I have eaten at Habits more than most restaurants in the area and I have NEVER been disappointed. Their wings are fantastic (I like them hot) and you will be pleased by whatever it is you order off their menu. I am a huge fan of their BLT which is not your average BLT but a very thick slice of awesome served with a side. The only reason this place gets 4 stars is that the service the last few times I have been there (midday and not late) has been pretty slow. Even after ordering a beer it can take a little bit of time to get to you however the servers are all very friendly and overall it is a great experience.
Go when it's warm out and enjoy the patio especially on a Sunday to cure your hangover because Habit's staff describes their Bloody Mary's as "kinda weird but really good"
I came with a friend to visit another friend that was working and have a few drinks.
I ended up running into a guy I knew back in the day - actually in the past few days I've run into a handful of people from my past (Cincinnati is just really small - I think it's kind of part of the charm of the city - the whole city is like Cheers - everybody knows your name... or at least your face... even if you've been gone a while). For anyone that knows what I'm going through right now... trying to stay busy and be out and about as much as possible.
Annnyyywho - this is a nice pub. Drinks are cheap, service is quick and friendly, and the crowd is nice too. It's your 20s something crowd - college graduates... into the 30s something crowd. Fairly big space. I can't comment on the food.
The bathrooms were the only thing I give like... 1 star - they were kinda gross.
Location is good as well.
I'm still getting accustomed to having to drive everywhere - having had public transportation the last 3 years... so mostly I just make all my friends drive me around :-)
It was crowded, but not packed. I had a good time... I'd suggest checking it out :-)
I came here when I lived in Cincy and now have returned to see that the place has been remodeled to compete with the other bars that have sprung up around this area Personally, I think the other bars are super lame, since this was here when it was the dankiest, darkest, scariest place in Oakley. I consider myself one of the originals, as I'm sure, most of my funding went into the remodel. However, I miss the darkness of this place. It use to be a nice hidden gem. Now I see a lot of hipsters. And it sucks. I can't fault the establishment though, since they had to survive.
That said, I really like this place, still. I got a stout that was 10% ABV. It knocked me for a loop. Totally enjoyed it. The service was exceptionally friendly. And I enjoyed my brief nostalgic return.
I think if I still lived in Cincy, this would be a place I'd frequent. I haven't tried their food, this go around, so I can't comment on that. But, as a regular watering hole, it is really top-notch for regulars. If you live nearby, it is a nice return to bars you can meet up with friends. Or watch football games.
I went here for some drinks and dinner with friends after work. Â It's definitely a comfortable place, with a decent menu with variety, but not so huge it is overwhelming. Â I had the ostrich burger godzilla style (fried onions, pepper jack cheese, spicy mayo)-- and it was pretty good, but I think I'll just stick with beef next time. My husband said he like his burger more than Zip's. Â Service was fine, and I'd be fine going going back, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to go again.
Review Source:Habits Cafe is a great place all-around in Cincinnati, for just about any occasion that's less-than-formal.
The menu is very eclectic, but not overwhelming either. From salads, sandwiches, pot roast...to crispy tofu dishes, shrimp alfredo and burgers  (most notably their famous OSTRICH burger) -- it'll have something for everyone.
It has a perfect spot to sit outside on a nice night, with a great view of the ever-improving Oakley Square On Thursday-Saturday -- a very popular 'bar scene' at night. They'll even occasionally throw in live-music.
Whether it be for an on-the-go meal, family outing, dinner and-or a few drinks on a first date, or a night out with a large group of friends, Habits is definitely an instant (and very credible) favorite.
Uh...where else can I get an Ostrich Burger in the city?
Ostrich makes for a great burger btw. Â It tastes nothing like poultry and everything like beef and it wins on the "hey that's slightly leaner than beef" scale. Â Get it Habits style or really any style you like. Â This is Oakley's best spot for burgers. Â Habits also sports some pretty great tortilla-style soups, so check those out. Â
This is a great place for a group, excellent selection of beers, and how can you miss with a full bar. Â You'll probably run into someone you know. Â During the dinner rush Habits gets pretty packed, so come early if you want a table on a Friday.
They have a nice little patio space in the front that you can enjoy, weather permitting. Â If you're in Oakley, you should make Habits a habit of your own.
If there's a negative to Habits, it's that the only thing I'd touch in the restroom is myself. Â :D
What an interesting place. Not being from the neighborhood, for years I thought it was just a bar until a friend treated me to a burger there one afternoon. What a pleasant surprise!
