WhereToEat: Cincinnati and N.Ky (open chat)

I saw the other day in the Enquirer that a new hot dog joint had opened up downtown.  As I am a connoisseur of tube steaks, I needed to try it out.  The place is called Tot Dogs and is located between 6th and 7th on Vine, next to Turquoise and across from the Skyline on the other side of the street.  It is a very small space, but very neat and clean, which I like.  The owner mentioned he was also the owner of the Lucy Blue pizza joint down the street and was looking to expand his sphere of influence.  He has been open for about three weeks now and serves a variety of dogs.  I always like to taste test a plain dog first and if it passes , then add on to it on subsequent visits.  For this visit, I ordered a regular hot dog (1.50) and an all beef dog (2.00), both sans toppings.  I also noticed that the special dog was a reuben dog (swiss cheese dog with sauerkraut and 1000 Island).  He pulled the buns out which were very fresh and studded with poppy seeds and proceeded to grill both the dogs and the buns.  I am a big fan of grilling both so I was already impressed.  I brought them back to my desk and found that the regular dog was ok, nothing special.  The bun was excellent; nice and soft and a perfect accompaniment to the dog.  The all beef was noticably tastier and much more fulfilling.  It had a great flavor with a little hint of garlic.  I did not ask for the brands he uses, but noticed a lot of GFS type merchandise so it very well could be a "price club" dog, but was very good.  Would definitely go back and try the all beef dog with chili and/or onions and peppers (both +.50 extra).  I also have my eye on the Mett and Italian Sausage.  Might not be worth a special trip since they are only open at lunch right now, but definitely worth a visit, especially with spring and warmer temps right around the corner.
 
http://www.totdogscincinnati.com/

I apologize if it was mentioned earlier in this thread, but Chicago Gyros in Clifton is moving...across the street, next to King Wok. Menu changes are coming as well; the moving signs are calling the new location Chicago Gyros and Dogs, and they also mention Italian Beef sandwiches. "Coming 2012".

DLawson - Yeah, they've been talking about that since last summer. Originally they were going to move in November, then it was February.
 
Westsider - You had a choice between beef and non-beef hot dogs and you ate both? Of course the beef one was going to be better. ;)

I was hoping for a surpise, something like "I just found the best $1.50 hot dog in America."  As you read, I did not.  The search will continue, though.

I've mentioned Curry in a Hurry in the old Beechmont Mall a few times as they were under construction - it's open now, and it is "Taj India" with a subtitle "Carry in a Hurry".  I suspect something in the communication with the manufacturers of the signage went wrong, as I am all but certain they meant it to say 'Curry in a Hurry"
 
In any case, based soley on the name, I was expecting CHEAP Indian food.  Steam table food.  You know, not these 10-12 dollar dinners they have everywhere where naan is extra, but maybe 6-8 dollar rice-protein-bread (eggroll) combos like you can get at virtually any cheap chinese joint.  Nope.  AI think they have the exact same Northern Indian menu as 75% of the Indian restaurants in town, and their prices are *maybe* a buck cheaper.  If that.  I don't know if they are connected to another existing family of Northern Indian restaurant, but based solely on the menu, they almost certainly are, and I guess they are trying to take business from Royal Taj, which has not impressed me.
 
One thing was impressive - the Lunch Buffet is 5.99.  Thats the lowest I have seen locally, and we might just see a lunch buffet price war with the other two (Royal Taj, Indian Bistro) Indian restaurants offering a buffet, both of whom currently charge 6.99 more for theirs.  Royal Taj was at 7.99 or 8.99 til Indian Bistro came along a year or so back at 6.99, and they have reduced their buffet price to match Indian Bistro since.  
 
In other local eatin' news:
 
--[Opening Soon] signs are out in front of the Original Pancake House on Beechmont.  How soon?  Dunno.  Will keep you posted (I pass that corner every morning on the way to work)
 
--I verified that Kar-Ma is now Tan Thai tho the signage will not change for another month or so.  The food there remains outstanding.
 
--Amerasia in Covington has changed its name to Kung Food and raised their prices.   The menu is interesting looking with lots of over the top colors, a graphic on the front showing the chef sucker-punching what looks to be the bastard love child of Wendy (red pig tails and all) and Ronald McDonald, and lots of cute-sy names for the same old americhinese fare you can get anywhere.   Had one lunch, was not impressed, but on a coworker's insistence give it one more try.
 
--The newly opened Greco's in Longworth Hall is just a couple blocks from where I work, so I gave it a try.  I really liked the tacos I got.   The menu is very weird - tacos, 'grilled' pizzas, argentinian chimichurri, smoked salmon, sliders, and what appears (from the menu description) to be a sad and half-hearted attempt at an Italian beef sandwich.  I usually don't hold much hope for a place with such an unfocused menu, but the tacos gave me some hope.  Will be returning soon and reporting more. 
 
--Indian Bistro on Beechmont now has a frequent diner card.  Your 7th meal is free.   Good stuff, and they seem to be gaining in popularity locally.
 
--Mios in Milford (at the Cinemas, basically) appears to be closed for good.  Hey - owners of Deweys - how about taking over this spot?
 
--Not sure if I mentioned this elsewhere, but Caribe Carrryout in Price Hill (a stone's throw from Price Hill Chili) is moving to Short Vine.  The Price Hill location is already closed, but I am not sure when the Shot Vine location will open.  It may already have - any Clifton lunchers know?  I will miss the easy access to their cheap lunch combo and empanadas.

