Holy Grail Tavern (on the Banks)

The Holy Grail Tavern was the first business to open inside the Banks project on... er, the banks.

(You'd think I'd go back and fix awkward sentences like that, but here we are.)

Holy Grail isn't the first of its kind-- it's the third location of the Grail, which I suppose has to keep moving, right?

I visited for lunch, always eager for a new place to eat downtown. (One can even tire of Paula's and Ingredients if one eats there frequently enough.)

We chose a gorgeous, breezy day, so the Holy Grail had its large garage door walls open (think Parker Flats), and though it still smells of sawdust and sounds like construction, it really made the restaurant a great place to be. The tavern is humongous, decked out with TVs (it's a sports bar) on mute (at least for lunch), long bars that could seat 20 people, reservable tables with private taps, and even bar seats right against the open windows. Large and fantastic.

The place was hummin' when we visited, but we had no problem getting a seat. Service was a little slow, but nothing unforgivable. The food was really great for bar food-- I had a turkey burger with swiss and it was juicy and delicious. (Food was a bit pricey-- check the posted menu.) The staff eventually rolled down the garage door because of some intense wind, but the room still felt airy and sunlit.

Holy Grail Tavern website: http://www.holygrailcincy.com/html/home/home.php
Holy Grail on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/holy-grail-tavern-and-grille-cincinnati-3

Yelp Cincinnati

If you've seen this guy lately, he's been talking about Yelp.

This is Alex Shebar, and he's been a friend of ours for quite some time... bloggers tend to run in the same circles, and Alex (and his lovely gf Allison) run the project Watch This, which Dan and I have attended in the past.

Alex is the newly-minted community manager for Yelp Cincinnati, and he took some time to meet with Dan and myself to discuss Yelp's activity in the city. (We had to meet at Starbucks, because Tazza Mia closes at 5:30pm and Coffee Emporium at 6. How horrible is that?)

Yelp is a free service... sort of an Urbanspoon meets Angie's List with a focus on local, local, local. And that's exactly why they want Alex on the payroll... Yelp is global, and in order to truly do a local community justice they need someone on the street, living and experiencing and adding to the community.

Yelp is an interesting tool and fits pretty well with our blog's agenda: to explore the city at a deeper level. Cincinnati is ten times larger than you think it is (or than I thought it was!). Most nights I have to choose between several events I'd like to attend, for instance. Yelp helps the community stay aware of dining, shopping, and event options in the city. Even with the best intentions, our blog only covers 4-5 items a week... because Yelp uses the community as the engine, it's much more robust and up-to-date than any single blog.

Free to sign up, free to use, free to rate and comment and do all the social media-y things you love to do. Free to have a voice about what you love and hate about Cincinnati. Check it out, if only so your next conversation with Alex is that much less awkward. ;)

Yelp Cincinnati: http://www.yelp.com/cincinnati-oh

Guestblog & Flying Pig #10: Werkhaus

Quite some time back, an awesome reader contacted me because she'd found one of the elusive piggies. She promised to snap a pic next time she saw him, and here we have 'im! Thanks, MaryWernke!!


Werkhaus Pizza & Pasta has a red, white and blue pig which stands close enough to the road that it looks like it is waving at passing drivers. At one time it must have been a “Super Pig,” because there is a design on the back of its shirt that looks like it was once a Superman “S.”

Up close, Super Pig is not faring well in its exposure to the elements, with chipped and faded coloring and some cracks as well. Was there a time frame when these pigs were created that said how long they would last outdoors? I hope that there is a way to maintain these statues for a long time, as I like them and their cleverness very much.

As for Werkhaus, it is located at 3637 Werk Road on the border between the city of Cincinnati/Westwood and Green Township/Bridgetown. The owner is Mike Westendorf. The restaurant is a remodeled wood frame house and sits across the street from the back entrance to Toys 'R' Us.

Its main entrees are pizzas, hoagies and other pasta dishes. A small plate of spaghetti for lunch is $5.99, while the most expensive items are the large (13-inch) stuffed pizzas for $18.99. I chose a small (8-inch) original crust pizza for lunch. Its name was The Werks! (I do love the possibility for puns with this name), with pepperoni, sausage, onion and green peppers, and I substituted black olives for the bacon. It was delicious and I ate the whole thing!

