food = 7 stars.
napkin dispenser = 0 stars since when i pulled out a napkin i was greeted by a cockroach who flew out of the dang thing as i pulled out the napkin. Â
however, once we moved tables and began digging in, i was in heaven. Â the fries are perfectly cooked adn the perfect size. Â the coneys are unreal. Â
i will be back, but i will be bringing my own napkins.
The smell of the delicious chili starts wafting from the restaurant early in the day, I hear they purposely fan the scent out to entice patrons. Â This is by far the best place for Cincinnati style chili and I go at least once a month to get my four way and chili cheese sandwich fix. Â Gold Star and Skyline do not even come close. Â I know Camp Washington is a local favorite but I think Dixie is richer and more flavorful.
Service is fast and friendly. Â You walk up and order cafeteria style then after dining you leave your tray for someone to clean up. Â The restaurant is always very clean and well taken care of. Â Great late night spot to grab some grub after drinking a few big brews at the Hofbrau Haus. Â
I can't comment on the other menu options, deli type items and some desserts, because I simply can't go in and order anything other than the chili.
Happened upon this place on the recommendation of my friend after an event in Kentucky. Â Despite being nearly 9:30, the servers were warm and welcoming and let me take my time to peruse the extensive menu of dogs and sandwiches on the wall. Â I wasn't very hungry, so I went for an Alligator (dog with mustard, mayo, and pickle) and Greek waffle fries (with feta and Greek dressing). Â The food was served up quickly and freshly made fries made their way to our table as they were ready. Â The food was just what you'd expect from a chili place and good enough. Â The large old diner feel space was wide open and boasted many tables for quick meals. We found parking easily right outside on the street on this late weekday night. Â According to my companion, I would have been blown away if I had the benefit of some libations to help me appreciate the grub. Â Maybe next time...
I can't comment on the nuances of Cincinnati chili, as my non-native palate is not that refined, but for a quick casual unhealthy meal, this will fit the bill.
Dixie Chili is great - though I can't say it's the chili. Â Why? I've never had it. Â I typically order the Chicken Salad sandwich during lunch. Â It's good, fast, and a little cleaner than a 3-way.
The atmosphere is also great - and it's just a stones throw from my office, so YAY Dixie Chili.
Not bad Cincinnati chili, and i know it is in Ky but i still consider it Cincinnati style. Â They have lots more than just chili to. Â Its a little different then the other chili places in cincy also in how you get your food. Â IT is cafeteria style, you order, pay, get tray and drink , then at the end you get your food and seat your self. Â All the other chili places have wait staff. Â The food was good and fresh and i would have no objections about going here again.
Review Source:Walk in, order, grab your tray, and they'll hand you your drink and your food. Instant chili spaghetti satisfaction!
I've been going here for about a decade, as a former Ohio girl, and I love it. I pine for it even. I don't think I've ever gone to a show at Southgate House and NOT followed it up with a 4-way bean and perhaps even a cheese coney if I'm feeling extra hungry. Big time noms!
Also, check out the very fat cat in the yarn shop nearby. She's epic!
I loathe Cincinnati chili. Under the dictionary definition of gross, I imagine a picture of that cinnamon-laden slop. My stomach generally agrees (or should I say, disagrees...). To be fair, perhaps my nonnative palate just isn't refined enough to enjoy the flavors. Perhaps it is an acquired taste. Whatever the case may be, compared to most, Dixie Chili is like an oasis for my late-night comfort food cravings.
Technically, Dixie is still supposed to be Cincinnati-style, but the chili here is different. Unlike the other available options, the Dixie Chili variety has spice. It also has a thicker texture, and being more reddish, it deviates from the funky brown hue of other places. The bun is also soft, the cheese ample and well-melted, and the hot dog crisp. It probably isn't great for you, but it is tasty.
