Cincinnati Burger Guys

On the Radio: Amy's Table

2008-07-30T12:51:00.003-04:00

Another Media Event for the burger trio! The Cincinnati Burger Guys will be featured on one of the segments of Amy Tobin's radio show, Amy's Table on Q102. The show starts at 9:00 am.

Oakley Pub & Grill: Revisited

2008-07-29T13:27:00.002-04:00

Review 38 @ Stop 49
Oakley Pub and Grill
3924 Isabella (Just off Oakley Square)
513.531.2500

The Oakley Pub and Grill has a varied history with the Cincinnati Burger Guys. The initial visit earned Honor Roll status. (Click for the review). After a change in ownership, we received e-mails telling us how much the burgers and their quality had changed. On day for lunch Freddie decided to check it out for himself, and then reported to the others significant differences from the past – which then prompted another post removing the Oakley Pub & Grill from the Honor Roll depending further review. Thank you NFL for the phrase.

Not too long ago, the Burger Guys returned to the scene for an official quality check. The similar menu offers 8 half pound, Black Angus burgers complete with lettuce, mayo, pickles, and onions, plus served with fries or slaw. They also still offer Burger Mania Wednesdays – that’s 5 toppings for $5.50.

Wolfy ordered medium rare, and was pleased. Freddie went with the medium – right on. Bucky ventured with medium, but later wished he would have ordered medium well. So the Oakley cook-to-order was on that day.

The Burger ($5.95), their traditional, is not for the person with a small appetite. These half pounders are fresh, hand-made patties. As a matter of fact, they are solid – strong – stay together. On the other hand, Black Angus burgers are leaner, thus not quite as juicy.

Initially, Wolfy and Freddie were jumping for joy after detecting flavor in the meat. Upon a closer examination, it was “from the grill” flavor. The Kaiser-shaped egg bun is slightly toasted, although on this day, Freddie wasn’t pleased with the bun. “It’s ok, but not as good as it looks.”

On this day, the Oakley Pub & Grill provided a burger that was closer to the original than to the one Freddie had on his quality check. To the outstanding level warranting a Burger Guy certificate? We say not. To the horrible level from some of our readers? Definitely not so. Worth a try? Yes.

Points: 6.5
Rating: A Step Up

Coach's Corner

2008-07-15T06:23:00.003-04:00

Review 38 @ Stop 46
Coach’s Corner
317 E. 6th Street (Newport)
859.261.2800

Since several readers brought it to our attention, the Burger Guys visited Coach’s Corner, located just down the street from Pompilio’s. The building with the Hudy sign makes it look like a bar, and once inside, it is a bar. The small, narrow, dark room with a wooden backbar greets visitors, who may mosey back to a small dining area decorated with beer signs.

Being a bar has advantages and disadvantages. Friendly servers and reasonable prices are common. On the other hand, especially for Ohioans, smoking is permitted. No doubt, Coach’s Corner is typical.

The hamburger/cheeseburger ($3.25) is topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, and pickles, plus served a pickle spear and chips. Add a soft drink, and get a $4.74 bill. The menu also offers 3 specialty burgers. The Coach’s Choice ($3.75) is a cheeseburger topped with ham and a special seasoning.

Bucky, Freddie, and Wolfy each ordered the hamburger. Served on a toasted, regular bun, the third-pound patties are medium sized. Interestingly, the kitchen provided burgers that the Burger Guys could different by cooking levels – typically, a difficult achievement with medium-sized patties. Yes, even Wolfy was happy with his medium rare.

The patties were moist accompanied with drippings to the plate. Although no additional seasonings were detected, the sandwich provided a balance of flavors.

This day provided one of those rare events. The first bite pleased each member of the trio – plus each keep smiling throughout the time. Good burger at a great price – but for those whom smoking bothers, call ahead for a carryout order.

PS: Thanks Dave for the recommendation!

Points: 6.5
Rating: A Step Up

Burger Guys Update

2008-06-21T22:08:00.001-04:00

Sorry we've been away for so long. No - we haven't turned into vegetarians. No - we haven't quit. To be honest, Freddie has been consumed and very limited time. Hopefully, we can get back on the trail soon. Unfortunately, gas prices will delay our trip to Thurman’s in Columbus.

Thank you for the many e-mails on a variety of topics. We added two new sites to the sidebar: Chopped Onion and Cheeseburger Addict.

The following new recommendations have been added to our list:

City Side Restaurant (Newport)
Seeger's Meats and Deli (Lebanon)
Stanley’s Pub (Columbia-Tusculum area)
The Jug (Middletown)
Terry's Turf Club (Linwood)
Warner’s Restaurant (Ft. Thomas) with Burger Mania on Wednesdays

We received numerous e-mails about the Oakley Pub and Grill encouraging us (and others) to return. The posting history will show this as one of our top-rated burgers. Following a change in ownership and complaints from several readers, one of us did a quality check and determined it was significantly different enough from the original review to remove Oakley from the Honor Roll. We hope to revisit.

Posted below are tidbits of never-posted reviews.

Rick's Tavern (Rt. 4, Fairfield): A big sports bar with many screens, but only a so-so burger. (4.5)

Habit's Café (Oakley): Classic place on Oakley Square. The Great American Burger is worth a try. The burger reminded Freddie of the burger at the Mansion Hill Tavern. (5.5)

Mac's Pizza Pub (Clifton): Even if you're not a UC grad, it could remind you a haunt in your college town. How can any college grad not love a place with wooden benches and pictures anchored to the wall. Don’t let the name of this place fool you because Mac offers a wide array of sandwiches. The medium-sized burger was ok. (5.5)

Zip's Café (Mt. Lookout): On earlier visits, we severely panned the Zip's Burger. On this visit we saw a change. Much improved, but not overwhelming. (5.0)

Coach's Corner (Newport): Our surprise find. The medium-sized burgers were a hit, but Wolfy held the score down. We'll publish this review soon. (6.5)

Win Place or Show

2007-09-25T04:42:00.000-04:00

Review 37 @ Stop 41
Win Place or Show
9933 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd (West Chester)
513.777.2920
www.wpssportsbar.com

From many moons ago, travelers along Rt. 42 north of Sharonville recall Tommy’s, a bar and grill known for it’s rustic bar, dark backroom, and good burgers. Today, as the Win Place or Show Sports Bar (WPS), the rustic bar still exists, but the backroom has been transformed into a large, bright sports bar with high ceilings, light pine walls supporting neon signs, over 45 TVs, video games, and space for entertainment.

The surprisingly large menu offers several burgers made with 100% ground chuck directly from Luigi’s Market. Although normally price at $6.95, the Burger Guys visited on a Monday, thus were able to take advantage of the Monday special: the cheeseburger platter ($5.50). For those on the prowl for burger specials, take note as Sunday’s Burger Madness serves up a burger with unlimited toppings for $3.00.

Served with shredded lettuce, mayo, tomato, and onion and on a regular, but toasted bun, the patties were definitely handmade as one was much thinner than the others. Although no one could detect any gristle nor any added seasonings, the meat was flavorless and the toppings dominant the taste.

A nice place? Absolutely. Worth the visit? Yes again. A sure bet for a good burger? Nothing memorable with this burger.

Points: 4.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: TBA

Shooters Sports Grill

2007-09-12T10:36:00.000-04:00

Review 36 @ Stop 44
Shooters Sports Grill
780 Loveland-Miamiville Rd (Miami Township)
513.774.7007

After a morning of cleaning the tile floors in the hall at their church, Bucky, Freddie, and a distinguished guest (a fellow laborer), the trio decided to see if Shooters could meet the needs of their well-earned, worked-up appetite.

Located not far from I-275’s Wards Corner exit, Shooters is a newly-built, family-oriented, locally-owned, sports bar. With at least 21 TVs, numerous windows, contemporary décor, and large menu, Shooters provides a well-lit, family-oriented atmosphere during traditional dining hours.

Besides a variety of wraps, sandwiches, and salads, the menu offers 5 burgers with onion, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. March Madness, the traditional burger, is ½ pound of Angus beef ($6.95).

Interestingly, as their conversation notes, Shooters provided the setting for Bucky and Freddie’s largest score differential to date.

Bucky: Wow, that’s one of the better ones.

Freddie: Only ok at best. You were just hungry.

Bucky: What do you mean? It was good!

Freddie: Frozen and no flavor in the meat.

Bucky: But I liked it!

Freddie: It must have been the extra onions you got from me.

Bucky: Although it was a little bit more done than I like.

Freddie: And we can’t differentiate the cooking levels.

Bucky: I liked the bun.

Freddie: You always like good buns.

Bucky: I’d come back here again for a burger!

Freddie: I frequently drive by here, so I’ll be back – but not for the burger. Good Wraps though.

Bucky: But it was good!

Freddie: Go home Bucky and get your nap.

Obviously, since the Bucky and Freddie differ on this one, readers must decide for themselves. Given the comments above and the score below, can you guess the individual scores?

Points: 6.0
Rating: Average (High)

Next Review: Win Place or Show

On the Road: Thurman's Cafe

2007-08-31T11:08:00.000-04:00

Thurman Café
183 Thurman Avenue (Columbus)
614.443.1570

Based on the thoughts from the Burger Guys crack research staff, as well as some recommendations from readers, one Cincinnati family decided to include a trip to the Thurman Café on their trip to Columbus. Below are their thoughts, so without further ado, the Cincinnati Burger Guys welcome Mr. T and his family.

Thurman’s is a small bar with only about six booths. Due to its popularity, one may have to wait for a table in the lobby that is as small as the bar. We heard waits can be long, so plan your arrival.

The bar is decorated with all kinds of old things, hanging from the ceiling and walls. It’s truly is cluttered; but provides plenty of stuff to look at while first waiting for the server, then while anxiously waiting for the burger’s arrival. The menu included several different burgers.

Then came the surprise - ginormous burgers! No one in our family thought they would be that big. The Thurman Burger had practically everything on it one could imagine, thus possibly too over the top. The fries and the fried pickles were great.

The burgers were large, moist, and not dried out. Only our young-adult male eating machine ate the whole burger. Some may want to consider splitting one burger. Would a male using a fork be labeled a “girly man”?

The Thurman Café was worth the wait. Feeling stuffed, three of us took our leftovers back to Cincinnati. Then again, we had enough room for the treat nearby - Schmidt’s cream puffs. Yes, even one for the eating machine.

We also received the following message from another reader.

We split a burger for lunch today that was very tasty. It was at a place called Thurman's Cafe in the German Village in Columbus. The reason we split it is because they are 3/4 pound burgers! We also shared a side order of onion rings and the fries that came with the burger. All the food was excellent, especially the burger. I saw some people eat the whole thing. Amazing!!

Next Review: Shooters Sports Grill

Oakley Update

2007-08-28T10:39:00.001-04:00

Thanks to those helping us clarify the situation at the Oakley Pub & Grill. Longtime readers may remember a similar situation involving another top-rated burger (Mingles). We posted this note of the original review.

Since posting this review, the Oakley Pub and Grill changed owners. We have received several concerns about the current burgers, which prompted one of the Burger Guys to visit. He noted that the burger had undergone significant enough changes that it should be removed from the Burger Honor Roll and be re-evaluated by the team. This review is not meant to endorse or criticize current ownership, but to only inform readers of the situation.

Mike Fink's

2007-08-24T19:13:00.000-04:00

Review 35 @ Stop 40
Mike Fink’s
At the foot of the Suspension Bridge (Covington)
859.261.4212
http://www.mikefink.com/

While at a luncheon during last year’s Tall Stacks, an impressive-looking burger a few tables away caught Freddie’s eye and noting a future return trip would be in order. Knowing the reputation of this restaurant, Freddie knew Bucky could relax and not worry about cleanliness. Given the view and excellent service one expects at Mike Fink’s, the burger duo wondered if they could deliver a burger to their liking.

The first surprise: The burger is reasonably priced - $6.50 with fries or chips and a pickle spear! Although that’s not a bargain, the Burger Guys have seen higher. Honestly, the price is very much inline with others – especially with fries included.

Second surprise: The menu has six different black angus burgers!

Not surprising: The view, exceptional service, and nice touches as both catsup and mayo on the side and a toasted Kaiser-shaped bun. Lettuce, tomato, and onion accompany the well-presented treat.

The result: The patties were about one-third pound, with a char-grilled flavor, but without any extra seasonings added. The burger duo could not distinguish between medium and medium well. Hand-formed patties? Unsure. Frozen? Possible. Sorry to say, it didn’t match Freddie’s previous image. On the other hand, did the fact of it being a Monday effect the result? Possibly.