Carryout is available and there is also a catering menu. Telephone number is (513) 451-9911 and its website address is www.werkhauspizza.com.

Washington Platform

Washington Platform plays a key role in my love for Over-the-Rhine: it was the place where Dan took me to eat lunch on the first day we visited OTR together, and before I visited Findlay Market for the first time.

Yes, that was over a year ago! What of it?

Since moving downtown, Washington Platform is the place that Dan and I reserve for when guests come in for lunch. It's not a far walk, the food is delicious (with plenty of kid-friendly options, which tends to be a big factor), the service is friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, and it's the kind of place where you can stay for hours and talk if you want.

Naturally I forgot to take pictures of the food on our last visit, but there are plentiful options, especially if you're in the mood for something different. For instance, I love their roast beef sandwich on pretzel bread. They have (or tend to have, from time to time) a wicked wing selection. Dan likes the Dixie chicken, with cheese and bacon and that awesome pretzel bread again.

They own a coffee company now, Muddy Cup, and some family members who sampled the coffee really liked it. So if that's your thing, hurrah.

They also tend to have a ton of events going on, so check the website.

That dessert, by the way? The "chocolate bomb," and my stomach trembles just thinking about that monster. (Yum.)

Washington Platform website: http://www.washingtonplatform.com/

Demetrios IV

I was having a rough day, and we were cruising for lunch options in Mariemont. Dan pulled into Demetrios.
ME: "Have you been here before?"
DAN: "Nope."
ME: "But you don't like new things!"
DAN: "I know, but you do."

I love this guy, kids.

Demetrios is an odd little spot. I had no idea it was even there; Dan used to live in Mariemont and was much more familiar with the area, but he'd never stopped in.

It's, uh... how do I put this?

It's a place for old people THERE I SAID IT.

The thing is: hot spots for blue-hairs tend to be right up my alley. Demetrios IV was no exception. As Dan perused the menu I eavesdropped on conversations about grandkids and taxes (no joke) as people sipped coffee and noshed on plates of eggs. I was very at home.

If you hadn't guessed from the name, Demetrios is owned by a Greek family. Thus, if you order the chili, don't expect the Texan kind. (Yea!) I had a 4-way (spag, chili, red beans and cheese)-- it was in the Gold Star tradition. (Double yea!) Dan had some kind of chicken-cheese-bacon fiasco and he enjoyed it.

This is not a place for out-of-this-world dining, but it's a comfortable spot with family photos on the wall and comfort food you can count on. It was delightful new find, and I can see myself there again. Maybe even for the 4-way.

Red Fox Grill

Red Fox Grill is my latest lunchtime discovery, as I recently changed jobs and now have to scavenge the P&G end of 4th Street when my stomach growls.

My opinion on Red Fox is fairly split. The prices are fantastic; everything is basically itemized so if you want fries, soup, etc, you can tack that on. You can easily walk out of Red Fox with a $5 lunch, no problem.

The food is really nothing to write home about, but if you're looking for a quickish, down-and-dirty diner lunch, you'll find that at Red Fox. They have plenty of options for burgers and sandwiches, plus some more breakfasty options.

The service is the kind you should expect in a high-churn restaurant like Red Fox: there are two large dining rooms stuffed with people, you see your waitress two or possibly three times total, your food is delivered quickly because everyone is ordering the same things, and you don't stick around to chat afterward. In other words, exactly how a corporate lunch spot outta act.

I say "corporate lunch spot" as Proctor & Gamble is Red Fox's bread and butter. They keep P&Gs holidays, fer chrissake. You'll see plenty of suits and ties in Red Fox; listen closely and you may hear snippets of the future of consumer packaged goods as we know it.

(no website)

Brylan's

Whenever Dan, Bradley and I leave church on Sundays, we are desperate for some brunchy/lunchy options. Unless I'm missing something, Newtown has jack as far as a great post-church selection goes.

This week I suggested we visit Brylan's. We'd noticed signs for their live music and coffee before, but this Sunday they had a marquee about brunch. Perfecto.

