Most bar food leans toward meat, cheese and fries - your basic high-fat, low-cost, satisfying stuff. The fare might be described as typical bar food with a few creative twists. The Northside Yacht Club tops its pulled pork sandwich with a tasty fried egg. Try the Migas Tacos with egg, crispy potatoes, cheese and chorizo with a bloody mary during Sunday brunch. But fret not veg-heads - you can get a veggie burger or veggie BLT. MOTR PubMOTR Pub does two things really well: rocks your face off with loud music and sweaty crowds and serves up one hell of a burger. 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks, Downtown.
With 24 beers on tap - house brews and other crafts - plus more than 60 in bottles and cans, there’s a drink for every taste. Offers a large something-for-everyone menu of burgers and pastas, plus fancier dishes like filet mignon and squash wellington. Moerlein Lager House celebrates Cincinnati’s brewing tradition in a giant restaurant and brewery with sweeping views of downtown and the riverfront. Bonus: 90-inch TVs and a running sports ticker flank the bar. As for food, the menu (designed by celebrity chef Brian Duffy) wavers between fried foods such as tater tots and wings and healthier dishes like a heaping kale salad. The real winner here is the extensive drink menu along with beer, wine and cocktails on tap, there are bottles, cans and a section devoted to both bloody marys and boilermakers. For Over-the-Rhine’s sports bar Lachey’s, it works both ways. Lachey’sWhen a celebrity opens a restaurant, customers likely fall into two camps: those who go there for the celeb brand, or those who actually enjoy the food, drink and ambiance. Multiple locations including 313 Greenup St., Covington, Ky., 85,. When a restaurant dedicates an entire menu to its macaroni and cheese varietals, you know they are serious about grub. Huge plates of pasta, a rockin’ quesadilla menu, build-your-own-burgers (including turkey or veggie options) and weekend brunch. Keystone Bar & GrillThis neighborhood joint offers a variety of tasty comfort food.
Their upscale twist on pub food features sandwiches, pizza, epicurean appetizers and a slew of craft cocktails and draft beers they have a monthly beer series called Meet the Brewer during which beer-ophiles can sample suds from local breweries such as Blank Slate and MadTree. With a 1,400-square-foot deck for soaking in vistas and cocktails, IPH’s name derives from the actual Cincinnati Incline that existed there from the late 1800s to the 1940s. Munch on classic fare like ball-park pretzels, angus burgers, wings and wraps, with outdoor seating directly across from the Reds stadium. Holy Grail Tavern & GrilleWith more than 15 high-definition TVs, a plethora of beers on tap and great pub grub, this is a prime sports spot at The Banks. Hash browns on steroids, Potato Rags are smothered in cheese, bacon, onion, tomato and ranch dressing.
The dinner menu changes a bit with the seasons, but you can always get Potato Rags at Habits. Habits CaféĪ classic neighborhood bar and grill. Meet Big Ted: six ounces of griddle-cooked, handmade beef patty with American cheese, brown mustard, lettuce, pickles, mayo, onion, ketchup and home-grown tomatoes (when in season). Home of the best bloody mary and one of the best views in town, and the burgers are damn tasty, too. Try the curried beef short rib poutine or Decatur Street Muffaletta with a rotating list of more than 50 handpicked, locally brewed drafts, bottles and cans. BrewRiver GastroPubĬhef Michael Shields, who earned his chops under Emeril Lagasse, opened BrewRiver GastroPub with craft beer and thoughtfully paired New Orleans-leaning cuisine in mind. Boswell’sThe bar has been reopened and renovated, and the new menu contains the same inexpensive items from yesteryear, except now with more vegetarian-friendly dishes. The menu includes salads, soups, sandwiches and - their specialty - burgers with deals on “burger madness” days. Serving only local beers on draft, Arthur’s is a relaxed gathering place on Hyde Park Square. Named as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine.
Enjoy a local draft in the outdoor beer garden and almost daily live music. A Cincinnati classic, it serves up a nice range of lunch and dinner options - pasta, sandwiches and burgers, plus vegan and gluten-free options - at bargain prices. Open since 1861, Arnold’s is the oldest continuously running tavern in town, complete with dark wood walls, vintage memorabilia and a big ol’ bathtub in the dining room, rumored to have been used to make gin during Prohibition.