Considering the view, service, and price, this burger is a bargain. Not award winning, but worth the try because it may have been a bad day. Let it be known that sometimes full-service restaurants do provide the American traditional at a reasonable price.

Points: 4.0
Rating: Average

Next Review: Guest Review: Thurman Cafe (Columbus)

Golf Club at Stonelick Hills

2007-08-08T09:05:00.000-04:00

Review 34 @ Stop 43
The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills
3155 Sherilyn Lane (Batavia)513.735.4653
http://www.stonelickhills.com/

The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills is a pleasant 6-mile drive east along Rt. 50 east of I-275. Due to our initial appearance in the Cincinnati Enquirer, we received information about their Stoneyburger. Well, finally we decided to venture to this unknown spot.

First of all, a short history. Jeff Osterfeld created Stonelick Hills because he wanted to have the best golf course serving the best cheeseburger while serving the coldest beer in the area. For those who don’t know, Mr. Osterfeld is the founder and CEO of the 175+ Penn Station East Coast Subs chain.

None of the burger trio have played the course, but Golf Digest selected Stonelick Hills as one of the Top 10 Best New Public Courses in 2005. This past summer, local golf enthusiasts may know that Stonelick Hills hosted the Duramed Futures Tour, a circuit serving as a development tour for the LPGA.

Upon arrival, the Burger Guys decided to sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Great choice! Covered by shade while being refreshed by a gentle breeze, the lakeside table enjoyed a view of the 9th (right) and 18th greens (left). Although entertained by watching the golfers, no one observed a golfer taking a high-risk chance by going for the island green (over water) in 2 on the par-5 9th.

The Stoneyburger ($6.50) is a half-pound of fresh, not too lean ground chuck that is made to order and served on an onion bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mustard, and mayo. Bucky loved the grilled Butternut bun, let alone the fresh onions to boot! Obviously hand made, the presentation was one of the best! For those ordering fries (extra), it was quite the helping.

Upon the initial meat-only taste, each Burger Guy detected a definite addition of seasoning added to the meat – thus a big smile by Freddie. Upon further investigation, a mixture of primarily onion salt and garlic salt is their key. Penn Station followers probably already know the taste.

As it turned out, the extra seasoning turned out to influence each of the burger guys. Bucky wondered if too much was added to the meat. Wolfy agreed, but also questioned if the combination of the seasoning with the onion bun provided too much of a seasoning flavor. Freddie, still proclaiming that at least something was added to the meat, felt overwhelmed by the presence of the lingering taste as the same seasoning seemed to be on the fries.

The Stoneyburger menu description of “Pub Quality” again shows owner Osterfeld’s goal. The Burger Guys applaud his commitment and the direction of his staff. To support that goal, the Cincinnati Burger Guys provide two suggestions for improving the Stoneyburger. (1) Less seasoning as it dominated the taste and (2) be sensitive to the cook to order. Medium-rare types (as Wolfy) need more red.

The day at the Golf Club at Stonelick Hills was a good one: wonderful weather, a beautiful setting, and three good friends enjoying themselves and a burger. Kudos to restaurant manager Gary and server Lori. Unfortunately, the guys forgot to test the cold beer! With all that in mind, try it.

PS: The restaurant is open April through October.

Points: 6.0
Rating: Average (High)

Next Review: Mike Fink’s

Anderson Township Pub

2007-07-09T19:39:00.000-04:00

Review 33 @ Stop 39
Anderson Township Pub
6694 Clough Pike (Anderson Township)
513.231.0601
www.andersontownshippub.com

In hopes of meeting Marty Brennaman, Bucky and Freddie ventured to the far-east side to the Anderson Township Pub. Known to the locals as the ATP since 1982, it was voted as the best sports bar and best burger by City’s Best in 2004. So hey, it must be worth the trip – plus several readers have recommended the ATP!

The ATP has a neighborhood-tavern feel. It’s dark, but nice and comfortable, yet not vast. The numerous TVs and primarily local sports memorabilia on the walls provide a sports feel, but not gaudy by any means. Seating is available at a variety of settings from booths, low tables for four, high table for two, or at the bar.

The menu, proclaiming the ATP the best burgers in town, includes four different half-pound lean burgers, a 10 oz. burger composed of two 5 oz. patties, and three versions for those desiring the lighter side. All are served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo (on the side), pub fries, and a kosher dill spear.

Bucky and Freddie order the Telegraph Burger (the original ATP burger). The half-pound patties were unquestionably fresh, hand made, and grilled to order. Yes – differentiating medium and medium well was easy! Supported by Servati buns, the char-grilled flavor anchors the taste. Although no seasonings were added, Freddie still smiled.

Tasters beware: the ATP serves thick burgers, which is great news for some, but not for everyone.

Points: 7.5
Rating: A Step Up

Next Review: Stonelick Hills Golf Club

Oakley on Notice?

2007-07-09T19:10:00.000-04:00

We received an interesting e-mail from a loyal reader and fellow burger enthusiast. On a trip to the top-rated Oakley Pub & Grill, he noted a stale bun, poor service, and a mediocre burger. We trust this source, so we ask you to let us know about your recent experiences at the Oakley Pub by commenting on this post.

FYI: The reader is involved the the Burger Witness Protection Program.

Gabby's Cafe

2007-04-11T15:13:00.000-04:00

Review 32 @ Stop 36
Gabby’s Cafe
515 Wyoming Avenue (Wyoming)
513.821.6040
www.gabbyswyoming.com

Don’t let the “Café” fool you. Gabby’s Café is not a bar or a tavern – it’s a restaurant. Occupying a corner near the tracks in downtown Wyoming since January 2004, Gabby’s provides casual dining with a contemporary and classy feel.

Following AK’s recommendation, the diverse menu offers sandwiches, pizza, salads, main entrees, and desserts. The atmosphere impressed Freddie enough that he took Mrs. Freddie to Gabby’s for lunch the very next day.

Bucky and Freddie set their eyes on the Certified Angus Beef Burger ($8.99), which includes toppings (sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon); choice of Saratoga chips (with BBQ dipping sauce), fries, or slaw; and any of the seven available cheeses. The team loves finding unique menu offerings.

Accompanied with lettuce, tomato, red onions, and mayo (on the side), this is an attractive burger. The toasted Kaiser bun was able to support the larger patty and the toppings. Although Freddie commends Gabby’s for using green leaf lettuce instead iceberg, the leaf was too large.

Not for the faint of heart, the large, thick, formed patty was definitely a half pound. It extended beyond the bun, but was cooked to order as the team could distinguish between medium and medium well. Although no seasonings are added, the char-grilled taste drives the flavor of the first bite. The burger wasn’t overly juicy, but not dry.

Even though Bucky found the sandwich to be cumbersome to handle, the “whole” sandwich impressed the fussy one later proclaimed this to be one of the better burgers he’s had in some time.

Bottom line – Gabby’s serves an outstanding burger however, those preferring a small to medium size burger should approach with caution. Congratulations Gabby’s Café for making receiving an Exceptional rating. When visiting, tell them the Cincinnati Burger Guys sent you; plus request to see their certificate.

Points: 8.5
Rating: Exceptional

Next Review: Anderson Township Pub

On-the-Road Burgers

2007-04-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

Hickies (New Boston, OH) 740-456-9953

A Reader wrote:
Since Portsmouth is my hometown, I speak from experience in saying that Hickies are absolutely the best tasting burger on the planet. If anyone is ever that way, stop and tell them you heard about their burgers and had to try one. Below is what Chuck Charles wrote on his blog about the 10 best places to get a burger in the country.

"Ahh, for the number one spot for best burger in the country is a very small burger, in a very small town, available exclusively at a very small restaurant. Hickies is located in New Boston, Ohio. (Portsmouth surrounds this town.) Near the banks of the Ohio River, this small diner has become a staple of good food for this remote area. Hickies maintains a closely guarded recipe for their burgers, which are one size; small. I suggest ordering at least 5 of these mini delights and maybe 5 to go for the drive home. Each burger patty is hand pressed and grilled up home-style. The made-to-order burgers are then placed on a steamed dinner roll. Not that this regional delicacy requires any additional flavors, but it is served with onion, pickle and mustard. The burgers are simple and aromatic in their flavor. Hickies is always packed with customers and is overwhelmed with phone orders. If you ever wind up traveling to this small and quaint river town in southern Ohio, Hickies is a definite dining stop for a great burger, actually the Best Burger in the Country."

One person responded stating, "I grew up on Hickies hamburgers and had to let you know that you are dead on about them being number one!! We have since moved away but when we are home to visit, it’s on the top of the list of required stops. Thanks for taking the time to visit and enjoy a place of great nostalgia to me."

This is a new feature for us, so please send us your ideas and reviews.

Next Review: An Exceptional Burger Award Winner

Glendale Pub

2007-03-21T12:36:00.000-04:00

Review 31 @ Stop 37
Glendale Pub
275 E. Sharon Rd. (Glendale)
513.771.7827

The Glendale Pub offers rustic setting with an English pub look. Located near the railroad tracks in Glendale, an outdoor deck is also available for those nice days. On photo day for CinWeekly, the trio witnessed five trains passing by during their extended lunch.

The menu offers an array of burgers: 6 specialty burgers, 1 plain/regular burger ($7.45), and 1 build-your-own burger. All are fresh, Angus beef treated with a dry rub, and then hand formed into a half-pound patty. All include lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo served on the side plus accompanied by Saratoga chips or fries.

Served on a toasted Kaiser bun, all three were cooked to order and the team was able to distinguish slight differences between the three levels – but Bucky’s medium well was closer to well. The char-grilling provides flavor to the sandwich as the rub only provides slight flavor.

Enjoying the overall balance of flavors and quality meat, Wolfy was much more taken by the burger than his two cohorts. Therefore, visit the Glendale Pub, but wait on a nice day so you can enjoy the outdoor deck.

Points: 5.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: On-the-Road Burger

Arthur's

2007-03-10T08:25:00.002-05:00

Review 30 @ Stop 9/38
Arthur’s
3516 Edwards Road (Hyde Park)
513.871.5543

Located just off Hyde Park Square, Arthur’s provides a pub-like atmosphere where friends meet to eat, talk, and drink a few beers. The dining area clearly shows that Arthur’s is more than a bar or tavern. It’s a comfortable place that has a hearty lunch crowd (especially on the weekends) and a fun place in the evening.

As evident by their 2006 Best Burger in Town by CitySearch, Arthur’s is a longtime local favorite. Bucky and Freddie visited Arthur’s in the past, but Freddie raised some questions after a more recent luncheon with Mrs. Freddie. So, the duo elicited Wolfy’s help to uncover the identity of the real Arthur’s burger.

The Arthur’s Burger ($6.25 and served with fries) is one of six burgers on a menu offering 13 different toppings. Interestingly and to Wolfy’s delight, management clearly states on the menu their willingness to serve a rare burger, and yes, a CYA statement regarding the health department also clearly appears. Others desiring the moo-factor in their burgers appreciate this news.

Each burger arrived on their split-top bun. Interesting bun – not too thick, not dominating, but Freddie is still contemplating the square bottom. The juicy patties were obviously handmade as each had different diameter and thickness.

While Wolfy raves about the high quality, 90% lean meat which, “melts in your mouth,” Bucky’s burger is slipping in his bun – a no-no for the cantankerous one. All agree that no seasonings are added. Meanwhile, Freddie is wondering about the difference in past Arthur’s burgers, thus raising a quality control issue.

Make no bones about it; Arthur’s is a fun place offering interesting burger. Besides, Sunday through Tuesday is Burger Madness at Arthur’s as patrons can order unlimited topping for their custom burgers ($6.00) with one catch – the extra toppings must fit within the sandwich.

Although not overtaken by Arthur’s pleasant ambiance, Bucky’s score was three points lower Wolfy’s who still raves about it. Meanwhile, Freddie is still pondering the square-bottom bun and potential consistency issues. As the trio has learned, so much depends on who is at the grill that day.

Points: 6.5
Rating: A Step Up

Next Review: Glendale Pub

Mason Grill

2007-02-20T08:10:00.000-05:00

Review 29 @ Stop 35
Mason Grill
124 E. Main Street. (Mason)
513.754.1100

Bucky suggested trying the Mason Grill to his burger cohorts because of the outstanding gyro he had for lunch one a recent trip. Knowing that Bucky is fussy and cantankerous at times, Freddie and Wolfy were certain of one thing – it must be clean!

Unfortunately with Wolfy having studious obligations, Freddie met Bucky at the Mason Grill and wondered, “Wasn’t this a convenient store in earlier times?” Not be fooled, it’s neat, nicely decorated atmosphere offering booths and tables for its breakfast, lunch, and dinner customers. There was a good lunch crowd of all ages on that weekday noon hour.

