I'm new to Cincinnati, but everyone kept telling me to try Montgomery inn. My dad, a BBQ connoisseur, came for a visit so we thought why not try this local favorite. The view of the river is phenomenal. I would definitely pick this over the original location. Like other reviewers have mentioned, I was a bit confused by the 'fine dining' they were going for. Everyone was dressed up (probably just came from work like I did) and they gave linen napkins - I'm eating BBQ here people, I don't want to have to worry about ruining your table linens with sauce. They offered my dad a plastic bib because he ordered the ribs, that didn't really tie in with the fine dining experience. I understand that you have to pay for parking in downtown, but I felt forced to valet because of its odd location and lack of street parking. Not the best first impression.
Our waiter was very personable and provided excellent service so kudos to that. I had the brisket which was good but I was unimpressed by the saratoga chips. My dad got the ribs and thought they were pretty fantastic.
I feel like this place is more about the novelty than the food. A bit pricy, but a nice experience.
Coming in town for the Cowboys Bengals game a friend of ours that was from Cincy took us here. Since it was packed we had made reservations and were seated promptly. Â We each got the ribs and ordered some wine. Â Apparently this isn't a wine drinking place since the waiter couldn't give us any recommendations or speak to us about the selections we asked. Â The ribs were cooked great, but I prefer a sauce that isn't near as sweet. Â Since that is personal preference I don't hold that against them. Â The service was alright and the food was decent. Â I wouldn't go back and would probably steer people to some place else.
Review Source:Really? Folks love this place? I had a lovely dinner with a favorite work colleague and it was a perfectly fine meal of a Greek salad. We had to get the chips and BBQ sauce, which were good, but not so much different than any BBQ sauce. The fresh chips were good, but a bag of kettle chips and some famous Dave's might be just as good. The view was beautiful and the wait staff was very efficient and friendly. There are better Cinncinati restaurants but if a groupies going, you can find something on the menu to eat.
Review Source:Overall a great experience. The ribs are a little on the sweet side but nonetheless tender and juicy, falling right of the bone. The duck is another great item on the menu as well as the chicken. The best side hands down is the sweet potato, but try the Saratoga chips at least once because they are great too. Make sure to attend the all-you-can-eat ribs feast at the Inn at least once in your life.
Review Source:I consider this the single most confusing restaurant in Cincinnati.
It's way too formal. This is a BBQ joint, and BBQ joints should never, ever be a linen napkin kind of event. They're more wet-nap occasions. I consider this a fairly large failure.
Next, why are there always teenagers in formal wear? It doesn't matter what month it is, there are ALWAYS kids in prom attire. More often than not white prom attire, too. Honestly, don't wear your white tuxedo to a BBQ joint. And, more to the point, who the hell is renting all these white tuxedos? It's funny when you're the one guy doing it, but I see entire parties of kids with Caesar haircuts (a step above a mullet) and a white tuxedo. Makes no sense. White suits are fine, and white tuxedos work ironically, but when you go to the Boathouse 5 times and see at least 20 kids in white tuxedos it's no longer ironic, it's an epidemic.
Anyway, more to the point, the food isn't particularly good, either. The brisket is plasticy and terrible. The pulled pork is ok but nothing special. Can't speak to the ribs, as I'm not a rib guy, but the BBQ here is really passable at best. For the cost, and the damage to your white tux, it just isn't worthwhile.
Seems a lot of locals consider going here to be a big deal. Please, there are better places with better food at better prices. Or there are real BBQ joints. This just strikes me as upscale dining for people that have never really done upscale dining. I think there were license plates on the wall, and I stick with my general rule of thumb that you should never eat at a place with license plates on the wall, and you should never consider it fine dining.
Four of us went to Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse for some good, American grubbing. We made reservations the day before, we sat at the river's edge. We wanted a nice leisurely night out but we ended up feeling... rushed. We were getting through appetizers- chatting, enjoying the view, but the waiter would relentlessly ask if we were ready to order. Even saying "we'll let you know" didn't stop the pestering. The upshot is that drinks were always full, the bread was hot and the ribs were great. We ended up ordering just about all of the appetizers, 3 plates of ribs and one Coho Salmon, all items were delicious. The bottom line is the environment did not supplement the food in any way. I know the the waiter service is suppose to be very hand-and-foot, but when we asked to tone it down and our wish was not granted, it made for an uncomfortable meal.
