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Anchor Grill
Categories: Restaurants Southern Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Burgers Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers [Edit]
438 Pike StCovington, KY 41011
(859) 431-9498
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
57 reviews for Anchor Grill
Review Highlights
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"Hers was in her goetta, mine was in my sausage." In 23 reviews -
"...hours and serves the best 'drunk' food that you could want." In 3 reviews -
"Besides that its a great greasy spoon restaurant." In 10 reviews
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57 reviews in English
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Review from Nick M.
3/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place is great for any time of day! I had a goetta and cheese omelet!!!! DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! Momma makes the best food! I'm excited to go back again!
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Review from Katrina H.
Downtown, Cincinnati, OH
5/11/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Delicious greasy food.
What awesome experiences I had there as a drunken teenager. Now, I go there for brunch after Mass. It is still as wonderful as ever.... If you like goetta, scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. Yummo!
Don't bring your kids.... Unless you want them to experience more smoke-filled air than anywhere else on the planet. Really, the smoke in there is terrible.
Go for the goetta, stay for the experience of the dancing Barbie dolls in the top corner. -
Review from Andrew H.
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I checked this place out at the recommendation of a friend of mine who just opened a bar right up the street. Not knowing what this place was, we went inside and seated ourselves to see what it was all about.
The building itself: It's dated and you can tell it's been there for years. You can smell the age when you walk in- it literally hits you like a ton of bricks. As to be expected with a name of Anchor Grill, the entire place is adorned in nautical and seafaring decorations. I liked the old school charm of this place, not gonna lie. They have old jukeboxes on the wall at each table...unfortunately these no longer work and are just there for decoration. There is a jukebox at the front of the restaurant, and the jukebox itself controls the lighting in the dining area, as well as an old fashioned band box, which was VERY COOL.
The food: I got a plain bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries. It was okay, unfortunately it was nothing to write home about but it was serviceable and was enough to hold me over until the next morning. I felt like I got a whole lot less burger and a whole lot more bun. For the price I paid, I was very disappointed. Not happy about that. My one buddy got the pork tenderloin sandwich and it was gigantic. Perhaps I'll try that if I ever go back to the place.
My overall impression of the place...it was okay. It's serviceable but nothing spectacular or worth the drive from the other side of town. I might give it another try if I go back down to my buddy's bar sometime soon. I'll definitely give it another chance.
If you go, remember that they only take cash...no checks, no plastic, Also remember that "we may dose, but we never close!" -
Review from Michael F.
Erlanger, KY
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place rocks!
I've only ever been when I'm super drunk,so I can't remember how much I've spent, but from what I can recall the food is reasonably priced and at 3 in the morning....you can't beat it. Goetta, eggs, toast bacon, and did I mention goetta? If you've never had it, and you're a resident of the greater Cincinnati area, you gotta try it...and the Anchor Grill is the place to do so. -
Review from Erin O.
Cincinnati, OH
11/10/2011
I've been here both drunk and sober. That's right, sober. But never during day light. The Anchor Grill will meet any greasy food hankering. The service depends on how crowded they are - you'd be amazed at how friendly folks are at around 8 p.m. versus 2 a.m. Win - cheap, greasy, almost always open, parking lot. Lose - somehow you can still smoke in there, and folks truly enjoy getting their smoke on. Also, cash only. Boo. But they do have an ATM on site, so I guess it's not so bad.
I visited last month with high hopes of introducing the Barbie doll juke box to my Anchor Grill virgin husband, but did not see it. Me hopes it still exists! -
Review from Katherine M.
Harrisburg, PA
10/11/2011
This is kind of a classic place in the area. It's always open (except at 10pm on Christmas, which, okay I understand, we were insane for trying to go I guess) and always ready to serve you food.
It is full of random little things like the dancing barbie doll band (my best friend's band was the electrician who wired it which I find enjoyable as I have only ever gone with her), old school video games, and little knick knacks here and there.
