meet the staff

Chuck Warinner - Owner and Wine Guy

Chuck was born as a military brat and lived in three cities in two years before settling in Cincinnati. He grew up in the Mt. Lookout/Hyde Park area and went to Kilgour Elementary, Peoples Junior High, and graduated from Walnut Hills High School. Having spent his formative years on the Kentucky River, he was certain his destiny was to design boats, and attended the University of Michigan to get a degree in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. Well, as it is said, life is what happens while you make other plans! Declining a move to the coast and staying in the 'Nati' to marry Robbie, he eventually got into the restaurant and catering business. When he joined his in-laws with the Dilly Deli in 1985 he had no idea it would become a career! He's self-taught from the School of Experience, and he learns more every day. What's his favorite wine? He hasn't tasted it yet!

Robbie Warinner - Owner

Robbie Richard Warinner's parents bought the Dilly Café (then Dilly Deli) from a business associate in 1985. Robbie joined Chuck and her Mother full time in 1991. For twenty years she managed the restaurant along with husband Chuck. She currently acts as a marketing, personnel and customer relations consultant for Dilly Café and has her own specialy food brokerage business.

Eric Vice - Executive Chef

A native Cincinnatian, Eric decided to become a chef at the age of 12 when his mother overcooked hot dogs in the microwave and he knew there had to be a better way. He began his professional career as a prep cook at Ciao Baby, a northern Italian restaurant with locations downtown and at Harper's Point. Learning how to prepare everything from calamari to wedding soup to tiramisu, Eric was quickly promoted to sous chef.

With the closing of Ciao Baby, Chef Vice was anxious to try something new and expand his culinary horizons. The executive chef from Ciao Baby was opening a seafood market in Mariemont and invited Eric to join him as manager of the Outer Banks Seafood Market. He learned how to shuck oysters, filet every kind of fish, and make delicious gourmet take and bake seafood specialties. He discovered that all his customers needed was the freshest fish and a few simple instructions and they could have gourmet meals at home for a fraction of the price.

Eric fell in love with Mariemont and its people, and set his sights on the position of sous chef at The Dilly Deli. In a little over a year, Eric was promoted to executive chef and has since taken a little neighborhood deli and transformed it into what is now Dilly Café, boasting a full menu of fresh, distinctive, and inspired cuisine. In his tenure as Executive Chef, Dilly Café has won three Wine Spectator awards. Their second consecutive two glass award is matched only by one other restaurant in Cincinnati.

James "Peanut" Kahles

Our self-dubbed  "Ambassador Of Great Brews" was born and raised right here in Mariemont, Ohio and has lived the vast majority of his life within its' boundaries or within 10 miles.  He attended Cure' of Ars primary school and is a grad of Purcell High School, now known as Purcell Marian.  He developed an appreciation of good beer early in life and by 1969 when he was medically retired from the U.S. Navy had already begun a personal quest for his "Holy Grail" of beers.  Having developed and honed his palate for many years,  he began working for Dilly part-time in 1996 and left the construction industry permanently in 2002 to work with Chuck and Robbie full time.

Under his direction, the beer program at Dilly has earned worldwide respect, and has been recognized year after year in top  beer publications as one of the best beer-drinking destinations in the country.  His passion, knowledge, and personality alone are worth the trip to Mariemont.  Once you arrive however, you'll find some real "gems" on all of our 14 draught lines, not to mention one of the best quality hand-crafted bottled beer selections in the country!

He says it's a blessing to be employed pursuing one of his life's passions.  Simply, he is here for beer.  His favorite?  "The one in front of me now, as all the rest are reminiscence or anticipation."
 

Jess Sharber - Dining Room and Hospitality Manager

Jess is straight-up "home grown talent"!  Her addition to our management staff brings with it great passion for hospitality and attention to detail.  As a server and bartender, she quickly rose to the top of the ranks for her work ethic and "can-do" attitude.  To our table, Jess brings a make-everyone-feel-welcome friendly attitude and strong leadership for our dining room staff.