The hamburger ($3.50) is served with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and mayo. The medium-thickness patty is accompanied on a large, toasted bun that some would consider too large for the patty. The handmade patty was moist, and in the spirit of Wolfy, the duo didn’t detect gristle.

On the downside, the lack of seasoning disappointed Freddie, and Bucky described the shredded lettuce as, “Enough to bed a rabbit.”

Overall, the Mason Grill was a pleasant surprise. With its breakfast anytime approach as well as other offerings as omelets, double-decker sandwiches, salads, hot sandwiches, and some standard dinner items, the Mason Grill has something for everyone. Although the burger was OK, Freddie wants to return to try the Buck-Recommended gyro.

Points: 5.0
Rating: Average

Next Review: Arthur’s

The Works

2007-01-31T07:31:00.000-05:00

Review 28 @ Stop 34
The Works
20 Grear Millitzer Lane (Loveland)
513.697.8408

The Works is a place that makes people wonder how they found it because signage isn’t bountiful and it’s tucked away off the main drag. The Works and its parking is located behind Paxton’s Grill.

For those familiar with the Little Miami Bike Trail in Loveland, The Works is within a historic 1905 building that once served as a water filling station for steam locomotives. The building also served as a fire station and a public works facility. Noted by its brick walls, high ceilings, and large garage doors that open on nice days, The Works features a brick oven to fire its burgers, pizzas, and other menu items as chicken and pasta.

The Works Burger ($6.99) is served with shredded lettuce, tomato, 4 small pickles, onion, and mayonnaise plus a side order of fries. As an interesting touch and one the Burger Guys haven’t seen, the menu states that fruit or veggies may be substituted for fries.

The Kaiser buns were perfectly toasted, light tasting, but hardy in stature as the medium-sized handmade patty fit perfectly on the bun. Although the meat was good quality and lacked gristle, the most noteworthy positive was the char-grilled taste that was strong enough to bring a smile to both Freddie and Wolfy. Although they noticed no added seasonings, the both wondered if The Works consistently delivered the char-grilled taste. On the other hand, the guys ordered the burgers as medium and medium rare, both were closer to medium well, thus lacked any pink; although Wolfy did have some juice dripping onto his plate.

So there were Freddie and Wolfy, sitting in a historic, yet comfortable setting, with a burger driven by the char-grilled taste, but unsure about the other qualities. In the end, both smiled and would be willing to return. Those desiring a burger along the bike trail need to stop by. Just so his fans know, Bucky went fishing.

Points: 7.0
Rating: A-Step-Up

Next Review: TBA

Price Hill Chili

2007-01-22T07:28:00.000-05:00

Review 27 @ Stop 34
Price Hill Chili
4920 Glenway (Price Hill)
513.471.9507

Certain establishments as Montgomery Inn, Camp Washington Chili, Graeter’s, Izzy’s, and others are local institutions. So the burger trio ventured to the West Side to visit another local institution, Price Hill Chili. Besides, one of our adventurous readers found this place to be a pleasant surprise.

Since 1961, Price Hill Chili has been a longstanding eatery for not only the Men of Elder, but for many Westsiders. Well-known for their stacked double-decker sandwiches, this family-oriented place offers a wide menu for many hours of the day.

True to tradition, the place was busy. Upon entering one notices the narrow room with a counter and barstools and immediately thinks, “Is this it?” Keep moving brings one to discover a maze of rooms complete with a lounge at one end of the building.

Although the menu offered a surprisingly large number of selections, eyes fixed on the hamburger. The $3.40 price is for a burger with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and onions. Bumping up to the platter ($6.90) brings forth two sides from list of choices.

The quarter-to-a-third pound patty was medium thickness, moist, with a unique flavor that served as a discussion point at the table. The others agree with Freddie’s point that no seasoning is added. Wolfy then suggests that the flavor is from the grill. Not so much a char-grilled flavor, but a grill that is used with other dishes. This caused Bucky to smile as he recollects the burgers served with pads of melted butter in his native Wisconsin.

The Kaiser bun was large, toasted, and fluffy causing bun-oriented Bucky to smile once again. On the other hand, the patty’s diameter was slightly smaller than the bun (but noticeable) and the bun was a bit large for the patty’s thickness. But knowing Price Hill Chili’s reputation for double deckers, the bun could be best suited for the menu’s double-decker burger.

Those who have a mantra of "no roads lead to the Westside" should rest assured that it’s easy to get to Price Hill Chili. Given its local institution status, everyone should visit. If you find some thick burgers to be too much, try the Price Hill Chili hamburger. For those desiring a thick burger, get the double.

Both interesting and a rarity, each Burger Guy had a different score: 4, 5, 6. We’ll leave it to the readers to match the scores to the individual.

Points: 5.0
Rating: Average

Next Review: The Works

The Blue Goose

2007-01-10T09:58:00.000-05:00

Review 26 @ Stop 31
The Blue Goose
11060 Reading Road (Sharonville)
513.769.7000

Located in downtown Sharonville, Blue Goose is a great name for a sports tavern. This popular place has 16 monitors and 2 big screens to ensure good viewing from any seat in the house. Its large menu is dominated by sandwiches, but also includes some dinner items.

A variety of burgers exist on the menu. All are certified Angus beef, but turkey can be substituted for in any burger. Ah yes - The Burger Guys love unique features, thus give the Blue Goose credit.

Their featured burger, the Big Goose ($7.95), is a ½-pounder of certified Angus with sautéed mushrooms, bacon, and cheese served with a huge pile of onion straws. The Classic Burger is available as ½ pound ($6.95) or 1/3 pound ($4.95). Four specialty 1/3-pound burgers are also available. Given the wide variety, Wolfy fell to the Big Goose’s temptation, while Bucky and Freddie went with ½-pound Classics to get the chips and pickles.

After the sandwiches arrived and the team stopped being amazed at Wolfy’s pile of onion straws, attention returned to the task at hand. This visit turned out to be one of many mixed signals.

What appeared to be a pre-made, frozen, formed burger had a hint of seasoning. Freddie expected a thicker burger, but the Blue Goose’s style is medium thickness thus making it wider than the bun. Some fussy types don’t like that. Because of the medium thickness, achieving three different cook-to-order ranges is difficult.

Bucky thought the toasted Kaiser looked like it would be too dry, but all were surprised. Freddie thought the burger may be dry, but it turned out to be juicier than expected. Meanwhile, since Wolfy was still staring and wondering if a burger existed beneath the onion straws, Bucky and Freddie lent a helping hand to reduce the mountain.

The Burger Guys enjoyed their visit and each assigned the same score (a rarity). Although the burgers fell short of their preferences, this place is worth a try. After all, you should go to learn how it got the name.

Points: 6.0
Rating: High Average

Next Review: Price Hill Chili

Putter's Tavern and Grill

2006-12-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

Review 25 @ Stop 32
Putter’s Tavern and Grill
6576 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd. (Liberty Township)
513.755.0222

This is the original location of the namesake that now has two other locations. Make no mistake, sports is the key. A large room for a crowd to play pool, darts, and video games; listen to live entertainment on certain days, and watch events on the 28 monitors and two big screens. Bucky says, “They have to show the Packers on at least one TV!”

Putter’s offers a large menu with many appetizers, sandwiches, and beverages. Different burgers are on the menu and each is available on different bread: white, wheat, rye, baguette, and roll. Great job on this unique feature! The guys went for the Original Putter Burger ($6.75) with chips and pickles. Patrons can substitute fries or onion rings for an additional 99 cents.

Then the downward spiral began. Wolfy couldn’t get medium rare, and then it’s served dry. Freddie’s patty was no where near a half pound, thus somewhere between a quarter and third of a pound. The meat lacked flavor and just plain blah. Since Bucky’s head had visions of seeing Favre-to-Driver touchdown passes, he proclaims the overall sandwich to be better than the meat, which cushions the blow of the lower scores delivered by his compadres.

Go to Putter’s and enjoy the fun atmosphere, but don’t expect a quality burger. Freddie recommends the blackened grouper sandwich and Bucky really likes the fish sandwich (cod served on rye).

Points: 3.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: The Blue Goose

Pilot Inn

2006-12-11T08:53:00.000-05:00

Review 24 @ Stop 2
Pilot Inn
3921 Edwards Rd (near Rookwood)
513.531.4156

Found in the shadows of the ever-popular Rookwood shopping district, the Pilot Inn is a longstanding, neighborhood bar. Nothing fancy here. It’s a dark, narrow room with a long wooden bar area flanked by small tables with white, plastic outdoor chairs. You know … the stackable ones.

How did the Burger Guys discover this place? First of all, Freddie’s co-worker told him the Pilot Inn had the biggest burgers in town. They later discovered that a mutual friend used to frequently eat lunch and have an iced tea (believe that?) there on his daily rounds during his postal worker days.

Well then, the Pilot Inn is complete with a jukebox, video golf, neon bar lights, a few TVs in the corner, a posted list of daily specials, plus plenty of neighborhood bar flavor – therefore it can be smoky. (Visited before Election Day, November 2006)

The hamburger deluxe ($4.00) is a half pounder served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise with a side order of chips and a generous amount of sliced pickles. The hands forming the patty spread the meat over a larger area, thus its medium thickness.

Cooked to order? No.
Anything special about the bun? No.
The biggest burger in the city? No.
Seasoning? No.

Nothing special, but the Pilot Inn serves a nice basic burger in a classic, neighborhood bar.

Points: 3.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: Putter’s (Liberty Township)

Burger Bytes

2006-12-05T16:05:00.000-05:00

Don't let the name fool you. We haven't been there yet, but we are told that Mac's Pizza (Clifton) is better known for its burger than for pizza.

Thurman's Cafe
We have received some raving reports about the burgers at Thurman's Cafe in Columbus. Informants rave about the big burgers! We've also discovered others love the hot wings, plus deep fried pickles are available.

Thurman's Cafe

183 Thurman Ave

614.443.1570

Wendy's Ultimate Burger
A reader sent us this burger recipe, actually for a cheeseburger.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground sirloin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 tbsp of your favorite barbeque sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Key Tip: Pour the sauce on top of each burger immediately after placing on the grill.

Paxton's Grill

2006-11-30T07:51:00.000-05:00

Review 23 @ Stop 29
Paxton’s Grill
126 W. Loveland Ave (Loveland)
513.583.1717

Paxton’s Grill, located where the bike trail crosses Loveland Avenue, is in one of the oldest buildings in Loveland’s historic district (built in the 1860s-70s). Also offering outdoor street-side seating, which can be noisy, the inside is a clean, pub atmosphere for all ages. With music on weekends, the evening crowd could be different. Highly recommended by a reader, this seemed like the perfect place to entertain our new-to-the-area guest.

The Paxton’s menu offers four quarter-pound burgers ($4.75-5.95) and the half-pound Big Paxton ($6.95). All are served with chips, pickle spear, and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise. Fries are extra ($1.00-1.75)

The medium-sized patties were hand made, not frozen, with only a tad of gristle. To Freddie’s delight, the burgers were slightly seasoned with Montreal Steak Seasoning, (he asked), but Bucky’s was so light it may have been none existent. Two of the four were ordered as medium and no pink was found. Only the medium rare had a touch of pink.

Not being a tomato junkie, Freddie noted too much tomato served as the dominant taste of the sandwich. Then again, this could be a seasonal characteristic. Bucky and Wolfy, never fond of what appears to be a side salad on a bun, were miffed that the bun didn't hold gether as a sandwich. On the other hand, Wolfy's overall rating was slightly higher than his cohorts.

Although Paxton’s Grill provided a surprising pleasant atmosphere, even the wonderful comradery wasn’t enough to overcome the shortcoming of these burgers. Nothing bad – just nothing stood tall. Then again, maybe it simply wasn’t one of the kitchen’s better days – and that happens.

Points: 5.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: Pilot Inn

Red's Deli

2006-11-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

Review 22 @ Stop 33
Red’s Deli
2534 Cincinnati Brookville Rd (Venice)
513.738.2100

During the ride up Rt. 27 with visions of Mommy Fritz dancing in his head, Bucky asks, “How did you find this place? Is it clean?”

Bucky didn’t know how to react when Freddie told him about the lunch trip to Venice. Venice is a town, presumably unincorporated, in Ross Township. Actually, some may think of it as the town of Ross. If that’s the case, why is there a Venice Fire Department?

As the duo pulled into Red’s Deli, Bucky is still saying, “How did you find this place?” Freddie finally spills the beans about the recommendations from loyal readers.