Sure, Dixie isn't fancy-- you order at the register and leave with a cafeteria tray-- but if you are craving a late night chili dog, this is the place. I've always found the Monmouth location fairly friendly (the late night staff can be a bit tongue in cheek) and very clean. Plus, the occasional trip will protect yourself from the scorn of any native, coney-loving friends.
Dixie Chili is more than another Cincinnati chili bar, it's a Greek deli! If you've ever had a friend craving conies but you're not in the mood, this is the place to go. It has something for everyone.
Dixie operates cafeteria style: order off a giant wall menu, pay, get a tray, drink, then pick up your entree at the end, and exit into the dining room. Service is pretty quick here. The chili is different than the standard chains: it's hearty and full of meat, but also has the sweet flavoring that Cincinnati is known for. They even serve vegetarian chili that tastes better than the original!
In addition to your three ways and coneys, the restaurant serves up double decker sandwiches, soups, salads, pies, and more. I really enjoy the Greek fries, topped with Feta and balsamic vinaigrette. The Greek vegetable soup arrived in a gigantic bowl with chunks of potato, tomato, beans, and all things hearty. Made fresh daily, it tasted straight from the garden with a broth that is second to none. Plus, it came with two kinds of oyster crackers: traditional and New England chow-dah crackers.
The only downside: no refills. I order my beverage with no ice so I get more soda, but at $1.75 per cup, the restaurant could afford to give us some extra drink.
Open until 1:00am or later seven days a week, Dixie Chili is a fantastic spot to satisfy your chili, sandwich, or soup craving at any time of the day!
Price per person: $8.00
After taking the Newport Gangster Tour my family and I headed to Dixie Chili for lunch. We walked past the restaurant during the tour and were all surprised to hear that this restaurant had been in operation since 1929 on the same block in Newport. Nicholas Sarakatsannis worked at Empress Chili, the first of the Cincinnati chili parlors, before starting Dixie Chili in an 830 foot room. Today the restaurant occupies a much larger section of the block.
Unlike Skyline Chili parlors, customers at Dixie Chili enter the restaurant and are queued up to an ordering counter along with a big menu on the wall. My family and I all stared at the menu for a few minutes and most of us decided to order their exclusive 6-Way, which combines chili, spaghetti, beans, onions all topped with fresh chopped garlic and cheese. The garlic is what really makes this combination different from anything I've eaten before. Also the chili at Dixie is spicier and not as sweet as Skyline's chili. I liked it a lot.
As I often do, I combined my favorite chili way with a chili cheese sandwich on the side. I'm not a hot dog eater, so this is my substitute for the traditional coney on the side. Again, I really enjoyed this. Another interesting item on the menu is the vegetarian chili, which my wife tried as a 6-Way. It was a little more Tex-Mex style than the regular chili, but still a great option for the non-meat eaters out there. It is also available in jars to go, along with the traditional chili. If you have not tried Dixie Chili before do yourself a favor and go now.
2.5, but I'll round up because I enjoyed this Cincinnati Chili the most of the places I've been to so far. Â From the comparisons I hear, I think Goldstar will end up being my favorite though.
Meatier, thicker, and has a little bit of a cumin-y kick. Â Like Alex S said, its not really chili, but I've come to appreciate the local version of "chili" for what it is, and Dixie is a 2.5 in that light.
When people yell at me that Cincinnati chili isn't chili (which, technically, it's not since chili by definition needs to have chili powder or chili peppers and it has neither, but it doesn't really matter since it's still delicious), I'm sending them to Dixie Chili.
Dixie feels like the hybrid of meaty, chunky chili and your sweet, spicy meat sauce chili from Skyline or Gold Star. Somewhere between the two, you arrive in Dixieland.
Tucked away on Monmouth street in Newport (quickly becoming one of my favorite streets for fun and comfort food in the Greater Cincinnati area), this is a classic chili parlor. Counter to order from in front, booths to the left, brightly lit with florescent lights, open until 3am. Can't beat any of that.
