Pleasant and very attentive staff, tucked away in Norwood - this is a good place without much curb appeal so it may not draw you in at first. Atmosphere is low key and non-judgmental with sufficient seating for a non-cramped meal, though I was there on an off-night for sure. Seemed like sufficient parking right next to the building as well which is always nice.
Food was good - burgers seem to be the specialty but I had quesadilla's which were standard but didn't disappoint.
Pretty solid beer list as well - an entire back side of the menu - so it should satiate the appetite for most beer connoisseurs.
Overall would recommend and be willing to go back.
I have now eaten at this location twice in the past month. Â I had a burger the first time and the fish tacos the second. Â The burger was very good, and cooked the way I ordered, medium well. Â No complaints. Â The fish tacos were very good as well. Â The only complaint was that I could have used a bit more salsa for the chips, but then again I didn't ask for more, so perhaps that is my fault. Â They have a decent beer selection, and the staff was friendly. Â
I do think they need to do something about the layout between the bar and restaurant. Â Somehow they need to seperate the two to make it feel a little more comforable. Â Just my opinion.
I wanted a good thick juicy burger. Found a tip on linked-in to try Gordos. I went on a weeknight and had to wait 30 minutes for a table. Those in line had been there before and said the wait is worth it. They were right.
Excellent food. The best burger I ever had. Great fries, etc. I had the blue-cheese something burger. Really, it was outstanding. And the beer is ice cold. Others in my party loved their food. We all sampled each other's. Again, outstanding.
Would I go back? You betcha!
I had heard several good things about Gordo's from a trusted foodie, so I had to check it out. The beer selection is surprisingly eclectic and a good way to start a meal. The baked mushroom appetizer was phenomenal, and a must try. I ordered the Jean-Robert burger, and while the burger and toppings themselves were fantastic, the hard bun was a definite detractor from the overall meal. All three in my party had the Jean-Robert, and all three of us had the same bun experience: the bun was stiff and broke apart from the start and made eating a burger with those type of toppings nearly impossible. I just used a fork, which is not how I want to eat a burger. If this had been a toasted bun that was pliable enough for me to grip properly and enjoy the burger as I expected, it would have been a 4.5-5 star experience. I might drop in for the mushrooms again, but will have my burgers elsewhere.
Review Source:Best burger place in Cincinnati. Also, the only place that ever cooks my burger the way I like it; rare. Yes I want it juicy and bloody, is that so hard?
Anyways, get the BP&J. Does it sound weird? Yes. Does it taste weird? No! It takes like heaven in a bun. Bananas, homemade jam, peanut butter, and a giant, bloody, tasty, hunk of meat. Mmmmm....
Aside from that, the burgers are reasonably priced and they all include thick and awesome steak fries. Plus, not one of them is priced over 10 dollars. There is also a rotating draft selection and a decent beer list. Go there today, your stomach will thank you.
A little bit of a surprise in Norwood, this restaurant offers some unique burger, sandwich and salad selections.
The burger patties are more like big fat meatballs between buns.....they don't smoosh 'em on the grill. Â I usually stick with the Gordo's Burger (Roasted Poblano's, Mushrooms, Onions, Smoked Bacon & Boursin Cheese....yum)
They have a decent draft beer selection and a better bottle selection.
Venture to the 'Wood!
Gordo's in Fairfield was the worst food and service I have had in a long time. I didn't even finish 10% of my dinner because it was so bad. You would have thought the server might have asked if there was something wrong with the food when she cleared my plate from the table. NOPE that never happened. I had to walk up and ask them for a refill on my drink. I wont be back!!!
Review Source:Gordo's has a great lineup of burgers, the chef used to work with Jean Robert de Cavel who's one of the best chef's in Cincinnati.
I've visited this restaurant a few times, they always have a good variety of craft beers on tap at good prices.
This visit a co-worker treated me and a fellow co-worker to lunch, we work very hard at a local non-profit and barely have a chance for lunch, so this was a nice treat.
I tried the Gordo's Burger, while another tried Jean-Robert and Pub burger - the burgers are good portion, love the toppings, Note the fries are okay, they could be better for a gourmet burger joint.
