The hamburger: a cornerstone of American cuisine. From backyard grill outs and roadside drive-thrus to gourmet interpretations, these beefy bunned babies are like a slab of comfort food you can (generally) hold between two hands.
Adhering to a tried-and-true culinary equation, the nucleus of a burger is some type of patty (or two) — beef, turkey, veggie — topped with assorted accoutrements like lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, pickles, bacon, over-easy eggs, etc. But within those parameters, an almost overwhelming amount of variations on the same general concept can be achieved. And whether you want a damn good basic cheeseburger or to push the limits of a meat sandwich to the extreme is up to you — and whomever you’re ordering from.
To help you on the quest for burger nirvana, this issue features the top 10 best overall burger joints in the city, as voted by CityBeat readers in the 2020 Best Of Cincinnati Issue, plus our readers’ favorite top 10 veggie burgers and top neighborhood-specific burger spots. We also threw in a handful of new and noteworthy burger destinations (because some of the top picks are currently or possibly permanently closed due to COVID-19).
As a bonus: Burgers were basically made for carry-out and therefore an ideal food to devour during a pandemic, when more than just the thought of melty cheese and a side of fries conjures up a feeling of nostalgia for days gone by (or even just for early March).
Top 10 Best Overall Burger Joints
No. 10 Sammy’s Craft Burgers & Beer
Sammy’s Craft Burgers & Beer has been around since 2009, offering fresh food and a casual dining experience. Nothing at Sammy’s is ever frozen, and the restaurant also sources everything from its bread to its produce and patties locally. The biggest and most popular attraction for guests is the Sammy’s burger of the month. The most recent burger to flip into this role is the Waston Burger, created by FC Cincinnati player Kendall Waston. A handcrafted burger blend is topped with bacon, fried egg, gouda cheese, housemade guacamole, fried carrots, caramelized onion, arugula and Waston dressing and is served with sweet potato fries. Sammy’s donates a percentage of its burger of the month sales to help feed those experiencing homelessness. 4767 Creek Road, Blue Ash, sammyscbb.com. — WILLIAM MEYER
No. 9 Arthur’s (TIE)
From several name changes to the fall of the Soviet Union and a fire in 2013, Arthur’s has been through it all. The cafe’s history began in 1947 when it opened as the Allen E. Bradford Restaurant before becoming Apke’s Grill, then Art’s and finally Arthur’s in the 1970s. A popular choice here is the Boursin Burger, which features boursin cheese blended with herbs and garlic, topped with lettuce and tomato. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it’s “Burger Madness”: For less than $10, you can top an original Arthur’s burger (a half-pound of seasoned lean meat), a Sally burger (five ounces of lean ground beef), a black bean burger or a turkey burger with whatever the hell you want for no extra charge — well, with two caveats: you must limit yourself to six cheeses and gourmet toppings (fried egg, avocado, boursin, et al) are excluded from the deal. If you’re smart, you’ll ask for a side of pink salsa (salsa, sour cream and a splash of mayo) to dip your fries. 3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park; 8221 Beechmont Ave., Anderson, arthurscincinnati.com. — WM
No. 9 Krueger’s Tavern (TIE)
One of Thunderdome Restaurant Group’s handful of restaurants in Over- the-Rhine, Krueger’s Tavern has been a Vine Street staple for just over five years. The eatery boasts a cozy and laid-back atmosphere, complete with ’90s tunes on the radio and comfort food on the menu: a millennial’s dream. The most popular burger is the signature Krueger Burger: two patties topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, onion, house pickles, Dijonnaise and “Special Sauce,” all piled on a challah bun. 1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, kruegerstavern.com. — OLIVE COLLINS NIESZ
No. 8 Street Chef Brigade
Open since 2015, Street Chef Brigade is a favorite Cincy burger destination because of its “edgy comfort food,” says owner Shaun Hart. This burger joint on wheels — parked outside of the Streetside Brewery taproom for lunch, dinner and late-night — is renowned for its Street Chef burger. Made with beef and topped with American cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onions, mustard and Wham Sauce (which Hart describes as a “smokey thousand island flavor”), it is a customer must-have. 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum, streetchefbrigade.com. — GRACE DEARING
