Two drinks: Dickmann's Cafe

Buffalo chicken wings and a draft beer are a popular combination at Dickmann's. (Credit: Leigh Taylor | Metromix)

With my friend TJ's bar exam behind him, I stole an hour or two of my newly emancipated friend's time before our trip to see “The Dark Knight Rises” in IMAX.

Appropriately for an evening involving the Batcave, I noticed Dickmann’s was somewhat shrouded in secrecy – the sign on the side of the road was masked by shrubbery and the bar itself isn't totally visible from the road.

But the lot was all but full on this particular Saturday night.

The look: People coming here to watch sports will probably find Dickmann's satisfactory – I counted 20-plus flat screen TVs hanging on the walls. They don't limit the games to Reds/Bengals coverage (after we'd grabbed a seat towards the back, I noticed an MLB game not starring the Reds, but two of their NL Central foes: the Brewers and Pirates).

The interior itself is widespread, with a large bar on the left. Tables, both circular and rectangular in shape, are scattered throughout. Car hoods that would be right at home on any NASCAR stock racer hang from above, along with plenty of Leinenkugel's-themed banners and lamps bedecked with Budweiser branding. Smoking inside has been nixed.

Dickmann's also has plenty to do; yeah, you can play Golden Tee and Silver Strike like so many other bars, but there's also skee ball, and a volleyball court out back, complete with requisite cornhole boards leaning against the wall, ready at a moment's notice.

Their beer garden has a fire pit and a large screen TV. They've also got plans to add an outdoor bar area.

The crowd: A decent mix of dudes and girls commingled at the bar and throughout the venue. The place had the amount of people you'd hope to see this early on a Saturday night (around 7:30 or so). Even though there seemed to be a good turn out, the spot still felt like it could house plenty of extra sports fans.

The two drinks: I had a Rivertown Blueberry Lager ($5) from the tap. After his water, TJ headed to the bar to order a screwdriver ($5) which, he said, didn't skimp on the alcohol ingredient. Beers generally offered on tap include a range of brews by Leinenkugel, Guinness and Blue Moon, among others.

The grub: You can order food from a counter you'll find towards your immediate left when you walk in. I mention this because finding the spot took a bit of hunting.

We were hungry, so we started things off with an order of pub pretzels ($7) which made for a good appetizer. Expect pretzels in stick form with dipping cheese – I found them tasty, and was thankful they weren’t drowned in salt.

Next, we split a 12-inch chicken ranch pizza ($13.50) with combined fried chicken with bacon, green onions, and tomatoes for a munch-worthy pie we were quick to finish.

The verdict: I felt the food prices might have been a bit high, but the drink selection was worthy. The atmosphere definitely has plenty to offer a sports fan, or just a fan of wings: they're 45 cents on Tuesdays.