Gold Star Chili

First off, I find it hysterical that out-of-towners give a debate on which franchise is better...Skyline or Gold Star.  I tell ya what...when you grow up your entire life feasting on Cincinnati chili, you can then accurately list the pros and cons between the two.

That being said, Skyline and Gold Star are NOT identical, and any Cincinnati native will tell you that.  I prefer Gold Star.  Both franchises are similar, but the discerning palate can tell the difference.  Skyline is a much sweeter chili.  In my opinion, they use too much cinnamon for my taste.

Gold Star has a bolder flavor, and their cheese is tastier.  This location on Ridge is always quick to get out your order, whether in the drive through or dining room, and the staff is always nice and friendly.

For the NYorker who called it "greasy"...please...go back to NY and suck on one of your street vendors weenies.

Greasy chili and not anywhere near as good as Skyline. The cleanliness of the restaurant also left plenty to be desired.

Seeing as how Cincinnati chili is this city's foremost native culinary offering, and seeing as how I've already written a Skyline review, it makes sense to address Skyline's primary competitor, Gold Star.  

Gold Star is something like Skyline's drabber, homelier cousin.  As transplants to this city, we don't really have a dog in the Skyline vs. Gold Star fight that seems to preoccupy some of the natives, but Skyline is our distinct preference.  By comparison, Gold Star is kind of blah and feels second-rate.

The actual Skyline chili product has some complexity to it, with notes of cinnamon, chocolate, and other seasonings that give it a somewhat Eastern European flavor.  Really nice.  Gold Star chili, by comparison, is just kind of bland-tasting, although the thinner, more al dente spaghetti is a plus.   Skyline is definitely the better stuff, but when you're talking about a five-way chili order, with the pasta, beans, cheese, and onion to obscure the taste of the chili, a plate of either Skyline or Gold Star actually isn't too terribly different.  

Many Skyline locations (I've been to the Oakley, Fairfax, Clifton, & 4th & Sycamore locations the most) have an inviting, comforting diner-like atmosphere.  Gold Star--at least at this location and the one other location we've been to--has the sterile garishness of a fast-food joint.   (The red and gold color scheme brings to mind a transmogrified Hardee's.)   It's not exactly an enticing place to dine.  This one's location on a seedy stretch of Ridge Road doesn't help.  But it's been clean, and the service has been competent and pleasant.  

Interestingly, Gold Star has two official hot sauces, the creatively named "Hot Sauce" and "Very Hot Hot Sauce."  Even the "Very Hot" falls short of a one-alarm fire.

Another plus over Skyline is that Gold Star seems marginally cheaper and offers more specials.

"Innocuous" is pretty much the best Gold Star descriptive.  Three stars, but barely.