As you can see, Brylan's is a giant mansion of a house turned coffee shop (and, I believe, art gallery). It's phenomenal inside-- huge, lush, sweetly decorated. A real feast for the eyes.

The feast for the tongue? Not so much. Once we finally figured out where we were supposed to order (it was unclear as you walk immediately smack-dab into a menu and there is no hostess or anything, just a barista) and ordered our over-priced food, I think were all less than impressed with our meals. (Sorry, forgot to snap a pic.)

A lot of that may have been due to the service. The place wasn't swamped but it must have been doing brisker service than usual, because the barista seemed overwhelmed, short with the rest of the staff, and not overly friendly with us either. My "A.M. Quesadilla" emerged, for some reason, ten minutes before Dan's eggs and bacon, and neither of us were impressed. My iced chai latte was bland and watery.

I don't think I would ever come back here for food. However, the atmosphere is so kickin' that if I might be talked into popping in for an acoustic act, a night of reading and coffee, and open mic night, etc. I think they have a great low-key venue on their hands, and for all I know their coffee (their real bread and butter, I believe) is off the charts. All I'm saying is: breakfast = no go.

Brylan's website: http://www.brylans.com/

Le Boxx Cafe

Le Boxx Cafe is open for three hours every week day. It was only by a stroke of weird fortune that I was even able to visit this place for lunch.


I didn't love it. I seem to remember a lot of people commenting that Le Boxx is great, and the ratings on Urbanspoon seem fairly flattering as well. However, when I was finally able to visit, I had a lackluster experience.

I didn't find any of the menu options ground-breaking, and my lunch wasn't fantastic. My coworker didn't seem thrilled with his selection either. Our waiter was mostly... well, not there, and not interested in meeting my requests (no pickles? seriously?).

Le Boxx is a GIANT space, so I imagine they make some money from large-crowd events. They also deliver box lunches (duh), which may be their bread and butter. I can't imagine that they stay in business solely due to their meager lunch hours-- there didn't seem to be a ton of people in the cafe when we were there at peak lunch time.

So bottom line: not fantastic. If I were in area for lunch, I'd go immediately next door to Cafe Martin any day.

Le Boxx Cafe website: http://www.leboxxcafe.com/

In Between Tavern

I've started a new job! Of all the changes that are being thrown at me, I think I might be happiest about the change of lunch options. I've needed a change of pace!

For my very first lunch at my new agency, a coworker asked if I wanted to go to "a dive." Of COURSE I do-- that's my favorite kind of place!

In Between Tavern is not, for better or for worse, what I would call a dive. It has a sports bar-type atmosphere, but for me, a "dive" is dirtier, greasier. And dives tend to thrive on burgers and nachos, not delicious options like "Mexican linguine"!


I really enjoyed In Between, and I'm thrilled that it's less than a block's walk. There are plenty more interesting choices I can't wait to get bored of eating! (Hey, it happens.)



P.S. I've noticed some negative reviews for In Between on both Google and Urbanspoon. It sounds like most of them are tied to events (eg. Reds' games) and sometimes to high prices. I'll probably avoid In Between on game days-- just like I avoid just about anything else in the area on game days-- and I'll admit that it's a little more expensive than your standard bar lunch, but I don't find it offensively so.

Joe's Diner

Man oh man! Joe's Diner!


I'm the one who writes most of our posts, but Dan's the one who knows *everything* about what's going on. He said that Joe's Diner was reopening (uh I didn't know it existed, much less than it closed), and that they were having a "soft opening" before their formal launch on August 12th. This meant that their menu wasn't completely ready (sounds like they'll have a ton of milkshake flavors at launch, for instance), but I saw no reason to wait.


This is absolutely my kind of place! I've always been a *huge* proponent of the greasy spoon, and this manages to be... how to word it?... a clean-but-greasy spoon. It felt retro without feeling inauthentic, the waitstaff was awesome and friendly, the food was delish. I hope this becomes a regular place for us, especially as it will be open until something like 4am!


Here's my burger on a kaiser roll, with sweet potato fries. Yeah, I'm not always muy adventurous, but I know what I like. My brother Bradley always tries the burger first, no matter where he goes-- he thinks if they can't nail a burger, he doesn't have much faith in the rest of their menu. Based on that premise, Joe's passes for me. And the milkshake? Scrumptious. Can't wait for more flavors, though!


