowds.  I actually have a better experience at the Capital Grille.  Sure, you can see a lot of plastic people at Capital Grille, but I usually don't hear their conversations, and I don't feel out of place.
  
  Douche 1, the fat one in the middle, said he's been there 5000 times.  I guess that means I won't be coming back.
  
  Same crap I find at many bars that would be upscale in Cincinnati.  I never saw this in DC or New York.

• Chuck D.

  star star star star star 10 June 2026

  I stopped by last Friday and this place is the best.  The beer is as tasty as a tube of toothpaste.  I'll definitely be back.

• MacKenzie D.

  star star star star_border star_border 5 June 2026

  I wish I could take elements of the pilot inn and edge inn and make them into one perfect dive bar (see my edge inn review as well). I think this review can be summed up nicely with a classic pro con list.
  
  Pros: cheap drinks (top shelf was $5), pool table, outdoor tables, snacks available for purchase, takes credit/debit
  
  Cons: bartenders seemed unhappy, got surprisingly crowded, dart boards were shot (darts wouldn't stick)
  
  Overall, decent neighborhood bar and I would come here again for the cheap/strong drinks and pool table.