The food is typical diner food. Good scrambled eggs - just like they should be at a place like this. Hot tea, coffee, coke - and okay service. it's nothing spectacular really, but it shouldn't be. It doesn't need to be. It just is what it is.
The food is okay. Come for the random atmosphere and mix of people. It's just worth it to go to this area establishment. -
Review from Kyle S.
Roselle Park, NJ
10/22/2011
The anchor grill was my first real experience with goetta. That stuff is delicious. I had a goetta and cheese omelette.
The character of the place is great, extremely tacky like it's straight out of the 50's. You don't find too many greasy spoon places like this still around so enjoy it. Get some goetta as well. -
Review from Missy L.
11/8/2011
Oh Anchor Grill you are the greasiest of spoons and I love you dearly for it! I used to literally live on the same corner as Anchor. It's a Covington landmark that pretty much everyone knows, and I suppose if you don't know it the giant mural of the boat and anchor on the side of the building probably helps.
As their sign decrees upon entrance...they may doze, but they NEVER close! You can go to Anchor at all hours of the day and night. After the bars all close this quaint little diner gets PACKED!
The food offerings are about what you would expect...breakfast (including Glier's Goetta), sandwiches, and homemade pie! The pies rotate and are all pretty darn delicious!
The interior is covered with anchors of every size, shape and origin. My favorite wacky feature is the option to "Strike Up the Band." If you use the jukebox in the front room you will automatically strike up the band in the first dining room. The band being a small animatronic band with none other than Barbie on lead vocals! They apparently lost the original singer to the set and went ahead and replaced it with Barbie. They dance around and play their little instruments during the duration of the song. I'm like a small child when it comes to this and have to do it every time I'm there.
The staff are always really nice (though sometimes very busy). I have had to wait pretty long for my food before, but there's so much atmosphere to look at you really don't even notice.
Anchor is one of Covington's greatest little treasures. If you are ever in the area stop in (even if just for a slice of pie). -
Review from Nora C.
11/2/2011
Wins:
-Goetta
-Peanut Butter Pie (come early, they often run out!)
-Lemonade that happens to be Electric Blue in color
-Sassy Waitresses who banter with their regulars (of which my crew and I definitely are!)
-Crazy random decor
Not So Wins:
-Smoke (they got around the smoking ban by having smoke-free hours during the day)
-This place is either dead or absolutely packed. I usually come with a group of 12+ after late night dance events and sometimes we have to go somewhere else because there just is not enough room. That's a good problem for a restaurant to have, though!
-Cash only (they have a shady overpriced ATM if you forget) -
Review from Casey Y.
Cincinnati, OH
This is the only restaurant I've ever been to that serves what appears to be blue Kool-Aid (hiding under the pseudonym "Raspberry Lemonade"). I took a sip, looked across the table at my mom, and said, eyes wide, "Mom. This is Kool-Aid." Then I cried tears of joy. Oh, and the food's good too.
Listed in: The Yelp 100 Challenge, When Moms Come Into Town
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Review from Karina M.
Updated - 7/18/2011
Light of Day Review (if you'd like to contrast it with the Dark of Night Review, see below): It's been many, many years since I've eaten at the Anchor during the day but I recently took my bf to the establishment because he had never experienced the place. I did him a great disservice taking him at 11am on a Saturday.
The waitress was very pleasant and the service was fast. I had the country fried steak with green beans and hot saw (glad to see it on the menu) and he had the Western omelet. All was good but nothing stood out as particularly satisfying.
The decor that I find so charming at 3 am just looks shabby and a tad depressing when the sun's out.
BTW, you can still smoke at the Anchor despite the smoking ban in Kenton County. Don't know how that works.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/5/2008
"I See Drunk People." My server's T-shirt sums up about every experience I've ever had at Anchor.
… Read more »
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Review from Tim D.
5/19/2011
I'm not a giant fan, especially at these prices... The location is quaint, but I was getting a bit sea sick... They serve a large portion of the Gliers Geotta, but you do pay for it... The homefries and biscuits are brilliant and your meal portions are healthy, but not as "Homemade" tasting as one would expect...