I got a four-way (with onions) and a coney and both were tasty. Honestly, It took me a second to acclimate - I was waiting for that hardcore Cincinnati style taste and didn't get it. But when I got used to the mix of old-school and newer-school chili, I really liked this food.
Would I be back? You bet I would. Another winning Monmouth spot.
In terms of Cincinnati chili joints, Dixie is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. I love this little location, right near everything in Newport. Â I'm not a chili fan - this one is better than others to me but I still won't eat it (I have tried it I just really hate Cincinnati chili - I am a terrible Cincinnatian I know!) but their other menu items are great! The service is amazing and the place is just really quaint and nice. I love their sandwiches - something other chili places don't have and I really appreciate. Also - their crackers are really good.
Review Source:I have never had Cincinnati-style chili before. Â On the cashier's recommendation, I ordered the chili 3-way and a cheese coney. Â I was amazed at how great everything was. Â I could see how this could become an obsession. Â It is such a simple idea, but executed so well. Â If you haven't tried Dixie Chili, drop whatever you are doing and go. Â You will thank me.
Review Source:My husband and I are new to the area and decided to give this little diner like place a whirl. I had the chili salad, and really enjoyed it. He had the fries and three coneys, we both thought the prices were good, the services was fast and the food was enjoyable. My husband wished his coney's were a little bigger, but he likes big portions.
Review Source:Hot damn, do I ever miss this place.
First off, let me just say that Dixie Chili is a Comfort Food Godsend - not only is every menu item satisfying, the place is also open long into the night - an inexpensive, delicious fix if you're burning the midnight oil, out from the bars or just in need of some gastronomic love. Â In my case, it was a mix of late-night projects and grieving after the death of a family member - Dixie Chili was a big part of my healing process. Â Thank heavens I've since worked off the resultant belly... but we're here to talk about the food.
First off, I grew up in Cincinnati, so the Greek-style chili/spaghetti combo was practically mother's milk in my house as a kid. Â My folks were more Skyline-oriented (like most), and it took years for me to finally give Dixie even a passing glance. Â I was 34 years old, and had recently returned to the NKY area after years living in NYC - my brother told me to give the six-way a try, complete with raw, chopped garlic.
I Was Hooked... Instantly. Â Afterward, Skyline pretty much fell - not just off the back burner, but from the stove completely.
Dixie has an indescribable, beautiful blend of flavors to their chili, set perfectly into place with the addition of that garlic. Â Throw on some hot sauce and you are Set - there is no better chili joint alternative. Â The other menu options are surprisingly varied, and every one a winner - I used to stop by often for deli sandwiches, Mediterranean soup and Greek salads, not to mention their unique twist on the Coney, called the "Alligator". Â A beef hot dog, dill spear, cheese and mayo on a bun - it sounds odd, and probably is... but tasty, indeed.
Now that I'm in Texas, I find myself missing this place, and often. Â Just a handful of Cincinnati foods jump out... Aglamesis Brothers' pineapple pecan ice cream... UDF malts... Sweet Tooth ice balls... but this one's the real clincher. Â And while it is available canned, nothing compares to sitting in the garlic-scented, checker-tiled greasy-spoon wonderland that is the Monmouth location. Â Definitely a forkful of heaven in Northern Kentucky.
Coming as I do from overseas and being transplanted in Cincinnati I don't 'get' the peculiar fascination this city has with chili. In Britain the merest mention of a '3-way' or a '4-way' conjures up images of a seedy swingers club in the back streets of London, so when I am asked if I want to have a go at either here I just smirk and try to look embarrassed.
The hen and rooster in the chili pack round here are Skyline and Gold Star, both corporate brands whose products I have tried, tasted and (on one occasion) spat straight into a trashcan. I find their offerings bland and lacking any kind of flavor regardless of how I ramp them up.