Approaching the building, you are greeted by lots of outdoor seating on a (cobblestone-like) patio. The strange thing is that the patio juts out into the main intersection at Oakley square where five or six streets come together. It's an awkward, busy intersection to begin with, and with this patio sticking right out into it, you're not just on display but actually very much at risk of being run into by a rogue car or one careening to the side after a collision. I couldn't sit out there long for feeling like a sitting duck!
Once inside... oooooh it was gorgeous! A historic building abounding with original woodwork and the most architecturally appealing bar I've ever seen. I was awestruck. I love old buildings, especially ones with the old trim that hasn't been painted over, and this place did not disappoint in that department!
We were seated quickly and while waiting for our food we played video games. I believe the games were Ms. Pac Man and Galaga, two oldies but definitely goodies! The bartender and staff were very friendly and laidback but eager to please. The atmosphere was relaxed - leave your false pretenses at the door! My friend told me they even have karaoke like one night a week!
Our food came soon enough, and we were hungry. My friend had told me how good their burgers were, but I've had bad that she said were good so I've learned the hard way to judge for myself. My burger was DELICIOUS! Plenty of cheese on a fat, juicy, tasty REAL BEEF burger. I also enjoyed the macaroni and cheese with it, which was a fantastic change from the usual french fries. While we ate, I saw a number of people who had called and ordered their food to-go. So carry-out is an option as well!
Overall, Habits Cafe is a comfortable place, rich with history that offers GREAT burgers, good prices, and a nostalgic atmosphere not unlike the one depicted in the series "Cheers". Well worth the trip!
One last thing... did I mention... IT'S HAUNTED? Yep! Documented and featured in more than one novel about haunted places in Ohio. But don't worry. The "ghosts" aren't said to bother the patrons. They prefer staying in the basement... at least that's what we were told when we were there!
I had a very pleasant lunch here on an overcast May day. Â The place has an old bar feel to it, with dark wood paneling, and an actual bar that seats a dozen. Â I had the Royal Mountie burger with sweet potato fries and added a side salad. Â The burger was cooked they way I asked, it was very flavorful and juicy, and the fries were pretty good, as was the salad. Â Service was great, and pretty quick - I was back in my car 50 minutes after I paid the meter. Â A little pricey for lunch, but I'll come back again.
Review Source:Habits is an exceptional local pub that offers delicious food at affordable prices, a good array of beer, wine, and coffees, and is a great casual spot to hangout and relax. Habits is a happening place no matter if for a casual lunch or night out, and is a great place to be in the Oakley area.
Review Source:I enjoyed my experience at Habits. My mom was in town and we needed a quick place to grab a bite to eat, a little nicer than McDonald's but not too pricey. We landed at Habits and overall it's been a good experience.
Service was friendly and the food was pretty good. I got a burger of some sorts, can't remember exactly, and it got the trick done. I really enjoyed their sweet potato fries though.
But it seemed to be just an average sports bar where you could get a decent meal. There was nothing truly special about this place; overall it was pretty forgettable. It's not like I wouldn't ever go back, but I doubt it will come to mind when I want to go somewhere.
I had only been to Habits a few times before this for a late night drink, but I had never been for food. My friends and I decided to go there for lunch, and I was interested to try the food. The food was just alright, we ordered the chips and salsa for the table and the chips were like something you would get at a Red's game and kind of stale. Then we got the fried asparagus, which was fine. I also got the club sandwich which was okay too, nothing crazy. The food seemed to take forever to come out and I am not sure if its because the waitress knew some of the people at my table or she was just a bad waitress, but she kept ignoring our table. There were definitely no refills without asking and I had to remind her twice to bring out silverware and napkins. Maybe it was just an off day, but I don't think I will go out of my way to come here again.
Review Source:I love Habits. Since moving to Cincinnati in September last year, this has been my most go-to place. It might not be "the classiest" restaurant with upscale, gourmet food or anything, but when you're wanting to go out for a meal that tastes good and not spend a ton of money, Habits is the place to go.
Cute on the inside with an old-school feel and great outdoor sitting for warm weather. Extensive beer list and there's always something different on tap. I'm a big salad/veggie person, so it's nice to have the option to get a side of broccoli or asparagus for $2-3. I love the Mama's Vegetable Soup and the Mediterranean Salad (yum!). I have yet to try a dessert, but this is somewhere I'll keep coming back to as long as I'm in the area.