We ate at the Mio's at River's Edge, across from the Cinema, last year. It was... awful. Awful food. Awful service. We hadn't eaten Mio's since we lived in Mt. Washington, so maybe we were looking backward through rose-colored glasses, but boy was this lousy.

We hit the Mio's at Clough and Eight Mile in Anderson and have never had a problem with the food or service. Sorry to hear that wasn't the case in Milford -- in this economy especially that's totally unacceptable.

The target date for the OPH opening on Beechmont is now at month-end.

Most of the restaurants at the Levee continue to go downhill. Bar Louie, in particular, is a shell of its former self. We used to be there every Wednesday for dollar burgers and a pint, but somewhere along the way, they decided to put as little effort as possible into preparing the burgers, and apparently decided to stop cleaning the tap lines altogether. Dewey's remains the best option, Tom + Chee is fine for what it is, and I still miss Cafe Istanbul and The Bamboo Club.
 
I rather enjoy Newport Pizza Company a few blocks away, however, and I believe there has been some praise of Bayou Fish House on here as well. (I still haven't been to the latter, and it looks like they have a second location in Price Hill now.)

TJ - Yeah, looking back you were the first to endorse Just Q In, so I actually third the recommendation.
 
Got the pizza from Taste of Belgium well after lunch last week and it wasn't good at all. I guess the secret it getting it fresh (imagine that). I haven't seen the proprietor in the past six months, which is strange because in a market like this there are usually few outside employees.
 
I'm absolutely addicted to Eckerlin's cajun bacon. It's only $4.59 a pound, and I use it on everything. Seriously. they have some of the best bacon I've ever tasted.

We really like Pelican's Reef on Beechmont......nicely prepared fish at reasonable prices.  Their portions are generous; I often eat a fish sandwich w/o the bread and there is plenty to eat.  I especially like their sweet potato fries.  I have a friend whose brother is the manager of Slightly North of Broad in Charleston, SC, and he proclaimed the fish offerings as very good.

Couple of newish spots I am somewhat curious about.  Chime in if you have some info to share
 
A half block away from Findlay Market is a spot called "The Kitchen" which looks to be selling soul food.  I have not been in, drove by after picking up a banh mi at Pho Lang Thang
 
In Newport, just a half block south of Newport on the Levee, is Stone's Strong's Brick Oven Pizzeria.  Aptly named to open so close to Deweys - ala "they got them some stones".  Tiny place, just a few feet from Graeter's, between Graters and Eminent Domain on the Levee.  I dont think they are open just yet.   Pretty sure I saw "wood fired" on the window as I drove by, so it could be quite interesting. 

TJ Jackson

In Newport, just a half block south of the much-hated Newport on the Levee, is Stone's Pizzeria.  Aptly named to open so close to Deweys - ala "they got them some stones".  Tiny place, just a few feet from Graeter's, between Graters and Eminent Domain on the Levee.

 
If you are going to whine about someone talking sh*t about what Newport was, you could at least have the decency not to turn around and talk sh*t about what Newport is. I may no longer enjoy the dining options at the Levee, but I go fairly often for the entertainment options, thanks in part to a 1-year-old who loves aquatic life. I will also never forget what a boon the Levee was to downtown residents at a time when downtown took few steps to make itself a desirable place to live, because I was there. It is time to face the fact that the Newport you knew (which, frankly, does not exist without the aid of rose-colored glasses) is gone, and it is never coming back, and the entire region is now better for it.

TJ Jackson


Couple of newish spots I am somewhat curious about.  Chime in if you have some info to share

A half block away from Findlay Market is a spot called "The Kitchen" which looks to be selling soul food.  I have not been in, drove by after picking up a banh mi at Pho Lang Thang

In Newport, just a half block south of the much-hated Newport on the Levee, is Stone's Pizzeria.  Aptly named to open so close to Deweys - ala "they got them some stones".  Tiny place, just a few feet from Graeter's, between Graters and Eminent Domain on the Levee.  I dont think they are open just yet.   Pretty sure I saw "wood fired" on the window as I drove by, so it could be quite interesting. 

 
Which direction is The Kitchen? I really don't like the venture much in the Findlay area on foot, but I did go west about a block to a place (I don't even remember seeing a name) that had a sign for gyros, and I've gone there twice.
 
I got the gyro the first time and it was OK, but everyone else was getting the chicken wings. So I got those the next time and thought they were pretty good but nothing special. 

dlawson

TJ Jackson

In Newport, just a half block south of the much-hated Newport on the Levee, is Stone's Pizzeria.  Aptly named to open so close to Deweys - ala "they got them some stones".  Tiny place, just a few feet from Graeter's, between Graters and Eminent Domain on the Levee.

If you are going to whine about someone talking sh*t about what Newport was, you could at least have the decency not to turn around and talk sh*t about what Newport is. I may no longer enjoy the dining options at the Levee, but I go fairly often for the entertainment options, thanks in part to a 1-year-old who loves aquatic life. I will also never forget what a boon the Levee was to downtown residents at a time when downtown took few steps to make itself a desirable place to live, because I was there. It is time to face the fact that the Newport you knew (which, frankly, does not exist without the aid of rose-colored glasses) is gone, and it is never coming back, and the entire region is now better for it.