Red’s is an interesting place. It’s a deli, drive-thru carryout, deer check-in station, with a seating area for eating sandwiches and breakfast. The deli case contains common sandwich meats and cheese, with drink coolers along 2 walls. Freddie openly wondered if Red added a grill for the burgers then decided to serve breakfast since he had a grill.

The hamburger platter ($5.65) is a half pound patty with mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo on a standard bun served with lots of fries and a medium drink. The patties were handmade as Freddie also spotted uncooked patties in the deli case ready for use and possible sale. On the other hand, Bucky noticed the grill already had 4 or 5 cooked burgers clustered in a warm spot on the grill. Guess that means no cook to order.

The burgers were well done, not dry, but not overly juicy. Supported by an arguably almost-too-small-regular bun, it was loaded with condiments. Given the patty being larger than the bun along with the generous amount of mayo, the sandwich was a tad messy, but that’s ok as the sandwich did stay together. In the spirit of an absent Wolfy, neither taster detected any gristle. Unfortunately, no seasonings either.

Overall, this burger was a pleasant surprise, but not top of the line. Kudos for the generous portion of fresh fries, although they needed to stay in the fryer a tad longer. As the car was leaving, Freddie heard Bucky mumbling, “Why did we come to this place?” Oh well – Red’s is not for everyone – especially the fussy types – but it serves a respectable burger.

Points: 4.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: Paxton’s Grill

Sleepy Hollow Inn

2006-11-10T07:39:00.000-05:00

Review 21 @ Stop #6
Sleepy Hollow Inn
378 Bridge St (Loveland)513.677.0290

Upon driving by the Sleepy Hollow Inn, one notices the lack of windows and can only imagine what is beyond those hallowed walls. First-time visitors are very surprised at what they see when entering. It’s a restaurant with a small bar area sharing its smoky environment with an open, larger dining room. The rest of the visual atmosphere of this dark room will remain a secret so you’ll have to visit to see. An explanation exists on their surprisingly large, reasonably priced menu.

The menu offers The Original ($6.95) and five specialty burgers, all served with chips and a dill pickle. Our large Originals were char-grilled, moist, flavored with some basic seasonings, and served on a toasted bun. YES - Another cook doing something with the meat besides cooking it and treating the bun with respect! Lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion accompany the thick, half-pound patty. Packaged on a larger than average bun, some may find this sandwich to be too thick. As the menu states – “It takes two hands to handle these burgers.”

The flavor, the toasted bun, and a great sandwich taste turn this visit into a big surprise. Although by a slim margin, congratulations to the Sleepy Hollow Inn for achieving the highest award level. Don’t forget to mention the Cincinnati Burger Guys when visiting.

Points: 8.5
Rating: Exceptional

Next Review: Red's Deli

Burger Bytes

2006-11-06T13:13:00.000-05:00

Links are now in the sidebar for using RSS feeds for easy-to-use direct updates to your personal pages as My Yahoo! or My AOL. For instance, a My Yahoo! subscriber clicking the Add to My Yahoo! button will add this site to their My Yahoo! page, thus new updates will appear on My Yahoo! That means no need for e-mail!

For those who didn't know, Zip's was dethroned in the 2006 CitySearch contest. Click the City Search link in the sidebar for the news.

New ownership at The Friendly Stop recommends the Mushroom-Swiss burger topped with gravy. They are also aware of smoking concerns, but must wait to see what happens with issues on tomorrow's ballot.

Freddie had lunch at Mike Fink's and noticed someone with a huge burger. Further research indicates $6.95 with lettuce, tomato, and onion on a Kaiser bun. Not sure if fries are included. Let us know if you've tried Mike Fink's burgers.

The Out-of-Town Burger list has expanded. See the September 2005 Archives.

Help the Free Store for the next month: http://www.chunky.com/clickforcans.aspx

Detroit Joe's

2006-10-26T14:20:00.000-04:00

Review 20 @ Stop #31
Detroit Joe’s
115 E. Ninth Street (Newport)
859.261.5637

Detroit Joe’s, a long-standing establishment just off Monmouth Street, is one of those quaint places the locals love. Located in a restored 1890s building, the bar area (seen upon entry) has light oak wood and the front window provides ample lighting while the dining room is just the opposite: no windows, dark paneling, but with white tablecloths.

The trio ordered the hamburger deluxe without the cheese, which is served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise and chips on the side ($7.95). No special orders taken regarding cooking level.

We’ll give Detroit Joe’s credit: this was, by far, the thickest burger we’ve encountered on the quest of burger nirvana. Then again, a very thick burger with an average-sized diameter served on a standard bun appears more of a deformity.

We’ll give Detroit Joe’s credit again as they added more seasoning than any other eatery. Then again, did that have anything to do with the lunch special that day – meatloaf! So what did the guys think?

Freddie appreciated the additional flavor, but garlic, pepper, and a touch of rosemary dominated the pungent flavor. Bucky stated if he wanted meatloaf, he would have ordered meatloaf. Wolfy said that it was too dry, hard to swallow, and contained too much gristle. Besides being in full agreement on the individual assessments, small diameter thick burgers are difficult to eat.

All in all, Detroit Joe’s was one unique experience. Unfortunately, the burger didn’t impress any of us.

Points: 2.5
Rating: Mundane
Next Review: Sleepy Hollow Inn

PS: We find it interesting to note one local food pundit’s comments about us: “The CVG Burger Guys unfortunately don't tend to rate a burger well unless the patty is loaded with seasonings, so that in some cases the burger they rate highly really isn't a burger anymore.”

Silver Spring House

2006-10-13T11:40:00.000-04:00

Review 19 @ Stop #18
Silver Spring House
8322 East Kemper (west of Harper’s Point)
513.489.7044

Known for its chicken and comfortable atmosphere, a friend highly recommended the burgers so enter the Cincinnati Burger Guys to make a judgment.

One thing for sure, numerous options for eating are available: the main dining room, the outdoor brick patio with umbrella-shaded tables, the dark lounge area, or the covered open-air area with a beer garden atmosphere.

The Silver Spring House’s menu is large, including several burgers. Given the wide range, the menu of sandwiches and entrees reminded us of our burger trip to the Back Porch.

The Burger ($5.95) is a one-third pound medium-sized patty served on a toasted Kaiser bun with shredded lettuce and sliced pickles on the side, with Saratoga chips.

Given the ambiance and reputation, the excitement quickly turned sour. Not only would they not serve Wolfy his requested medium rare, only minimal differences existed between the medium and the medium well. Freddie was very unhappy with his tasteless, dry patty surrounded by a dry bun. Bucky simply stated that there wasn’t anything exciting about this burger.

Let’s face it. The Silver Spring House is a popular gathering place with a broad menu and a wonderful atmosphere. Advice – stick to the chicken and get your quality burger elsewhere.

Points: 4.5
Rating: Average
Next Review: Detroit Joe's

Apologizes

2006-09-25T16:31:00.000-04:00

Faithful Readers:

We're sorry for the lack of recent reviews. Only one honest excuse: a life-sucking project at work. On the other hand, that project is over and we're in the process of ramping up!

Cincinanti Burger Guys

Mingles is Gone

2006-07-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Many of our readers have noted that Mingles, our top rated burger, was sold and became the Miami Township Tavern. We received e-mails saying everything besides the name was the same and the burgers were great and others saying the burgers weren’t as good. So, one of the Burger Guys took a solo trip to see for himself and he noted a change.

Since then, the Miami Township Tavern is no more and will reopen as George’s Bar and Grill on or about July 30th. So, the Burger Guys are responding in the following manner: 1) Removing Mingles from the Burger Honor Roll, 2) Keeping the Mingles review posted since they earned it, 3) Editing the Mingles review to say they are now doing business as George’s Bar and Grill and this review is not an automatic endorsement of the new establishment.

Burger Seasonings

2006-07-16T20:31:00.000-04:00

Due to Freddie continually insisting seasoning is one key defining a good burger, he has been accused on desiring meatloaf on a bun instead of a burger and preferring burgers loaded with salt and pepper. Needless to say, those critics don't get it, therefore we point our readers to this article in CinWeekly.

http://cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/COV/606280304/1076/rss01

We apology for a lack of reviews of late. Our lives have recently been a bit too crazy.

Places for the Traveler

2006-06-03T17:42:00.000-04:00

For those road warriors this summer, visit the September 2005 archives for an list of out-of-town burgers to try. If you discover one, let us know!

Pepper Pod

2006-05-29T10:52:00.000-04:00

Review 18 @ Stop 29
Pepper Pod
703 Monmouth St (Newport)
859.431.7455

During their quest for burger nirvana, Bucky and Freddie they had yet to visit one important tradition – the family-owned diner; so it was off to the Pepper Pod.

Located in Newport since 1970, this 24-hour restaurant (closed only on a few holidays), is still owned and operated by the same family. 2006 is also the 50th anniversary of the opening of the original Pepper Pod in Cincinnati.

With a centralized counter with stools, booths with jukebox selections around the perimeter, and many old photos decorating the walls, the Pepper Pod offers a large menu with reasonably-priced goodies – even several different burgers.

The Homemade Hamburger is a 6 oz. patty ($3.75); plus customers may add two sides for an additional $2. The friendly server with a good sense of humor didn’t asked the duo how it was to be cooked, meaning it comes one way.

The grilled, medium-sized patty was well done, thus it was on the dry side. Freddie (in the spirit of Wolfy who was unavailable on that day) detected hints of gristle embedded with the handmade, but seasonings-less patty.

This burger was served on a regular bun with onions, tomato, lettuce, mayo, and accompanied with sliced pickles on the side. For those desiring these deluxe trimmings, this sounds great. On the other hand, the trimmings dominated the taste of the sandwich and everyone knows that Bucky doesn’t like eating a garden on a bun.

The guys enjoyed their visit to this long-standing establishment. Although the burger wasn’t a big hit with Freddie, he wants to return for an eggs and goetta breakfast.

Score: 3.0
Rating: Average

Next Review: TBA

Toot's

2006-05-14T19:45:00.000-04:00

Review 17 @ Stop 24
Toot’s
12191 Montgomery Rd
(Deerfield Township)
513.697.9100

Toot’s has a long history compared to many other businesses in the Fields-Ertel/Mason-Montgomery mass of humanity. Recommended by a friend, Bucky, Freddie, and Wolfy arrived at Toot’s not knowing the extent of its franchise.

Opening in 1995, this location was the third in what is now 5 restaurants (the others are clustered together in Kentucky and Tennessee). Due to the long history in this location, the opening the majority of the franchises in the past 3 years, and the fact of both being hungry and already on location, the Burger Guys granted Toot’s a temporary, one-time exemption from the no-chain rule.

With its rustic décor and numerous TVs, Toot’s provides a family-oriented atmosphere. The “best in town” proclamation about the half-pound hamburger sounds like the perfect challenge for the Cincinnati Burger Guys.

One thing for sure, this is may be the only burger in town priced at $4.47 (side items are ala carte). Served on a large, standard bun toasted on the inside with shredded lettuce (nice touch!), tomato, onion, and sliced pickles, the burger is perfectly sized to fit the bun. Such consistency, as well as the smooth edges, appears formed (not hand made) and this automatically activates the “possibly frozen” alarm.

The trio ordered their typical cook-to-order range, but the server immediately balked at Wolfy’s medium rare request, but was willing to but in a good word to the cooks. Upon final delivery, the appearance between the three was only slightly distinguishable – thus concluding “well done” may be standard protocol in the Toot’s kitchen.

The patty, medium size in diameter and thickness, was not juicy. On the plus side, the presence of a definite seasoning inspired Freddie to seek more answers. Lo and behold, the owner/manager disclosed the addition of the same seasoning used on their steaks. Nice touch!

Although various plusses and minuses dawn this burger, the Burger Guys agreed the sandwich as a whole delivered good taste, thus Bucky leads the way with the high score.

Score: 6.5
Rating: A Step Up

PS: Toot’s offers a burger special every Tuesday: burger and fries for $3.95 (about a $2 saving)

Next Review: Pepper Pod

Mansion Hill Tavern

2006-05-01T20:21:00.000-04:00

Review 16 @ Stop 26
Mansion Hill Tavern
502 Washington (Newport)
859.581.0100

The Mansion Hill Tavern is a local neighborhood tavern located in Newport’s Mansion Hill district. Built before 1900, a bar and grill has been housed at this location since 1944. The warm, friendly atmosphere is also an important spot in the local blues scene with live music Wednesday and Friday through Sunday.

Upon entering, the dark tables and chairs amidst the dark walls provide a definite bar atmosphere. On the other hand, how many places have a large wooden Indian just inside the door? So say hi to Chief on your way in.