I had the chance to visit on a weekend and wow, this place gets packed. Our party had to wait and wait and eventually a table opened up but there was some confusion and it became a big mess. Fortunately, our speedy server Dusty, had us all eating and drinking in no time. Kudos to him, but I'd rather go somewhere else next time.
Review Source:Have been here a few times now and it has gotten the job done. Â
The building itself is historic and open. Â The crowd is eclectic and ranges from age, size, gender, race, background etc. Â There is a great selection of beers and bar food, and both seemed to be reasonably priced. Â There is a happy hour, but I have missed it both times, however, there is usually a beer special of sort- a nice microbrew bottle for 3 bucks or so.
In regards to food, there is your typical bar food with a few creative twists. Â My go to has been the wrap, the exact name escapes me. Â This thing is stuffed like a burrito with turkey, cheese, gauc, and covered in ranch- you know a typical healthy American salad. Â Boy oh boy is this future medical catastrophic goooood. Â Whereas other items like the fries and soup have been so, so.
This is a great place to watch a game, hang with friends, or yes even get some work done. Â The booths provide enough private space to get work done with a beer or two, because we all know beer makes you smarter and more productive. Â Also there is free wifi to boot, but not all of the electrical outlets work, bummer.
All in all not bad. Â Non Happy Hour drafts will set you back about 5 and meals cost about 7-10 bucks. Â The only real headache is parking, which can be problematic on some nights.
We first went to Habits over 8 years ago. That first visit was full of laughter, mirth, jollity, good drinking and good times.
Back then I was tempted to try their fish & chips. I deemed them "magnificent" and, solely because of them, we ventured back time and time again to partake and indulge.
Somewhen in time, the place had a refit, changed its menu up a bit and somehow seemed to offer up a different vibe. A vibe where there wasn't as much fun and where the staff all appeared a little distant.
Our visits tailed off, although I seem to recall we went for a few drinks (no food) a couple of years back?
Finding ourselves in the general Oakley area more recently we decided to return to one of our old favorite 'haunts' to see how the place was now faring.
I truly wish we hadn't bothered. WHAT a disappointment it has now become. I realize that places like Habits might struggle to 'keep up' in the current economic climate, but it might benefit them to stand back from their business once in a while and take a look at - and amend - what an awful 'first impression' they're now creating.
The place is shabby, the floors and furniture dirty and unkempt. The booth we chose suffered from both seating and a drinks menu that were uncomfortably 'sticky'. In the corner of one room hung an old-fashioned CRT television covered in what looked like a decade's worth of dust. Add all of this to a bathroom that didn't have a lock on the door and a puddled floor and you begin to question just why you are giving them any business. You can also wonder if anyone (public or staff alike) has become an accident victim as a result of the worn and potentially dangerous steps en route to that bathroom.
We should have walked out and gone somewhere else but we persevered, naively thinking that our eating experience would turn out OK. It didn't. For starters my napkin-wrapped cutlery was caked in old food and the replacements didn't fare much better, the knife still less than clean. Service was surly and unfriendly and I noted that none of the staff seemed to be talking to one another and all of them looked really unhappy.
With a nod to prior (far happier) visits I opted - nostalgically - for the fish & chips. What the hell happened to it? What used to be a tasty treat is now little more than a poor excuse for food. The chips were limp and cold - as if they had been sitting round for a while - whilst the fish was tough and dry. No juiciness or flakiness whatsoever. I left more than  of it on my plate. My wife had the Cilantro Corn Burrito immediately declaring it one of the worst things she had eaten in quite a while, similarly leaving the majority of it behind. However, they did, she said, get the Mediterranean Salad right and she was happy they served Yuengling beer. Small mercies really.
Needless to say this is one habit we have now most certainly given up!
I tried Habits Cafe on a recommendation from my boss that loves the city. I took a girl there on our first date, this is how it went;
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FOOD: I got a regular Habits Burger with a side of fries, that is pretty plain which is how I like food. It was probably one of the best all around burgers I have had in a while. The meat was juicy, the cheese was excellent and everything came out very hot. Â She got the Garden Burger with the same ingredients I did and she loved it as well. So food gets a 5/5 in my book.
