Geez'L Pete's Spirits and Eats

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  I have lived in the Cincinnati area since the summer of 2009, and as a guitar player I have to admit I am ashamed of myself.  I have been going to some little rinky-dink bars for open mic nights and local cover bands all this time, and one night I got invited to join some bluegrass players at Geez'l Pete's for a Wednesday night open mic.  The level of musicianship among the players there was miles above what I had been experiencing, and when I went back a few nights later for a couple of pro bluegrass bands I was blown away.  Newport/Covington is like the New Orleans or Nashville of Bluegrass, and Geez'l Pete's deserves to be on the list of must-see places.  The owner is always present and friendly to meet his patrons, as are the regulars.  I now go to Geez'l Pete's at least a couple of nights a week!

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  Posted on 01.30.13 Daniel V.

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  Boy, do I wish you couldn't smoke in KY because I would have loved this bar otherwise!  
  
  Drinks are strong, prices are reasonable, clientele is friendly and casual.  We didn't order food, but the menu looked great.  It would have been the perfect weeknight hangout bar.  Unfortunately, the air is very heavy with smoke!
  
  I loved the time I spent here... Great conversation with a great group of people and the name of the bar just lent itself to a how many times can you interject "Geez'L Petes" into conversation. Kentucky- Why can't you go nonsmoking?

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  Posted on 03.05.12 Stacey L.

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  Sorry folks but this review for a bar is based solely on food.
  
  We stumbled here on a Saturday afternoon looking for somewhere new to eat.  We were studying all day and any adult soda would not do us.
  
  We went inside and the decor screams dive bar meets a cleaned up old west saloon.  We found a seat at the bar and started chatting with the barkeep for what to eat.  Turns out he basically made the menu and is currently attending culinary school at Cincy State- score!  The Girlfriend was craving a chicken sandwich and he rattled off a list of different buffalo varieties and ended with the specialty "Geez'L Pete Sauce."  Gotta go for it.  I on the other hand got the conservative Reuben.
  
  The chicken sandwich was mighty good.  The sauce itself was a hybrid that had a persistent tang and at the end had some heat to it.  Worth checking out for sure.  My Reuben was, well a Reuben, however, it was served on a hearty marble rye and the corn beef was tender and fresh.  All in all an enjoyable lunch that set us back about 16 bucks or so.
  
  Like other reviewers have said, there is not much really going on around that part of Madison, so I am not sure when I will be back.  Also the whole smoking thing is a bummer, but in the afternoon it wasn't that bad.  But on a positive note- parking also is free on the weekends- way to go Covington.  Regardless, I do look forward to returning and trying some new menu items and maybe and even getting a drink to boot.

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  Posted on 02.18.12 Adam H.

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  It's a Kentucky dive bar through and through. Like it? You'll love it here. Hate it? You'll be disappointed.
  
  My reviews are always slanted in cases like this since I love a good dive bar. I love cheap drinks, I love the dark lighting, I love the regulars who are sitting all by themselves, I love the noise of those stupid little digital-bar games. I love it all, and it's all here.
  
  Located on the heart of Madison Avenue, Geez'L Pete's is not anything fancy (if you couldn't tell by the name). The drinks are cheap (and strong!) The food is cheap. It is a cheap place to have a drink. There is pinball in the corner and a dartboard close by. Again, nothing fancy.
  
  We were a group of 10 and we were loud. No one cared. Not even the lone bartender who actually turned out to be the owner. Not only was he a nice guy and kept chatting with us when we went up to the bar, but he made us some very strong drinks. Solid man for sure.
  
  So let's hit the major downside - yep, there is smoking. Smoke everywhere. You smell the smoke and then you smell like smoke. It's just the way it is in KY.
  
  But beyond that, a really no-frills kind of place for a cheap drink. Every now and again, such a thing is needed.

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  Posted on 02.18.12 Alex S.

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  Like Justin, I also wanted to love this place but only found it to be just OK. I would probably like it more if there was no smoking, but we are in KY and "When in Rome...". The owner Mark, was tending the bar and he was a good humored fellow that towered over a short guy like me. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/S5xt95XRhtmbLpaSjwuEug?select=h2LbDyNlsdSFsIeH_2YjIQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a> I enjoyed chatting with him and he made one heckova drink for some in our group. I like when a drink is strong and this was spot on Goldilocks, not too strong or weak, very good. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/S5xt95XRhtmbLpaSjwuEug?select=tzDhh2Shar0Cx7G1xquKlg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
  
  The way the bar area is setup gave me some bad feng shui vibes as there are these big black poles with a ledge that divide what I would expect to be a nice open area. Oh well, I am just being picky. Sorry.
  
  There are lots of entertainment options including a pinball machine, a golf arcade game, and a dartboard. That last item is put to good use as there is a dartboard league Sun-Thurs. There is also a touch screen jukebox. There are live performances by artists such as Bob Cushing. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/S5xt95XRhtmbLpaSjwuEug?select=OC92TdT4mhO_rNk5YrR6wg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a> I've seen him perform all over this city, he's good. Check GP's calendar here: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geezlpetes.com%2Fcalendar.php&s=a184aefaf82b2b3561ff386aaeddbc6e3dd51d159db7625fc3ed2c050f7d37c2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.geezlpetes.co…</a>
  
  We had 10 people in our group and had a good time just sitting at a table enjoying our beverages and good conversation. I'd like to go back and get some of the very reasonably priced food, but I don't like to eat in smoke filled areas. Bummer. Maybe they will have outside seats in the spring? Everyday there is a lunch special. Check out their menu: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geezlpetes.com%2Fmenu.html&s=2fc4b2e95b60027e45557727e46e9ba9c41df481273b01dc496a7c6ad5124541" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.geezlpetes.co…</a>
  
  *Appetizers are served until close whereas regular food is served only until 10PM.

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  Posted on 02.09.12 John B.

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  Man, I wanted to love this place, really. With a name like Geez'L Pete's Spirits and Eats, it satisfies two of five criteria I look for in a quality joint (1. Judicious use of apostrophes. 2. A rhyming title.). Things pretty much went downhill once we went inside.
  
  First, the good stuff:
  * This place is downright affordable, and almost borders on cheap. Appetizers, entrees, and drinks are all priced within reason, and then knock off a couple bucks more.
  * Our waitress/hostess/bartender/do-everything was awesome. She was kind, attentive, and engaging, which is always a positive.
  * It's still called Geez'l Pete's Spirits and Eats, right? Solid.
  
  And now, the not-so-good stuff:
  * GPSE is not a part of a Smoke-Free Northern Kentucky, which just flat out sucks. I had gotten used to breathing clean air during my drinking and eating, so this was a disappointment.
  * Our burgers weren't exactly cooked to (our) order. My buddy and I both ordered them done medium, and they came out well-done on the outside, and medium at the very absolute center of the burger. Add this to the fact that the burger itself was just a mess to eat, and the accompanying chips were just taken out of a bag of Ruffles, and you have a less-than-satisfying meal.
  * The crowd/atmosphere was a bit lacking. Location-wise, the joint sits on Madison Avenue, and doesn't have much surrounding it, so I don't know why I was expecting more. The interior of the restaurant/bar is just that- pretty basic seating, a golf arcade game, and a TV (or two, not sure).
  
  I really wanted to like this place, but I don't see myself going back unless I have a hankering to get a good laugh out of saying "Hey, let's go to Geez'l Pete's!"

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  Posted on 11.22.11 Justin R.

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