Review Source:Overrated. Â Ribs are mediocre and prices are inflated. Â If you want a pretty view of the river, well then, that's about all this place has going for it.
Note: If you get a server there named Ron (our server), prepare to have a completely bitter, sarcastic, unpleasant, and rude customer service experience. Â Montgomery Inn could do without Ron as a server.
Beautiful scenery on the riverfront; excellent service; fantastically tender ribs. Ample selection of appetizers and desserts. I felt the brisket was mediocre and the sauce was unremarkable - but, the quality and tenderness of the ribs more than compensate for any shortcomings. Very memorable meal!
Review Source:I was really excited to check out this place in my last trip to Cincinatti. Â The view is defiantly a 5 out of 5. Â However, everyone kept talking about the ribs. Â I had them and they were just OK. Â Nothing to brag home about. Â Just decent. Â Also, the place felt like a museum of sorts with high ceilings and such. Â They should play some light music or something.
Review Source:The Montgomery Inn has a very good menu of items to choose from and enjoy. Most will consider the Montgomery Inn a little pricey, but they also provide large serving sizes, so nobody complains of being under-fed. Their BBQ sauce is widely acclaimed, and many people have it on the top of their list of favorites.But it comes down to personal taste. I grew up eating Texas BBQ so I will always be partial to that, but now being in the midwest I think Montgomery Inn BBQ is the best you'll get! I am of the opinion that meats that are rubbed and smoked well don't really need "sauce" to be considered good BBQ. So, while I would not call the ribs at the Montgomery Inn the best I've ever had, they are not the worst.They will do until I can have Texas BBQ again...and plus they have an expansive menu with many great choices so this place is def on my list of must eats in Ohio.
Review Source:A few weeks ago a small portion of relatives on my mom's side got together for my grandpa's 87th birthday. He wanted to go to the Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse, so a reservation was made for dinner at 4:30 that afternoon/evening. It had been years since my last visit to the Boathouse, so I was very easily convinced to attend.
There isn't a finer view of the lovely Ohio River than the one from the outside seating area at the Boathouse. The circular shaped building allows for sweeping views in both directions no matter where you are sitting. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best (and our party was too large) for outdoor seating on this visit.
Fortunately even the inside dining areas have great views thanks to the floor to ceiling windows, and the curved nature of the building. Our large party was stuck toward the center of the room, but even this area has a good view due to an elevated floor.
Montgomery Inn is famous for their barbecued ribs and their sweet barbecue sauce. Due to the fall off the bone nature of the ribs, bibs are provided and encouraged. Even though I wasn't having ribs, I still took the opportunity to fit in with the rest of the crowd.
I'm not a fan of ribs, so I've never tried theirs. The thing I go to Montgomery Inn for is their barbecued spring chicken ($17.99 or $19.99 for all white meat). This roasted half chicken is always so moist and tender. It comes with warm barbecue sauce on the side for dipping. It comes with your choice of side dish and I almost always opt for their Saratoga chips, which are delicious on their own and even better when dipped in the sauce.
My wife went with a lighter option, the pulled pork barbecue sandwich ($10.99). The pork is lean cuts that are slow-smoked for 16 hours then pulled and mixed with the world-famous barbecue sauce. Again this comes with a choice of side dish, and she went with the baked sweet potato. I didn't hear any complaints from her. I had a small bite, and while definitely not the best pulled pork in the city, this sandwich is definitely worth ordering for those who desire a lighter meal or want something more affordable than the entrées.
All of the food I sampled was average to above average. The problem I have is that the prices seem to be sporadic. The pulled pork sandwich is fairly priced, but the spring chicken seems overpriced to me. It's these higher priced dishes that leave most people thinking that the Montgomery Inn is only for special occasions. However the lower priced sandwiches and smaller dishes with fair prices should be affordable lunch options for people with all budgets.
Let me debunk the myth that you HAVE TO GO to Montgomery Inn at least once if you're going to call yourself a Cincinnatian.
First, you should PROBABLY GO if you're visiting from out of town. It's one of Cincinnati's only points of pride. Show some respect.You'll get a beautiful view of the river and a unique experience you could write home about. Plus, the ribs are fall-off the bone and the wait staff is incredibly courteous.
You can SPARE YOURSELF the expense if:
-You don't like ribs, barbecue, or dealing with valet parking.
-You've tried the Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce that they sell in a bottle at Kroger and was not impressed.