DRINKS: Â We both ordered a Yuengling Lager to go with our Burgers which was a good pair. The beer was cold and reasonably priced at $3.50 for a pint. I would like to try their mixed drinks or another crafted beer because their drink menu was very extensive. Drinks get a 5/5
SERVICE: This is where the downfall was with Habits Cafe, the waitress was awful. It took a good 15 minutes to get a water and another 10 to get our beers. In my book that is way to long even if you are a little busy. She didn't take our order when she dropped off our drinks either that took another 5-10 minutes for her to come back. Once she did take our order it took about 30-40 minutes for our burgers to come out. She didn't come back to check on us til we were finished and our beers were completely gone.So the service I give a 1/5
I just moved to Oakley and everyone I tell asks one question, "Have you been to Habits yet?" Well now I have several times and I have to say I enjoy the place. I've been several times now and have had a different experience each time. The first time I went, my sweet potato fries were very burned. Not a good start. The next two times I went, I had a great experience all around! Great food, great service! The last time I went was terrible. Service was very sub-par and the food was only half way close to what I'd enjoyed before.
What I learned: If you want food and good service, sit on the dining room side! If you want to be at a bar, go to the bar side.
If the food wasn't half way decent, I'd give zero stars.
Service was awful. Â Food took almost a half hour to get. Â If I hadn't asked the bartender to check on the food, we probably wouldn't have gotten it when we did. Â I'm pretty sure it doesn't take long to drop battered fish and fries in hot oil, nor rolling turkey, bacon, and avocado into a flour shell.
Speaking of the bartender, not the greatest of personalities. Â But personal traits aside, he never checked on us once. Â We had to go up to the bar to get drink refills, ask for extra napkins, etc. Â If he would have approached us to apologize for the long wait, then maybe I'd give the place two stars. Â Maybe.
His name is Randy, by the way.
I don't think I would ever actually choose to go here. It is one of those places that I would go to only because another friend picks it. Habits isn't a bad establishment just not one of my favorites in the city. I think in order to appreciate this restaurant/bar you either had to go Xavier/UC or be a Cinci Native. Since I am not either one, I felt nothing really special about this place.
The service was okay. We got sat right when we got in and was able to choose where we sat. But when I told the server I was unhappy with my food, she gave me this "well it sucks to be you" looks and walked away. She was not accommodating or helpful in the least.
The food was okay. In my eyes it was barely okay. I walked away really unhappy with my meal and to be honest I doubt after this experience, I would ever order anything on the menu but a beer. Even the red wine served in a big tacky thick white wine glass turned me off.
The environment of this place sort of super stinks unless you want to eat dinner next to a table of drunken obnoxious college kids. Not there is anything wrong with drunken obnoxious college kids; I just would rather not eat a nice dinner next to them. I have also been here late at night for a drink and I felt the environment is super uncomfortable especially if you are in the queer spectrum.
The fiancee and I recently went to Habits Cafe with a group of approximately 10 people to celebrate a friend's birthday.
The beer was ordered and served quickly. Great start.
We had heard that the burgers were the thing to get, so get them we did:
The fiancee ordered "unmemorable burger because it sucked": a custom burger built with items from Habits' custom burger menu. Her custom-ordered burger came out missing some of the items she had ordered, and it took nearly 5 minutes from the time she re-requested the teriyaki sauce before they brought it out --- and the burger was still tasteless! Because the fiancee's burger was so bad, she ended up having some of a friend's extra salmon, mashed potatos, and broccoli, a big mistake because it was also bland, boring, and poorly-prepared.
A big swing and a miss by Habits for strike one!
I, too, ordered a burger from Habits' custom burger menu. While it was brought to the table the way I had ordered it, it finally arrived 5 minutes after the rest of our party's dinners and only after I flagged down the waitress to let her know I hadn't gotten my food. The burger was lukewarm and a little gritty, the grilled onions were barely grilled (if they had been grilled at all), and the sauce was so flavorless that I had to ask for extra.
Strike two! (... though they did at least clip the ball because the coleslaw wasn't bad ...)
Finally, we asked for the check to be split into individual checks, which the waitress was happy to do. She brought them out, quickly correct any mistakes she had made in splitting the checks, and we paid. However, a 20% gratuity had been added to each of our bills automatically. Now, I know it was printed in the menu, and we chose to stay and eat, but still ... 20% gratuity automatically added? Sorry, Habits, but the service wasn't THAT good, and it wasn't just because the server was dealing with a big party. For me, this somewhat greedy move was strike #3.