Definitely make your way into the "Window" room as the booths, in the darkened room, are not very accomodating at all, even if you're by yourself...
And remember, BRING CASH, it's all they'll take as payment... -
Review from Terri H.
Cincinnati, OH
9/1/2011
All Nite Dive Check List:
Great drunk people watching - check.
Greasy food for a hungry/drunk belly - check.
Jukebox - check.
Kitschy nautical themes - Check.
Creepy dancing puppet band - Check.
What's NOT to love??? -
Review from Christopher G.
Covington, KY
3/12/2011 ROTD 8/26/2011
Full disclosure: I have consumed alcohol before. And in quantities sufficient to impair judgment, motor skills, and taste in music. I feel that this distinction qualifies me to review the Anchor, because, let's face it, I have it in common with most of the people who have ever gone there. I will therefore discuss it primarily as the place to which you order your designated driver at the end of the night.
This is what Anchor Grill is for, really. You'll notice the other reviewers all commenting on how it's the place to go very, very late at night. What they're all too polite to mention (except Alex--represent, man), and what I will happily attest to in their stead, is that this is because it's the best possible place to weather your drunken stupor. It's open all night, the food is cheap and fantastic, and everybody else there is drunk, too!
Really, if I can find fault with this place, it's that it just doesn't market itself correctly. It's all about down-home cookin' and delightfully rustic decor. What they should do is hang a sign outside that says "Anchor: where the party doesn't stop. Ever."
There are some snags. For one thing, they don't take anything but cash. Bummer. Also, because it's such a popular hangout after the bars close, expect to wait a while for your food. But come on, the place is essentially a party on a boat (and if you're in the right condition, it even rocks like a boat!). Why rush it?
And others have already beaten me to this, but seriously, two words for the first-timers: goetta omelette. -
Review from Caitlin B.
Cincinnati, OH
4/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is with great regret that I report the smoking ban has finally arrived at Anchor Grill. I'm not a huge fan of smoking indoors so I should be relieved, but I feel like the Anchor has been robbed of some of its charm. There's nothing like stumbling into Anchor Grill at 2 AM for coffee and second dinner and stumbling out with the smell of smoke and grease soaked into your clothes. It's part of the kitsch - no one expects stellar food (though seriously, nothing soaks up alcohol quite like their hash browns and breakfast sandwiches) but the atmosphere and jukebox puppet show make up for the lack of culinary depth.
My favorite moment at the Anchor Grill, pre-smoking ban, was when I approached the counter to pay my bill. The door to the kitchen swung open and standing over the stove was the cook, cigarette in hand. Next to her was...a dog. As the door swung closed, I heard her say to the dog, "Get back in here, you're gonna get us in trouble!" -
Review from Beth F.
7/5/2011
I am all for little "dive" joints, and this one just makes me smile.. even as the grease from my meal dribbles down my chin. Yum. I can literally feel my arteries clogging with each bite, but I can't resist. It's like a food train wreck that I can't stop eating.
I was a poor excuse for a Cincinnatian before I became aquainted with this lovely place. I'm ashamed to say it, but I'd never heard of Goetta.. and when it was brought out of a friend's plate I looked at the brown rectangle and actually curled my lip up at the sight of it. Sigh... that was the night I learned not to be judemental of my food.. I took a bite, with my eyes closed tightly shut, and as that piece of... whatever Goetta is, hit my taste buds my eyes shot open and I was a believer.. I grabbed a fork and stole a rather large portion off my friend's plate. Our friendship was strained a bit after that, but it was WORTH it!!
Whenever someone comes to town that isn't from here, I drag them to this place. As they walk in and step back into time they look at me with fear in their eyes.. I think they believe I've actually kidnapped them and there is an ax murderer in the back. I assure them they will love me even more than they already do after they leave here, and so far everyone that I've taken has in fact been a fan.
I heart you Anchor Grill and you'd be 5 stars if you only accepted credit cards! -
Review from Adam P.