Not putting words in TJ's mouth, but he was referring to Newport on the Levee, not the city itself, and I think what he meant was many people think of it as a giant mall void of Roadfood-ish options.
 
I've been to NOTL a few times and don't have much of an opinion either way. 

He has explained his position before (including a PM in response to the above), and it has everything to do with how the Levee came about, not what it actually is. I really am not trying to pick a fight with him, as I value his reviews and updates. I do understand where he is coming from, but the anti-Levee schtick is tired just the same, much like the anti-Cincinnati schtick from another prolific poster who finally got a clue about threadcrapping. The irony is that none of the newer dining options in that area of Newport that excite him would (or could) even exist without the Levee.

Well it happened. .Just went past Roy Rogers and it is no longer.  The sign now reads Roney's.  What the heck.  That lady lied to me when she said there was no owner change and they did not have the holster for the fries anymore because they could not get them.  If the food has changed I will just die.  It is such a tradition for us to eat there before heading downtown for a concert.  If someone gets there before I do please let me know....:(

Couple or three Eastgate-area items
 
First up: Roy Rogers.  Err Roney's.  The name is from that super-short street that runs between Rt32 and Old State rt74, ie the street Roy's (and the long-closed Frischs) is on.   So I went in and looked around and ordered and ate....other than the name and the food wrappings/containers, everything is the same.....the roast beef, the chicken, the burgers, the bbq sauce, the fixins bar.  Prices seem the same as well.  They still have all the RR decor up and the menuboards are the same.  So I am no longer alarmed about this, except - some folks may think they have gone out of business, so make sure you tell everyone the food is the same, so they stay busy.
 
The other item - it seems there is a Tacqueria/tortilleria going in on Old St Rt 74.  This place is just barely west of the intersection of Old St Rt 74 and Mt Carmel-Tabasco, on the south side, and sorta kinda across from the State Farm office.  It is set back from the street and kinda hard to spot.  I see newer construction materials in and in back of the building in question, so it looks like work is underway and recent.  Bonk, you have anything on this place?  Maybe connected to the Mexican grocery around the corner?
 
One last thing - the gas station on the corner of Old St Rt 74 and Mt Carmel Tabasco Road has a BIG sign up right on the corner advertising BOILED PEANUTS.  Isn't that a Virginia thing?  What the heck?  Bonk, do you have the scoop on this?

The Pizza place near NotL I mentioned a few posts back opens today, according to http://cincinnati.com/blo...s-in-newport-thursday/
 
I will definitely get over there soon

TJ Jackson

First up: Roy Rogers.  Err Roney's.  The name is from that super-short street that runs between Rt32 and Old State rt74, ie the street Roy's (and the long-closed Frischs) is on.   So I went in and looked around and ordered and ate....other than the name and the food wrappings/containers, everything is the same.....the roast beef, the chicken, the burgers, the bbq sauce, the fixins bar.  Prices seem the same as well.  They still have all the RR decor up and the menuboards are the same.  So I am no longer alarmed about this, except - some folks may think they have gone out of business, so make sure you tell everyone the food is the same, so they stay busy.

 
Is that cool red neon hat sign that you can see from both directions on Rt 32 still up? I know it's got nothing to do with the food but I always enjoyed seeing it.

donw9876

Is that cool red neon hat sign that you can see from both directions on Rt 32 still up? I know it's got nothing to do with the food but I always enjoyed seeing it.

I wasn't specifically looking for it - but the neon lighting on the sign has been altered, displaying lit-up "Roney's" instead of "Roy Rogers"
 
As best I recall, the rim of the sign is outlined to look like a old west (ish) chuckwagon

Oh, yeah, it is a chuckwagon. I thought of a hat because of Arby's signs (not even in the same category of food IMO.)
 
Cool. It sounds like this restaurant got out of its franchise agreement but was allowed to stay in business making the same food. Keeping the old sign surprises me because that would be a key element of the branding of Roy Rodgers. I have to get some of that stuff next time we go by there.

On the Boiled Peanuts issue: It is a southern dish primarily, but I've noticed that the food mart on Old SR 74 at Schoolhouse Road (near where I live) also offers them.

Thanks Jim - makes me wonder if there is a large contingent of Virginians or other southerners who have moved into that area, brinign demand for this product with them 
 
So, onto lunch - I headed west from work today to avoid any of the Opening Day stuff (not opposed to opening day, just crowds and delays in general) and wandered a bit, finally ending up at Delhi Chili in, well, Delhi.  My first stop there ever.  I ordered two cheese coneys (1.70 each) and brought them back to work to eat at my desk. 
 
Two issues
 
Issue 1 - this is VERY wet chili.  The buns were a soggy mess when I got back.  If you're going for coneys there, get them for eat-in.  That said, the chili flavor was decent enough.
 
Issue 2 - Although what they put on the coneys as they built them in front of me *looked* like the typical chili parlor cheese you get pretty much anywhere in town - I dont know what it was.  First, it did not melt together like it should have during the 10 minute drive back to work.  It wasn't melted at all.  Serious.  Instead - parts of it changed to a lighter color.   The taste was off too - much stronger, like - dare I say it - a sharp american?  
 
So - anyone have the inside scoop on whats up with the cheese at Delhi Chili?