I will definitely never return to Habits for food.
Cute area to meet a client. Â Oakley is "sweet". Â I can't give a full review because we just had drinks and great conversation. Â I'll edit this review once we go back for a meal. Â
The Host was very welcoming. Â We sat in a cozy corner by the big glass windows to see the sidewalk and street view. Â The sun just set and the rain was coming down slightly. Sorta felt like we were in a short film (oh stop). Â Ok, it was like a memory captured in a photo (C'mon, enough already). (Fine!) We had a great time.
Mmmmm. Juicy, tender ostrich.
Yes, you can get an ostrich hamburger at Habits. That alone makes this place worth visiting. Habits serves up one of the best burgers in Cincinnati. A variety of toppings, a choice of meats, and a golden bun that holds it all together. Plus, sweet potato fries with apple butter. What could be better?
The burger menu boasts dozens of toppings or you can pick a suggested combination.
- Godzilla: pepperjack, spicy onion straws, jalapeno mayo
- Bacon Blues: crumbled bleu cheese, honey pepper, bacon, lettuce, onion, barbecue sauce
-The Paige Burger: ostrich patty, avocado, onion straws, mushrooms, sprouts, tomato, pepperjack and ranch
I eat at Habits often and always end up getting a burger. They have a bountiful menu of other delicious-sounding meals, but I always return to the faithful burger. I really ought to venture out to other entrees. Once, a friend of mine ordered a bowl of veg soup. It was more of a vat of veg soup, filled with hearty chunks of potatoes, beans, tomatoes, and other veg. Super filling and tasty, she barely finished half of it. The mac & cheese and coleslaw make for stellar sides as well.
Next time I'm trying the Habits Potato Rags: hash browns covered with bacon, onions, tomatoes, cheddar, mozzarella, provolone and ranch. I saw plate after plate being delivered to tables, so it must be good.
Price per person: $15
First let me start by saying that Habits is one of my favorite places in Cincinnati. I used to live down the street, so I went there all the time for dinner. Even now that I live over 30 minutes away, we still come down every once in a while for dinner.
-----THE BURGERS ARE EXCELLENT-----
You can choose the meat type and style, but all are great. I'm trying to recall off the top of my head, but I know they at least have beef, turkey, veggie, and ostrich. Style wise I recommend the white hot burger or the godzilla burger.
-----THE DRAFT BEER SELECTION IS DECENT-----
I think they have about 6 handles, usually stocked with mass produced craft/import beers like sam adams or stella; and then 1 or 2 good micro brews.
-----THE BOTTLED BEER SELECTION IS PRETTY GOOD-----
The bottled beer list is not as good as some places in the city, but it's big and diverse enough that even most beer snobs can find something they like, or haven't tried.
-----COOL NEW PATIO-----
This year Habits added a new patio out in front of the restaurant. It's really nice to be able to sit out in the middle of Oakley Square and eat. There is no smoking on the patio before 10 P.M. so depending on whether or not you're a smoker, that could be a good or bad thing.
The only complaints I have are that on the weekends it can get pretty crowded. There is a lot nearby that almost always has space, so parking isn't really an issue, but there can be long waits. The other day we came for dinner around 8, and had to wait forever because it was crowded and people have a tendency to hang around and drink after dinner. It can also get very loud. They should look into hanging some fabric things or putting up sound dampers, because especially over on the left side it can get crazy loud.
I've been here twice now and had different experiences both times. The first time may have been a fluke because I didn't go for the food, in general. I went to meet a friend and we decided on this location because it is supposed to be haunted, and we were talking about ghostly things.. so we figure what could be better, right??
We get there, (on a week night) get seated quickly, get waited on quickly and our food came out pretty fast. We both got appetizer sized portions. The hashbrowns with ranch dressing, cheese, tomatoes and onions.. AMAZING... I could literally feel it clogging my arteries with each bite. YUM. The atmosphere was pretty nice from what I could tell. We didn't venture to the bar side at all... and based on this experience I wanted to come back. I thought I'd read somewhere that they had a Bison burger too, and that was the reason for such a quick return. My only complaint that night was that we didn't see any ghosts..haha
Second trip, we go on a weekend night... to eat.... MISTAKE.. If we were just going there for drinks I would have given it a 4 star rating easily. When we arrived there was a wait, which was fine. We went to the bar to grab a couple beers while we waited. The wait wasn't bad, and we were seated. A girl that I presumed to be our waitress came and asked us if we wanted some drinks. Then seconds later a guy came and asked us. We had our beer from the bar so we were all good. Then, we sat.... and sat... and sat some more..