Cincinnati, OH
4/13/2011
Keep in mind, the 5 star rating is only applicable if you are absolutely shitfaced at 3am. This place easily has the best drunk food and atmosphere in the Tri-State area.
I highly advise the Brown Gravy Fries with some crispy fried goetta after a hard night of drinking. Their biscuits and gravy are killer as well. They have a good selection of southern favorites and breakfast classics. Everyone can find something to like!
The atmosphere doesn't appear to have changed much since the 50s. As far as I know, they have only closed twice in the last 60 years, which is a very impressive streak. The food is closer to 3 stars when sober, but still beats Waffle House. -
Review from jasmin c.
Covington, KY
11/30/2011
Everything a greasy spoon should be, but I have definitely had better.......If your drinking in mainstrasse you cant beat it in terms of a place to hang after bars close.
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Review from Andrea B.
New Orleans, LA
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Classic. I used to live around the corner from this place and ate here often enough to be considered a "regular"...
It's open 24 hours and has a very old school style. Of course, the dancing dolls that move when you put money into the jukebox, but also the old photographs, awesome nautical decorations, and you can sit at the counter and watch them make your food.
The food is typical diner food. Breakfast, meatloaf, soups, salads and really good coffee.
I went back while I was in town and noted that now you have to pay first before you get your food, probably because of all the drunks leaving without paying.
My favorite time to hit this place up was at 3 AM Halloween night. What a freak show! I love people watching, and this was THE place to do it.
I would call in orders of their delicious hash browns.. sigh, I miss this place.
If you are just visiting and eat meat, get some goetta. It's a Cincinnati-only meat that mixes pork with grains. My in-laws loved it.
I wish I had gotten a picture of their gorgeous mural on the side of their building... A big paddle wheeler! -
Review from Amy K.
Cincinnati, OH
2/4/2011
I am giving this a 4 because of the cigarette smoke, otherwise this place is a gem.
Easy to get to right off of the 12th exit in covington, Anchor Grill can't be missed with the large mural on the side of a ship and the slogan 'we may doze but we never close' in the window.
Anchor Grill has been around for a very long time and inside seems to be trapped at least 40 years back in time. The bar, however, can go back another 20 years on top of that...lol. This is a greasy spoon with good homemade food.
PROS: Daily menu, homemade food, americana, reasonablly priced, jukebox, a dancing 'band in a box' (i think from the 40s?), local business, speedy service, open 24 hrs. Free parking in their private lot. Convenient location. COKE products.
CONS: Smoking. If you don't like smoke while you eat then you need to stay in the front of the restaurant by the door for any type of relief. They are CASH ONLY. If you want to order fried chicken, you should call it in 30 mins before you arrive otherwise you are going to sit - all food it fresh made to order.
FAVORITE FOODS: Goetta for breakfast and great home fries. For lunch or dinner: cheeseburger and fries or Bar B Q with slaw on top mmm... -
Review from Mike S.
Ventura, CA
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The epitome of the "greasy spoon" but the food was awesome.
It was like stepping back 30 years when I entered this place - terrible wood paneling and decor, OLD jukebox, old school counter and that feel of an old building. You know that smell and feel you get when you enter an old place? This has it in spades.
I tried the goeta (sp) omelet and it was so delicious. The portion was adequate and the sides were good as well.
Fun, funky, old school little funky country place with good food and service. -
Review from Leigh K.
2/13/2011 4 Check-ins Here
All right, so I've been to Anchor Grill twice now, and while the first time was quite good, the second time, not so much. I can't give it two stars because the food is exceptional greasy spoon far for super cheap, but I can't give it four because the service is pretty much crap and my friend and I both found hairs in our food at our last visit. Hers was in her goetta, mine was in my sausage. Not cool.
I'm also not a fan of the fact that it's cash only--I would go way more often if they took credit cards, but I can understand why they don't. It is, however, one of the few 24-hour diners in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, so it does fulfill a very specific need among night owls who crave omelettes at all hours like yours truly.