I enjoyed the flavor of the Gordo's Burger seasonings, the roasted poblanos, mushrooms, onions, boursin cheese are great mixture on the burger.
Everyone else enjoyed their burgers too, very filling. At times the burgers with how thick they are their seasonings can be a bit dry, my only beef with Gordo's.
If you're in Norwood, Gordo's is worth a try.
If you're visiting Cincinnati and looking for the best burger go to Terry's Turf Club the burgers are juicer you can't go wrong.
Gordo's had been talked up to me by a few people, and since it's on Cincinnati Magazine's Top 40, it was all but guaranteed that I'd eventually check it out. Since said hyping, I've been to both the Fairfield and Norwood locations--the former boasting a more sterile feel and, though nice, I much prefer the atmosphere of the latter.
Onward to the numbers:
Burger - 3.5/5
Both visits I ordered Gordo's Burger cooked medium (eighty-six the mushrooms). Both visits I've been disappointed in my burger patty being overcooked. That isn't to say, however, that the burger isn't top notch. I just know this burger has the potential to be one of my favorites in the area, and I've yet to experience it at its full potential.
Toppings - 5/5
The Gordo burger was my first tryst with boursin cheese. Its flavor and soft, creamy texture provided a fantastic topping and, while I don't typically add bacon to my fare, it was a welcome addition, especially when partnered with boursin, mayo, roasted poblanos, and onion.
Burger to Bun ratio - 4/5
The burger is rather large (nearly 2" thick), but I didn't find it to be too obtrusive. Pretty well done (unfortunately this can be meant literally and figuratively).
Side - 3/5
I have a theory about fries: all of them are good, albeit on a spectrum. Unfortunately, Gordo's features my least favorite kind of French fried potatoes (steak fries). It ended up working out pretty well, seeing as I only ate the crunchy versions of themselves (I will count it as cutting calories). And, though I believe that if Gordo's had better fries, the entire experience would increase exponentially, I won't let it detract from my overall trip.
Total - 3.875 out of 5 [rounded up to a 4 for Yelp rating purposes]
Aside from the steak fries and the fact that I've yet to eat a burger cooked to my liking, I overall really like this place, especially the Norwood location. I will return, with hopes that a juicy, cooked-medium Gordo burger adorned with roasted poblano, bacon, and boursin cheese awaits. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
This pub came highly recommended by my co-workers, and I wanted it to be a great spot. I'm not afraid to wander into the neighborhood that other reviewers have described, but I wouldn't necessarily want my wife walking around alone outside of Gordo's. The biggest problem that I had came from the odor that hit me as soon as I walked in. I try not to review places with hyperbolic comments, but the bar smelled like a men's bathroom that had not been cleaned properly in a while. We sat down and hoped for the food to make up for the neighborhood and stench; I ordered the Gordo Burger, and I appreciate a burger that is cooked to a medium temperature. I can tolerate a burger that is more medium rare, but my burger was served more on the rare side. I Still ate about half the burger, but I just didn't taste much flavor. The fries appeared to be a pre-frozen product, which blows my mind for a place that wants to be more like a gourmet burger restaurant. If that is not what these folks want, then maybe I am just missing the point,
Either way, the cleanliness is probably a non-starter for me.
Gordos is the typical neighborhood pub. Friendly bartender who knows the regular patrons names.
Stopped in after a day of sales calls...around dinner time and ordered the Blackened Burger. The burger was big, nice and juicy and I really liked the flavor. They didn't over use the blackened seasoning as most burger places do.
The burger came with fries. They were those great plank fries with just the right amount of crunch. Not greasy nor crispy.
I'll be back!
A co-worker of mind suggested going here. The neighborhood is SKETCH. There's a manpower office next door that had people looking for work lined up along the street and through the parking lot.
The decor, once inside, is nice and pub like. I ordered the Gordo Burger. The toppings and flavor of the 'burger' was good. The 'burger' itself was actually a giant meatball on a bun. It was marginally juicy. The meatball was at least cooked all the way through, but has NO balance of flavor. You're either at the edge getting the flavor of the toppings and no meat or in the middle where you can't tase anything but meat.
