Chicago’s signature Italian beef has quietly slipped into Cincinnati’s East End, courtesy of Knuckles Deli, a compact sandwich shop opened by three restaurant veterans. The new spot is built around Chicago-style Italian beef, served the classic way: dunked in au jus, stacked high with hot peppers and Marconi giardiniera, and tucked into a Turano roll shipped in from Chicago. The owners say they opened Knuckles to give the neighborhood a true Italian beef option that has not exactly been easy to find elsewhere in the city.
Co-owner Cesar Salazar leans on an old family recipe for both the roast beef and the au jus. As reported by Cincinnati CityBeat, co-owner David Hall said, "We went to every place offering an Italian beef for several years." That taste-testing marathon, Hall told the outlet, helped the team lock in their preferred roll, giardiniera and seasoning blend to get as close as possible to an authentic Chicago bite.
Where To Find It
Knuckles sits at 3227 Riverside Dr in Historic Columbia-Tusculum, with soft-open hours listed as 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The deli’s online menu puts the Italian beef front and center, available dry, wet or fully dipped, and also features a mortadella melt and a turkey club. Several additional items are marked "coming soon." For the full menu and contact details, see Knuckles Deli.
Drinks And What's Next
The owners have already secured a liquor license and are pouring beer and wine. Cincinnati CityBeat reports that the shop plans to roll out Windy City-style drinks, including the "Chicago handshake" described as a local lager paired with a New Riff shot. The team is also considering breakfast items and Chicago-style hot dogs. As the menu grows up a bit, CityBeat notes that planned additions include a traditional vodka meatball parm and a cochon de lait po'boy.
Ordering And Neighborhood Response
Knuckles has already landed on major delivery and pickup platforms, and early reviewers and nearby businesses have been sending in orders during the soft open. Listings show Knuckles at 3227 Riverside Dr and spotlight the Italian beef as a popular choice on DoorDash, while mapping apps show positive early feedback from locals on Apple Maps. Those initial signs have the owners feeling optimistic that the deli can settle in as a steady neighborhood fixture once the soft-opening phase wraps.
The shop’s "About" page leans into a neighborhood-first philosophy, summed up as "Chicago roots, Cincinnati heart," and notes that the three owners built the deli "from the studs up" to give Historic Columbia-Tusculum what they see as a proper sandwich joint. For more background on the team and their approach, visit Knuckles Deli. If you are craving a messy, dunked Italian beef, this is one of those sandwiches that practically demands a stack of napkins and a cold beer.