The menu offers five burgers, but Bucky, Freddie, and Wolfy settle on the Best I Had All Day burger. This $4.00 burger is served with lettuce, tomato, and onion and accompanied by potato chips and pickle slices.

The hand-made patty appears fresh while perfectly fits the bun. Medium in size and grilled, the trio saw little differences in their cook to order. No doubt, the kitchen does not add any extra flavor to the meat

The Kaiser bun is toasted and topped with a light spread of butter. The guys loved this bun while proclaiming, “It makes this sandwich!” On the other hand, the lettuce and tomato dominated the flavor.

The Mansion Hill Tavern is within walking distance from Newport on the Levee. For those desiring medium size burgers, it’s worth a try. This turned out to be the best burger each of us had that day, however, it was the only burger we had that day. Bucky, Freddie, and Wolf even had identical scores.

Lunch 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (Tuesday through Friday)
Cash only

Score: 5.0
Rating: Average

Next Review: Toot's

Back Porch Saloon

2006-04-16T06:38:00.000-04:00

Review 15 @ Stop 16
Back Porch Saloon
9626 Princeton Glendale Rd @ Mulhausser
513.874.2432

Opened in 1972 and with the same owner since 1983, the Back Porch Saloon has an interesting motto: It’s more fun to eat in a saloon than drink in a restaurant. This friendly, neighborhood atmosphere (that’s in a business district), offers indoor and outdoor seating, a friendly atmosphere, and many servers. Hey, hey – very good service!

Don’t be fooled by the motto as the Back Porch menu is quite ample and this isn’t a smoky tavern.

The Angus Burger ($6.95) is topped with shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise plus served with a side order of chips and sliced pickles. Freddie likes shredded lettuce touch as opposed to a chunk of iceberg lettuce. Of course, Bucky loves a place serving raw onions because he also gets Freddie’s.

The bun is one of the more interesting sampled on this mission – a light tasting, toasted Klosterman’s bun. The bun’s skin had two sliced slits and appeared squished and creased by a Foreman grill. This is not a negative – just unique – but a hit with both Bucky and Freddie!

The medium thickness patty makes it difficult to differentiate cook-to-order levels, plus it was a tad dry. On the plus side, the combined taste of the bun, toppings, and patty paved the way for a decent tasting sandwich.

For sure, the Back Porch is an interesting and enjoyable. It also has a relatively new sibling in Deerfield Township, The Porch of All Sorts. As for the burgers, individual preference could tell the tale. For those who find large, thick burgers to be overwhelming, this place is worth a try. The opposite side of the burger spectrum should also go, but the Angus Burger may or may not meet your needs.

Score: 6.5
Rating: A Step Up

Next Review: Mansion Hill Tavern

Readers Speak About Mingles

2006-04-03T20:24:00.000-04:00

Recently, Zip's was voted Best Burger in Cincinnati both City Beat and the AOLCity Guide poll. (We linked the AOL poll in the sidebar.) We congratulate them! Below are comments we've received about our top-rated burger.

A 9.5 to Mingles? Is it that good or are you Burger Guys becoming easy graders? I might have to make a run out there if it is that good.

We went to Mingles on your recommendation and couldn't agree more. The burgers are fantastic!

My family and I ate at Mingles last week and really liked the burger. We mentioned your review, and the owner came by to talk about how much business you had brought him. He wanted to know our opinions of the burgers. They said to let you know they appreciate the review.

Finally made it over to Mingles to try out the fare and now I realize this is a very subjective rating and burgers vary by who is manning the grill but, we found them to be slightly above average. Neither was cooked as ordered, although they smelled delicious and looked very good. Taste was a strong 7 I would say.

I must agree about Mingles, it is the best burger I have ever had in the area. Mingles also has excellent appetizers and other food, I had never been there before, but will go now for their burgers. Thanks guys.

I had never tried Mingles before and even though I live in Sycamore Township, I still drove all the way out to Mt. Repose, and I definitely agreed with your review there. I have since returned with different friends and family members 5 times, and they all love the burgers. Overall, their food is very good.

Good choice for Mingles..tried it once, and raved..tried it twice and confirmed

I am a dedicated burger guy, and follow your leads...the Mingles is the best Try the Blue Goose in Sharonville and give it a chance to compete as I think it deserves a look!!

915 Pub and Grill

2006-03-26T08:26:00.000-05:00

Review 14 @ Stop 25
915 Pub & Grill
915 N. Ft. Thomas Rd (Ft. Thomas)
859.441.1333

Given the success of the outstanding burgers at 915’s siblings, the Burger Guys couldn’t wait to drive up to the highlands. Would this be an opportunity for a letdown?

Nestled atop Ft. Thomas’s north end, the 915 Pub and Grill is a pleasant neighborhood tavern. Unlike the older look of its siblings, the dark mauve color scheme and the vibrant, multicolored, hand painted images on the center wall provide a contemporary feel. The larger, front window allows enough light to notice the bright colors.

The menu seems the same as Zola’s and offers 8 burgers. Included with fries or Asian slaw, the $4.95 Traditional Burger is a half-pound Black Angus meat served on a grilled Kaiser bun with tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, and onion either grilled or raw. Nice touch!

Fresh meat? Yes.
Hand made? Yes.
Made to order? Yes.
Toasted bun? Yes.
Juicy? Yes!

Do you dream of burger nirvana while eating a large burger and observing the juices falling to the plate below? If so, the 915 may be the place. While Bucky swears by this place, Freddie and Wolfy are cautious. True to form, Freddie wants more seasoning integrated into the meat. Wolfy says that although this burger was very good, he knows of instances at the 915 when the burger is considerably smaller. Being an operations-oriented professional, he wonders about quality control issues at the 915.

Negatives aside, the positives are enough to earn an Exceptional Burger Award. When you visit, tell them the Cincinnati Burger Guys sent you. On the other hand, keep us posted on their quality control issue.

Score: 8.5
Rating: Exceptional

PS: 915 burger special every Wednesday: Burger with any 5 toppings for $5.

Next Posting: Notes from our readers

Zola's

2006-03-13T21:52:00.000-05:00

Review 14 @ Stop 22
Zola’s Pub & Grill
626 Main Street (Covington)
859.261.7510

Located in Covington MainStrasse, Zola’s is a neighborhood tavern with a spirit similar to Quatman’s Café and many other neighborhood establishments featuring food and drink. Bucky looked around and said, “This is good.” With an old wooden backbar, a small seating area (but there is an upstairs), and an open view of Main Street, Zola’s provides a great casual atmosphere for people of all ages to meet.

Found within the surprisingly large menu are 8 different burger – wow! No wonder locals love Wednesday’s burger special of any 5 toppings for $5.

Although Freddie craved the Zola Burger, the traditional burger ($4.95), a half pound of Black Angus beef with tomato, lettuce, onion, and mayonnaise plus fries or slaw, was the choice. The large Kaiser bun, lightly toasted on both sides, served to anchor the meat.

All three patties were slightly different sizes – ah ha! – a sign of freshly made. On the other hand, cantankerous Bucky noted he got the smallest patty that allowed too much space between the burger and the bun’s edge.

Bucky, Freddie, and Wolfy ordered their typical medium-well, medium, and medium-rare. After several bites, the inside color created a perfect color continuum and Wolfy said, “This is good.” Every bite brought forth the freshness of the Black Angus and the simple salt and pepper seasoning. Freddie states, And this is good – but the meat can use more seasoning.

The Burger Guys also give a big shout out to the common ownership of the pub and grill triumphant: Oakley, Zola’s, and 915. Although Freddie and Wolfy have yet to visit the Ft. Thomas location, Bucky without hesitation guarantees, “It will be good.”

The old bar environment, the nice server, the MainStrasse setting proved to be a great experience. Although the burger was not flawless and did create considerable debate among the team, it is good. Freddie’s score boosts this burger into the Exceptional Award category.

Congratulations Zola’s! Hope you frame the certificate and show it to those who came and say, “The Cincinnati Burger Guys sent us.”

PS: See the Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band on Tuesdays, 9 pm till midnight. Tell them to play a song for the Cincinnati Burger Guys.

Score: 8.5
Rating: Exceptional

Next Review: 915 Pub & Grill

Brew House

2006-02-26T19:13:00.000-05:00

Review 13 @ Stop 23
Brew House
1047 E. McMillian Street (Walnut Hills)
513.961.9058

After receiving a raving review from a Brew House regular, the Cincinnati Burger Guys felt compelled for a drive to Walnut Hills for a visit to this established, family-run place. Twice voted as City Beat’s best neighborhood dive, this gathering place with booths and chrome tables in serve room for serving their regulars. Within the partisan UC memorabilia is a large sign welcoming XU fans. What a classy gesture from the long-time owners!

The Brew House has character. Where else can you get free-juke box Wednesday and Saturday afternoon live music? In fact, the Brew House is current meeting place for the Cincinnati Blues Society. The atmosphere reminded Wolfy of the mom-and-pop places in Milwaukee during his youth – but without the Wisconsin brats and Leinenkugel longnecks.

The hamburger ($4.50) is accompanied by sliced pickles and chips on the side. A very lightly toasted standard bun hold the freshly made patty adorned with much shredded lettuce, onion, tomato, and mayonnaise. The guys agreed the toppings more closely resembled a garden rather than subtle trimmings.

Hands forming fresh meat into estimated ¼ to 1/3 pound patties is obvious. The char-grilled final result delivered only minor differences between medium-rare, medium, and medium well. Wolfy proclaimed the use of high quality meat, but one openly wonders if the meat is too lean. Bucky notes the missing juices and the difficulty the patty had staying together. Freddie stays true to form by noting no seasonings added.

The Brew House is a unique place and it’s longevity to the area is noted. Outside of the freshness and quality of meat, the burger didn’t overwhelm the team.

Score: 3.5
Rating: Average

Next Review: Zola's

DeMeo's Pasta and Grill

2006-02-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Review 12 @ Stop #20
DeMeo’s Pasta and Grill
111 Main Street (Milford)
513.831.6484

The owners of Lighthouse Pasta on old Rt. 28 in Miami Township (Clermont County) moved the restaurant to downtown Milford to gain space, but also changed the name. Although they improved the décor and atmosphere, Bucky (the fussy one) wondered why the use of glass tables because their undersides serve as dust collectors.

The menu offers seven different half-pound hamburgers so we dived into the Mega Burger ($6.50 with French fries and cole slaw). One thing for sure - DeMeo’s tries to achieve a quality burger. The meat is noticeably flavored (possibly with salt and pepper), It’s huge and garnished with green leaf lettuce instead of iceberg on a lightly toasted, Kaiser-shaped bun. Caramelized onions are standard along with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Let’s face it - The Cincinnati Burger Guys know these attributes are missing at most places.

On the down side, too much burger is outside the bun, so either decrease the burger’s diameter or get a larger bun. Although their kitchen uses some seasoning on the burger, the meat’s flavor could be further enhanced. Some burger lovers also believe an overabundance of condiments and trimmings tend of disguise low quality and/or lackluster tasting meat.

Overall, Bucky and Freddie found DeMeo’s to be a pleasant surprise.

Points: 6.5
Rating: A Step Up

Next Review: Brew House

Gano Tavern

2006-01-20T04:28:00.000-05:00

Review #11 @ Stop 11
Gano Tavern
10024 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd (West Chester)
513.733.4631

A friend recommended the Gano Tavern. Since Freddie has always been charmed by the exterior while driving by, he was especially anxious. On the other hand, Bucky (who used to live nearby) couldn’t recall the place. Go figure.

Internet research indicates the Gano Tavern has a long history. The property (just north of I-275) was a coach house on the main road connecting Cincinnati and Dayton. Unknown to our burger travelers at the time, it seems there’s an underground tunnel entering the tavern.

Make no mistake about it – the Gano Tavern is a bar taking care of its regular clientele. Located a short drive north of Crescentville Road, this long-standing location is a smoky, dark room with traditional bar food. For whatever reason, no brew for the burger crew on this day.

Served with potato chips, one of the first things Bucky and Freddie noticed was a coolness on the buns. These regular-sized buns were obviously stored against a bare wall and influenced by the cold weather outside.

This was one of the juiciest burgers and that is good for many points! Compared to other burgers, the size was average in both diameter and thickness. Other than that, nothing overly memorable as the meat had some salt and pepper. These two friends still talk to this day about the difficult hurdle posed by the cool, average buns.

Points: 6.0 Rating: High Average

Next Review: DeMeo’s Pasta and Grill

Burgers Not Even For Wimpy

2006-01-11T05:58:00.000-05:00

Review #10

Burger enthusiasts realize Wimpy will repay you on Tuesday for a hamburger today. Given Wimpy’s burger aficionado nature, would you give Wimpy just any burger? By the way, click the Wimpy link.