So, when someone suggested we tried Dixie Chili - a smaller, even more local chain with a great history - I was, admittedly, dubious. They offered a 'chili salad' which looked like something I'd like to try as I didn't have to choose any kind of 'way' and it felt a little healthier to order than those disgusting bland coneys or a bellyful of spaghetti.
I was unprepared for just how TASTY this chili salad was. In it's basic form it is a pile of crispy lettuce smothered in chili, cheese, dressing and salsa, served with a side dish of tortillas. Unlike Skyline or Gold Star the chili was incredibly tasty, carrying with it just the right level of spicy flavor. However, when the ingredients break apart on the plate and all the flavors merge into one - what I like to call - 'gloop'... now THAT's when it goes from tasty to downright phenomenal. At least IMHO.
Needless to say I became well and truly hooked, and I now return to the melamine splendor of their old fashioned dining hall once or twice a month. The counter service is usually friendly and flawless, the restaurant presents itself as clean and tidy and if I have a criticism its that their men's bathroom is cramped, often unkempt and a bit of a puddled stinkpit.
If you're looking for the real deal as far as Cincinnati style chili goes, this is the place to go. Â Forget Skyline. Â Forget Gold Star. Â Dixie Chili has been around longer and tastes better than the aforementioned. Â They also have a unique item that no one else has: Â the strangely constructed and named alligator (hot dog, cheese, mayo, mustard and dill pickle spear on a coney bun). Â Weird, but delicious.
I compare Skyline and Gold Star to the Catholics and Muslims. Â Catholics are really good at indoctrination and making you feel guilty if you don't do what they say. Â And there's a church (restaurant) on every corner. Â
Muslims are a little harder to find, are spicier, and have a broader range of followers (i.e. menu items).
Both are equally quick to anger and start yelling at you if you tell them they're wrong.
Dixie Chili is like Buddhism. Â They are good at finding peace within themselves and a confidence from knowing they are on the right path. Â And they love everyone. Â I'll bet the Dalai Lama is a Dixie Chili fan. Â He came searching for chili, but stayed for the 'gators.
I am a fan of the Newport Dixie Chili for myriad reasons.
It could be the hours. Open till 1 am on weeknights and 3 am on weekends, I used to meet my wife here on her break when she worked 3rd shift when we were in college, and it's a reliable stop after hitting the bars on Monmouth or the Southgate House.
It could be the staff. The same ladies have been working the late shift here for as long as I can remember and the daytime staff is just as friendly if you know how to finesse 'em.
It could be the retro atmosphere. Red, white & chrome. You order, take a tray, cafeteria style and walk down the line as they prepare your food. Then when you're finished, you just leave your tray on the table, the staff cleans it up. This part is confusing if you're not a regular.
It could be the food. Yeah, there's coney's and 3 ways, but they have some special treats. Try any of these, you won't be disappointed: chili-cheese waffle fries, an alligator (coney bun, pickle, cream cheese, chili, cheddar cheese, trust, its good.) and my favorite, the chicken salad sandwich, on wheat with lettuce, tomato and mayo. So good.
I eat at this location about once each week since I work in Covington. Â The menu still manages to make me ponder, even though I usually end up with the same thing each time...my favorite lunch? Â A coney island, onion and extra mustard, please (no cheese!) and a cup of the Mediterranean Vegetable soup, served daily. Â I'll also get a coney island and the greek salad, which is always fresh and served with ample creamy feta, olives and juicy pepperoncinis. Â Dixie Chili is amazing--it's made with 98% lean beef, has complex seasoning and a nice bit of spice--I never have the "issues" I have when I eat Skyline or Gold Star...truthfully, there is no comparison between the flavors. Â After eating Dixie, Skyline and Goldstar taste (and look) like mud to me. Â
I love the old gals that work behind the counter at this location--they don't have to be uber friendly because, well, they get the food out hot and fast and it's reminiscent of the art deco diner experience. Â They're not your grandmother, you know!