-You expect that a high price tag is coupled with high class tables and chairs (not plastic)
-You want to sit outdoors and order off the same menu as the people indoors.
-You're the type of person that wants a mint after dinner - a mint you don't have to buy.
If this is the best Cincy has to offer in terms of BBQ, then I say skip BBQ all together while you're here. The sauce, a standard Kansas City style sauce, tastes a little off and the pulled pork was awful.
I liked the pulled chicken and the chips the best, but that's still not saying much.
Skip it.
If you're a serious foodie, a BBQ circuit aficionado, or a frugal diner, do not come to this place because you will be disappointed. This isn't a barbecue joint--think "society ribs." They are boiled rather rather than smoked, heavily covered in a sauce that is closest to Kansas City style, and served in an upscale, white tablecloth environment that is totally incongruous with barbecue. (Cincinnatians consider this a romantic dining spot. How romantic can you be with a bib tied around your neck, a splatter of blood colored sauce around your plate and stringy bits of pork between your teeth??) It's pricey as barbeque goes, and the sides and other entree options aren't very good. All that said, the ribs are delicious and unlike any you're likely to have had.
Review Source:Im from ny,not the rib capital but i feel ny/ li has better bbq. The boathouse has a nice atmosphere, good service and good food. I wish they offered burnt endz on the menu. They gave us a good amount of food. I would recommend but wouldnt say that its the best. It is a good place to take someone you care about.
Review Source:I had Salmon. I have to go back and try the Ribs or everyone down here is going to lynch me like the angry mob from the Simpsons. It was a very relaxed elegant feel. Upscale without the snooty atmosphere. Nice view looking across the river to KY. A little pricy but, if you're out here you might as well make the best of it.
Review Source:The location of the resturant itself is very nice. Great views of the river and surrounding areas.
When we arrived there (about mid-day) the resturant was basically empty. I would like to see how it operates on a full day. After waiting for more than 10 minutes with no one coming to our table, not even for water, we finally flagged down a different server who enventually located someone to serve our table. It seemed that they were a bit lost on how to accomodate tables and help staff.
We ordered the slab of ribs with fries to split between myself and my boyfriend. It was more than enough food for the 2 of us. The ribs were very tender, fall off the bone kind of meat. The one thing of my own personal preference is the amount of sauce. Its quite a bit but my boyfriend who loves bbq sauce couldnt get enough. The fries were fresh and nice and salty. For a meal it was pretty good but I think next time I will ask for sauce on the side.
Montgomery Inn had so much potential but just fell short of my expectations.
The view is beautiful. Â This would be a nice place for a fancy but not-too-fancy date. Â Our service was pretty poor the night I went with my coworkers and it was the middle of the week. Â I recommend a reservation and a lot of patience on the weekends.
For an appetizer we ordered the ribs. Â They were very good and juicy which was a nice change from all the dry rub I had in Memphis.
My mistake was ordering the pulled chicken sandwich. Â The meat wasn't great and the bun was awful. Â Bad meat + bad bun = bad sandwich. Â However, I sampled all of my coworkers food and it was great! Â The pulled pork sandwich was definitely the way to go. Â DO NOT get the pulled chicken sandwich! Â
I got a baked potato as a side and it was cold. Â This made me sad because my butter didn't melt well and it ruined the baked potato experience. Â Again, I think the bad service had something to do with this.
Reservations are highly recommended. Â It gets you to the front of the walk-in line, but you will still have to wait just a bit.
I come here for the ribs; I have tried the BBQ chicken, it is also very good. Â Not sure what else they serve here because I always only get the ribs. Â At home I slow cook my ribs in the oven then finish them off on the grill; these taste just the same so I suspect they do something similar. Â It's like home cooking but I didn't have to cook.
For those who like ribs, get the slab. Â Share it if you are not that hungry, but anything less and you will miss the ends which are the best part. Â No slouching on the cut, there is a lot of meat on these ribs and it makes a full meal.
For dessert the Grater's Ice Cream is a great choice, you are sure to get a chunk of chocolate in there somewhere.
I love ribs. Â Rarely have I come across a slab I didn't get along with. Â Having said that, I thoroughly enjoy Montgomery Inn's food. Â The ribs here really are some of the best I've had, not just in Cincinnati, but anywhere. Â I can't offer too much insight on the other food on the menu though because I order the ribs about 95% when I go here.