The food mart near me is run by east Indians or Pakistanis. Come to think of it, I've see boiled peanuts in similar markets outside the south....
 
Jack

TJ Jackson


Couple or three Eastgate-area items

First up: Roy Rogers.  Err Roney's.  The name is from that super-short street that runs between Rt32 and Old State rt74, ie the street Roy's (and the long-closed Frischs) is on.   So I went in and looked around and ordered and ate....other than the name and the food wrappings/containers, everything is the same.....the roast beef, the chicken, the burgers, the bbq sauce, the fixins bar.  Prices seem the same as well.  They still have all the RR decor up and the menuboards are the same.  So I am no longer alarmed about this, except - some folks may think they have gone out of business, so make sure you tell everyone the food is the same, so they stay busy.

The other item - it seems there is a Tacqueria/tortilleria going in on Old St Rt 74.  This place is just barely west of the intersection of Old St Rt 74 and Mt Carmel-Tabasco, on the south side, and sorta kinda across from the State Farm office.  It is set back from the street and kinda hard to spot.  I see newer construction materials in and in back of the building in question, so it looks like work is underway and recent.  Bonk, you have anything on this place?  Maybe connected to the Mexican grocery around the corner?

One last thing - the gas station on the corner of Old St Rt 74 and Mt Carmel Tabasco Road has a BIG sign up right on the corner advertising BOILED PEANUTS.  Isn't that a Virginia thing?  What the heck?  Bonk, do you have the scoop on this?

 
Both are news to me. I used to live in Union Twp. but I live in Anderson Twp. these days, so I don't get out to that area nearly as much as I used to. Interesting stuff, though.

Did Just Q'In again on Saturday, and I was happy to see there were several other couples that had the same idea.
 
As I said earlier, I thought the mac and cheese was good but not worth $6.50 for a pint (for some reason it's the only side that's $1 more than the rest), so we decided to try the barbequed green beans and get more of the unbelievable beans.
 
We got another pound of brisket and tried the sampler, which is two wings, two ribs and a pulled pork sandwich.
 
The brisket was even better than the first time we went. It's seriously some of the best in the city. The ribs were also amazing. The meat practically fell off the bone and they were very juicy and flavorful.
 
I liked the wings too, and I would definitely get them again, but they weren't as good as the other two meats. The bar was set too high.
 
The beans were awesome again as well.
 
The pulled pork, which my wife got, came with cole slaw on top, which I don't care for, so I didn't try it. She prefers the creamy cole slaw to the vinegar based, and this was definitely vinegary, if that's a word. She said it was still pretty good.
 
The only disappointment was the barbequed green beans, which I had been looking forward to trying. The green beans were undercooked, and they had a little bit of barbeque sauce on them and a bunch of onions, which I don't like. Not what I was hoping for at all.
 
I highly recommend going there for the meat and the baked beans. Everyone there has been very friendly, which is a nice touch.
 
It did take a while for our order to get processed because three small groups were ahead of us and we ordered a good amount of food. It probably took 15 minuts to get out order, but we were in no hurry.
 
It is a little confusing when you first walk in, because you walk straight ahead to the counter and pay for it, then walk most of the way back to the door to the counter where they hand you the food. The problem is there aren't any signs explaining this, so people walk in and don't know where to go and who has already ordered.
 
I'm thinking one of these sets of poles with the ribbon to divide lines that they use at movie theaters would help.   

I stopped by Eli's BBQ  http://elisbarbeque.com/  last Saturday, on a whim, since I was riding by, and trying to find out exactly where it was. There was parking available, so I went in.  OMG!!! I have never had a pulled pork sandwich that was so good!! Not saying much, because Cincinnati is not known for "real" BBQ, but I have to say, it is GREAT!!! Sauce is on the side, and cole slaw comes on the sandwich, but you can request it on the side (which I did). The pulled pork, alone, is wonderful. Great flavor, with some burnt ends mixed in. I tried all combinations (with sauce & without, with cole slaw & sauce, etc.) I am not a big fan of slaw, but theirs is pretty darned good. My friend ordered ribs. Although they were good, they didn't even come close to the pulled pork. She was jealous. We both got plates, with mac and cheese. I got the jalapeno grits, and she got the jalapeno corn bread. All the sides were fabulous.  I highly recommend it!!
 

I tried Tot Dogs  http://www.totdogscincinnati.com/ . I got two all beef hot dogs, one with chili and cole slaw, the other chili onions and cheese. The dogs were big enough that you could taste them over the other components. I didn't find the chili, nor the cole slaw very exciting. But considering all the options available, it is worth more visits. The one thing that may pose a problem is, if you go during peak hours, service is slow, and can back up pretty quickly.

I was the neighborhood of Eli's yesterday, which was easy to find because I could smell Q two blocks away. So I stopped by and got just the pulled pork sandwich.
 
I wouldn't classify it as the best I've ever had, but it was quite good.
 
Mine was just a hair drier than I would've liked, barely even worth mentioning. They toasted up the bun, which was a nice touch.
 
I don't do cole slaw, and it came on the side, so I brought it home for the Mrs. to try, and she loved it.
 
The barbeque sauce also came on the side. It was really interesting. It was a little smoky like a Memphis style, but not nearly as thick with some vinegar. And it was definitely a little spicy, but not overly so.
 