No. 7 The Turf Club
The Turf Club (no longer associated with former owner Terry) is a quirky, neon-lit burger joint in Linwood that whips up big build-your-own burgers. With 8.5 ounces of meat on a Sixteen Bricks bun, there’s plenty of room to personalize your burger with any combination of 13 cheeses, 13 specialty sauces and 14 toppings, ranging from sharp cheddar and bacon to a lump crab and lobster cake and mango curry. Of course, no burger is complete without a solid side, and at The Turf Club, burgers come with your choice of chips, onion rings, asparagus, duck-fat fries, mac and cheese or fried corn. 4618 Eastern Ave., Linwood, turfclubcincy.com. — WM
No. 6 Tickle Pickle
Earth-conscious, locally sourced Rock & Roll burgers are exactly the kind of thing one would expect to find in Northside. And Tickle Pickle happens to serve just that. Their burgers are named for famous musicians, like the Nom Petty (a beef patty with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and mayo) and Meatallica (a beef burger with mayo, American cheese, bacon and egg with the option to add goetta). They also have a hearty menu of veggie burgers for the non-meat eaters as well as decadent vegan milkshakes. 4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside, ordertickle.com. — STAFF
No. 5 Quatman Cafe
This no-frills grill has been serving Norwood patrons since 1966, when it was founded by high school buddies Albert “Albo” Imm and Ken Talmage. Their half-pound burgers are the epitome of simple: no special spice mix, standard 80:20 meat to fat ratio, served with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a plain old paper plate. Current owner Matt Imm says what makes them stand out is the fresh, local ingredients (everything but the tomatoes and lettuce are purchased from Cincinnati companies). Fans of the burger especially love dining on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, when $8 will get you a cheeseburger, fries or onion rings and a soda or draft beer. It’s hard to go wrong with that, but if you want to change it up, Quatman also sells some grub you don’t find very often — fancy a bowl of mock turtle soup? Quatman also has a second location in Mason. 2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood; 224 W. Main St., Mason, quatmancafe.com. — STAFF
No. 4 Flipdaddy’s
UPDATE: As of Aug. 14, a sign fastened to the door of Newport's Flipdaddy's Brilliant Burgers & Craft Beer Bar says the restaurant has closed. We have reached out to both the Mariemont and Symmes Township locations to confirm whether or not they are open, and received a message the "call cannot be completed as dialed or the number has been disconnected." CityBeat contacted general manager Chris Anschutz for comment and have not yet received a response. We will update with new information as it is available.
Celebrating a decade in business, local chain Flipdaddy’s is a self-proclaimed “brilliant burger and craft beer bar.” Their custom patties are a blend of fresh short rib, brisket and beef chuck, with bread and buns from local Klosterman Baking Co. Menu names are punny with signature options including the Chuck Norris, topped with Roundhouse Kick sauce, fire-roasted green chili and jalapeño compote; the Mac Daddy, with grilled macaroni and cheese and bacon on a pretzel bun; and the Chilly Willy, smothered with amber-beer-infused homemade chili, cheddar cheese, onion straws and yellow mustard. Speaking of beer, Braxton makes both the Flipdaddy’s amber and lager and the rest of the taps are dedicated to mostly local crafts. 7453 Wooster Pike, Mariemont; 12071 Mason Montgomery Road, Symmes Township; 165 Parkway Pavilion, Newport, flipdaddys.com. — STAFF
No. 3 Zip’s Cafe
Open since 1926, Zip’s is an East Side institution and a must-try Cincy burger destination because of its “classic American favorites, like cheeseburgers and French fries, and friendly service,” says owner Mike Burke. With a dark wood-paneled interior reminiscent of its earliest days in business — and a toy train that travels along the ceiling — they are renowned for their Zipburger. Made with fresh ground beef from Avril-Bleh Meat Market, this one-third pound patty is flame-broiled to a juicy medium well and topped with the condiments of your liking. If that doesn’t sate your appetite, try the Girth burger — named by former Bengals punter Pat McInally. It takes your classic Zipburger up a notch by topping it with a split, grilled Avril-Bleh mettwurst. 1036 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, zipscafe.com. — GD