I don't see myself returning here. Â Quatman's is a MUCH better burger. I can actually think of several places in Cincinnati that are much better.
Disappointing.
Gordo's is my favorite haunt in Norwood. It is a bright, hole-in-the-wall bar that does not disappoint. Sorry to all you Terry's fans, but Gordo's is the number one burger in my book. Thick with excellent toppings (think pb & grape compote, goat cheese, boursin, to name a few) and always done perfectly. I have tried almost every burger on the menu and I have to say my favorite is the Jean Robert with the mac and cheese, of course.
Pay the extra and get the mac. You will not regret it.
So sit back, watch the game, get one of their many beers. If you're in a lighter mood I definately recommend the pear and blue cheese salad with salmon. One of the better cooked peices of salmon I've had in the city.
The reason why I cannot give it five stars (and I have been going there quasi-regularly for well over a year now) is the service is always horrible, particularly at lunch time. Hate to say it. I cannot get in and out of there under an hour, ever. So if you're planning on making a trip, leave plenty of time to enjoy.
After 4 years in the Twin Cities, the land of the best burger on earth, the Juicy Lucy, I returned to my hometown of Cincinnati. To my dismay, I couldn't find a burger up to snuff. Then I found Gordo's.
It's an unassuming bar a hop and a skip from Surrey Square in Norwood. Inside, however, it's clean, bright, and full of good beer and even better food. Their burgers are an inch thick, maybe more, delicious, and topped with high quality ingredients. My pick is the Gordo Burger with poblano, onions, mushrooms, bacon, and boursin cheese. Do yourself a favor and order the ooey gooey macaroni and cheese as your side. You'll thank me. Plus, you can't go wrong with their enormous beer selection.
If you're looking for a burger joint with a laid back atmosphere, mouthwatering burgers, and no lines, you won't find it on the East Side. Look no further than Norwood's Gordo's or Quatman's. (Might I suggest Quatman's for lunch and Gordo's for dinner?) Lucky for me, I'm a Norwoodian, or as I like to say, a Norwizzler.
One GREAT burger. It was simply delicious. Gordo's has a great variety of different burgers to try. I am a college student and the bill was cheap. I will be going back here for sure. The service has been poor when I have been there, however I have been there on the non-busy hours. Still though, they can do better.
Review Source:One of our friends gets red in the face whenever someone tries to say Terry's Turf Club has the best burgers in Cincy. "HAVE YOU BEEN TO GORDO'S?" he asks. "DO YOU HAVE WORKING TASTE BUDS?"
Well, I wouldn't get as fired up as all that, but I can see his point. Gordo's burgers are, IMO, every bit as good as Terry's, and without the long wait or the cramped seating.
I went to Gordo's for the first time this past Friday night. Four buddies and I had just golfed at Avon nearby, so we were hot, tired, and hungry. We were seated promptly by a friendly and attentive waitress, in view of the kitchen and one of the many TVs (which they happily and quickly changed from ESPN to the Reds game upon our request). I would call Gordo's atmosphere sort of dark-family-pub-comfortable (weird combo, I know).
As for the food, I ordered the Hawaiian, which was delish, and HUGE. (Be warned that these are very tall/thick patties.) I ordered mine medium, which is how it came, and it was juicy with both natural juices and the BBQ sauce and pineapple. (I asked for no tomato, cucumber, onion, or mayo.) Everyone else seemed pleased with their burgers too -- the PBJ, the Gordo's, and the Surf and Turf. The fries were fine, and the mac and cheese was pretty good.
Tip: Look for Gordo's across from the library. The library's vertical red sign near the street is much easier to see than Gordo's, which is flat against the building.
I'm really not sure what all the hype is about at Gordo's. I'd heard great things about their burgers, but I found the one I had to be bland and overcooked. I ordered the Hawaiian burger and really expected much, much more. The pineapple really had no flavor and I really couldn't detect any BBQ sauce on the burger. My boyfriend had the PBJ, which had flavor, but was also overcooked. We both ordered medium and they came out much closer to medium well to well done.