Joe's Diner website (as of posting, "Coming Soon"): http://www.joesdineronsycamore.com/

Senate

Despite the fact that I can literally see Senate from my window, I know I'm the last blogger to visit. Dan and I kept putting it off, waiting for an occasion that was worthy of a $10 hotdog-- those come few and far between!

Then my friend Jessica popped into town, all the way from Orlando, Florida. It was a sweltering day out, so we didn't want to walk too far, but we did want to take her somewhere unique. Senate was a perfect solution. Finally!


Unfortunately, the sweltering weather didn't stop at Senate's door. It was disgustingly hot inside, and they tried to sit us at a table directly in front of their full window. All three of us were immediately sweating, so they were able to cram us into a smaller but less sunny table.

Even there, however, it was uncomfortably hot. I'm sure the giant oven and mass of body heat were not helping the situation, but it was a little miserable. And on top of that, Senate serves gourmet street food... in other words, hot hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, etc. Caliente.


We all enjoyed our hotdogs immensely (though I wish we'd taken them home or something). I had the "One Night in Bangkok," which had peanut sauce and picked radish on it (above). Dan had the "Trailer Park," which he liked despite not being much of a cole slaw eater. Jessica had the "Chicago" with truffle fries, and seemed to really love it.


Jessica was surprised that a place like Senate exists in Over-the-Rhine-- that's a reaction we're used to getting (and we both had, once upon a time). She loved walking downstairs from our apartment into this cute, upscale little bar. She definitely lamented the heat, but seemed to think the trip was worth it.


One last complaint: we tried to partially pay with a Gateway Quarter giftcard, but Senate doesn't take the cards "yet." Uhh. There aren't *that* many places in the Gateway Quarter, so it's frustrating when one restaurant within the area doesn't take it. Plus, what is this "yet" business? Senate has been open all summer. Too much to ask that they comply, instead of making my card a little more useless?

Senate website: http://senatepub.com/
Senate on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cincinnati-OH/SENATE-Restaurant/134193393637

Via Vite

Via Vite: one of the restaurants that I've walked by just about every day for five years, and I think I've maybe eaten there once, for lunch?

Dan and my dinner experience was delightful. Honestly it wasn't really the food that stood out to me-- it was very good, but I expected very good-- but our service was exceptional. We showed up pretty early, having come directly from work on our walk home, and our waiter (Steven?) had only just learned the menu. He was friendly and engaging, made recommendations and talked me into a pretty delicious zucchini pizza. I think that he amped up the experience quite a bit.

Dinner itself was fantastico. I went simple-- sweet potato gnocchi and the aforementioned zucchini pizza for dessert-- and it was all great. My only regret is that I didn't request outdoor seating... Via Vita has a great little balcony and it was a beautiful night out, but we just plopped down there the hostess told us to.


Via Vite website: http://viaviterestaurant.com/

Primavista

I can't believe I didn't bring my good camera.


Okay, in my defense, I didn't know I was going to Primavista. Dan surprised me with my first trip there for our anniversary. (We looked at the great suggestions you guys left, and I'm SURE we'll eventually hit them all, but most weren't open on Sundays!)


Really though, the view was incredible. I do wish I'd had our awesome camera with me so I could have captured a bit more of the majesty! Trust me though... this is something you ought to see for yourself.

And while you're seeing it, perhaps you might as well go ahead and eat there? :) I enjoyed my dinner quite a bit. It's on the expensive side, of course... okay for a special occasion, but not somewhere I'll be meeting people after work or anything.

Dan had a ravioli that looked fab. Perhaps I'll make him switch leftovers with me-- we brought a good deal home so we could have dessert.


I chose the penne vodka with chicken, with a White Zinfandel. We had a pretty fantastic chocolate & pine nut torta for dessert-- certainly a dessert worth splitting. It'd kill you on its own.

Worth coming here just for the vista! On our way out, we noticed that there's a park next to the building, with the same view. We might have to hit that up sometime... with camera in tow.

P.S. Happy anniversary, Daniel! You make every day a special occasion!

Primavista's website: http://www.pvista.com/