This is the best Cincinnati style chili you can get! Â Thicker and much more flavorful than Skyline or Gold Star. Â Once I found this gem, I don't eat at any of "the others" Â
sort-of cafeteria style serving is a bit of a twist, and fast service. Â The smell hits you when you walk in the door with all those wonderful spices. Â MAN. Â I'm getting hungry thinking about it. Â I can't say enough about this place.
It is ironic that the main reason I visit this chili parlor is because of a friend from Michigan... but then again, his infrequent visits also make Dixie Chili that much more delicious.
I think Dixie Chili's appeal comes partly from it's chili recipe and partly from it's service.
I love Dixie Chili's chili because it is meaty and thick but still has a ton of flavor. It is like combining Skyline Chili with the best parts of Goldstar.
Not to mention once you dump this lovely chili all over waffle fries and top it with cheese, you have a chili cheese fries few can reckon with. That's not to say the mainstays of any chili parlor, the 3-way and the coney are left by the wayside... No, no, no. These are also made perfect with some Dixie Chili poured all over, covering every square inch of spaghetti.
And you can't beat the 50's feel of the place, right down to ordering at the cash register and then getting your food on a tray. It's a simple but effective production line that gets the most chili to the most amount of people in the fastest time possible. And who can complain with that?
Delicious chili and fast service make Dixie Chili one of the best chili parlors in town.
Dixie Chili is hands down my favorite Cincinnati-style chili parlor. Their coneys can't be beat with their fluffy cheese and perfectly seasoned chili. But what makes this place so awesome is all of the other great tasting stuff on the menu.
Their Greek salads are phenomenal because of their homemade creamy house dressing, which is a yogurt and vinaigrette combo that is so good the first time I had it I ate the leftovers with a spoon. Â The make in house chicken, egg, and ham salad. I had the chicken salad plate which comes with a huge helping of chunky chicken salad and fruit. I was totally psyched to see that in addition to the standard fare grapes and honeydew I got some kiwi, orange slices, and pineapple.
Their deli sandwiches are awesome, too. The honey wheat bread is soft and the sandwich is stacked with tons of meat and cheese. Definitely worth a try if you are not in the mood for chili.
There is something about the Conway Twitty song playing on the jukebox when you walk into this Monmouth St. establishment that makes everything in the world seem right. Â I have eaten at this joint in all states of inebriation from completely sober to black out drunk and never once have I regretted my decision. I am a 4 Way, heavy onion guy, with a standard mustard and onion coney, and a water, I rarely deviate...
Everything about this place (and Monmouth St. in general) can transport you back to a time when things were simpler, when you went to get cheese coneys after a Reds game with your Dad or after your basketball game at Arnold's. From the paper hats that the wonderful chili ladies wear to the fake trees and other foliage that are in the table dividers, this place is real Cincinnati history, it has been there since the 1920's and hopefully will be forever. There are other highly touted (and well deserved) chili places in Cincinnati like the Camp, PRC, PHC, Empress, etc... but they don't hold a candle to the ambiance that Dixie exudes.
I live in Phoenix, AZ now and can only hope to find a place with as much soul as the Dixie Chili on Monmouth... Â It will be a fine day indeed...
Chili is practically an institution in Cincinnati. Try explaining it to people not from Cincinnati and they will look at you like you are crazy, especially if you start trying to tell them which chili parlor has the best concoction. Many a friendships have ended because of the great chili debates. Personally, I believe Dixie is the best and I will defend that stance against all of the Skyline lovers. The location on Monmouth has a great retro feel to it, right down to the cafeteria style serving line. The menu has a lot of variety, but really the question you have to ask yourself is spaghetti or coney. OR BOTH! Personally, I am going with the 3-way and a coney onion, no mustard. That is also what I recommend for everyone who hasn't tried the chili before because it gives you the best idea of what it is all about. Another reason I love Dixie: If you get fries they will give you a little flag to put on your table so they know where to bring them and it is a German flag (what chili and Germany have to do with one another I have no idea)
Review Source:Excellent chili chain, and the Monmouth St branch is spotless and the staff is sweet. I think Dixie chili is far better than Skyline or Gold Star - a bit more oomph in the chili, and the vegetarian version is not only healthy but tasty. Now it's non-smoking and that is a pleasure! My only gripe? The coneys get smaller with each passing year!