Bucky and Freddie believe that not any will do. Not only that, there are places Bucky wouldn’t even take the Notre Dame leprechaun for a burger. The Cincinnati Burger Guys visited the places below, but each only earned a limited space in this column.

A Bucky reminder: The rating is about the burger, not the place.

2-Putt Tavern and Grill
(Rt. 48 near River’s Bend, Stop #13)

Although a nice place for casual dining, order something else from the sizeable menu because the average-sized burgers were too dry and blah. 2-Putt is the place formerly known as Putter’s.
Points: 2.5 Rating: Mundane

Lebo’s
(Kellogg Avenue in California, Stop #12)

A very interesting place to visit as it caters to the locals. The large open room with the Karyoke stage and locals playing cards is interesting; plus a great outdoor deck. Wonder why Bucky didn’t have a Bud Light here? Their burger was good size, but bland. While served on an average bun, Lebo’s also skimped on the trimmings.
Points: 2.0 Rating: Mundane

Mommy Fritz
(Rt. 50 in Perintown, Stop #15)

It is the only place we know serving a burger on one slice of toast, but all down hill after that. Even though they advertise having the best burgers in Cincinnati, Bucky won’t even consider returning just to have a Bud Light in the bar.
Points: 1.0 Rating: Don’t Bother

Next review: Gano Tavern

PS: Going to or have friends in Texas? Click the Texas Burger Guy link.

Oakley Pub & Grill

2005-12-30T15:20:00.000-05:00

Review #9 @ Stop #19
Oakley Pub and Grill
3924 Isabella (Just off Oakley Square)
513.531.2500

Since posting this review, the Oakley Pub and Grill changed owners. We have received several concerns about the current burgers, which prompted one of the Burger Guys to visit. He noted that the burger had undergone significant enough changes that it should be removed from the Burger Honor Roll and be re-evaluated by the team. This review is not meant to endorse or criticize current ownership, but to only inform readers of the situation.

Bucky previously visited one of its siblings, the 915 Pub and Grill in Ft. Thomas, and raved about the burger and recommended a trip here. Talk about a corner bar. The Oakley Pub and Grill has a funky shaped front on a corner. After seeing the front for the first time, how could one not anticipate the inside?

The inside is a small, dark but neat bar with several TVs positioned so everyone could see. Although one can visualize the primetime excitement, professional workers arrived for lunch. The menu offers a variety of half-pound hamburgers (as the Black and Bleu) and all are served with fries or their unique house slaw.

The burger topped with lettuce, tomato, and onion and served on a toasted Kaiser bun, has average diameter - but this burger was thick! Bucky takes a bite and exclaims, “Just how I remember the 915.” Freddie follows with, “Yes – Another burger with flavored meat!” There’s no mistake here − this was one tasty, juicy burger oozing with freshness. Intern Wolfy could not attend that day, but received his marching orders to proceed to Oakley Square because these burgers serve as a good reference point for excellence.

Freddie appreciated the meat’s flavor, but wondered if more could be done. Bucky, with his tendency of exhibiting fussy-old-woman behaviors, openly wondered if a perfect score (10) is even possible. Readers should be thankful that Freddie is along to be the voice of reason.

Bucky's gut feeling is that everyone will find quality burgers at Oakley's two siblings: 915 (Ft. Thomas) and Zola’s (Covington). On the other hand, Freddie trusts his friend, but also stand by his "only time will tell" mantra. Maybe they'll be reviewed in future back-to-back postings? Hmmmm ....

Hats off to the Oakley Pub and Grill for receiving our highest honor! Don’t forget to mention the Cincinnati Burger Guys when you visit.

Points: 9.0
CBG Rating: Exceptional

Next Review: Burgers Not Even for Wimpy

The Reader's Mind

2005-12-20T19:26:00.000-05:00

Reader Comments

Burgers in Mount Lookout, like real estate, are overpriced. Get to the West Side and grab a tasty bargain.

At Price Hill Chili, try the Big Sam (named after the owner and founder). It is a fully loaded burger, which is what I like. I understand that one in your taste group focuses on the meat. I consider the whole package: burger, bun, condiments, and toppings.

Try the Brew House (at the corner of Park Avenue and McMillan in Walnut Hills) great group of regulars, twice voted Best Neighborhood Dive by City Beat. My wife is a burger connoisseur and the Brew House is one of the very few places where she will have them outside her own kitchen. Try asking for it medium rare; it will actually be pink inside! Ask for it rare, and it will be perfectly seared on the outside, hot throughout, and dripping red juice when you cut into it. Jack gets his beef from his pal Louie at Louie's Meats up the street; Louie takes good care of him. It's all fresh, never frozen, and the patties are formed by hand in the kitchen by Jack and cooks Roy and Dan. Wonderful, wonderful!

Not to introduce a down note, aren't you worried at all about mad cow? Also, Wolfy’s desire for the rare: again, no worries about salmonella or hepatitis?

My favorite burger is Herb and Thelma’s in Covington. It’s a no frills, dead serious burger house. The only adult beverage offered is long neck domestic beer and they accept only cash. It’s a one man show (Chip, second generation owner and chef/bartender). He uses fresh ground beef daily. Take note how he cooks the burgers within sight of his customers. It’s a one of a kind restaurant that offers the freshest tasting burger in the area.

It wasn't so bad crossing HWY 75 was it? Now try the Bierhaus House in MIamitown as their burgers are fantastic. Juicy, hand-made - Perfect! Go in warm weather because the deck in back makes this place amazing. If you're lucky the singing cowboy and his horse will be in the "backyard" next to the river.

I am a burger lover and they have to be really, truly medium rare. Try these two totally different delights. Try the burger at Clough Crossings in Anderson Township. Then try the Bill burger, at Walt's Hitching Post in Ft Wright, KY (named after the owner Bill Melton).

I used to live in Newport and I made it a point to go to the Pepper Pod every weekend for the Super Big Eddie, a big, greasy burger, Yum!

I saw someone recommended Blue Ash Chili. Don't bother as the hamburgers are small and should be avoided (think of a McDonald's regular hamburger). They do have great double-decker sandwiches and BLTs though!

(New) I saw the comment that one of your readers wrote about Blue Ash Chili having small burgers. Obviously, they have not tried the Colossal Burger, which is huge! You have to try it, they are great!

If you want a good burger, visit the Pepper Pod in Newport KY and order the Super Big Eddie with the works - its one of my favorite places to get a big greasy burger (and I consider myself an expert on the subject).

(new) Lake Nina off Pippin Road has a great hamburger at an unbelievable price for today. During lunch hour, you can get a cheeseburger with two sides (salad, hot slaw, coleslaw, green beans, home fries, french fries, etc.) for $3.89! Try it. You might like it! We've been going there for 30 years.

I do have one issue to raise with you. I saw the Main Street Grill on the list of sites that people have recommended you visit. Please don’t go there - - I love it and if you go you will probably give it a good review and then it will be even more crowded than it is now and who needs that. At the very least don’t go anytime soon. Put it at the end of your list. Thanks

Next Review: Oakley Pub & Grill

Burger Guys Podcast

2005-12-20T19:22:00.000-05:00

Listen to the Burger Guys podcast online!

http://www.theflypod.com/ is on the leading edge of the "New Media" revolution. If you own an MP3 player or iPod, subscribing to audio programs is 100% free. If you don't own a portable media player, go to the website for free online listening, or download your choice of programs for personal enjoyment at a later time. TheFlyPod.com podcasts to the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands -- http://www.theflypod.com/ -- your source for LOCAL WORLD MP3 audio. "There's more to life than just downloading music."

DIRECTIONS: Go to www.theflypod.com
Enter your zip code
From the center of the page, click General Audience
To download, scroll to the bottom of the page and look for our description, then click Download.

To listen online, notice the player at the top of the page. Click Playlist, drag the blue scroll button to near the bottom, click on Burger Guys.

Friendly Stop

2005-12-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

Review 8 @ Stop #10
Friendly Stop Cafe
985 Congress Ave
Glendale
513.771.7427

Located in Glendale, this quaint tavern is a popular lunch spot. There are two signs to notice in the window when approaching the Friendly Stop. The largest promotes its signature Garlic Burger and the other notifies visitors of the smokeaters. To provide an air of nostalgia, the owners decorated the smoky interior with collectables and the many old license plates arranged high along the wall. Definitely a lot of stuff to see and talk about.

The Cincinnati Burger Guys and our lovely guests avoided the much-heralded Garlic Burger. Other than the company and the lively pictures in the restroom, the rest was downhill. The average-sized burger on a regular bun was dry and without flavor beyond the meat. It was thick, but only average diameter. Although disappointed, not very memorable, worse burgers are out there. Neither Bucky nor Freddie is anxious about returning to the Friendly Stop.

FYI: Interestingly, a reader commented to us about the Friendly Stop and mentioned similar thoughts, but was very turned off about the smoke. On the other hand, the Friendly Stop is probably a haven for smokers working in the Tri-County area.

Points: 3.5
Rating: Low Average

Next Posting: For the holidays, notes from our readers

Nick & Tom's

2005-11-30T19:40:00.000-05:00

Review 7 @ Stop #20
Nick & Tom’s
5774 Bridgetown Rd
513.574.4242

Nick and Tom’s is a popular Bridgetown restaurant located in an old white house with a colorful past as a stage house and an alleged house with a madam. Its loyal customers are accustomed to a broad menu, friendly service, and a pleasant atmosphere. Two friends joined the Cincinnati Burger Guys on this day with hopes of being enlightened about our search for burger nirvana.

Four of us ordered the All-American Burger ($6.25) and one indulged with the Nick & Tom Burger topped with Monterey Jack cheese and jalapenos ($6.75) All were half-pound, char-broiled burgers served on a toasted Kaiser bun, and accompanied by potato chips and a pickle spear. Using a good bun with some attention is always a hit with the CBG and serving the condiments on the side was a surprise bonus.

Upon serving, the team glared at the visual oddity. Bucky wonders about the anomaly of a square peg fitting in a round hole. Freddie conjures images of a pre-made, frozen patty and intern Wolfy analyzes the effect of spreading a half pound of meat over a larger surface area as opposed to containing the meat in a thick, more concentrated shape. All of this before a single bite!

Bucky, Freddie, and Wolfy each ordered a different cooking level and the kitchen successfully delivered. All agreed the meat lacked seasoning, but Wolfy noted the use of high quality beef. Readers should note that char-broiled and char-grilled methods deliver different tastes, so know your preference.

During the research phase of this project, long-time West Siders looked confused when asked to identify a good burger place on that side of town. “Hey, the West Side is about double deckers and chili.” The Cincinnati Burger Guys are neutral in the West Side-East Side debate as each of us moved to Cincinnati as adults. Although tasty burgers may be more of an East Side preference, this team is not willing to give up the search on that side of town – especially at the places recommended by faithful readers.

Bucky (4) was more impressed than Freddie (2). Nonetheless, go and enjoy Nick & Tom’s – but get your quality burger elsewhere.

CBG Points: 3.0
Rating: Low Average

Next Review: Friendly Stop

Mingles Sports Bar and Grill

2005-11-20T19:37:00.000-05:00

Review #6 @ Stop #7
Mingles Sports Bar and Grill
1296 Highway 28 (Mt. Repose)
513.722.1700

Note: Since posting this review, Mingles has been sold twice and has changed it's name to the Miami Township Tavern and then George's Bar and Grill. This review is not meant to endorse or criticize current ownership, but to only inform readers of the situation. As of late December 2006, another name change: now Bad Habitz.

A Clermont County informant praised this place so the Cincinnati Burger Guys hit the road. Mingles Sports Bar and Grill is a modern bar – a wide-open room with a long bar down the center, pool tables and video games on one side – tables and space for a band on the other. The CBG team went during lunch. Without the presence of the mechanical bull, the monitors showing ESPN served as entertainment.

The $4.95 burger was large, served on a slightly squished, toasted Kaiser bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion, plus accompanied by Saratoga chips and a pickle spear. Slightly squished, lightly seasoned, toasted bun scores points with Bucky! The meat was moist and noticeably seasoned which impresses Freddie! This was such an outstanding find Freddie did a return solo visit to double check his senses.

Mingles serves a burger that burger lovers truly desire. This is a prime example of how adding a few small details improve the product. A friend of Freddie’s once said, “It doesn’t take that much more to be first class.” Freddie discovered the spice mixture added to the Mingles burger, but telling everyone would spoil the secret on Route 28.