The sauce reminded me a little of Just Q In. I think Eli's is also a black-run operation, which is great because I love the different spice combination black grillmasters tend to use that you can't find anywhere else and also explains the similarities in the sauces.
 
I'm going to go back this weekend and try the ribs and possibly -- don't laugh -- the beef hot dogs. Hey, it's tough finding good hot dogs in Cincinnati now with places shutting down left and right.

TJ Jackson

First up: Roy Rogers.  Err Roney's. 

 
http://communitypress.cin...menu?odyssey=obnetwork

I finally made it to Taco Casa in Forest Park, at the corner of Northland and Southland in an old, somewhat-remodeled Burger King. They spent much more time on the inside, which feels quite open thanks to the walls of windows, and booths only lining the walls. (There are several tables down the center, however...I estimate the place could comfortably seat 80.) Paint colors are bright but not too garish, and the walls are sparsely populated, a welcome change from the sensory overload of most Mexican restaurants. The exterior still needs some serious attention, however. It has been repainted, but still looks quite drab, and the amount of weeds in the landscaping and parking lot makes it look like the spot is still vacant.
 
I was brought a basket of tortilla chips and two squirt bottles of salsa (a reddish-orange hotter one, and a pretty mild salsa verde) after I sat down. I was also expecting a bowl of salsa, as squirting salsa on each chip is a bit inconvenient, and squirting salsa over all of the chips is a bit of a mess, but one never arrived. I stuck with the regular tacos for my first visit, which include a meat, onions, and cilantro on a "double" corn tortilla, with a lime wedge (one for each taco) on the side. Meat options are largely the same as Taqueria Mercado, with things like suadero, tripe, and tongue among them. I went with chorizo on all three that I ordered, and I regretted not getting three different ones since the chorizo was more than a little bland. Three tacos and chips for $6 was quite filling, however. I did not see mention of any lunch specials on the menu, but at that price, I suppose you don't really need any.
 
Overall first impression...good, not great. I would go back out of convenience more than anything else, since it is the closest Mexican restaurant to my office (with Mi Ranchito and Mi Familia not much further), but I am curious to taste several of the other meats. The review that TJ linked earlier raves about the carne asada in particular.

Went back to Eli's on Friday and took the Mrs. to dine in.
 
I got the pulled pork earlier in the week so I went with the two beef hot dogs for some reason. Yeah, I know, it's a BBQ place, but the pork crispins as a topping intrigued me.
 
We wanted to try the beans and the mac & cheese, so the Mrs. got the pulled pork solo and I got the hot dogs with the sides. The hot dogs were good, and the crispins -- which I'd never even heard of before on a hot dog or on anything else -- were amazing.
 
They taste like pulled pork pieces that are deep fried for a few seconds.
 
Cathy absolutely loved the pulled pork sandwich.
 
The beans were outstanding, and had sort of that Cincinnati chili flavor that made me wonder how they would've tasted on the hot dogs.
 
But the mac & cheese was amazing. Cathy said it's one of, if not the best, she's ever had. It's super cheesy, and it tastes like Velveeta is mixed in.
 
For $16 we were stuffed and very satisfied. We're going to be regulars there.
 
Between Eli's and Just Q In, I'm very pleased to have two very good Q options on the east side, even with Woe Is Me closing.

So, curiosity got the better of me, and I went back to Taco Loco today to sample some of the other meats. I got three tacos again, one carne asada, one pork, and one suadero (beef shoulder).
 
Let me first say that I agree with the linked reviewer...the carne asada is really quite good, and is the only one of the four meats I have tried that I can wholeheartedly recommend. The pork, while a generous serving for a single taco, was bland and dry, and the suadero was awful. They must use a considerably cheaper/worse cut of meat than Taqueria Mercado does, or a different cut altogether, as the chunks were quite fatty and tasteless...and, frankly, looked more like pork than beef.
 
At least I now know what my "standby" will be in case I'm not feeling all that adventurous.

We did Roney's over the weekend and can verify that the food is as good as always. I went with my staple -- the roast beef with cheese -- and we split some nuggets, and it was excellent stuff.

Metromix review on Eli's.
 
http://cincinnati.metromix.com/restaurants/restaurant_review/first-look-elis-bbq/3051326/content
 
Very positive, and he didn't even try the pulled pork sandwich.

Any east-siders checked out this place yet?
 
http://www.themeatpitllc.com/

TJ Jackson


Any east-siders checked out this place yet?

http://www.themeatpitllc.com/

Interesting. Not much real menu information, but I'm intrigued.

Same here. It's 2012, post a menu online.
 

A couple of weeks ago, on our "small business Saturday", my wife and I went to the Riverside Antique Mall on Kellogg and ate at "Say Cheese", the restaurant attached to the former Ferguson's Antique Mall. http://mysaycheesecincinnati.com/
 
Nice clean place. Limited but interesting menu. Breakfast buffet was still up and running; encouraging sign that a staffer was taking something "over the hill" out of the steam tray and adding fresh.
 
My wife had the Goetta grilled cheese. Goetta had a nice crisp crust, and the cheese was generous. Bread had that nice crisp perfectly toasted texture and taste. I had the grilled cheese with red and green bell peppers and caramelized onions. Both sandwiches were very good. Fries were done to order; oil could have been a touch hotter, so they weren't as crisp as they could have been, but they had nice, fresh potato flavor.
 
We'll be back.