No. 2 Roney’s
Opened in 1969 in Union Township as part of the Roy Rogers chain of fast food eateries, Roney’s (as the restaurant came to be called after Roy’s dissolved) closed its original location in 2012. The restaurant and drive-thru reopened in Milford in 2015 and Cincinnatians rejoiced for the return of the classic menu and iconic neon sign. With a diverse offering of comfort food — roast beef, burgers and fried chicken — Roney’s is unique in comparison to other burger joints across the city for its toppings bar, says Noah Loftspring, the owner’s son. Roney’s burgers come plain but you can head to the bar to add your own lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and condiments (including a cult-favorite barbecue sauce). They are renowned for their Lucky R burger: a quarter pound of beef topped with a slice of ham and served on a sesame seed bun. While the inside of the eatery is currently closed because of COVID-19, you can ask for the burger fixings of your choice at the drive-thru window. 314 Chamber Drive, Milford, facebook. com/roneysrestaurant. — GD
No. 1 Nation Kitchen & Bar
Nation has been an anchor in the Over-the-Rhine/Pendleton burger scene since 2015 with its inviting atmosphere and simple and delicious menu. Operated by Hickory Wald Hospitality, their second location is set to open in Westwood later this year. Nation is one of the top-voted burgers destinations the city for two main reasons: 1) the toppings are straightforward, with only one or two extra ingredients in addition to the standard LTOP (aka lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle), keeping the burgers approachable. 2) Nation’s signature double-stacked thin patty allows for double the cheese (aka double the goodness). The most popular burger on the menu is a tie between The Nation Burger (smoked cheddar, whiskey barbecue sauce, onion straws and horseradish aioli) and the Whiskey Bacon (cheddar, bacon, barbecue and apple slaw). Their house veggie burger, known as the Spicy Black Bean, is made with “every vegetable they have in the kitchen and then some,” mixed with tofu, black beans and panko breadcrumbs, and stands out with the splash of Sriracha it gets before hitting the grill. It was voted the No. 2 veggie burger in Cincinnati by CityBeat readers, but Hickory Wald partner Aaron Kohlhepp says they’re gunning for the throne next year. 1200 Broadway St., Pendleton, nationkitchenandbar.com. — OCN
Top 10 Best Veggie Burgers
No. 10 Taste of Belgium
With five locations in Cincinnati (one coming soon to Kenwood) and one in Northern Kentucky, Taste of Belgium has been a local favorite since 2007 for its “traditional Belgian-American hybrid menu,” says Bailey Herth, general manager of the Over-the-Rhine location. They are renowned for their veggie burger, made with a housemade black bean, corn and jalapeno base, which is then topped with pepper jack cheese, spinach, onions and tomato. Opt to jazz up your burger by substituting a Belgian waffle for the bun. Multiple locations including 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, authenticwaffle. com. — GD
No. 9 Arthur's
This East Side cafe has been through many changes since opening as the Allen E. Bradford Restaurant in the 1940s. They in addition to their popular meaty burgers, they also have some great options for vegetarians, like the cafe's black bean burger, a patty made in house with black beans, corn and bread crumbs and served with lettuce, tomato and sliced pickles. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it’s “Burger Madness”: For less than $10, you can top an original Arthur’s burger (a half-pound of seasoned lean meat), a Sally burger (five ounces of lean ground beef ), a black bean burger or a turkey burger with whatever the hell you want for no extra charge — well, with two caveats: you must limit yourself to six cheeses and gourmet toppings (fried egg, avocado, boursin, et al) are excluded from the deal. If you’re smart, you’ll ask for a side of pink salsa (salsa, sour cream and a splash of mayo) to dip your fries. 3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park; 8221 Beechmont Ave., Anderson, arthurscincinnati.com. — WM