Burgers come with steak fries and they were okay. Mine seemed a little cold, which left me wondering if they, along with my burger had been left sitting in the hot food window in the kitchen, waiting for someone to deliver it.
The service was hit or miss. Our server was very nice, but she completely forgot to bring me the glass of wine I ordered.
The final straw for me was that they charge 50 cents for mustard. Yes. A burger joint that charges for mustard. And they tried to charge us twice for it. I don't care about the 50 cents, but when I'm paying $9 for a burger, I kind of expect the condiments to be included.
I really wanted to like this place since it's close to where I live, but I'll save my burger money for Quatmann Cafe or Terry's Turf Club.
i was led here by yelp when looking for a good burger in the REAL queen city (that's right, charlotte, get mad) on the tuesday before thanksgiving. by the time i made it here, by brain was bordering on uselessness:
1. i left straight out of work (in nashville, tn) at 5pm after a particularly stressful day
2. i've never made the drive by myself
3. it was dark by the time i made it out
4. it was raining very hard
once i finally made it to cincinnati, i turned to hyelp to tell me where the burger i was looking for was hiding. i was directed here, and liked what i saw. small place in not the "prettiest" part of town, i was into it already. i walked in and waited to be seated. ol buddy came around to seat me and asked me if i would be ok with sitting at the bar. i said no and he seemed to take a bit of umbrage at that? i don't like sitting at bars and i HATE bar stools. i, erm... have a "low center of gravity" and i don't like being that high off the ground. if i have to get up mid-burger and be a hero because there's some shit going down, i don't want to flail my legs about looking for terra firma and waste valuable time, you know?
so i was seated and placed my order. i'm not a beer drinker, but i was rubbed pretty raw by the previous sixteen hours of the day, so i figured a beer would be a good way to get myself calmed a little. i ended up going with a "the poet stout". nice beer that i can't get down here and it served to soothe my worked nerves. i ordered a pub burger and stuck with fries as a side. when i go somewhere that has good burgers for the first time, i always stick with their regular cheeseburger to size them up: lettuce, tomatos, onions and mayonnaise. if that isn't done right, the rest of the burgers in the place are built on a weak foundation per my thinking. ordered medium, food arrives with a HUGE glass of water. well done, server!
bite into the sandwich, and i'm met face to face with a pink behemoth. the burger itself was really good. very juicy, not hard to deal with at all. the bacon mixed in the patty and spices made themselves known quickly. nice juices soaked up by the capable bun and the size was great (i was famished at that point). the fries were nothing special. nothing mindblowing, but far from terrible. for the price paid, this was a HELL of a burger and it's ranked highly with good reason.
this seems like a sports bar first and foremost, but the menu hints at something a little more polished than that. i found it strange that i didn't see a single woman working there the night i came by. not at the bar or serving, was really strange lol. seems like a great place to watch a baseball game to me.
eric b
I went to Gordo's early this Saturday to watch the 1st half of the Bengals playoff game with a friend.
I ordered the Gordo's burger medium it came out well done. Â The bacon did appear to be microwaved or pre-cook, whatever it was it wasn't very good. Â The fries were crispy and hot.
They had two servers working at the time, our primary server was a friendly guy very attentive and got my refill quickly.
The second server was a blonde female and  she is the reason I am writing this.  She actually ruined the whole experience for us, I'm not sure why her attitude was so poor but she did not like our questions and has a rather unpleasant response.
I guess I will stick with Aurthur's. It's a better burger and the service is always good.
Are burgers overhyped in Cincinnati?
Whether it's here on Yelp, or the continual ranting and raving and ranking in Cincinnati Magazine and in the Enquirer about various burger places, you'd think this was the planet's Burger Mecca. Â But for a handful of exceptions, though, we feel like the burgers we do at home on our friggin' gas grill are better than most around town, and I don't pretend to be any burger or grill wizard.
Gordo's gets its share of this hype. Â It has burger prices like Terry's but with few of the benefits that overcrowded but remarkable little hovel gives you: Â among the best burgers in town, surreal atmosphere, etc.