Will I be back? Probably, not gonna lie. Will I expect decent service? Uh, no. And if I find another hair, me and Anchor Grille are done professionally. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Cincinnati, OH
3/9/2011
This is another one of those places that I've not been in before 2am, and I don't want that to ever change.
I'll be honest, I have no idea if they have brunch, if they have good burgers, or if it's a good place to take your kids for dinner. Great little dive that has decent sausage gravy and hash browns. (with cheese, obviously) The prices are good, the food does the trick, the service isn't bad. -
Review from Alex S.
8/2/2010
Remember in movies when you watch a character walk though his city at night, and it's a completely different place than he's ever seen before. People are creepier, shadows are darker and longer - the whole world looks like it's about to stab him right in the chest with a dull blade it made out of a fork.
This is how I feel every time I walk into the Anchor Grill.
Let it be clear - I have never been in this dive bar without the bar anytime earlier than midnight. Actually, midnight might be too early - it's more like one to two. And always after drinking. I'm not actually sure they'd let you into this place if you haven't had a drink.
The Anchor Grill is nautically themed, only everything is faded and the colors diluted. It seems like it was once a boat lost at sea that was miraculous found, dragged onto shore and turned into a restaurant. If you dug underneath the floorboards, you literally might find gold.
Plus, in the back room, there are creepier marionette puppets in a glass case near the ceiling that sometimes come to life and sing for you. That's if you're lucky ... if you're unlucky, they steal your soul.
The waitresses are rude, the people behind the counter are rude, everyone in the place is rude. Also, there's never enough room for everyone, so you're going to be shoved into a tiny booth somewhere. I hope you like who you're sitting with.
The food is perfect for this place, in which I say, it's awful. It's cheap, it's quickly made and it comes to you so slowly, that you've started chewing on your hand without realizing it, just to munch on something. And when it gets there - you better believe it's the best meal you've ever had in your life.
I want you to know that this review was written without sarcasm, hence the four star review. I meant every word of it. Thanks god there is somewhere like the Anchor Grill in this world. Without it, I might never know the true joy and happiness of greasy food at two in the morning. Bring it on, nighttime. -
Review from Randall R.
Newport, KY
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
You'll never find better greasy food and the $10 Thanksgiving dinner is as good as Mom ever made.
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Review from Jeffrey K.
Cincinnati, OH
1/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I picked out this place using yelp's monocle function after finding out that riverside was closed on mondays.
I should preface this review by saying that I can understand the appeal of a 24 hour grill next to the covington bars, but for a typical lunch, you can find much better. Food was greasy and a poor value.
Sigh. Should've read the yelp reviews before deciding to go here. -
Review from Melissa L.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/1/2011
This place is a dirty, smokey, hole in the wall, but it is awesome. It is open 24 hours and serves the best 'drunk' food that you could want...I mean, who wouldn't pass up anything with goetta while under the influence!
I came here with a few family members after snow tubing while and filled our bellies with such goodies as 'goetta and cheese omelette, chicken tenders, The Big Anchor (think Big Boy), goetta and eggs, and finally the GLT (Goetta, lettuce, and tomato).
It was awesome. -
Review from Kristina R.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/9/2009 4 photos
I just got a "Just a Note" from Scott E. (or Dweasel Z.), who apparently hails from Kentucky...
(apologies for the cut and paste)
"Its not cool to poke fun at anothers upbringing. Do you elitest snobs from Calif*ckyou really think your better than us in KY. Let me tell you, I lived in L.A. The most uneducated, (and yes I said uneducated, I went to college, I bet thats suprising to you, since I'm from KY.) egotistical, zeros on the planet reside in your dirty state. Do me a favor, stay there. We dont want you here."
I'd just like to apologize to Scott (as I already did in a "compliment") and hope that he understands that I was NOT trying to make fun of his upbringing. In fact, I loved my visit to Kentucky. People have different experiences, and they express them differently. I did not intend to insult him or anyone else with what I wrote about my trip to the Anchor Grill.