Bucky and Freddie proudly give Mingles their highest honor. Congratulations on receiving the first Exceptional Burger Award from the Cincinnati Burger Guys! So when you go to Mingle’s, mention the Cincinnati Burger Guys.

Points: 9.5
CBG Rating: Exceptional

Next review: Nick & Tom’s

Quatman's Cafe

2005-11-13T06:10:00.000-05:00

Review #5 @ Stop #5
Quatman’s Café
2434 Quatman Ave (Norwood)
513.731.4370

No doubt about it – Quatman’s Café is a Cincinnati institution. This neighborhood tavern with wood booths, basic tables with the red and white checkered table cloths, and a wood bar area on one side is a very popular lunch spot for many people.

Another no doubter – These burgers (served with onions, pickles, and potato chips) are large and reasonably priced ($3.75). Many proclaim that Quatman’s burgers put Zip’s burgers to shame. The Burger Guys agree, but so what? That’s like the Reds proclaiming the pennant after a fifth place finish ahead of the Pirates. The bottom line: the Cincinnati Burger Guys are raising the bar!

Because of their high number of lunchtime diners, Quatman’s is known for its fast service; however, this allowed the team to notice a glaring mistake. Although the orders were placed at the same time, one arrived within minutes signaling advance preparation. There’s no way fresh meat cooks that fast. To top off the situation, the second order arrived minutes later and seemed warmer than the first. Since Freddie had been there several times before, this event was new.

Nothing fancy here: No distinguishing seasoning in the meat, no special bun or treatment – Just a thick, juicy, but basic burger served on a standard bun in a neighborhood setting. Although it may be smokier than some prefer, we highly recommend the tavern ambiance and the tradition, so arrive early for lunch; but, better burgers exist in the area.

Points: 4.5
CBG Rating: Average

Next Review: The first-ever award for burger excellence!

PS: We dedicate this review to PTS on this special day.

Zip's Cafe

2005-11-05T07:41:00.000-05:00

Review #4: @ Stop #1
Zip’s Café
1036 Delta Ave.
513.871.9876

Almost everyone has heard about Zip’s Café and their reputation for great burgers. Because of the repeated proclamations from their faithful, this is the place where the Cincinnati Burger Guys started their journey. In order to verify the initial impressions, Bucky and Freddie returned to Zip’s after tasting 15 other burgers.

No one can question Zip’s long-standing reputation and tradition. For some reason, their loyal Zippodeedodads rave about a small, $3.25 burger that lacks flavor and slips around an average bun. Is it all about the side of potato chips? Both Bucky and Freddie prefer thicker burgers. Bucky also seeks complete flavor in a sandwich while Freddie insists on flavorful meat. The team has not sampled the Zip’s Girth Burger and probably should, but a return trip may take some time to schedule.

Anyone receiving a recommendation about the Zip’s Burger should exercise caution and know what they expect in a burger. There’s no doubt that the rustic look and quaint feel in Mt. Lookout is a wonderful setting. Just try something else on the menu and get your quality burger elsewhere.

Points: 2.5
CBG Rating: Mundane

Next Review: Another Cincinnati tradition: Quatman’s

Next-Day PS: Upon seeing its picture in the CinWeekly Dining Guide, the Girth Burger is a Zip's Burger with cheese stacked on a mett.

A Special Note

2005-11-05T07:37:00.000-05:00

A special thanks to Jim Knippenberg (Cincinnati Enquirer), Jan Perry (Cincinnati Post) and Scott Sloan (700-WLW) for their support on our little venture. We appreciate the many e-mails with kind words, best wishes, encouragement, recommendations, and humor. We’re already visited the Silver Spring House, Arthur’s, Zip’s, and Quatman’s and will publish their reviews in time. Sorry, but we don’t review national/regional chains as Hamburger Mary’s, Champs, Red Robin, and Red Lobster. For the road warriors, we received travel tips for Stanich’s (Portland, OR) and the Brick Alley Pub (Newport, RI).

The alphabetical list below includes establishments we have not visited, but are reader recommendations. Although we may go to many of them in time, we want to share this list with you so you can begin your own search – plus we will appreciate your review to us! Heck, we may even post some of your opinions in special “Readers Sound Off” editions (of course with your permission and names excluded).
Anderson Township Pub (Anderson)
Andy’s Café (Carthage)
Avari Deli and Bistro (Blue Ash)
Bierhaus House (Miamitown)
Blue Ash Chili (Blue Ash)
Brew House (Walnut Hills)
Chef C’s (Galbraith)
Clough Crossing (Anderson)
Cricket Lounge (Downtown)
Family Billiards (Owenton, KY)
Gabby’s Café (Wyoming)
Glendale Pub (Glendale)
Greyhound Tavern (Ft. Mitchell)
Habit’s (Oakley)
Herb & Thelma’s (Covington)
Homestead (Mariemont)
Indian Mound (Norwood)
Main Street Café (Newtown)
McCauly’s Pub (Fields-Ertel)
Montgomery Towne Tavern (Montgomery Rd @ I-275)
915 Pub and Grill (Ft. Thomas)
Old Timber Inn (Spring Grove Ave.)
Paxton’s Grill (Loveland)
Price Hill Chili (Price Hill)
Rod’s Capricorn Inn (near Wilmington)
Quarter Bistro (Mariemont)
Red’s Deli (Ross Township)
Salem Gardens (Anderson)
Sky Gallery (Lunken Airport)
Sorrento’s (Reading)
Stonelick Hills Golf Club (Clermont Co.)
The Works (Loveland)
Toot’s (Deerfield Township)
Walt’s Hitching Post (Ft. Wright)
Willie’s (Deerfield Township location)
Zola’s (Covington)

A reminder to help our Burger Nation grow - clicking the envelope at the end of a review allows you to send that review to a friend and suggest the join our mailing list.

City View Tavern

2005-10-28T08:12:00.000-04:00

Review #3 @ Stop #3
City View Tavern
403 Oregon (Mt. Adams)
513.241.8439

After such a beautiful setting at the Rivertown Bar and Grill, it is only fitting that the next review be in Mt. Adams. A lot can be said for the City View Tavern:

It is hard to find.
Parking can be an adventure in itself.
It is a converted house flanked by actual homes.
Its menu is basic because it’s a place to drink.

We arrived on a perfect early-summer day: sunny, clear, low humidity, and a slight breeze. Sitting on the small outside deck overlooking the P&G towers with the Ohio River also in view and with adult beverages in hand, - Wow! What a place to be! While on the deck, take a close look nearby to see the old abutments of the Mt. Adams incline.

The Big Ted Deluxe burger ($4.50) is a large, half pounder loaded with condiments served on a regular bun and accompanied with a bag of potato chips. Some may say it is too messy while others are euphoric. Regardless, the sandwich can be difficult to hold.

Overall, the Big Ted Deluxe provides a lot of flavor. Unfortunately, the flavor is from the condiments as the meat itself was plain and a tad dry. Give Bucky a burger, a Bud Light, and a great view – he is in goo-goo-gah-gah land. Fortunately Freddie is there to say, “It’s the taste, not the place.”

Bucky says one of the important features of a good burger is how all the tastes blend together into the sandwich as a whole. Freddie counters by questioning if a good sandwich can exist without the flavorful meat that is the foundation of a good sandwich. Agreeing to disagree, it was time to have another beer on the deck, enjoy the view on that beautiful day, and talk about something less controversial. “Freddie, what do you think about privatizing schools?”

Points: 6.5
CBG Rating: A Step Up

Next Review: Cincinnati’s Most Acclaimed – Zip’s

Rivertown Bar and Grill

2005-10-20T16:06:00.000-04:00

Review #2 @ Stop #17
Rivertown Bar and Grill
4601 Kellogg Avenue

Located on a converted tugboat moored in the Ohio River, the Rivertown Bar and Grill provides an excellent setting for a casual lunch. Wolfy (an intern) joined us on a beautiful, low-humidity summer day which had a light breeze blowing over the calm water. How could one not like this setting! Then again, would a beautiful weekend during boating season be so serene?

The average-sized burger ($5.95 served with chips and a pickle) had a char-broiled taste. The crunchy outside is a matter of preference but can lead to being overcooked. Wolfy noted that his medium-rare order was fine, but Freddie was not happy with the dryness. All agreed that the cook does not enhance the meat for extra flavor.

The beautiful day and wonderful setting while drinking a Bud Light and conversing with friends moved Bucky toward burger nirvana. How else can one explain such a difference in their ratings (7, 4)? However, all agreed that the Rivertown Bar and Grill is worth a try – especially on a beautiful, quiet day. Just don't break a glass like Freddie did.

An extra note for bargain hunters: Burgers are 2 for 1 on Tuesdays!

Points: 5.5
CBG Rating: Average

Next Review: Another great view at the City View Tavern

Hitching Post

2005-10-12T08:14:00.000-04:00

Review #1 @ Stop #14
Hitching Post
2715 Madison Rd (at Edwards)
(Near Rookwood)
513.871.9201

The Hitching Post is a perfect example of a family restaurant: it’s family owned, family run, family pictures on the wall, and its menu is friendly to family-oriented customers desiring a reasonably priced meal resembling a touch of home. Although renown for its fried chicken, our research discovered that their burgers could be a hidden gem, so Bucky and Freddie had to see for themselves.

The half-pound Texas burger was presented on a reasonably-sized bun accompanied with a potato pancake. Now that’s a good touch! Served with the traditional garnishes of onions, lettuce, and tomato, the burgers were moist and cooked to perfection. Although the meat’s flavor could be been enhanced (as is true with most places), a touch of flavor besides the meat was present (which is not true all too often). The sandwich was easy to eat and hats off to our research team for this find.

Freddie appreciated this burger more than Bucky by highlighting the taste, but Bucky wishes more attention would have been given to the bun.

Points: 6.0
CBG Rating: High Average

Next Review: Rivertown Bar and Grill

Summary: Reader's List Location

2005-09-30T19:55:00.004-04:00

The following is an alphabetical list of places our readers have recommended. See a different posting for the same list sorted by geographic location.
* Visited by the Cincinnati Burger Guys
+ Review posted by the Cincinati Burger Guys
Red = New addition

Central
* + Arthur’s Café (Hyde Park) Review
Bearcat Lounge (UC campus @ Mariott Kingsgate)
* + Brew House (Walnut Hills) Review Web site
* + City View Tavern (Mt. Adams) Review
Cricket Lounge (Downtown) Web site
Dunlap Cafe (Downtown)
* + Habit’s (Oakley)
Hathaway's (Downtown)
* + Hitching Post (near Rookwood) Review
Jean Ro's Bistro (Downtown)
* + Mac's Pizza Pub (Clifton) Web site
Madonna's (Downtown)
Mound Cafe (Norwood)
* + Oakley Pub & Grill (Oakley) Review
Old Timber Inn (Spring Grove Ave.)
Pavillion (Mt. Adams)
Pleasant Ridge Chili (Pleasant Ridge) Web site
* + Pilot Inn (near Rookwood) Review
* + Quatman’s Café (Norwood) Review
Tina's (Downtown)
Universal Grill (Downtown) Web site

West
Bierhaus House (Miamitown)
Boswell Alley (Northside) Web site
Lake Nina Restaurant and Tavern (Pippen Rd)
* + Nick & Tom’s (Bridgetown) Review Web site
* + Price Hill Chili (Price Hill) Review
* + Red’s Deli (Ross Township) Review

East
* + Anderson Township Pub (Anderson) Review Web site
Baker's Pub (Fairfax)
By Golly Tavern (Milford)
Clough Crossings (Anderson) Web site
* + DeMeo’s Pasta & Grill (Milford) Review
* + Golf Club at Stonelick Hills (Clermont Co) Review Web site
* + Mingles Sports Bar & Grill (Mt. Respose) Review
* + Mommy Fritz (Perintown) Review
* + Lebo’s (Kellogg Ave, California) Review
Main Street Café (Newtown)
* + Paxton’s Grill (Loveland) Review Web site
* + Rivertown Bar & Grill (Kellogg Ave.) Review
Quarter Bistro (Mariemont) Web site
Salem Gardens (Anderson)
Sandbar’s (Kellogg Ave.)
* + Shooters Sports Grill (Loveland-Branch Hill) Review
Sky Gallery (Lunken Airport)
* + Sleepy Hollow Inn (Branch Hill) Review
Stanley's Pub (Columbia-Tusculum Area)
Terry's Turf Club (Linwood)
* + The Works (Loveland) Review Web site
* + Zip’s Café (Mt. Lookout) Review Web site