No. 8 Maplewood (TIE)
Maplewood serves up dishes and ingredients that would be right at home on the West Coast: cold pressed juices, superfood salads, egg-white omelets and somewhat nutritious cocktails. Helmed by Thunderdome, the same team behind the No. 4 veggie burger at Krueger’s, the Maplewood veggie burger offers a different, nonfried take on a meatless sandwich. A housemade black-bean patty is topped with Havarti cheese, avocado, lemoncaper Dijonnaise and mixed greens on a Sixteen Bricks sesame bun. Note: Maplewood is keeping the doors closed at its downtown location for the time being, but has reopened its Deerfield Township restaurant for dine-in and carry-out. 5065 Deerfield Blvd., Mason; 525 Race St., Downtown, maplewoodkitchenandbar.com. — STAFF
No. 8 The Pony OTR (TIE)
This neighborhood bar on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine has a Cheers-type vibe offering menu of comforting pub grub with an elevated slant. Everything’s available for carry-out right now, including signature cocktails, like the Pony Express (basically grape vodka and lemonade), bottles of wine, draft beer and their ever-popular wings. Their veggie burger is a meatless take on a classic featuring a Beyond patty topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mayo. If you want meat, switch out the Beyond Burger for a fresh-ground Avril-Bleh one — same toppings. 1346 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, Facebook. — STAFF
No. 7 S.W. Clyborne Co. Provision & Spirits
Open since 2018, Clyborne brings a bit of the hip big city to the suburbs with its steampunk accents, unisex bathrooms and gluten-free laden menu. With a modern American and seasonal spin, they don’t consider themselves a “burger joint” by any means, but that doesn’t mean their made-from-scratch burgers — both veggie and non — aren’t top 10 worthy. The signature Clyborne Burger is double stacked 5-ounce patties, topped with white American cheese, Clyborne’s “signature sauce,” shredded lettuce, tomatoes and house-made pickles, served on a toasty potato bun. Their vegan-friendly Mushroom Lentil Burger stands out from other veggie burgers because of its ability to hold itself together (veggie burgers often have a tendency to fall apart). Topped with roasted mushrooms, black beluga lentils, lettuce, pickled onion and Sriracha aioli, this burger will make even the most passionate meat-eater’s mouth water. 5948 Snider Road, Mason, clybornes.com. — OCN
No. 6 Tickle Pickle
Northside's Rock & Roll-inspired environmentally conscious burgers cater to both meat-eaters and non. Vegetarians can opt for a Buns N Roses (a housemade vegan black bean burger on a vegan bun topped with ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle) or a When Buns Cry (a mushroom cap topped with bal- samic, spinach, tomato and caramelized onion on a pretzel bun). Or sub in a plant-based Impossible Burger on any meaty menu creation. They’re also known for their thick and creamy vegan milkshakes. 4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside, ordertickle.com. — STAFF
No. 5 Rollin' Bowls
Monica Meier’s vegan food truck Rollin’ Bowls serves plant-based cuisine out of a banana-colored bus. Meier quit her job heading up the CDL program at Gateway Community & Technical College in Florence, Kentucky to focus on serving wholesome meals to Greater Cincinnati and “letting the goodness roll.” While the meals coming out of the bus window change depending on seasonal sourcing availability and the crowd she’s serving, she says it’s unlikely she’d serve salad at a brewery — but she likes experimenting with more “off-the-wall options” where they apply. Meier serves bowls, quesadillas and tacos, soups and sandwiches, including Beyond Burgers. A recent menu iteration included two Beyond sliders topped with vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and housemade spicy mayo on an everything bun. Find where the food truck will be next at acebook.com/rollinbowlstruck. — SAMI STEWART
No. 4 Krueger's Tavern
Over-the-Rhine eatery Krueger's Tavern is well known for their eye-catching and super crunchy veggie burger, which is bright red, delicious and made from red and golden beets — differing from the standard black bean or chickpea recipes of other standard options. Topped with pesto mayo, mixed greens and pickles on a challah bun, they say that “even if you are not someone who likes veggie burgers, this burger is so unique and flavorful that you will end up craving it.” 1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, kruegerstavern.com.— OLIVE COLLINS NIESZ