The decor has a late 90's kitsch that isn't trying too hard to be cool, like many restaurants and bars in the area. Â Montgomery Inn shows it's heritage of sports and entertainment stars with memorabilia on the walls with pride. Â It doesn't have to create fake atmosphere with reproduction vintage signs and art because between the food and the spectacular view of the river, who really cares that the tables and chairs look a little dated?
The service...
I usually eat upstairs in the bar area when I go here. I find it's a bit more relaxed than the main dining room. Â Just last week I went with a friend and we ate at the bar. Â The service was a bit sluggish at first, but we were there fairly late and it looked like the servers were focusing on their clean up duties for the end of the night. Â As someone who has worked in food service before, I definitely don't hold that against someone, as long as it doesn't impact my dining experience. Â We eventually we got into some small talk with the bartender and made for a very enjoyable evening. Â
When the food showed up, my friend's steak was markedly overcooked. Â He told the bartender who apologized very genuinely and had another sent to the kitchen immediately. Â I expected him to comp part of the meal or the drinks, as is customary in the situation. Â To my surprise, and the delight of my friend, they comped the whole steak. Â His bill was only for the salad and a soda. Â That's well over and above what was necessary.
Between taking care to make sure the customers are happy and the delicious ribs, this places definitely gets 4 stars from me.
The Montgomery Inn has multiple locations in Cincinnati, but this location has a commanding view over the Ohio River and Kentucky.
The venue is very large and expansive, with outdoor and indoor seating. Â There is plenty of local memorabilia throughout connecting this local BBQ powerhouse to it's community and foundational customer base.
I have been to many of the countries best Bar-B-Que establishments and each have a unique strength that keeps the debate for who's best alive.
For Montgomery Inn that would be it's sauces. Â They serve terrific fall off the bone ribs, chicken and pulled pork. However, the sauces are king!
If you prefer only the smokiness flavor in your meat, and have trouble with saucy BBQ joints, this place may not be for you. Â However, this is Cincinnati's finest when it comes to BBQ.
Three quick recollections from my recent dinner @ Montgomery Inn.
The decor is unusual, with a casino / gentleman's club / sports bar vibe. Â
Ron is a great waiter. Â He will tell it to you straight. Â Go ahead, ask him about the jalapeno corn cakes and see what happens.
The blackberry chip ice cream from Graeter's is ridiculous.
RIBS RIBS RIBS RIBS RIBS
The homemade fries are delicious and the bbq sauce taste like the south. Â I was excited to rock the bib, then immediately dropped meat all over my lap...cuz it literally falls off the bone. Â You wont leave hungry....Bob Hope was rumored to fly in to Newport for these Ribs. I woulda hitched a ride.
RIBS RIBS RIBS RIBS
Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse is a place every Cincinnatian should visit once in their life, its also a great place to take out of town guest.
Good things about Montgomery Inn:
- All you can eat ribs twice a year (last time I ate 23 bones, the record was like 77)
- View of Cincinnati River
- The best sports memorabilia around
- Saratoga Chips
Fall off the bone ribs, no sauce needed but the sauce wasn't bad at all;
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kvSEn3cyJHArhCUxQBld4A?select=WXR5F4RZwDoJSpfjpuAqOA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
The chicken may have been the best chicken I've had from any BBQ spot;
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kvSEn3cyJHArhCUxQBld4A?select=kcRUtePsyXogzm8b1mQQlQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Their famous chips were nothing special at all, I would have rather had some white bread;
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kvSEn3cyJHArhCUxQBld4A?select=cJ_JGGmXkASSn5JEvumxBw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
This will be my goto spot in Cincinnati (aside from anywhere with 5-way chili).
This place is always packed, and I don't get it.
I start with the pros:
-Beautiful building
-Large bar/waiting area
-Saratoga Chips
-Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce
The building is super nice, and looks out onto the river. Truly beautiful. The bar is really large. I guess it has to be since you must wait forever to be seated EVEN IF YOU MAKE RESERVATIONS. The Saratoga chips are the bomb diggity. They're even better when dipped in the BBQ sauce from heaven.
Now, the cons:
-The ribs are nothing special.
-Our waitress was awful!
-We made reservations, but still had to wait forever to be seated.
-VALET PARKING.
You'd think you have to have amazing ribs to be known as the best rib place in the world, huh? They're just average at best. Our waitress was not friendly, nor was she good at bringing us refills or checking in on us. Eating at the Boathouse is a waiting game. ENDLESS. Valet parking? Really? So stupid.