I realize it's busy. I get it, it's a weekend night at a nifty place on a nice night. So, the star rating would have been slightly downgraded by this point but nothing horrible yet. Well I was wrong about the Bison burger so my boyfriend ordered the Ostrich burger instead, with no veggies on it at all. I ordered the salmon with mashed potatoes.
Our food comes out and he takes a bite... Onions. Apparently onions aren't classified as a veggie here. My salmon comes out, no mashed potatoes! Now in our server's defense.. she did come back and get the burger after awhile. She got him a fresh burger with no veggies at all and took it off our bill. She was great.
My salmon was delicious and I'm very picky about salmon. Once we were finished it took forever to get a box and a check. Will I go back? Yes, but not on a weekend! I'll give it another shot.. 3rd times a charm rignt? Guess we'll find out soon enough.
I've been here three times. The first one was for just for a drink. We walked in, and sat at the bar. Getting in the place was difficult because some of the bar-goers were standing in the doorway and would not move at all for us to get in. Thinking it was really crowded, we almost left. Then, nope, not too crowded, they just really wanted to stand there I guess. After about 5-10 minutes of sitting there, we got our drinks ordered. My husband got his usual whiskey sour, and I ended up with a margarita on the rocks. The drinks were just terrible - I don't know if it was the water or sweet and sour, but it tasted heavily of soap or something. We paid and left without finishing the drinks.
The next time we went was the weekend before St. Patty's day. We walk in to a bunch of people in green, crowding a small part of the bar. We wanted food, and it must have been just around noon. We sat down, and waited. And waited. We saw servers walk by, but nothing. My husband went to the bar, and after 10 minutes, the bartender hadn't even gotten to him. We left, 30 minutes later, just angry.
Enough torture? Nah? We went back a third time after Dewey's was too full to really eat at. We walk in, sit down, and get menus brought to us. Nothing after that. We never saw the server again. Never ordered anything. Just left.
So I guess I can't review the food. Sorry. But I never got the chance, and never will, because I don't even really want to go back.
Habit's is one of the best places in the city to grab a bite to eat and boasts an impressive selection of beer. Â I know that most reviews focus on their burgers, but I myself do not like burgers (weird, I know). Â I usually order the kids chicken fingers with mac and cheese as a side. Â Delicious! Â I love any place that allows me to order a kids meal and a beer. Â It is a surprising amount of food for a kids meal and I always leave full. Â
The servers have always proved knowledgeable about their extensive beer selection. Â Make sure to ask for a suggestion and trust their word - the beer will be great.
Habit's is a good place to go after work for drinks and food.
The service is good, the beer selection is good, and the food is good.
There are so many options for vegetarians here that I haven't been able to try them all!
They even have a tofu entree', which is pretty good.
If you eat cheese, get the macaroni and cheese. Â It's amazing.
When you ask for a sidecar and the bartender says "Never heard of it" you had just better drink a beer. Â That's what this rare beer drinker did when the guy behind the bar (I won't call him a bartender or mixologist, of course) at Habit's said to me.
So I had a beer with a friend who tried to order food and the bartender finally took the time to do that without a smile or basic courtesy.
Later we moved to a table. Â A waitress promptly spilled a glass of water down the front of my sitting friend. Â No apologies. Â She just righted the glass and walked away leaving him to dap his crotch with napkins from the table. Â
The staff just plain sucked. Â It turned into a game where we tried to catch one of them smiling. Â Maybe someone died. Â But they didn't look sad. Â They just looked irritated that people showed up when the turned on the "Open" sign.
Food was good. Â But not worth the scowling faces.
A friend from Ohio Northern University was in from out of town last weekend. Â I'm not sure if anyone has ever been to Ohio Northern or the small town of Ada, Ohio, but there are 4 bars in town, and all of them are "dive bars". Â My friend wanted to go to a bar where he could just "hang out". Â I started racking my brain for places to go- downtown and Mt Adams were too loud and glitzy, and Newport is beyond overrated. Â Then I thought- "What about Habit's?" Â
I'm so glad we went! Â I had only been to Habit's once before, and it was on a random week night relatively early. Â It wasn't that crowded then, but last Friday night it sure was! Â The first thing I liked: Â no cover! Â Yay! Â
It was very crowded, and the crowd there was so friendly! Â My personality isn't naturally outgoing, but numerous strangers throughout the night struck up conversations with me and my friends, and I even ran into someone I know! Â
Although the music was a bit loud, I would absolutely love to go back. Â I was a fan of the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Â Such a nice change from downtown!