The Gordo's Burger--bacon, roasted poblanos, boursin cheese, mushrooms--sounded delectable. Â It was big and cooked as requested, but it had some significant flaws: Â despite being cooked medium, it was still kind of dry; the bacon was very tough (and almost seemed microwaved); and the poblanos were barely detectable as a flavor. Â Also, the burger was less of a patty than a free-form, sort-of-spherical mass of ground beef that gradually fell apart as I munched through it. Â And seriously, griddle or grill the damn bun; a soft, room-temperature bun doesn't cut it at these prices.
Fries seemed run-of-the-mill; they were OK. Â
Overall, a satisfying burger experience, but not one I'd ever make a point of going to Norwood for, much less waiting in line for.
On the day we were there, Gordo's seemed understaffed; only two harried people were working the entire bar and dining area. Â And while they weren't what I'd call rude, they weren't attentive or even very cordial. Â
Gordo's seems like a nice little hole-in-the-wall pub, if not terribily distinctive inside, and it probably becomes pretty lively at night. Â (We went at lunchtime, and it was oddly quiet despite there being a full house.) Â It's a got a nice beer list and several good draft options that apparently rotate.
Gordo's is not bad, but, based on one vist, I think it is overrated by its enthusiasts.
Like most Cincinnatians, my favorite place to hang out, shop, and eat is Surrey Square in Norwood. I am, of course, kidding since the last time I was in the area I felt like I was hanging out in Vice City. Sorry Norwood, I hate to hate and I love what you've done with Rookwood but I'm afraid this strip of Montgomery is doomed for life.
Fortunately, approximately a half mile south of the square is a true diamond in the rough. A place where burgers are the size and shape of racquetballs and the mac and cheese is king. I am talking about Gordo's Pub & Grill and in the search for the best burger in Cincinnati this place is easily top five.
Gordo's makes Wendy's look like his mistress and Burger King look like his bitch. Seriously, they take the concept of the hamburger to a whole other level. My favorite is easily the Gordo which is topped with roasted poblanos, mushrooms, onions, smoked bacon, boursin cheese and mayonnaise. This burger isn't just good, it's last meal good! They also have a long list of other dank burgers to choose from as well. For those feeling audacious, they offer some rendition of a chocolate burger and also a burger with peanut butter, banana, and jam. The point being, if you're looking for a gourmet burger that makes Rally's look like prison food, then this is your place.
Also of interest, they have a full bar with ample beers on tap, they are open fairly late and they also have good hamburgers (last meal good, that is).
Great pub and food.
Had the Jean-Robert burger. Â Great combination of flavors. Â Nice half pound of meat. Â Can't wait to go back and try some of the other ones.
Also had their hot wings, which were surprisingly good.
They also have a huge list of beers and also a bunch of TVs. Â Nice low key, relaxing place to go.
I'm a pretty big fan of these burgers - when I remember this place is here. Man I ALWAYS forget about it! Which saddens me because when we remember it, we love it.
I have had the Jean-Ro and Chocolate burgers. The Jean-Ro was good, filled with fresh goat cheese and grape compote that really worked on a burger for me. The star was the Chocolate Stout burger - oh my goodness is that amazing! The chocolate and Guinness create a good blend of bitter and sweet that is perfectly countered by the goat cheese. Oh my is the sauce good. It's messy to eat, but worth the mess you will make.
Their loaded cheese fries were nothing special - the fries are quite good, but the cheeses just tasted like Kraft shredded and were just melted on. It was not something I'd order again, but it would serve a craving for potatoes and cheese well.
Their mac and cheese is a surprisingly good side - it's baked mac and cheese and was easy to eat, I think I accidentally ate all of my husband's! I have also ordered a fish sandwich here and boy was that good - really good fish and in a delicious batter!
Overall, this is one of the best restaurants in Norwood, and a really good burger at that. A pretty good selection of beer too!
There is no better burger in the city no matter what any of the polls out there say. And except for different levels of ecstasy, it doesn't matter which one you pick. Seriously. But the mac and cheese is so good that it even kicks the burger's arse. It is, quite frankly, the Chuck Norris of pasta dishes.
The creme brulee is not a good one, but with the burgers and mac & cheese, who cares?