I'm embarassed that this place is continually raved about to "out of towners". I think it's giving outsiders a bad impression of the Cinci area.
Skip it.
I'll always have love for Montgomery Inn. Â A couple things about my recent trip:
1. House salad has gotten worse. Â They use crappy iceberg lettuce. Â I want spring mix, come on!
2. Ribs, although I heard they have "gotten worse over the years," werre still awesome to me. Â The sauce has still stayed amazing as well.
3. Happy about the hot tea that I got - it's some real good tea.
So yea, I'm down. Â Continually.
This place is a family favorite. Â Every year when my uncle comes in for Christmas, we have to make a trip here. Â And every year we make the same joke about my uncle ordering 2 slabs of ribs like he did when he was a teenager...
If you are a meat eater, this is the place to go. Â You can't go wrong ordering the ribs, but my parents live and die for the pork chops. Â Always order some extra sauce on the side! Â Onion straw appetizer with sauce is a must... we often order 2 for the table. Â
Non-meat eaters will have a hard time finding a satisfying choice here. Â There are typical salads and sides, but no entree that really stands out. Â Might I make a suggestion for a veggie burger doused in their famous BBQ sauce?
Prices are definitely in the high end for Cincinnati, but service and portion size make up for the cost. Â I do hate that you have to do valet parking here! Â My husband and I always park for free at the neighboring park and walk over to the restaurant... Yes, I know we are cheapskates!
I held my rehearsal dinner here (a million years ago) and definitely recommend their private party rooms. Â Service and food was fantastic for the special occasion.
If you are an out-of-towner, definitely make some time to visit.  Its a  Cincinnati tradition.
A Cincinnati institution. Â I love the boathouse for when I get out of town visitors, special occasions, or a nice day so I can sit on their patio overlooking the river (not too many on the Ohio side).
I hate that I cannot remember the names of the two awesome waitresses that took great care of my party recently even when we came as they were closing down the patio. Â Both were so great I found the manager and told them so. Â That seems to be a strong point for the Montgomery Inn franchise, to get good staff and keep them.
The food is good. Â Not cheap, but consistent. Â Sometimes its hard for bigger parties (or even smaller ones) to get a table without waiting awhile. Â The different locations have different reservation/call ahead policies so call the one you are going to.
It is not the best BBQ ever, but it is satisfying. Â Some of the different choices such as the buffalo chix salad are the under-appreciated great items on the menu.
Well I went with a party of 5
Let me tell you up front just
SKIP IT!!
The service was just terrible the waitress said the special  app was bruschetta when the order was presented it  came out as brie in pastry dough with raspberry jelly topping, we kept it it was terrible we also had the onion strings they were undercooked and doughy
The house salad looked as though it had been made the day before
it was dull and the tomato and croutons were soggy, no bread was offered
The entrees were cold I had the ribs my honey had the duck YUCK
Do yourself a favor and dine somewhere else!!!
Overrated Barbecue!
I have been traveling to Cincinnati for a while and have been told numerous times that we have to try the Boathouse. So finally I was able find time and was underwhelmed.
First the location and view is wonderful, right on the river with big floor to ceiling windows and the place couldn't have been busier.
We started with the Greek Meatballs and the 'famous' saratoga chips. The meatballs were not my thing but the others at the table enjoyed them. The saratoga chips were just thick potato chips, no seasoning and nothing special, served with their overly vinegary BBQ Sauce.
I had a slab of ribs which were good. The meat was tender and flavorful, but the sauce wasn't enjoyable for me. On the side i had the mac and cheese which wasn't as good as Kraft's.
Overall it was an underwhelming experience, especially with all the good things I have heard.
Mention BBQ at the Cincinnati airport and some local always has to chime in "If you're in Cincinnati, you have to go to Montgomery Inn. Â Best Ribs Ever." Â I've seen celebrities wait for tables here. Â President Bush had the ribs brought to air force one on a trip to the Queen City once. Â Heck, I can even say that I've told some out of towners that it is the best in town, but that was back when I didn't understand BBQ.