Habit's is one of my favorite neighborhood bars. A fantastic beer list both on draft and bottle combined with tasty burgers is an easy way to worm your way into my heart. Â Throw in their Summer brewery series where they feature a different local or craft brewery bucket special every Wednesday and I'm sold. I'll admit that on the occasions I have veered off path on the menu and gone a non-burger route - it hasn't always been my best decision. Â
With bar and dining room areas, we have never had to wait for a table and during the summer it is the excellent end to a nice stroll around Oakley.
I can't give a honest review of Habits. Â I can't help but compare what it is now to what it used to be.
Habits used to be oustandingly phenominal. Menu was comprised of local produce and the taste was out of this world. Â Bar and staff were excellent and the place was packed every night.
Did it change ownership? Gone is the wonderful menu reduced to normal bar fare and the liquor stock just isn't what it once was including the taps. Â The service is OK but the "Cheers" atmosphere of the place is just gone. Â The jukebox has been changed too. Â
It just isn't as good as what it once was. Â I miss the old Habits. Â It's still a pretty good place and far outplaces a chain but compared to what it was once was.....well...it just doesn't. Â I almost gave it 2 stars but I can't do that to an indie restaurant...
I tried a burger from Habit's Cafe yesterday; another burger on the Cincy Top 40. I was originally trying to find a place in the Oakley area with wifi to try to get some work done. Instead, I thought, 'why not knock out another top 40 burger?'
I was very impressed with the number of choices they had for toppings, so I decided to get a little funky [and by funky, I mean hardly funky at all]. I opted for a Habit's burger cooked medium with provolone cheese, garden on the side, sweet potato fries and a side of teriyaki glaze. The burger was cooked perfectly, the fries were great (as well as the dipping sauce that accompanied them), and the teriyaki glaze was a nice add-on for additional flavor.
I've decided to use a more accurate scoring system to rate the burgers I try, so here goes nothing:
Burger - 3.5/5
The burger itself had good flavor and was cooked to the perfect temperature (medium).
Toppings - 3/5
I opted for provolone cheese and the lettuce was good, though the onions weren't cut the best.
Condiments - 5/5
The variety was perfect and they all [ketchup, ranch, teriyaki and apple butter for the sweet potato fries] were very good.
Burger to Bun ratio - 3.5/5
Nice ratio and the bun didn't get sloppy.
Side - 4/5
Sweet potato fries were great 'arm candy' for the main attraction.
Total - 3.8/5 [rounded up to a 4 for Yelp rating purposes]
I've been to Habit's Café twice now, and both times in celebration, which may cloud my review a little bit but it's pretty darn good. Yes, I would say I'm a fan.
I enjoy the dive-bar feel - the dark tinted windows on the outside and the wood everywhere on the inside. I'm a fan of the fact that they've got a killer beer selection, and tons on tap (although no Great Lakes, Habit's? Come now.) I even like that they can seat tons of people on a moment's notice, as they did with about 25 of us on the first time I was here. Pretty cool.
Even more cool is their burger selection, which was delicious. I got your typical homemade American cheesed burger, but if you want to go crazy and get yourself a bison burger or an ostrich burger, yes, I say ostrich, you can. How many places in Cincinnati can boast that bunch of awesome nonsense?
Now, I have to point out that parking is a nightmare - but this isn't just for them, it's for anywhere in Oakley Square. There's always construction going on and trying to find a space will most likely result in you smashing your head against the steering wheel repeatedly. Your better off going down the road a ways and walking back, trust me.
It's basically for that reason though that Habit's is not a main stop for me - well, that and I live nowhere near it. I will gladly stop into this café when nearby at a show at 20th Century Theatre or some other space around the area, but I'm not going out of my way ... sorry Habit's, it's the truth.
You have no idea how much I wanted to give this place a single star, but alas my want to be even-handed has prevailed. Â Let me be clear, though: I hate Habit's Cafe.