Having heard millions of insults about "Calif*ckyou" before, I understand the irritation he must feel towards people who make assumptions and generalizations about a place he obviously loves so dearly. However, I take each criticism with a grain of salt. Just because someone hates Los Angeles or San Francisco doesn't make the entire state of "Calif*ckyou" a wash. The same goes for Kentucky and every state in the U.S.
In fact, I was trying (apparently, not well) to express my own ignorance about Kentucky and my own pre-conceived notions about the state. Anchor Grill won me over, in its own, very unique, odd way.
I regret having pissed off anyone to the point where they felt the need to send a "compliment" to let me know how they felt. My sincere apologies, Scott. And good luck with "complimenting" the other reviewers that might say things you don't agree with, too.
Oh, and I'm upping my star rating, out of sheer guilt and shame.
FYI: This is why I hate "Just a Note" compliments.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2006 First to Review
My husband grew up in Ohio. I came back with him one Christmas...it was the first year we dated,… Read more »
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Review from Matthew R.
Cincinnati, OH
3/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Anchor Grill. You have to try it. Food wise it's just your usual greasy diner food. Not amazing, definitely not bad. Definitely best at 3am when you're drunk. Speaking of, it's open 24/7 right down Main Strasse in Covington. The staff is friendly and reasonably quick.
You have to try the jukebox. The creepy animatronic barbie dolls dance. I kid you not.
A big plus for me is that you can still smoke inside. There's nothing like sucking down a cigarette and killing the bottomless cups of coffee at 2am. If you hate second hand smoke, though, you won't like it.
Definitely recommended, and it is one of my favorite late night spots in the Cincinnati area! -
Review from Rob K.
Cincinnati, OH
1/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Goetta omlette. Who could ask for more? Home fries. Who could ask for more? Toast. Who could ask for more? How about Barbee singing songs? Who knew she had the range she does? And the band played on.
Be patient, service can be slow. Especially at 2:30 a.m. when the crowd piles in the front door.
The staff here probably deserves a Noble Peace Prize for what they put up with, drunk asses and all.
Bring on the B's and G's. -
Review from andy r.
San Francisco, CA
7/24/2006
BEST OLD-TIMEY DINER ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH!!!
I'll tells yeh why:
1) 'We May Doze, But Never Close' is their neon motto in the front winda. (truth in advertising)
2) Gotta get a Goetta. Best Goetta in the tri-state area. Best drunk food evah! If the gods drank 75 cent cans of Weidemann's and moshed, this would be their ambrosia.
http://en.wikipedia.or...
3) Wonderful nautical-themed decor, in constant accumulatory flux since 1946. More "Hey, sailor..." than 80s Ralph Lauren ad. Hey, the Ohio River is less than a mile away. That mermaid coulda swam there...Nah, she'd have ended up in a Po' Boy.
4) Magnificent Improvisational Theater from the regulars and curious alike. One night the place is rockin' 'Okie from Muskogee' and some lady in a booth throws her coffee cup at the waitress, who doesn't even react, except to nonchalantly place the check on the table on her way to ours. Another night, a dramatic relationship 'talk' worthy of Telemundo wafts over another couple passed out in the adjacent booth. The waitress refills their coffee and wakes them by stirring it with a spoon. She's like the mom who knows her kids are bad, but still loves 'em, BLESS HER HEART.
5) The piece-de-resistance resides in the NW corner of the dining room. High above the fray (serious fray) is a beautiful curved glass stage with puppets that play to whatever music you selected in your table-side juke console. Whether it's Patsy Cline (most popular), Aerosmith (nearly as much) or George & Tammy (the real first couple), the band never misses a beat. Over the years, replacement parts must have been out of stock, cause there are sleek, Big Band style figures jamming with Hillbilly Jugband members and a couple Barbies rigged up with makeshift tamborines. A torch light sprouts from the center table, reflecting light off a mirror-cone, making the experience extra fancy, like the ketchup.
No trip, layover, or sentencing in Greater Cincinnati is complete without a visit to the Anchor Grill. Your grandkids will thank you for the story.Listed in: Wakey, wakey!!
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Review from Hank R.