Let's start at their most famous offering, their ribs. Â When ordering the ribs you are often given a bib. Â This is due to the ribs being slathered in a thick, red, molasses based sauce. Sugary at it's core, the sauce literally drips off the obviously boiled ribs. Â In my opinion the only way tender ribs are achieved is through a full smoking process, not boiling. Â You see, when you smoke ribs at a low and slow process you are adding the smoky flavor to the meat and tenderizing it over low heat. Â However, when you boil them you are making the cooking process very rapid, and since water softens everything, the meat will fall off the bone easier, no matter the quality of the meat. Â It's a very consistent way of making ribs, but it also makes them flavorless, hence the sugary sauce that is required. Â My mother cooks her ribs this way and it aggravates my father and me to no end!
If ribs aren't your thing, they also offer chicken, pork chops, salmon, pulled pork, and brisket.  I typically opt for  the pork chops, 2 large chops served with onion straws.
The chicken breast is one of their better options. Â A large 1/2 chicken, baked and normally juicy this is a typical choice of mine.
One of my biggest pet peeves however about this Cincinnati mainstay is the price and the service. Â On a recent trip to the boathouse we were given an extremely long wait, almost 2 hours. Â We were OK with it because we had a few good friends with us and we were hanging out on the balcony with a few drinks, but even that grew old after an hour and a half. Â When we were finally given a table it was in an annexed part of the building that looked like it was under construction as we passed through plastic hang down drapery and sat at tables and chairs that would be appropriate in someone's backyard. Â But we would have taken a picnic table at that point since the wait was so long.
After ordering we didn't see our server for another 1/2 hour. Â Our drinks ran dry, and we saw other tables receiving their food. Â When he finally did show back up he gave us a quick "Everything should be right out" and scurried away without giving us a chance to reply. Â Our drinks remained empty, our tempers flared. Â
Ten minutes later he came back again, this time to get our drink refills, and to apologize one more time for the food taking a long time to get to our table. Â The table next to us, which was sat after we had been seated, were even saying that it was atrocious. Â
Having spent 7 years waiting tables I understand things get a little crazy sometimes, and I don't often let that get to me. Â However this was getting ridiculous. Â I asked to speak with a manager.
A few minutes later a lady approached our table and said "Hi Folks, We're really sorry that this is taking so long, I'll buy the last round of drinks, food will be right out, sorry!" Â And as quickly she came, she left. Â I asked her quickly "Are you a manager?" Â And she replied "Yes, I am, Food will be right out, thanks!" And ran off. Â
I know one of the servers at Montgomery Inn and he later told me that she was not in fact a manager and that they do that all the time to appease people.
All in all, Montgomery Inn is overpriced non-BBQ. Â If you want real Q in our fine city, please visit one of the many shacks that dot Cincy. Â If you want fine dining, hit up one of our many fine dining options. Â If you want saratoga chips and a beer before the game, Montgomery Inn is a quick walk to the park and not a bad option.
Get in my belly!
Think fall off the bone ribs smothered in BBQ sauce, tender BBQ chicken, flavorful duck w/an orange sherry sauce and juicy grilled pork chops. Â I tried a little bit of everything and although the ribs were my favorite, everything was delicious.
With a choice of one side, reasonably priced at $20-25 per entree or combo plate. Â Great view too being right off the Ohio River. Â Don't forget to make reservations otherwise you may be waiting for an hour or more.
I'm not from around here but definitely wouldn't mind coming back if I ever get another chance to visit.
One afternoon a few weeks after we moved to Cincinnati, the wife and I were at Nicholson's Pub downtown, having a casual lunch and a couple of beers. Â We were eavesdropping as two local dudes at the bar were unsuccessfully trying to pick up two Chicago girls who were in town for a Cubs series. Â One of the dudes was excitedly recommending Montgomery Inn as the one Cincinnati restaurant these two girls--residents of one of the five best dining cities in the United States--had to visit. Â For a moment, I was embarrassed both for this dude and the city of Cincinnati, but then my buzz washed the feeling away. . . .
Got to admit that, at that time, I had never even been to Montgomery Inn. Â But having been to several very good Cincinnati restaurants by that point, my educated guess was that an "upscale" barbecue restaurant was probably not the one "don't-miss" restaurant that an out-of-town visitor should get to. Â
Jeebus Christ, was I wrong. Â Based on my first visit the other night, Montgomery Inn is even a bit worse than that. Â
First, the good things about Montgomery Inn, at least the Boathouse location:
--A beautiful setting featuring a 180-degree riverfront view.
--A beautiful setting featuring a 180-degree riverfront view.