No. 3 ESSEN
ESSEN has been one of Over-the- Rhine’s vegan hotspots for grab-and-go eats since opening in 2018. Their menu feels like comfort food, but with an upscale and modern tweak — 100% locally sourced, of course. Chef Yasel Lopez says that the ESSEN Burger is unique because he doesn’t try to force it to taste like something it isn’t. “My veggie burger is made with mushrooms and beans. I don’t try to mock the flavor that mother nature gave us,” he says. “She’s the artist, I’m just a vessel behind her. She gave us beautiful mushrooms, so I try to elevate them with technique and complex recipes.” The patty is finished with a tomato jam, spicy mayo and spinach, a creation that Lopez says took 11 months to perfect. The goal of ESSEN is to bring healthy and affordable food to the neighborhood, and Lopez has made sure that it is delicious, too. 1 Findlay St., Over-the-Rhine, essenkitchen.com. — OCN
No. 2 Nation Kitchen & Bar
Nation has been an anchor in the Over-the-Rhine/Pendleton burger scene since 2015 with its inviting atmosphere and simple and delicious menu. Operated by Hickory Wald Hospitality, their second location is set to open in Westwood later this year. Nation's popular house veggie burger, known as the Spicy Black Bean, is made with “every vegetable they have in the kitchen and then some,” mixed with tofu, black beans and panko breadcrumbs, and stands out with the splash of Sriracha it gets before hitting the grill. It was voted the No. 2 veggie burger in Cincinnati by CityBeat readers, but Hickory Wald partner Aaron Kohlhepp says they’re gunning for the throne next year. 1200 Broadway St., Pendleton, nationkitchenandbar.com. — OCN
No. 1 Fork & Greens
Covington vegan comfort food destination Fork & Greens is currently taking some time off. As per a recent Facebook post, “Unfortunately, due to the extended presence of Covid-19 and the huge uncertainty of operations, we have decided to forego our plans to open in 2020. We are not ceasing operations, just pausing our plans and search for a location this current year.” forkandgreens.com. — STAFF
A Handful of New and Newish Spots
Delwood
Nestled at the intersection of Delta and Linwood avenues in Mount Lookout Square, Delwood is a family-friendly Peruvian-inspired gastropub from owner Trevor Snowden, formerly of the Thunderdome Restaurant Group. Snowden comes by his Latin American inspiration honestly; his mother is Peruvian and that country’s recipes and ingredients infuse the menu with an uncommon flair. The Delwood Burger comes topped with salsa criolla (a sort of vinegary red onion and pepper mixture), avocado and Peruvian huancaina sauce made from aji Amarillo chile peppers and cream. It’s slightly spicy and served on a standard bun. For something more traditional, there’s also a double cheeseburger with cheese, pickle and special sauce. Instead of french fries, try the yuca fries or tostones (twice fried plantains) and keep an eye on the drink menu for an equally transportive experience with options running the gamut from a caipirinha and pisco sour to a paloma. 3204 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout, delwoodcincy.com. — MZ
Fifty West Burger Bar
Opened in April in the middle of the pandemic, people have been flocking to Fifty West’s new 1950s root beer stand-inspired burger bar. “It’s been absolutely insane,” says owner Bobby Slattery, “and so, so good.”The brewery spent around 10 years planning and building the Burger Bar. It’s connected to Fifty West’s sprawling campus, which now has a tent-covered beer garden with spaced-apart tables in addition to its existing beach volleyball courts. The menu features bread-and-butter diner specialties like classic cheeseburgers, flat-top hot dogs and loaded crinkle cut fries, but there are also 12 specialty burgers named for the 12 states that U.S. Route 50 runs through. They’re loaded with ingredients inspired by each state, including Cincinnati-style chili, tartar sauce from Maryland, apple butter from West Virginia and smoky barbecuesauce from Kansas. 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestbrew.com. — ERIN COUCH
Goose & Elder