Covington, KY
5/11/2011 14 Check-ins Here
This is a slice of Americana that is fast disappearing throughout the country. The smoking ban is a load of nanny-state nonsense, and a place like this is really where it hurts. As was reported in a previous review, the smoky atmosphere is part of the charm.
There is no better place to eat late at night in the area, hands down. The entire atmosphere reminds me of places that were already old when I was a little kid, and very few of them exist today. Even without the smoking, there is no better place to go to eat in the middle of the night, and especially after drinking.
I am with the crowd in the case of Anchor Grill, and though I wrote a bad review of the local worship place Terry's Turf Club, I think the difference between the two is trying to hard (Terry's shithole) and not giving a damn (the glorious Anchor).
I've had a lot of menu items and none of the were bad. I recommend something fried, maybe with a potato of some kind, and gravy. But the burgers are good too. -
Review from J O.
New York, NY
1/18/2007
This has got to be the grimiest, nastiest place on earth and the food is revolting. It is absolutely bottom-of-the-barrel, yet somehow perfect for when you find yourself so incredibly drunk that you can't even remember what a germ is, let alone think about how many must be crawling around the Anchor Grill's kitchen.
The doll band mentioned by other reviewers is best when Barbie is "singing" to something by an exceptionally deep-voiced singer, such as Johnny Cash, and which is also wildly inappropriate for the disco ball that spins while the music plays.
Here are some actual experiences I've had here:
-Drugged-out Kentucky hookers coming off their shifts and nasally screaming that "Everybody's looking at me!" No one was until she started bellowing about it repeatedly.
-A biker dude in a leather Harley vest (no shirt) and scraggly ponytail leaves and through the window we see him hop on his bike. His bicycle, that is.
-The food is absolutely stomach-churning (you come here for the atmosphere, duh), so I usually just stick with coffee. One night I was drunk enough to order fries or something. I was just being a smartass and asked for the "grease on the side." They actually brought be a dish of grease to accompany my already thoroughly oily fries.
-My roommate asked the waitress if they had anything steamed. The waitress looks at her wearily and says in a Kentucky accent, "Honey, this is a greasy spoon. Everythin's fried." Which is true. -
Review from Penny S.
4/8/2009 2 photos
Admittedly, I'm really boring when I go out for breakfast. I get pretty much the exact same thing every time if it's available and nothing else is notable (hash browns/home fries, two eggs over medium - which almost no one knows how to do, bacon, a side of biscuits and gravy if I'm starved).
Anchor has all that stuff done well (but for the egg clause mentioned above), including yummy biscuits and gravy. My best girl Kathy A wound up with the goetta and cheese omelet, which is the exact reason we traveled over the river to Kentucky to go there.
It's a diner in the truest sense. Counter seating, lifer waitresss, regulars, watery coffee, ashtrays on the tables and dark insides. It also has charm though, even if the bathroom door doesn't lock...
They only take cash, and if you hit it on a good day and the thing is working, put a quarter in your tabletop jukebox, wait for the lights to dim and see if the little mechanical band starts to play your song up in the corner.Listed in: You Know What We Need? Brunch.
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Review from Akilah H.
Independence, KY
10/15/2011
It's 3 a.m. You're probably inebriated and wandering the streets of Mainstrasse when you stomach decides it requires some seriously bad for you food. The Anchor Grill is always perfect for that, because it's always open. Their slogan is "Though we may doze, we never close." Get some delicious arse breakfast foods at any hour for less than $10. My absolute favorite hole in the wall in the Cincinnati area.
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Review from Lindsey S.
Austin, TX
3/21/2007
This is one of THE things I miss most about my most recent home prior to living in Vegas. No, wait, that was Portland. Okay, this is one of THE things I miss most about living in Cinci. Mah best good freeind, Karin, and I have spent an embarrassingly large portion of our lives sitting in this greasy spoon, drinking coffee, eating cheese omelettes, and doodling on the place mats.