North
Avari Deli and Bistro (Blue Ash)
* + Back Porch Saloon (near Tri-County) Review Web site
Blue Ash Chili (Blue Ash) Web site
* + Blue Goose Sports Café (Sharonville) Web site Review
Chef C’s (Galbraith) Web site
* + Friendly Stop (Glendale) Review
* + Gabby’s Café (Wyoming) Review Web site
* + Gano Tavern (Gano) Review
* + Glendale Pub (Glendale) Review
* + Mason Grill (Mason) Review
McCauly’s Pub (Fields-Ertel)
Montgomery Towne Tavern (Montgomery Rd @ I-275)
Peg's Pub (Evendale)
* + Putter's (Liberty Township) Review Web site
Rod’s Capricorn Inn (near Wilmington)
Seeger's Meats and Deli (Lebanon)
* + Silver Spring House (near Harper’s Point) Review Web site
* Tabby’s (Landen)
The Jug (Middletown)
* + Toot’s (Deerfield Township) Review Web site
* + 2-Putt Tavern & Grill (near Rivers Bend) Review Web site
* Wild Bill’s Café (Lebanon)
* + Win Place or Show (Pisgah) Review Web site
Willie’s (Deerfield Township location)

Northern Kentucky
Anchor Grill (Covington)
Barleycorn's (Cold Spring) Web site
City Side Restaurant (Newport)
* + Coach's Corner (Newport) Review
* + Detroit Joe's (Newport) Review
Family Billiards (Owenton, KY)
Gracie's (Hebron)
Greyhound Tavern (Ft. Mitchell) Web site
Herb & Thelma’s (Covington)
Log Cabin Inn (Covington)
Loyal Cafe (Bellevue)
* + Mansion Hill Tavern (Newport) Review
* + Mike Fink (Covington) Web site Review
* + 915 Pub and Grill (Ft. Thomas) Review
Old Town Cafe (Covington)
Olde Fort Pub (Ft. Thomas)
* + Pepper Pod (Newport) Review
Walt’s Hitching Post (Ft. Wright)
Warner's Restaurant (Ft. Thomas)
ZaZou Grill & Pub (Covington) Web site
* + Zola’s (Covington) Review

On-the-Road Burgers

2005-09-30T17:00:00.000-04:00

Places to Try While on the Road

Arizona
Roaring Fork (Phoenix)

California
Burger Joint (San Francisco)
Houston's (Santa Monica)
In-and-Out Burgers (Los Angeles)
LA Buns (West Hollywood)
The Counter (Santa Monica)
Val's Burgers (San Francisco)

Connecticut
Louis' Lunch (New Haven)
Ted's Restaurant (Meriden)

DC
Five Guys

Florida
Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger (Oakland Park)

Idaho
Gear Jammer Truck Stop (Mountain Home)

Illinois
Billy Goat Tavern (Chicago)
Goldyburgers (Chicago)

Massachusetts
Audubon Circle (Boston - Kenmore Square)

Michigan
Brown Bear (Hart)
Miller's Bar (Dearborn)
Red Coat Tavern (Royal Oak)
Sidetrack Bar and Grill (Ypsilanti)

Missouri
O'Connell's Pub (St.Louis)
Westport Flea Market (KC)

New Jersey
White Manna (Hackensack)

New Mexico
Bobcat Bite (Sante Fe)
Buckhorn (San Antonio)

New York
All-American Drive-In (Massapaqua)
Burger Joint (LeParker Meridien Hotel, NYC)
J.G. Melon (NYC)
Paul's Place (NYC - East Village)
Zip Burger (NYC - East side)

Ohio (non-SW Ohio)
Hickies (New Boston)
Thurman Cafe (Columbus)

Oklahoma
Weber's (Tulsa)

Oregon
Stanich's (Portland)

Pennsylvania
Tessaro's (Pittsburgh)

Texas
Boondock's (Amarillo)
Christian's Totem (Houston)
Keller's Drive-In (Dallas)

Washington
Red Mill Burgers (Seattle)
Dick's Drive-In (Seattle)

Wisconsin
Kroll's (Green Bay)

Wyoming
Billie's Burgers (Jackson Hole)

Summary: Scores by Ranking

2005-09-30T05:56:00.003-04:00

Linked to individual review

Exceptional
Mingles Sports Bar & Grill (9.5)
Zola's (8.5)
915 Pub & Grill (8.5)
Sleepy Hollow Inn (8.5)
Gabby's Cafe (8.5)

A Step Up
Anderson Township Pub (7.5)
The Works (7.0)
Oakley Pub & Grill (6.5)
City View Tavern (6.5)
DeMeo's Paste & Grill (6.5)
Back Porch Saloon (6.5)
Toot's (6.5)
Arthur's (6.5)
Coach's Corner (6.5)

Average
Hitching Post (6.0) (High Average)
Gano Tavern (6.0) (High Average)
Blue Goose (6.0) (High Average)
Golf Club at Stonelick Hills (6.0) (High Average)
Shooter's Sports Grill (6.0)
Rivertown Bar & Grill (5.5)
Mac's Pizza (5.5)
Habits (5.5)
Paxton's Grill (5.5)
Glendale Pub (5.5)
Mansion Hill Tavern (5.0)
Price Hill Chili (5.0)
Mason Grill (5.0)
Quatman's Cafe (4.5)
Silver Spring House (4.5)
Red's Deli (4.5)
Win Place or Show (4.5)
Rick's Tavern (4.5)
Mike Fink's (4.0)
Brew House (3.5)
Friendly Stop (3.5)
Pilot Inn (3.5)
Putter's Tavern & Grill (3.5)
Pepper Pod (3.0)
Nick & Tom's (3.0)

Mundane
Zip's Cafe (2.5)
2-Putt Tavern & Grill (2.5)
Detroit Joe's (2.5)
Lebo's (2.0)

Don't Bother
Mommy Fritz (1.0)

Summary: Reader's List Alphabetical

2005-09-30T05:33:00.003-04:00

The following is an alphabetical list of places our readers have recommended. See a different posting for the same list sorted by geographic location.
* Visited by the Cincinnati Burger Guys
+ Review posted by the Cincinati Burger Guys
Red = new addition

Anchor Grill (Covington)
* + Anderson Township Pub (Anderson)
* + Arthur’s Café (Hyde Park)
Avari Deli and Bistro (Blue Ash)
* + Back Porch Saloon (near Tri-County)
Baker's Pub (Fairfax)
Barleycorn's (Cold Spring)
Bearcat Lounge (UC campus @ Mariott Kingsgate)
Bierhaus House (Miamitown)
Blue Ash Chili (Blue Ash)
* + Blue Goose Sports Café (Sharonville)
Boswell Alley (Northside)
* + Brew House (Walnut Hills)
By Golly Tavern (Milford)
Chef C’s (Galbraith)
City Side Restaurant (Newport)
* + City View Tavern (Mt. Adams)
Clough Crossing (Anderson)
* + Coach's Corner (Newport)
Cricket Lounge (Downtown)
* + DeMeo’s Pasta & Grill (Milford)
* + Detroit Joe's (Newport)
Dunlap Cafe (Downtown)
Family Billiards (Owenton, KY)
* + Friendly Stop (Glendale)
* + Gabby’s Café (Wyoming)
* + Gano Tavern (Gano)
* + Glendale Pub (Glendale)
Gracie's (Hebron)
Greyhound Tavern (Ft. Mitchell)
* + Habit’s (Oakley)
Hathaway's (Downtown)
Herb & Thelma’s (Covington)
* + Hitching Post (near Rookwood)
Jean Ro's Bistro (Downtown)
Lake Nina (Pippen Rd)
Log Cabin Inn (Covington)
Loyal Cafe (Bellevue)
* + Lebo’s (Kellogg Ave, California)
* + Mac's Pizza Pub (Clifton)
Madonna's (Downtown)
Main Street Café (Newtown)
* + Mansion Hill Tavern (Newport)
* + Mason Grill (Mason)
McCauly’s Pub (Fields-Ertel)
* + Mick Finks (Covington)
* + Mingles Sports Bar & Grill (Mt. Repose)
* + Mommy Fritz (Perintown)
Montgomery Towne Tavern (Montgomery Rd @ I-275)
Mound Cafe (Norwood)
* + Nick & Tom’s (Bridgetown)
* + 915 Pub and Grill (Ft. Thomas)
* + Oakley Pub & Grill (Oakley)
Old Town Cafe (Covington)
Old Timber Inn (Spring Grove Ave.)
Olde Fort Pub (Ft. Thomas)
* + Paxton’s Grill (Loveland)
Pavilion (Mt. Adams)
Peg's Pub (Evendale)
* + Pepper Pod (Newport)
* + Pilot Inn (near Rookwood)
Pleasant Ridge Chili (Pleasant Ridge)
* + Price Hill Chili (Price Hill)
* + Putter's (Liberty Township)
* + Quatman’s Café (Norwood)
* + Rivertown Bar & Grill (Kellogg Ave.)
Rod’s Capricorn Inn (near Wilmington)
Quarter Bistro (Mariemont)
* + Red’s Deli (Ross Township)
Salem Gardens (Anderson)
Sandbar’s (Kellogg Ave.)
* + Shooters Sports Grill (Loveland-Branch Hill)
Seeger's Meats and Deli (Lebanon)
* + Silver Spring House (near Harper’s Point)
Sky Gallery (Lunken Airport)
* + Sleepy Hollow Inn (Branch Hill)
Stanley's Pub (Columbia-Tusculum area)
* + Stonelick Hills Golf Club (Clermont Co)
* Tabby’s (Landen)
* + The Works (Loveland)
Terry's Turf Club (Linwood)
The Jug (Middletown)
Tina's (Downtown)
* + Toot’s (Deerfield Township)
* + 2-Putt Tavern & Grill (near Rivers Bend)
Universal Grill (Downtown)
Walt’s Hitching Post (Ft. Wright)
Warner's Restaurant (Ft. Thomas)
* Wild Bill’s Café (Lebanon)
* + Win Place or Show (Pisgah)
Willie’s (Deerfield Township location)
ZaZou Grill and Pub (Covington)
* + Zip’s Café (Mt. Lookout)
* + Zola’s (Covington)

Our Criteria, Rating Scale, and More

2005-09-29T11:52:00.000-04:00

The first review by the Cincinnati Burgers Guys is coming soon .... The Hitching Post.

Establisments Visited
As of 10/6/05 we have visited the following establishment: Arthur’s, Back Porch Saloon, City View Tavern, DeMeo’s Pasta & Grill, Friendly Stop, Gano Tavern, Hitching Post, Lebo’s, Mingles, Mommy Fritz, Oakley Pub & Grill, Pilot Inn, Putters, Quatman's Café, Rivertown Bar & Grill, Silver Spring House, Sleepy Hollow Inn, Tabby’s, Wild Bill’s Café, Zip’s Café. Stay tuned for reviews!

Cincinnati Burger Guys Ten-Point Scale
Exceptional: 8.5-10
A Step Up: 6.5-8.0
Average: 3.0-6.0
Mundane: 1.5-2.5
Don’t Bother: 1.0

Criteria
Taste of the meat
Juiciness of the meat
Amount of meat
Freshness of the meat
Pattie’s diameter to the bun’s diameter
Overall bun characteristics
Taste of the sandwich with selected condiments
Ability of the sandwich to stay together while holding/eating
Cook to order accuracy

In Search of Cincinnati's Best Hamburgers

2005-09-28T11:18:00.000-04:00

Americans take great pride in hamburgers. Whether fresh from the home grill or from one of the countless number of restaurants, burgers are an American classic. Regardless if it’s the neighborhood tavern, the local family restaurant, fast food establishments, specialty chains as Hamburger Mary’s and Fuddrucker’s, or national chains as Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Outback, burgers find a place on the menu.

The national Build a Better Burger contest started in the early 1990s and has appeared on the Food Network. Many city guides found on the Web include best burgers. Local magazines also include best burgers during the year. Some establishments use the “Best Burger in Town” to promote themselves. Many people are also passionate about their favorite burger. In other words, hamburgers are big business and people are very interested.

We, Bucky and Freddie, live in the Cincinnati area. We are not food professionals, but we enjoy a good burger. Although each of us has personal preferences, we believe the essence of a good burger is more than just tradition. Why do so many people rave about Zip’s and Quatman’s? What are the differences between burgers? Do better burgers exist at less-publicized places?

Stimulated by ongoing discussions, we began our search for finding the best burger in Cincinnati. In order to focus on the local setting, we don’t do national chains. Although our search is not over, it’s time spread the word. Stayed tune for many reviews!

Here's our e-mail address: burgerguys@fuse.net. Send us your thoughts and recommendations or ask to join our e-mail list for new posting announcements.