Chef Jose Salazar opened Goose & Elder, a sort of comfort food destination with self-described “Midcentury grandma” décor, adjacent to Findlay Market last year. Though it feels more casual or at least more affordable than Salazar’s other eateries, Goose & Elder’s menu is just as creative, boasting fun takes on easy eats. A fried bologna sandwich comes topped with American cheese, pickles, coleslaw, an over-easy egg and potato chips; and retro cocktails like the Harvey Wallbanger and White Russian add a fun twist. Don’t sleep on the Royale Goose burger, featuring grass-fed beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and Dijonnaise on a sesame bun. Goose & Elder also does an awesome veggie burger, made of falafel and topped with haloumi cheese, tomato, onion, za’atar mayo and lettuce. A side of crinkle cut fries is a must. 1800 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, gooseandelder.com. — MZ
The Governor
Brothers Paul Barraco, who has served as executive chef a Milford’s 20 Brix for more than a decade, and Neil Barraco, specializing in front of house management at its sister restaurant Padrino, opened a classic diner with a modern twist in downtown Milford in January. The mission of the Governor is to offer the perks of fine dining — locally procured meat and produce, a menu made from scratch, a carefully designed cocktail list — at a medium price point in a laid-back environment. The menu features cuisine with accents of Asian and classic Americana, like a crab rangoon croque madame, vegan goetta “fromlette” or short rib grilled cheese. Their Governor Burger features grilled sweet onion, dill pickle, American cheese and maple thousand island dressing on a “fry” bun. 231 Main St., Milford, governordiner.com. — OCN
Wunderbar
Covington’s Wunderbar is a Bavarian-inspired restaurant and bar that has become a neighborhood favorite since opening in 2012 — but we’re labeling them as “new” here because they recently closed and reopened after a partnership dissolved. The eatery — which typically doubles as a music venue in non-COVID times — offers a menu of sausages, giant pretzels, pierogies and generously sized burgers, with plenty of German beers to wash it all down. Their roughly 10-ounce burger patties come nestled between salty pretzel buns and feature special toppings such as the bacon and cheddar or mushroom and Swiss. Another favorite is the Guac-a-Jack. Owner Nathan Chambers says that nearly everything on the menu is made in house, and ingredients are sourced from either their garden, a CSA they work with or from Kroger. Chambers says he strives to find the “best quality for the best price, so we can keep our menu affordable for everyone.” Their cozy string-lit patio features plenty of picnic tables and a cute view of the backyard garden. It feels like home, but better. 1132 Lee St., Covington, searchable on Facebook. — HAILEY BOLLINGER
Best Neighborhood Burger Joints (as voted by CityBeat readers)
Downtown/OTR
- Nation Kitchen & Bar, 1200 Broadway St., Pendleton, nationkitchenandbar.com
- Krueger’s Tavern, 1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, kruegerstavern.com
- Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com
Northern Kentucky
- Herb & Thelma’s Tavern, 718 Pike St., Covington, herbandthelmas.com
- Bru Burger Bar, 279 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell, bruburgerbar.com
- Flipdaddy’s, 165 Pavilion Parkway, Newport, flipdaddys.com
Central
- Quatman Café, 2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood, quatmancafe.com
- Tickle Pickle, 4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside, ordertickle.com
- Gordo’s Pub & Grill, 4328 Montgomery Road, Norwood, gordospub.com
East Side
- Zip’s Café, 1036 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, zipscafe.com
- Arthur’s, 3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park, arthurscincinnati.com
- Five Guys, 2743 Edmondson Road, Rookwood, fiveguys.com
West Side
- Incline Public House, 2601 W. Eighth St., East Price Hill, inclinepublichouse.com
- Chandler’s Burger Bistro, 6135 Cleves Warsaw Pike, Delhi, chandlersburgerbistro.com
- Maury’s Tiny Cove, 3908 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, maurys-steakhouse.com
'Burbs
- Quatman Café, 224 W. Main St., Mason, quatmancafe.com
- Sammy’s Craft Burgers & Beer, 4767 Creek Road, Blue Ash, sammyscbb.com
- Flipdaddy’s, 7453 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, flipdaddys.com