Not really sure what else there is to say about Gordo's other than it's frigging delicious. Gordo's is an easy walk for us from home, and and easy stagger back. There used to be only two taps, but have since expanded to four. The beers are rotated often, and usually feature a pale ale, an IPA, a high gravity, and one odd ball.
The best black bean burger in the city is here.
I really dig the Hawaiian and the Jean-Ro burgers too.
The place gets packed during Xavier basketball season.
Lot's of TVs around for the sports.
The side salads come loaded with walnuts and cranberries. The house balsamic dressing is kick-ass good.
Gordo's has some good soups and a chili also.
I just come for the burgers and beer.
Went back to this upscale dive bar last night for the best hamburgers in Cincinnati. Â This is my favorite go-to place for a great hamburger with whatever kind of beer I'm craving.
The kind of run down exterior gives way to a very clean upscale-bar interior with a small dining area behind the bar. Â The servers are attentive and know and love their products; they are excited to help you find something you'll like. Â And if you like burgers, you'll like this place. Â 1/2 a pound of quality ground beef cooked exactly how you like it with inventive toppings. Â An extensive beer list makes this the perfect place for a burger and beer. Â We paid under $50 for 2 burgers, 4 beers, and an appetizer. Â Overall, not a super cheap place but worth the money if a hamburger is what you crave.
Thank you Cincinnati Yelpers for helping me find this place!
I recently came to the city of a Reds game, and I wanted something interesting- that I couldn't necessarily find in Indianapolis- but something that all my friends could enjoy as well. Something cozy and comforting before I watched the Reds trounce the Braves.
The Jean Robert was phenomenal- perfect balance of savory, sweet, and cheesy, and it was cooked to order. It was fun to see the cook making the burgers himself by hand. Not many places do this anymore. I love a fat, plump, juicy burger.
The ambiance was also a bonus. Dim lighting, a little divey, but comfortable with a neighborhood feel. The staff was very friendly, and the service was prompt.
Maybe next time I will visit the one by Jungle Jim's.
I lived down the street from Gordo's for a summer and didn't realize it even existed - shame on me! Â This is definitely an easily missed place as you head down on montgomery. Â If you've hit the Norwood Kroger (heading towards the Norwood lateral), you've gone too far! Â
Gordo's is definitely not pretentious joint - the dark pub environment and casual but attentive staff have definitely put this on my list as a personal favorite. Â It won't wow you with the decor as you walk in, but fret not - you will certainly be wow-ing and belly rubbing on your way out.
The menu is simple - Â the burgers menu will give you brain cramps if you try to order by process of elimination - everything will look good and incomparable and must be tried.
I ordered the surf & turf and demolished it before I had a chance to get a decent picture (I did upload a shoddy one). Â I don't even LIKE burgers or normally eat burgers, but this was exceptional. Â The bread was even perfect.
My boyfriend is a picky burger-eater, and he ordered the PB&B - Peanut butter, fried banana, burger, jelly, YUM. Â It was the ideal sweet/savory mix. Â when i asked him for a judgment call of this vs. terry's, he actually deemed it a "tough call" - ladies & gents, my boyfriend worships terry's, so this is a big deal.
also, their mac & cheese is AWESOME. Â I had the mac & cheese at the precinct the following night...and I have to say, I preferred Gordo's mac
& cheese vs. the precinct's. Â please try it.
The beer list was extensive & impressive - our waitress also had a great knowledge of the beers and made good recommendations.
I went on a Friday night, no reservations, party of 2, and was seated immediately and was in and out under an hour.
What can I say? This burger was EPIC! I'm not sure why there aren't more 5-star reviews of Gordo's.
All of the burgers have bacon and onion baked into the meat and are a 1/2 pound. I got the Surf 'n Turf burger which was topped with crab meat and Boursin cheese. It was pretty hard to finish the whole thing, along with the steak fries, but I persevered because it was so good. I'd say it definitely ranks among the Top 5 burgers in Cincinnati - at least! (Maybe I was just hungry, though!?)
They also had a big beer selection and decent wine selection. We didn't sit on the patio but I'd like to the next time... because there WILL be a next time!
