Knockback Nat’s: The Revered Temple of Cincinnati Wings
Written By: The Gnarly Gnome
Photography By: The Gnarly Gnome
I’m a pretty big fan of wings. Ok, that’s not even close to a fair description. I flippin’ LOVE wings. It’s one of the few foods that I find myself drifting off and daydreaming about when I’m a little hungry. I’m not alone, either. Any given week on some website or social media platform, there are people asking for the best places to get some wings – or are arguing over them right after someone else asked the question.
In fact – that was how I first found myself in Knockback Nat’s.
Their story started a long time ago… It used to be a place called ‘Grumpy’s,’ which I unfortunately never got to experience. The name changed to Rockin’ Robin’s after that – a place that I most certainly did get to try out when I was in college. Knockback Nat’s opened back in 2009 when owner Natalie purchased the bar. Things took on a whole new life when, in March of 2014, they were featured on the Travel Channel. The business was booming so much that they had to buy the space next door in 2015 to make a little more room for all of us.
Sure, the beer is great (we’ll talk about that in a minute) – but the star of Knockback’s is most definitely their wings.
The Wing Approach at KnockBack Nat’s
If you haven’t been (hopefully you’re reading this sitting over a big basket of wings right now…), the wings at Knockback’s are a little bit different than “traditional” Buffalo wings. Their smoked wings get finished on the flattop, giving them a smoky taste and wonderfully perfect crispy skin on the outside. You’re given the sauce on the side to dip your crispy, delicious wings in.
These spice-rubbed wings are absolutely incredible and will absolutely blow your mind if you happen to walk into this bar off the street, not knowing what you’re walking into. (That’s a nice way of saying that this place is a little… “unassuming”)
The Vibe Of Knockback Nat’s
You can get a great local craft beer at the bar if you want. In fact… that’s what I usually do. They take care of their beer and clearly try hard to make sure that the tap list is a well-rounded, fresh example of great craft beer. But that’s not really the vibe of the place. The big bar is covered with old newspaper clippings, giving you the feeling that a neighborhood dive that has been in one spot forever might give you. Popcorn pops away behind the bar, providing one of those familiar aromas that, again… I get from excellent neighborhood dive bars.
The room is narrow. It gets loud… it screams to me that you should be ordering a light beer in a big can and sipping it right out of the vessel it comes in.
Again… that’s not what I do, though. This is the natural brilliance of the place – it doesn’t matter what vibe you bring in the door, you somehow manage to fit in perfectly – and I love them for that.
Even if someone told me tomorrow that I was allergic to Buffalo Wings (I shouldn’t even put that thought out into the universe), I’d still find myself bellied up to the bar at Knockback Nat’s for a lot of different reasons. I hope that you find your own on your visits!
If you want to visit Knockback Nat’s, you can find them at 10 W 7th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Make sure you order the wings!