Summary: Reader's List Location

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

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

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

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

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

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.