It's not that their food is bad. Â I actually enjoy their potatoes covered with cheese, bacon and ranch (how could you not?) and the White Hot Sun burger... usually ostrich, because why not?
However, I have one very big qualm that is insurmountable for me to get over: They skimp on french fries. Â If I write enough reviews you'll notice a consistent theme and that'll be french fries. I eat them anywhere they're available and will pass judgement on an establishment based solely on their fries. Â And frankly, it's not the taste of the french fries that I have a problem with, it's that they give you a very small handful that isn't enough to satisfy a new-born who just finished a round of milk suckling. Â Seriously, fries are the cheapest part of the over-priced meal I've just ordered, and the side I'm most looking forward to, and I get about 7 of them.
It is for this reason only that I will never again step foot inside of Habit's Cafe.
We've been to Habit's a couple of times before this and have always been ok with our experience... I just feel there are better places in cincinnati to go... BUT we went here on our burger tour based on the cincinnati magazine article "The 40 Best Burgers in the Queen City." Â The staff was moderately friendly and at first seemed disinterested in us when we ordered one burger and a couple of beers between the 5 of us... but later they were excited to hear we were on a burger tour and told us sides to order at other places we were going to visit.
The burger we ordered was the Godzilla Burger with Cajun fries. Â Whatever the mayo was on this burger it was amazing... delicious and made the burger for me. Â It also had zesty shoestring onions on it that just added to the deliciousness of the burger. Â The bread they used was also very good.
The cajun fries did not seem very spiced or cajun'y and they weren't piping hot which is a requirement for me in steak fries.
We also tried two beers "Purple Haze" and "Dreamweaver Wheat" which were both very good in very different ways.
Overall it was a really good burger and definately deserved to be on the top 40 list.
No coffee here! Â Well, there probably is coffee on the menu, but Habits Cafe is really a neighborhood restaurant and bar in the heart of Oakley. Â
Habits just went through a minor renovation, ditching its old-fashioned exterior in favor of a glass front. Â (Personally, I liked the old-fashioned exterior better). Â Habits has a full bar and simple menu with decent prices. Â My favorite meal is the California BLT.
Parking can be kinda of a pain; its on street parking only so you may end up walking a bit.
Habits is great place to meet friends or grab bite when you want simple American food.
Habits is a corner bar with an eclectic mix of (forgive the stereotypes) hippies, punk rockers, wannabe jazz musicians, yuppies, and A&F clone college kids. Â
We stopped by Habits tonight (Sunday) after learning it was Open Mic night at the Oakley bar. Â Getting to Habits is easy; the caf takes up a whole corner of Madison and Markbreit Avenues. Â Parking, however, isn't quite as easy to find. Â We were lucky enough to get a spot on a side alley street right by the bar but it was the last one and we saw three more cars attempt to find parking on the same lane in our short walk to the door. Â Keep in mind, though, that after midnight most of Oakley is shut down, meaning you can park in almost any lot without fear of getting towed. Â
Three separate rooms make up Habits; we stayed in the bar room for our visit but also checked out the pool room and dining room. Â The bar itself is gorgeous, heavy oak wood is framed by Tiffany stained glass. Â A few booths and rectangular tables make up the rest of the bar room, but the focal point of this room is the "stage," which is really just a few stools and an amp set up on the floor. Â
We got to Habits in time to catch a few songs from Headphone, a duo act. Â They were impressive both vocally and acoustically, we were disappointed when they sat down after only two songs. Â The second act we saw was pretty weak, as was the third. Â
Drinks at Habits are comparable to the surrounding bars. Â I enjoyed my Woodchuck Amber ($3) while my boyfriend selected a Killian's ($2.75). Â We had to wait a few minutes before we caught the busy bartender's attention and after she got us our beers we had to wait again as she double-checked the prices of our selections...maybe she was new?
I was pretty impressed with the Sunday night crowd. Â We didn't leave until well after 1AM and the bar was still packed, we had to squeeze our way out of the place! Â I hear Habits draws even more of a crowd on Friday and Saturday nights, so don't be surprised if you have to wait ten or fifteen for a drink, longer for food. Â We didn't get to eat anything but we saw a few patrons enjoying chips and salsa and nachos, I glanced at the menu and also saw burgers, sandwiches, and salads as well. Â
Fun, diverse, neighborhood spot. Â Definitely entertaining on Sunday nights!
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