Other than Denver and NW Indiana, Rude Dante's roots can be found here. He has started with a summary. We'll see if we can get some of these fleshed out. In fact, one of them I will do now based on my own experience in the state of Ohio.
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OK - this one merits an introduction - albeit briefly.Just started a project within spitting distance of the Cincinnati airport - CVG for those in the know (for Covington KY - although the airport address is in Hebron - what's up with that?) For the reading audience, Rude Dante lived a number of years on the Ohio side of this metropolis, so this is largely an exercise in re-checking boxes last checked some 25-30 years ago.
True test of whether or not much has changed in the area comes on day 1. My normal approach is to eat 2 meals per day on the road (ed: we have that in common as well!). There is a foodstuff that is local to Cincinnati area - and probably a handful of locations in Deutschland - known as 'goetta'. It is best described in terms of '...if you can't put it in hot dogs...' I've never seen it outside the Cincy area, and not that much within the I-275 corridor. My 2 meals - breakfast buffet at the Hilton, dinner at a landmark fried chicken joint known as the Greyhound Tavern - BOTH feature goetta on the menu. Welcome home!
OK - let's break this into 2 parts. One part is 'that which has been confirmed' whilst the the second we shall dub 'to be revisited / confirmed'. Away we go!
GRAETERS
A true standby in the tristate region, this is perhaps the best local ice cream joint on earth. My selection after a ‘light menu’ fried chicken dinner: toffee chip. Had to eat it fast because - A) summer, and B) rookie on the ice cream scoop left dangling, dripping participles rather than a tightly clustered scoop on my cone. Alternative options - for next visit - include Coffee chip and black raspberry chip. Others might lead to ‘fighting werds’! (ed: Been to one of these in Cincinnati as well. Great as RD states. We'll see if a larger entry emerges)
GREYHOUND TAVERN
One of the better fried chicken joints in the state of KY. More details to follow, but this one did not disappoint after my return post 30-year hiatus. Nuff said!
RAFFERTY’S
First time caller, first time listener. Met a couple named Marcia and Ted at the bar - both of whom have been coming here for years. Marcia says this little franchise was started by some Pike’s (Pi Kappa Alphas) from Western KY. What it reminds me of is the Bennigan’s format from the early 80s - when they were a division of Steak & Ale. Summary: good food, nice people, less Applebees / Chile's than it appears.
SKYLINE
So … there is some room for quibbling on the variations of Cincinnati Chili (with an ‘i’ not an ‘e’). Original would be Price Hill Chili, biggest innovator being Delhi Chili (breakfast 8-way includes goetta); but the real, core debate rolls down to Skyline vs Gold Star. Bot have their merits: Skyline is better, but some Gold Star locations serve beer. Hmmm. My easy answer: Skyline, Cheese Coney with onions and habanero jack cheese, plus a standard 3-way. (ed: OK, I'm going to add an entry for this one now...)
Grab an 8-pack of Little Kings on the way home!
If you are not following this, go to Paterson, NJ and ask for Mike Boreal’s family. He can help you out!
FIRST WATCH
A regional chain that seeks to out-hip Le Peep - and generally succeeds. Enjoyed a home-rolled omelette with fruit & sourdough toast, coffee, stunning waitress. Why was I even thinking about Bob Evans? (ed: We got this one covered RD - we'll add your comments to the entry)
To be confirmed / validated:
DEE FELICE
SCOTTY’s
MONTGOMERY INN
JEFF RUBY’s STEAKHOUSE
VIRGINIA BAKERY
Other…
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