If you've been waiting for the day Rhinegeist Brewery offers some totally tubular food in its taproom, the wait is nearly over.
The local craft brewing giant is slated to open Pizza Time, a standalone '80s-themed pizza parlor, inside the Over-the-Rhine brewery. It will be fully tailored to the taproom, replacing the brewery's Mac's Pizza Pub vending machine.
In addition to serving pizza, Rhinegeist implemented a new in-house catering program for those hosting private events in the brewery, and upgraded its air conditioning (and speaking from experience, bring a jacket because it gets chilly in there).
Here's what to know about Rhinegeist's newest food addition and services.
'Stranger Things' played a role in the Pizza Time inspiration
If you're a fan of the '80s and all things retro, you'll likely love Pizza
Time, as its 450-square-foot design and atmosphere give a nostalgic nod to the decade (and maybe a fan-favorite Netflix show).
Tracey Ireland, vice president of marketing for Rhinegeist, said the final season of "Stranger Things" had just come out when Rhinegeist's Pizza Time project began, inspiring the retro vibe.
"From a design perspective, we love nostalgia and retro, and we always infuse it with a little bit of modern, right?" Ireland said. "So, I will say 'Stranger Things' was on our mind when we were in the creative scene playing around. (We) just wanted something that kind of had a nod to the '80s," she said.
Pizza Time will serve New York-style specialty and classic pizzas, along with salads and sides. And the best part? The pizza will be cooked in the taproom.
"You will smell it. I promise you, you'll smell pizza in the taproom," said Ben Castle, Rhinegeist’s vice president of hospitality and finance.
When will Pizza Time open? Will it be ready for Bengals season?
Sadly, Pizza Time won't open in time for the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 1 matchup, but patrons won't have to wait long. Castle said they're targeting around Oct. 1 for an opening date for the standalone pizza eatery inside the brewery at 1910 Elm St.
Although that'll be after the Bengals' season opener, Castle said Rhinegeist Culinary Director Luke Anzano, who previously worked as an executive chef at Jeff Ruby’s Lempicka and the Boca Restaurant Group, will still have food options available during the first few games.
The pizza eatery marks the fifth restaurant option to share space with Rhinegeist. Previous food options included Local Cantina, OTR Chili and the fine-dining restaurant Sartre. Mac's Pizza Pub has also been a taproom food staple, but Castle says that will be gone around Sept. 1.
Pizza Time will move into the area where the pizza vending machine was.
Rhinegeist adds in-house catering program
With Castle and Anzano coming from a "pretty intense culinary background," they saw an opportunity to make their food in-house rather than sourcing it from other places, which is a big deal for Rhinegeist because they "know consumers are looking for food."
"We're really excited for unleashing this on the city and making the taproom a little more hospitable than it was the day before," Castle said.
In addition to the newest taproom food option, Rhinegeist also added an in-house catering program, led by Anzano.
For those hosting private events at Rhinegeist, the new in-house catering program offers a wide range of appetizers and pub bites, such as finger sandwiches and spreads, beer cheese and pretzel bites, and more. Breakfast and small breakfast bites are also available.
Various buffets are also available. There is a cold lunch buffet with build-your-own deli sandwiches and hot buffets with barbecue, Italian and surf-and-turf dining options. According to Ireland, the menu is actively being developed and will change and evolve based on the guests' needs.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: It's Pizza Time! Rhinegeist to open '80s-inspired pizza joint
