The Incline Public House in Price Hill on Cincinnati’s west side has a wonderful view of downtown Cincinnati and the riverfront. Sit outside on the patio on a sunny day and enjoy unique appetizers (small bites as they call them), a great meal or maybe just a local craft beer from one of Cincinnati’s resurgent breweries.

If you do choose to go on a nice day, be prepared to wait for outdoor seating – but trust me, it’s worth it. Besides, you can pass the time relaxing at the park next door where the old incline to Price Hill once existed. Take some time to look across 8th Street and imagine what it would have been like to ride the incline down the hill and take a streetcar into downtown. Today the path is overgrown with trees, but you can still see where the incline station previously stood.

The View

The Food

I started with the Cheddar Ale Soup and it was creamy, smooth and rich with just enough French-fried onions to add a little zip. Next I had the burger, and it was in the mold of several Cincinnati burger joints (think Terry’s Turf Club, Gordo’s or Mad Mike’s in Newport) – thick, juicy and piled high with toppings. I also added a side of onion rings. The wide slices of onion were dipped in a light breading and deep-fried for a crispy, flaky coating that allowed the onion flavor to dominate the palate.
For dessert? Chickow!

The Drink

That’s right. I had a beer for dessert. But don’t mistake Triple Digit’s Chickow! beer as just another wannabe craft brewskie. Triple Digit Brewing is the brewery side of homebrew suppliers Listermann Brewing Company. Chickow! is a rich, malty brew that actually satisfies a sweet tooth. With all the potency and complexity of a Belgium-style beer and all the rich fullness of an oatmeal stout, the Chickow! might as well be a dessert.

Besides Triple Digit, the Incline Public House also offers other local breweries including Fifty West, Mt. Carmel, Rivertown and of course, Moerlein. Plus they rotate taps regularly, showcasing a wide variety of styles and flavors.

If you don’t like beer, I would recommend the Bloody Martini (available during brunch). Served in a martini glass, this take on the Bloody Mary features bacon vodka, a hot pickle spear, olives, celery, one thick-cut bacon strip and a jumbo cocktail shrimp. Perhaps it should be classified under “small bites.”

The Upshot

I’ve already told most people I know about the Incline Public House, from the view to the food to the craft beers. I have since received reports back supporting the accuracy of my assessment. In other words, like me, they loved it.

—Ryan Varney