Brew House, Cincinnati, Ohio Restaurant Details

Food:

Great beer selection, good pub grub (burgers, pressed sandwiches, homemade spinach artichoke dip).

Food:

When I moved to Cincinnati three and a half years ago, one of the first places my boss took me to eat was The Brew House. That was 2012. The first place I took my parents when they came to visit me was The Brew House, many moons ago. The Brew House is a special place for me.

I went there last night (10/06/2015) and realized that over the course of three years nearly everything has changed. First, the menu: Everything on their already awesome menu is evolving. The management has really taken to heart the old adage that there is always room for improvement! The legendary Big Jack is still on the menu, but has been renamed “The Cameron” (apparently that’s Jack’s last name); a nice nod to something that we loved about the old Brew House. It’s true the price that made the Big Jack legendary has gone from $6.50 to $11, but I don’t mind at all considering the HUGE size of the burger (two full sized patties)! I can’t imagine how anyone could have made any profit at all selling that thing for $6.50. Also, the Brew House's run-of-the-mill hamburger has gone from $4.50 to $6.50, but that’s still on the cheap side for burgers of this caliber in the Cincinnati area. They’ve also deleted off the menu some of their lower quality items (which I never saw anyone order, even though I have been eating there regularly since I moved here), they are now offering all sorts of lovely new dishes for moderate prices that are what the historic Brew House is known for and is what everyone I know loves about this restaurant. Bringing the menu up to date is not only what probably saved this restaurant from having to close its doors forever, but what also allowed the new owners to start some MUCH needed renovations.

Let's talk about the renovations they are now making to the front of the building. One word: Gorgeous. No, two words: Gorgeous and Refreshing. The front of the building now sports a largely all glass enclosure that allows one to gaze upon the lovely happenings of East McMillan. With all the new things happening in Walnut hills, I really want to see what’s going on out there! The terrible thing about the old Brew House (before the new owners took over) was the cave-like atmosphere that invited in all sorts of shady characters (I’m pretty sure I saw an actual drug deal happening in the back room before the new owners took over and got rid of that sort of stuff). Now, I can actually go there by myself without worrying about someone following me to my car because they think I’m a prostitute! All the light that the front entrance lets in really brings a refreshing atmosphere, and makes the space feel like a restaurant instead of a festering murder-hole. I just love hearing and watching all the cars drive by on McMillan while I eat, too! The outside sitting space on the side of the building was also a nice addition, and this new renovation is a welcome change and all-around huge improvement.

It's great. So, so great. The new owners are clearly taking my beloved Brew House and trying to make it into something so much better! And they might succeed, but they will only succeed with people who don't know anything about the old Brew House, or are willing to give it a second chance. I find nowadays when I ask my friends to dinner with me, instead responding with “That place is scary, let’s just go somewhere in OTR” I get “Ok, they’ve got an awesome beer selection!” Those of us who truly loved the old Brew House will really appreciate this new and friendly Brew House. The new owners have really turned this place around.

I also want to say that I wish the new owners the best, and I hope they know that they have gone a long way in saving what is still a great little restaurant. It is--and always will be--a special place for me where I can go and enjoy an affordable dinner, cherish the memories, and enjoy the company of my fellow Cincinnatians and Tri-staters. It's a bright, friendly joint that actually has an atmosphere now! I'm in love.

Food:

When my father died when I was 12, and when we moved back to the Tri-state area from Louisiana (my mom and dad are originally from this area, but they had moved out-of-state), one of the first places my Uncle Tom and Uncle Chris took my mom, sister, and myself was The Brew House. That was 1986. The first place I took my significant other was The Brew House many moons ago. The Brew House is a special place for me. Or, should I say, was a special place for me.

I went there last night, 10/02/2015, and nearly everything has changed. First, the menu. Everything on their once awesome menu is in flux. Why why why change a good thing? The legendary Big Jack is now gone replaced by the Cameron. Are you serious? That's not all. The price that made the Big Jack legendary has overnight gone from $6.50 to $11! The reason the Big Jack was so awesome was it's size and price. Also, the Brew House's run-of-the-mill hamburger has gone from $4.50 to $6.50......overnight. They also have deleted off the menu one of my personal favorites, their once awesome steak hoagie. That was my regular go-to sandwich for decades. Plus, they are now offering all sorts of lovely (NOT) yuppie dishes for prices that are not what the historic Brew House is known for and runs counter to what everyone loves about this restaurant. Guess they have to find some way to pay for the renovations that are currently under way.

Let's talk about the renovations they are now making to the front of the building. One word: hideous. No, two words: hideous and tragic. The front of the building now sports a largely all glass enclosure that allows one to gaze upon the lovely happenings of East McMillan. Guess what, I don't want to see whats going on out there. The great thing about the old Brew House (before the new owners took over) was the cocoon-like atmosphere that allowed one to escape the realities of the world and commiserate with one's fellow travelers in life. Now, you can also share your sorrows with all of the foot traffic on East McMillan and be blinded by all of the light that the front entrance lets in. Just love hearing and watching all the cars drive by on McMillan while I eat, too. Not. The outside sitting space on the side of the building was a nice addition, but this new renovation is an abomination and a clear over-extension/reach.

It's sad, so so sad. The new owners are clearly taking my once beloved Brew House and trying to make it into something that it's not. And they might succeed, but they will only succeed with people who don't know anything about the old Brew House. Those of us who love the old Brew House will never love this new and yuppie friendly Brew House. The new owners have pulled the carpet out from under us.

I want to say that I wish the new owners the best, and I do, but I also want the new owners to know that they have gone a long way in ruining what was once a great little dive. It's no longer a special place for me where I can go and enjoy an affordable dinner, cherish the memories, and enjoy the company of my fellow Cincinnatians and Tri-staters. It's now just an overly bright, over-priced joint that has no atmosphere at all. I'm heart broken.

Food:

great service and great food, cozy atmosphere

Food:

Had them for lunch at my job. The meatloaf was delicious. Really liked the sauce. The sweet potato fries with apple butter was really good too. The prices were fair. Only complaint is that the menu is rather small.