--A beautiful setting featuring a 180-degree riverfront view.
Seriously, it is a picture-perfect, lovely view that enhances the dining experience, such that it is. Â (The decor itself is pretty forgettable: upscale sports bar meets Houston's. Â If you don't know what Houston's is, then I imagine that J. Alexander's place over at Rookwood is pretty similar, although I haven't been there.)
The bad, or at least depressingly mediocre, stuff:
--Just about everything else. Â
First, a caveat: Â I grew up down south, although I'm about as far from a hidebound Southern partisan as a native Southerner can get. Â But I've always been suspicious about Northerners' obsession with sauce when it comes to barbecue. Â In the South, the meat and its preparation are front and central, and sauce is definitively secondary, merely an accompaniment and an enhancer, to be applied judiciously and conservatively. Â Montgomery Inn inundates its meat with a gooey, syrupy, sugary-sweet, simplistic sauce. Â In my book, this is an instant signifier of bad things to come, as in "What are you trying to hide?"
The "barbecue":
I'm no kind of ribs expert or aficionado. Â (Ribs ain't all that big down South, where the pork shoulder is king.) Â I find that they're too messy and involve too much work for too little reward; pulled or chopped pork can be just as good or better and is a lot easier to deal with. Â But I feel like I'm a pretty good judge of pork barbecue in general. Â And these ribs aren't anywhere close to great. Â I think of "barbecue" as quality meat (almost always pork) roasted low and slow, best over a wood fire, but I got none of that rich, complex smoky flavor from these ribs. Â In fact, you can barely taste the meat at all because it's slathered so liberally in MI's insipid sugar sauce. Â Sure, the meat "falls off the bone," but it has a weird, unpleasant texture. Â Both are probably due to MI's boiling (WTF?!!) the ribs at some point in the process.
MI's pulled pork is cooked down almost into a stringy pulp and also over-sauced.  As with the ribs, no smoky deep flavor.  No hint of crispy, delicious "bark" to give the meat  a texture-and-flavor contrast.  It's really subpar stuff.  (I ripped City BBQ's pulled pork in another review.  MI's is easily worse.)
The barely-recognizable-as-beef brisket was less drowned in sauce, which betrayed its lack of flavor. Â For brisket, it's rather tough and grainy. Â If you've had the real deal in Texas (or elsewhere, for that matter), you'll recognize the inferiority immediately.
Salads and sides are banal. Â An exception, MI's "famous" Saratoga Chips are perfectly crisp and pretty tasty, and would be great if the restaurant didn't salt them so profusely.
Service was efficient and accurate, but given the high prices, a bit crude. Â I left a dressing-covered knife in my salad bowl, thinking I would get a replacement for the massive barbecue plate that was soon to arrive, but the server removed the knife and unceremoniously dumped it on the table in front of me when she took the bowl away. Â
Thanks to the great company and the riverfront setting, it was still an  enjoyable evening, and I imagine that you could have a festive good time at MI if you show up with a big group of fellow drunks after a Bengals or Reds victory. Â
But if you care about your barbecue--and I do--steer clear of Montgomery Inn. Â I'm not going to say this is a one-star restaurant, because the food does fall on the edible side and the place is professionally run. Â (And that view.) Â But I will say that to hold up MI as a Cincinnati "institution" is indeed to embarrass your city.
Was glad our business contact in Cincinnati took us here, because oddly enough, my co-worker and my research did not bring up the Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse. The restaurant decor is nothing to write home about; mirrored walls and the space reminded me of the hippest hottest spot in Cincinnati...circa 1973! There's lots of potential though, as the view of the river with the floor-to-ceiling windows is great!
There was plenty on the menu to choose from, but for your first time we figured why stray from an order of their "World famous" ribs? We started our meal by sharing the homemade Saratoga potato chips with a side of the BBQ sauce. Dipping chips in BBQ Sauce? Crazy! But it actually worked. The "Order" of ribs (six pieces) was plenty for a person of average size and appetite. We were told that the ribs are cooked and cured in a two-day process and the fall-off-the-bone meat was a testament to that! The sauce was sweet and tangy but there was way too much sauce on these ribs. The meat was also too salty. All in all, good ribs, but certainly not the best I've ever had. We washed it all down with their specialty House Pale Ale, which was adequate, but not outstanding.
All in all I might visit again if I was in town for a few days, but it's a solid Meh with a Bib Bullet.
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