When I want a good burger, I go to Gordo's. This was the place where I was exposed to the Cincinnatian notion of putting Boursin cheese on hamburgers. What a great idea that was! I put the person who had it right up there with the guy who came up with the idea to fry mozzarella cheese.
When I'm in a hurry, I don't go to Gordo's. When it gets busy, which happens often, Gordo's moves at a snail's pace. As long as you prepare yourself for this, and don't go to Gordo's when you're hungry or want your meal to take less than an hour, you're good.
As mentioned previously, Gordo's has an excellent rotating beer selection, although their prices are a little on the high side. They also have a number of specialty burgers which sound crazy (one has peanut butter and bacon) but which I will eventually try just out of curiosity.
Word of advice: make sure you check the Xavier men's basketball schedule before you go to Gordo's for dinner. Because it's one of the only decent food options near Cintas, it's usually slammed on game days (see my second paragraph for further details).
Gordo's is good eats, very tastey, but I just can't say they are the best. I've been a half dozen times, since they opened and I used to live in Norwood. I'd say they are rounding out the end of my top 10 for burgers, and I gave them the benefit of the doubt at 4 stars, but I'd put them in @3.5 stars officially.
Gordo's is not a purest beef burger. They have what I'd say is a blended burder, it's mixed with seasoning, garlic, and even bacon! It's a really thick burger, served with various specialty toppings among the normal fixings. My favorite is the Gordo Burger, with the roasted poblanos and onions, and the creamy garlic herb cheese. The blended burger, IMO, leads to a little drier burger than pure beef. That's not to say the burger is dry, just not as juicy as others I've had. Great flavor and toppings.
The cool thing is, you can substitute your fries (thick steak cut) for any other side, but it will cost ya. You HAVE to try the Mac & Cheese, it's great. In fact, I'll go there strictly for the Mac & Cheese and the burger I get with it is an added bonus. Also, if you're feeling bacony (yeah, that's a word), then ask for crumbled bacon on top of your mac & cheese. WOW. Â Also worth noting, my girlfriend LOVES their black-bean burger.
My only gripes are, they're a little pricey, and it's a small place. So it's difficult to get into when they're busy, and service suffers sometimes because of this.
I am slowly but surely trying the supposedly best burgers that Cincinnati has to offer. I've tried Mayberry's, Zip's and Arthur's, but haven't been blown away. I've yet to try Terry's, City View, and most of the rest. Yesterday, after a long run in some nice weather, my fiancee and I decided to go for some burgers and beers.
Gordo's is located in Norwood, a neighborhood we don't get out to very often. It is located in an unassuming building with its name on signage over the door. You could easily never even know it was there. Walking in, you see a warm, wood-floored bar area with dining seating running along the side wall with more in the back of the space. They have their beer specials (which are very, very good, FYI) on a board behind the bar.
We both sat down and ordered a couple of Avery IPAs that were on special. We ordered the saratoga chips as an appetizer and a burger for each of us: the blackened burger for me and the Gordo's for her. The chips were nice and crispy and came with a delicious bbq sauce. The beers and chips were an excellent warm-up for the main show: the burgers.
The blackened burger was the first that had really impressed me since I've been here in Cincinnati. Nicely seasoned with an excellent soft bleu cheese, plus the usual burger toppings. This burger was both flavorful and filling. The bun was just standard, nothing too special. The burger's texture is more like Mayberry's than the others I've tried. Because onion compote and bacon is mixed in with the ground meat, it has a more worked over, meatloafy texture. Usually I don't like this, but it worked for this burger.
The beer selection is also great. They only have four taps, but have a huge bottle selection at reasonable prices. I got two of the specials, the mentioned Avery IPA and the Ithaca Flower Power IPA for $2 and $3, respectively.
The only thing that keeps Gordo's from a 5 star is the service. While friendly, our server was relatively inattentive and didn't have much knowledge of the beer selection. C'mon, if you're going to have that good of a beer selection, you have to have servers that know about the beer. Overall, an excellent burger that can go toe to toe to most of the good burgers I've ever eaten. I'm looking forward to trying some of the city's other offerings.