True to the name, the nautical theme is carried on throughout this place, in tacky knick knacks and murals. I don't know what the disco cone (it serves the same purpose as a disco ball, but it's a rotating cone in the middle of the ceiling in the main dining room, and a light placed on a table right in the middle of the room creates the desired effect) has to do with the nautical thing, or for that matter what the "band" has to do with anything at all. In the corner of the room, mounted high for all to see, is this glass box containing a "band" of puppets, one of which had broken long ago and was replaced with a Barbie, that move about behind tiny replicas of instruments when the juke box is on. It's a grand show, actually, complete with a curtain that opens and closes at the beginning and end of every song.
Hahaha, we used to giggle at the "Vegetables" options on the menu -- Hash browns, fries, or onion rings. The staff is just a hoot as well. I made the mistake of asking our waitress one evening what items the vegetable omelet contained. She said, "Aw, y'naw, t'maidders, chaze, mangoes ...." Mangoes? I just smiled and nodded and told her that that sounded wonderful. And, no, there wernt no mangoes 'n mah omelet.
And then there's the goetta. I'll just have to take andy r.'s excellent idea and post the link to Wikipedia's explanation: http://en.wikipedia.or... Good idea, andy. Saved me some time.
Oh, I miss Covington.Listed in: Yum yum.
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Review from Kiarash Z.
Lima, OH
7/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Anchor is my favorite greasy spoon in the Cincinnati area, especially because it serves goetta, which I can't get in my city. But a word of caution: Goetta doesn't work well in omelettes. Just get it on the side and eat it with syrup.
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Review from Célèste B.
Cincinnati, OH
11/16/2010
The food is nothing to write home about and the whole place smells like smoke, but you will nevertheless be a fan for the following reasons...
1. It's the only place open when the Fishbone concert ends. This is reason enough to go, but you're really glad you did when, just after ordering your food, Angelo Moore (Fishbone's front man) walks in and sits at the table next to yours and starts to make small talk. Of course he's eating here too; it's the only place open!
2. The Anchor Grill has the largest collection of charmingly kitschy nautical decor you've ever seen. We're talking seas of dusty ship captain a sailboat knit knacks.
3. The characters you will see here will definitely keep you entertained. There is always a table full of stoned high school kids right next to a table where two cops are having coffee and turning a blind eye.
No wonder the place has a punk song written about it!
Oh yeah, bring cash. It's cash only. -
Review from Brian H.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2008
We were searching for a good lunch spot in Covington and asked the concierge at the Embassy Suites for recommendations. She recommended a Red Lobster on the way to the airport. Not that I'm not a Red Lobster fan, but we were looking for something with a little more character, so my buddy whipped out his iphone and consulted with Yelp. Greenup an Anchor were the number 1 and 2 options, respectively. Although Greenup looked pretty good, the Anchor promised to be a little more regionally fitting, so we headed down to Pike St.
Before we even entered, we knew from the overall vibe that we had chosen wisely. Anchor Grill has a great old-school diner vibe and plenty of weird eye candy. And the food was up to snuff too. I had the GLT- Goetta, Letuce, and Tomato, which was delicious. We shared an order of biscuits and gravy which were awesome- I was even tempted to lap up the blobs of gravy that remained on the plate after the biscuits were gone. The country ham was also delicious- a nice big salty slab, on the bone.
I'm sure this place is even more of an experience at night. I would definitely make a point of eating here again next time I was in the area. -
Review from Aaron C.
Cincinnati, OH
12/20/2010 15 Check-ins Here
Getta & cheese omelet with homefries with onions, plus a coffee! ..........order it!!! trust me!
Besides that its a great greasy spoon restaurant. I have been going there for years. Good food that puts a weight in your belly but thats what you go there for. The service can be slow at times but still worth the weight. It is also open 24/7 365 with a slogan "WE MAY DOZE BUT WE NEVER CLOSE" and with that type of availability you can never go wrong with the anchor for any type of dinning either early morning before a long day or early morning from a long night.
Oh and it is Cash Only but they have a ATM but you will have a 2 or 3 dollar charge can't remember which one.