I saw that place on my way back from Eli's and was wondering what the deal was. It's unclear while whizzing by at 40 mph if it's a cheese shop or its own entity.
 
I'll have to give that a shot, although being two blocks from Eli's and not going there might be difficult.

Bonk


I saw that place on my way back from Eli's and was wondering what the deal was. It's unclear while whizzing by at 40 mph if it's a cheese shop or its own entity.

I'll have to give that a shot, although being two blocks from Eli's and not going there might be difficult.

I lobbied slightly for Eli's, but it was raining pretty heaviliy and more than one trip back and forth to the car might have been out of the question. Also, we'd just had Just Q'in the weekend before.

 
Goetta grilled cheese does sound really good. Actually the whole menu does.

So we did Say Cheese last week.
 
The hours listed online said they closed at 5, so we got there at 4. When we got there we were the only ones there, and the lady that waited on us said they were actually staying up significantly later.
 
They have a lot of old pictures of the area around the inside, which is pretty cool.
 
We split the "Today's Mac and Cheese" as an appetizer. It was very cheesy and tasted great. It was a great value for $4.50.
 
I got the Porkopolis, and Cathy got the Not the Old Standard.
 
I was very impressed with the Porkopolis. The pork was juicy and the Texas toast was a nice touch. Cathy's grilled cheese was awesome. In addition to it having four cheeses, they fry cheese on the bread.
 
My only complaint is the same thing Jmckee said - the fries weren't cooked at a high enough temperature and/or weren't double fried. I really don't understand how that can happen at a restaurant if an idiot like me can figure out how to cook fries right, but they still weren't bad.
 
Overall we were really happy and will definitely go back.
 
So we would definitely consider that a good experience, but...

...we tried The Meat Pit this weekend, and I'm sad to report our experience was much less favorable.
 
I preface this by saying that I don't think I'm nearly as selective or harsh or picky or whatever word you want to use as a lot of people on these boards. Nine times out of 10 when I eat out I'm happy with what I get. Some meals are obviously better than others, but I rarely complain about food and/or a dining experience.
 
We arrived at 12:45 and there were only a few cars there. The Meat Pit is in the former Miguel's.
 
We were optimistic when we smelled real barbecue as we walked in the front door, but the enthusiasm wouldn't last.
 
The interior's still basically the same as Miguel's -- there's a bar up front and it basically looks like a former Mexican restaurant.
 
The menu has about seven appetizers, a handful of burger options, steaks and a few other items.
 
We decided to order the smoked wings as an appetizer to split, I got the brisket sandwich and Cathy got the BBQ burger which was called something to that effect -- sauce, onion rings, you get the idea.
 
I don't like onions, and my only question was if I could get a different bun than the onion bun that was listed. Some sandwiches listed an onion bun, some didn't, so I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to get a regular bun. Big mistake.
 
First, our server came back and asked if I was OK with doing rye bread. Keep in mind, I'm really not picky other than I really, really don't like onions. I balked and asked if I could just get one of the burgers that didn't have that bun. She said they all used onion buns, even though it wasn't listed in about half of the descriptions.
 
Then I asked if I could see the menu again, and she came right back and I decided to just go with the brisket mac and cheese.
 
She came back a few minutes later and said they had run out of wings the night before. Very disappointed, we decided we'd just go without an appetizer.
 
I guess my mind wasn't working very quickly because it took about five minutes for me to realize all I had coming was a meal-sized version of mac and cheese.
 
Cathy's BBQ burger came without the onion ring or barbecue sauce, which blew my mind. Those would seem to be two essential items for that order. So they brought her out a side of sauce and two onion rings.
 
My order was penne with a slight hint of cheddar and even less of a hint of some kind of ground meat that may or may not have been a cow part at one time. And it was all topped with a glorified ketchup that was some kind of cheap store-bought barbecue sauce.
 
And guess what? It had red onions mixed in, which were not on the menu. The onions were hard to pick out because they were so small, the penne was very bland and I only ate about half before my taste buds refused any more.
 
As it turned out, the onion bun Cathy got didn't smell like or taste like onions, nor did it have onions anywhere in it (right or wrong I was expecting something like Arby's buns with onions embedded in them).
 
Her burger was actually really good and decent sized, and at $9 was $3 cheaper than my $12 order of noodles and ketchup. The fries that came with the burger were sort of the Penn Station type -- a little soggy but still pretty decent.
 
I realize the place is pretty new, but I can't see this place lasting if this is a typical experience. The server was very nice, but not knowing your menu (the wings and the unannounced onions that came on my order after I was clear I didn't like them) is a major flaw. It was pretty obvious she had little serving experience (she asked if we needed more pop when our glasses were almost full).
 
We weren't charged for our pops, possibly because of the wings fiasco, and our bill was $22. And I left hungry.
 
I realize new places sometimes need a while to work efficiently, but especially with Just Q'In and Eli's in the area now, I can't see any reason to go back. If Miguel's went under in that location -- a place I actually liked -- I can't see this place sustaining business.
 

One more post, and sorry for the filibuster, but Eli's has a stand at Findlay Market on the weekends now. They were just serving pulled pork sandwiches, but when your pulled pork is that good, that's all you need to cook.
 
And we tried a place called The Firehouse in Blue Ash recently, located in the former microbrewery or whatever it was on Lake Forest.
 