Love bacon? Gordo's might be the place for you. From the bacon mixed in with the hamburger meat to cameo appearances in starters and roughly half of the sandwiches, the chef apparently does too.
Unfortunately for me, I don't eat bacon, so my choices were pretty limited. I went with the chicken salad sandwich, served with steak fries. I enjoyed the chicken salad with grapes & walnuts on toasted, thick-cut white bread, but it was just a little bland. Â The fries came out a good 10-15 minutes after my sandwich, consistent with some other pacing problems (2 entrees arrived before the others, and 2 mains & sides got delivered at different times).
The beer selection is extensive in bottles (bonus points for highlighting local brewers), but there are only a few on tap. We arrived pretty early and had no trouble getting a seat on a Friday, but by around 7pm, there was definitely a wait. Parking was easy--2 free lots on either side. Prices are quite reasonable.
A friend and I went because it was on Cincinnati Magazine's 40 best burgers and because I keep hearing people talking about it, but I don't get the hype. My Jean-Robert (topped with grape compote, bleu cheese and goat cheese) was dry possibly because it was overcooked. It isn't that I want my burger sloppy but a little juiciness is good! The fries were fine and I enjoyed the beer selection, the decor and like that they have outdoor seating.
Who remodeled the ladies' room and thought it was a great idea to place to commode that close to the wall, where you barely have any leg room?! bizarre.
I will agree with others when they say, "This place is in Norwood?" Â When you walk inside you feel like you just stepped into Hyde Park/ Oakley. Â This is a yuppie bar with great beer and amazing burgers. Â I have added Gordo's to my rotation of restaurants to frequent because of the great tasting gourmet burgers. Â At this point I would put Gordo's #2 behind Terry's for best burger in Cincinnati beating out Authur's, Zip's and Quatman's.
During my most recent visit, I ordered the Surf-N-Turf burger medium-rare with the three-cheese Mac-N-Cheese which tasted incredible as well. Â The bartender recommended New Holland Dragon's Milk beer which really won me over in the end.
I will also add that even though Gordo's is a bar, they had kids high chairs and a kid's menu so while Gordo's isn't a "family" restaurant"., if you have kids and want to try the burgers, don't let the word, "Pub" deter you.
Burgerquest, fool.
Gordo's description: BURGERS
A Half Pound of Lean Ground Beef Mixed with Bacon, Onion Compote and Mixed Herbs.
Served with Steak Fries or Upgrade your Side.
Blackened
with Smoked Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Mayonnaise and Bleu Cheese Crumbles $7.00
Cooking Style/Temp: ordered Medium, unsure of cooking method
Additions/Subtractions: as listed, with saratoga chips instead of fries
Burger: 2
big meatball burger with a bunch of herbs and onions mixed in. calling it a compote doesn't make it better. not a fan. plus they cooked it medium well. dry. and it didnt taste blackened at all.
Bun: 4
fresh bun, nice and tasty. held up great with all the toppings.
Toppings: 2.5
the shredded lettuce and bleu cheese save this. al the veggies were good. red onion wasn't too strong and the tomatoes were good thickness. the bbq sauce was super vinegary and the bacon was way undercooked and fatty. not crisp or salty at all.
Accoutrements: 3.5
the saratoga chips were freshly shaved and fried, really great. the too-vinegary bbq sauce pumped up the bitterness in the burnt edges and kind of ruined it, just eat them plain, they're good enough. comes with a pickle spear. the standard steak fries are ok, just not my style.
Atmosphere: 4
cool art deco bar, small dining room. pretty cozy, not a bad place to hang out with a burger and some fancy beers. especially in norwood. service is kind of brusqe, but the bartender let me sample all the beers before picking one which was cool.
Overall: 3.2
Gordo's has some big burgers, big beers and bigger hype. I really dislike big meatball burgers and this is exhibit A. Overthought, overwrought and ultimately disappointing. The burger tasted ok, but it was dried out and I had a gross aftertaste that lingered the rest of the day, like a hangover. Prices arent bad. The service was hot and cold, but ultimately wins cool points for letting me try the beers. I'll probably go back because I want to try the jean-ro burger with grape jelly...im sorry compote
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