Review Source:WOW! Â Greater Cincinnati now has vegetarian chili! Â I was pleasantly surprised to find a Northern Kentucky gem as I drove down Monmouth Street in Newport yesterday. Â I stopped in to grab an iced tea for the road and found a very attractive chili parlour in the heart of Newport. Â As I stood at the counter I spotted a jar of vegetarian chili! Â I was offered a sample and found it to be delicious. Â I left with a jar and can't wait to return for an "in restaurant" dining experience.
Review Source:I ordered two coneys, one order of chili cheese fries, and a four-way. Â I am very particular about having my chili and cheese in a separate bowl than my fries so the fries wouldn't get soggy. Â I think Dixie tastes very similar to Skyline (but I'm not a Cinicinnati native or chili expert. I only visit on occasions), but Dixie has waffle fries! Â So that's a bonus in my book!
Review Source:I grew up in the Cincinnati area until I was 18 and moved to Texas.  Chili in Cincinnati and chili in TX are two completely different things.  I love Dixie Chili and everything about it.  I have eaten breakfast at Dixie chili with my father and neighbor once.  I had Dixie chili at least 1-2 times per week every week of my life until I left.  Some times I wake up on a Sunday morning groggy and hung over craving some cheese coneys and a 3-way (no not that 3-way) from this place and then realize I am 900 miles away from the only thing that could satisfy  my craving.  In a weird way I felt trapped via claustrophobia  because no matter how bad I wanted some chili from the Mecca I could not have it.  For the past 12 years I have tried to recreate the magic that is a cheese coney from Dixie.  Still to this day I have failed to replicate such greatness.  This is the reason that every time I go home,  I try to eat as many coneys as it takes to make this long distance craving evaporate temporarily.
If you find yourself in the Greater Cincinnati area...please, please if not for you, for me, eat here and help
I love my DIxie Chili. Best in the Tri-State if you ask me.
The service is much better than Skyline or Gold Star, as well as knowing the history behind the place (posted on the wall as you enter) tells you of its humble beginnings. Â Hours of operation are also great, open until 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends
Every older neighborhood in this town boasts it's own local chili parlor. Cincinnati style chili over hotdogs with onions, mustard and cheese piled on top seems to satisfy any late night crave your local Whitecastle can't take care of. I've been to these parlors at all hours and they're usually full of locals and have great prices. Dixie Chili slides right up there with the best of them but for some reason I avoid it as often as possible unless my vegetarian girlfriend needs a late meal before we head to the Crazy Fox. Even on the best of days the staff and general atmosphere leaves me tense and slightly ill. The ambiance reminds me of our local Johnny Rockets minus the singing and the extreme pricing. For some reason this has always affected my opinion of the food which is sad because the food is actually rather decent and the hours are excellent.
The chili is the standard, slightly watery mixture of beef and spices. If you love it you LOVE it and I still crave it sometimes. Dixie Chili offers other options like rather good salads, decent sandwiches with local potato chips and a small selection of cooled desserts. You can also take home a six pack of canned Dixie Chili in a convenient, cardboard case. Sit outside if you don't mind the view of the liquor store across the street. Parking is super convenient since the parlor sits next to one of the few parking lots on the Monmouth Street strip.
My favorite of all the Cincinnati Chilis! Â Nice atmosphere, although the jukebox could benefit from more than just country, and they have the best chili cheese fries (waffle cut!). Â If the thought of Cincinnati chili turns your stomache (then you weren't born here) you can always get the greek salad which is pretty swell.
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