Definitely more of a franchise feel, but we really liked everything we got. We had the Buffalo chicken rolls for an appetizer (deep fried egg roll wrappers stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, topped with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce -- I give them an 'A' for sure), I got the Batallion Italian pizza (meat and banana peppers -- also very good) and Cathy got the Proscuitto and Fontina stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes, which she loved. I tried bites of both and was very impressed.
 
She got two girly drinks and the bill was in the low 60s. We'll be back.
 
[/diarrhea of the word processor]

I am not sure the stand at Findlay that serves BBQ is Eli's, although they did indeed serve BBQ there on the weekends at one time.
 
I think (not absolutely sure) that the weekend BBQ operation at Findlay is a different outfit called Velvet Smoke: http://www.findlaymarket....g/index.php?newsId=310
 
More BBQ News - I almost lost it when I drove by Just Q'in in Newtown and the place is empty and all the signage and other signs of life (including the smoker) were (are) gone.   When I got home, first thing I checked was their website in the hopes of learning what happened, and - whew- they've moved to a new location at Burger Farm, just a mile or so away 
 
UPDATE 6/2/2012: Stopped at Burger Farm last night, and Just Q'in is not yet open there.
 
UPDATE 6/3/2012: Found this entry I had previously missed on their Facebook page:

BREAKING: June 12th we re-open at Burger Farms on 32! New hours are Tues-Sat 11-9

 

I'm relieved about Just Q'in. Almost had a heart attack when I read the start of your statement. Burger is not quite as convenient to me, but I'll go!

jmckee


I'm relieved about Just Q'in. Almost had a heart attack when I read the start of your statement. Burger is not quite as convenient to me, but I'll go!

 
Wow, exactly! That's really not very nice TJ!
 
On Findlay, yeah, it's definitely Eli's. That's why we got the sandwich there -- they had a big-ass sign out there that said "Eli's", and the pulled pork and slaw were nearly identical to the restaurant versions.
 
This was on a Saturday, granted, but they were outside on the south side of the main building about halfway down.
 
By pure coincidence, I just happened to look at my "joined" date and realized today is my five-year anniversary on this board. Thanks everyone for putting up with me!

Hehe, imagine the shock if you had seen the emptied site while driving by (as I did) rather than reading about it....see, I prevented two potential vehicular accidents :-)   See, I am a nice, caring fellow that helps keep you two out of trouble :-)
 
It's odd that Findlay has two 'que joints both operating there on the weekend. Not a bad thing for a customer, but I suppose each gets less business as a result, so if I was the owner I wouldn't be happy with such an arrangement.
 
Have either of you two (or anyone, for that matter) been to Tortilleria Villanueva on Old SR 74 yet?  So far, I have had two tacos (al pastor and carne asada, 2 bucks apiece) and was not impressed with the tortillas or the filllin's

Eli's BBq started on Fountain Square Mon-Fri, and Findlay Market on the weekends.
 
When they were forced to move from Fountain Square (as all food vendors were), is when they opened the Riverside Ave. location. At that time, they gave up their Findlay Market location, as well.
 
That is when Velvet Smoke opened at Findlay.
 
Just recently, Eli's has come back to the market on the weekends. There have been rumors as to why Eli's went back (competition worries?).
 
A friend of mine went to Eli's on Riverside Ave. a couple of Saturdays ago at @ 1pm, and they were out of everything except hotdogs. That was fine with her, but they refuse to serve the hotdogs anyway except with the BBQ sauce, coleslaw and cracklins. She was picking up food for a number of people (some who had ordered the pulled pork and ribs), and asked if they could put the toppings on the side. They said no. She got a little upset, not knowing if the others would want their hotdogs prepared this way, and said to the owner, since he had no other food, could he make the exception. He went on a rant to her about how hard it is to keep up smoking all the meats, and keeping up with the demands of two locations. He finally relented, and let her get the toppings on the side, "because they were out of everything else".
 
Still makes me go "Hmmm...?"
 
Love their food, though.

A fellow member at Coney Island Sunlite Pool heartily recommends Mad Mike's Burgers and Fries in Florence (http://www.madmikesburgers.com/Home.php#). Outstanding burgers; reviewers have said it's rather like a local and really, really good Five Guys.
 
My Coney friend chatted with the owner, and they plan on opening a branch on SR 125 in Amelia, in the old VanLeunen's plaza location near Chipolte, within the next three months or so.

In the not too distant past, the partners who owned the 3 or 4 locations of Noce's Pizza had a falling out and went their seperate ways.  One result of this falling out is that the Noce's on Montgomery Road in Montgomery was renamed Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta: http://www.urbanspoon.com...Pizza-Pasta-Cincinnati
 
The Jackson clan ended up in that neck of the woods the other day at around dinnertime, so I decided to have us re-try the place to see if the quality had improved.  The last couple of times I had been there when it was Noce's, it was rather underwhelming
 
Bottom line - the whole family loves the pizza here.  Were this in our neighborhood, this would be our go-to pizza joint every single time.  I did not notice any improvement on the toppings side, but the three pillars of any pizza - the crust, the sauce, and the cheese - were all MUCH better this time around. I would put this pie in the top 3 in Cincinnati along with Dewey's and Cosmic in Hartwell
 
If you have not been to Noce's on Montgomery recently, I urge you to give it another try.
 
Strongly recommended 

I don't recall ever having a "bad" pie at the Montgomery location, but there was a noticeable drop in quality between their garlic knots and the ones at the Cheviot location (now called Five Boroughs). We have been dining at the latter more often lately, and I asked the proprietor why that was. He suggested that the Montgomery location tended to make things like knots in much larger batches because their customer volume was higher, and that they would just gradually work through that batch over the course of several days, whereas the Cheviot store always made the knots fresh daily. I was also happy to hear that customer volume was up about 20% since the switch from Noce's to Five Boroughs, but I hope the quality of the knots doesn't suffer as a result.
 
TJ, I am sorry to say that I did have a bad pie at Cosmic Pizza last week. The sauce had been rich and excellent the first few times I went, but something about it was considerably off on my most recent visit. I picked it up near closing time, so perhaps he was scraping out the bottom of the jar/pot/whatever. It's not enough to put me off the place, but it's never a priority for me, either. I find myself going to The Don's in Northside more often lately as well, due in part to their $7.77 14" cheese special on Mondays and Tuesdays. I should note, however, that they have suspended their lunch hours indefinitely while they "retool their lunch service" (per their Facebook page), and now open at 5:00 P.M. instead.

I've had a couple of opportunities to eat at the new Moerlein Lager House on the river now and I must say that it is a very worthy destination for food.  The restaurant itself is in a great location with a fantastic view of the river and the new riverfront park.  The inside is open and very attractive; best of all, it seats a lot of people, so even during "busy" times there has not been a wait.  On top of that, the service is very quick and friendly. 
 
I have tried the Mett (sourced by Avril-Bleh) and the Beer can chicken sandwich, and both were very very good.  The Mett comes with sauerkraut and sweet potato chips.  The sauerkraut is delicious and a nice complement to the mett, which is great.  Avril-Bleh meats are top quality.  The beer can chicken sandwich was also delicious - it comes on a toasted hoagy bun with grilled onions and peppers and cheddar cheese.  Everything just works really well on that sandwich.  I upgraded to the fries (+$2) and they were worth it - fresh and hot.  I also ordered the pretzel appetizer, which was really good.  It came with a spicy mustard and cheese dip that was fantastic when coupled with the hot pretzel.
 
Additionally, some of my eating companions have ordered the reuben, the turkey sandwich, and the prime rib sandwich and all have been given effusive praise. 
 
The only knock I have are the relatively steep prices ($11-$14 for a sandwich with a +$2 for fries), but considering the size and location, I think they are justified.  Plus the beer selection is tremendous. 
 
Strong recommendation for lunch, dinner, or before or after downtown events.
 
http://www.moerleinlagerhouse.com/

So I tried Great Scott Diner a little while back. I'm a big fan of the original restaurant and figured the diner would be a perfect location to grab lunch. And it was.
 
The interior is done up in a 1950s style. They have an HD TV in the corner and they have oldies playing in the background.
 
I got a double cheeseburger and fries for $5.99 and the fries were so numerous I couldn't finish them. The burger was better than Five Guys -- a place I definitely like -- and the fries were very crispy and tasty.
 
The bill was $8.50 and I walked away stuffed. Over the next few days I wanted to go back and get another burger, so I took Cathy for a late dinner.
 
I got the double cheeseburger again and she got some variation of that and we both loved our food.
 
We also got macaroni and cheese balls, and for $5 you get three that are -- I kid you not -- the size of softballs. We ate one and took the other two home, and they reheated very well.
 
Also, this time I got the curly fries instead of regular, and they were amazing. There's no reason to ever get them at Arby's after trying these.
 
Our bill was $22. Very strongly recommended for the food and value.
 
Also, Great Scott is opening a second version of its original restaurant in Oakley on Madison Ave. soon.

Django Western Taco in Northside (in the old Slims spot) is officially open as of this past Friday evening. I haven't yet found anything that indicates their regular business hours, but we will do our best to get there at some point this week.

(deleted SPAM Message quoted) AL
Best.  Post.  EVER.  That shizz is like performance art, yo!

So the Good Fellows that was in Corryville closed because that area sucks a giant bunghole and relocated to whatever they're calling the former Cherry Grove mall at Five Mile and Beechmont.
 
It's definitely more bar than restaurant, but the food there has been excellent each time I've stopped in.
 
The capicola sticks are my personal favorite. They come in an oval pizza-shaped form, and the cheese, crust and meat mesh very well.
 
The owner ran pizza places in the Pittsburgh area years ago and clearly knows what he's doing. Highly recommended for late-night chow.

from: http://cincinnati.com/blo...o-go-to-open-new-spot/
 

New Orleans To Go to Open New Spot

• 06/28/12 at 7:28pm
• Written by pcampbell

The folks behind the food truck New Orleans to Go are going to open a small deli/carryout in an office building in Blue Ash and call it New Orleans to Go on the Geaux.
 
LaToya Foster-Filson, who owns the festive Louisiana-themed truck with her husband Randy Filson, said they’ll open at the CMC office building on Reed-Hartman Highway in Blue Ash, on the day after Labor Day. They’ll be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., serving New Orleans food like red beans, gumbo, etouffe, cochon po-boys, grits and grillades.
 
They won’t have a fryer for oysters or shrimp, but the truck will make an appearance once a week or so.   She said there’s room to expand, if the concept is popular and people want to eat in.